Environmental Health Information Partnership Educational Senior Science Advisor

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial service prepared in accordance with FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) NIHLM2013799-KP. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through FAC 2005-69 FAR Revision effective August 1, 2013, including all FAR Circulars issued as of the date of this synopsis. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541990, All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. This is a labor hour contract and it is anticipated that an award will be made for a base year and two option years. BACKGROUND In 1991 the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Specialized Information Services (SIS) Division commenced a one-year pilot initiative referred to as TIOP (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" TIOP. 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. More recently, the program was renamed as the Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP) with twenty-two 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. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROCUREMENT To select a senior scientist to act as an advisor for the Environmental Health Information Partnership who has expertise in public health, toxicology, environmental health or other related sciences gained through experience or education; experience working with or at minority serving institutions; and knowledge of the role of the National Library of Medicine and electronic environmental health information resources and services in improving the public's health. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS Contractor Tasks The Contractor, EnHIP Senior Science Advisor, shall perform the following tasks: 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. It is estimated that responsible personnel will work not more than 120 hours during the base year and each option year as well. DELIVERABLES Two reports per contract year to include contractor activities and program recommendations are required. Delivery/Schedule Report 1 is required at the end of six months. Report 2 is required at the end of contract year one. TRAVEL Annual travel is required to two annual meetings of EnHIP membership, programs or committee meetings and as requested by NLM to a maximum of two minority health conferences and meetings. EVALUATION CRITERIA Technical factors are of paramount consideration; however, cost is also important to the overall award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost, when combined, are significantly more important than cost. The Government can make tradeoffs among cost and technical factors in determining which offeror provides the best value by awarding to other than the lowest cost offeror or other than the highest technically rated offeror. Award will be made to that offeror whose quote provides the best overall value to the Government. The Government shall evaluate quotes using the following technical evaluation criteria, which are listed in the order of relative importance: A. Qualifications and experience of proposed personnel 1). Expertise in public health, toxicology, environmental health or other related sciences. Expertise is developed through employment or education such as advanced degrees in one of the subjects, serving in the public health workforce, university faculty member, etc. B. Understanding of the requirements and adequacy of the technical approach 1). Experience in working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), organizations of HBCUs, and other minority serving educational institutions. Experience developed through working at such an institution, serving on boards of such institutions, working with or on boards of organizations of such institutions (e.g., Association of Minority Health Professions Schools), and working in community outreach with such an academic institution. C. Past Performance and Corporate Experience 1). Experience with the role of the National Library of Medicine and electronic environmental health information resources and services in improving the public's health. The consultant should have experience with the use of electronic health information resources in the areas of environmental health, toxicology, chemistry, or other health sciences. QUOTATION SUBMISSION Proposal Instructions Offerors are required to submit curriculum vitae and detailed information regarding the type, background, experience, relevant academic preparation, training and availability of personnel being proposed for this purchase order. Offerors are required to submit a narrative showing how they would approach and carry out the project. This narrative should delineate procedures which would be used to achieve the aims of the project and the required level of quality control and should indicate potential difficulties and propose solutions. The narrative is expected to be a clear reflection of the offeror's understanding of the project. Offerors must furnish in their technical proposals references from 3 past efforts of a similar nature including contact persons, organizations and telephone numbers and a brief description of the efforts. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The quotation shall not exceed 10 pages. The page limitation includes the cover letter, table of contents (if any), resume (if any), and narrative. Quotations shall be submitted in an electronic mail format no later than 12 p.m., local prevailing time, on Monday, September 9, 2013 to the Contract Specialist at: pringlek@mail.nih.gov. In addition to the electronic copy, one original and three (3) hard copies shall be provided to the address below: Attn: Kimberly Pringle Office of Acquisitions NIH/National Library of Medicine 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 105 Bethesda MD 20817 Hard copies must be received within one business day from the time designed for receipt of the electronic copy. QUOTATIONS SUBMITTED BY WAY OF FACSIMILE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Offerors responding to this notice must be able to provide the services as requested by NLM. Offerors shall include all information which documents and/or supports the quotation requirements and evaluation criteria in clearly marked section(s) of the quotation. All responses from responsible sources will be considered. Inquiries regarding this procurement must be made in writing no later than, Friday, August 30, 2013 to Kimberly D. Pringle, Contract Specialist at pringlek@mail.nih.gov. Vendor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and Local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this order. Full text of clauses and provisions are available at htm://www.amet.gov/far/. The following clauses and provisions shall apply to this acquisition and maybe obtained from the web sites: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (February 2012); FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (December 2012) - with DUNS Number Addendum [52.204-6 (December 2012)]; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items) (June 2013); FAR 52.212-4, Addendum to Clause for Year 2000 Compliance (July 1997); and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (January 2013).