R -- Professional Services

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items. The Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), Office of Extramural Research (OER), Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), intends to procure professional services to obtain professional advice, input and services of an acknowledged expert in NIH grants management and policy. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This acquisition is a 100% small business set-aside and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541990 with a small business standard of $6.5 Million. The period of performance is from the date of award for a period of one year. The services required under this task order shall be completed at 6705 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The NIH will provide an appropriate work area and equipment, including a personal computer, printer, and use of fax and copying equipment essential for assigned work. The Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), Office of Extramural Research (OER), Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides leadership, expertise, and coordination in research training, fellowship, career development, and education grant programs. In this regard, OEP oversees the development of Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), ensures that all FOAs are up-to-date and contain current NIH grants policy and standard consistent template text, and develops and/or reviews related application forms and instructions. OEP is integral to the conversion of all of the NIH research training, fellowship, career development, and education grant applications into electronic submission formats and writing corresponding instructions for the various T, F, K, and some R mechanisms. The purpose of this personal services contract is to obtain professional advice, input and services of an acknowledged expert in NIH grants management and policy from an individual with extensive experience as an NIH Grants Management Officer to assist OEP in being sure that the processes described above take into account potential grants management and grants management staff points of view. Work performed on the following tasks will be in the form of written expert comments on specific Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Policy Notices, and NIH Application Forms, as well as face-to-face briefings with the NIH Research Training Officer, NIH Research Training Coordinator, and the NIH Extramural Program Policy Officer (who will serve as OEP Project Officer on this contract). Additional work will involve research into questions raised during performance of these tasks and consultation with other OEP and NIH staff as necessary to provide requested professional advice. Independently, not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall furnish all the necessary service, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the requirements defined. Task 1: Review draft FOAs for publication in the NIH Guide to ensure that they adhere to current NIH policy, template language, and format. Review and submission of comments and recommendations on draft announcements initiated by the various Individual Centers (IC) and review, update, and/or assist in development of omnibus Program Announcements applicable to NIH-wide programs initiated by OEP. Task 2: Review, update, and/or assist in development of template language for use in the NIH guide publication process. Task 3: Provide consultation and advice to OEP staff on the development of related application forms and instructions. Review and submission of comments on planned revisions of the PHS 398 sections dealing with training and career development awards and assisting with development of supplemental forms and instructions for the transition to electronic grants submission using the SF 424 R&R application forms. Task 4: Evaluate language in other documents submitted for OEP review in areas of research training, fellowships, career development, and education grant awards for potential grants management and policy implications, to insure that policy references are applicable and current. Provide feedback on potential impact of draft NIH grants policy changes. Task 5: Advise and consult on the planning of future steps that may improve the overall process associated with NIH Guide publications of FOAs and Notices associated with T, F, and K mechanism programs. Task 6: Attend various on-site meetings with OEP and other OER staff and contractors directly relevant to above assigned tasks, providing input, when appropriate, in either written or oral form. The Contactor will report on the progress of each task at least weekly to the OEP Project Officer, by telephone conference call, face-to-face meetings, and/or written form. Reports and meeting summaries will have deadlines established for each task as they are assigned and Contractor will provide hard copy and electronic copies to the OEP Project Officer within the established deadlines. The Contractor will report on a monthly basis to the OEP Project Officer on time spent and deliverables for the purpose of documenting contractor performance and request in payment. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Evaluation Factor (1) ? Personnel: Qualifications, skills, and experience of the offeror?s proposed personnel including formal academic training in business (e.g., degree in business management, business administration, or related areas) and employment experience in both the private and government sectors; demonstrated editorial, writing and oral communication skills; ability to undertake the described tasks without extensive training; experience working in team settings; detailed knowledge of grants management policies and procedures, NIH grants application documents, formal training and certification as a grants management officer; experience in explaining NIH grants management policies and procedures; specific knowledge of the National Research Service Awards program, the PHS 398, PHS 2590, SF424 application documents. Evaluation Factor (2) ? Management Approach: The offeror?s proposed contract deliverable management approach and its ability to keep NIH apprised of engagement status, issues, and schedule. Evaluation Factor (3) - Understanding the Problem and NIH?s Challenges: The offeror?s understanding of the NIH, its organizational structure and governance, organs of communication with various stakeholder groups such as the NIH Guide, internal communications, and knowledge of important points of contact within the NIH and other agencies relevant to the research education, training, fellowship, and career development awards. Evaluation Factor (4) ? Technical Approach: The offeror?s proposed methodology for working with NIH to deliver results related to program and project management that directly support achieving the project objectives. Evaluation Factor (5) ? Past Performance: The offeror?s past performance with project and program management within similar programs. Specifically, the offerors shall provide past performance demonstrating experience and aptitude with the methodologies and technologies indicated, and in addressing the challenges specified in this SOW. Personnel and Understanding the Problem and NIH Challenges, combined with past performance (5), are more important than price. Factors (1) and (3) are more important than factors (2) and (4). All interested parties shall submit electronic responses to Em?Ria J. Briscoe at briscoee@mail.nlm.nih.gov and Patricia Gibbons at patricia.gibbons@nih.gov. Responses must be received no later than 4:00 PM EST on June 1, 2007. Please reference solicitation number NLM- 07-110-EJB on all correspondence to this notice.