Science, Translation, Analysis and Research Support

SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE "Science, Translation, Analysis and Research Support (STARS)" This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small business; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541611. BACKGROUND The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is one (1) of the 27 research institute and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The mission of the NIEHS is to discover how the environment affects people to promote healthier lives. The Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) at NIEHS is responsible for providing leadership for the NIEHS mission through the development o f research priorities and allocation of resources. Through its relationships with its sister agencies within NIH, other federal agencies (EPA, CDC, etc.) and with public and private institutions and organizations, the Division maintains an awareness of national research efforts, and is positioned to assess the need for research and training in environmental health sciences. With the overarching goal of expanding the impact of the DERT scientific portfolio, this contract is necessary to provide service and support to DERT staff by providing technical and logistical support to those who manage the science and grant portfolios, and by participating in the development of methods and tools that enable this work. Methods and tools may include implementing approaches that maintain and enhance collaborations and consortia, augmenting current methods of tracking of research accomplishments, analyzing of grants management processes, and increasing communication internal to DERT and between DERT staff and grantees. The contract will also contribute to ongoing efforts in analysis, evaluation, and assessment of DERT research programs and portfolio areas. Activities will include, but are not limited to, conducting portfolio assessments; completing literature reviews; compiling grantee research findings for analysis and synthesis; maintaining appropriate databases of grant-related information; contributing to the development of methods for enhancing the dissemination and communication of research advances in the format most appropriate for the intended audience; facilitating collaborations and sharing of scientific progress through meetings, workshops, conferences and symposiums; and producing documents, reports, and other materials as directed for each scientific program. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS A draft copy of the Statement of Work (SOW) is attached to this notice for review. The draft SOW describes the core activities and requirements of the prospective IDIQ contract, including the three Service Areas that the contract is divided into. Interested small business organizations should use the draft SOW to prepare capability statements in response to this notice. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS Contract Type It is anticipated that the contract will be structured as an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with task orders per FAR 16.5. The requirement will be organized into three (3) Service Areas: 1. Service Area 1 - "Portfolio Management, Analysis, and Translation" 2. Service Area 2 - "Science Writing and Content Development" 3. Service Area 3 - "Special Project Support" Offerors may submit proposals for one (1) or more service areas. The government's intention is to contract with the best qualified offeror(s) for each service area. Task Orders under Service Area 1 will be issued to the one successful contractor awarded to that area. Task Orders under Service Areas 2 and 3 will be issued to the qualified pool of contractors awarded to that area. This ID/IQ contract will accommodate both severable and non-severable tasks. Services to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of task orders. All Task Orders shall be either Firm Fixed-Price (FFP), Labor Hour or Time and Materials (T&M). The government will maximize the use of FFP task orders to the greatest extent possible. Section 508 Conformance Requirements for accessibility based on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) are determined to be relevant for this contract. In order to conform to the Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards, the contractor shall perform all work required under the resultant contract in compliance with the provisions delineated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 36 (36 CFR Part 1194). All respondents to any solicitation will be required to submit an HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template (VPAT) which can found at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/contracting/technology-products/product-accessiblity-template/index.html. Anticipated Period of Performance: The anticipated ordering period for the ID/IQ will be 5 years. The expected award date will be March 31, 2020. CAPABILITY STATEMENT / INFORMATION SOUGHT / SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS If your organization has the capability to perform these contract services, please provide tailored capability statements with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability to perform the project requirements outlined in the draft SOW, including information regarding prior completed projects of similar nature. The capability statement should be concise, but must contain sufficient detail for the Government to adequately assess your organization's experience and capabilities. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. Each response should also include the following business information: - DUNS number - Organization Name - Company Address - Point of Contact (including name, title, addresses, telephone number, fax number and Email address) - Business size pursuant to the applicable NAICS code. - Socio-economic status pursuant to the applicable NAICS code (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB, or SDB). Capability statements should be submitted electronically to: Patrick J. Barbour at barbourp@niehs.nih.gov. Responses are requested on or before 4:30 p.m. EST, September 25, 2019. Responses received after the due date may not be included in the development of the acquisition plan. Responses should be typed in 10 to 12-point font, single-spaced submitted in Adobe PDF format and shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages. Standard product brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this sources sought synopsis. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition. TELEPHONE AND FACSIMILE RESPONSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Submit all questions in writing, via email to: barbourp@niehs.nih.gov. All questions must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. September 18, 2019. Telephone inquiries will NOT be accepted. 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).