Amendment 01 75N94024R00028.pdf

Public Health Service

National Institutes of Health Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Bethesda, Maryland 20892

DATE: August 7, 2024

FROM: Nicole Freid, Contracting Specialist

SOLICITATION: 75N94024R00028

TITLE: Amendment #01

REASON FOR AMENDMENT: The solicitation is being amended to revise the proposal due date to 10:00 AM ET, Monday, August 19, 2024, and add a questions and answers section.

AMENDMENT 01 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

NIH Solicitation 75N94024R00028

August 7, 2024

Technical Questions:

1. Approximately, how many meetings, conferences, and workshops; and of each type ( in-person, virtual , hybrid ) are held annually?

Given the long-term nature of these projects, the needs and activities are constantly evolving and changing and are under constant refinement. The number will vary depending upon the objectives/outcomes of the activities associated with the certain projects. Estimates only: up to 20 per year.

2. What is the expected attendance of the meetings by type?

The number will vary depending upon the objectives/outcomes of the activities associated with the certain projects. Estimate only: Training workshops approximately 15 - 30, Conferences up to 200; Network meetings - up to 100; Program meetings - up to 200.

3. What type of skills are required for staff (consultants) in the various geographical locations identified in the RFP?

Understand the complexity of health systems and other sectors in LMICs; ability to think creatively and conceptually to develop innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs and contexts of LMICs; understand and respect of local cultures, traditions, and social norms;

adaptable and flexible to respond to new challenges and opportunities; ability to work effectively with local teams and other international experts; technical expertise.

4. Is consultant support used for both domestic and international activities?

Yes, as determined by the program/project lead.

5. Are all virtual meetings conducted through NIH IT?

No.

6. Strategic, technical, and programmatic advisement services for FIC are to be provided by FIC identified consultants or through the offers’ consultants?

This will depend on the type of services needed.

7. What is the expectation/knowledge/experience regarding contingency planning and appropriate distribution of workload among junior and senior staff experience working with other federal agencies?

We are removing this last bullet in Attachment 2 on Page 2 Technical Factor 1: Organizational Expertise and Corporate Capability.

8. Is the expectation that developing mathematical models to procure country level data on NCD burden in PLWH as well as modeling the effect of integrating NC and HIV care for PLWH be conducted by offeror’s staff or consultants or FIC identified consultants?

No, FIC has already identified the data for the models under two previous projects. We will look for a consultant to inform and make recommendations on what resources to invest in the NCD prevention, care and treatment for PLWH in LIMCs. This consultant could be identified by FIC in advance.

9. Will the offeror support FIC in the establishment of research areas for competition based on regional relevance and/or FIC preference?

No, decision and determination are FIC responsibilities.

10. How many sub-awards need to be monitored regarding grant and contract support?

Varies by program; at any time may be up to 15 covering specified Period of Performance.

Business Quotation Question:

1. The Business Quotation Instructions (RFQ pg. 8, 2nd paragraph), state the following: “The price quotation must include the labor categories, fully loaded fixed hourly rate for each labor category into hourly compensation, and the “total amount”. Please clarify what is meant by “total amount”. Per the RFQ, offerors will propose fully loaded hourly labor rates. But, since no specific budgets (including hours proposed per staff) are applicable for the RFQ, “total amount” does not seem to apply. Please confirm.

That is correct, fully loaded fixed hourly rates are only needed. The total amount is not applicable.

Administrative Questions

1. Reference (18) Set-Aside: Full and Open (solicitation) On May 6, 2024, NIH releases a small business sources sought notice under 75N94024R00028. How many small business responses did the government receive? What is the rationale for not setting this requirement aside for small business? Why did the NACIS code change from (5416511 & 541990-sources sought to 541690-solicitation)?

The Government received nine (9) small business capability statements. After analyzing the results of market research, the Government could not conclude that there would be a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business to meet all of the Government’s requirements in accordance with FAR 19.502-2. The NAICS code was updated in the sources sought notice and the amendment was posted on SAM.GOV on June 4, 2024. The NAICS code was revised due to identifying a more applicable NAICS Code as part of Market Research and Acquisition Planning. This was accomplished through the NAICS Code/PSC (Product Service Code) crosswalk from PSC R706 Support-Management: Logistics Support Services being the most applicable PSC, and the associated NAICS for that PSC is 541690.

2. Is there currently an incumbent for this requirement, and if so, is the incumbent a large business?

There is an incumbent, and it is a large business.

3. Requesting an extension of the proposal due date:

We have extended the proposal due date for an additional week. Quotations shall be submitted electronically via email to Ms. Nicole Freid at nicole.freid@nih.gov and Mr. Chris Bocus at chris.bocus@nih.gov no later than 10:00 AM (Eastern Time), Monday, August 19, 2024.

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

WORKFORM

(1) Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

(2) Date: July 26, 2024, Amendment 01 on 08/07/2024

(3) Year: 2024

(4) Contracting Office Zip Code: 20892

(5) Classification Code: R706

(6) Contracting Office Address:

6710-B Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20892

(7) Subject/Title: FIC Strategic Planning, Evaluation, Programmatic and Project Support Services

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: 75N94024R00028

(9) Closing Response Date: August 19, 2024 @ 10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

(10) Contact Point(s): Nicole Freid, Contracting Specialist and Chris Bocus, Contracting

Officer

(11) Contract Award Date: TBD

(12) Contract Award Dollar Amount: TBD

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

(14) Contractor Award Date: Upon Award

(15) Contractor Name: TBD

(16) Description: The purpose of this requirement is to provide FIC strategic planning, evaluation, programmatic and project support in the US and abroad for the following activities: 1) virtual, hybrid and in person meeting and logistical support for workshops, conferences and meetings; 2) travel support for one or more participants, including lodging and ground transportation as required from diverse geographic locations with some that may require special accommodations; 3) grant and contract support including sub awards monitoring, 4) directed payments for interns, contractors and other specialist consultants and procurements, 5) training, strategic planning, and development program services.

(17) Place of Performance: The Contractor shall be expected to perform the primary duties and functions off-site; however, may be required to provide staff to perform specific tasks on-site at the NIH offices in Bethesda, MD, unless otherwise approved by the Government.

(18) Set-Aside Status: Full and Open

(19) NAICS Code: 541690

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

(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; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.”

(ii) The solicitation number is 75N94024R00028 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ).

This acquisition is for a commercial service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5— Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

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

(iv) This solicitation is being released full and open with no set-aside restrictions.

The NAICS code is 541690, and the small business size standard is $19 million. This acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13. The resultant award will be to establish a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) under FAR Part 13.303.

(v) The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and

Development (NICHD) Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of Fogarty International Center (FIC) intends to award a BPA for services in accordance with the following information:

Statement of Work (SOW):

See attached Statement of Work (Attachment 1) for a description of the required supplies/services.

Anticipated Period of Performance:

The government intends to award a BPA for 5 years from September 15, 2024 through September 14, 2029.

Evaluation Factors:

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria outlined in Attachment 2

- Technical Evaluation Criteria and Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Provided Below.

Applicable FAR Clauses

(vi) The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses:

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html

(End of provision)

(vii) The FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition and is hereby incorporated by reference. All Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses may be viewed at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. Please see below addendum for additional quotation instructions.

(viii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Please see Attachment 2 - Evaluation Factors for additional details on the basis for award.

(ix) FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial

Items, applies to this acquisition.

The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision.

(x) FAR clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial

Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2023). Please see Attachment 3

- FAR 52.212-4 Addendum.

(xi) FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement

Statutes or Executive Orders (MAY 2024) –included as Attachment 4 indicate which FAR clauses and provisions are applicable to this acquisition.

(xii) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text.

Offerors MUST complete the following provisions at FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment and 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html or Services-Representation and submit as a separate document with their quotation included as Attachment 5.

(xiii) The applicable Information and Physical Access Security Provisions is included in Attachment 6.

(xiv) The following invoice instruction is included and will be incorporated in the final award:

NIH Invoicing Instructions with IPP (Mar 2023) included as Attachment 7.

Options Considerations

The contract shall incorporate the following additional Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses by reference, as a provision with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.

In addition, the full text of a FAR clause may be accessed electronically at www.acquistion.gov.

1. FAR Clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (November 1999).

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor 15 days prior to BPA order expiration. (End of clause). Evaluation of Options Provision (07/15/2024)

This solicitation notifies offerors that the award will include the Government's unilateral option to extend performance for an additional period up to six months under FAR 52.217- 8, during which the pricing and terms of the period in which the option was exercised would apply. The Government cannot predict if or when the option may be exercised.

Because any exercise of the Government's option extends the pricing and terms of the period in which the option was exercised, the Government expressly and affirmatively evaluates pricing for the option to extend under 52.217- 8 co-extensive with the Government's price evaluation for each of the base and option periods of this award.

Because pricing for each period subject to possible extension under the 52.217-8 has been evaluated, pricing for any possible future use of that option to extend has, likewise, been evaluated and would apply in strict accordance with this evaluation in the event of the Government’s exercise of the option to extend services. (End of Provision)

2. FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (March 2000)

Calls issued under this BPA may contain option periods if needed and will include FAR Clause 52.217-9.

ADDENDUM TO FAR CLAUSE 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

GENERAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Quotations shall be prepared and submitted electronically in two volumes: “Volume I -Technical” and “Volume II - Business.” Each of these volumes shall be separate and complete in itself, so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of, and concurrently with, evaluation of the other.

Offerors are instructed to send one electronic copy each of the Volume 1 – Technical and Volume II – Business quotations to the Contracting Specialist at the following address:

nicole.freid@nih.gov along with a copy to Contracting Officer Chris Bocus at chris.bocus@nih.gov

Quotations shall be prepared in English with Arial Font of 12 point, and the top, bottom, left and right margins shall be 1”.

Electronic submissions shall be made using Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project only. Charts, graphics, etc. may use smaller fonts if they are legible. Foldouts may be used, but their size, when unfolded, determines the number of pages used.

a. Responses to this solicitation will be evaluated to determine the offeror that can best meet the Government’s needs. The evaluation results in assessment of the offeror’s ability to successfully accomplish the requirement. Therefore, the offeror should read the solicitation carefully before preparing its response. The response should be practical, clear, and concise; should use quantitative terms whenever possible; should avoid qualitative adjectives; and should comprehensively address the requirements of this solicitation.

b. Information requested herein must be furnished in writing, fully and completely in compliance with the solicitation. The information requested and the manner of submittal is essential to permit prompt evaluation of all offers on a fair and uniform basis. Simple statements of compliance (i.e., “understood”; “will comply”) or phrases such as “standard procedures will be used” or “well known techniques will be utilized” and other generalities, without the detailed description of how compliance will be met, may not be considered sufficient evidence that the quote can technically meet the project requirements. Accordingly, any quote in which material information requested is not furnished or where indirect or incomplete answers or information are provided may be considered not acceptable.

c. Offerors may not submit alternate quotes or quotes that deviate from the solicitation.

Alternate quotes or deviations from any requirements of this solicitation will not be accepted.

TECHNICAL QUOTATION INSTRUCTIONS

Volume I - Technical shall not exceed a total of 25 pages (writing on one side of the page) and page limitation excludes any information on the qualifications of personnel (resume/CVs) and/or past performance information, as well as charts and appendices.

Offerors should include CVs and Past Performance information. Resumes for key personnel should include and contain information about education, background, expertise, and recent experience for the past three years. Resumes/CVs should not exceed five pages for each key personnel. Experience, product examples and reference letters should refer directly to tasks outlined in the SOW.

The Offeror’s proposed key personnel shall have specific, current, and relevant experience, education, and training that would be needed to successfully complete and support the tasks outlined in the Statement of Work. Offerors should demonstrate the proposed mix of labor categories and individuals to fulfill the requirements of this solicitation. Resumes should provide a description of the experience and capability for each of the key personnel on your proposed project team. Descriptions shall address such items as the individual's background, education, work experience, and accomplishments showing the knowledge that key personnel have gained through completed and ongoing efforts that are similar in nature to this effort.

The technical quotation must include information regarding how the project shall be organized, managed, and staffed. Information should be provided which shall demonstrate Offerors’ understanding and management of important events or tasks. Explain how the management and coordination of staffing shall be accomplished. Address any activities requiring subcontractor support.

The technical quotation must include a list of names and proposed duties of the professional personnel and administrative staff assigned to the project. The list of minimum needed personnel and associated responsibilities is outlined in Attachment 2 – Technical Evaluation Criteria under Technical Factor 3: Personnel.

Provide a narrative on the company’s content experience and corporate qualifications.

The technical quotation must discuss the general background, experience, and qualifications of the organization.

The technical quotation shall fully describe the technical and administrative aspects of accomplishing each task and shall include the Offeror’s familiarity with similar work.

PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Offeror shall provide, at a minimum, the following information in support of its quotation to facilitate the evaluation of your past performance as a whole and as related to the requirements of the proposed award.

INFORMATION FROM THE OFFEROR

The Offeror and any proposed major subcontractors and teaming partners shall furnish the following information, as an attachment to the Technical Quotation, for your contracts or subcontracts within the last year.

The Offeror shall provide a list of all Federal contracts that it currently has: (1) ongoing and, (2) completed within the past 12 months.

Offerors shall also submit information for three (3) projects performed within the past three (3) years that are similar and comparable to those of this RFQ in size, scope and complexity. The Offeror shall provide a Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) for the referenced project, if one is available.

The Offeror shall provide the name of the company, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the Government Project Officer or private sector Project Manager most familiar with the Offeror’s performance record. (Please verify the telephone numbers provided are current and correct.)

The Offeror shall include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number (for subcontracts, provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number)

3. Contract Type

4. Total Contract Value

5. Description of Requirement

6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

8. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The Offeror shall provide a detailed description of contract work and comparability to the proposed effort with reference to specific comparable SOW elements, where applicable. Stating that previous work is comparable in magnitude and scope is not sufficient. Rationale must be provided to demonstrate that it is comparable.

Method of acquisition: competitive or noncompetitive.

Nature of award: initial or follow-on.

The Offeror shall identify and explain major technical problems and how they were overcome. The Offeror shall list any major deviations or waivers to technical requirements that were granted by the customer.

The Offeror shall include a frank discussion of experiences (if any) that resulted in lessons learned and/or new processes that improved performance or had significant positive (or adverse) impact over the life of the contract.

The Offeror shall identify and explain completion successes and delays, including adherence to program schedules. The Offeror shall provide an assessment of the performance (technical, schedule and cost) on these past programs.

The Offeror shall identify cost management history; identify and explain any cost overruns and underruns, and cost incentive history, if applicable.

The Offeror shall provide the average number of personnel on the contract per year and percent turnover of personnel per year for performance.

BUSINESS QUOTATION INSTRUCTIONS

Volume II – Business – No page limitations.

Offerors shall provide their rates (including any yearly increases) for each labor category that is associated with this solicitation, as well as any additional labor categories that they believe would be relevant to the services that will be procured through BPA Call Orders during the Term of the BPA.

The price quotation must include the labor categories and fully loaded fixed hourly rate for each labor category into hourly compensation. Fully burdened labor rates include all direct, indirect, general and administrative costs, fringe benefits, and profit associated with providing the required skill. The Price Quote must be submitted separately from the Technical Quote for a five-year (5) year period of performance.

The Government considers one (1) full-time equivalent (FTE) employee as equaling 1,872 direct labor hours. The 1,872 hours are based on the most common direct work year of 2,080 hours less 80 hours for vacation, 40 hours for sick leave, and 88 hours for paid holidays. Therefore, the offeror is expected to propose 1,872 for a full-time equivalent employee. The offeror should factor vacation, sick leave, and the eleven (11) Federal holidays as an overhead expense incorporated the fixed hourly rate.

BPA Pricing

Labor Category

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

TBD Proposed Hourly Rate

Proposed Hourly Rate

Proposed Hourly Rate

Proposed Hourly Rate

Proposed Hourly Rate

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES TO THE RFQ

All questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted electronically (via email) to Ms. Nicole Freid @ nicole.freid@nih.gov and Mr. Chris Bocus @ chris.bocus@nih.gov no later than 12:00 PM (Eastern Time), Friday, August 2, 2024. Please reference the specific area of the RFQ letter or attachment when asking a question.

Responses to all relevant questions shall be addressed and provided electronically through an Amendment to the solicitation by Wednesday, August 7, 2024. If this solicitation is amended; all terms and conditions that are not amended, shall remain unchanged and in full effect.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS

Quotations shall be submitted electronically via email to Ms. Nicole Freid @ nicole.freid@nih.gov and Mr. Chris Bocus @ chris.bocus@nih.gov no later than 10:00 AM (Eastern Time), Monday, August 19, 2024. Quotations must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFQ.

Offerors are responsible for submitting quotation, and any modifications or revisions should reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. Any quotation, modification, or revision received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is “late” and will not be considered unless the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay or compromise the acquisition.

Quotations may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before award. Withdrawals are effective upon receipt of notice by the Contracting Officer.

Quotations in response to this solicitation will be valid for the number of days specified on the solicitation cover sheet (unless a different period is proposed by the Offeror).

COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with the proposed acquisition. Any other commitment, either explicit or implied, is invalid.

COMMUNICATIONS PRIOR TO AWARD

Offerors shall direct all communications and correspondence to the attention of:

Ms. Nicole Freid National Institutes of Health NICHD, Acquisition Services Branch (ASB) Email: nicole.freid@nih.gov

Mr. Chris Bocus National Institutes of Health NICHD, Acquisition Services Branch (ASB) Email: chris.bocus@nih.gov

Communications with other NIH/Government officials may compromise the integrity and competitiveness of this acquisition and may result in rejection of your organization’s quotation.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

1) Preparation Costs: This RFQ does not commit the Government to pay for the preparation and submission of a quotation.

2) Authorized Official: All quotations must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFQ.

The quotation shall be certified as valid for a minimum of 120 days from the due date.

3) Rights in Data: The contractor agrees that upon completion (or termination with or without cause) of this contract, it shall have no property or possessor rights to any of the information of whatever kind or description, whether developed or prepared by it or furnished by the Government in connection with the performance of the contract; and that upon demand, it shall surrender immediately to the Contracting Officer such items, matters, materials and copies.

The Contractor shall not provide any Government information of whatever kind or description in any form to sources not authorized by the Government, during or after performance of this contract, without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

All data/information first produced as a result of performing task assignments under this award shall become the Federal Government’s property and the Contractor shall surrender any and all rights to its ownership. To this end, the Contractor hereby agrees to accept the terms and conditions of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.227-17, Rights in Data – Special Works (June 1987) will be incorporated in the award by reference.

For purposes of this award, the FAR 52.227-17, Rights in Data – Special Works (Dec 2007) clause supersedes the following FAR clause: FAR 52.227-14, Rights in Data – General (Dec 2007).

The following documents are attached to this solicitation:

Attachment 1 – Statement of Work and Deliverables

Attachment 2 – Technical Evaluation Criteria

Attachment 3 – Addendum to FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions— Commercial Products and Commercial Services

Attachment 4 – FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items

Attachment 5 – FAR 52.204-24, FAR 52.204-25, and FAR 52.204-26 on Telecommunications, Equipment, and Video Surveillance.

Attachment 6 – Information Security Clauses

Attachment 7 - IPP Invoicing Instructions

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 2

RFQ 75N94024R00028

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS

FIC STRATEGIC PLANNING, EVALUATION, PROGRAMMATIC AND PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES

Technical Evaluation:

The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Offerors in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the solicitation. The merits of each offer will be evaluated carefully. Each offer must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the solicitation.

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers listed in order of relative importance:

1. Organizational Expertise and Corporate Capability

2. Technical Approach

3. Personnel

Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price.

Technical Factors:

The evaluation factors are used by the Government when reviewing the technical responses. The factors below are listed in the order of relative importance for evaluation purposes.

Technical Factor 1: Organizational Expertise and Corporate Capability

The Offeror shall demonstrate the organizational expertise and the capability of staffing candidates to successfully perform the requirements outlined in the statement of work.

Offerors are required to demonstrate their Organizational Expertise and Corporate Capability with specific examples of the completion of tasks similar in size and scope.

Offerors shall demonstrate the following Organizational Expertise:

• Provide 24/7 individualized support for travelers both US and international.

• Capabilities to support non-financial post-award administrative activities for Grants.

• Experience navigating risks inherent in international financial transactions, financial systems and infrastructures.

• Transparent budget and financial policies and procedures designed to minimize risk, fraud and waste.

• Step by step merit-based research grants peer-review process.

• Have or have access to staff located in various geographical countries/regions (i.e., Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle

East and North Africa, Eurasia, South and Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and the Caribbean etc.)

• Expertise with procedures to ensure the Offeror can provide sufficient, adequately trained staff to meet anticipated needs, and respond quickly to unanticipated needs and issues.

• Capability to budget at the task level to ensure budget and cost control.

• Provide examples or documented experience working with Global health NGOs: (i.e., World Health Organization, World Bank, Pan-American Health Organization, U.S. National Academies, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, etc.).

• Conduct and host virtual, hybrid and in person meetings, including but not limited to pre-meeting planning, site selection, onsite support, registration, online registration, make logistical arrangements for attendee travel, speaker support, shuttle rental/planning, facilitation, post-meeting follow-up, translation services. These events should demonstrate both US and International experience.

• Arrange and pay for conference facilities within the U.S. and abroad (usually low- and middle-income countries) in the region of sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe etc.).

• Identify requirements, meeting platforms, and produce necessary planning documents and timelines for both domestic and international activities (especially activities in remote areas within low- and mid-income countries LMICs).

• Provide on-site logistical support abroad, usually in low- and middle-income countries taking place in remote areas.

• Travel support for one or more participants, including lodging and ground transportation as required, from diverse geographic locations with some that may require special accommodations.

• Knowledge of both domestic and international federal and HHS-specific regulations on travel, per diem, honoraria, meeting approval procedures, site selection.

• Providing and coordinating with NIH IT personnel for electronic meeting support including videocasting, webinars, teleconferences and technical issues.

• Ability to obtain and maintain meeting platform licensing (i.e., Zoom) if not provided by the government.

• Experience creating and hosting conference registration websites, preparing web content, agendas, minutes, and registration sites needed to facilitate workshops or meetings.

• Ability to provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the FIC. The primary objective is to provide strategic, technical, and programmatic consultation and advisement services.

• Knowledge of the development, analysis and evaluation of Fogarty’s programs and on international science policy issues.

• Distribute funds by check, ACH payment, or wire transfer for domestic and international projects and to individuals. Disbursement of funds onsite in foreign countries.

Technical Factor 2: Technical Approach

The Offeror shall provide a technical approach that demonstrates an understanding of the technical tasks and subtasks identified in the SOW.

The Offeror shall provide a management and administrative approach to address the technical requirements listed in the

SOW.

Technical Factor 3: Personnel

The Offeror shall demonstrate that all personnel assigned to this requirement can work independently and possess the required knowledge, skills, and expertise in their respective areas to that demonstrates the ability to successfully achieve the goals related to the performance of the requirement.

The sufficiency of the staffing plan proposed, including the proper labor categories for each corresponding task area. The contractor must be able to provide qualified personnel to meet the personnel requirements and address the functional responsibilities outlined below:

1. Project Manager (PM), having 10 or more years of relevant experience leading projects of similar scope and complexity with at least five (5) years of experience in managing Government contracts is preferred. The Project Manager shall oversee the needs of the Call Orders issued under the BPA and shall be the primary technical and managerial interface between the Contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The individual must have experience in individual Project Management as well as management of several related projects simultaneously.

• The Project Manager or alternate PM must be available during normal duty hours, and to meet with government personnel to discuss problems.

• The contractor shall provide program management, project control, and contract administration necessary to manage the contract process so that cost, schedule and quality requirements are tracked, communicated to the COR. The COR is located in the Office of Administrative Management and International Services, FIC.

• The Contractor shall provide a qualified multidisciplinary staff, augmented with qualified consultants, as necessary and appropriate. Staff must have demonstrated skills in all areas described in this Statement of Work.

The PM shall ensure staff continuity when making task assignments. If key personal changes are necessary, the PM shall provide the PO, for his/her approval, the credentials of new staff assigned and an updated staffing plan.

• The contractor shall possess the following knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of financial accounting policies and financial tracking systems.

• Experience with succession program management.

• Experience with workforce planning and development.

• Experience with instructional design, training management, and facilitation.

• Experience with business process improvement methodologies.

• Experience with organizational diagnosis and intervention techniques.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Coordinates and monitors the scheduling, pricing, and technical performance of company programs.

Responsibilities also include aiding in the negotiation of contracts and contractual changes and coordinating preparations of proposals, plans, specifications, and financial conditions of contracts. Applying education, training and experience through critical thinking and expert analysis that supports decision-making to solve problems and challenges in implementing and executing programs and objectives. Develops new concepts and the methodology to execute them. Ensures adherence to master plans and schedules, develops solutions to program problems, and directs work of incumbents assigned to program from various departments. Ensures projects are completed on time and within established budget. Acts as advisor to program team regarding projects, tasks, and operations.

• Assign qualified Project Managers to requests based on experience and expertise.

Minimum Education Requirements:

- A relevant Master‘s Degree (business or technology related field), ten (10) years general experience with at least five (5) years of specialized experience managing government contracts is preferred. Degree requirements may be substituted based on having sufficient specialized experience and relevant certifications (Project Management Professional).

Additional Knowledge/Experience/Competency Areas Required:

- Ten (10) years of experience in the role of a Program Manager. Eight (8) years of experience serving in the role of a Program Manager within the previous ten (10) years in the following areas:

o Portfolio/Project Management Services o Business Needs Analysis Services o Enterprise Governance o Risk Management Services o Change Management Services o Critical Thinking

- Preferred to possess Active/Current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.

- Experience leading teams of twenty (20) or more staff.

- Prior experience working with Senior Leadership on complex projects that have short- and long-term milestone dates. Additionally, be able to prioritize projects and implement effective change management in a dynamic work environment.

- Very strong communication skills both oral and written.

- Preferred having strong skills in the following key areas including strategic thinking, negotiating, multi-tasking, time management, teamwork, planning, ‘out of the box thinking, being able to assess a situation in a timely manner especially unplanned events or priority changes for decision making purposes and executing to a defined schedule.

- Experience leading activities and opportunities of foreign governments and foreign financial institutions.

The Project Manager, Financial Manager, Travel Director, and Events Planner/Manager are considered as key personnel. A resume for the Project Manager, Financial Manager, Travel Director, and Events Planner/Manager as well as Alternate Project Manager shall be submitted along with the proposals. Resumes shall not exceed five (5) pages.

2. Five (5) Subject Matter Experts (SME)

i. SME for Travel and Logistics/Travel Director

ii. SME for Events Planner/Manager

iii. SME for Financial Management/Financial Manager

iv. SME for Grants and Contracts

v. SME for Procurement (or a candidate with relevant experience)

Minimum Experience: - Eight (8) years of hands-on relevant experience.

Minimum Education: Requires a bachelor’s degree in related disciplines.

Functional Responsibility:

- Travel Director: Serve as the expert analyst/lead specialist on large or technically complex projects. Provides comprehensive services supporting individual and group travel worldwide. Develops event-related documentation and approaches for solving complex business improvement issues or problems. Negotiates contracts with hotels and service providers, secures the best rates and amenities including transportation, logistics, on-site operations, handling and problem -solving. Assigns travel projects appropriately to event planner.

- Events Planner/Manager: Leads, plans and coordinates activities ensuring events go smoothly including venue selection, negotiating for vendor services like audio visual equipment, room selections and liaising with clients.

EM will coordinate and handle attendee registration and event logistics and pay attention to financial and time requirements and consider any budget constraints and timelines. Brings to the attention of the Travel Director any concerns or discrepancies regarding breaches/changes in negotiated requirements. Provides cost estimates, detailed travel itineraries, purchase air and local ground transportation. Monitors and create travel expense reports. Creates business needs and business cases as needed for associated adjustments. Responsibilities are like that of the travel director but with limited delegated authority.

- Financial Manager: Serve as expert analyst on complex financial projects. Mastery of the concepts, principles, practices, laws, and regulations of budgeting and/or financing. Conducts financial analyses for programs. Develops narrative materials for program officials. Ability to prepare and report in-depth analysis of data in a very short amount of time. Analyzes specific budgetary and financial areas of concern and recommends procedures and methods for change. Develops, recommends, and implements budgetary/financial policies based on analyses.

Conducts regular and special budget analysis to identify trends and patterns. Assesses systems and procedures used to generate financial reports for the quality, and utility of the data and data displays.

- Grants, Contracts and Procurement SME’s: Serve as the expert analyst on large or technically complex projects.

Develops multi-stage competition process using a mixture of internal controls approaches for solving complex business improvement issues or problems. Performs program audits, cost benefit, and risk analysis studies.

Provides estimates of the effect of project and program changes and major additions. Prepares statistical and quantitative risk assessment models as needed. Creates business needs and business cases for proposed solutions.

Other Personnel

General Experience and Additional Knowledge Areas Preferred:

• Analysts with at least 8 years of experience in related business areas leading similar scope and complexity

• Hands-on intermediate to expert level experience using Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Microsoft Visio or similar tools for creating workflow diagrams.

• Knowledge of spreadsheet, database and word processing applications for personal computers

• Experience working in a collaborative environment.

• Experience managing aspects of grant and cooperative agreement applications

• Experience evaluating budget justifications and financial arrangements

• Experience monitoring post-award activities or grants, contracts and procurements

• Strong oral and writing skills.

• Experience working with scientific researchers.

• Experience working in a Project Management Office.

• Strong skills in the following key areas: strategic thinking, multi-tasking, negotiation, conflict management, time management, planning and executing to a defined schedule/budget

ADJECTIVAL RATINGS

The Government will evaluate the Technical Response using the following adjectival ratings.

Adjectival Description

Outstanding (O) Significantly exceeds most or all solicitation requirements for this factor or subfactor or overall. Response exceeds a “Good” rating. The risk of unsuccessful contract performance is extremely low. Response contains no weaknesses or deficiencies.

Good (G) Fully meets all solicitation minimum requirements and exceeds many of the solicitation requirements for this factor or subfactor or overall; OR exceeds a small number of the minimum requirements but to a significant degree or in a valuable way for this factor or subfactor or overall. Response exceeds an “Acceptable” rating. The risk of unsuccessful contract performance is very low; contains no significant weaknesses and only minor, correctable weaknesses exist.

Acceptable (A)

Fully meets all solicitation minimum requirements for this factor or subfactor or overall. Areas where the response exceeds the minimum solicitation requirements, if any, are of little or no value to the Government. The risk of unsuccessful contract performance is low. No significant weaknesses and any deficiencies can be readily corrected.

Marginal (M)

Less than “Acceptable.” Does not meet all solicitation minimum requirements for this factor or subfactor or overall. The response indicates a superficial or vague understanding of the program goals and the methods, resources, schedules and/or other aspects essential to contract performance. The risk of unsuccessful contract performance is moderate; major weaknesses and/or significant number of deficiencies exist.

Unacceptable (U) Technical response has many or significant deficiencies and/or substantial omissions for a factor or subfactor or overall AND/OR the response demonstrates a lack of understanding of the program goals, methods, resources, schedules and/or other aspects essential to contract performance. Offer needs major revisions.

COST/PRICE FACTORS

Per FAR 13.106-2 price-cost will be evaluated separately from past performance and other non-price-cost factors and will be evaluated for reasonableness. For a price to be reasonable, it must represent a price to the government that a prudent person would pay when consideration is given to prices in the market. An evaluation of the respondent’s price quote will be performed to determine if it reflects a clear understanding of the requirements and is consistent with Offeror’s technical response. The price-cost will also be evaluated for reasonableness in terms of consistency with labor categories and associated labor rates.

Price/cost quotes must include Labor Categories and corresponding Labor Rate for each period (if annual increases are projected).

PAST PERFORMANCE

The Government will evaluate the quality of the Offeror’s past performance deemed relevant to the requirements of the solicitation. The Government may use information provided by the Offeror, as well as other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government.

The Offeror shall provide relevant information to facilitate the Government’s consideration of Organizational Expertise.

Offerors shall submit information for three (3) projects performed within the past three (3) years that are similar and comparable to those of this RFQ in size, scope and complexity. The Offeror shall provide a Contractor Performance Assessment Report System (CPARS) for the referenced project, if one is available.

The Government will evaluate the extent to which the Offeror’s previous experience with projects of a similar size, scope and complexity demonstrate its capability to successfully perform the requirement described in the statement of work (SOW) for this acquisition.

The Government will evaluate the summary of prior work experience similar in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty to that which will be performed under the BPA awarded from the solicitation for this acquisition. The Government will assess whether the likelihood that the Offeror’s relevant experience will minimize risk to the Government of unsuccessful performance.

Evaluation of past performance will be a subjective assessment based on consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances. It will not be based on absolute standards of acceptable performance. The Government is seeking to determine whether the Offeror has consistently demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction and timely delivery of services at fair and reasonable prices.

The assessment of the Offeror’s past performance will be used as a means of evaluating the capability of the Offeror. Thus, an Offeror with an exceptional record of past performance may receive a more favorable evaluation than if it has an acceptable record. Past performance will not be rated, but the Government's conclusions about overall quality of the Offeror's past performance will be influential in determining the merits of the Offeror's response and in selecting the Offeror whose offer is considered most advantageous to the Government.

By past performance, the Government means the Offeror's record of conforming to specifications and to…