CSS_75N95022Q00489.pdf

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION - COMPETITIVE

Solicitation Number 75N95022Q00489

“Process Chemistry Consulting Services”

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The Government anticipates awarding one to two purchase orders as a result of this Solicitation. The Government reserves the right to make one award, multiple awards, or no awards as a result of this Solicitation.

The solicitation number is 75N95022Q00489 and is issued as a Request for Quotation

(RFQ).

This Solicitation is for a commercial product or service and is conducted under the authority of 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. The acquisition is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

This Solicitation document and the incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-07 effective August 10, 2022.

The associated NAICS code is 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, and the small business size standard is $17.0 million.

This acquisition is a total small business set aside.

The Government anticipates awarding one to two labor-hour-based orders, which shall include Options to Extend the Term of the Contract and Options for Increased Quantity-Separately Price Line Item.

Statement of Need and Purpose:

The purpose of this RFQ is to acquire Process Chemistry Consulting Services from senior scientific level, industry-experienced drug discovery and development consultants with subject matter expertise in process chemistry development, to provide technical guidance to the following programs:

Introductory Statement

Solicitation Number and Authority

Applicable Federal Acquisition Circular

NAICS Code and Small Business Standard

Anticipated Contract Type

Description of Requirement https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-12.6#FAR_Subpart_12_6

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN)

• NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM (HEAL) Initiative

• Other NIH-managed, neuroscience-focused drug discovery and development programs.

These consulting services are needed on a part-time basis. The number of hours needed will vary depending on the needs, quality, and complexity of the of assigned project. The NIH estimates that consulting services from two, part-time consultants will be needed during the base period of performance and the required level-of-effort from each consulant will be 20 to 800 hours per year.

Please refer to Attachment 1. Statement of Work (SOW) for complete details of this requirement.

Period of Performance:

The base period of performance is anticipated to be September 10, 2022 to August 9, 2023.

The base period of performance will be followed by two optional periods of perfromance of one year each.

Place of Performance:

The primary place of performance shall be the Quoter’s site. Video conferencing and email shall be the primary mode of communication. The consultant will be expected to attend a kick-off meeting at the start of a project. Kick-off meetings are anticipated to be 6 to 8 hours in duration, and may be held at a principal investigator’s (PI) facility or conducted remotely. If held at a PI’s facility, the Government will pay for the consultant’s travel expenses to attend the kick-off meeting, in accordance with FAR 31.205-46 - Travel costs.

As described herein, the technical evaluation of quotations submitted in response to this RFQ shall occur in two phases as follows.

In Phase One, quotes/responses shall be evaluated and scored against the criteria for Technical Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications. Therefore, responses to this RFQ should include the information requested in the “Technical Requirements” and “Business Requirements” sections below.

Technical Requirements:

Responses to this RFQ must include clear and convincing evidence of the Offeror’s/Quoter’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the following evaluation factors:

• Technical Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications

• Price

• Past Performance

Responses will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria for Technical Factor 1, as set forth in Attachment 7. Evaluation Criteria.

Place and Period of Performance

Phase One Instructions

Phase One responses must include clear and convincing evidence of the Quoter’s capability of performing the work described in the attached Statement of Work, based upon the evaluation criteria for Technical Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications.

Responses shall clearly state which proposed key personnel are currently employed by or under contract with the Quoter. Responses must include current resumes for all proposed key personnel. For proposed key personnel that are not currently under contract or employed with the Quoter, a signed letter of commitment from the proposed key personnel shall be included with his/her resume.

Please note, however, that while resumes of all proposed key personnel are required, the resumes by themselves are not sufficient to establish the Quoter’s ability to perform the work described in the SOW. Quoter shall also submit a separate Phase One response demonstrating how its proposed Key Personnel satisfy the criteria for Technical Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications.

Business Requirements:

Phase One responses must include a completed Price Template (see Attachment 2).

Quoters should fill in only the highlighted cells; all other cells will then auto-populate. Quoter shall submit a completed Price Template in Microsoft Excel format (do not convert to PDF) as a separate attachment to its Phase One response. Quoter shall not combine or embed the Price Template with any other parts of its Phase One response.

The Government anticipates annual funding for a minimum of 20 labor hours per consultant and has included an annual not to exceed amount of 780 optional hours (for a total annual ceiling of 800 labor hours). Furthermore, the Government will reimburse the successful Quoter(s) up to $1,500 per year in travel-related expenses if such expenses become necessary for performance of the work described in the SOW. This travel amount will be included as an option item in the order/contract award. Funds for travel will be provided only after it is determined by the program manager or Contracting Officer’s Representative that there is a need for travel.

If Quoter proposes any staff in addition to Key Personnel, Quoter must clearly articulate in a separate Price Narrative the additional staff’s role in performing the work and why it believes the additional staff is necessary to fulfill the requirement. Quoter must also explain how the additional staff’s labor will be charged (e.g., direct hourly rate or included within overhead). If Quoter includes any Other Direct Costs (ODC) in the Price Template, Quoter shall document its rationale for additional ODCs in the Price Narrative.

Salary Rate Limitation:

This requirement has a direct salary limitation whereby direct salary may not exceed the 2022 Rates of Basic Pay for the Executive Schedule, Level II rate published at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/22Tables/exec/html/EX.aspx. This direct salary rate also applies to proposed key personnel that will provide consulting services for this requirement as subcontractors. All costs associated with any resulting order/contract shall fully comply with the Rates of Basic Pay for the Executive Schedule, Level II rate.

Direct salary is exclusive of indirect costs which may include Overhead, Fringe Benefits, and General and/or Administrative Expenses. An individual's direct salary (or institutional base salary) is the annual compensation that the Quoter pays for the individual’s consulting time, regardless of whether said time is spent on research, teaching, patient care or other activities.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/22Tables/exec/html/EX.aspx https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/22Tables/exec/html/EX.aspx

Direct salary (or institutional base salary) excludes any income that an individual may earn outside of his/her work for this requirement.

All contractors shall comply with Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulations (HHSAR) clause 352.231-70, Salary Rate Limitation (December 18, 2015), which will be incorporated by reference in every order/contract.

Quoter shall certify that its proposed labor rates comply with HHSAR 352.231-70 by completing and including Attachment 4. Representations and Certifications in its Pase One Response.

Past Performance:

Phase One responses must include at least two previous or current contracts/orders that the Quoter has received from Government agencies and/or commercial customers under which the Quoter provided services that demonstrate recent and relevant past performance. Relevant is defined as work similar in complexity and magnitude to the work described in the SOW.

Each example of past performance in the Phase One response should include the following, if applicable:

• Project title, and description of the project

• Contract number, and if applicable, task order number

• Contract amount

• Government Agency/Organization

• Contracting Officer/Project Manager’s name, address, and phone number

• Current status, e.g., completed and/or if in progress, start and estimated completion dates

• Key personnel (please highlight those individuals who worked on the referenced contract/order and are also being proposed for this effort.)

• A brief narrative of why you deem the reference to be relevant to this requirement.

The first page of a Phase One response must include:

• RFQ Number

• Quoter’s full legal name and address;

• Quoter’s UEI Number;

• Name, Telephone Number, and Email Address of Person Authorized to Provide the

Quote

Response Format:

Quotes/responses shall be no more than ten (10) single-sided pages in length. This page limit includes:

(i) Cover Page, if applicable

(ii) Executive Summary, if applicable

(iii) Table of Contents, if applicable

(iv) Key Personnel Narrative

(v) Past Performance Examples

(vi) Price Narrative, if applicable

This page limit does NOT include:

(i) Key Personnel Resumes

(ii) Letters of Commitment

(iii) Attachment 4. Representations and Certifications

(iv) Price Template

Please note that, to be considered for award, Quoter must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of quote/response submission.

All timely quotes/responses that fully comply with the RFQ instructions and are submitted by responsible Quoters will be evaluated by A Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP). Only responses that are determined as technically acceptable by the TEP will be given the opportunity to submit Phase Two Responses.

Quoters that have advanced to Phase Two of the evaluation process will be given an opportunity to clarify, discuss, or revise aspects of their Phase One response (including Technical Factor 1, Price, and Past Performance). Phase Two responses will be evaluated under the evaluation criteria for:

• Technical Factor 2: Understanding the Project and Technical Approach, and

• Technical Factor 3: Communication and Oral Presentation Skills

Oral Presentation Requirement:

In addition to a Phase Two written response, Quoters’ proposed Key Personnel (consultants) shall deliver an oral presentation to the TEP. Oral presentations will take place via videoconference. Oral presentations shall include:

• Background discussion of the work contemplated in the SOW

• Key Personnel qualifications and specific areas of expertise relevant to the SOW requirements

• Proposed technical approach for fulfilling the requirements described in the SOW, including how key personnel would characterize their role and responsibilities

• Anticipated problems and constraints likely to be encountered in performing the work and potential plans and/or solutions for resolving them

Written Response Requirement:

Phase Two responses must include clear and convincing evidence of proposed key personnel’s ability to fully perform the services described in the SOW. In additional, the response must address all evaluation factors (Technical Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications;

Technical Factor 2: Understanding the Project and Technical Approach; Technical Factor 3:

Communication and Oral Presentation Skills; Price; and Past Performance).

Phase Two written responses will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in Attachment 7. Evaluation Criteria.

The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021), applies to this acquisition. The instructions below are provided as an addendum.

The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition. Attachment 7. Evaluation Criteria is provided as an addendum.

Phase Two Instructions

Applicability of FAR 53.212-2:

Applicability of FAR 53.212-1:

The provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items applies to this acquisition and is included in Attachment 4.

Representations and Certifications.

Quoter must include the completed and signed Representations and Certifications form with its response.

The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and is incorporated by reference.

For a full list of applicable terms and conditions, please see Attachment 3. Additional Terms and Conditions.

The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders–Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and can be found at Attachment 2 - Additional Terms and Conditions.

Commercial Provisions Please be advised that the NINDS is an Institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a Federal agency. Your mass-market commercial and/or license agreement may include provisions that are customarily found in the commercial sector, which are not appropriate for a contract with a Federal agency. Specifically, NINDS considers any provision in your mass-market commercial and/or license agreement to be inappropriate and unenforceable that:

(1) Contravenes a right granted to NINDS under U.S. copyright law (e.g., fair use, right to archive, copying for interlibrary loan),

(2) Violates the Federal Acquisition Regulation or other Federal law (e.g., Anti-deficiency Act, Principles of Federal Appropriations Law),

(3) Departs from reasonable consumer expectations and was not disclosed by the Licensor prior to agreement, or

(4) Violates fundamental public policy.

The NINDS will assume that you agree with the above Commercial Provisions if you submit a quotation/response to this RFQ.

NIH is implementing a phased transition from the NIH Office of Financial Management (OFM) Electronic Invoice Submission instructions to the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). Invoicing for the resulting order/contract will transition to IPP in the future. The Contractor/Vendor shall use Attachment 6. Electronic Invoicing Instructions until the contractor/vendor is notified of its transition to IPP.

Quoter must possess and maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), which can be accessed at www.sam.gov

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-5

Applicability of FAR 53.212-3:

Applicability of FAR 53.212-4:

Additional Requirements:

http://www.sam.gov/

All questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted electronically by August 26, 2022 at 05:00 pm Eastern Time. Faxed questions will NOT be answered.

All responses to this RFQ must be submitted electronically by September 1, 2022 at 05:00 pm Eastern Time and reference solicitation number 75N95022Q00489 in the subject line of the email. Faxed responses will NOT be accepted.

All correspondence, including questions and responses, shall be submitted to the below individual:

Marlene Milgram Contract Specialist Office Phone: 301-594-0864 Email: marlene.milgram@nih.gov

Please be advised that the NIH is a Federal agency. Your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement terms and conditions may include provisions that are customarily found in the commercial sector, but which are not appropriate for a contract with a Federal agency. Specifically, NIH considers any provision in your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement terms and conditions to be inappropriate and unenforceable that:

(1) Contravenes a right granted NIH under U.S. copyright law (e.g., fair use, right to archive, copying for interlibrary loan),

(2) Violates the Federal Acquisition Regulation or other Federal law (e.g., Antideficiency Act, Principles of Federal Appropriations Law),

(3) Departs from reasonable consumer expectations, or

(4) Violates fundamental public policy.

The NINDS shall assume that you agree with the statements herein if you submit a quotation and accept the Government’s purchase order.

Attachment 1. Statement of Work (SOW) Attachment 2. Price Template Attachment 3. Additional Terms and Conditions Attachment 4. Representations and Certifications Attachment 5. Information Security Requirements Attachment 6. Electronic Invoicing Instructions Attachment 7. Evaluation Criteria

Question and Response Deadlines:

Commercial Provisions/Clauses:

Attachments:

mailto:marlene.milgram@nih.gov