RFP_IDIQ_AHRQ-16-10004_Amendment_No._2.pdf

Amendment #2 – AHRQ-16-10004, Electronic Dissemination, Information Resources (IR), and Virtual Library Support

Amended RFP Modification Summary

Changes are listed below and are highlighted in the attached amended RFP.

Item No. Part of Section Description Page No.

1 Section C Revised Section C.2 – CLIN 001 – Scope of

Work for IR Support 13-14

2 Section H Revised websites in Section H.8 27-28 3 Section L Revised websites in Section L.5 64 4 Section L Revised page limit section in Section L.7 67-68 5 Section L Revised Section L.7.D - Technical Proposal

Instructions - Key Personnel

6 Section M Revised Section M.1.A.c – Evaluation Factors for Award – Key Personnel

7 Attachment E Revised SOW and Delivery Schedule for RFTO 1 in Attachment E

Attachment E, Pages 1-3

8 Attachment G Revised Budget Assumptions for Task Order 1 Attachment G, Request for Proposal – Amendment #2 No. AHRQ-16-10004

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION FORM

Date Issued: December 10, 2015 Date Questions Due: December 16, 2015, 11:00 AM, EST Please Note: All questions and inquires will be processed on a non-attribution basis.

Date Notice of Intent Due: January 8, 2016 Date and Time Proposals Due: January 19, 2016, 11:00 AM, EST

You are invited to submit a proposal to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for Request for Proposal (RFP) No. AHRQ-16-10004 entitled “Electronic Dissemination, Information Resources (IR), and Virtual Library Support”. Your proposal must be developed and submitted in accordance with the requirements and instructions of this RFP.

Please Note: Offers are solicited only from small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA’s 8(a) Program. Proposals received from others will not be considered. See FAR 52.219-14 and 52.219-18, herein.

Solicitation Information: Please review the table of contents and refer to the appropriate section of this RFP for requirements, proposal instructions and evaluation information. The Government intends to award this contract without negotiations, so it is imperative that all questions are addressed during the solicitation phase, and that all proposals submitted include the required information and accept the terms and conditions as stated. Failure to comply with proposal instructions or submit required information may result in the removal of a proposal from consideration for award. Please review Section L carefully.

Proposal Intent: If you intend to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, please inform the Contracting Officer of your intent by completing the Proposal Intent Response Form (See section L.10 and Attachment A) and send it to the Contracting Officer no later than January 8, 2016. You may mail it to the address below, fax it to 301-427-1740, Attention: Kori Best, Contracting Officer or email it to Kori.Best@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Questions: All Questions regarding this solicitation shall be received in this office no later than the date shown above. All questions shall be submitted electronically by e-mail to Kori Best, Contracting Officer, at the following email address: Kori.Best@ahrq.hhs.gov. Subject line shall read: Proposal Questions RFP No. AHRQ-16-10004. Answers to questions and all solicitation amendments will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities web page: www.fbo.gov. It is your responsibility to monitor the web site.

IDIQ Request for Proposal v. Jun-15; FAC 80, Amendment 2 AHRQ-16-10004 Electronic Dissemination, IR, and Virtual Library Support Page 1 of 80 mailto:Kori.Best@ahrq.hhs.gov http://www.fbo.gov/

Additional Information:

• An Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity, single-award, task order-type contract is contemplated for a period of five years.

• The Government anticipates awarding 1 contract from this solicitation on or about

August 11, 2016.

• Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must state that they are valid for a period of at least 120 days (reference FAR clause 52.215-1 in Section L of this document.

• The NAICS code for this requirement is 519130 with a size standard of 500 employees.

Proposal Submission: The proposal shall be signed by an authorized official to bind your organization and must be received by the due date specified above.

Your proposal may be mailed to the following address:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Division of Contracts Management 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 06N34B Rockville, Maryland 20857 Attn: Kori Best

Hand carried proposals may be delivered to the above location. Please bring all packages to the loading dock. Please mark each box: AHRQ, OMS/DCM, Attn: Kori Best, Mail Stop 06N34B. The packages will be accepted and date/time stamped in the mail room. However, please allow ample time as proposals cannot be accepted until they have gone through security. We will not be held responsible for any delays that may be incurred getting your proposal through security.

NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service’s “Express Mail” does not deliver to our Rockville, Maryland address. Please do not use this means of delivery for proposal submission.

System for Award Management: In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database in order to conduct business with the government [See Section I - FAR clause 52.204-7 System for Award Management]. Access the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov.

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Reminder: The Procurement Integrity Act prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of, inquiry about, or acceptance of procurement information. Communications with any other individual outside the AHRQ contracting office may result in rejection of an offeror’s proposal. All requests for any information concerning this RFP should be referred to Kori Best, (301) 427-1786 or e-mail: Kori.Best@ahrq.hhs.gov. Please note e-mail requests should state subject as RFP AHRQ- 16-10004.

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Table of Contents

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION FORM

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES ................................................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

SECTION I CONTRACT CLAUSES ......................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

PART III- LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – SOLICITATION LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV– REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

Attachments Attachments listed in Section J are appended at the end of this document.

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SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

“Electronic Dissemination, Information Resources (IR), and Virtual Library Support”. See Section C for a complete description.

B.2 TASK ORDERS

This is a Single Award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity IDIQ contract. All services will be acquired on an as-needed basis through issuance of Task Orders. Under this IDIQ contract, the minimum is $25,000, while the total maximum amount of all task orders competed and awarded under the program shall not exceed $26,000,000 over the five (5) year period of this contract. No costs shall be incurred or reimbursed on this contract unless the cost is associated with an approved, signed Task Order.

B.3 LABOR HOURS

All work shall be performed in accordance with the Statement of Work in each task order. No hours shall be billed for labor categories or labor rates not included as part of this contract as detailed below:

Year 1 Labor Category Hourly Rate

Year 2

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Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Task Order 1 – Information Resources (IR) Support Labor Hour Task Order

CLIN # Services Total Ceiling Price Period of Performance 001 Severable $ Base Period

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Base Period

Task Order 2 – Web Services Labor Hour Task Order

002 Severable $ Base Period

Base Period

B.4 OPTION PERIOD COSTS (TASK ORDER 1 and 2 PRICING ONLY)

If the Government exercises its option(s) pursuant to the option article in Section H of this contract, the Government’s total contract amount represented by the total ceiling price will be revised as follows:

Task Order 1 – Information Resources (IR) Support – Option Period 1

001 Severable $ Option Period 1

Option Period 1

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Task Order 1 – Information Resources (IR) Support – Option Period 2

001 Severable $ Option Period 2

Option Period 2

Task Order 1 – Information Resources (IR) Support – Option Period 3

001 Severable $ Option Period 3

Option Period 3

Task Order 1 – Information Resources (IR) Support – Option Period 4

001 Severable $ Option Period 4

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Option Period 4

Task Order 2 – Web Services – Option Period 1

002 Severable $ Option Period 1

Option Period 1

Task Order 2 – Web Services – Option Period 2

002 Severable $ Option Period 2

Option Period 2

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Task Order 2 – Web Services – Option Period 3

002 Severable $ Option Period 3

Option Period 3

Task Order 2 – Web Services – Option Period 4

002 Severable $ Option Period 4

Option Period 4

The base period and each option are separate and distinct from one another for accumulation of cost and billing purposes.

B. 5 PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO DIRECT COSTS

a. Items Unallowable Unless Otherwise Provided

Notwithstanding the clauses, ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT, and FIXED FEE, incorporated into this contract, unless authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer, the costs of the following items or activities shall be unallowable as direct costs:

(1) Acquisition, by purchase or lease, of any interest in real property;

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(2) Rearrangement or alteration of facilities;

(3) Purchase or lease of any item of general purpose-office furniture or office equipment regardless of dollar value. (General purpose equipment is defined as any items of personal property which are usable for purposes other than research, such as office equipment and furnishings, pocket calculators, etc.);

(4) Accountable Government property;

(5) Travel to attend general scientific meetings;

(6) Foreign Travel;

(7) Any costs incurred prior to the contract's effective date;

(8) Rental of meeting rooms not otherwise expressly paid for by the contract;

(9) Any formal subcontract arrangements not otherwise expressly provided for in the contract;

(10) Consultant fees;

(11) Information Technology hardware or software; and

(12) Food and Beverages.

(13) No funding or expenditures are authorized under this contract/task order for travel or meeting expenses of any person that is not an employee of the contractor or approved subcontractor in accordance with the terms of the contract. See 31 USC 1345 for appropriations restrictions.

Note: Food and Beverages are unallowable costs. Contracting Officer Authorization for Food and Beverages will be only made as specifically authorized by statute, which is extremely rare. The contractor shall not provide food or beverages of any type. The contractor shall not accept food or beverages, even if included in, or provided ‘free’ as part of a meeting/conference ‘package’.

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SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the Statement of Work as follows:

Place of Performance

The primary place of performance shall be AHRQ headquarters located in Rockville, MD.

AHRQ will provide access to:

• Workspace for all members on the team

• All Government facilities as required to perform in accordance with the Statement of Work. Contractor personnel will be subject to AHRQ Rules of Behavior (ROB), each contractor shall be required to read and sign before access to any government resource is granted) while working at an AHRQ facility

• Computer or laptop (including docking station and monitor)

• Printer Access, either local or networked

• Telephone Line

• Data Line

• Network Access

• Hosting Environment, including hardware and software

The contractor agrees to ensure that all government property is kept safe and agrees to return it to the government in the condition provided with the exception of normal “wear and tear”.

Statement of Work

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

Unless otherwise noted under a specific task, this Statement of Work applies to the base period and all options (if exercised).

C.1 BACKGROUND STATEMENT

The mission of AHRQ is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to ensure that the evidence is understood and used.

AHRQ’s principal responsibilities are to work with other Federal Agencies toward:

Improving health care quality by accelerating the implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR);

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Making health care safer by preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), accelerating patient safety improvement in hospitals, reducing harm associated with obstetrical care, improving safety and reducing medical liability, and accelerating patient safety improvements in nursing homes;

Increasing accessibility to health care by collaborating with other HHS agencies and offices to lead efforts to provide evidence on the effects of health insurance coverage expansions; and

Improving health care affordability, efficiency, and cost transparency by improving the data, measures and public reporting strategies needed to convey information on health care price and cost along with quality.

The Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer (OCKT) provides electronic information dissemination and information resources support services to AHRQ as a whole. This contract for technical support services provides contract staff for Web content management and software development and for information resources support (IR) support.

The Contractor shall be responsible for responding to AHRQ’s electronic information needs, including Web-related services and IR support, in an appropriate, timely, and professional manner. The Contractor shall provide experienced and qualified personnel to perform Web- and IR support-related administrative, technical, information management, and Web coding support services. The Contractor may be required to attend meetings, conferences, and training sessions related to electronic dissemination and IR support.

C.2 SCOPE OF WORK

CLIN 001 - SCOPE OF WORK FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES (IR) SUPPORT

The IR support function is a virtual library that emphasizes access to electronic resources, with provision of information services on a phone or e-mail basis. IR support will provide limited information resources support services to AHRQ including basic knowledge management services and support of resources for literature searches of online databasesto AHRQ Offices and Centers, program staff, and the public.

Information resources services and research support are instrumental to the many research activities of AHRQ staff. The IR support staff will provide liaison for customized searches using AHRQ’s on-line data retrieval systems and other resources and handle reference questions for clients. The IR support services for the virtual library include AHRQ-funded InterAgency Agreements (IAAs) with the National Library of Medicine and the Library of Congress. It also includes membership in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, the Federal Libraries and Information Centers Coordinating Committee, and the HHS Libraries Consortium.

The key functions for IR support are:

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Information Resources Support Virtual Library Administration

• Provide content for updating the AHRQ virtual library on the AHRQ Intranet

• Track and maintain IR support services, IR support budget, and spending status

Information, Reference, and Research Services

• Provide knowledge management services, including information retrieval and research support services

• Provide liaison for customized database searches

• Provide support for professional literature searches

• Respond to requests for print copies of AHRQ Publications from Current Publications

Collection

Training

• Provide training on use of on-line literature searching tools.

CLIN 002 - SCOPE OF WORK FOR WEB SERVICES

Federal Government Web sites provide services to the public and support the proper performance of Agency functions, while complying with Federal Digital Requirements .

The AHRQ Web site, while independent, works together with that of the HHS Web site to provide citizens with opportunities for effective, efficient, and timely involvement in their government so that they can improve their lives, solve their problems, and accomplish their objectives. Overall, this Web presence plays an integral role in the HHS communications and outreach strategy.

Guidance for establishing HHS Web sites is found at www.hhs.gov/Web. In addition, AHRQ Web sites follow policies as described in the AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines and the Federal Digital Requirements as specified in the OMB memorandum Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services, and AHRQ Security and Privacy Requirements (see H.10).

The AHRQ Web site provides a primary communication and outreach mechanism to AHRQ audiences to convey information regarding research and other activities of the Agency. The Web site communicates a full array of mission-centered information, including general information, program actions and activities, data, research, regulations, and educational materials.

Key Web Services functions include:

Maintain AHRQ Web Site Content

• Post material to appropriate content management system (CMS)

• Administer and manage AHRQ Intranet content

• Ensure all sites meet applicable Federal Web standards

• Code materials in XHTML or HTML

• Implement designs for new Web sites

• Quality Control

• Upload files to the AHRQ Web site servers

Electronic Dissemination, IR, and Virtual Library Support Page 14 of 80 http://www.digitalgov.gov/resources/checklist-of-requirements-for-federal-digital-services/ http://www.hhs.gov/Web http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/index.html http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/index.html http://www.digitalgov.gov/resources/checklist-of-requirements-for-federal-digital-services/

• Maintain and update Web site templates

• Maintain Web site archives

• Web site testing

Web Site Development

• Analyze existing Web site content

• Develop new web, social media, and print content

• Redesign content

• Design and develop secondary and tertiary levels of sites

• Train users in Web Content Management System (WCMS) platforms and systems

• Assemble and migrate Web site content

• Ensure design functionality on desktop browsers and mobile platforms

• Develop production templates

• Provide support for the WCMS, including patching, updating and general fixes

• Perform standards and user testing and training

• Migrate content selected AHRQ Web site content

• Implement AHRQ.gov master IA within AHRQ second and third-level domain sites

Provide Multimedia Services

• Maintain and encode video and audio and streaming media files

• Support maintenance of AHRQ ‘s YouTube channel

• Troubleshoot multimedia grahics, flash animation, audio, and video for usability and accessibility

• Produce DVDs or AHRQ multimedia

• Provide Section 508 compliant files

• Provide logistical and technical support for Web-based conferences using appropriate Agency-supplied vendors

Administer and Provide Information Management Services

• Respond to Web site mailbox and administer, assign, and track cases for resolution

• Compile Agency Web usage statistics on entire Web site using AHRQ analytics and GSA Digital Analytics Program

• Coordinate as requested with National Library of Medicine (HSTAT), National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and other Federal programs to manage posting of AHRQ materials

• Run auditing solutions to identify issues

• Conduct ongoing research into metadata and search engine optimization

• Maintain and update AHRQ GovDelivery system

Support AHRQ IT Infrastructure

• Provide maintenance support for electronic dissemination activities

• Assist in providing application configuration and troubleshooting

• Coordinate with AHRQ IT and HHS ITIO to resolve connectivity issues

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• Support Extranets

• Perform general system troubleshooting, and help coordinate system backup and restorations

• Provide support for activities necessary to obtain and maintain Authority to

Operate for OCKT systems

• Collaborate with OCKT Cloud vendor (Current Cloud Vendor is Amazon

Cloud Services)

CLIN 002 A

Maintain AHRQ Web Site Content

This sub-CLIN may be applicable in Task Orders.

• Post material in the appropriate content management system (CMS) for each

OCKT-controlled Web site, including AHRQ’s Intranet. Content management systems in use presently include Percussion, Drupal, Ektron, and custom CMS platforms specific to individual sites.

• Administer and manage AHRQ Intranet content.

• Periodically monitor all AHRQ Web sites and third-level domains

(regardless of hosting location).

• Ensure that all pages comply with the standards established by the Agency, Department, and Federal government, with particular attention to Section 508 accessibility standards as well as those specified in the AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines and to the requirements of the OMB memorandum Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services, and AHRQ Security and Privacy Requirements (see H.10)

• As appropriate, code materials in Extensible Hypertext Markup Language

(XHTML) or HTML, implement selected styles, graphics, and design elements;

create or modify Cascading Style Sheets as necessary.

• Coordinate with project teams to implement designs for new Web sites incorporating content, navigation, graphics, banners, logos, links, and overall design and organizational structures that comply with applicable Agency, Department, and Federal government design, usability and accessibility standards for Web products.

• Ensure that all pages are independent of end-user display and hardware restrictions, and are viewable on-screen and in print using all common Internet browsers.

• Make changes to Web pages based on feedback from the COR.

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• Create specialized landing pages to facilitate end-user accessibility to AHRQ Web content.

• Perform quality control on all coded documents, including proofreading, code validation, functionality checks, scan and monitor for broken links, and assessments of compliance with W3C XHTML standards and GPO and AHRQ style requirements.

• Post draft sites and associated pages on AHRQ development servers to facilitate testing and review by project team members and Federal oversight staff for editorial correctness, function, design, and style.

• Upload new and updated files to the AHRQ Web site servers; remove outdated files and links to them; Scan sites for broken links and other issues, including monitoring through external resources.

• As appropriate, maintain and update Web site templates.

• Maintain Web site archive as appropriate, collaborating with the COR, site owners, and content owners, in accord with the governing AHRQ content management strategy.

• Follow Web page guidelines and update as appropriate per AHRQ design specifications as specified in the AHRQ Publishing and Communications Style Guidelines.

• Test tables and other information presentations with accessibility technology to ensure that they render correctly.

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the Contract Number, Contractor Name and Item Number. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition. Note as appropriate on the face page of each deliverable, or on the binding, (1) one volume only, or

(2) volume 1 of 2, etc.

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

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

b. For the purpose of this SECTION the Contracting Officer’s Representative is the authorized technical representative of the Contracting Officer.

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c. Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Division of Contracts Management 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, Maryland 20857

E.2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

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

FAR Clause No. Title and Date

52.246-6 Inspection Time-and Material and

Labor Hour (May 2001)

SECTION F - DELIVERIES or PERFORMANCE

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The ordering period shall begin on August 11, 2016 and run through August 10, 2021.

F.2 DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

The items specified for delivery below are subject to the review and approval of the Government Task Order Officer before final acceptance. Items #1 and 2 shall be provided to the Task Order Officer as electronic and hard copy. In addition, the Contract Specialist shall receive one copy of each progress report and final report/deliverable. The contractor shall be required to make revisions deemed necessary by the Task Order Officer.

The Contractor shall produce the following scheduled reports/deliverables in the amount, and within the time frame indicated. Complete delivery instructions will be provided with each Task Order awarded. The Contractor shall produce the following items in accordance with the stated deliverables schedule:

Item

Description

Quantity/Delivery Date

1 Administrative, progress, and financial reports As specified in each task order

2 All other deliverables identified in each task order As specified in each task order

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Attn: Contract Specialist Division of Contracts Management, OMS 5600 Fishers Lane Mail Stop 06N34B Rockville, MD 20857

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Attn: Task Order Officer 5600 Fishers Lane Mail Stop 07N94A Rockville, MD 20857

In addition, one electronic and one hard copy of final reports and all other deliverables shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative at the address below.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Attn: COR (To be completed at time of award) 5600 Fishers Lane Mail Stop 07N94A Rockville, MD 20857

F.3 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates the following clauses 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.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSE:

52.242-15, Stop Work Order (AUG 1989) with Alternate I (APRIL 1984)-Cost Reimbursement and Time & Material/Labor Hours.

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 KEY PERSONNEL, HHSAR 352.242-70 (January 2006)

Pursuant to the Key Personnel clause incorporated in Section I of this contract, the following individual(s) is/are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder:

NAME TITLE

(To Be Determined)

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The clause cited above contains a requirement for review and approval by the Contracting Officer of written requests for a change of Key Personnel reasonably in advance of diverting any of these individuals from this contract. Receipt of written requests at least 30 days prior to a proposed change is considered reasonable.

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) & TASK ORDER OFFICER

(TOO)

The following Contracting Officer’s Representative (s) and Task Order Officer(s) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract:

NAME TITLE

(To Be Completed at Time of Award)

(TASK ORDER OFFICER DESIGNATION PER TASK ORDER)

The Contracting Officer’s Representative and Task Order Officer is/are 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 Government may unilaterally change its Contracting Officer’s Representative or Task Order Officer designation.

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as an 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 of any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; or (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract.

G.4 INVOICE SUBMISSION

The following directions for the submission of invoices must be followed to meet the requirements of a "proper" payment request pursuant to FAR 32.9, and must be in accordance with the General Provisions clause 52.232-25 Prompt Payment (OCT 2008).

Invoices/financing requests shall be submitted in an original and two (2) copies to:

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Contracting Officer

Division of Contracts Management 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 06N34B

G.5 INFORMATION ON INVOICES

a. Information on Invoices – Labor Hour

(1) The Contractor is REQUIRED to include the following minimum information on invoices:

(a) Contractor’s name and invoice date;

(b) Contract Number;

(c) Description and price of services actually rendered;

(d) Other substantiating documentation or information as required by the contract;

(e) Name (where practicable), title, phone number, and complete mailing address or responsible official to whom payment is to be sent; and

(f) The Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Identification Number.

(2) The Contractor shall furnish the following minimum information in support of the invoiced amounts:

Labor Hours – include all persons, listing the person’s name, title, number of hours worked, labor category and hourly rate, the total cost per person and a total amount for each labor category.

(3) Payment shall be made by:

Program Support Center Twinbrook Place DFO Accounting Operations, Suite 200 12501 Ardennes Avenue

Telephone Number (301) 443-3020

G.6 ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER

Pursuant to FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Central Contractor Registration (OCT 2003), the Contractor shall designate a financial institution for receipt of electronic funds transfer payments. This designation shall be submitted, in writing, to the finance office designated in the contract.

G.7 POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

Interim and final evaluations of Contractor performance will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR Subpart 42.15. The final performance evaluation will be

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

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

Contractors may access evaluations through a secure Web site for review and comment at the following address: https://www.cpars.csd.disa.mil

G.8 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

The contractor shall provide ALL property required to perform all requirements under orders awarded under this contract. Only in extremely limited circumstances shall property be approved. Refer to FAR 45.102 for additional information. If the Contracting Officer authorizes the use of government property or the acquisition of government property (other than real property), the HHS Publication, entitled, “HHS Contracting Guide for Contract of Government Property” shall apply.

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 RELEASE AND USE AND COPYRIGHT OF DATA FIRST PRODUCED FROM WORK

PERFORMED UNDER THIS CONTRACT

(a) Release and Use – Data first produced in the performance of the Contract. As permitted in FAR 52.227-17, the provisions of this Section H.1 shall apply to any release or use of data first produced in the performance of the Contract and any analysis, tools, methodologies, or recorded product based on such data.

(b) Release and Use – Requirements related to confidentiality and quality. To ensure public trust in the confidentiality protections afforded participants in Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-supported research, AHRQ requires and monitors compliance by its contractors with section 934(c) of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c)), which states in part that

No information, if the establishment or person supplying the information or described in it is identifiable, obtained in the course of activities undertaken or supported under this title, may be used for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was supplied unless such establishment or person has consented...to its use for such other purpose. Such information may not be published or released in other form if the person who supplied the information or who is described in it is identifiable unless such person has consented...to its publication or release in other form.

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In addition to this requirement, section 933(b)(1) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 299c-2(b)(1)) requires AHRQ to assure that statistics and analyses developed with Agency support are of high quality, comprehensive, timely, and adequately analyzed. Accordingly --

(1) prior to the release or use of data based upon work performed under this Contract, the Contractor agrees to consult with the Contracting Officer’s Representative and Contract Officers regarding the proposed release or use. The Contractor will in good faith consider, discuss, and respond to any comments or suggested modifications that are provided by AHRQ within two months of receiving the proposed release or use.

The purpose of such consultation is to assure that:

(A) identifiable information is being used exclusively for the purpose(s) for which it was supplied or appropriate consents have been obtained;

(B) the confidentiality promised to individuals and establishments supplying identifiable information or described in it is not violated; and

(C) the quality of statistical and analytical work meets the statutory standards cited above.

(2) The Contractor must satisfy conditions (1)(A) and (1)(B). At the conclusion of any consultation required by paragraph (b)(1) above, if AHRQ and the Contractor cannot agree that a proposed use or release satisfies condition (1)(C) above:

(A) the research professional at the Contractor responsible for the quality of the Contract work will, in advance of any release or use of such data, certify in a letter to the Contracting Officer what differences of opinion cannot be resolved regarding the statutory standards referenced in condition (1)(C) and the basis for Contractor assertions that these standards have been met; and

(B) the Contractor must print prominently on the release or other product, or on any portion that is released, or state prior to any oral presentation or release of such material, the following disclaimer:

THIS PRESENTATION/ PUBLICATION/OR OTHER PRODUCT IS DERIVED

FROM WORK SUPPORTED UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE AGENCY FOR

HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ) CONTRACT# .

HOWEVER, THIS PRESENTATION/ PUBLICATION/OR OTHER PRODUCT

HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE AGENCY.

(c) Required Statement Regarding Protected Information. On all written material or other recorded products, or preceding any presentation or other oral disclosure, release or use of material based on identifiable information obtained in the course of work performed under this contract, the Contractor shall make the following statement:

IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON WHICH THIS REPORT, PRESENTATION,

OR OTHER FORM OF DISCLOSURE IS BASED IS PROTECTED BY

FEDERAL LAW, SECTION 934(c) OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, 42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c). NO IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY

INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES SUPPLYING THE INFORMATION OR

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DESCRIBED IN IT MAY BE KNOWINGLY USED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE

WITH THEIR PRIOR CONSENT. ANY CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFIABLE

INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT OR PRESENTATION THAT IS KNOWINGLY

DISCLOSED IS DISCLOSED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT

WAS PROVIDED.

(d) Copyright – Data first produced in the performance of the Contract. Subject to the terms of this Section regarding release and use of data, AHRQ, through its Contracting Officer, will grant permission under FAR 52.227-17(c)(1)(i) to the Contractor to establish claim to copyright subsisting in scientific and technical articles based on or containing data first produced in the performance of this contract that are submitted for publication in academic, technical or professional journals, symposia proceedings or similar works.

When claim to copyright is made, the Contractor shall affix the applicable copyright notice of 17 U.S.C. 401 or 402 and acknowledgment of Government sponsorship (including contract number) to the data when such data are delivered to the Government, as well as when the data are published or deposited for registration as a published work in the U.S. Copyright Office. In such circumstances, the Contractor hereby agrees to grant to AHRQ, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for all such data to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of AHRQ. A description of this license will be incorporated into the copyright notices required above.

(e) Subcontracts. Whenever data, analyses, or other recorded products are to be developed by a subcontractor under this Contract, the Contractor must include the terms of H.1 in the subcontract, without substantive alteration, with a provision that the subcontractor may not further assign to another party any of its obligations to the Contractor. No clause may be included to diminish the Government’s stated requirements or rights regarding release or use of products or materials based on data derived from work performed under this contract.

H.2 LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR RELEASE OR USE

Failure to submit materials for statutorily mandated confidentiality and statistical and analytic quality reviews as required by Section H.1 of this contract will be viewed as a material violation and breach of the terms of this contract, as the requirements of this provision are necessary for AHRQ to carry out its statutory obligations and responsibilities. Records of the Contractor's performance, including the Contractor's performance pertaining to this Contract, will be maintained in AHRQ's Contracts Management Office and will be considered as an element of past performance which is part of all subsequent competitive contract proposal reviews.

H.3 SUBCONTRACTS

The contractor must include in any subcontracts executed or used to provide the support specified in this contract all terms and conditions of this contract, especially Section H. These requirements are to be included without substantive alteration, and no clause may be included to diminish these requirements.

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Award of any subcontract is subject to the written approval of the Contracting Officer upon review of the supporting documentation as required by FAR Clause 52.215-12, Subcontractor Cost or Pricing Data, of the General Clauses incorporated into this contract. A copy of the signed subcontract shall be provided to the Contracting Officer.

H.4 LATE PAYMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT

Late payment of debts owed the Government by the Contractor, arising from whatever cause, under this contract/order shall bear interest at a rate or rates to be established in accordance with the Treasury Fiscal Requirements Manual. For purposes of this provision, late payments are defined as payments received by the Government more than 30 days after the Contractor has been notified in writing by the Contracting Officer of:

a. The basis of indebtedness.

b. The amount due.

c. The fact that interest will be applied if payment is not received within 30 days from the date of mailing of the notice.

d. The approximate interest rate that will be charged.

H.5 SALARY RATE LIMITATION

a. Pursuant to the current and applicable prior HHS appropriations acts, the Contractor shall not use contract funds to pay the direct salary of an individual at a rate in excess of the Federal Executive Schedule Level II in effect on the date an expense is incurred.

b. For purposes of the salary rate limitation, the terms ``direct salary,'' ``salary”, and ``institutional base salary'', have the same meaning and are collectively referred to as ``direct salary'', in this clause. An individual's direct salary is the annual compensation that the Contractor pays for an individual's direct effort (costs) under the contract. Direct salary excludes any income that an individual may be permitted to earn outside of duties to the Contractor. Direct salary also excludes fringe benefits, overhead, and general and administrative expenses (also referred to as indirect costs or facilities and administrative [F&A] costs).

Note: The salary rate limitation does not restrict the salary that an organization may pay an individual working under an HHS contract or order; it merely limits the portion of that salary that may be paid with Federal funds.

c. The salary rate limitation also applies to individuals under subcontracts. If this is a multiple-year contract or order, it may be subject to unilateral modification by the Contracting Officer to ensure that an individual is not paid at a rate that exceeds the salary rate limitation provision established in the HHS appropriations act in effect when the expense is incurred regardless of the rate initially used to establish contract or order funding.

d. See the salaries and wages pay tables on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Web site for Federal Executive Schedule salary levels that apply to the current and prior periods.

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H.6 TASK ORDER SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES

All work required under this contract will be authorized through the issuance of task orders (TOs). The Contractor will be required to provide services under the resultant contract only in performance of task orders and modifications to task orders signed by a Contracting Officer.

Orders shall be within scope, issued within the ordering period, and be within the maximum value of the contract. Task Orders may be issued and awarded on a Labor-Hour basis; however a minimal number of Task Orders may be awarded on a Time and Materials basis. Costs for the preparation of Task Order proposals shall not be reimbursed as a direct cost under the resultant order. The government has no obligation to issue any task orders, beyond the minimum identified in SECTION B of the contract. In the event of conflict between a task order and this contract, the contract shall control.

Procedures for Issuance of TOs

1. Requests for Task Order (RFTO) Proposals will be issued by the Government, in writing, primarily through electronic mail but may also be issued by facsimile or mail. Contractors are required to have internet or external electronic mail capabilities.

2. Contractors will be provided adequate time to prepare and submit responses. A cost proposal using rates from Section B, and a discussion of technical approach to complete the Statement of Work shall generally be submitted within twenty

(20) calendar days. Occasionally, the contractor may be requested to reply within a shorter amount of time.

3. Each RFTO will indicate the criteria for the evaluation of proposals. The proposals shall respond to each criterion. Generally, the Contractor may be asked to demonstrate the following as appropriate:

• Understanding of the requirement;

• Technical approach, methods and procedures for satisfying the requirement;

• Types of final products anticipated

• Staffing plan with skill levels and time for each individual proposed

• Management plan, including meeting requirements and schedules, and performance measures (if applicable)

4. The determination of award of the TO will be based on technical merit, past performance, cost, and any other relevant factors.

5. The Contracting Officer will issue a formal TO for signature. The Contractor shall not proceed with performance until the Contracting Officer has signed the TO.

6. The Contractor’s performance of the TO is subject to the terms and conditions in the IDIQ contract. The TO may be modified only by the Contracting Officer.

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7. A Task Order Officer (TOO) will be designated for each TO issued under this contract. The TOO will function as principle technical liaison between the Contracting Officer and the Contractor's Project Manager.

H.7 PERSONNEL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

BACKGROUND

The Office of Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), requires that all DHHS employees and contractor employees (including subcontractors) who will be working in a DHHS-owned or leased space and/or who will have access to DHHS equipment, and non-public privileged, proprietary, or trade secret information, undergo a background investigation.

GENERAL

Notwithstanding other submission requirements stated elsewhere in this contract, the contractor shall appoint and identify a Contractor Security Representative and submit the following information for each employee to the Contracting Officer within thirty (30) calendar days after contract award.

DHHS ID Badge Request (HHS-745)

E-QIP Initiation Request Form Within thirty (30) days after contract award each employee will be required to have electronic fingerprinting performed –– Fingerprinting services are available by appointment only through the Program Support Staff (PSC). Upon receipt of the ID Badge Request Form and E-QIP Initiation Form, a security specialist from PSC will e-mail the contractor with instructions on completing the on-line background investigation questionnaire and making arrangements for the contractor to complete the electronic fingerprints at the Parklawn Building.

H.8 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY,HHSAR

352.239-73(b), (JANUARY 2010)

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

Electronic Dissemination, IR, and Virtual Library Support Page 27 of 80 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/29/794d.html http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title36/36cfr1194_main_02.tpl http://hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards…