RFP Amendment 4.pdf

PDF 296 KB Posted Jan 26, 2021

Attached to: Biomedical Computing, Analytic and Data Management Services
Solicitation number: 75N91019R00007-R
Issued by: Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute

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Written by GovTribe AI · Dec 30, 2023

This document is an amendment to a solicitation for biomedical computing, analytic and data management services. The National Cancer Institute intends to award two indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contracts with a five year ordering period to provide non-research technical support and data management services across eleven task areas including project management, data management, computer programming, computing infrastructure, website development, systems design, reports preparation, data management, data evaluation, technical support, and statistical methodology. Sample task orders will be awarded concurrently with the base IDIQ contracts and following the award to provide for contract initiation and data computing services. The amendment extends the proposal due date from February 12, 2021 to February 26, 2021 and answers technical questions from potential offerors about technology platforms, architectural guidelines, portal features, source code control, monitoring systems, reusable templates, test automation, and defect tracking to be utilized in meeting the requirements.

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Other files

File	Type	Posted
Amendment_5.pdf	PDF	Jan 29, 2021
Attachment 3_RFP.pdf	PDF	Jan 19, 2021
Technical Proposal Cost Information.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Jan 19, 2021
Amendment 2.pdf	PDF	Jan 5, 2021
Amendment_1.pdf	PDF	Dec 18, 2020
RFP_75N91019R00007.pdf	PDF	Dec 14, 2020

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AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

N/A

PAGE

OF PAGES

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

January 26, 2021

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE

REQ. NO.

5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 5) CODE

National Cancer Institute Office of Acquisitions 9609 Medical Center Drive Room 1E620, MSC 9705 Bethesda, MD 20892-9705

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, city, county, State and ZIP Code)

TO ALL POTENTIAL OFFERORS

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

75N91019R00007

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

December 14, 2020

10A. MODIFICATION OF

CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

CODE

FACILITY CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offersis extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15 and returning ___ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (if required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO FAR 52.243-2. THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B.THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b) and Contract ARTICLE B.4.

C.THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D.OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor _ _ is not X is required to sign this document and return 1 _ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions posed by potential Offerors and to extend the proposal due date from February 12, 2021 to February 26, 2021.

All other terms and conditions of this RFP as amended, including closing date and time, remain unchanged.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

Rachel Weiszer

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

BY ______________________________________________

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY _____________________________________

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C.DATE SIGNED

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV 10-83.)

PREVIOUS EDITION UNUSABLE Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Amendment 4 – RFP 75N91019R00007: Biomedical Computing, Analytic and Data Management Services

THE PROPOSAL DUE DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 2021.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. QUESTION: Technology platforms vary across NCI websites. Can you validate or clarify the technology platforms with versions?

RESPONSE: The Government expects the contractor’s infrastructure to comply with FISMA and HIPPA standards for data in transit and at rest. The number of servers, platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor must figure out what is needed regarding their own infrastructure to support this activity

RESPONSE TO WEBSITES/QUESTIONS BELOW: The Government expects the contractor to maintain and support the website to comply with FISMA and HIPPA standards for content/data in transit and at rest. The technology platform used is the responsibility of the contractor. Potential vendor will not be evaluated on existing technology. However, the vendor is expected to use current version and industry support technology platforms for these sites.

NCI Division of Cancer Prevention https://prevention.cancer.gov/

a. Prevention subdomain site is Drupal 7, correct?

b. Are all Drupal 7 security patches up to date?

c. If there are significant custom modules, can you provide any additional information?

NCI Cancer Data Access System https://cdas.cancer.gov/

a. CDAS subdomain appears to be hosted on Apache, so assuming a LAMP stack. If so, what is the database management system?

b. Is this system part of a Content Management System (CMS)? If so, what is the

CMS platform and version? If not, how are pages edited?

c. Are there any custom applications for this site?

d. How are "data sets" populated and shared?

e. Are there any plans to convert CDAS to Drupal?

DCP Dashboard https://sites.google.com/view/dilgcebuprov/home?authuser=0 https://prevention.cancer.gov/ https://cdas.cancer.gov/ https://sites.google.com/view/dilgcebuprov/home?authuser=0

a. This site appears to be an open-source solution outside the NCI infrastructure.

Please clarify if or how this site fits in the scope of Website support.

NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) https://ncorp.cancer.gov/

a. NCORP subdomain appears to be hosted on Apache using PHP 7.4, so assuming a

LAMP stack. If so, what is the database management system?

b. Is this system part of a Content Management System (CMS)? If so, what is the

CMS platform and version? If not, how are pages edited?

c. Are there any custom applications for this site?

d. How is "study data" populated and shared?

e. Are there any plans to integrate NCORP to Drupal?

THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES BELOW ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS

REQUIREMENT:

NCI Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch (BBRB) https://biospecimens.cancer.gov/default.asp

a. The subdomain BIOSPECIMENS uses the .NET framework on IIS, correct?

b. What development is language and version; VB.NET, C#, or another language?

c. Is this system part of a Content Management System (CMS)? If so, what is the

CMS platform and version? If not, how are pages edited?

d. Are there any custom applications for this site?

e. How is "study data" populated and shared?

f. Are there any plans to integrate biospecimens to Drupal?.

National Cancer Institute (NCI) https://www.cancer.gov/

a. NCI is Drupal 8, correct?

b. If there are significant custom modules, can you provide any additional information?

Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research https://frederick.cancer.gov/

a. Fredrick subdomain site is Drupal 7

b. Are all Drupal 7 security patches up to date?

c. If there are significant custom modules, can you provide any additional information?

https://ncorp.cancer.gov/ https://biospecimens.cancer.gov/default.asp https://www.cancer.gov/ https://frederick.cancer.gov/

2. QUESTION: Are there standard requirements or architectural guidelines that govern study-specific websites' hosting location, e.g., separate subdomain sites and subpages within the website?

RESPONSE: The Government expects the contractor to maintain and support the website to comply with FISMA and HIPPA standards for content/data in transit and at rest. The technology platform used is the responsibility of the contractor. Potential vendor will not be evaluated on existing technology. However, the vendor is expected to use current version and industry support technology platforms for these sites

3. QUESTION: Are there standard technologies or architectural guidelines that govern portal features, security, users, and permissions to exchange information and facilitate collaboration between DCP and non-DCP collaborators?

RESPONSE: The Government expects the contractor’s infrastructure to comply with

FISMA and HIPPA standards for data in transit and at rest. The number of servers, platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor must figure out what is needed regarding their own infrastructure to support this activity.

4. QUESTION: Does NCI use a standard source-code version control platform across all websites?

5. QUESTION: Does NCI use a standard website uptime monitoring system/service for all websites?

RESPONSE: Website will be hosted on the Contractor’s infrastructure; it is the Contractor responsibility to provide monitoring capabilities.

6. QUESTION: A defined requirement is to employ industry-standard processes "reusable page templates" used across multiple websites. Are these reusable templates in place for all sites? Is the requirement to retain the reusable template concept for new pages? Or, is the requirements to create and build a new architecture reusable template library?

7. QUESTION: Will the Government please provide documentation on the infrastructure technology stack?

8. QUESTION: What are the “Clinical Data Management Systems” being used with these biobanking efforts?

RESPONSE: For tissue collection outside of a clinical trial, the tissue source sites enter the clinical data into an instance of Open Clinica hosted by the contractor (IMS) and then processed for upload to the GDC. For samples from clinical trials, in most cases for us from NCI-sponsored trials or such, Medidata Rave has been used by the trial coordinating group (and NCI) and NCIE gets an export of the clinical data in a structured format that is then processed by the contractor (IMS) for upload to the GDC. This export of structured data would be true if other databases were used as well.

9. QUESTION: Is there any limit to the percentage of work to be performed within or outside of the US?

RESPONSE: There is no prohibition about performing work outside of the U.S. All users of NIH systems who need access to the NIH network, are required to be vetted for Personal Identify Verification (PIV) (or RLA) badges. The process entails in-person identify proofing and enrollment in the U.S., for U.S. citizens. Foreign citizens must be certified by the Division of International Services to work in the U.S. to be eligible they must work in the U.S.

10. QUESTION: Schedule is not included in the Evaluation Factors on page 106. Should offerors omit this section as we asked in Question 1? If this section on Schedule is to be included, could the government please explain how this section be evaluated since deliverables and timelines are not specified in the Base SOW?

RESPONSE: This is only required for the Task Orders.

11. QUESTION: The contract resultant from this RFP is for professional services performed almost exclusively by employees who meet the exemption under 29 CFR Part 541. Is the Fair Labor Standards Act applicable to this solicitation? Would the government consider removing the clauses of I.6. section as these provisions should not be applicable to this solicitation?

RESPONSE: FAR 22.103-4 requires the CO to include the clause unless the CO determines in advance that all, or nearly all offerors will meet the conditions in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) through (v) of the clause. The CO shall consider the practices of the existing contractor in making a determination regarding the conditions listed in the clause. Your review of the conditions will help determine the applicability of the clause.

12. QUESTION: On Page 90 of the RFP, the instructions are Provide a schedule for completion of the work and delivery of items specified in the statement of work.

Performance or delivery, is this section required for the base contract response? If so, what is the government requesting to be included in a schedule for the base contract?

RESPONSE: This is only required for the Task Orders.

13. QUESTION: Could the government please confirm that the following formatting requirement does not apply to graphics, tables, and text boxes?

RESPONSE: Spacing should be no more than 15 characters per inch. Within a vertical inch, there must be no more than six lines of text.

14. QUESTION: Please clarify whether the costs proposals for all subcontractors need to be provided or only for those subcontractors whose anticipated value exceeds the threshold for Certified Cost or Pricing Data?

RESPONSE: Yes, the cost proposals for only those subcontractors whose anticipated value exceeds the thresholds for Certified Cost or Pricing Data would need to be provided, but refer back to Amendment 3, technical question 44, that states “Certified Cost or Pricing Data is not required with proposal submission, but may be required at a later time”.

15. QUESTION: Is the threshold for obtaining Certified Cost or Pricing Data from subcontractors applicable to this RFP $2,000,000 or $750,000?

RESPONSE: Please refer back to Amendment 3, technical question 44, that states “Certified Cost or Pricing Data is not required with proposal submission, but may be required at a later time”.

16. QUESTION: What is the underlying technology (hardware, operating systems, databases, software) of the systems required to be maintained and enhanced?

17. QUESTION: What are the open source tools currently being leveraged?

18. QUESTION: Is a data quality tool already being leveraged?

19. QUESTION: Is there an existing data model in place or being leveraged?

20. QUESTION: Is there existing data flow diagrams that can be leveraged to understand input/output of each system?

21. QUESTION: Will the government remove internet explorer from the supported browsers list as it is not compliant to industry standards and is no longer supported by Microsoft, leading to security issues?

RESPONSE: Offerors should not have any sites built that are based on the IE platform. IE is part of the Windows 10 OS so the NCI does not have a way to remove it from computers. The NCI supports Chrome and FireFox on Windows, Safari and Chrome on the Mac. Microsoft Edge is also an option, but NCI does not officially support it.

22. QUESTION: When is the existing software that is referenced to be utilized, reused, and enhanced?

23. QUESTION: Is there an existing test automation toolset?

RESPONSE: It is the Contractors responsibility to provide test automation toolset capability. The Government expects the contractor’s infrastructure to comply with FISMA and HIPPA standards for data in transit and at rest. The number of servers, platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor must figure out what is needed regarding their own infrastructure to support this activity.

24. QUESTION: Do detect/testing acceptable tolerance levels already exist that can be referenced in creating defect tracking, impact, etc.?

25. QUESTION: Which components are “critical for performance of the contract” for which built-in redundancies are required?

RESPONSE: The Government considers all data critical and it is the Contractors responsibility to identify what redundancies are needed to protect and ensure data access is available. The Government expects the contractor’s infrastructure to comply with FISMA and HIPPA standards for data in transit and at rest. The number of servers, platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor must figure out what is needed regarding their own infrastructure to support this activity.

26. QUESTION: Are there examples of “custom web applications” to be integrated? How many custom web applications will need to be integrated?

RESPONSE: No example can be made public. Currently, there are 7 or so custom web applications. However, this could increase based on the needs of the government.

27. QUESTION: Are there any details available on the “NCI-wide system harmonization initiatives” for “possible integration and interoperability”? which initiatives?

RESPONSE: No other details are available.

28. QUESTION: If subcontractors are treated as Labor Hour for the Offeror's submission, do Subcontractors need to provide a cost proposal in the same format as the Offeror's cost proposal? If so, and as Subcontractors' cost proposals would be proprietary, please provide submission instructions (including to whom should they submit their files and filename convention).

RESPONSE: The offeror may submit proprietary information from any subcontractor after negotiations start but would need to provide some form of cost related to any proposed subcontractors.

29. QUESTION: Can the government please confirm if the contractor is expected to design/build a new computing infrastructure or provide services to maintain an existing computing infrastructure?

RESPONSE: The contractor is expected to use their computing infrastructure

30. QUESTION: Does the Government have OCR technologies to automate the extraction of hard-copy data?

RESPONSE: NCI is not providing any OCR software/technology.

31. QUESTION: What types of analytic files are needed to be created? How often are these created?

RESPONSE: 500 master analytic files, 220 standard/default analytic files and 75 custom analytic files. The files are created monthly.

32. QUESTION: What is the number of concurrent users on the systems that need to be scalable and available?

RESPONSE: Currently there are 3,500 users with active account to DCP resources.

How many accesses the system at the same time depends.

33. QUESTION: Can the Government provide a complete list of operating platforms? Does this include cloud infrastructure, SANs, networking, etc?

platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the

34. QUESTION: Outside of the sites mentioned in TA 5, how many additional sites does

NCI anticipate requiring support?

RESPONES: NCI interacts with 450-500 clinical research sites.

35. QUESTION: Can the Government provide a definitive list of browsers to be supported, including mobile (e.g., iOS and Android)?

platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the

36. QUESITON: The RFP specifies that cost-reimbursement and fixed price task orders will be issued under this contract. Therefore, it is our understanding that our staffing plan should show the mix of skills and personnel types required to complete the work and thus and overall IDIQ-level rate card is not required. Can the government please confirm that an IDIQ-level rate card is NOT required?

RESPONSE: IDIQ-level labor category rates are not required; they are only required for the specific Task Orders.

37. QUESTION: Can subcontractors' proposal containing proprietary information be submitted directly to the government? If so, could the government provide instructions for submission? Should the submission be via email or through ECPS website?

RESPONSE: Offerors may submit a total cost for any subcontractor. During negotiations, the government will then request the detailed subcontract cost proposal directly from an offeror’s proposed subcontractor to protect proprietary data, if necessary.

38. QUESTION: Where are these websites/portals/applications hosted currently?

RESPONSE: All systems and tools are stored/hosted on the incumbent’s infrastructure.

QUESTION: Will NCI provide the content & graphics required for the website? or Is it part of the scope of services of this RFP?

RESPONSE: This will be a shared responsibility. The government will provide content/graphics for the websites but expects the contractor to provide information as well.

39. QUESTION: Can you please provide the Technology Stack of the current system. Also, please share any information on the tools/technologies that NCI may be interested in for future.

platform used, technology stack and data backup/recovery are the responsibility of the

40. QUESTION: TO 1 & 2 of the SOW that are to be answered as part of this RFP cover

Task Areas 1 thru 6. Does that mean Task Area 7 thru 11 are not required to be covered as part of this response?

RESPONSE: All tasks areas are required to be covered as part of the proposal.

THE BELOW QUESTION IS REVISED FROM ATTACHMENT 3, BUSINESS QUESTION

#28.

41. QUESTION: Should all technical proposal pdf, business proposal pdf, and business proposal xls documents be submitted following the 508 standards while submitting the proposal?

RESPONSE: The 508 requirements do not apply to the vendor’s proposal.

42. QUESTION: Should the forms we attach as part of this proposal follow the 508 standards? Or are they already 508 compatible?

RESPONSE: The forms required as part of this proposal should be attached as is.

Amendment 4_SF30

Amendment 4 1-26-21

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Jan 26, 2021.