Data Archive on Adolescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention (DAAPPP)

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Sociometrics Corporation, 170 State Street, Suite 260, Los Altos, CA) for the continued operation of the Teen Age Pregnancy Prevention Database. For cost and efficiency purposes the NICHD intends to negotiate a five year contract with Sociometrics Corporation for the continued operation of the Teen Age Pregnancy Prevention Database. Sociometrics was established in 1983 and has been managing the database under contract since that time. The proposed new contract will permit the continued operation and management of the database as a publicly-accessible repository for social science data on the incidence, prevalence, antecedents and consequences of teenage pregnancy and family planning. In 1994, the scope of Data Archive on Adolescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention (DAAPPP) was expanded to include studies that focus more broadly on adolescent sexual health issues, thereby including studies examining behavioral factors related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in addition to pregnancy. Sociometrics Corporation shall furnish all necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and processes to continue operating the database. Sociometrics Corporation acquires datasets from investigators, prepares the investigator's datasets in a common format, and makes the datasets available, for a modest fee, through their website. To evaluate and to select data sets, the following explicit criteria are used: scientific significance; policy and program importance; validity and reliability of data and ability to generalize and the feasibility of acquisition of the data set. In order to perform the continued work, a new prospective contractor would need to develop or have an operational database and software that functions as a conduit for researchers to access research data utilizing user-friendly tools that allow researchers and program staff to run target queries. Additionally, a new prospective contractor must have demonstrated successful professional relationships with researchers as well as demonstrated successful marketing strategies and networks in order to publicize the availability of the data to researchers and government agencies in order to maximize this valuable resource. To begin anew with a different source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that would not be recovered through competition as well as unacceptable delays in acquiring datasets, making the datasets available to researchers and operating the database. Pursuant to 41 U.S.C 253 (c)(1) as set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 6.302-1, Sociometrics Corporation is the only source capable of continuing these services without substantial duplication of cost to the Government, as well as unacceptable delays and loss of consistency make competition unfeasible for the continuation of this project. Interested parties may submit their interest and corporate capability statements in response to the requirements as described above in writing. This notice of intent is not an announcement of the availability of a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor is an RFP currently available. All interested parties may submit their statements to the point of contact below to the contracting office address no later than Monday, June 17, 2009 3 p.m. E.S.T. See numbered Note 22. NO COLLECT CALLS OR FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. RESPONDENTS MAY SUBMIT THEIR CAPABILITY STATEMENTS VIA E-MAIL IN ADDITION TO 3 HARD COPIES. Capability statements should be sent to: Nicole Belanger NICHD Contracts Management Branch 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 7A07, MSC 7510 Bethesda, MD 20892-7510 E-mail: belangern@mail.nih.gov (For Overnight or Hand Carried Deliveries use: Rockville, MD 20852 .