14-233-SOL-00143_BASE.pdf

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Health News Vendor to Provide News Stories of General Interest to Health Consumers

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 3 of 45

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is 14-233-SOL-00143. This solicitation is being issued as a RFP. This solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-72. The corresponding NAICS code is 519130 and the small business size standard is 500 employees. This requirement is a [Total Small Business] set-aside and only qualified offerors may submit quotes. The resultant award shall be a Firm Fixed Price Award.

Section One: Services/Prices

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

ODPHP is seeking an authoritative health news vendor to provide news stories of general interest for the Healthfinder.gov website. The news articles shall be clear, well-sourced and timely, to provide readers of with an understanding of health issues.

TYPE OF CONTRACT

The contract type awarded is a Firm Fixed Price type contract.

SEVERABLE SERVICES

The services acquired under this contract are severable services. Funds are only available for use for the line item to which they are obligated. Unused funds from one period (line item) may not rollover for use in other periods.

CONSIDERATION AND PAYMENT (FFP)

Pricing sections will be completed upon award and the offeror should submit pricing information in a format which provides adequate information to fill in these sections. The tables below are a simplified version, displaying a firm fixed price for the Base Year and all subsequent Option Years. Monthly payments shall be made in accordance with the following payment schedule:

Line Item Period of

Performance Quantity Units

Price Per Unit

Discounted Price per

Unit Total

1 Base Year 12 Months $ $

1001 Option Year One 12 Months $

2001 Option Year Two 12 Months $

3001 Option Year Three 12 Months $

4001 Option Year Four 12 Months $

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Section Two: Description/Specifications

STATEMENT OF WORK

The Contractor shall furnish all of the necessary personnel, materials, services, facilities, (except as otherwise specified herein), and otherwise do all the things necessary for or incident to the performance of the work as set forth below:

BACKGROUND

Healthfinder.gov is a service of the National Health Information Center (NHIC), run by the Office of Disease Prevention (ODPHP). The site was launched in April 1997 in an effort to provide a one-stop Federal site from which users can easily locate reliable health information.

Healthfinder.gov is the gateway website to online consumer health information produced by the Federal Government and its partners. The site provides links to reliable health information that can help readers stay healthy, understand diagnoses, explore treatment options, find support, and generally become more informed about health promotion and disease prevention.

A licensed daily health news feed has been a key component of healthfinder.gov for the past three years.

Health news continues to be an integral part of healthfinder.gov, with about 30% of visitors to the site visiting that page and over 13,000 subscribers receive health news headlines via email daily.

REQUIREMENTS

ODPHP is seeking a vendor to provide an annual subscription to the English and Spanish healthfinder.gov and health.gov web sites. The services provided to ODPHP shall fulfill the content and technical requirements as specified below:

Content Requirements:

Minimum number of news stories per week is 50

Stories shall be of substantial content. The majority of stories should be a minimum of 150+ words in length. Titles shall be accurate in spelling and grammar; brief yet descriptive.

ODPHP reserves the right to edit titles for length and/or clarity.

There is no requirement that ODPHP will accept all new stories provided.

The news content provider must have editorial policies and procedures in place to insure the accuracy and integrity of each story.

News stories must cover health and medical stories of broad, national and/or international interest and shall include: health and wellness, biomedical research results, new drug information, new disease treatments. Stories shall include: Headline, byline, body and published-on date.

Currency of information: Information must be current. Published dates and times included as standard fields are required.

ODPHP shall have public access to these stories for at least one month from their published date.

Users at the www.healthfinder.gov web site shall be allowed to generate an ‘email to a friend’ containing the linked headline or full-text story.

No commercial content: Information must be free of commercial endorsements or advertisements.

Unobtrusive co-branding: Co-branding must not be intrusive.

Format of content: Content must be delivered to ODPHP via HML

Contractor must provide DTD or schema specifying layout of stories.

Accessibility and compliance of content: If photographs, illustrations, or animations are included in the news story, ALT tags must be provided that provide meaningful textual descriptions. All graphics must include an ALT tag; regardless of whether graphics are decorative of informative.

Spanish content:

o Equivalent news content provided in English and Spanish o English stories translated or trans-created in Spanish should be delivered within three (3) business says of the equivalent English story.

o Spanish stories, if provided, must be in culturally neutral Spanish: the Spanish must be culturally neutral and not written or narrated in the style or vocabulary of a particular Spanish nationality.

All content provided shall be Section 508 complaint.

http://www.healthfinder.gov/

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 5 of 45

Technical requirements:

Content/data will be hosted on ODPHP servers for dissemination on the www.healthfinder.gov, and www.health.gov web sites.

Files shall be delivered to ODPHP via the Internet or available via FTP retrieval by ODPHP a minimum of three times per business day, twice on holidays or weekends. This is an automated process and does not require overtime.

The transfer method must be compatible with ODPHP’s high-security environment.

Story files must be delivered in XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) such that it allows ODPHP to transfer the data into our online system.

Prefer stories include unique identifier and/or “final” version designation to identify duplicates and updated/final stories.

Metadata such as Medical Subject Heading unique identifiers or UMLS Meta-thesaurus Content Unique Identifiers is desirable.

Section Three: Inspection and Acceptance

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Pursuant to the appropriate inspection clause as provided below, all work described in the statement of work to be delivered under this contract is subject to final inspection and acceptance by an authorized representative of the Government. The authorized representative of the Government is the Government's COR, who is responsible for inspection and acceptance of all services, materials, or supplies to be provided by the Contractor.

The COR will review, for completeness, preliminary or draft documentation that the Contractor submits, and may return it to the Contractor for correction. Absence of any comments by the COR will not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for complying with the requirements of this work statement. Final approval and acceptance of documentation required herein shall be by letter of approval (via email) and acceptance by the COR. The Contractor shall not construe any letter of acknowledgment of receipt of material as a waiver of review, or as an acknowledgment that the material is in conformance with this work statement.

General quality measures, as set forth below, will be applied to each work product from the Contractor under this statement of work:

Accuracy – Work shall be accurate in presentation, technical content, and adherence to accepted elements of style.

Clarity – Work shall be clear and concise. Any/all diagrams shall be easy to understand and be relevant to supporting narrative

Consistency to Requirements – All work must satisfy the requirements of this statement of work.

Format – Work products shall be submitted in hard copy (where applicable) and in media mutually agreed on before submission. Hard copy formats shall follow any specified Directives or Manuals.

All electronic documents shall be Section 508 compliant accessible.

Timeliness – Work products shall be submitted by the due date specified in this statement of work.

Innovation – applying new research and evaluation techniques, especially those that address data integrity, reliability and lower cost data gathering techniques (such as those that utilize the internet and data-mining software.

Technical Competence – work products should demonstrate evaluation skills, knowledge and subject matter expertise

Writing – writing should be in active tense, grammatically correct, well constructed in thought and use headings/subheadings.

CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION(S)

During the life of this contract, Contractor performance will be evaluated on an interim and final basis pursuant to FAR Subpart 42.15. The Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) will be utilized for these reviews. Information on CPARS can be located at http://www.cpars.gov.

http://www.healthfinder.gov/ http://www.health.gov/

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 6 of 45

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

THE CONTRACTOR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS ARE SUMMARIZED INTO PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES THAT RELATE

DIRECTLY TO MISSION ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THE PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE MINIMUM

ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF SERVICE REQUIRED FOR EACH REQUIREMENT. THESE THRESHOLDS ARE CRITICAL TO

MISSION SUCCESS.

Task Performance Objectives

Performance Standard

Schedule Method of

Surveillance

Incentives/ Disincentives

Consistent total satisfaction with work product will favorably impact past performance ratings Less than total satisfaction with the quality of work product may adversely impact past performance ratings

Section Four: Deliveries or Performance

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be for a base period of 12 months with two 12-month option periods, as follows:

Base Period: April 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015 Option Period 1: April 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016 Option Period 2: April 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017 Option Period 3: April 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018 Option Period 4: April 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019

Option periods may be exercised in accordance with FAR Clause 52.217-9 entitled "Option to Extend the Term of the Contract."

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All work performed under this contract shall be accomplished at the Contractor’s facility. The contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer and/or Contracting Officer’s Representative via phone as necessary to complete the project.

OBSERVANCE OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS

Government personnel observe the following days as holidays:

New Year’s Day January 1 *

Martin Luther King’s Birthday Third Monday in January

President’s Day Third Monday in February

Memorial Day Last Monday in May

Independence Day July 4*

Labor Day First Monday in September

Columbus Day Second Monday in October

Veterans Day November 11

Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November

Christmas Day December 25*

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* If the date falls on a Saturday, the Government holiday is the preceding Friday. If the date falls on a Sunday, the Government holiday is the following Monday.

In addition to the days designated as holidays, the Government observes the following days:

Any other day designated by Federal Statute

Any other day designated by Executive Order

Presidential Inauguration Day

Any other day designated by the President’s Proclamation

It is understood and agreed between the Government and the Contractor that observance of such days by Government personnel shall not otherwise be a reason for an additional period of performance, or entitlement of compensation except as set forth within the contract. In the event the Contractor's personnel work during the holiday, they may be reimbursed by the Contractor, however, no form of holiday or other premium compensation will be reimbursed either as a direct or indirect cost, other than their normal compensation for the time worked. The contractor MUST obtain approval, in advance, from the COR and the CO, for contractor employees to work during a holiday. This provision does not preclude reimbursement for authorized overtime work if applicable to this contract.

When the Federal, State, Local or other Governmental entity grants excused absence to its employees, assigned Contractor personnel may also be dismissed. The Contractor agrees to continue to provide sufficient personnel to perform critical tasks already in operation or scheduled, and must be guided by the instructions issued by the CO or COR.

If Government personnel are unavailable due to furlough or any other reason, the Contractor must contact the CO or the COR to receive direction. It is the Government's decision as to whether the contract price/cost will be affected. Generally, the following situations apply:

(1) Contractor personnel who are able to continue contract performance (either on-site or at a site other than their normal workstation), must continue to work and the contract price shall not be reduced or increased.

(2) Contractor personnel who are not able to continue contract performance (e.g., support functions) may be asked to cease their work effort. This may result in a reduction to the contract price.

REPORT(S)/DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The contractor shall submit all required report(s)/deliverables in accordance with the following schedule: All reports shall reference and cite the contract/order number. [***Insert Delivery Schedule]

DELIVERABLE QUANTITY DUE DATE FORMAT

Health news stories

50 Weekly Via Internet or FTP retrieval by ODPHP

Files shall be delivered to ODPHP via the Internet or available via FTP retrieval by ODPHP a minimum of three times per business day, twice on holidays or weekends.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

There is no Government furnished property under this order.

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 8 of 45

Section Five: Contract Administration Data

AUTHORITIES OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL

Notwithstanding the Contractor’s responsibility for total management during the performance of this contract the administration of the contract will require coordination between the Government and the Contractor. The following individuals will be the Government’s points of contact during performance of the contract.

Contracting Officer

Stephen Crooks Contracting Officer Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20857 Phone: (301) 443-6557

All communications pertaining to contractual and/or administrative matters under the contract shall be sent to the address above and to the attention of:

Jessica Treanor Contract Specialist Phone: 301-443-6273 Email: jessica.treanor@psc.hhs.gov

Note: The PSC Contracting Officer is the only individual authorized to modify this requirement.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

TO BE COMPLETED AT AWARD

The Government may name a different COR to monitor any individual contract.

CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) AUTHORITY

(a) Performance of work under this contract must be subject to the technical direction of the Contracting Officer's Representative identified above, or a representative designated in writing. The term "technical direction" includes, without limitation, direction to the contractor that directs or redirects the labor effort, shifts the work between work areas or locations, fills in details and otherwise serves to ensure that tasks outlined in the work statement are accomplished satisfactorily.

(b) Technical direction must be within the scope of the specification(s)/work statement.

The Contracting Officer's Representative does not have authority to issue technical direction that:

(1) Constitutes a change of assignment or additional work outside the specification(s)/statement of work;

(2) Constitutes a change as defined in the clause entitled "Changes";

(3) In any manner causes an increase or decrease in the contract price, or the time required for contract performance;

(4) Changes any of the terms, conditions, or specification(s)/work statement of the contract;

(5) Interferes with the contractor's right to perform under the terms and conditions of the contract; or

(6) Directs, supervises or otherwise controls the actions of the contractor's employees.

(c) Technical direction may be oral or in writing. The Contracting Officer's Representative shall confirm oral direction in writing within five work days, with a copy to the Contracting Officer.

mailto:jessica.treanor@psc.hhs.gov

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(d) The contractor shall proceed promptly with performance resulting from the technical direction issued by the Contracting Officers, Representative. If, in the opinion of the contractor, any direction of the Contracting Officers, Representative, or his/her designee, falls within the limitations in (b), above, the contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer no later than the beginning of the next Government work day.

(e) Failure of the contractor and the Contracting Officer to agree that technical direction is within the scope of the contract shall be subject to the terms of the clause entitled "Disputes."

INVOICE SUBMISSION - COMMERCIAL

The Contractor shall submit invoices once per month. A complete invoice noting the monthly firm-fixed price shall be sent electronically, via email, to:

1. Contract Specialist via E-Mail: Jessica.Treanor@psc.hhs.gov

2. Contract Specialist via DAM mailbox: pscsas.invoices@psc.hhs.gov

3. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): TO BE COMPLETED AT TIME OF AWARD

4. Financial Management Service (FMS): psc_invoices@psc.hhs.gov

* No other non-invoice related documents (i.e. deliverables, reports, balance statements) shall be sent to the DAM and FMS mailboxes. Invoices Only.

The subject line of your email invoice submission shall contain the contract number, contract line item number, the order number, if applicable, and the number of invoices. The Contractor shall send one email per contract per month. The email may have multiple invoices for the contract. Invoices must be in the following formats: PDF, TIFF, or Word. No Excel formats will be accepted. The electronic file cannot contain multiple invoices; example, 10 invoices requires 10 separate files (PDF or TIFF or Word).

Invoices shall be submitted in accordance with the contract terms, i.e. payment schedule, progress payments, partial payments, deliverables, etc.

All calls concerning contract payment shall be directed to the COR.

In accordance with FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, a proper invoice must include the following items: FAR 52.212-4(g) Invoice.

(1) The Contractor shall submit an original invoice and three copies (or electronic invoice, if authorized) to the address designated in the contract to receive invoices. An invoice must include:

(i) Name and address of the Contractor;

(ii) Invoice date and number;

(iii) Contract number, contract line item number and, if applicable, the order number;

(iv) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price of the items delivered;

(v) Shipping number and date of shipment, including the bill of lading number and weight of shipment if shipped on Government bill of lading;

(vi) Terms of any discount for prompt payment offered;

(vii) Name and address of official to whom payment is to be sent;

(viii) Name, title, and phone number of person to notify in event of defective invoice; and

(ix) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The Contractor shall include its TIN on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.

(x) Electronic funds transfer (EFT) banking information.

(A) The Contractor shall include EFT banking information on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.

(B) If EFT banking information is not required to be on the invoice, in order for the invoice to be a proper invoice, the Contractor shall have submitted correct EFT banking information in accordance with the applicable solicitation provision, contract clause (e.g., 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer, System for Award Management, or 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer, mailto:Jessica.Treanor@psc.hhs.gov mailto:pscsas.invoices@psc.hhs.gov mailto:psc_invoices@psc.hhs.gov

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 10 of 45

Other Than System for Award Management), or applicable agency procedures.

(C) EFT banking information is not required if the Government waived the requirement to pay by EFT.

(2) Invoices will be handled in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR Part 1315.

Additionally, the FMS requires the contractor to include its Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS) on each invoice.

In accordance with OMB Memorandum, M-11-32, Agencies shall make payments to small businesses as soon as practicable, with the goal of making payments within 15 days of receipt of a proper invoice. If a small business contractor is not paid within this (15 day) accelerated period, the contractor will not be given a late-payment interest penalty. Interest penalties, as prescribed by the Prompt Payment Act, remain unchanged by means of this memorandum. All small businesses shall label all invoices as "Small Business."

Additionally, in accordance with OMB Memorandum, M-12-16, all prime contractors are encouraged to disburse funds received from the Federal Government to their small business subcontractors in a prompt manner. To assist prime contractors in expediting contractor payments to small business subcontractors, Agencies shall, to the full extent permitted by law, temporarily establish an earlier, accelerated date for making agency payments to all prime contractors. Consistent with OMB Memorandum M-11-32 above, Agencies shall have a goal of paying all prime contractors within 15 days of receiving proper documentation. In an effort to support small business growth, drive economic activity and job creation, the Contractor is encouraged to accelerate payments to their small business subcontractors.

In accordance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all payments under this order will be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The Contractor shall provide financial institution information to the Finance Office designated above in accordance with FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management.

352.242-70 KEY PERSONNEL. (JAN 2006)

The key personnel specified in this contract are considered to be essential to work performance. At least 30 days prior to diverting any of the specified individuals to other programs or contracts (or as soon as possible, if an individual must be replaced, for example, as a result of leaving the employ of the Contractor), the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and shall submit comprehensive justification for the diversion or replacement request (including proposed substitutions for key personnel) to permit evaluation by the Government of the impact on performance under this contract. The Contractor shall not divert or otherwise replace any key personnel without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Government may modify the contract to add or delete key personnel at the request of the contractor or Government.

(End of clause)

RIGHTS IN DATA

Any documents, materials, or records provided to the Contractor, or developed or maintained by the Contractor in the performance of the contract are deemed to be property of the Government.

HANDLING OF DATA

The Contractor agrees to the extent that it receives or is given access to data necessary for the performance of contract which contains restrictive markings, the Contractor shall treat the data in accordance with such markings unless otherwise specifically authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The contractor shall be responsible for managing and overseeing the activities of all contractor personnel, as well as any subcontractor efforts used in performance of this contract. The contractor’s management responsibilities shall include all activities necessary to ensure the accomplishment of timely and effective support performed in accordance with the requirements contained in the statement of work. The contractor shall receive, process, log, track and reproduce and distribute documents in a way that assures, timely, accurate and cost efficient processing. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to retain hard copies of all documents at their site in a location that is easily accessible by the COR. The contractor shall establish a cost-conscious and effective approach to manage the logistics.

The Contractor shall provide a Project Manager to facilitate Government-Contractor communications. The Project Manager shall be the primary technical and managerial interface between the Contractor, the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The name of this person, and an alternate or alternates, who shall act for the Contractor when the Manager is absent, be designated in writing to the CO. The Project Manager or alternate will have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operations.

Section Six: Special Contract Requirements

PROHIBITION AGAINST PERSONAL SERVICES

The Contractor shall not perform personal services under this contract. Contractor personnel are employees of the Contractor or its subcontractors and are under the administrative control and supervision of the Contractor. A Contractor supervisor must give all individual Contractor employee assignments and daily work direction. The Government will not supervise or direct Contractor employees in the performance of their assignments. If at any time the Contractor believes that any Government action or communication has been given that would create a personal service relationship between the Government and any Contractor employee, the contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer of this communication or action. The Contractor shall not perform any inherently-governmental functions under this contract. No Contractor employee shall represent or give the appearance that he/she is a Government employee, agent or representative. No Contractor employee shall state orally or in writing at any time that he or she is acting on behalf of the Government. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all employees assigned to this contract understand and are committed to following these requirements.

HHS SECTION 508 ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS NOTICE (SEPTEMBER 2009)

This contract is subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (the Act) of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) Electronic and Information Accessibility Provisions (36 CFR Part 1194).

Section 508 of the Act requires that, unless an exception applies, all communications products and services that require a contractor or consultant to produce content in any format that is specifically intended for publication on, or delivery via, a federally owned or federally funded website permit the following:

(1) Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use information and data that is comparable to the access and use of information and data by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.

(2) Members of the public with disabilities seeking information or services from a federal agency to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use of information and data by members of the public who are not individuals with disabilities.

(Note: Information about Section 508 of the Act is available at http://www.section508.gov/. The complete text of Section 508 can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/provisions.htm) Accordingly, regardless of format, all web content or communications materials specifically produced for publication on, or delivery via, HHS websites, including text, audio, or video, under this contract shall conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. Remediation of any materials that do not comply with the applicable accessibility standards of 36 CFR Part 1194 as set forth herein shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

The following Section 508 accessibility standards apply to the content or communications material identified in this SOW or PWS:

§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/provisions.htm

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Note: Contractors are required to pass all Section 508 Compliance requirements however, the checkpoints that will be referenced regularly are as follows:

Checkpoint Criteria

A1 Do images that convey contextual content have equivalent alternative text specified in the alt attribute of the img element?

A2 Do images that are purely decorative, and not contextual, have empty, or null, alternative text specified, e.g. alt=""?

A3 Does the alternate text convey contextual relevance to the page it is on?

A4 Do images that convey complex content have longdesc attributes or equivalent text content available elsewhere on the page?

A5 Does text content contained in images disappear when images are not available, i.e. is there text contained in the images?

C1 Is information conveyed by color also conveyed by context, markup, graphic coding, or other means?

C2 Does a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 exist between text, and images of text, and background behind the text?

C3 Is a correct contrast ratio maintained when images are not available?

C4 Is a correct contrast ratio maintained when CSS is disabled?

D1 With CSS disabled, is color and font information rendered in the browser's default CSS?

D2 With CSS disabled, are headings, paragraphs, and lists obvious and sensible?

D3 With CSS disabled, does the order of the page content make sense as read?

D4 With CSS disabled, is most text, other than logos and banners, rendered in text rather than images?

D5 With CSS disabled, does any content that was invisible before stay invisible?

D6 With CSS disabled, is any content or functionality provided by the CSS through mouse action also provided through keyboard-triggered event handlers?

D7 When tables are used for layout, does the content linearize properly when layout tables are turned off?

M1 Are links provided to any special readers or plug-ins that are required to interpret page content?

O4 Can a user navigate over groups of links, between multiple groups of links, and between sections of the page content by means of section headings or visible and audible local links?

O5 Are heading elements used to convey logical hierarchy and denote the beginning of each

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Checkpoint Criteria section of content?

O6 Do links on a page with different targets have different link text and do links on a page with the same target have the same link text?

Reference 1 Do all source files (documents) that are embedded on or linked from a page, comply with 1194.22, or a link to an equivalent compliant file that is provided for each non-compliant file?

SECURITY OF DATA

The Contractor shall comply with any security requirements established by HHS to ensure proper and confidential handling of data and information. The Contractor shall refer to “HHS Cybersecurity Program.”, which is HHS’ Information Security Program Policy, dated June 2010. The contractor shall become familiar with the HHS Departmental Information Security Policies which may be found at http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/2007-0002.html.

“HHS Cybersecurity Program” develops policies, procedures, and guidance to serve as a foundation for HHS' information security program. These documents implement relevant Federal laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines that provide a basis for the information security program at the Department. The contractor must become familiar with ‘HHS Cybersecurity Program” guidelines as presented at http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/index.html#Security.

Data obtained for this contract shall not be used to create databases or any other product not intended for use specifically in this project. All data containing personal identifiers shall be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579). No data is to be released to anyone without the specific approval of the COR and the Contracting Officer.

HHS - CONTROLLED FACILITIES AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY

(a) To perform the work specified herein, Contractor personnel are expected to have routine (1) physical access to an HHS-controlled facility; (2) logical access to an HHS-controlled information system; (3) access to sensitive HHS data or information, whether in an HHS-controlled information system or in hard copy; or

(4) any combination of circumstances (1) through (3).

(b) To gain routine physical access to an HHS facility, logical access to an HHS-controlled information system, and/or access to sensitive data or information, the Contractor and its employees shall comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12, Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors; Office of Management and Budget memorandum (M-05-24); and Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) Number 201; and with the personal identity verification and investigation procedures contained in the following documents:

(1) HHS Information Security Program Policy http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/policydocs/ociosummaries.html http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/securityprivacy/index.html

(2) HHS Office of Security and Drug Testing, Personnel Security/Suitability Handbook, dated February 1, 2005. http://www.hhs.gov/ohr/manual/pssh.pdf

(3) HHS HSPD-12 Policy Document, v. 2.0.

www.hhs.gov/asfr/og/acquisition/policies/hspd12contractguide.doc

(c) This contract/order will entail the following position sensitivity level(s) 5.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/2007-0002.html http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/index.html#Security

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(d) The personnel investigation procedures for Contractor personnel require that the Contractor prepare and submit background check/investigation forms based on the type of investigation required. The minimum Government investigation for a non-sensitive position is a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) with fingerprinting. More restricted positions--i.e., those above non-sensitive, require more extensive documentation and investigation. As part of its proposal, and if the anticipated position sensitivity levels are specified in paragraph (c) above, the Offeror shall notify the Contracting Officer of (1) its proposed personnel who will be subject to a background check/investigation and (2) whether any of its proposed personnel who will work under the contract have previously been the subject of national agency checks or background investigations.

(e) Investigations are expensive and may delay performance, regardless of the outcome of the investigation. Delays associated with rejections and consequent re-investigations may not be excusable in accordance with the FAR clause, Excusable Delays--see FAR 52.249-14. Accordingly, if position sensitivity levels are specified in paragraph (c), the Offeror shall ensure that the employees it proposes for work under this contract have a reasonable chance for approval.

(f) Typically, the Government investigates personnel at no cost to the Contractor. However, multiple investigations for the same position may, at the Contracting Officer's discretion, justify reduction(s) in the contract price of no more than the cost of the additional investigation(s).

(g) The Contractor shall include language similar to this ``HHS-Controlled Facilities and Information Systems Security'' language in all subcontracts that require subcontractor personnel to have the same frequency and duration of (1) physical access to an HHS-controlled facility; (2) logical access to an HHS-controlled information system; (3) access to sensitive HHS data/information, whether in an HHS-controlled information system or in hard copy; or (4) any combination of circumstances (1) through (3).

(h) The Contractor shall direct inquiries, including requests for forms and assistance, to the Contracting Officer or designee.

(i) Within 7 calendar days after the Government's final acceptance of the work under this contract, or upon termination of the contract, the Contractor shall return all identification badges to the Contracting Officer or designee.''

POST AWARD ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

a. General: The Contractor shall have programs in place to identify, report, and mitigate actual and potential conflicts of interest for itself, its employees, subcontractors and consultants. The existence of such programs and the disclosure of known actual or potential conflicts are material performance requirements of this contract.

b. Disclosure: The Contractor shall report all actual and potential conflicts of interest pertaining to this contract to the Contracting Officer, including those that would be caused by a contemplated modification to this contact or another contract. Such reports shall be in writing (including by email). Upon request, the Contractor shall respond to a Contracting Officer's request for an OCI mitigation plan.

c. Resolution: In the event the Contracting Officer determines that a conflict of interest exists, based on disclosure from the Contractor or from other sources, the Contracting Officer shall take action which may include, but is not limited to, requesting a mitigation plan from the Contractor, terminating part or all of the contract, modifying the contract or obtaining a waiver in accordance with applicable law, including FAR

9.503 as applicable.

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ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE/MITIGATION

Offerors are required to identify actual and potential organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) related to the services described in the statement of work for itself, as well as employees, consultants and subcontractors proposed. This includes, but is not limited to:

- The existence of conflicting roles that might bias judgment; and

- Access to nonpublic information that will give the offeror an unfair competitive advantage.

Offerors shall include an explanation of the process used to identify OCIs. If an actual or potential OCI is identified, the offeror shall submit a mitigation plan as part of its proposal.

Offerors shall submit with their proposal an OCI affirmation, using the following language:

"I, (Name and Title), warrant that: 1) I am an official authorized to bind the entity; and 2) to the best of my knowledge and belief , actual and potential organizational conflicts of interest have been identified, and disclosed to the Contracting Officer (identify section of proposal) as of (Date)."

Service Contract Act Wage Determinations

The Contractor is bound by the Wage Determination Number 2005-2103, Rev. 13, dated June 19, 2013 and all subsequent revisions made under this Wage Determination Number, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, in accordance with the Service Contract Act of 1965, as amended (41 U.S.C. 351). The Contractor is put on notice that after performance begins, the Contractor is responsible for paying employees at least the applicable wage determination rate, if one exists, for the place of performance where the award is being completed. The Department of Labor strictly enforces the Service Contract Act for all employees covered by the Act.

The above referenced Wage Determination Number is for the Washington DC geographical area. If the place of performance is other than this geographical area; and therefore changes this Wage Determination Number the award will include the appropriate revised number, as necessary.

Service Contract Age Wage Determinations can be found at http://www.wdol.gov/.

Section Seven: Contract Clauses

52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/far/

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items. (SEP 2013)

52.227-14 Rights in Data (DEC 2007)

52.217-8 Option to Extend Services. (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days of contract expiration.

(End of clause) http://www.wdol.gov/

Solicitation No. 14-233-SOL-00143 Page 16 of 45

52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days of expiration; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 60 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years.

52.232-99 PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS

(DEVIATION)(AUG 2013)

This clause implements the temporary policy provided by OMB Policy Memorandum M-12-16, Providing Prompt Payment to Small business Subcontractors, dated July 11, 2012, and the extension to that policy provided by OMB Policy Memorandum M-13-15, Extension of Policy to Provide Accelerated Payment to Small Business Subcontractors, dated July 11, 2013.

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the contractor is required to make accelerated payments to small business subcontractor to the maximum extent practicable after receipt of a proper invoice and all proper documentation from the small business subcontractor.

(b) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (b), in all subcontracts with small business concerns.

(c) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items. (DEC 2013)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (FEB 2009) (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)).

(2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Pub.

L.108-77,108-78).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: (Contracting Officer check as appropriate.)

[] (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (SEP 2006), with Alternate I (OCT 1995) (41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

[] (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (APR 2010)(Pub. L.

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110-252, Title VI, Chapter 1 (41 U.S.C. 251 note)).

[] (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (JUN 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

[X] (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUL 2013) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

[] (5) 52.204-11, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Reporting Requirements (JUL 2010) (Pub. L. 111-5).

[X] (6) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (AUG, 2013) (31 U.S.C.

6101 note).

[] (7) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters

(JUL 2013) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

[X] (8) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (MAY 2012) (section 738 of Division C of Pub. L. 112-74, section 740 of Division C of Pub. L.

111-117, section 743 of Division D of Pub. L. 111-8, and section 745 of Division D of Pub.

L. 110-161).

[] (9) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

[] (10) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (JAN 2011) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

[] (11) (Reserved)

[X] (12)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).

[] (ii) Alternate I (NOV 2011).

[] (iii) Alternate II (NOV 2011).

[] (13)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (JUN 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

[] (ii) Alternate I (OCT 1995) of 52.219-7.

[] (iii) Alternate II (MAR 2004) of 52.219-7.

[X] (14) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(2) and (3)).

[X] (15)(i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)).

[] (ii) Alternate I (OCT 2001) of 52.219-9.

[] (iii) Alternate II (OCT 2001) of 52.219-9.

[] (16) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

[X] (17) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

[] (18) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages-Subcontracting Plan (JAN 1999) (15 U.S.C.

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637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

[] (19)(i) 52.219-23, Notice of Price Evaluation Adjustment for Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (OCT 2008) (10 U.S.C. 2323)(if the offeror elects to waive the adjustment, it shall so indicate in its offer.)

[] (ii) Alternate I (JUN 2003) of 52.219-23.

[] (20) 52.219-25, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program-Disadvantaged Status and Reporting (JUL 2013) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

[X] (21) 52.219-26, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program-Incentive Subcontracting (OCT 2000) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

[] (22) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657f).

[] (23) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

[] (24) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Concerns (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

[] (25) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Concerns Eligible Under the WOSB Program (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

[X] (26) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (JUN 2003) (E.O. 11755).

[X] (27) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (DEC 2013) (E.O. 13126).

[X] (28) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (FEB 1999).

[X] (29) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (MAR 2007) (E.O. 11246).

[X] (30) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (SEP 2010) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

[X] (31) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (OCT 2010) (29 U.S.C. 793).

[X] (32) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (SEP 2010) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

[] (33) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act

(DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496).

[] (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (AUG 2013). (Executive Order 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

[] (35)(i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (MAY 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

[] (ii) Alternate I (MAY 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

[] (36) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (DEC 2007) (42

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U.S.C. 8259b).

[] (37)(i) 52.223-16, IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products (DEC 2007) (E.O. 13423).

[](ii) Alternate I (DEC 2007) of 52.223-16.

[X] (38) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving

(AUG 2011)

[] (39) 52.225-1, Buy American Act - Supplies (FEB 2009) (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d).

[] (40)(i) 52.225-3, Buy American Act-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act (NOV 2012) (41 U.S.C.