36C24E19Q0127-0001002.pdf

1. Is it possible to bid by task (FFP for each task) or is the RFQ one firm, fixed price for all three tasks? The contract is for one firm fixed price contract. Cost estimates should be provided by portfolio analysis

2. Would CSR&D welcome integrative health expertise on the proposed contractor’s team? If the case is strong enough for inclusion, the responder may include expertise along any lines.

3. Is this the first-ever review of the VA Scientific Portfolio? Portfolio reviews have been conducted in the past, typically on specific topics within the portfolio and as part of contract with other tasks and services. This is the first time CSRD is procuring a contract specifically for portfolio anaysis.

4. If not the first review, is there an example of a report produced from previous contracts that was well-received by the VA so we can better appreciate the scope of effort? This is the first time CSRD is procuring these specific services, therefore no example is available.

5. Task 1 – Portfolio review and analyses asks to “Provide administrative and technical support to the Office of Research and Development (OR&D) on various portfolio analyses.” This seems to imply that an OR&D staffer will give overall direction on each analysis and make final decision on best methods while the Contractor would advise on possible approaches and conduct the analysis. Is this correct? In general, yes, ORD staff will be providing technical advice and may be consulted regarding methods and presentation.

6. Task 2 Analysis of Translational Potential – item 1 – “Define paradigm…in consultation to VA Research staff.” If awarded the contract, the role for the contractor would be to assemble best available talent based on the specific topics of priority to VA CSR&D to make recommendations to VA CSR&D – is this correct? Yes. The analyses may contain information from all funded projects. Some portfolio topics will cross the various ORD Services.

7. Is there an incumbent/ was this procurement previously awarded? If not are any parts of this effort currently being done on another contract? If so, could you identify the incumbent and indicate whether the incumbent is eligible to compete for this new effort? This is a new requirement for this ORD Service line.

8. How will the government handle ODC’s? This is a firm, fixed price contract and the price schedule should include all costs for each year as noted in the solicitation.

9. On page 3, under “Place of Performance,” the solicitation indicates that “…The government may require the contractor to visit Medical Centers, Academic Affiliates and VA-Affiliated Non-Profits where VA research may be conducted.” Please provide guidance on how we should price travel for purposes of evaluation. How many trips should be planned to each region of the US? Travel will be reimbursed using the Federal Travel Regulations as a guide. Travel costs estimates do not need to be included in your response.

10. On page 7, under Personnel Qualifications: please clarify whether you require resumes/CVs for all proposed personnel or just for Key Personnel. Also, please confirm that, for purposes of this solicitation, the project manager and the technical director are the two positions designated as key. At a minimum, the key personnel should be provided. Beyond required key personnel, responders can decide who is included.

11. On Page 26, under instructions for the Technical Quote, please clarify what you mean by “a redacted version of the vendors submission.” How is this different than the Technical Quote? The redacted solicitation should have all identifying company information removed for evaluation purposes.

12. On Page 26, under Past Performance: please confirm whether the past performance contracts submitted may include past performance by subcontractors as well as the prime. Past performance should include prime vendor information.

13. Synopsis/Solicitation Notice, page 2, 4th paragraph states that the Technical portion shall not exceed 30 pages. Please confirm that the cover pages, table of contents, glossary of terms and acronyms, and key personnel resumes are included in this 30-page count? Yes; they are included in the 30 pages.

14. Is a redacted version of all 4 parts required? Yes

15. Performance Work Statement, page 4, Task 1, paragraph number 4 states: “Support and analyze impact of specific research portfolios…” Does the Government have established metrics for assessing impact, or would the Contractor need to develop them in partnership with VA experts? Does the VA define portfolio impact in terms of scientific productivity (e.g., numbers of papers, citation counts, etc.), clinical outcomes (e.g., reductions in morbidity/mortality rates), patents/commercialization, or something else? Responders should provide impact measures in their response; however, VA and the awardee will develop the final plan together post-award.

16. Performance Work Statement, page 6, the Data & Systems, the databases listed under Data & Systems are all US-centric. Is the VA Interested in benchmarking or comparing its research outcomes against the broader international community, as captured in academic research publications (outside those indexed in PubMed) and international patent activity (e.g., patents granted outside the USPTO for inventions relevant to the VA research portfolio)? This is not a requirement.

17. Performance Work Statement, page 4, Objective #5, states: “Utilizing the prepared reports, the contractor will make recommendations based upon analysis of investment trends…” Please clarify the types of recommendations VA is looking for in Objective 5 and the outcomes it would like to achieve as a result of these recommendations? The contractor will make recommendations based upon analysis of investment trends, identified strengths, weaknesses, and quality improvement recommendations for further research. These recommendations may include translational research approaches and advances, quality improvement, filling scientific gaps, etc. Recommendations may be delineated by ORD research service. Recommendations do not include what research will be conducted or how VA will conduct research.

18. Task1: Section 4 states, Support and analyze impact of specific research portfolios using NLP and/or other search methodologies” (page-4), In order to scope and price the compute resources needed for analysis, what is the size of the current portfolio and how many projects are in each portfolio? How many new projects and portfolio will be added per year? The total number of projects across all portfolios funded by ORD in a time frame from 2010 to 2020 is 6,200. The individual portfolios are diverse in size and may range from 60 projects to 1200 projects.

19. Task 1: Section 5 states, “Examine VA and non-VA databases to determine investment and trends…”

(page 4). Can you provide quantity and format of these databases and a sense of number of projects in these databases? VA database information will be provided in Excel format; non-VA database information are in the public domain.

20. Task 2: Section 2.1 states that the contractor shall provide a project management plan for each new portfolio analysis” (page 5). How many new portfolio analyses are anticipated per year? Up to 6, as identified in the Performance Work Statement.

21. Task 3: RFQ states, “Conduct expedited literature reviews to summarize existing knowledge of research topics and current treatments of diseases affecting veterans. Designated VA scientific subject matter experts may provide guidance for the reviews.” (page 5). Will the Government and Contractor work together to define the expediated timeline for the literature reports? Or does the Government have a specified definition for expediated? Literature reviews may need to be conducted to complete Portfolio

Analyses. “Expedited” timelines will be presented by the contractor and approved by the VA within the

Project Management Plan for each analysis.

22. Task 3: Section 3.1 states, “Up to 6 literature reviews by ORD, for scoping and pricing purposes, what is the anticipated time frame and duration for each literature review? Literature reviews may need to be conducted to complete Portfolio Analyses. “Expedited” timelines will be presented by the contractor and approved by the VA within the Project Management Plan for each analysis.

23. Will the contractor have access to PHI/PII data? If yes: how will the contractor be required to handle the

PHI/PII data? How many anticipated PHI/PII records will the contractor be handling? No; the contractor will not have access to PHI/PII.

24. Are there any specific weighted evaluation criteria? As noted in the solicitation, comparative evaluation will be utilized in this procurement.