36C24125Q0514.docx

Presolicitation Notice Presolicitation Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

830 Chalkstone Avenue

Providence RI

CONTACT INFORMATION

Network Contracting Office 1 (NCO 1) Contracting Officer (90C) 1 VA Center Augusta ME 04330

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Andrew Simard andrew.simard@va.gov andrew.simard@va.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Pre-Solicitation Notice of intent to award a sole source contract. This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to negotiate a sole source contract with:

ELIZABETH ASTON

127 SHIRLEY BLVD

CRANSTON, RI 02910

WJWPB1ZTN5N7

This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to award the Research Methodology Analysis services located at the VAMC Providence, RI. ELIZABETH ASTON is the Exclusive/Sole source vendor specializing in advanced research methodology analysis and implementation supporting research goals. The contractor will provide the required analysis services. Since the intent is to procure this on a sole source basis, no solicitation will be posted to Contracting Opportunities SAM.gov.

The authority for this action is FAR 6.302.1-1 Only One Responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The NAICS 541714. The size standard is 1,000 employees. The PSC/FSC is R405.

Interested persons may contact the Contracting Specialist by email at andrew.simard@va.gov regarding this procurement.

The determination to conduct a competitive procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

Response must be received by 06/02/2025 NLT 10:00am EST.

Statement of Work

Title of Project and Project ID Number Applying Mixed Methods to Identify Links between Cannabis Use and Sleep Behaviors with Ramifications for Veterans Clinical Health Outcomes Project ID Number: NURA-008-23S 4/1/24 – 3/31/29 VA Principal Investigator: Benjamin Berey PhD

Background: Our research will implement an innovative approach using different technologies to assess Veterans’ cannabis use and sleep over time, and in the natural environment. Results from this proposal and subsequent grants extending those findings will address a crucial knowledge gap concerning bi-directional links between cannabis, subjective sleep quality and sleep physiology (e.g., efficiency). Implications of this new knowledge cannot be overstated as sleep and several mental health issues common to Veterans (e.g., cannabis use disorder) are inextricably intertwined.

Purpose:

This project has been reviewed and funded by VA Office of Research and Development Service. Dr. Aston has been involved with Dr. Berey on numerous research studies through his academic career. The consulting contract will fulfill the proposed research goals of this project.

Services Provided: The Contractor shall work with the VA Principal Investigator, Dr. Benjamin Berey to carry out the services/requirements listed below.

We request the consulting services of Elizabeth Aston, PhD to consult with the Principal Investigator and his mentoring team on protocol development and data analytic plans for the qualitative portions of the study, reviewing study results, and contributing to manuscripts. In addition, the contractor will provide support throughout this learning process by offering insights on qualitative analyses for this proposal, such as triangulating qualitative and quantitative data using classification attributes in NVivo for Aim 2.2. The contractor will also direct the team towards new qualitative analytic methodologies (e.g., deductive vs. inductive approaches, content vs. thematic analysis). Part of her contribution will include quarterly meetings to discuss progress and troubleshoot any analytical, conceptual, or procedural issues that may arise. She will also be available for informal meetings as needed.

The contractor will not have access to the VA network or any sensitive VA data. Shared data is deidentified and not sensitive.

Delivery: Services in support of Dr Benjamin Berey’s study will be performed from the effective date of the base year contract, with three option years. Progress and compliance of the contractor will be monitored by the Principal Investigator. Findings will be reported to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Period of Performance: Base year upon award and three option years.

Vendor and POC for payment:

Elizabeth Aston 127 Shirley Blvd Cranston, RI 02910-3321 Phone: 636-236-7735 Elizabeth_Aston@brown.edu

UEI: WJWPB1ZTN5N7

Records Management Language for Statement of Work (SOW):

The following standard items relate to records generated in executing the contract and should be included in a typical procurement contract:

1. Citations to pertinent laws, codes and regulations such as 44 U.S.C chapters 21, 29, 31 and 33; Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a); 36 CFR Part 1222 and Part 1228.

2. Contractor shall treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S. Government for which the Government Agency shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest.

3. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records.

4. Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act.

5. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract.

6. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract.

7. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor must deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data.

8. Contractor agrees to comply with Federal and Agency records management policies, including those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. These policies include the preservation of all records created or received regardless of format [paper, electronic, etc.] or mode of transmission [e-mail, fax, etc.] or state of completion [draft, final, etc.].

9. No disposition of documents will be allowed without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Agency and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of the Agency or destroyed without regard to the provisions of the agency records schedules.

10. Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and Agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information

Presolicitation Notice