75N94022R00004.pdf

PDF 705 KB Posted

Attached to
NESARC-III DNA Storage Federal contract opportunity
Solicitation number
75N40
Issued by
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

About this file

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) for continued storage and potential transfer of DNA samples from the NESARC-III study. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is seeking to contract with an offeror for safe and secure storage of 24,223 DNA samples at the Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository III, with potential transfer of samples to a successor contractor. Proposals are due by October 3, 2022. The contract period is from December 1, 2022 through November 30, 2023, with options to renew for up to five years total. Pricing will be determined through negotiations with the selected offeror.

View the file

On GovTribe

Work with this file on GovTribe

  • Download the original file
  • Contacts named in this file
  • Similar government files
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this file

Text version

- 1 -

SOLICITATION

SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

1. Requisition or other Purchase Authority:

2. Request for Proposal (RFP) Number:

74N94022R00004

3. Issue Date:

August 31, 2022

4. Set Aside:

[X] No

[ ] Yes See Part IV Section L

5. Title : NESARC-III DNA Storage

6. ISSUED BY:

Eunice Shriver Kennedy National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) NICHD Office of Acquisitions Acquisition Resources Branch National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS 6700B Rockledge Drive, Rm. 2113, MSC 6902 Bethesda, MD 20892-6902

7. SUBMIT OFFERS TO:

See Part III, Section J, "Packaging and Delivery of the Proposal," ATTACHMENT 1 of this Solicitation.

8. Proposals for furnishing the supplies and/or services in THE SCHEDULE will be received at the place specified in, and in the number of copies specified in Attachment 1, "Packaging and Delivery of the Proposal," until 5:00 pm local time on October 3, 2022. Offers will be valid for 120 days unless a different period is specified by the offeror on the Attachment entitled, "Proposal Summary and Data Record, NIH 2043.

9. This solicitation requires delivery of proposals as stated in ATTACHMENT 1, "PACKAGING AND DELIVERY OF THE PROPOSAL." If proposals are required to be delivered to two different locations, the OFFICIAL POINT OF RECEIPT for determining TIMELY DELIVERY is the address provided for the OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS.

IF YOUR PROPOSAL IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER OR HIS DESIGNEE AT THE PLACE AND TIME SPECIFIED FOR THE OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS, THEN IT WILL BE CONSIDERED LATE AND HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH subparagraph (c)(3) of FAR Clause 52.215-1, Instructions to Offerors--Competitive Acquisition," LOCATED IN SECTION L.1. OF THIS SOLICITATION.

10. Offeror must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award of a contract. Offerors must access the CCR through The System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/.

11. FOR INFORMATION CALL: Patricia N. Hanacek

PHONE: 301-594-6226

e-MAIL: hanacekp@mail.nih.gov

COLLECT CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Proposal Page Limitations: None (Note: For electronic size limitation, see Attachment 1 of this RFP) Submit all questions NLT 5:00 pm on September 12, 2022.

Patricia N. Hanacek Contracting Officer Acquisitions Resources Branch, NIAAA NICHD Office of Acquisitions, NIH, DHHS https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

RFP Number : 75N94022R00004

- 2 -

RFP TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

SECTION D - PACKAGING, MARKING AND SHIPPING

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

SOLICITATION ATTACHMENTS

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL ATTACHMENTS

BUSINESS PROPOSAL ATTACHMENTS

INFORMATIONAL ATTACHMENTS

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

a. NAICS CODE AND SIZE STANDARD

b. TYPE OF CONTRACT AND NUMBER OF AWARDS

c. PERFORMANCE BASED ACQUISITION

d. ESTIMATE OF EFFORT

e. COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

f. COMMUNICATIONS PRIOR TO CONTRACT AWARD

g. RELEASE OF INFORMATION

h. PREPARATION COSTS

i. SERVICE OF PROTEST

j. USE OF NON-GOVERNMENT REVIEWERS

2. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

a. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Contract Type and General Clauses

2. Authorized Official and Submission of Proposal

3. Proposal Summary and Data Record (NIH-2043)

4. Separation of Technical and Business Proposals

5. Alternate Proposals

6. Evaluation of Proposals

7. Potential Award Without Discussions

8. Use of the Metric System of Measurement

9. Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information

10. Privacy Act - Treatment of Proposal Information

- 3 -

11. Selection of Offerors

12. Institutional Responsibility Regarding Investigator Conflicts of Interest

13. Past Performance Information

14. Electronic Information Technology Accessibility Notice, HHSAR 352.239-73 (December 2015)

15. Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference

b. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Technical Discussions

2. Other Considerations

3. Technical Evaluation

4. Obtaining and Disseminating Biomedical Research Resources

5. Instructions to Offerors-Sustainable Acquisition, HHSAR Provision 352.223-71 (December 2015). . . 50

c. BUSINESS PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Basic Cost/Price Information

2. Proposal Cover Sheet

3. Cost and Pricing Data

4. Requirements for Cost or Pricing Data or Information Other than Cost and Pricing Data

5. Other Administrative Data

6. Qualifications of the Offeror

7. Subcontractors

8. Proposer's Annual Financial Report

9. Travel Costs/Travel Policy

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

1. GENERAL

2. COST/PRICE EVALUATION

3. EVALUATION OF OPTIONS

4. TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS

5. EVALUATION OF ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY- SECTION

- 4 -

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM, HEREIN CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANY OFFEROR INTERESTED IN RESPONDING TO THIS SOLICITATION.

ANY CONTRACT RESULTING FROM THIS SOLICITATION WILL INCLUDE IN ITS SECTION A - SOLICITATION/ CONTRACT FORM, ACCOUNTING, APPROPRIATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE

CONTRACT AWARD.

THE CONTRACT SCHEDULE SET FORTH IN SECTIONS B THROUGH H, HEREIN, CONTAINS CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THIS SOLICITATION. IT IS NOT AN EXACT REPRESENTATION OF THE CONTRACT DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE AWARDED AS A RESULT OF THIS SOLICITATION. THE CONTRACT COST OR PRICE AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS PERTINENT TO THE OFFEROR (i.e., those relating to the organizational structure [e.g., Non-Profit, Commercial] and specific cost authorizations unique to the Offeror's proposal and requiring Contracting Officer Prior Approval) WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RESULTANT CONTRACT. THE ENCLOSED CONTRACT SCHEDULE IS

INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE OFFEROR WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND THE

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RESULTANT CONTRACT.

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

ARTICLE B.1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

This contract is for the continued safe and secure storage and potential transfer of the NIAAA DNA Repository of 24,223 DNA samples (38,786 aliquots) from the NESARC-III study at the Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository

III.

ARTICLE B.2. OPTION PRICES

a. Unless the Government exercises its option pursuant to the option clause referenced in ARTICLE I.3.

ADDITIONAL CONTRACT CLAUSES, this contract consists only of the Base Period specified in the Statement of Work as defined in SECTIONS C and F, for the price set forth in ARTICLE B.2. of this contract.

b. Pursuant to FAR Clause 52.217-9 set forth in ARTICLE I.3. ADDITIONAL CONTRACT CLAUSES of this contract, the Government may, by unilateral contract modification, require the Contractor to perform the Option Periods specified in the Statement of Work as defined in SECTIONS C and F of this contract. If the Government exercises these options, notice must be given before the expiration date of the contract. Specific information regarding the time frame for this notice is set forth in the OPTION PROVISION Article in SECTION H of this contract. The fixed price of this contract will be increased as set forth in paragraph c., below.

c. Upon the delivery and acceptance of the Option Servicesdescribed in SECTION C of the contract and identified in the schedule of charges below, the Government shall pay the Contractor the unit prices set forth below:

Option Period Description of Option Services Total Price of Option

1 NESARC-III DNA Storage TO BE DETERMINED (TBD) 2 NESARC-III DNA Storage TBD 3 NESARC-III DNA Storage TBD 4 NESARC-III DNA Storage TBD 5 Transfer TBD

ARTICLE B.3. ADVANCE UNDERSTANDINGS

Specific elements of cost, which normally require prior written approval of the Contracting Officer before incurrence of the cost (e.g., foreign travel, consultant fees, subcontracts) will be included in this Article if the Contracting Officer has granted his/her approval prior to contract award.

- 5 -

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

ARTICLE C.1. STATEMENT OF WORK

a. Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the Statement of Work, dated August 29, 2022, attached hereto and made a part of this Solicitation (See SECTION J - List of Attachments).

ARTICLE C.2. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

All reports required herein shall be submitted in electronic format into NICHD In addition, each report shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer via email.

All electronic reports submitted shall be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Additional information about testing documents for Section 508 compliance, including guidance and specific checklists, by application, can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/index.html and at: https://www.section508.gov/create/ documents, "Create Accessible Documents.

a. Technical Progress Reports

In addition to the required reports set forth elsewhere in this Schedule, the preparation and submission of regularly recurring Technical Progress Reports will be required in any contract resulting from this solicitation. These reports will require descriptive information about the activities undertaken during the reporting period and will require information about planned activities for future reporting periods. The frequency and specific content of these reports will be determined prior to contract award. [Note: Beginning May 25, 2008, the Contractor shall include the applicable PubMed Central or NIH Manuscript Submission reference number when citing publications that arise from its NIH funded research.]

For proposal preparation purposes only, it is estimated that only electronic versions of the following reports will be required:

[ ] Monthly [X] Quarterly w/ QASP Matrix [ ] Semi-Annually [ ] Annually [ ] Annually (with a requirement for a Draft Annual Report) [X] Final - Upon final completion of the contract [ ] Final - Upon final completion of the contract (with a requirement for a Draft Final Report)

Summary of Salient Results

The Contractor will be required to prepare and submit, with the final report, a summary (not to exceed 200 words) of salient results achieved during the performance of the contract. This report will be required on or before the expiration date of the contract.

b. Other Reports/Deliverables

1. Section 508 Annual Report http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/index.html https://www.section508.gov/create/documents https://www.section508.gov/create/documents

- 6 -

The Contractor must submit an annual Section 508 report in accordance with the schedule set forth by the Contracting Officer (CO)/Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The Section 508 Report Template and Instructions for completing the report are available at: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/ default/files/web/508/contracting/technology/section_508_annual_report.doc.

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/web/508/contracting/technology/section_508_annual_report.doc https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/web/508/contracting/technology/section_508_annual_report.doc

- 7 -

SECTION D - PACKAGING, MARKING AND SHIPPING

All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition.

- 8 -

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

a. The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided.

b. For the purpose of this SECTION, (TO BE DETERMINED), is the authorized representative of the Contracting Officer.

c. Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

NIAAA

6700B Rockledge Drive, MSC 6902 Bethesda, MD 20892-6902

d. This contract incorporates the following clause by reference, with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make its full text available.

FAR Clause 52.246-4, Inspection of Services - Fixed Price (August 1996).

FAR Clause 52.246-9, Inspection of Research and Development (Short Form) (April 1984).

FAR Clause 52.246-16, Responsibility for Supplies (April 1984).

- 9 -

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

ARTICLE F.1. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

a. The period of performance of this contract shall be from December 1, 2022 through November 30, 2023.

b. If the Government exercises its options pursuant to the OPTION PROVISION Article in Section H of this contract, the period of performance will be increased as listed below:

Option Option Period Option 1 December 1, 2023 – November 30, 2024 Option 2 December 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025 Option 3 December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026 Option 4 December 1, 2026 – November 30, 2027

Option 5/Transfer November 1, 2027 – November 30, 2027

ARTICLE F.2. DELIVERIES

Satisfactory performance of the final contract shall be deemed to occur upon performance of the work described in the Statement of Work Article in SECTION C of this contract and upon delivery and acceptance by the Contracting Officer, or the duly authorized representative, of the following items in accordance with the stated delivery schedule:

a. The items specified below as described in the REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Article in SECTION C of this contract will be required to be delivered F.o.b. Destination as set forth in FAR 52.247-35, F.o.b. DESTINATION, WITHIN CONSIGNEES PREMISES (APRIL 1984), and in accordance with and by the date specified below:

Item Description Reference Delivery Scheduleue (Date, Recipient and Number of Copies)

(1) Plan to receive and store NIAAA DNA Repository of 24,223 samples (38,786 aliquots) from the NESARC-III study at the Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository III

SOW Paragraph III.A.1.a. Within 10 business days after contract start date, send electronic copies to the COR, PM and CO and submit plan to the NICHD Contract Deliverable Portal

(2) Plan and execute a phone conference to discuss overall contract and importance of maintaining the integrity of biospecimens

SOW Paragraph III.A.1.b. Within 5 business days following contract award, w/COR and PM, with notification to CO

(3) Quarterly Progress Report and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) metrics

SOW Paragraph III.D..1. Send electronic copies to COR, PM and CO by the 5th calendar day of each quarter and submit to the NICHD Deliverable PortalNS

(4) Plan to pull, prepare, and send 3,786 DNA sample aliquots from the contractor's storage facility

SOW Paragraph III. D.3. Within 30 calendar days of the contract expiration date

- 10 -

Item Description Reference Delivery Scheduleue (Date, Recipient and Number of Copies) to that of a successor contractor (Option 5 – Final Transfer)

(5) Final Report and Summary of Salient Results

SOW, Paragraph III.E.4. Electronic copy to COR, PM and CO due within 15 calendar days of the contract expiration date

(6) Reporting of Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)

SOW, Paragraph III.C.1. Electronic copy to COR, PM and CO, due within 60 days of identification of FCOI, in accordace with the regulatory compliance requirements in 45 CFR Part 94

(7) Section 508 Annual Report Article C.2. Electronic copy to COR, PM and CO due within 15 calendar days of the contract expiration

b. The above items shall be addressed and delivered to the following:

Addressee NIAAA Contracting Officer Representative (COR)

TO BE NAMED

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

(NIAAA), NIH, DHHS

NIAAA Program Manager (PM)

TO BE NAMED

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, DHHS

Contracting Officer (CO)

TO BE NAMED

Acquisition Resources Branch, NIAAA NICHD Office of Acquisitions, NIH, DHHS

- 11 -

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

ARTICLE G.1. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The following Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract:

TO BE DETERMINED

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. Any signed agreement shall be incorporated by reference in Section K of the contract

The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

ARTICLE G.2. KEY PERSONNEL, HHSAR 352.237-75 (December 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)

The following individual(s) is/are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder:

Name Title

TO BE DETERMINED PI/Project Director

ARTICLE G.3. INVOICE SUBMISSION

a. Invoice Instructions for NIH Fixed-Price Type Contracts, NIH(RC)-2, are attached and made part of this contract.

The Contractor shall follow the attached instructions and submission procedures specified below to meet the requirements of a "proper invoice" pursuant to FAR Subpart 32.9, Prompt Payment.

1. The Contractor shall submit invoice to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Office of Financial Management (OFM) via email at invoicing@nih.gov with a copy to the approving official, as directed below. The Contractor must follow step-by-step instructions as stated in the NIH/OFM Electronic https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Home.aspx https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Home.aspx mailto:invoicing@nih.gov https://oamp.od.nih.gov/DGS/DGS-workform-information/attachment-files

- 12 -

Invoicing Instructions for NIH Contractors/Vendors which is included as an attachment in Section J of this contract. The invoice shall be transmitted as an attachment via email to the address listed above in one of the following formats: Word, or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The Contractor must submit only one invoice per email. Do not submit supporting documentation (e.g., receipts, time sheets, vendor invoices, etc.) with your invoice unless specified elsewhere in the contract or requested by the Contracting Officer.

The Contractor shall submit a copy of the electronic invoice to the following Approving Official (Contracting Officer) and Contracting Officer Representative:

Approving Official: Contracting Officer

Name- Patricia N. Hanacek Email Address- hanacekp@mail.nih.gov

Contracting Officer Representative

Name- TO BE DETERMINED Email Address- TO BE DETERMINED

For inquiries regarding the status of invoices, contact OFM Customer Service via email at ofm_customer_service@incontactemail.com or via phone at 301-496-6088. To send your inquiries via other available communication methods refer to the OFM Customer Service website at https:// ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Customer-Service.aspx.

Note: The OFM Customer Service is open Eastern Standard Time Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

2. In addition to the requirements specified in FAR 32.905 for a proper invoice, the Contractor shall include the following information on the face page of all payment requests:

a. Name of the Office of Acquisitions. The Office of Acquisitions for this contract is NICHD, ARB, NIAAA .

b. Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If the Contractor does not have a valid TIN, it shall identify the Vendor Identification Number (VIN) on the payment request. The VIN is the number that appears after the Contractor's name on the face page of the contract. [Note: A VIN is assigned to new contracts awarded on or after June 4, 2007, and any existing contract modified to include the VIN number.] If the Contractor has neither a TIN, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or VIN, contact the Contracting Officer.

c. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI is located in the System for Award Management (SAM) and replaces the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The UEI number must identify the Contractor's name and address exactly as stated in the contract and as registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. If the Contractor does not have a valid UEI number, it shall identify the Vendor Identification Number (VIN) on the payment request. The VIN is the number that appears after the Contractor's name on the face page of the contract. [Note: A VIN is assigned to new contracts awarded on or after June 4, 2007, and any existing contract modified to include the VIN number.] If the Contractor has neither a TIN, UEI, or VIN, contact the Contracting Officer. Note: The Contractor shall not include TIN if it is a Social Security Number.

d. Invoice Matching Option. This contract requires a two-way match.

e. Unique Invoice Number. Each payment request must be identified by a unique invoice number, which can only be used one time regardless of the number of contracts or orders held by an organization.

f. The Contract Title is:

https://oamp.od.nih.gov/DGS/DGS-workform-information/attachment-files mailto:OFM%20Customer%20Service mailto:ofm_customer_service@incontactemail.com https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Customer-Service.aspx https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Customer-Service.aspx

- 13 -

NESARC-III DNA Storage

g. Contract Line Items as follows:

Line Item # Line Item Description

1 Base (Period 1) – NESARC-III DNA Storage

2 Period 2 – NESARC-III DNA Storage

3 Period 3 – NESARC-III DNA Storage

4 Period 4 – NESARC-III DNA Storage

5 Period 5 – NESARC-III DNA Storage

6 Transfer – NESARC-III DNA Repository

b. Inquiries regarding payment of invoices shall be directed to the designated billing office, (301) 496-6452.

ARTICLE G.4. POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

a. Contractor Performance Evaluations

Interim and Final evaluations of Contractor performance will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR Subpart 42.15. The Final performance evaluation will be prepared at the time of completion of work. In addition to the Final evaluation, Interim evaluation(s) will be prepared Annually.

Interim and Final evaluations will be provided to the Contractor as soon as practicable after completion of the evaluation. The Contractor will be permitted thirty days to review the document and to submit additional information or a rebutting statement. If agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the matter will be referred to an individual one level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision will be final.

Copies of the evaluations, Contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file, and may be used to support future award decisions.

b. Electronic Access to Contractor Performance Evaluations

Contractors may access evaluations through a secure Web site for review and comment at the following address:

https://www.cpars.gov https://www.cpars.gov

- 14 -

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

ARTICLE H.1. HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is hereby understood and agreed that research involving human subjects shall not be conducted under this contract, and that no material developed, modified, or delivered by or to the Government under this contract, or any subsequent modification of such material, will be used by the Contractor or made available by the Contractor for use by anyone other than the Government, for experimental or therapeutic use involving humans without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

ARTICLE H.2. CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) - HHS RECOVERY EFFORTS

“HHS reserves the right to exercise priorities and allocations authority with respect to this contract, to include rating this order in accordance with 45 CFR Part 101, Subpart A—Health Resources Priorities and Allocations System.”

ARTICLE H.3. NIH POLICY ON ENHANCING REPRODUCIBILITY THROUGH RIGOR AND

TRANSPARENCY

Contractors shall adhere to the NIH policy of enhancing reproducibility through rigor and transparency by addressing each of the four areas of the policy in performance of the Statement of Work and in publications, as applicable:

1) Scientific Premise; 2) Scientific Rigor; 3) Consideration of Relevant Biological Variables, including Sex; and 4) Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources. This policy applies to all NIH funded research and development, from basic through advanced clinical studies. See NIH Guide Notice, NOT-OD-15-103, "Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency" and NOT-OD-15-102, "Consideration of Sex as a Biological Variable in NIH-funded Research" for more information. In addition, publications are expected to follow the guidance at http:// www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility/principles-guidelines-reporting-preclinical-research, whether preclinical or otherwise, as appropriate. More information is available at http://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm, including FAQs and a General Policy Overview.

ARTICLE H.4. NIH POLICY ON ENHANCING PUBLIC ACCESS TO ARCHIVED

PUBLICATIONS RESULTING FROM NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH

NIH-funded investigators shall submit to the NIH National Library of Medicine's (NLM) PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript, upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH. NIH defines the author's final manuscript as the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all modifications from the publishing peer review process. The PMC archive will preserve permanently these manuscripts for use by the public, health care providers, educators, scientists, and NIH.

The Policy directs electronic submissions to the NIH/NLM/PMC: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov.

Additional information is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-071.html and http:// publicaccess.nih.gov.

ARTICLE H.5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING

The Contractor shall clearly state, when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money: (1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; and (3) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by nongovernmental sources.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-103.html http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-102.html http://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility/principles-guidelines-reporting-preclinical-research http://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility/principles-guidelines-reporting-preclinical-research http://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-071.html http://publicaccess.nih.gov http://publicaccess.nih.gov

- 15 -

ARTICLE H.6. RESTRICTION ON PORNOGRAPHY ON COMPUTER NETWORKS

The Contractor shall not use contract funds to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.

ARTICLE H.7. GUN CONTROL

The Contractor shall not use contract funds in whole or in part, to advocate or promote gun control.

ARTICLE H.8. OPTION PROVISION

Unless the Government exercises its option pursuant to the Option Clause set forth in SECTION I., the contract will consist only of the Base Period of the Statement of Work as defined in Sections C and F of the contract. Pursuant to FAR Clause 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract set forth in SECTION I. of this contract, the Government may, by unilateral contract modification, require the Contractor to perform additional options set forth in the Statement of Work and also defined in Sections C and F of the contract. If the Government exercises this option, notice must be given at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of this contract, and the price of the contract will be increased as set forth in the OPTION PRICES Article in SECTION B of this contract.

ARTICLE H.9. ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY, HHSAR

352.239-74 (December 2015)

a. Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973(29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, all electronic and information technology (EIT) supplies and services developed, acquired, or maintained under this contract or order must comply with the "Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Standards'' set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the "Access Board'') in 36 CFR part 1194. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508. The complete text of Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/ communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards.

b. The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract or order are identified in the Statement of Work. The contractor must provide any necessary updates to the submitted HHS Product Assessment Template(s) at the end of each contract or order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (see FAR 2.101) when the contract or order duration is one year or less. If it is determined by the Government that EIT supplies and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility standards in the contract, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

c. The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract are as follows:

• Software Applications and Operating Systems (§1194.21)

• Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (§1194.22)

• Telecommunications Products (§1194.23)

• Video or Multimedia Products (§1194.24)

• Self Contained, Closed Products (§1194.25)

• Desktop and Portable Computers (§1194.26)

d. In the event of a modification(s) to this contract or order, which adds new EIT supplies or services or revises the type of, or specifications for, supplies or services, the Contracting Officer may require that the contractor submit a completed HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template and any other additional information necessary to assist the Government in determining that the EIT supplies or services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards. Instructions for documenting accessibility via the HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template may be found under Section 508 policy on the HHS Web site: ( http://www.hhs.gov/web/508). If it is determined by the Government that EIT supplies and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards http://www.hhs.gov/web/508

- 16 -accessibility standards in the contract, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

e. If this is an Indefinite Delivery contract, a Blanket Purchase Agreement or a Basic Ordering Agreement, the task/delivery order requests that include EIT supplies or services will define the specifications and accessibility standards for the order. In those cases, the Contractor may be required to provide a completed HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template and any other additional information necessary to assist the Government in determining that the EIT supplies or services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards. Instructions for documenting accessibility via the HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template may be found at http:// www.hhs.gov/web/508. If it is determined by the Government that EIT supplies and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility standards in the provided documentation, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

(End of clause)

ARTICLE H.10. ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE

HHSAR 352.239-73 (December 2015)

a. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation 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 Electronic and Information ( EIT) Accessibility Standards ( 36 CFR part 1194), require that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

b. Accordingly, any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508. The complete text of the Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/ communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards.

c. The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this solicitation are stated in the clause at 352.239-74, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility. In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template, in accordance with its completion instructions. The purpose of the template is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed EIT supplies conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and document-- in detail-- whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available under Section 508 policy on the HHS Web site http:// www.hhs.gov/web/508. In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must provide enough information to assist the Government in determining that the EIT services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards, including any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

d. Respondents to this solicitation must identify any exception to Section 508 requirements. If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(End of provision)

The "HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template" is included in SECTION J - List of Attachments, of this solicitation.

http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards

- 17 -

ARTICLE H.11. RESPONSIBILITIES OF INSTITUTIONS REGARDING INVESTIGATOR

FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Institution (includes any Contractor, public or private, excluding a Federal agency) shall comply with the requirements of 45 CFR Part 94, Responsible Prospective Contractors, which promotes objectivity in research by establishing standards to ensure that Investigators (defined as the project director or principal Investigator and any other person, regardless of title or position, who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded under NIH contracts, or proposed for such funding, which may include, for example, collaborators or consultants) will not be biased by any Investigator financial conflicts of interest. 45 CFR Part 94 is available at the following Web site:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-94

As required by 45 CFR Part 94.4, Responsibilities of Institutions regarding Investigator financial conflicts of interest, each Institution shall:

a. Maintain an up-to-date, written, enforced policy on financial conflicts of interest that complies with this part, and make such policy available via a publicly accessible Web site. If the Institution does not have any current presence on a publicly accessible Web site (and only in those cases), the Institution shall make its written policy available to any requestor within five business days of a request. If, however, the Institution acquires a presence on a publicly accessible Web site during the time of the NIH award, the requirement to post the information on that Web site will apply within 30 calendar days. If an Institution maintains a policy on financial conflicts of interest that includes standards that are more stringent than this part (e.g., that require a more extensive disclosure of financial interests), the Institution shall adhere to its policy and shall provide FCOI reports regarding identified financial conflicts of interest to the NIH Awarding Component in accordance with the Institution's own standards and within the timeframe prescribed by this part.

b. Inform each Investigator of the Institution's policy on financial conflicts of interest, the Investigator's responsibilities regarding disclosure of significant financial interests, and of these regulations, and require each Investigator to complete training regarding the same prior to engaging in research related to any NIH-funded contract and at least every four years, and immediately when any of the following circumstances apply:

a. The Institution revises its financial conflict of interest policies or procedures in any manner that affects the requirements of Investigators;

b. An Investigator is new to an Institution; or

c. An Institution finds that an Investigator is not in compliance with the Institution's financial conflict of interest policy or management plan.

c. If the Institution carries out the NIH-funded research through a subrecipient (e.g., subcontractors, or consortium members), the Institution (awardee Institution) must take reasonable steps to ensure that any subrecipient Investigator complies with this part by

a. Incorporating as part of a written agreement with the subrecipient terms that establish whether the financial conflicts of interest policy of the awardee Institution or that of the subrecipient will apply to the subrecipient's Investigators.

i. If the subrecipient's Investigators must comply with the subrecipient's financial conflicts of interest policy, the subrecipient shall certify as part of the agreement referenced above that its policy complies with this part. If the subrecipient cannot provide such certification, the agreement shall state that subrecipient Investigators are subject to the financial conflicts of interest policy of the awardee Institution for disclosing significant financial interests that are directly related to the subrecipient's work for the awardee Institution;

ii. Additionally, if the subrecipient's Investigators must comply with the subrecipient's financial conflicts of interest policy, the agreement referenced above shall specify time period(s) for the subrecipient to https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-94

- 18 -report all identified financial conflicts of interest to the awardee Institution. Such time period(s) shall be sufficient to enable the awardee Institution to provide timely FCOI reports, as necessary, to the NIH as required by this part;

iii. Alternatively, if the subrecipient's Investigators must comply with the awardee Institution's financial conflicts of interest policy, the agreement referenced above shall specify time period(s) for the subrecipient to submit all Investigator disclosures of significant financial interests to the awardee Institution. Such time period(s) shall be sufficient to enable the awardee Institution to comply timely with its review, management, and reporting obligations under this part.

b. Providing FCOI reports to the NIH Awarding Component regarding all financial conflicts of interest of all subrecipient Investigators consistent with this part, i.e., prior to the expenditure of funds and within 60 days of any subsequently identified FCOI.

d. Designate an institutional official(s) to solicit and review disclosures of significant financial interests from each Investigator who is planning to participate in, or is participating in, the NIH-funded research.

e. (1) Require that each Investigator who is planning to participate in the NIH-funded research disclose to the Institution's designated official(s) the Investigator's significant financial interests (and those of the Investigator's spouse and dependent children) no later than date of submission of the Institution's proposal for NIH-funded research.

2. Require each Investigator who is participating in the NIH-funded research to submit an updated disclosure of significant financial interests at least annually, in accordance with the specific time period prescribed by the Institution, during the period of the award. Such disclosure shall include any information that was not disclosed initially to the Institution pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this section, or in a subsequent disclosure of significant financial interests (e.g., any financial conflict of interest identified on a NIH-funded project that was transferred from another Institution), and shall include updated information regarding any previously disclosed significant financial interest (e.g., the updated value of a previously disclosed equity interest).

3. Require each Investigator who is participating in the NIH-funded research to submit an updated disclosure of significant financial interests within thirty days of discovering or acquiring (e.g., through purchase, marriage, or inheritance) a new significant financial interest.

f. Provide guidelines consistent with this part for the designated institutional official(s) to determine whether an Investigator's significant financial interest is related to NIH-funded research and, if so related, whether the significant financial interest is a financial conflict of interest. An Investigator's significant financial interest is related to NIH-funded research when the Institution, through its designated official(s), reasonably determines that the significant financial interest: Could be affected by the NIH-funded research; or is in an entity whose financial interest could be affected by the research. The Institution may involve the Investigator in the designated official(s)'s determination of whether a significant financial interest is related to the NIH-funded research. A financial conflict of interest exists when the Institution, through its designated official(s), reasonably determines that the significant financial interest could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of the NIH-funded research.

g. Take such actions as necessary to manage financial conflicts of interest, including any financial conflicts of a subrecipient Investigator pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section. Management of an identified financial conflict of interest requires development and implementation of a management plan and, if necessary, a retrospective review and mitigation report pursuant to § 94.5(a).

h. Provide initial and ongoing FCOI reports to the NIH as required pursuant to § 94.5(b) .

i. Maintain records relating to all Investigator disclosures of financial interests and the Institution's review of, and response to, such disclosures (whether or not a disclosure resulted in the Institution's determination of a financial conflict of interest), and all actions under the Institution's policy or retrospective review, if applicable, for at least three years from the date of final payment or, where applicable, for the time periods specified in 48 CFR part 4, subpart 4.7.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-94.4#p-94.4(e)(1) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-94.4#p-94.4(c) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-94.5#p-94.5(a) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-94.5#p-94.5(b) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/part-4/subpart-4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/part-4/subpart-4

- 19 -

j. Establish adequate enforcement mechanisms and provide for employee sanctions or other administrative actions to ensure Investigator compliance as appropriate.

k. Certify, in each contract proposal to which this part applies, that the Institution:

1. Has in effect at that Institution an up-to-date, written, and enforced administrative process to identify and manage financial conflicts of interest with respect to all research projects for which funding is sought or received from the NIH;

2. Shall promote and enforce Investigator compliance with this part's requirements including those pertaining to disclosure of significant financial interests;

3. Shall manage financial conflicts of interest and provide initial and ongoing FCOI reports to the NIH Awarding Component consistent with this part;

4. Agrees to make information available, promptly upon request, to the HHS relating to any Investigator disclosure of financial interests and the Institution's review of, and response to, such disclosure, whether or not the disclosure resulted in the Institution's determination of a financial conflict of interest; and

5. Shall fully comply with the requirements of this part.

As required by 45 CFR Part 94.5, Management and reporting of financial conflicts of interest:

a. Management of financial conflicts of interest.

1. Prior to the Institution's expenditure of any funds under a NIH-funded research project, the designated official(s) of an Institution shall, consistent with § 94.4(f) : review all Investigator disclosures of significant financial interests; determine whether any significant financial interests relate to NIH-funded research;

determine whether a financial conflict of interest exists; and, if so, develop and implement a management plan that shall specify the actions that have been, and shall be, taken to manage such financial conflict of interest. Examples of conditions or restrictions that might be imposed to manage a financial conflict of interest include, but are not limited to:

i. Public disclosure of financial conflicts of interest (e.g., when presenting or publishing the research);

ii. For research projects involving human subjects research, disclosure of financial conflicts of interest directly to participants;

iii. Appointment of an independent monitor capable of taking measures to protect the design, conduct, and reporting of the research against bias, resulting from the financial conflict of interest;

iv. Modification of the research plan;

v. Change of…

This is the start of the file's text. The full file is on GovTribe.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .