National Children's Study - Notice of Intent

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) serves as the lead agency for the National Children's Study (NCS or Study), a longitudinal cohort study that will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of approximately 100,000 children. Additional information about the Study is available on the Study's website www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov The NICHD intends to award, on a sole source basis, a follow-on contract to the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMass) for a period of 1 year the purpose of which is to continue limited NCS activities in Worcester County Massachusetts beyond the September 27, 2012 contract completion date. The contract will be awarded under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1), FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2), Only One Responsible Source and HHSAR 306.302-1(a)(2)(iv). The UMass Study Center is one of three NCS sites currently exploring the feasibility of recruiting women in their respective counties using the Provider Based Sampling alternative recruitment strategy. The award of a new, one-year contract will allow the UMass Study Center to explore the possibility that a Provider Based Sampling alternate recruitment strategy will be suitable for the NCS. Due to inherent duplication of costs and unacceptable delays in providing the required services the Government has determined competition of this requirement unfeasible. This notice of intent is not a request for proposal. However, if any responsible source believes it can perform the above requirements they may submit three (3) copies of their capability statement for consideration by the NICHD to Howard O. Cyrus Jr., Contracting Officer, NICHD Office of Acquisitions, Contract Management Branch, 6100 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892-7510. Phone number 301-435-6963; email hc163b@nih.gov All responses must be received in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NICHD Contracting Office and the NCS Program Office to make a determination that the party can or cannot perform this requirement. The capability statement will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. 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.