Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015): Exploring and Synthesizing the Association of the HEI-2015 with Mortality Outcomes Across Cohorts

Title: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015): Exploring and Synthesizing the Association of the HEI-2015 with Mortality Outcomes Across Cohorts Document Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Solicitation Number: N02PC85032-33 Proposed Posted Date: 09/4/2018 Proposed Response Date: 09/07/2018 3:00 PM ET Classification Code: AD26 - R&D - Defense Other: Services (Management/Support) NAICS Code: 611310 - Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools Business Size Standard: $27.5 million Contracting Office Address The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 1E148 Bethesda, MD 20892, UNITED STATES. Non-USPS mail such as Fedex, UPS and other private carriers please use Rockville, MD 20850. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation: No. N02PC85032-33 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ), and includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through 2005-100 / 08-22-2018 simplified procedures for commercial items. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded a firm fixed price purchase order for severable services. The period of performance shall be 12 months from the date of award. 1.0 BACKGROUND The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a measure of diet quality in terms of conformance to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Guidelines are the basis of nutrition policy for the US Government, and are issued every 5 years by the USDA and US DHHS; the 2015 version was released in January 2016. The HEI has been updated by colleagues at NCI and USDA to reflect the new guidelines and released as the HEI-2015. Based on the Scientific Report submitted by the Dietary Guidelines committee, the HEI-2015 retains many features of the current HEI-2010, but with modifications reflecting the addition of defined limits for added sugars and saturated fats. Diet quality indices such as the HEI are increasingly applied to prospective cohort data because of, 1) the relative ease and appeal of representing the complexity of the total diet with a standardized metric, and 2) their ability to readily translate findings into relevant public health messages (i.e., following a diet that aligns with dietary guidance is or is not associated with a specific health outcome). Given the recent releases of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the HEI-2015, there is a pressing need to examine the association between the new HEI-2015 and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality outcomes in multiple diverse cohorts, including the NIH-AARP Diet and Healthy Study, the Women's Health Initiative, and the Multi-ethnic Cohort. 2.1 OBJECTIVE The aim of this project is to write a manuscript exploring and synthesizing the association of the HEI-2015 with mortality outcomes across three cohorts. 2.0 SCOPE This effort will examine the relationship between the HEI-2015 and mortality, compare the predictive validity of the HEI-2015 in different populations, and explore the potential variations in dietary patterns across multiple diverse cohorts. 3.0 CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/ AND PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS The contractor shall: 1. Write a scientific manuscript (proposed title, "Exploring and Synthesizing the Association of the Healthy Eating Index-2015 with Mortality Outcomes Across Cohorts") for publication in a journal. 2. Complete tables 1 and 2 for the manuscript (with potential for an additional 1-2 tables). Table 1 will include the comparison or synthesis of the association of the HEI-2015 with mortality outcomes across the three cohorts, including the NIH-AARP Diet and Healthy Study, the Women's Health Initiative, and the Multi-ethnic Cohort. Table 2 will include a comparison or synthesis of the patterns within the HEI-2015 across the three cohorts. 3. Respond to emails and telephone calls with the NCI Project Officer on an as needed basis to resolve any unanticipated issues. 4.0 TYPE OF ORDER This is a firm fixed price purchase order. 5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance shall be 12 months from the date of award. 6.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All services shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. 7.0 REPORT(S)/DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE Complete deliverables schedule listed below. All deliverables shall be sent electronically (Microsoft Word) per the following deliverable schedule: Deliverables - Draft manuscript, specifically: o Draft outline of manuscript due 3 months after date of award o Draft tables 1 and 2 for manuscript due 8 months after date of award o Draft manuscript text due 10 months after date of award o Complete manuscript and tables due 12 months after date of award 8.0 PAYMENT Payment shall be made _(quarterly)______. Payment authorization requires submission and approval of invoices to the COR and NIH OFM, in accordance with the attached payment provisions listed below: The following clause is applicable to all Purchase Orders, Task or Delivery Orders, and Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Calls: PROMPT PAYMENT (JAN 2017) FAR 52.232-25. Highlights of this clause and NIH implementation requirements follow: I INVOICE REQUIREMENTS A. An invoice is the Contractor's bill or written request for payment under the contract for supplies delivered or services performed. A proper invoice is an "Original" which must include the items listed in subdivisions 1 through 12, below, in addition to the requirements of FAR 32.9. If the invoice does not comply with these requirements, the Contractor will be notified of the defect within 7 days after the date the designated billing office received the invoice (3 days for meat, meat food products, or fish, and 5 days for perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, edible fats or oils) with a statement of the reasons why it is not a proper invoice. (See exceptions under II., below.) Untimely notification will be taken into account in the computation of any interest penalty owed the Contractor. 1. Vendor/Contractor: Name, Address, Point of Contact for the invoice (Name, title, telephone number, e-mail and mailing address of point of contact). 2. Remit-to address (Name and complete mailing address to send payment). 3. Remittance name must match exactly with name on original order/contract. If the Remittance name differs from the Legal Business Name, then both names must appear on the invoice. 4. Invoice date. 5. Unique invoice #s for all invoices per vendor regardless of site. 6. NBS document number formats must be included for awards created in the NBS: Contract Number; Purchase Order Number; Task or Delivery Order Number and Source Award Number (e.g., Indefinite Delivery Contract number; General Services Administration number); or, BPA Call Number and BPA Parent Award Number. 7. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) or DUNS + 4 as registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). 8. Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). In those exceptional cases where a contractor does not have a DUNS number or TIN, a Vendor Identification Number (VIN) must be referenced on the invoice. The VIN is the number that appears after the contractor's name on the face page of the award document. 9. Identify that payment is to be made using a three-way match. 10. Description of supplies/services that match the description on the award, by line billed.* 11. Freight or delivery charge must be billed as shown on the award. If it is included in the item price do not bill it separately. If identified in the award as a separate line item, it must be billed separately. 12. Quantity, Unit of Measure, Unit Price, Extended Price of supplies delivered or services performed, as applicable, and that match the line items specified in the award.* * NOTE: If your invoice must differ from the line items on the award, please contact the Contracting Officer before submitting the invoice. A modification to the order or contract may be needed before the invoice can be submitted and paid. B. Shipping costs will be reimbursed only if authorized by the Contract/Purchase Order. If authorized, shipping costs must be itemized. Where shipping costs exceed $100, the invoice must be supported by a bill of lading or a paid carrier's receipt. C. Mail an original and 1 copy of the itemized invoice to: National Institutes of Health Office of Financial Management, Commercial Accounts 2115 East Jefferson Street, Room 4B-432, MSC 8500 Bethesda, MD 20892-8500 For inquiries regarding payment call: +1 (555) 000-0000 In order to facilitate the prompt payment of invoices, it is recommended that the vendor submit a photocopy of the invoice to the "Consignee" designated for the acquisition in blocks 6A - 6E of the face page of the Order/Award document. II. INVOICE PAYMENT A. Except as indicated in paragraph B., below, the due date for making invoice payments by the designated payment office shall be the later of the following two events: 1. The 30th day after the designated billing office has received a proper invoice. 2. The 30th day after Government acceptance of supplies delivered or services performed. B. The due date for making invoice payments for meat and meat food products, perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, and edible fats or oils, shall be in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, as amended. III. INTEREST PENALTIES A. An interest penalty shall be paid automatically, if payment is not made by the due date and the conditions listed below are met, if applicable. 1. A proper invoice was received by the designated billing office. 2. A receiving report or other Government documentation authorizing payment was processed and there was no disagreement over quantity, quality, or contractor compliance with a term or condition. 3. In the case of a final invoice for any balance of funds due the contractor for supplies delivered or services performed, the amount was not subject to further settlement actions between the Government and the Contractor. B. Determination of interest and penalties due will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Prompt Payment Act, as amended, the Contract Disputes Act, and regulations issued by the Office of Management and Budget. IV. PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS, FAR 52.232-40 (DEC 2013) a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor. b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the prompt Payment Act. Include the substance of this clause, include this paragraph c, in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial items. PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (November 2017) - with Addenda [Representation By Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law and FAR 52.204-6, Unique Entity Identifier (October 2016)] FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (January 2017) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (November 2017) FAR 52.237-3, Continuity of Services (Jan 1991) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: FAR 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) FAR 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) FAR 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Oct 2015) FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) FAR 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation (Jul 2013) FAR 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) FAR 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015) FAR 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sept 2016) FAR 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) FAR 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) FAR 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) FAR 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) FAR 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (OCT 2015) FAR 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011) FAR 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer System for Award Management (Jul 2013) Quotation Submission / Instructions FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (January 2017) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (October 2014) BASIS FOR AWARD: Evaluation and award will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of FAR 13.106 The Government intends to evaluate quotations and make a single award without conducting "discussions" as defined in FAR part 15. Therefore, the quoter's initial quote should contain the quoter's best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to request quote revisions that seek additional price discounts, provide revisions to the technical quote, or clarify aspects of the quote. In the event quote revisions are requested, the Government will not necessarily be seeking revisions from all quoters. The Government may reject any or all quotes if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest quote; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotes received. The Government intends to make an award to the offeror whose proposals provide the best overall value to the Government. Selection of an offeror for award will be based on an evaluation of proposals against four factors. The factors, in order of importance are: Technical Approach, Experience, Expertise of Staff, and Past Performance. All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. However, price may become a critical factor in source selection in the event that two or more offerors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of all factors other than price. The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Contractors in relation to the needs set forth in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. The merits of each proposal will be evaluated carefully. Each proposal must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. Offerors must submit information sufficient to evaluate their proposals based on the detailed factors listed below. The Evaluation Process: The Government will award a contract resulting from this quotation to the responsible Contractor whose quote conforming to the quotation will be the most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following evaluation factors shall be used to evaluate the prospective contractors and are listed in order of importance. 1. Technical Approach (60) 2. Experience and Expertise of Staff (40) 3. Past Performance (Evaluated but not scored) 4. Price (Evaluated but not scored) 1. Technical Approach (60 points) - Knowledge of Federal Regulations related to handling Government Vehicles 2. Experience and Expertise of Staff (40 points) - Knowledge of NIH, NCI Frederick and other federal buildings in the DC Metro area, Ability to respond quickly and provide quick turnarounds 3. Past Performance (Evaluated but not scored) 4. Price Ability to compare all quotes against IGE - A list of three (3) contracts providing similar services for quantitation of circulating inflammation markers currently in process that are similar in nature to the solicitation. Contracts listed may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of state and local governments and commercial concerns. Include the following information for each contract or subcontract: 1. Name of Contracting Organization 2. Contract Number (for subcontracts, provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number) 3. Contract Type 4. Total Contract Value 5. Description of Requirement 6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number 7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number Each quoter/offeror may be evaluated on their performance under existing and prior contracts for similar products or services. The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the quoter/offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the quoter/offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the quoter/offeror's organizational experience. The Government may evaluate the offeror's past performance on organizational experience based on information obtained from references provided by the offeror, other relevant past performance on organizational experience information obtained from other sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the offeror concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken. The Government will assess the relative risks associated with each offeror. Performance risks are those associated with an offeror's likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that offeror's record of past performance. 5. Price The Government will evaluate the Quoter's price for all items/services proposed. Quotations will be evaluated for reasonableness. For a price to be reasonable, it must represent a price to the Government that a prudent person would pay when consideration is given to prices in the market. Normally, price reasonableness is established through adequate price competition. Additional Submission Instructions The quote must be prepared in two SEPARATE volumes: Volume I - "Technical Volume" and Volume II - "Price/Business Volume". Each of these parts shall be separate and complete in itself so that the evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of the evaluation of the other. The Request for Quotation (RFQ) number should be included on the front cover of each volume. Your quote must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFQ and signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. In addition, it must contain a statement to the effect that it is firm for a period of at least 60 days from the date of receipt thereof by the Government. This RFQ does not commit the Government to pay any of the costs associated with the preparation and submission of your quote. In addition, the Contracting Officer is the only individual authorized to legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with this requirement. By submitting a quote in response to this solicitation, it is understood that your quote shall become a part of the official contract file. The technical volume must not contain references to price; however, resource information, such as data concerning labor hours and categories, materials, etc., must be contained in the technical volume so that the Respondent's understanding of the scope of work may be evaluated. Quoters must provide clear responses, including objectives and outcomes, to each task addressing the work to be performed in the SOW. The technical volume must reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. Quotes which merely offer to conduct a project in accordance with the Government's requirements will not be eligible for award. Full text copies of the representations and certifications for other cited provisions and clauses may be obtained on line at the NCI website at http://ncioa.cancer.gov/oa-internet/ or from William Neal, Contracting Officer at contact@example.gov. Questions Questions relating to this acquisition shall be submitted to Contracting Officer, William Neal, via email at contact@example.gov no later than 3:00 PM EST on September 6, 2018. All email inquiries shall have "Question - Solicitation # N02PC85032-33" included in the subject line. All questions shall be in writing and may be addressed to the aforementioned individual noted above. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management through sam.gov. Submission Deadline Quotes are due no later than 3:00 PM EST on Friday, September 7, 2018 to Contracting Officer, William Neal via email at contact@example.gov. All quotation submissions shall have "Quotation - Solicitation # N02PC85032-33" included in the subject line.