Pre-Proposal Conference Slides_16May2022.pptx

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE

FOR

STI IMPACT RESEARCH CONSORTIUM

(STIIRC)

RFP 75D301-22-R-72168

May 16, 2022

Presented by: The Division of STD Prevention, of the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (DSTDP/NCHHSTP) Office of Financial Resources (OFR)

Office of Acquisition Services (OAS)

WELCOME

Sherrie Randall

Office of Acquisition Services (OAS) Team Leader supporting NCHHSTP

PROGRAM OFFICE WELCOME

Raul Romaguera

Deputy Division Director, DSTDP

The Division of STD Prevention, NCHHSTP

STIs are on the Rise in the United States

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of Americans:

Directly through morbidity and mortality And through the effects of the pandemic on health services Responses to the pandemic might inform response to infectious disease and how to strengthen the public health workforce

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND

Matthew Hogben

Office of Acquisition Services (OAS) Team Leader supporting NCHHSTP

Background: Essential Public Health Services All contractors funded under this contract shall participate in the STI Impact Research Consortium (STIIRC) Composed of CDC staff and principal investigators from contractors.

The chair of the consortium shall be a staff member of DSTDP, leading discussions and making final study protocol decisions considering input from consortium members.

Final decisions on the conduct of research remain within the purview of CDC via the Director of DSTDP.

CDC anticipates that the expertise that will exist in the STIIRC will be invaluable to the success of the consortium expressed through discussions of research needs and the quality of research.

Two Co-equal purposes Increase the population-level impact of STI prevention and control through public health programs

Improve health equity for populations disproportionately affected by STI.

Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

STI of particular focus are those causing substantial national morbidity or mortality, including substantial endemic threats (e.g., HIV, syphilis, hepatitis), or as emerging threats (e.g., antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea).

Increasing Prevention Impact and Health Equity

Through what approach or mechanism can we achieve the purpose?

Establish a consortium of research centers to provide a ready source of research, scientific and technical expertise

The STI Impact Research Consortium Essential public health approaches include:

Assessment (including surveillance and screening) Treatment Case investigation and contact tracing Primary prevention interventions to reach individuals and populations with high morbidity or vulnerable to transmission.

Protect and promote health of people in all communities, including removal of barriers that have resulted in health inequities.

Research conducted via this contract is intended to increase the impact of disease intervention services through testing innovative strategies and tool and implementing effective approaches at population scale.

Addressing the core functions of public health will also strengthen public health capacity to manage infectious diseases more broadly.

Types of Research in STIIRC Clinical trials Please see the National Institute of Health’s definition of a clinical trial at https://grants.nih.gov/policy/clinical-trials/definition.htm Includes: behavioral and biomedical outcomes, broad scope for intervention Population-focused implementation science No specific implementation research templates required given the broad scope of this contract Encouraged to follow research principles grounded in population-level impact and in health equity

Addressing the core functions of public health will also strengthen public health capacity to manage infectious diseases more broadly.

BREAK

15 min

RFP Discussion

SECTIONS B - M

Presented by

Liubov Kriel & Sherrie Randall

B.1 Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to provide services that fall within the scope of the work specified in Section C for the project entitled, “Sexually Transmitted Infections Impact Research Consortium (STIIRC).” The Contracting Officer (CO) will request the work through the issuance of task orders during the ordering period as specified in Section I of the contract.

B.2. Contract Type and Services

This is a competitive procurement providing for full and open competition.

This acquisition is being competed in accordance with FAR Part 15 - Contracting by Negotiation. The NAICS Code is 541990 "All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services," with a small business size standard of $17M.

This is an Indefinite- Delivery Indefinite- Quantity contract (IDIQ) utilizing individual task orders to provide Sexually Transmitted Infections Impact Research Consortium (STIIRC) support services. The Government will issue task orders that are firm-fixed-price (FFP), time-and-materials (T&M), or hybrid type, that is a combination of FFP and T&M.

Obligation of funds will be done by the issuance of individual task orders by the Contracting Officer in accordance with the clause titled “Award of Task Orders” in Section H and FAR clause 52.216-18 titled “Ordering” in Section I. The Contractor shall not exceed the amount negotiated for each individual task order without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

In addition, the Contractor shall not commence work until a task order or other written notification for a specific assignment is issued by the Contracting Officer. Only a CDC Contracting Officer is authorized to issue a task order request to the Contractor or issue finalized task orders under this contract. The government is not obligated to reimburse the Contractor for any costs that it incurs before issuance of a task order or other written notification by the Contracting Officer.

The government intends to issue one or more basic contract awards for this IDIQ contract.

The intent is to issue one Task Order 0001 (see Attachment J5 and Section L herein) upon award of this IDIQ. Task Order 0001 will be issued with specific performance period.

B.4 Minimum and Maximum Ordering Amounts

Minimum Order Amount: $10,000

Maximum Order Amount: $20,000,000

B.5 Minimum Guarantee

This contract guarantees a minimum of $10,000. Once a contractor has received task order obligation awards that exceed $10,000, the minimum guarantee will be considered met. In the event the contractor has received task order obligation awards of amounts less than the cumulative minimum, the Government will fund the difference between the actual task order award obligation amounts and the guaranteed minimum. The contractor may then invoice for any minimum due at the end of the contract period. In order to receive the minimum guarantee a contractor must submit a proposal in response to at least three (3) Requests for Task Order Proposals (RFTOPs) within a five-year period of performance of the contract without receiving an award.

B.6 Maximum Contract Value

The aggregate maximum value of all combined awards made under this solicitation shall not exceed $51,120,800.00. The overall aggregate maximum value for ALL contracts cumulatively will be $51,120,800.00. If the Government's requirements for services set forth in the solicitation do not result in orders in the amounts described as “maximum," the event shall not constitute the basis for an equitable price adjustment under this contract.

B.7 Task Order Pricing

The Government will issue task orders that are firm-fixed-price (FFP), time-and-materials (T&M), or hybrid type, that is a combination of FFP and T&M.

B.7.1 Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Pursuant to FAR 15.4, Pricing, and FAR 16.2, Fixed-Price Contracts, the firm-fixed-price type for each task order will be negotiated based on the price to complete the work. After acceptance of a fixed-price task order by the Contractor, the task order price will only be adjusted to reflect changes in scope or conditions.

B.7.2 Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour (T&M/LH) The basic contract shall provide loaded hourly labor rates for T&M and LH type orders. When labor-hour or T&M type task orders are used, the fair and reasonable pricing will be determined in accordance with FAR 15.4, Pricing, and FAR 16.601, Time-and-materials Contracts.

B.8 Travel Pricing

Travel will be reimbursed at actual cost in accordance with the limitations set forth in FAR 31.205-46. Fee/ profit shall not be applied to travel costs. Contractors may apply G&A to travel in accordance with the Contractor’s usual accounting practices consistent with FAR 31.2. Travel expenses may be identified under a separate CLIN which will be a direct reimbursable in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations on the specific task order.

B.9 Place of Work and Government-Furnished Equipment

Work under this contract will be performed primarily off-site at the Contractor location(s) but it may be performed on-site at CDC locations in Atlanta, Georgia. On-site meetings with CDC staff may be required. Each task order will specify the location requirements.

If the work is to be performed primarily on-site at a CDC location, due to the nature of the work, CDC will provide IT equipment (i.e., desktop computer), telephone, and other office equipment and supplies as needed for the Contractor to perform required tasks.

If the work is to be performed primarily off-site at the Contractor’s locations, where the Contractor needs to access CDC’s network, the CDC will not provide IT equipment. The computers used by Contractor personnel shall meet CDC’s standard software and security configuration before logging onto CDC’s network.

Each task order will stipulate whether on-site or off-site performance, or both, is required.

B. 10 Non-Personal Services Contract Statement

This is a non-personal services contract as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.101. The Government will evaluate the quality of support services provided but the Contractor retains control over its employees or agents. The Contractor is solely responsible and liable for and expressly agrees to indemnify the Government with respect to any liability producing acts or omissions by it or by its employees.

B.12 Contract Structure

The basic contract will establish the general scope and ordering period for task orders to be issued against this contract. The term of this IDIQ contract is continues 60 months. It is anticipated that multiple task orders will be issued to the contractors to work in areas identified in this Scope of Work. Each task order shall have a discrete period of performance independent of the basic contract and no task order shall extend more than twelve (12) months beyond the expiration date of the basic contract.

Individual task orders exceeding $10,000 will be competed in accordance with the fair opportunity process described in FAR 16.505(b)(1) unless an exception to fair opportunity is documented in accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2). All task orders will be solicited by email. Contractors will have a minimum of 10 business days to respond.

SECTION C

Presented by

Matthew Hogben & Magan Pearson

C.2 Purpose

The objective of this procurement is to establish a consortium of research centers to provide The Division of STD Prevention, of the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (DSTDP/NCHHSTP) with a ready source of research, scientific and technical expertise to (a) increase the population-level impact of STI prevention and control through public health programs and (b) improve health equity for populations disproportionately affected by STI. STI of particular focus are those causing substantial national morbidity or mortality, including substantial endemic threats (e.g., HIV, syphilis, hepatitis), or as emerging threats (e.g., antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea).

C.3 Scope of Work

The four categories of services to be acquired under this contract provide a mechanism to conduct research, scientific and technical expertise and support services pertinent to STI prevention intervention impact and STI-related health equity to DSTDP/NCHHSTP.

As an independent organization and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall furnish all necessary personnel, facilities, supplies, and equipment, as appropriate, to provide DSTDP/NCHHSTP with required research support services within the general work parameters set forth in this Statement of Work. Contractor performance and all resulting deliverables must adhere to all Federal, HHS, and/or CDC IT security policies and procedures.

The Contractor is advised that it is not possible to determine the precise types or amounts of services, supplies, and/or equipment that will be ordered during the term of the contract. The Contractor shall be obligated to perform within the minimum and maximum order limitations set forth in clauses 52.216-19, Order Limitations. The time of issuance and amount of work in task orders cannot be accurately predicted. The Government will make every effort to give the Contractor advance notice of requirements, but the services for which this contract will be used could address an immediate need involving an emergency or short notice requirement. Services to be performed shall be non-personal and not inherently governmental services. Supplies and equipment are incidental to the required services to be performed.

C.4 Technical Requirements

Task Area 1: Service delivery research: prevention content

Research, including clinical trials, to develop, test and implement interventions that include efficacious STI prevention content, including STI treatment options, vaccination, biomedical and socio-behavioral interventions, and management of comorbid factors (i.e., syndemic approaches).

Task Area 2: 2Service delivery research: prevention methods Research to develop, test and implement interventions to increase access to, and efficient use of, STI services, including home testing, specimen collection and other “out of clinic” models, express visit models, telehealth models, and collaborative networks at different levels of clinical and prevention capacity.

C.4. Technical Requirements (cont.)

Task Area 3: Field-based prevention research

Research to integrate novel interventions into field investigations, including improved case and contact monitoring and support, access to and use of remote services during field investigations, and novel approaches to isolation, quarantine and other strategies to prevent onward transmission of infection.

Task Area 4: Diagnostics research

Research into new STD diagnostic approaches to develop, test and implement diagnostic tools that increase the proportion of infected persons tested and diagnosed; clinical trials of new diagnostic tools and methods; implementation research to increase use of efficacious and effective diagnostic tools.

C.5 Reporting Schedule

Contractor shall provide a quarterly report of progress, not to exceed 5 pages, and to include:

achievement (ahead of schedule, on time, delayed) and actions taken to reach the achievements.

b. A summary of challenges faced, actions taken to overcome challenges, and results of those actions.

Order solicitations of a similar nature (e.g., if the contractor was not awarded a clinical trial from a solicitation, what plans the contractor has to increase the chances of an award in the event of a subsequent solicitation for a different clinical trial).

Section E – Inspection and Acceptance

E.1. FAR 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 the address below:

www.acquisition.gov

(End of Clause)

FAR SOURCE TITLE AND DATE

Section F – Deliveries or Performance

FAR SOURCE TITLE AND DATE

52.242-15 Stop-Work Order (Aug 1989)

52.242-17 Government Delay of Work (Apr 1984)

G.2 CDC0_G008 Contracting Officer’s Representative (Jul 2017) Performance of the work hereunder shall be subject to the technical directions of the designated COR for this contract.

As used herein, technical directions are directions to the Contractor which fill in details, suggests possible lines of inquiry, or otherwise completes the general scope of work set forth herein. These technical directions must be within the general scope of work, and may not alter the scope of work or cause changes of such a nature as to justify an adjustment in the stated contract price/cost, or any stated limitation thereof.

In the event that the Contractor believes full implementation of any of these directions may exceed the scope of the contract, he or she shall notify the originator of the technical direction and the Contracting Officer, immediately or as soon as possible, in a letter or e-mail separate of any required report(s). No technical direction, nor its fulfillment, shall alter or abrogate the rights and obligations fixed in this contract.

The Government COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of this contract. Contract changes shall be made only by the Contracting Officer by properly written modification(s) to the contract.

The Government will provide the Contractor with a copy of the COR delegation memorandum upon request.

Office of Financial Resources

G.3 CDCP_G009 Contracting Officer (Jul 1999)

(a) The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds. No person other than the Contracting Officer can make any changes to the terms, conditions, general provisions, or other stipulations of this contract.

(b) No information, other than that which may be contained in an authorized modification to this contract, duly issued by the Contracting Officer, which may be received from any person employed by the United States Government, or otherwise, shall be considered grounds for deviation from any stipulation of this contract.

G.5 CDC0.G018 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (Feb 2018)

(a) The Government shall use electronic funds transfer to the maximum extent possible when making payments under this contract. FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer –System for Award Management, in Section I, requires the contractor to designate in writing a financial institution for receipt of electronic funds transfer payments.

(b) In the case that EFT information is not within the System of Award Management, FAR 52.232-34 requires mandatory submission of Contractor’s EFT information directly to the office designated in this contract to receive that information (hereafter: “designated office”); see below. The contractor shall submit the EFT information within the form titled “ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form” to the address indicated below. Note: The form is either attached to this contract (see Section J, List of Attachments) or may be obtained by contacting the Contracting Officer or the CDC Office of Financial Resources at 678-475-4510.

(c) In cases where the contractor has previously provided such information, i.e., pursuant to a prior contract/order, and been enrolled in the program, the form is not required unless the designated financial institution has changed.

(d) The completed form shall be mailed after award, but no later than 14 calendar days before an invoice is submitted, to the following address:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources (OFR) P.O. Box 15580 Atlanta, GA 30333 Or – Fax copy to: 404-638-5342

G.6 HHSAR 352.232-71: Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (Feb 2022)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

(1) “ Payment request” means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), “Content of Invoices” and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests electronically using the Department of Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or successor system. Information regarding IPP, including IPP Customer Support contact information, is available at www.ipp.gov or any successor site.

(c) The Contractor may submit payment requests using other than IPP only when the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing in accordance with HHS procedures.

(d) If alternate payment procedures are authorized, the Contractor shall include a copy of the Contracting Officer's written authorization with each payment request.

G.7 CDC42.0003 Billing Rates (May 2015)

(a) As defined in FAR Subpart 42.7, Billing Rate means an indirect cost rate established temporarily for interim reimbursement of incurred indirect costs. Billing rates may be adjusted as necessary pending establishment of final indirect rates

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the clause entitled Allowable Cost and Payment (FAR 52.216-7), allowable indirect costs under this contract shall be determined by applying the following provisional billing rates to the bases specified below:

(c) The above rates are provisional billing rates only and shall apply from the date of award until such time as the rates are revised by modification. Any modification to change the above rates will also state the effective period covered by the revised rates.

(d) Billing rates may be prospectively or retroactively revised by mutual agreement of the Contracting Officer and the contractor at either party’s request. When agreement cannot be reached, the billing rates may be unilaterally determined by the Contracting Officer as set forth in FAR 42.704.

(e) Final indirect rates shall be established in accordance with FAR Clause 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment. As required by that clause, the contractor shall submit an adequate final indirect cost rate proposal to the Contracting Officer and auditor within the 6 month period following the expiration of each of its fiscal years. Upon receipt of the final indirect cost rate proposal and pending the establishment of final indirect cost rates, the contractor and the Government may mutually agree to revise the provisional billing rates to reflect the proposed indirect cost rates until the proposal has been audited and settled.

TYPE EFFECTIVE PERIOD (FROM - TO) RATE LOCATION APPLICABLE TO BASE

G. 8 CDC42.0002 Evaluation of Contractor Performance Utilizing CPARS (Aug 2021)

In accordance with FAR 42.15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will review and evaluate contract performance. FAR 42.1502 and 42.1503 requires agencies to prepare evaluations of contractor performance and submit them to the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). The CDC utilizes this web-based system to prepare and report contractor performance evaluations. All information contained in these assessments may be used by the Government, within the limitations of FAR 42.15, for future source selections in accordance with FAR 15.304 where past performance is an evaluation factor.

The CPARS system requires a contractor representative to be assigned so that the contractor has appropriate input into the performance evaluation process. The CPARS contractor representative will be given access to CPARS and will be given the opportunity to concur or not-concur with performance evaluations before the evaluations are complete. The CPARS contractor representative will also have the opportunity to add comments to performance evaluations.

The assessment is not subject to the Disputes clause of the contract, nor is it subject to appeal beyond the review and comment procedures described in the guides on the CPARS website. Refer to: www.cpars.gov for details and additional information related to CPARS, CPARS user access, how contract performance assessments are conducted, and how Contractors participate. Access and training for all persons responsible for the preparation and review of performance assessments is also available at the CPARS website.

The contractor must provide the CDC contracting office with the name, e-mail address, and phone number of their designated CPARS representative who will be responsible for logging into CPARS and reviewing and commenting on performance evaluations. The contractor must maintain a current representative to serve as the contractor representative in CPARS. It is the contractor’s responsibility to notify the CDC contracting office, in writing (letter or email), when their CPARS representative information needs to be changed or updated. Failure to maintain current CPARS contractor representative information will result in the loss of an opportunity to review and comment on performance evaluations.

H.4 HHSAR 352.237-75, Key Personnel (Dec 2015)

The key personnel specified in this contract are considered to be essential to work performance. At least 30 days prior to the contractor voluntarily diverting any of the specified individuals to other programs or contracts the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and shall submit a justification for the diversion or replacement and a request to replace the individual. The request must identify the proposed replacement and provide an explanation of how the replacement's skills, experience, and credentials meet or exceed the requirements of the contract (including, when applicable, Human Subjects Testing requirements). If the employee of the contractor is terminated for cause or separates from the contractor voluntarily with less than thirty days notice, the Contractor shall provide the maximum notice practicable under the circumstances. The Contractor shall not divert, replace, or announce any such change to key personnel without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. The contract will be modified to add or delete key personnel as necessary to reflect the agreement of the parties.

(End of Clause)

H.8 CDCA_H007 Subcontracting Plan (Jul 1999)

The Contractor’s subcontracting plan, as negotiated, submitted in response to Solicitation 75D30122R72168, is hereby incorporated into this contract by reference.

Office of Acquisition Services

H.16 CDC 37.0001 Non-Personal Services (Jun 2020)

(a) Personal services shall not be performed under this contract. Although the Government may provide sporadic or occasional instructions within the scope of the contract, the Contractor is responsible for control and supervision of its employees. If the Contractor (including its employees) believes any Government action or communication has been given that would create a personal services relationship between the Government and any Contractor employee, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer of this communication or action.

(b) The contractor shall comply with, and ensure their employees and subcontractors comply with, CDC Policy titled "Contractor Identification and Safeguarding of Non-Public Information". No Contractor employee shall hold him or herself out to be 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. In all communications with third parties in connection with this contract, Contractor employees shall identify themselves as Contractor employees and specify the name of the company for which they work. The contractor is limited to performing the services identified in the contract statement of work and shall not interpret any communication with anyone as a permissible change in contract scope or as authorization to perform work not described in the contract. All contract changes will be incorporated by a modification signed by the Contracting Officer.

(c) The Contractor shall ensure that all of its employees and subcontractor employees working on this contract are informed of the terms and conditions herein. The Contractor agrees that this is a non-personal services contract; and that for all the purposes of the contract, the Contractor is not, nor shall it hold itself out to be an agent or partner of, or joint venture with, the Government. The Contractor shall notify its employees that they shall neither supervise nor accept supervision from Government employees. The substance of the terms herein shall be included in all subcontracts at any tier.

(d) The terms and conditions above do not limit the Government's rights under other terms of the contract, including those related to the Government's right to inspect and accept or reject the services performed under this contract.

H.18 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (CoI)

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to ensure that the contractor and its subcontractors:

(1) Are not biased because of their financial, contractual, organizational, or other interests which relate to the work under this contract/blanket purchase agreement/order/call (hereafter referred to as contract);

(2) Do not obtain any unfair competitive advantage over other parties by virtue of their performance of this contract; and

(3) Does not have impaired judgement and objectivity because the substance of the contractor’s performance has the potential to affect other interests of the contractor.

(b) Scope. This section applies to performance or participation by the contractor, its parents, affiliates, divisions and subsidiaries, and successors in interest (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contractor”) in the performance of this contract as a prime contractor, subcontractor, co-sponsor, joint venture, consultant, or in any similar capacity.

(c) Warrant and Disclosure. The warrant and disclosure requirements apply to both the contractor and all subcontractors. The contractor warrants that, to the best of the contractor's knowledge and belief, there are no relevant facts or circumstances which would give rise to an conflict of interest, as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5, and that the contractor has disclosed all relevant information regarding any actual or potential conflicts. The contractor agrees it shall make an immediate and full disclosure, in writing, to the Contracting Officer of any potential or actual organizational conflict of interest or the existence of any facts that may cause a reasonably prudent person to question the contractor's impartiality because of the appearance or existence of bias or an unfair competitive advantage. Such disclosure shall include a description of the actions the contractor has taken or proposes to take in order to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate any resulting conflict of interest.

H.18 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (CoI)

(d) Remedies. The Contracting Officer may terminate this contract, in whole or in part, or take any other lawful action deemed necessary to avoid, neutralize or mitigate an actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest. If the contractor fails to disclose facts pertaining to the existence of actual, apparent, or potential conflicts of interest, or otherwise misrepresents relevant information to the Contracting Officer, the Government may terminate the contract for default or cause; suspend or debar the contractor from Government contracting; or, pursue such other remedies as may be permitted at law or equity.

(e) Subcontracts. The contractor shall include a language substantially similar to this language, including paragraphs (f) and (g), in any subcontract or consultant agreement.

(f) Prime Contractor Responsibilities. The Contractor shall determine in writing whether any relevant information disclosed by a subcontractor comprises an actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest. The prime contractor shall identify and avoid, neutralize, or mitigate any subcontractor conflict of interest prior to award of the subcontract to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer. If the subcontractor's organizational conflict cannot be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated, the prime contractor must obtain the written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into the subcontract. If the contractor becomes aware of a subcontractor's actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest after award, the prime contractor agrees that the prime contractor may be required to eliminate the subcontractor from its team, at the contractor's own risk.

(g) Waiver. The contractor may seek a waiver from the Head of the Contracting Activity by submitting such waiver request to the Contracting Officer, including a full written description of the requested waiver and the reasons in support

H.20 Task Orders

Task orders specify and authorize work to be accomplished by the Contractor to satisfy the Government’s requirements. They specify the scope of work, schedule for completion, technical requirements, deliverable product(s) and/or services, milestone payment schedule, QASP/performance standards, acceptance criteria for deliverable products and/or services, the total price/cost of the work/service to be performed and all other items that this contract has specified will be determined at the task order level. Each individual task order issued will indicate applicable security and/or confidentiality requirements or any other clearance requirements. Individual task order will further specify Government Furnished Property, References, and Deliverables.

The Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) are officials of the CDC organization requiring the work who are responsible at the task order level for technical oversight of the work under that task order. CORs will be designated in writing for each individual task order.

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H.21 Award of Task Orders

After this IDIQ contract(s) is/are awarded by the Government, services will be ordered by the issuance of individual task orders awarded on a competitive basis. Each task order will be priced and structured as appropriate depending on the nature of the services/deliverables required. Each Contractor that has an award for a basic IDIQ contract as a result of this solicitation will be given a fair opportunity to be considered for award of each individual task order. The fair opportunity process will operate as follows:

(1). Task Orders

(a) A written task order, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be the only basis for acquisitions of services under this contract.

(b) Telephone or other verbal orders are not authorized under this contract unless issued by a duly warranted Government Contracting Officer on an emergency basis and then in accordance with applicable provisions of the FAR.

(c) Task orders will be placed directly with the Contractor by CDC Contracting Officers as a result of a task order award competition.

(d) Some orders may be exempt from competition in accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2).

(e) The Contractor shall be responsible for performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract when a task order is placed by a CDC Contracting Officer.

(f) In accordance with FAR Subpart 5.202, task orders placed under any resultant contract need not be synopsized.

(g) No protest under subpart 33.1 is authorized in connection with the issuance or proposed issuance of an order under a task-order contract or delivery-order contract, except—

(A) A protest on the grounds that the order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the contract; or

(B) (1) For agencies other than DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, a protest of an order valued in excess of $10 million ( 41 U.S.C. 4106(f)); or

(2) For DoD, NASA, or the Coast Guard, a protest of an order valued in excess of $25 million (10 U.S.C. 2304c(e)).

(ii) Protests of orders in excess of the thresholds stated in 16.505(a)(10)(i)(B) may only be filed with the Government Accountability Office, in accordance with the procedures at 33.104.

(h) Debriefings will not be provided on task orders under $6 million.

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Section I – Clause Structure

General Clauses

Clauses by Contract Type

HHSAR Clause

Clauses in Full Text

Section I – Clauses Incorporated by Reference

Section I - Clauses in Full Text I-2.7 FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Aug 2020)

I-2.8 FAR 52.216-19 Ordering Limitations (Oct 1995)

I-2.9 FAR 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995)

I – 2.7 FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Aug 2020)

(a) Any supplies and services to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of delivery orders or task orders by the individuals or activities designated in the Schedule. Such orders may be issued from effective date of the contract through 5 years.

(b) All delivery orders or task orders are subject to the terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of conflict between a delivery order or task order and this contract, the contract shall control.

(c) A delivery order or task order is considered "issued" when—

(1) If sent by mail (includes transmittal by U.S. mail or private delivery service), the Government deposits the order in the mail;

(2) If sent by fax, the Government transmits the order to the Contractor 's fax number; or

(3) If sent electronically, the Government either—

(i) Posts a copy of the delivery order or task order to a Government document access system, and notice is sent to the Contractor; or

(ii) Distributes the delivery order or task order via email to the Contractor 's email address.

(d) Orders may be issued by methods other than those enumerated in this clause only if authorized in the contract.

I-2.8 FAR 52.216-19 Ordering Limitations (Oct 1995)

(a) Minimum Order. When the Government requires supplies or services covered by this contract in an amount less than $25,000 the Government is not obligated to purchase, nor is the Contractor obligated to furnish, those supplies or services under this contract.

(b) Maximum Order. The Contractor is not obligated to honor –

(1) Any order for a single item in excess of $5 Million

(2) Any order for a combination of items in excess of $10 Million or

(3) A series of orders from the same ordering office within 5 days that together call for quantities exceeding the limitation in subparagraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section.

I-2.8 FAR 52.216-19 Ordering Limitations (Oct 1995) - continued

(c) If this is a requirements contract (i.e., includes the Requirements clause at subsection 52.216-21 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)), the Government is not required to order a part of any one requirement from the Contractor if that requirement exceeds the maximum-order limitations in paragraph (b) of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the Contractor shall honor any order exceeding the maximum order limitations in paragraph (b), unless that order (or orders) is returned to the ordering office within 3 days after issuance, with written notice stating the Contractor’s intent not to ship the item (or items) called for the reasons. Upon receiving this notice, the Government may acquire the supplies or services from another source.

I-2.9 FAR 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995)

(a) This is an indefinite-quantity contract for the supplies or services specified, and effective for the period stated, in the Schedule. The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are estimates only and are not purchased by this contract.

(b) Delivery or performance shall be made only as authorized by orders issued in accordance with the Ordering clause. The Contractor shall furnish to the Government, when and if ordered, the supplies or services specified in the Schedule up to and including the quantity designated in the Schedule as the “maximum”. The Government shall order at least the quantity of supplies or services designated in the Schedule as the “minimum”.

I-2.9 FAR 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995) - continued

(c) Except for any limitations on quantities in the Order Limitations clause or in the Schedule, there is no limit on the number of orders that may be issued. The Government may issue orders requiring delivery to multiple destinations or performance at multiple locations.

(d) Any order issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that period shall be completed by the Contractor within the time specified in the order. The contract shall govern the Contractor’s and Government’s rights and obligations with respect to that order to the same extent as if the order were completed during the contract’s effective period; provided, that the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after 24 months from expiration of the ordering period.

SECTION J - ATTACHMENTS

Attachment J1 - Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) and Contractor Evaluation.

Attachment J2 - ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form Attachment J3 – Labor Categories, Description/Duties, and Qualification/Education (To be included with Volume I – Technical Proposal for Basic Contract) Attachment J4 – Fully Burdened Labor Rates – Applicable to both Firm Fixed Price and Time and Material/Labor Hours Task Orders (To be included with Volume II – Business Proposal) Attachment J5 – Task Order 0001 Performance Work Statement (To be Priced by Offeror) Attachment J6 - Past/Present Performance Reference Questionnaire Instructions

SECTION K – REPRESENTATION, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

K.7 Certification (Jun 2020)

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE OFFEROR: (The Offeror must check or complete all appropriate boxes or blanks in the Representations and Certifications contained herein). The Representations and Certifications must be executed by an individual authorized to bind the offeror.

The offeror makes the foregoing Representations and Certifications as a part of its proposal.

(Signature of Authorized Individual) (Date)

(Typed Name of Authorized Individual)

Note: The penalty for false statements, if made by offerors, is prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

SECTION L

Instructions, Conditions, And Notices To Offerors

L.4 CDCA_L002 Inquiries (Jul 2017)

Inquiries concerning the solicitation document must be submitted in writing to the issuing office. Any additions, deletions, or changes to the solicitation will be made by an amendment. OFFERORS ARE INSTRUCTED SPECIFICALLY TO CONTACT ONLY THE SOLICITATION CONTRACTING OFFICE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ASPECT OF THIS REQUIREMENT PRIOR TO CONTRACT AWARD. PROPOSALS AND ALL CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICE.

Inquiries must be submitted to the Contracting Office no later than 2 p.m. on May 17, 2022, and may be submitted via e-mail to vyh1@cdc.gov.

Questions shall identify the pertinent RFP Section, page number and paragraph number. To ensure a prompt response, identify: “RFP # 75D30122R72168 Questions” in the email “subject” line.

L.5 CDCA_L011 General Instructions (Negotiated) (Jan 2000)

(a) Offerors are invited to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation. All proposals received will become part of the official file.

(b) The following instructions establish the acceptable minimum requirements for the format and content of proposals.

(c) Your proposal must be prepared in separate parts as instructed herein. Each part shall be separate and complete in itself so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of evaluation of the other(s). The technical proposal (if required) must not contain reference to cost; however, resource information, such as data concerning labor hours and categories, material, subcontracts, etc., must be contained in the technical proposal so that your understanding of the Statement of Work can be evaluated. The technical proposal must disclose your technical approach in sufficient detail to provide a clear and concise presentation that addresses, but is not limited to, the requirements of the technical proposal instructions.

(d) The proposal must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. You must submit 1 copy of your electronic proposal to:

Proposal Due Date: Proposal is due no later than 2:00 pm, EST, on June 8, 2022.

(e) Facsimile proposals are not authorized unless this solicitation incorporates FAR 52.215-5, Facsimile Proposals, in Section L.

(f) The Government will evaluate proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award.

L.6 Proposal Format and Content Proposal Format: Pages shall be in an 8 ½ x 11 layout, Times New Roman font, 12 pt. pitch. Page fold-outs will count as 2 pages. Text printed on double-sided pages will also count as two pages. Where a page limit applies, the page limit includes cover letter, table of contents, index, attachments, illustrations, charts, tables, diagrams and all other documents. Resumes are excluded from the technical proposal page limit.

Text included in any illustrations, charts, graphics, tables, or diagrams may be no less than 8 pt. pitch and shall not exceed 30 words. The intent of the 30-word limit is to prevent offerors from cramming text into such graphics, charts, illustrations, tables etc. in order to keep within specified page limits. The government WILL NOT evaluate, but will ignore, portions of proposals which do not comply with these instructions.

All electronic files shall be in MS Word “.doc” or “.xls” or “PDF” format as applicable (unprotected). Any formulas used in deriving cost/price proposal shall be visible when cursor is positioned in cell (i.e., do not convert formulas to values).

In order to ensure all pages of your proposal are included in the evaluation we request that you put a footer in your proposal that includes your company name; RFP number, your contract number (if applicable), and Page # of # Pages.

L.6 Proposal Format and Content - continued

Proposal Content: The proposal shall be separated into four (4) distinct Volumes corresponding to the evaluation factors noted herein and shall comply with page limitations noted herein. Pages in excess of the applicable limitation will not be evaluated.

Volume I –Technical Proposal for the Basic Contract - Page limit: 20 pages

Volume II – Technical Proposal for Task Order 0001, Attachment J5 – Page limit: 15 pages

Volume III – Past/Present Performance – Page limit: 4 Pages

4. Volume IV – Business Proposal (Applicable to Task Order 0001 Only and used to evaluate and award the basic IDIQ contract(s)) – Page limit: There will be no page limit.

L.7 Technical Proposal Preparation Instructions

a) The technical proposal should be in as much detail as you consider necessary to reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken.

b) Proposals which merely offer to conduct a program in accordance with the requirements of the Government’s SOW/PWS will not be eligible for award.

Volume I - Technical Proposal for the Basic Contract - Attachment J3 shall be included in this section.

BASIC Contract - Reference Section C of the solicitation to prepare a response for Volume I of the technical proposal.

The written technical proposal must include, at a minimum, the following sections: Cover Page (including solicitation number and name of offeror); Table of Contents; and Discussion of Evaluation Criteria.

The evaluation criteria are used by the technical evaluation panel when reviewing and evaluating the technical proposals. Proposals will be judged solely on the written material provided by the Offeror and only material within the prescribed page limits will be considered.

L.7 Technical Proposal Preparation Instructions - continued Technical Evaluation Factors: Technical Proposals should address the following subfactors:

Subfactor 1. Technical Approach/ Understanding of Work

a) The offeror shall demonstrate implementation science research expertise, including expertise to design, conduct and evaluate formative assessments (e.g., area-level epidemiologic assessments including of social determinants, assessments and readiness evaluations at individual, provider/program and community levels); community engagement, stakeholder analyses, and intervention acceptability testing studies; and research to implement, evaluate and adapt interventions to the relevant context based on formative research, using a mix of coverage, efficacy and appropriate choices of focus populations to achieve population-level impact by the end of a given period of performance.

b) The offeror shall demonstrate clinical trial research expertise, including the ability to design, conduct and evaluate research in which individuals (e.g., patients, focus population members, service providers), venues (e.g., medical, educational or other facilities), geographic areas, or communities, are prospectively randomized to different hypothesis-driven interventions or conditions according to a priori criteria; to statistically analyze resulting data according to…