Attachment 2_Technical Evaluation Criteria.pdf

NIH-NIMH-20-004329

VOLUME I-TECHNICAL QUOTE

The Technical Quote shall be a written submission limited to a total of 10 single-spaced pages, one-sided, letter size pages. Resumes and letters of commitment are not included in the page limit but are each limited to 2 single-spaced pages. Anything over the page limit will not be considered. Number the pages consecutively and use an 11-point font size in an easily readable font, such as Times New Roman.

Quoters shall clearly demonstrate the Quoter’s ability to fulfill all the technical requirements of this Solicitation. Narratives shall be provided in a manner that clearly demonstrates a thorough understanding of all related services to be provided. Failure to respond explicitly to each of the categories listed below will result in the Quoter’s response to this solicitation being deemed technically unacceptable. A proposal that merely restates the requirements of the Statement of Work will be deemed technically unacceptable.

Technical Evaluation Criteria:

The Technical Factors below are listed in descending order of importance. All evaluation factors other than cost or price and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price and past performance.

The evaluation factors are used by the technical evaluation panel when reviewing the technical proposals. Technical factors together shall be considered more significantly more important than price. The technical evaluation factors are as follows:

(1) Factor 1: Technical Capability

The Contractor’s proposal shall address each area of the statement of work requirements in sufficient detail to demonstrate a clear understanding of the statement of work and compliance with requirements

(a) Provide a clear, logical plan for organizing and accomplishing the tasks outlined in the SOW. The proposed approach should reflect a clear understanding of work required for each task and sub-task including thoroughness shown in understanding the objectives of the SOW at each task level and the planned execution of the task order.

(b) Demonstrates technical expertise in making scientific information ready for electronic display that is 508 compliant.

(c) Demonstrate the ability to identify research gaps with summary and analysis of mental health research within the context of the many rural cultural settings and ways that rural mental health care is provided.

(d) Demonstrate the ability to read and analyze the research literature about rural mental health including the ability to identify and describe the gaps in research-informed understanding.

(e) Demonstrate the ability to conduct stakeholder interviews and summarize and analyze them so that the results inform and shape the description of the research gaps.

(f) Demonstrate the ability to conduct stakeholder interviews that involve reaching out to a diverse range of rural residents, care providers, families, and mental health researchers.

(g) Demonstrate pre-existing, respectful, trusting relationships between the contractor and rural American Indian and rural Alaskan Native residents, care providers, families, and mental health researchers. Examples of evidence of a respectful, trusting relationship would be letters of reference or support from rural American Indian and/or rural Alaskan Native tribal leadership speaking to such a relationship, documentation of a health related product, service provided to such a community with independent evaluation documenting its effectiveness, co-authored (between contractor or contractor staff and rural American Indian and/or rural Alaskan Native persons) public facing documents such as scientific articles, blog posts, white papers..

(2) Factor 2: Personnel Qualifications

(a) List names, titles, and proposed duties of additional personnel, if any, who will be required for full-time employment, or on a subcontract or consultant basis. The technical areas, character, and extent of subcontract or consultant activity will be indicated, and the anticipated sources will be specified and qualified. For all proposed personnel who are not currently members of the quoter's staff, a letter of commitment or other evidence of availability is required. A resume does not meet this requirement. Commitment letters for use of consultants and other personnel to be hired must include:

• The specific items or expertise they will provide.

• Their availability to the project and the amount of time anticipated.

• Willingness to act as a consultant.

(b) Describe the experience and qualifications of personnel who will be assigned for direct work on this task order.

(c) Provide resumes/CVs for the personnel proposed that demonstrated the knowledge and depth of experience to perform the statement of work . Resumes of proposed personnel, including subcontractors and consultants, shall describe the appropriateness and adequacy of the education, training, experience, expertise, qualifications and effort for each proposed technical personnel required to carry out the tasks delineated in the SOW.

(d) Demonstrates scientific writing expertise, expertise in writing about research on rural mental health, expertise in analyzing research and identifying gap areas, professional relationships with stakeholders in rural mental health, trusting, respectful relationships with rural American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes. . Some of the staff should hold an advanced academic or clinical credential such as a doctorate.

A. Non-Scored Evaluation Criteria

1. Past Performance

Provide a list of two (2) past performance references with knowledge of your relevant skills and experience related to the requirements outlined in this Statement of Work.

References should demonstrate past performance with rural American Indian, Alaskan Native, African American people concerning health research, especially mental health or substance use, should be prioritized. References shall include the following information:

a) Name of Organization

b) Description of Contractor’s responsibilities as they relate to this SOW

c) Contract Period of Performance

d) Contact Name and Title

e) Telephone Number

f) E-mail address

2. Cost Price

Offeror(s) cost/price proposal 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. Normally, price reasonableness is established through adequate price competition, but may also be determined through cost and price analysis techniques as described in FAR 13.106. The Offeror shall submit firm fixed prices for the work detailed in the Statement of Work.

Technical proposals will be evaluated using a summary adjectival rating in accordance with the following scale:

Excellent (90 – 100) Very Good (80 – 89) Good (70 – 79) Fair (60 – 69) Poor (0 – 59)

Excellent The proposal has exceptional merit and reflects an excellent approach which will clearly result in the superior attainment of all requirements and objectives. This clearly achievable approach includes several advantageous characteristics of substance, and very few disadvantages, which can be expected to result in outstanding performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is very low as the proposal provides solutions which are unquestionably feasible and practical.

These solutions are further considered very low risk in that they are exceptionally clear and precise, fully supported, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Very Low

Very Good The proposal demonstrates a sound approach which is expected to meet all requirements and objectives. This sound approach includes advantageous characteristics of substance, and few relatively minor disadvantages, which collectively can be expected to result in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is low as the proposal contains solutions which are considered feasible and practical. These solutions are further considered to reflect low risk in that they are clear and precise, supported, and demonstrate an understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Low

Good The proposal demonstrates an approach which is capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. The approach includes both advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics of substance, where the advantages are not outweighed by the disadvantages. Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages are likely to result in acceptable performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is moderate, as the proposal solutions are generally feasible and practical. These solutions may also be considered to reflect moderate risk in that they may be somewhat clear and precise, partially supported, and/or demonstrate a general understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Neutral.

Fair The proposal demonstrates an approach which may not be capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. The approach has disadvantages of substance and advantages, which if they exist, are outweighed by the disadvantages. Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages present a low or questionable likelihood of resulting in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is high as the proposal contains solutions which may not be feasible and practical. These solutions may also be considered to reflect high risk in that they lack clarity and precision, are generally unsupported, and/or do not demonstrate a complete understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: High

Poor The proposal demonstrates an approach which, based on a very high risk, will very likely not be capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. This approach has several disadvantages of substance, and advantages which, if they exist, are outweighed by disadvantages.

Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages are unlikely to result in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is very high as the proposal contains solutions which are not feasible and practical. The solutions may also be considered to reflect very high risk in that they lack any clarity or precision. Risk Level: Very High