THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A SOLICITATION FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Institutes of Health intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has operated the Science & Technology (S&T) Policy Fellowships since 1973. It currently partners with more than 30 scientific and engineering societies to provide Congressional Fellowships, and nearly one dozen federal agencies to provide Executive Branch Fellowships. AAAS operates the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships to enable accomplished scientists and engineers from early to senior career stages to learn about, participate in, and contribute to federal policy development, implementation, monitoring, enforcement and evaluation. NIH has participated in the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships since 2001, providing a unique opportunity to introduce scientists and engineers to the analysis, development, and implementation of policies that affect the conduct of medical research. AAAS Fellows at NIH also have an opportunity to further develop their understanding of the processes and mechanisms that NIH uses to support, manage, and coordinate research, research training, and medical and health communications and outreach. The AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships support NIH by bringing highly trained individuals who contribute their doctoral level scientific and technical expertise, analytical skills, and external perspectives to federal policy. The Fellows accept placements in the science policy, planning, evaluation, programmatic, or legislative offices in the Institutes and Centers, and the Office of the Director, and work on initiatives of mutual interest to the Fellows and the host office. They interact with staff across the NIH, other federal agencies, scientific associations, voluntary health agencies, and other public and private sector organizations. Currently more than 25 former AAAS S&T Policy Fellows hold senior positions at NIH. The Fellows also participate in activities administered by AAAS, including an orientation on executive branch and congressional operations and a year-long professional development program on issues involving science, technology, and public policy. The fellowships are intended to be for one full year, and potentially renewable for a second year. AAAS has a long history of cultivating high level scientists from academia, private industry, and non-governmental organizations to promote and recruit highly qualified fellowship candidates nationally. Additionally, AAAS plans and implements all provisions of its fellowship program, from application to placement, as well as recruiting, qualifying, and pairing finalist's interests and experiences to the needs of Institutes, Centers, and Offices for possible placement. AAAS provides a yearly professional development program with monthly meetings, seminars, and evaluations to enhance the fellow's experiences and career advancement as well as provide other policy and government related educational opportunities relating to biomedical research and public health. AAAS provides monthly administrative and management reporting and billing, and a yearly detailed report on the duties and activities of each fellow and the activities of their fellowship. This proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. AAAS is the only responsible source to provide the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships and no other supplies or services will satisfy the Agency requirements. The Director, NIH, has the authority to conduct and support research training, including science research policy training (42 U.S.C. 282). This notice of intent is not a solicitation for competitive proposals. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing, and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can meet the requirements as described above. Capability statements and related materials received by the Contract Specialist no later than March 21, 2011, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time will be considered by the government. Written responses received after March 21, 2011, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time will not be accepted. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Address responses to the attention of Erin Flynn Pacifico at the National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions via email at flynne1@od.nih.gov.
