Food-borne Outbreaks

FDA- 1056044 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking Full and Open Competition for vendors that can provide quotes/proposals. Time and Materials type of Contract. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, simplified acquisition procedures and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 05-24. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a written solicitation will not be issued. The synopsis, NAICS code 541720, is to notify contractors that the government in accordance with FAR Part 13, for the following statement of work, under the simplified acquisition procedures. The Government reserves the right to award a contract without discussions if the Contracting Officer determines that the initial offer(s) is/are providing Best Value and discussions are not necessary. Project Title: Use of Social Media to Supplement and Evaluate Risk Communication Efforts with Respect to Food-borne Outbreaks Background When health hazards arise involving FDA regulated products, including human foods, pet foods, drugs, vaccines and medical products, the public learns about them from media coverage based, to a substantial but not exclusive degree, on information released from local, state and federal government agencies such as FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In these situations, FDA strives to communicate appropriate hazard information to the public. In the face of often considerable uncertainty, FDA provides information on how to identify, avoid and control the immediate hazard as well as on its ongoing attempts to manage the hazard situation. FDA tries to responsibly balance the public health imperative to give the public needed information with considerations to not unduly alarm the public about the magnitude or extent of risk or to implicate innocent parties. These situations present an extremely difficult risk communication challenge, and FDA is continually trying to learn from previous efforts and improve its performance. As part of their risk communication efforts, FDA and CDC issue periodic consumer advisories on the Internet, refer consumers to government Web sites for detailed product information, maintain dedicated blog(s) and/or other social media communities, as well as preparing frequent and timely press releases and conducting news briefings for electronic and print media. In recent years, the rise of social media on the Internet, including especially user-generated content such as blogs, forums, message boards, wikis and podcasts, has created new opportunities to interface with the public with respect to emerging hazard situations involving FDA-regulated products. The recent outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium due to peanut butter and peanut paste made at a peanut-processing plant in Blakely, Georgia illustrates FDA's use of social media. As part of their risk communication efforts, FDA and CDC issued periodic consumer advisories on the Internet, referred consumers to government Web sites for detailed product information, maintained a dedicated blog and a Twitter device, in addition to preparing multiple press releases and conducting news briefings for electronic and print media. The increasing presence of social media promises new capabilities to monitor the effectiveness of FDA's ongoing risk communication efforts. However, best practice recommendations for conducting effective communications are that communicators assess the impact of using various communication channels, especially new channels, to determine their value and how best to take advantage of these channels. Objectives The purpose of the study will be to conduct both historical and - real-time monitoring and analyses of a representative sample of social media Web sites. The historical study will be about the early-2009 peanut products outbreak/recall (to be used interchangeably with - outbreak henceforth) and the real-time study will be about two (2) unspecified and future food-borne outbreaks that occur in the United States within two (2) calendar years beginning from the award of the contract. The study should be designed to accomplish the following five main objectives. 1. Identify mentions/references to FDA/CDC and other social media/internet sites and use this classification as a breakout factor for the analyses specified below. 2. Identify the most frequently discussed threads or stories that appeared in the discussions on social media sites about the outbreak, broken out by time period and by type of social media site and by mention of the FDA/CDC and other social media/internet sites. 3. Identify the main sources of outbreak information cited by participants in social media discussions of the outbreak, broken out by time period and type of social media site and by mention of the FDA/CDC and other social media/internet sites. 4. Identify understanding of and reactions to consumer information that the FDA/CDC provides about an outbreak, e.g., source and scope of problem and consumer advisories. 5. Assess sentiments, comments, and suggestions about the FDA's and Federal government's performance in managing the ongoing outbreak broken out by time period and type of social media site and by mention of FDA/CDC and other social media/internet sites. This research shall facilitate process and outcome evaluations of social media related to FDA/CDC consumer advisories, recall lists, and other information. Scope of Work The requirement includes both an historical analysis (Task 1) and on-going real-time analyses for two (2) future outbreaks (Task 2) and consultation (Task 3). Task 1. The following scope of work applies to the early 2009 peanut products outbreak/recall only. 1. The proposed sampling plan for social media Web sites, broken out by type of site (e.g., FDA/CDC, industry, public health, consumer, etc.); and 2. the list of keywords to be used for searching. Within one (1) calendar week from the submission of the draft research plan, the Contractor shall meet with the FDA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) to discuss and, when necessary, revise the plan per any comments from the COTR. The COTR shall approve the plan before it is used in the project. Task 1.2. The Contractor shall deliver, within four (4) calendar weeks from COTR's approval of the research plan, twenty-two (22) weekly reports of monitoring and analysis of the progression and contents of social media activities concerning the peanut products outbreak. The period for the peanut butter outbreak is December 1, 2008-April 30, 2009. The reports shall include, at a minimum, the following items: 1. number of mentions of the outbreak/recall, posts, forums, overall and by date and site; 2. number of page views and unique visitors; 3. ranking of sites by volume of discussions and mentions; 4. site profiles, in visitors/participants demographic characteristics such as gender, age, parenthood status, etc.; 5. reactions to FDA/CDC Web sites, blogs, and other social media sites; 6. understanding of and actions toward products involved in the outbreak/recall; 7. understanding of and actions toward personal preventive measures; 8. brands and products most often mentioned; 9. impressions of performance and trustworthiness of FDA, other Federal agencies, the manufacturer, retailers; 10. particular concerns and reactions regarding certain population subgroups, e.g., children, health and school meals/vending machines; and 11. understanding and use of and comments about FDA/CDC recall list Web sites. Task 1.3. Within two (2) calendar weeks from the delivery of the reports, the Contractor shall deliver a summary report and recommendations on how to maximize reach and utility of social media in future events of similar nature. Task 2. The following scope of work applies to each of two (2) outbreaks/recalls. Task 2.1. Within three (3) calendar days from a written notification by FDA that it needs to monitor and examine social media Web site reaction to a specific outbreak or recall related to a food-borne illness, the Contractor shall propose a detailed research plan that lays out: 1. The proposed sampling plan for social media Web sites, broken out by type of site (e.g., FDA and/or other Federal agency, industry, public health, consumer, etc.); and 2. The list of keywords to be used for searching. FDA shall include in its notification a suggested list of key words and a list of FDA and other Federal social media Web sites. Within five (5) calendar days from FDA notification, the Contractor shall meet with the COTR to discuss and, when necessary, revise the plan per any comments from the COTR. The COTR shall approve the plan before it is used in the project. Task 2.2. Beginning one (1) calendar day from the COTR's approval of the research plan, the Contractor shall deliver weekly reports of real-time continuing monitoring and analysis of the progression and contents of social media activities concerning the outbreak or recall. These reports shall be delivered on a weekly basis during the outbreak/recall. The reporting period is expected to last twenty (20) weeks. The reports shall include, at a minimum, the following items: 1. number of mentions of the outbreak/recall, posts, forums, overall and by date and site; 2. number of page views and unique visitors; 3. ranking of sites by volume of discussions and mentions; 4. site profiles, in visitors/participants demographic characteristics such as gender, age, parenthood status, etc.; 5. reactions to FDA and other Federal Web sites, blogs, and other social media sites; 6. understanding of and actions toward products involved in the outbreak/recall; 7. understanding of and actions toward personal preventive measures; 8. brands and products most often mentioned; 9. impressions of performance and trustworthiness of FDA, other Federal agencies, the manufacturer, retailers; 10. particular concerns and reactions regarding certain population subgroups, e.g., children's, health and school meals/vending machines; and 11. understanding and use of and comments about FDA and other Federal recall list Web sites. Task 2.3. Within three (3) calendar weeks from the end of the reporting period of an outbreak/recall, the Contractor shall deliver a summary report and recommendations on how to maximize reach and utility of social media in future events of similar nature. Task 3. The Contractor shall provide technical and analytical consultation on the use and understanding of its work as specified in Tasks 1 and 2 above. CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL: The Contractor shall provide: Project Manager Senior Analyst Junior Analyst Administrative Assistant Qualifications and Experience: The contractor shall demonstrate that it can provide technical personnel who are qualified and knowledgeable about the methodology of collecting and analyzing social media data and analytical methodology and can offer the consultation needed for FDA to understand and use the deliverables. The key personnel, such as project manager and analysts, should have at least a 4-year college degree or three (3) plus years of work experience in a field related to media and communication research, particularly social media research. The support staff, such as administrative assistants, should have experience using common software such as Microsoft Office. Project Management The contractor shall provide information on the administration of the project. This shall include management plans, methods for implementing, and quality control and cost control procedures. The proposal shall include records of timeliness and cost control records of past deliveries of similar projects. Reports and Deliverables The Contractor shall submit to the Project Officer the following deliverables. Deliverables for Tasks 2.1-2.3 apply to each of two (2) outbreaks/recalls. Time Deliverable Task 1.1 Within one (1) calendar week from award of contract One (1) electronic copy of a proposed research plan on peanut products outbreak Task 1.1 Within two (2) calendar weeks from award of contract One (1) electronic copy of a final research plan on peanut products outbreak Task 1.2 Within four (4) calendar weeks from COTR approval of final research plan Electronic copies of twenty-two (22) weekly reports of monitoring and analysis on peanut products outbreak Task 1.3 Within two (2) calendar weeks from the delivery of the weekly reports on peanut products outbreak 1. One (1) electronic copy of a summary report and recommendations; 2. An oral presentation of the report and recommendations at FDA offices in Silver Spring, MD. Task 2.1 Within three (3) calendar days from FDA notification of an outbreak One (1) electronic copy of a proposed research plan Task 2.1 Within five (5) calendar days from FDA notification of an outbreak One (1) electronic copy of a final research plan Task 2.2 Beginning one (1) calendar day from COTR approval of final research plan and during specified report period Reports of real-time continuing monitoring and analysis, on a weekly basis for twenty (20) weeks Task 2.3 Within three (3) calendar weeks from the end of the specified report period 1. One (1) electronic copy of a summary report and recommendations; 2. An oral presentation of the report and recommendations at FDA offices in Silver Spring, MD. Task 3.3 Throughout the contract period Consultation via telephone and email Period of Performance The period of performance is for a base year plus four option years. Place of Performance The Contractor shall perform the work at their own location. CCR: Vendor must be registered in the Central Contractor Register (CCR) prior to the award of the contract. You may register by going to www.ccr.gov. You will need to your Tax ID, Duns Number, Bradstreet number and banking information. QUESTIONS DEADLINE: All questions are to be submitted via email to contact@example.gov, no later JuNE 22, 2009, 4:30 pm EST. QUOTATIONS DUE: All quotations are due to: contact@example.gov, no later than 4:30 pm, EST on July 23 , 2009. PROVISIONS and CLAUSES: The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items applies to this solicitation. The following agenda has been attached to this provision: None. The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions, Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. The following agenda has been attached to the clause: None. The clause at FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders, Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. The following FAR clauses cited are applicable: FAR 52.217-8, FAR 52.222-26, FAR 52.222-35, FAR 52.222-36, FAR 52.232-33, FAR 52.246-9 and FAR 52.246-18. Clauses and provisions are incorporated by reference and apply to this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall be sent via email to contact@example.gov, Telephone calls will not be accepted. Evaluation Factors for Award Evaluation Factors are listed in descending order of importance as follows: The offeror shall submit a technical proposal that covers the work in the scope of work. The technical proposal shall not exceed 15 pages exclusive of resumes and information about previous projects. The offeror shall submit a business proposal that includes ceiling hourly rates for all labor categories. Voulume I Factor 1 Understanding the Requirement: The offeror shall describe an understanding of the objectives and offer a logical program for their achievement. FDA encourages contractors to use the early 2009 peanut products outbreak/recall as an example to assist the preparation of their technical proposals. For more information about this outbreak/recall and related FDA social media and other communication activities, go tohttp://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html). The following factors will be weighted as indicated in establishing a numerical rating for all technical proposals submitted. The contractor shall demonstrate a prudent allocation of staff resources to accomplish the project and include any examples of similar work experience substantiating this capability. The contractor shall provide resumes of the proposed personnel which describe their qualifications and experience in similar work. If any subcontractor is proposed, the proposal shall provide the same information for any subcontractor. The contractor shall also produce a letter of agreement with any subcontractor(s) proposed. Factor 2 Technical Approach: The offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of the project and the capability to analyze the data, render them into meaningful observations and recommendations, and the capability to make timely deliverables. The offeror shall also describe and demonstrate the availability, accessibility, or both of personnel to consult with the Government. Factor 3 Data Sources: The offeror shall propose a list of potential social media sites and demonstrate an understanding of their strengths and limitations in meeting the project's objectives. Factor 4 Revelant Experience: The proposal shall include instances of past corporate and personnel experience relating to the offeror analytic and delivery capabilities needed to carry out the proposed technical approach, including the provision of timely consultation, and examples of how the contractor has successfully used (identified and analyzed) the data sources included in the proposal. Volume II Past Performance Contractors shall submit a list of three (3) reference contracts. Contracts listed may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of State and local governments and commercial customers. Contractors that are newly formed entities without prior contracts should list contracts and subcontracts as required above for all key personnel. The reference list of the three (3) references shall include the following information for each contract and subcontract: 1. Name of contracting activity 2. Contract number 3. Contract type 4. Total contract value 5. Contract work 6. Contracting officer and telephone 7. Program manager and telephone 8. Administrative contracting officer, if different from #6, and telephone Volume III Price: The contractor shall provide a price in accordance with the requirements of the technical specifications. The proposed price shall include base plus four option years. Evaluation for Award: Award will be made to the party whose quote offers the best value to the Government, technical and past performance, price, and other factors considered. The Government may award this contract to other than the lowest price technically acceptable quote. The Government will evaluate information based on the following evaluation criteria: 1) Technical and Past Performance and 2) Price shall include base and four option years. Technical and Past Performance is significantly more important than price. The FDA intends to make an award immediately after the response date of this notice. The award will be made in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.