Mentoring Program for American Indian/Alaskan Native Scholars

INTRODUCTION This is a Small Business Sources Sought (SBSS) 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. This notice is issued to help determine the availability and type of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting this potential government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. The notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. The information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method including small business socio-economic set-aside possibilities and to determine the availability of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting the Government's potential requirement. All Small Business companies with the capability and availability to perform the requirement under the applicable NAICS code are invited to submit a response to this notice. NORTH AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The NAICS code applicable to this requirement is 541990 -- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services with associated business size standard $15,000,000.00. BACKGROUND The Office of Diversity and Health Disparities (ODHD) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a potential requirement for an institution or organization to support the development of a mentoring program, which supports the career and research development of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) scholars dedicated to pursuing substance abuse and addiction research within AI/AN communities. To address the overall underrepresentation of racial/ethnic populations in the sciences, the ODHD's mission is to strengthen the NIDA extramural research portfolio through a more diverse and robust workforce, attracting and retaining talented individuals from all populations in order to fulfill the mission of the NIH and NIDA. The ODHD's goals are to (1) increase the number of underrepresented scholars and researchers actively participating in and independently funded to conduct substance abuser research and (2) to ensure that minority and health disparity issues in drug abuse research are adequately represented in the NIDA's extramural research portfolio. Underrepresented minority researchers face a number of challenges that influence their success in obtaining sponsored support from NIDA/NIH and other federal funding agencies. Some of these challenges include limited/poor mentoring, lack of knowledge of funding opportunities and requirements, and limited resources. Additional barriers for AI/AN populations include the low number of AI/AN students in the research pipeline, the scarcity of AI/AN research scientists who can serve as mentors, and skepticism held by the community towards research and government sponsored programs. Collectively, these factors impact NIDA' s efforts to recruit and retain AI/AN investigators conducting substance abuse and addiction research and further develop the research infrastructure within this community. As scientific mentoring is a valuable method that serves to promote interest in research as well as retain scientists already in the research pipeline, a dedicated mentoring program is necessary. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES This potential requirement seeks a mentoring program that is designed to encourage and support the career and research development of early stage AI/AN scholars interested in substance abuse and addiction research within AI/AN populations. Scholars range in educational level from undergraduate to faculty. Individual and group experiences, enhanced communication between mentors and mentees and structured tracking of participant progress and activities will be a part of the program's continued efforts. This program should offer valuable experiences that best meet scholars needs, which are centered on scientific writing, research proposal development, the independent grant application, submission and funding process, information on funding opportunities, attendance of research development and professional meetings and exposure/access to networks of AI/AN investigators. Furthermore, this program contributes significantly to NIDA's priority of training and developing a cadre of scientists and health professionals who can contribute to the goals of reducing substance abuse in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. The mentoring program should target scholars, who are at various points in the research pipeline, ranging from undergraduate to junior faculty with the goal of developing independent scientific careers of scholars. The program should focus much attention and efforts on scholars pursuing independent careers as physician/researchers. Offerors shall document experience in recruiting and retaining mentees interested in conducting substance abuse research. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS This Small Business Sources Sought notice seeks responses from qualified sources that are capable of providing the following salient service requirements of this potential government requirement by improving AI/AN health and eliminating substance abuse-related health disparities through the following tasks: 1. Facilitating interaction and exchange of information among investigators studying substance use and substance abuse problems. Provide mentors for each investigator and develop a dialogue between established investigators and scholars studying substance use and abuse problems. Conduct a structured and managed mentoring program to train and support the research and career development of AI/AN scholars/investigators and others interested in pursuing research careers in substance abuse and addiction. Create tailored, individualized short and long-term mentoring plans for each participant, and identifying either didactic training or research experiences to help mentees develop into independent scientists. 2. Providing support, guidance, and direction to scholars for the submission of NIH grant applications and peer review papers. Create tailored, individualized short and long-term individual development plans for each participant, identifying activities to address the needs; 3. Fostering collaborative relationships with Indian communities to advance the understanding of substance use and abuse. The Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, as an example, has faculty with expertise in AI/AN research that the investigators may be able to work with; 4. Participating in annual scientific meetings convened by groups with a mission and interest similar to the goals of the mentoring program for the purpose of recruiting students/faculty, encouraging interest in addiction research, educating attendees about drug abuse and addiction, e.g., the Association of American Indian Physicians, Indian Health Service, the Office for Minority Health, American Indian Research Network American Psychiatric Association, Society for Neuroscience, and the College on Problems of Drug Dependence; and 5. Ensuring, developing and documenting strong communication between mentors and mentees. Period of Performance The anticipated Peroid of Performance of this potential requirement shall become effective on or around September 30, 2017 through September 29, 2018 with a one year option period from September 30, 2018 through September 29, 2019. CAPABILITY STATEMENT / INFORMATION SOUGHT Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. Respondents must provide clear and convincing evidence of possessing the knowedge, skills, abilities and experience to successfully perform the requirements described in this announcement. Detailed past experience in implementing similar requirements to the requirement described in this announcement must be clearly delineated in any response provided, including a Curriculum Vitea (CV). Evidence of any published manuscripts or other documentation produced shall be used to support past experience. Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability in providing analytical quality control and any other requirements and services specified in this notice. Respondents must provide a general overview of the respondents' opinions about the difficulty and /or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any information regarding innovative ideas or concepts. The Respondent must also provide information in sufficient detail of the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2" x 11" paper size, with 1" top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, CV's or references, if requested. The information submitted must be must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the product requirement. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response MUST reference the solicitation number and be submitted to Mr. Hunter Tjugum at hunter.tjugum@nih.gov and NIDASSSAPurchaseRequ@mail.nih.gov prior to the closing date specified in this announcement. The response must be received on or before the closting date/time specified in this announcement. CONCLUDING STATEMENTS 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).