Senior Researcher and Writer for AIDS.GOV

Synopsis: This is a combined/solicitation Request for Proposals for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Request For Proposal (RFP) 10-233-SOL-00425 package and incorporated provisions are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-43. This acquisition will be processed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures and is not a Small Business set aside, but small, small disadvantage, minority, veteran owned, and HUD zone companies are encourage to submit quotes. This is solicitation is under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611. The Small Business Size Standard is $7 million dollars. This acquisition will be processed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures and is a Small Business Set-Aside. Award of a Firm-Fixed Price contract is anticipated. The period of performance will include a base year (one year) and two one-year options. Description: The Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP), Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services has a requirement to procure Consulting Services and the purpose of this requirement is to recruit a Contractor to provide/perform the following services and tasks to achieve the department objectives as stated in the Statement of Work: Senior Researcher and Writer with knowledge and expertise of HHS and Federal HIV/AIDS Programs, Policies, and Resources. The Contractor must have documented experience in: 1. OHAP goals and objectives; 2. AIDS.gov's goals and objectives; 3. the Federal HIV AIDS Web Council; 4. Knowledge of the National HIV AIDS Strategy (NHAS); 5. MAI goals and objectives; 6. The HHS Web Council's function and goals; 7. ASPA's Web Communications and Web Communications Division (WCD); 8. Knowledge of Federal domestic HIV/AIDS programs and leadership including OHAP, national and local HIV resources and programs; 9. Development and production of Federal blogs, podcasts, widgets, portals, and other new media tools; 10. More than five (5) years of experience and demonstrated expertise in research/writing on HIV/AIDS and Federal HIV/AIDS programs; 11. More than five (5) years of experience in research/writing on new media; 12. More than five (5) years of experience working with state and local AIDS providers. Place of Performance: The anticipated place of performance shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. Additionally, the Contractor may be required to travel to the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP), Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, The Hubert Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, Room 736E, Washington, DC 20201. The provisions at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial (JUN 2008), and 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (JAN 1999), apply to this acquisition: (a) 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: (a) 1. Past Performance; 2. Technical Specifications; 3. Price. Past Performance and Technical Specifications, when combined, are significantly more important than price. (b) Award. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Offerors must include with their offer a completed copy of the 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (AUG 2009). Please note: An offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at http://orca.bpn.gov.; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (MAR 2009), applies to this acquisition; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (APR 2010), applies to this acquisition. The Contracting Officer has indicated the following clauses listed in paragraph (b) as applicable and are hereby incorporated by reference: (a)(1) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Feb 2009) (Applies to all contracts); (19) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755); (20) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Aug 2009) (E.O. 13126); (21) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999); (22) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246); (23) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006), (24) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793); (25) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212); and (38) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332). To be considered for an award, offeror must have completed the online electronic Representations and Certifications located at http://orca.bpn.gov/ in accordance with FAR 4.1201 (a). By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the CCR at: www.ccr.gov/ prior to award during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. [Note: Lack of registration in the Central Contractor Registration will make an offeror ineligible for award.] All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by the Agency. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY AMENDMENTS TO THIS RFP SHALL BE PROCESSED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THIS SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION. ALL OFFERS MUST CLEARLY INDICATE THE RFP NUMBER and be sent to the Juan D. Baez, Contracting Officer, Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, SAS/DAM, Parklawn Building,5600 Fishers Lane, Room 5-101, Rockville, MD 20857. All proposals must be SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 1:00PM EASTERN TIME Friday, September 10, 2010 VIA electronic copy to juan.baez@psc.hhs.gov. It is the vendor's responsibility to confirm receipt of all quotations and/or questions by the closing date of this announcement by contacting Mr. Juan D. Baez at 301-443-2367. Collect calls will not be accepted.