Science Policy Fellowship Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Science Policy Analysis (OSPA), is conducting a market survey to ascertain the availability and potential technical capability of potential offerors to provide a comprehensive science policy fellowship program. THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts or quotations. The Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking an organization proficient in the administration and management of a competitive one - to - two year fellowship program focusing on connecting doctoral level scientists and engineers to the science policy and communication arena at the NIH. Those applying should have 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, applicants should be capable of planning and implementing all provisions of a 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. In addition, applicants should be prepared to provide 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. Selected organization will provide 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. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 541990 with a size standard of $7 million. In light of this project summary, all interested concerns are invited to submit a tailored capability statement. The capability statement should reference Sources Sought Number HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-11-001 and should be no longer than 15 pages in length and shall include the following: (1) Name and Address of the Organization, (2) The size and type of business: Other than Small Business; Small Business; 8a Small Business; Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business; HubZone Small Business, as listed under www.ccr.gov, (3) Point of Contact with name, title, voice/telephone, facsimile number, and email address, (4) DUNS number, (5) Contractor's capability statement that addresses the organization's ability, knowledge, experience and personnel to perform the service described in the attached Statement of Work. Pamphlets and standard brochures will not be considered responsive to this Sources Sought Notice). (6) List of three organizations to which equivalent types of fellowship programs have been previously provided within the last three years - to include contract number, dollar value, name and telephone number of customer. This market survey is being conducted to reach the widest possible audience and to gather current market information. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Responding firms should provide four (4) copies of their capability statement to Erin Flynn Pacifico (Ref. HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-11-001), National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 541B, (MSC 7663) Bethesda, MD 20892-7663. (NOTE: If you are using a courier service, Federal Express, or UPS the city, state, and zip code should read ROCKVILLE, MD 20852). Please be aware that the U.S. Postal Service's "Express Mail" DOES NOT deliver to the Rockville, Maryland address AND delivery to the Bethesda, Maryland address will result in a delayed delivery to our office in Rockville, MD (up to 3 - 5 days). ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESPONSES IS Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Email and facsimile copies will not be accepted. All questions and/or comments regarding this sources sought notice must be in writing and may be emailed to Erin Flynn Pacifico at flynne1@od.nih.gov. Comments and questions will NOT be answered, but may assist in creating a solicitation for this requirement. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).