R -- OMB Circular A-76 Cost Competition Announcement

This is an announcement that US HHS/AHRQ is conducting a Standard Competition in accordance with OMB Circular A-76, dated May 29, 2003. This A-76 cost comparison study will examine the possibility of converting Government "in-house" operations to contractor operations. A cost comparison to determine the feasibility and economy of converting the following services and related functions performed by Government personnel and current contract support to other contract performance will be conducted. Government personnel adversely affected by conversion of Government performed services to contract have the Right of First Refusal for jobs for which they are qualified. The competition will include those services that are currently performed by Federal and contract employees in Rockville, MD at the AHRQ headquarters facility, as well as services currently performed off-site by the incumbent contract support units. Approximately 32 Full Time Equivalent positions and 40 Contract Equivalent Man- years (CME) are affected by this competition. The FAIR Act functions represented include: D705, D706, H010, R140, T000, W310, W601, Y515, and Y820. The Agency intends to solicit proposals under a Low Price - Technically Acceptable Source Selection Pocess. The proposed price of the low cost offeror of those determined to have demonstrated a technically acceptable approach to meeting all PWS service and workload requirements at the documented quality and timeliness standards will be compared to the cost of the Government workforce's Agency Tender. OCKT provides a comprehensive health communications program, which runs the full range of communications (publishing/public affairs/knowledge transfer), dissemination, and implementation services. OCKT uses an integrated approach to health communication and uptake of AHRQ's research findings and programs. Various groupings within OCKT work closely to ensure coordinated and unified approach. OCKT designs, develops, implements, manages, and coordinates health communications programs. The work of OCKT is part of a continuum of activities that begins with the development of research findings and or tools in the Agency's research centers and moves to the creation of products and materials in a wide range of formats that translate the research into useful resources for a variety of audiences and stakeholders. It incorporates the promotion, dissemination, and awareness building to transfer knowledge and create behavior change and national implementation of best practices at various points in the health care system and by a variety of audiences. Work includes but is not limited to the following: 1) Comprehensive publishing services (writing, editing, proofreading, and production), development, testing, translating, and disseminating a variety of information products in both print and electronic formats (Web, DVD, CD-ROM, PDA, and other emerging technologies). 2) Develop, market, and implement clinical and health system-level implementation plans. 3) Translate ARHQ research findings and information into forms that are both suitable and useful for the intended purpose (advertising, promotional, scientific, technical, informational) and recipients (patients, policymakers, researchers, providers, and the general public); write, focus-test, and translate into foreign languages Agency materials for a variety of audiences with varying educational, cultural, and language levels (e.g., Spanish and Asian languages, low reading levels, etc.), and in a wide range of formats. 4) Manage and provide a variety of dissemination outlets'the AHRQ Web pipeline of information products, which makes all printed products and tools Web-accessible in accordance with Agency and Departmental requirements; write and produce AHRQ's monthly newsletter, Research Activities; provide upkeep and management of on-site publications room, provide rapid response distribution of publications to AHRQ staff and contractors; provide liaison with other dissemination outlets, both public and private; provide exhibit and conference support services to program staff, including planning and logistics for the exhibit structures, tabletop displays, selection of publications, and products for staffing the exhibit booth and special posters for meetings and conferences. Maintain and update a product data base infrastructure, electronic inventory, and on-line ordering system; manage presentations and displays, including creating slides, preparing and printing poster sessions for conferences using large format printer, and designing and installing Agency wall displays and art for JME Building hallways and conference rooms; manage, organize, and maintain the AHRQ Slide Library, on the Intranet, consisting of AHRQ presentations and topic areas; coordinate copyright permissions, licensing, and content use of AHRQ publications, CDs, and DVDs, and Web resources. Develop strategic implementation and dissemination plans to help publicize and put into practice on a national level important AHRQ research findings; handle AHRQ media relations for a wide range of news outlets (e.g. print, broadcast, Internet, local, regional, and national); plan and host media events to promote AHRQ research and tools; provide speaker and media training to AHRQ staff, contractors, and grantees, and prepare staff for interviews with media; prepare press releases and e-mail phone pitches to media to disseminate Agency research, tools, and resources; develop strategic partnerships with key organizations, such as other Federal agencies, provider groups, purchasers, policymakers, and continuing medical education communities, as well as patient/consumer organizations to enhance dissemination and implementation; write and coordinate speeches for AHRQ's director; place and write articles in peer-reviewed, professional, and trade publications on behalf of the AHRQ Director and other Agency staff; promote the impact of Agency sponsored research by developing, writing, and recording impact case studies; draft responses to Freedom of Information Act requests for Agency approval that enable individuals to obtain Federal agency records, not otherwise available to the public; produce a weekly electronic newsletter with announcements and information about Agency activities for interested parties via e-mail; describe the results of AHRQ-funded studies, announce the availability of new print and electronic resources, and give updates on the status of funding opportunities. In addition, the work to be performed will include, but not be limited to: 6) Develop and implement national campaigns of public awareness targeted to consumers for the purpose of changing behavior with regard to health care; provide comprehensive national PSA campaign that includes television, radio, print, electronic, and other media (this must utilize both paid and donated media); track the uptake of campaign messages and resultant behavior change on a national level. 7) Develop long-term knowledge transfer strategies designed to support the translation, diffusion, application and implementation of AHRQ and others research findings by health system administrators, corporate health care purchasers, and State and local health policymakers; develop strategies for helping those stakeholders improving their practice and policies that they develop (strategies may incorporate methods such as onsite meetings, web conferences, other electronic and virtual communication means, learning networks, technical assistance, research syntheses, and facilitation of multidisciplinary networks); ensure that stakeholders learning resulting from KT strategies is communicated to a national audience; evaluate the results of the knowledge transfer methods used to inform future AHRQ initiatives; provide liaison between stakeholders and AHRQ by reporting stakeholders needs back to the Agency. 8) Provide comprehensive library services; staff and maintain on-site Information Resources Center; conduct online literature searches and tracking AHRQ research citations; maintain onsite collection of books, technical reports, journals, newspapers, audiovisuals, and other media to support the Agency's mission; assist with researching and obtaining journal articles, books, reports, and other documents requested by AHRQ staff; provide bibliographic management support and training to AHRQ staff on a variety of bibliographic systems, enabling Agency staff to stay facile with the most up-to-date systems in the field. 9) Maintain and update the AHRQ public website and related web resources, including electronic archives; consult with AHRQ program staff, contractors, and grantees on wide range of web development projects (i.e. Web sites, applications, portals, extranet sites, and tools), including external linking and usability testing; monitor and reply to the AHRQ website e-mail box inquiries from the public; coordinate and monitor the Intranet and provide support for internal knowledge management activities; ensure conformance with regulations regarding page architecture, accessibility, 508 compliance, and appropriate use of Web site infrastructure technology and conformance with e-government regulations. The Competitive Sourcing Official for HHS is Robert Noonan, Director, Office of Competitive Sourcing, HHS. The CSO-designee for AHRQ is Dr. Carolyn Clancy, AHRQ Director. Kathleen Kendrick, Deputy Director, AHRQ is the Agency Tender Official. The AHRQ Contracting Officer is Jacquelyn Carey, contact@example.gov. This is not a request for proposals and in no way obligates the Government to award a contract. No solicitation exists at this time. The solicitation will be made available on the Federal Business Opportunities when it is released. The expected date of release for a Draft RFP/PWS is on or about April 14, 2006. The official OMB Circular A-76 cost comparison is expected to be held on or about September 15, 2006.