Integration of AI Bot to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) and NCInterns web and mobile applications

Short Title: Integration of AI Bot to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) and NCInterns web and mobile applications Document Type: Notice of Intent Solicitation Number: 75N91021R00062 Posted Date: 8/23/2021 Response Date: 8/30/2021 Classification Code: DA10 - IT and Telecom - Business Application/application Development Software as a Service NAICS Code: 423430 - Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 1E232 Bethesda, MD 20892, UNITED STATES Description The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Training intends to procure application development services on a sole source basis from Blue Pane Studio, 2512 Sevier Street, Durham, NC 27705 This procurement is being conducted using commercial item procedures pursuant to FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13, specifically FAR Subpart13.106-1(b)(1)(i) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a severable Firm-Fixed Price contract. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. BACKGROUND The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Training (CCT) is committed to developing a 21st century workforce capable of advancing cancer research using a scientifically integrated approach. The CCT coordinates training opportunities at NCI laboratories and intramural clinics and administers fellowships, career development awards and institutional training awards that support training at universities, medical schools and extramural cancer centers. The CCT is comprised of two intramural components - the Office of Training and Education and the Intramural Diversity Workforce Branch as well one extramural component, the Cancer Training Branch. The CCT provides training opportunities and career development activities aimed at catalyzing the career development of early-stage scientists, clinicians, and other health professionals as they integrate into the cancer research workforce. The cancer training and career development opportunities on NCl's campus cover a broad spectrum of disciplines for individuals at career stages ranging from high school students, graduate students, scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals. The CCT offers mobile and web application to over 1100 NCI fellows and trainees to provide another means for communicating real time updates on upcoming events and activities for fellows and trainees. The mobile and web applications are aimed at promoting fellows and trainees to take advantage of the many opportunities for career and skill development in cancer training at the NCI. OBJECTIVE The objective of this project is to perform usability enhancements and a full integration of existing Artificial Intelligent (AI) Bot (named NanCI). The NCI interns (formerly SIP) and NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) mobile applications have recently been updated with a new Content Management System (CMS) to support the current Apple iOS and Android software. The CCT is requesting to fully integrate the artificially intelligent (AI), browser-based software Bot that will enable trainees to access the relevant and personalized subject matter information. Integration of AI Bot software in NCInterns and NCI FYI mobile applications will improve and streamline onboarding, encourage mentor to mentor relationships and collaboration and will enhance the training experience for the 1100 trainees and fellows at the NCI. SCOPE Contractor shall integrate software of AI Bot (NanCI) to CCT's mobile and web applications. The following is a list of the minimum requirements to complete this contract. Several requirements shall be performed concurrently and some shall continue throughout the entire contract period. The contractor shall provide at the minimum; a project manager; experience designer; an iPhone and Android app developer to design and develop the mobile applications. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/ AND PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS The Contractor shall perform the following tasks: 1. Discovery stage: The contractor shall meet with project officer to discuss and finalize mission, design, and work plan. The meeting shall take place within 10 days of the award. The contract shall include the following requirements listed. The Contractor shall provide an iterative development plan to include schedule of deployment. Deployment of integration to mobile and web applications shall be in the following order: Iteration 1: Integration of NanCI to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) iPhone mobile application infrastructure Iteration 2: Integration of NanCI to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) Android mobile application infrastructure Iteration 2: Integration of NanCI to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) iPad mobile application infrastructure Iteration 2: Integration of NanCI to NCInterns iPhone mobile application infrastructure Iteration 2: Integration of NanCI to NCInterns Android mobile application infrastructure Iteration 2: Integration of NanCI to NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (NCI FYI) web application infrastructure The contractor shall provide the following requirements during each iteration: Weekly meetings with Project Officer to communicate any updates Builds for NCI CCT to test and review The contractor shall continue to provide a database to be used by government for updating of content for future years. The contractor shall provide the government with training on any features of the AI software. The application systems on all platforms shall be functioning at all times with minor interruptions to the user. 2. Development stage: The contractor shall provide the following system arc mobile application designed to include the following requirements listed. Interconnect NanCI to ORCID enabling users to login with ORCID ID which will include parsing contents of user's profiles with machine learning algorithms to establish Digital Fingerprints for NanCI users. Interconnect NCI trainings, lectures, courses, and campus awareness Match users digital fingerprint with feed topics, offer info and personalized recommendations on trainings, lectures, courses, and campus awareness to push recommendations through mobile app to end users to inform personalized feeds Enable NanCI to interact or engage with additional relevant, trusted sources of information (e.g. CDS, HHS, PubMed, NIH, etc) Integrate crowdsourcing content such as NCI Quora 3. Deployment stage: The contractor shall provide the government with a beta version to test requirements. During the beta version, the entire applications shall be tested by the government to include iterative refinements to data feeds and matching algorithms made by the contractor. Once the beta testing is completed, the app shall be deployed into production by the contractor to the appropriate app store. TYPE OF ORDER This shall be issued as a Severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. The services acquired under this Purchase Order are severable services. Funds are only available for use for the line item to which they are obligated. Unused funds from one period (line item) may not rollover for use in other periods. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The base period of performance shall be for twelve (12) months as follows: Base Period: September 21, 2021 through September 20, 2022 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All services shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 12:00 PM EST, on August 30, 2021. All responses and questions must be emailed to David Romley, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at contact@example.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through sam.gov. Reference: 75N91021R00062 on all correspondence.