NIDCD HS Corporate Work Study Program 2015-2016

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a Market Survey to determine the availability and technical capability of Contractors to provide a High School-level work study program. The National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) wishes to participate in a partnership with a high school in Montgomery County, which allows students an opportunity to explore and actively engage in the NIH/NIDCD professional environment. The induction of students onto the Bethesda Campus is expected to begin no later than September 1, 2015 and expected to last through July 1, 2016. The school selected to participate in the partnership must provide a reliable set of students to work on the NIH campus for the duration of the academic school year. Additionally, the school must provide transportation services and various other Human Resource functions for the students, as they will not be considered employees of the NIH. NIDCD will only be responsible for assigning projects to the student workers and engaging them in meaningful professional activities. BACKGROUND The current workforce is composed of large numbers of baby boomers who are projected to retire at an increasing rate in the next 8 to 15 years. The upcoming retirement wave is anticipated to create a shortage of skilled workers in many occupational areas. To mitigate the effects of this anticipated occurrence organizations in the public and private sectors have begun establishing relationships with high schools to cultivate an entry level supply of labor. Research suggests that one of the careers most vulnerable to these labor market shifts are those of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations. NIDCD is interested in partnering with a high school to increase interest in STEM occupations and the NIH/NIDCD, particularly among populations underrepresented in the biomedical research field, and begin to work towards bridging the anticipated shortage of skilled workers in STEM occupations. 1.2 SCOPE This contract will establish and develop a pipeline of qualified candidates for NIH/NIDCD hiring needs in the next 8 to 15 years. This contract intends to focus solely on initiating a relationship with a high school with a demonstrated track record of successful work study programs with outside organizations. The work study program will introduce participating students to the professional environment of the NIH/NIDCD and provide them with administrative and technical work experience. Also it will provide NIH/NIDCD with entry level services for our intramural program and research management and support. 2.1 REQUIREMENTS Successful completion of the following tasks is required: 2.2 TASKS ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES: On a consistent basis, the student work group must plan to perform the following: 1. Receive telephone calls and answer routine inquiries. Refer nonstandard questions to appropriate staff. 2. Create, transmit and receive electronic mail. (for what purpose?) 3. Use database management or spreadsheet applications to enter, update, revise, sort, calculate, and retrieve data to produce various standardized documents using established formats. 4. Create, type and edit (insert, delete, and move text) a wide range of documents such as, letters, memoranda, reports, etc. from hand written or electronic drafts and other formats into final copy. Use sample documents and correspondence manuals to determine how material should be presented. EDUCATION/ SCIENTIFIC TRAINING: 5. Attend a minimum of 3 NIH sponsored academic lectures on varied topics. Produce a list of main ideas and take home messages gleaned from each lecture to present to the supervisor. 6. Shadow a clinical fellow (do you have this lined up or loosely agreed upon)for one day per semester (spring/fall) for a total of two shadowing events per student worker. Produce a list of take home messages to present to the supervisor. 7. Tour at least one lab within the institute, and one lab outside of the institute. Interview with at least one scientist to learn about how they began in the field, how their study develops and future goals for their labs. 8. Attend one Clinical Center sponsored event (Ex. Poster Day, Fellows Networking, etc). 9. Attend relevant management trainings such as the Management Seminar Series (MSS), NIH intern brown bags, and Deputy Director for Management (DDM) lectures. 2.3 DELIVERABLES The students must be able to deliver daily completion of administrative tasks (see above). An attendance log will be kept for students that verifies each day they worked and what tasks they accomplished each day. Students will check in with their supervisor at the beginning of each work day. In addition, by the end of the contracting period the students must produce three lecture summaries; two shadowing summaries and one interview package. All of these items will be presented to the supervisor to put into the student file, and a copy will be given to the high school coordinator for the work study program. 2.4 SCHEDULE Period of Performance: The anticipated period of performance for this contract is September 1. 2015 through July 1, 2016. 2.5 ASSUMPTIONS As the contractor with the High School, the following assumptions apply: 1. The contracting school must provide safe, reliable transportation for the students to and from the NIH campus every day of work. 2. The school should be located within a 20 mile radius of the NIH campus. 3. The contracting school will obtain student work permits. 4. The contracting school will provide workers compensation for the students. 5. The students will not be considered employees of NIH/NIDCD. 6. The NIDCD supervisor and high school coordinator will communicate monthly to discuss student performance and give/receive status updates. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS The students will be considered non-sensitive personnel that regularly access the NIH buildings and facilities. They will require an access badge, which may constitute a low level background investigation. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). No telephone calls will be accepted. Interested organizations that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this project should email capability statements tailored to be responsive to the requirement described above. Capability statements shall be in PDF format. The contents of the capability statement shall be limited to ten (10), 8.5x11 size pages with no less than 11 font Arial characters, no less than one inch margins and no less than single spaced. Capability statements exceeding the page limitation will not be considered. Capability statements should be submitted to kutal@od.nih.gov no later than Thursday, June 18, 2015, 4:00 P.M., EST. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.