75N94024Q00088.Combined Synopsis Solicitation.pdf

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION WORKFORM

(1) Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

(2) Date: 6/6/2024

(3) Year: 2024

(4) Contracting Office Zip Code: 20892

(5) Project Service Code & Category Management: Q505 Title: Medical – Gastroenterology. This code, Includes: Physicians (MD & DO) and Physician Assistants working in adult and pediatric Gastroenterology (GI).

With regard to Category Management, this PSC code has a Level 1 Category Code of 10 and a Level 1 Category of Medical. As such, there are no designated mandatory-consideration contract vehicles for this government-wide category.

(6) Contracting Office Address:

6710B Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20892

(7) Subject/Title: ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAMS

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: 75N94024Q00088

(9) Closing Response Date: 6/20/2024

(10) Contact Point: Amber Harris

(11) Contract Award and Solicitation Number: TBD

(12) Contract Award Dollar Amount: TBD

(13) Contract Line Item Number(s): TBD

(14) Contractor Award Date: TBD

(15) Contractor Name: TBD

(16) Description: (Background)

(i) “This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.”

(ii) The solicitation number is 75N94024Q00088 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ).

(iii) The solicitation document, the incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2024-05 dated May 22, 2024.

(iv) The associated NAICS code is 611310, Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools, and the small business size standard is $34.50. The acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13.

(v) The Contractor Requirements are listed below:

1.0 PURCHASE ORDER TITLE

ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

GASTROENTEROLOGY/ HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

2.0 BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts, supports, and coordinates research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines.

The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program is part of the Digestive Diseases Branch (DDB) in the NIDDK Intramural Research Program (IRP) and consists of two medical doctors who have finished advanced training in medicine and at least one year of clinical training in gastroenterology. To justify board certification, it is required that the NIDDK component of the fellowship program be part of an accredited gastroenterology training program. Therefore, this component of the contract supports the association of the Fellowship Program with a center with an established GI training program.

A major component of the gastroenterology fellowship training program involves participation in provision of consultation services for patients with GI disorders followed in protocols sponsored by various other NIH departments. These consultations require the constant availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services.

To adequately administer this service, it requires an individual (Fellows in gastroenterology) shall be available twenty-four (24) hours a day to report to the NIH.

Fellows shall be directly supervised by board certified attending gastroenterologists who are members of the medical staff of the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to general consultation services, the fellows must have demonstrated proficiency for performing standard upper and lower GI tract endoscope, including colonoscopy.

In order to support this effort previously, the NIH worked with the University of Maryland to administer an American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited joint Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. NIDDK provided a two-year (base plus one option year) purchase order (75N94021P00213) and a five-year (base plus four option years) purchase order (HHSN275201600932P) to the University of Maryland.

3.0 SCOPE

The scope of work consists of providing 2 fellows in FY2024 and 2 fellows per year in subsequent years. Fellows accepted into the Program will complete their first year of training at the awarded University. After completing this first year of training, fellows will complete the subsequent years of Gastroenterology training in the NIDDK intramural program at the Clinical Research Center on the campus in Bethesda, MD.

4.0 SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the organization will provide 2 fellows in FY2024 and 2 fellows per year in subsequent years. Fellows accepted into the Program will complete their first year of training at the awarded University. After completing this first year of training, fellows will complete the subsequent 2 years of Gastroenterology training in the NIDDK intramural program at the Clinical Research Center on the campus in Bethesda, MD.

1) Technical Requirements

a. Selection and oversight process for trainees - Steering Committee:

A Steering Committee shall be comprised of equal numbers of faculty members from the University and NIH, not to exceed 8 members. It is expected that both the Head and GI Program Director at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and that both the NIH branch chiefs for Gastroenterology and Hepatology will be members of the Steering Committee. Possible additional members include the Chief of GI at the BVAMC and a hepatologist. The Steering Committee will have the responsibility of interviewing and selecting new fellows for the Scholars Program. Moreover, the Steering Committee will monitor the progress and success of fellows in the Scholars Program. This committee will meet either in person or by teleconference at least every two months.

b. NIH/NIDDK shall:

• Provide funding for salary for 2 fellows per year, training, and parking

• Provide fellows with workspace, computers, and necessary supplies for work at the NIH

• Comply with ACGME-mandated policies and procedures

• Comply with the policies and procedures for Gastroenterology fellowship training of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Specifically, this shall include at least six months of clinical training during the 2-year rotation at NIH that is necessary to complete ACGME requirements for credentialing in Gastroenterology. Fellows shall require 2-3 months of Hepatology training to comply with the mandated five months of Hepatology training during fellowship

• Provide Weekly day outpatient continuity clinic experience at NIH, and, as mandated by the ACGME, the fellows will remain in the same clinic for at least six-month blocks

c. University shall:

• Administer and provide an ACGME-accredited Gastroenterology Fellowship program

• Provide 2 new positions per year in the 5-year Gastroenterology Fellowship program for fellows in the Program (total of 10 Fellows in the Program by

FY2028)

• Treat Fellows in the Program equally with the other University Fellows in the first year of training

• Participate along with NIH staff in advertisement, interviewing and selection of the Gastroenterology Fellows entering into the Program (see Section 3.a for composition of Steering Committee designed for this purpose)

• Ensure that all Fellows accepted into the Program are graduates of an accredited medical school and that they have satisfactorily completed an internship approved by the Council on Medical Education. Residents must have completed at least 3 years of graduate medical training and be approved by the Medical Staff Affairs Office, Clinical Center, NIH

• Provide clinical opportunities and rotations in the first year of training as necessary to meet ACGME requirements for board certification in Gastroenterology

• Provide a monthly report evaluating the fellows rotations, including knowledge, skills development

5.0 PURCHASE ORDER TYPE

This Purchase Order is to be a firm fixed price.

6.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BREAKDOWN

The period of performance shall be for the base period and four (4) option periods. The following are the dates:

Base Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Option Period One: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 Option Period Two: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Option Period Three: July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028 Option Period Four: July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029

7.0 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The Project Officer or the Project Officer Supervisor will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided.

For services, invoices will be approved by the Project officer and/or COR according to payment terms in the resultant purchase order.

8.0 PROJECT OFFICER

The Program Officer 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 any costs incurred during the performance of this Contract; or (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this Contract.

9.0 NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

Each Contractor (and/or any sub-Contractor) employee having access to non-public government information under this contract shall complete the NIH Commitment to Protect Non-Public Information – Contractor Employee Agreement, as applicable. A copy of each signed and witnessed NDA shall be submitted to the CO and/or COR prior to performing any work under this order.

10. DELIVERABLES / DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The contractor shall complete and submit deliverables in accordance with the “Deliverables Table” below. All reports required herein shall be submitted in electronic format, via the NICHD Contracts Portal. All electronic contract deliverables shall be submitted via the NICHD Contracts Portal available at the following website:

https://contracts.nichd.nih.gov . 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 under "Making Files Accessible." The Contractor must provide to the Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist the name of the person(s) submitting electronic reports via the NICHD Contracts Portal in order to initiate access to the Portal.

Number Title/Description Due

Deliverable 1 Contractor Employee Non- Disclosure Agreement

Submitted to the COR and CO prior to performing any work under this order

Deliverable 2 Monthly Report Monthly, due the 15th of the month following the end of the reporting month

11. OFFER AFFORDABILITY

The Government seeks offers (or quotes) with a total price less than $1.50M. Offerors (or quoters) should not interpret this figure as a ceiling (or as a floor) on offers; rather, this information is provided as a courtesy to prospective offerors. The Government may select an offer for award with a price below, at, or exceeding this figure if it finds that offer provides the best value and funds are available.

(vi) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(vii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable.

Award will be made to the contractor providing the most advantageous quote to the Government. Technical factors and price considered with technical factors outweighing price.

Specifically, the following technical factors will be evaluated:

i. The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section 4.0 SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ii. The Offeror should note that the evaluation criteria listed in order of importance are:

A. Technical – The services proposed by the vendor meets the requirements in the SOW

B. Cost/Price

The technical factors are as follows:

The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Offeror in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the Statement of Work. The merits of the proposal will be evaluated carefully and will be deemed Acceptable or Unacceptable. The proposal must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the Statement of Work. The Offeror must submit information sufficient to evaluate the proposal based on the detailed factors listed in section 4.0 SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND

SPECIFICATIONS.

Evaluation Criteria Acceptable Unacceptable

Technical The services proposed by the vendor meet the requirements in the SOW

Summary Overall Rating (Overall Risk)

Cost/Price Offerors will be evaluated based upon cost/price completeness and accuracy to determine the validity of the price, realism, reasonableness, and risk.

Technical Evaluation Rating Definitions

(viii) FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, is applicable. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.acquisition.gov If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

(x) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xi) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Including the following clauses and Prohibitions:

i. 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government

ii. 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier

Subcontract Awards

iii. 52.204-27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application

iv. 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment

v. 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small

Business Concerns

vi. 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns

vii. 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation

viii. 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies

ix. 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities

x. 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity

xi. 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans

xii. 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities

xiii. 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans

xiv. 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons

xv. 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification

xvi. 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving

xvii. 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases

Additional Clauses:

i. 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards

ii. 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor

Standards-Price Adjustment

Rating Definition Acceptable Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, and risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Unacceptable Proposal does not meet requirements of the solicitation, and thus, contains one or more deficiencies, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is unacceptable.

http://www.acquisition.gov/

iii. 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services-Requirements

iv. 52.222-55, Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026

v. 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706

vi. 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Products and Commercial Services

vii. 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award

Management

viii. 52.232-39, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations

(xii) Additional Contract Requirements:

The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe

PDF format using 11- point or 12-point font, 8-1/2" x 11" paper size, with 1" top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

Vendor/Contractor Must be able to accept payments via IPP (Invoice Processing

Platform) The contractor may submit a request for an exception. See below for IPP, IPP helpdesk information and applicable Health and Human Services addendum clause.

INVOICING PROCESSING PLATFORM (IPP) In compliance with the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) M-15-19 memorandum "Improving Government Efficiency and Saving Taxpayer Dollars through Electronic Invoicing" directing Federal agencies to adopt electronic invoicing as the primary means to disburse payment to vendors. Invoices submitted under any award resulting from this solicitation will be required to utilize the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) in accordance with HHSAR 352.232-71, Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests" IPP is a secure, web-based electronic invoicing system provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRSTL). Respondents to this solicitation are encouraged to register an account with IPP if they have not already done so. If your organization is already registered to use IPP, you will not be required to re-register however, we encourage you make sure your organization and designated IPP user accounts are valid and up to date. The IPP website address is:

https://www.ipp.gov If you require assistance registering or IPP account access, please contact the IPP Helpdesk at (866) 973-3131 (M-F 8AM to 6PM ET), or IPPCustomerSupport@fiscal.treasury.gov Note: Should an Offeror feel that use of the IPP would be unduly burdensome, the response to this solicitation should include an explanation of this position for a determination by the contracting officer.

HHSAR 352.232-71 Electronic Submission of Invoice Payment Requests (Feb 2022) will apply when this requirement is solicited and awarded. As stated: (a) Definitions.

As used in this clause, 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. (END OF CLAUSE)

(xiii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating are not applicable.

(xiv) Offers shall be submitted via email to amber.harris@nih.gov and must reference 75N94024Q00088 in the subject line.

(17) Place of Contract Performance:

National Institute of Health, NIDDK 10 Center Drive Bethesda MD 20892

(18) Set-aside Status: This requirement is not set aside for small business.

mailto:amber.harris@nih.gov