Environmental Health Information Partnership Educational Senior Science Advisor

This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service- disabled , veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a market survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541990 with a small business size standard of $14 million. This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research. Background In 1991 the National Library of Medicine's Specialized Information Services (SIS) Division commenced a one-year pilot initiative referred to as TIOP (the Toxicology Information Outreach Project). Its modest but important mission was to strengthen the capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to train health professionals to use NLM's Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program databases. Representatives of eight HBCUs attended the first TIOP meeting, held at NLM in August of that year. In the nineteen years since its inception, the project has strengthened the link between NLM and HBCUs to a point where by the year 2000 nearly 80 minority institutions have received training under the TIOP program. The initiative has also grown in breadth and scope as well as in size. In addition to its initial focus on toxicology and environmental health, other health disparities have been added representing a broader perspective of minority health. Nine institutions were initially selected to participate in what was characterized at the time as a "pilot" Toxicology Information Outreach Project. These institutions were: - Charles R. Drew University - Florida A&M University - Howard University - Meharry Medical College - Morehouse School of Medicine - Texas Southern University - Tuskegee University - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - Xavier University Though considered extremely successful by NLM, TIOP members and beneficiaries, by 2002 the program had reached a point in its growth where new definition for future growth was being called for. In an assessment of the program in 2001 all panel members were of the opinion that they could "better respond to NLM's desire for increased awareness and increased use of NLM resources -- while at the same time better serving their own institutional missions -- if the TIOP program were strengthened and broadened in scope." At that time TIOP was renamed the Environmental Health Information Outreach Program and the scope modified to include health disparities and community health information outreach. The participation was also expanded to include additional minority serving institutions. Objectives More recently, the program was renamed as the Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP) with twenty-one participating minority serving institutions. The group has developed a new strategic plan in alignment with NLM's Long Range Plan, Charting the Course for the 21st Century. The focus remains on building the capacity of these institutions to use health information and information technology and incorporate this into their curricula. However, it now also includes promoting and supporting research, community outreach, and increasing the number of minorities in biomedicine and biomedical informatics. Project Requirements The EnHIP Senior Science Advisor will: 1)Provide guidance to NLM in the development of EnHIP projects and plans; 2)Attend EnHIP Executive Committee meetings and program meetings 3)Meet, as needed, with the EnHIP Executive Secretary and NLM staff 4)Coordinate up to two seminars focused on state-of-the art developments associated with minority health (e.g., gene-environment interaction) 5)Represent NLM, as requested, at minority health-related conferences and meetings. Anticipated Period of Performance It is anticipated that the period of performance shall be September 15, 2013-September 14, 2014 plus the possibility of two option years. Other Important Considerations The proposed acquisition will be procured in accordance with the policies and procedures under FAR 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quotes (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice must adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirement. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding capability; however, the statement should not exceed 10 pages. (b) The capability statement must identify the responder's: small business type and size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 3:00pm eastern standard time on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 to Kimberly Pringle, pringlek@mail.nih.gov. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).