D.1 SOW.pdf

FAR Part 11—Describing Agency Needs

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) SERVICES

Science and Health Communication Consulting Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Project:

Science and Health Communication Consulting Services

Statement of Need, Purpose, and/or Objective:

The purpose of this requirement is to procure science and health communication services in support of National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD), for both internal and external communication needs.

Background Information:

The NIA CARD is a unique center focused on fostering innovation, collaboration and training in multi-omic research of Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias. CARD’s ability to achieve its mission depends on its ability to recruit of top talent; promote awareness and broad use of its open-data resources, tools and opportunities; foster scientific collaboration across and beyond NIH; and share its findings with key players in pharma, industry and academic dementia research. All of these activities require excellent digital communication assets and content.

Period of Performance:

The required period of performance is a base year with 4 option periods.

Base award: 1/8/2024-1/7/2025 Option period 1: 1/8/2025-1/7/2026 Option period 2: 1/8/2026-1/7/2027 Option period 3: 1/8/2027-1/7/2028 Option period 4: 1/8/2028-1/7/2029

Place of Performance:

The primary place of performance shall be the contractor’s site. Work shall also be performed at the contractor’s site and/or Building T44 located at Service Road West, Bethesda, MD 20892 as requested.

Type of Contract Contemplated:

A firm fixed price contract is contemplated.

SCOPE OF WORK

General Requirements:

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall 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 below:

Specific Requirements:

The Contractor shall provide science and health communication consulting support services as follows:

Task Categories Tasks

Internal CARD Communications

• Creation and distribution of a monthly internal newsletter, fully written and designed by consultant

• Ideation, design, creation and publishing of weekly content for CARD building digital MVIX screens

• Photography and videography services on-site at CARD as needed.

Support for CARD scientific communications

• CARD scientific manuscript editing support: review, copy-editing and copy-writing

• CARD research poster creation support

• Creation of custom scientific visuals (e.g. manuscript figures, infographics, visual abstracts, etc.) with support from professional designers/artists also contracting with

CARD

• Bi-monthly science communication trainings / webinars for CARD staff as needed

Community Building • Build community through internal communications and diversity and inclusion efforts, such as leading efforts to translate CARD communications into different languages, help CARD staff learn American Sign Language for Deaf and Hard of Hearing colleagues, etc.

External communication for broader audiences of CARD

• Maintenance and regular updates to the content of the CARD website: Maintain and update the CARD website with NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison to reflect new research initiatives, newly hired staff bios, open staff positions, and training programs. Liaise closely with website designers and CARD employees to support the delivery and regular updates of expert groups and CARD personnel on the website.

• Promotion of CARD Training opportunities: Work with CARD Training and Outreach team to maintain a calendar of conferences/workshops/events where CARD programs can be advertised.

• Creation of custom assets (flyers, graphics, etc.), with support from professional designers/artists also contracting with CARD, for training opportunities and other communication / marketing needs

• Quarterly creation of communication assets to highlight CARD science and personnel, such as comic strips or other storytelling assets, with support from from professional designers/artists also contracting with

CARD.

• Work with the NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison to develop digital communications for CARD programs, training opportunities and projects, including Twitter and LinkedIn posts, NIH and extramural blog posts, and digital or physical flyers.

• Weekly blog posts for CARD website

• Bi-monthly external CARD newsletter, sent to subscribers for CARD’s website, fully written and designed by consultant

• Promotion of new research: Work with CARD project management team to develop email communications for CARD staff on recent publications and press releases in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Past Performance • Consultant must have evidence of previous communication support tasks for Government, including on-site photography/film services, staff communication trainings, website maintenance, and collaboration with Government public liaison offices.

• Consulting must have evidence of scientific manuscript editing, figure creation, and writing in ADRD research.

• Consultant must have evidence of past collaboration with professional artists and designers.

LEVEL OF EFFORT

The level of effort for this requirement is one (1) lead consultant on a part-time basis for thirty (30) hours per week (or approximately 1,560 hours per year).

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Government will provide communication goals/objectives, computing hardware (work computer), communication software resources (e.g. Adobe CC and Canva subscriptions) and a communication/design asset budget to the contractor personnel working under this effort. All data provided to the Contractor must be treated as confidential and not be disclosed to any third party. FAR Clause 52.245-1 Government Property shall be applicable to this requirement.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Travel:

The contractor may be required to travel within the contiguous United States to provide the services described in this statement of work. Travel reimbursement will be provided for such required travel.

All travel arrangements must be made in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations and must be approved by the Contracting Officer and authorized by the Contracting Officer’s Representative prior to being finalized or invoiced. Contracting Officer approved and Contracting Officer’s Representative-authorized travel shall not exceed $16,000.00 annually.

Please note that time spent travelling may not be billed to the Government. Please see the Federal Travel Regulation for allowable travel expenses, such as fares, rental fees, mileage payments, and other expenses related to transportation per FTR §301-10.2.

Key Personnel:

The Contractor employees providing services for this effort shall be considered key personnel. Personnel requirements are as follows:

Lead Science Communication Consulting

• A PhD in mass communication with expertise in the science of science communication.

• Both academic training and professional training and experience in science communication.

• At least 12 years of experience providing science and health communication support services.

• An advanced degree in biological sciences / biological engineering.

The Contractor shall also identify Key Personnel that will be assigned to this contract, and those personnel shall become subject to the provisions of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) Clause HHSAR 352.237-75 Key Personnel as follows:

The key personnel specified in this contract will be considered to be essential to work performance. At least 30 days prior to the contractor voluntarily diverting any of the specified individuals to other programs or contracts the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and shall submit a justification for the diversion or replacement and a request to replace the individual. The request must identify the proposed replacement and provide an explanation of how the replacement's skills, experience, and credentials meet or exceed the requirements of the contract. If the employee of the contractor is terminated for cause or separates from the contractor voluntarily with less than thirty days’ notice, the Contractor shall provide the maximum notice practicable under the circumstances. The Contractor shall not divert, replace, or announce any such change to key personnel without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. The contract will be modified to add or delete key personnel as necessary to reflect the agreement of the parties.

Reporting Requirements:

The Contractor shall provide written monthly reports to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the Director of CARD which summarize all efforts performed during the reporting period. Reports shall be given on the first business day of each month, following the first month of award. All reports shall also include a brief conference call or meeting with the COR and Director of CARD to discuss plans for the following month.

Information Systems Security:

The Contractor must adhere to the Information Security language stated in the Solicitation. This language will also be included in any resultant contract award.

Data Rights:

The National Institute on Aging shall have unlimited rights to and ownership of all deliverables provided under this procurement including reports, analyses, recommendations and all other deliverables. In addition, it includes any additional deliverables required by contract change. The definition of “unlimited rights” is contained in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 27.401, “Definitions.” FAR clause 52.227-14, “Rights in Data-General,” shall be incorporated into any resulting award by reference.

Section 508—Electronic and Information Technology Standards:

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that Federal agencies’ electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible to people with disabilities. The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Final Rule for Section 508 (EIT Accessibility) can be found at www.section508.gov and at the Access Board’s Web site at https://www.access-board.gov/508.htm. Unless it is an “undue burden” or compliant products or services do not exist, the products must conform to Section 508. The contractor must state that they will comply with the requirements of Section 508 or cite a justifiable reason for an exception.

Confidentiality of Information:

Confidential Information means information or data of a personal nature about an individual, or proprietary information or data submitted by or pertaining to an institution or organization. Confidential Information or records shall not be disclosed by the Contractor without written authorization from the Contracting Officer. Whenever the Contractor is uncertain with regard to the confidentiality of or a property interest in information under this contract, the Contractor should consult with the Contracting Officer prior to any release, disclosure, dissemination, or publication.

Collaboration Requirements:

It is required that all contractors involved with the NIH community work collaboratively with federal staff and other contractors towards the NIH mission and other affected organizations and follow the direction of the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and/or the designated Federal Project Manager(s)/Lead(s). This collaboration includes day-to-day activities, support, development, knowledge transfer and creating and sharing documentation when required.

Non-Personal Service Statement Contract employee performing services will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

https://www.section508.gov/ https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards