Attachment1_DRAFT_SOW_Professional_and_Technical_Services_for_NLM.docx

Professional and Technical Support Services for National Library of Medicine

I. Background The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and consists of 27 separate Institutes and Centers (ICs) principally located in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. NIH’s mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. The goals of the agency are as follows: 1) foster fundamental creative discoveries, innovative research strategies, and their applications as a basis to advance significantly the Nation's capacity to protect and improve health; 2) develop, maintain, and renew scientific human and physical resources that will assure the Nation's capability to prevent disease; 3) expand the knowledge base in medical and associated sciences in order to enhance the Nation's economic well-being and ensure a continued high return on the public investment in research; and 4) exemplify and promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility in the conduct of science. To accomplish its mission, NIH conducts research in institute laboratories; sponsors research by scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world; supports research training and supports biomedical information knowledge management and communication.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), a part of the NIH, has a mission to “assist with the advancement of medical and related sciences and to aid in the dissemination and exchange of scientific and other information important to the progress of medicine and to the public health.” NLM collects, organizes, preserves, and disseminates the world’s biomedical information for the good of the public. Since its founding in 1836 as the library of the U.S. Army Surgeon General, NLM has played a pivotal role in translating biomedical research into practice. It is the world's largest biomedical library and the developer of electronic information services that deliver trillions of bytes of data to millions of users every day. Scientists, health professionals, and the public in the United States and around the globe search the Library's online information resources more than 1 billion times each year. The Library is open to all and has many services and resources—for scientists, health professionals, historians, and the public. NLM has nearly 22 million books, journals, manuscripts, audiovisuals, and other forms of medical information, making it the largest health-science library in the world.

NLM supports and conducts research, development, and training in biomedical informatics and health information technology. Specifically, the NLM (1) assists the advancement of medical and related sciences through the collection, dissemination, and exchange of information important to the progress of medicine and health; (2) serves as a national information resource for medical education, research, and service activities of Federal and private agencies, organizations, and institutions; (3) serves as a national information resource for the public, patients, and families by providing electronic access to reliable health information issued by the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources; (4) publishes in print and electronically guides to health sciences information in the form of catalogs, bibliographies, indexes, and online databases; (5) provides support for medical library development and for training of biomedical librarians and other health information specialists; (6) conducts and supports research in methods for recording, storing, retrieving, preserving, and communicating health information; (7) creates information resources and access tools for molecular biology, biotechnology, toxicology, environmental health, and health services research; and (8) provides technical consultation services and research assistance.

In addition to traditional library activities related to reference services and collection development, the Library develops a wide variety of electronic resources to meet the needs of various constituencies. The NLM strategic plan focuses on creating a future in which data and information transform and accelerate biomedical discovery and improve health and health care. The Library is committed to building bridges of trust between the biomedical community and the public at large through the establishment of partnerships and programs with user communities to ensure they are aware of the Library’s resources and services and to develop their capacity to use them effectively. The NLM leverages the 6,500-member libraries of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) which serve as trusted ambassadors between NLM and the communities they serve. The Library has specific outreach programs and services supporting a wide variety of population groups across the U.S.

Additionally, NLM is highly collaborative and seeks to stimulate its advancement throughout biomedical research and application with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) and other NLM partners. In that role, NLM leads efforts to support and catalyze science, information and data sharing, and research reproducibility, while striving to promote the concept that biomedical information and its transparent analysis are public goods.

New and expanding Congressional mandates, changing policies and information technologies, expanding NIH research programs, and NLM's role in the NIH community has resulted in a critical requirement to obtain the services of a contractor capable of flexible assignments and availability.

II. Purpose of the Procurement The purpose of this requirement is to acquire support for the provision of professional and technical services and program management support for the NLM.

III. Requirements Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall provide qualified and experienced personnel to support a full range of activities, including new and ongoing management, operations and analysis support, and any other related professional activities necessary to conduct NLM business. Functional areas include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, scientific data analysis, technical writing, scientific and medical domain expertise, data management, technical support, project management, outreach activities, finance and accounting, information systems support, and program management.

Because the needs of NLM’s programs can change rapidly and frequently, the balance of work among these main areas and the specific tasks under this contract can evolve over time. Exact requirements will be specified in individual Task Orders that are issued under this contract. Minimum and maximum hours are defined below. Minimum and maximum dollar values for each contract year will be defined prior to award, based on the successful Offerors' proposed costs. The contractor shall implement tasks with minimal direction, but in close collaboration with the government.

A. Professional and Technical Support Services Required technical and professional support services include, but are not limited to the following:

· Perform data analysis and management tasks, including data collection, entry, verification and maintenance.

· Provide assessment and make recommendations of management practices and frameworks to support management and NLM strategic goals and initiatives.

· Provide knowledge of information technology (IT) approaches and support software applications relevant to the mission of the NLM initiatives.

· Provide knowledge of clinical research processes and support such as clinical management and analysis of data, protocol review, and assistance with patient education and management.

· Provide support to NLM Task Managers in the areas of bioinformatics, computational biology, and data analysis for both basic and clinical research projects.

· Provide communications support which may include, but are not limited to, scientific/technical writing and editing, graphic design, and user engagement assessment activities.

· Provide project management support for technical projects and initiatives which may include, but are not limited to:

· User engagement and information dissemination initiatives (encompasses promoting awareness of information resources, understanding information needs, facilitating access, and ensuring ability to use information resources.

· Materials development

· Data collection/environmental scans/background research

· Evaluation/Assessment/Analysis

· The Contractor may be required to present findings at meetings both inside and outside of the government. All information must be cleared by the NLM Task Manager before dissemination outside of the NIH.

· Provide expertise for the analysis, planning, and recommendations in the following areas:

· Strategic planning;

· Budgeting and finance;

· Federal regulations, policies and procedures and

· Resource planning.

B. Program Management Required program management services include, but are not limited to:

· Provide quick turn-around response to any situation deemed to be an emergency by the NLM Contracting Officers Representative (COR) or Contracting Officer (CO).

· Manage and coordinate Contractor's onsite and offsite personnel.

· Maintain ongoing communication with NLM COR and CO.

· Monitor staff availability, project funding, and expenses.

· Ensure accuracy and timeliness of contract and task order deliverables.

· Ensure prompt response to NLM requests.

· Prepare and provide technical and financial status reports on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis including adhoc reports as directed by the COR.

· Meet with COR or CO within 24 hours of a request to address specific issues.

IV. Personnel Requirements The following labor categories will be incorporated into any resultant contract. Individual task orders will indicate which labor category or categories will be utilized in that task. The successful Contractor must be able to provide personnel for all labor categories provided below.

Professional and Technical Labor Categories Senior Project Manager Minimum General Experience: Eight (8) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Manages projects of scientific and technical nature. Responsible for planning and execution of project tasks and project deliverables.

Project Manager Minimum General Experience: Three (3) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Manages projects of scientific and technical nature. Responsible for planning and execution of project tasks and project deliverables.

Senior Software Developer Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Designs and develops software that supports biomedical research.

Software Developer Minimum General Experience: One (1) year of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree. High school diploma or equivalent with three (3) additional years of related experience may be substituted.

Functional Responsibility: Designs and develops software that supports biomedical research.

Senior Technical Writer Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Prepares, edits, and reviews scientific and technical documents.

Technical Writer Minimum General Experience: One (1) year of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Prepares, edits, and reviews scientific and technical documents.

Senior Data Analyst Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Manages scientific data. Creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets.

Data Analyst Minimum General Experience: One (1) year of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Manages scientific data. Creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets.

Graphic Designer Minimum General Experience: One (1) year of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Assists with the layout and graphical presentation of scientific information in print and electronic media.

Consultant Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Manages projects of analysis and technical nature. Responsible for assessment, planning and execution of special initiatives in specialized domains of knowledge.

Senior Research Associate Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: MS degree. BS/BA degree with three (3) additional years of experience may be substituted. Functional Responsibility: Performs scientific and technical tasks in support of biomedical research projects.

Research Associate Minimum General Experience: Three (3) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: BS/BA degree.

Functional Responsibility: Performs scientific and technical tasks in support of biomedical research projects.

Senior Subject Matter Expert Minimum General Experience: Ten (10) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: PhD, MD, DO, or DVM degree. MS degree with five (5) additional years of experience or a BS degree with fifteen (15) additional years of experience may be substituted.

Functional Responsibility: Provides expertise in specialized domains of knowledge.

Subject Matter Expert Minimum General Experience: Five (5) years of related experience.

Minimum Education: PhD, MD, DO, or DVM degree. MS degree with two (2) additional years of experience or a BS degree with seven (7) additional years of experience may be substituted.

Functional Responsibility: Provides expertise in specialized domains of knowledge.

Financial Analyst Minimum General Experience: One (1) year of related experience. Minimum Education: BS/BA. Functional Responsibility: Provides support for financial and budget analyses.

V. Task Orders For each task order, the Contractor shall submit a technical and cost proposal, including the labor categories and number of necessary hours needed to complete the task. It is anticipated that all task orders will be procured on a fixed price or labor hour basis.

New task order requests will be sent to the contractor once approved by the COR and CO. The contractor’s technical and cost proposal must be submitted to the Contracting Officer at least 14 calendar days prior to the proposed start date of the task order. Award of any task order will be delayed if the proposal is received less than 14 calendar days in advance.

Task Orders that require the Contractor to work at a Government facility (NLM), NLM will provide the Contractor with necessary equipment.

VI. Place of Performance Task orders will be performed at the Contractor site; NIH offices and facilities in the Bethesda, Maryland area; unless otherwise noted in the task order requests.

VII. Training NIH CIT shall provide appropriate training in NIH specific systems and procedures necessary to perform job requirements. All other training costs will be the responsibility of the contractor.

VIII. Deliverables

Task-specific deliverables are embedded within the requirements of many of the tasks.

SharePoint shall be used to store all documents and materials related to the contract. This includes all reports, activity summaries, financial reports, copies of 508 compliant promotional materials, up-to-date exhibit schedules, etc. This resource shall be structured so that only the COR can see all the content; however, each Task Manager shall have access to only materials related to their tasks when necessary. All resulting materials and products such as, but not limited to, training courses, exhibit materials and reports will become the property of the Government.

IX. Inspections and Acceptance Requirements

The (products/reports) delivered by the contractor will be reviewed and approved for acceptance by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) upon delivery by the contractor.

X. Continuity of Operations During a Government Closure

The Contractor shall submit a plan entitled Continuity of Operations During a Government Closure to the COR for approval within 20 calendar days following an instruction from the COR to do so. The plan shall sufficiently specify what work tasks would be performed at non-Government location(s) (i.e., not a “Federally-controlled facility”) during a closure.

The Contractor shall implement its approved Continuity of Operations During a Government Closure plan when directed by the COR.

XI. Compliance with Federal Requirements

All deliverables and all electronic resources developed under this contract must comply with Federal requirements for accessibility as described by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In 1998, the U.S. Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Information specific to HHS can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/ .

Section 508 Evaluation Factors

Responses to this solicitation will be evaluated based in part on the responsiveness to the identified Section 508 requirements and consideration for accessibility. If requested deliverables are commercially available that meet some but not all of the applicable Section 508 standards, proposal evaluation will favor the response that best meets the identified standards, in the greater context of selecting the proposal that represents the overall best value. Responses to the “Professional and Technical Support for the National Library of Medicine” solicitation must include vendor responses to applicable Section 508 elements identified in the Government Product Accessibility Template (GPAT) attached as attachment two (2). See instructions on how to complete the GPAT below.

Section 508 Acceptance Criteria

The “Professional and Technical Support for the National Library of Medicine” delivered as a result of this solicitation will be accepted based in part on satisfaction of identified Section 508 requirements for accessibility.

Section 508 Annual Report

The contractor shall submit an annual Section 508 report in accordance with the schedule set forth in the ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY Article in SECTION H of this contract. The Section 508 Report Template and Instructions for completing the report are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/contracting/technology/vendors.html.

How to Complete a GPAT

The attached Section 508 Government Product/Service Assessment Template (GPAT) consists of a series of tables. Section 508 provisions are separately listed by row in tables grouped by their category (i.e., Section 1194.xx). To complete the GPAT, you are asked to complete entries in two columns (labeled How does the EIT meet this Requirement? and Please Explain) for every provision considered applicable. Where Section 508 has been found to be applicable to this requirement, “yes” and/or “maybe” entries will be listed under the Applicable column in the GPAT tables. You are not obligated to respond where the Applicability finding is either blank or a “no” value for that Section 508 provision. Please answer honestly and be prepared to work with HHS to improve accessibility for your product/service if it is acquired.

For each applicable provision, you are asked to identify the level of support your product/service provides for this provision in the “How does the EIT meet this requirement?” column. In relation to this response, elaborate in the “Please Explain” column. A response of “Fully” is understood to mean the product/service fully meets the letter and intent of the Section 508 provision described in that table row. Along with this response, you are asked to list exactly what features of the product/service do meet and describe how they are used to support the provision. A response of “Partially” is understood to mean that the product/service does not entirely meet the letter and intent of the provision, but does provide some level of accessibility. In conjunction, you are asked to explain exactly what features of the product do meet and describe how they are used to support the criteria, as well as explain exactly what parts of the product do not meet and describe how they fail to support the provision’s criteria. You may also list what other methods exist in the product/service and describe how they are used to support the criteria. A “no” response is understood to mean that the product/service does not meet the letter and intent of the provision. In the ‘please explain’ field, elaborate on how the product does not support the provision’s criteria.

Further References www.Section508.gov http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm http://www.hhs.gov/web/policies/standards/index.html