D1 SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK (SERVICES)

(SOW)

General Information

Title of Project:

Public Engagement Strategies to Advance the Mission of the National Center for Advancing

Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Statement of Need and Purpose:

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure consulting and communications outreach services for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Office of Policy, Communications and Education (OPCE) Communications Branch (CB). The goal is to strengthen the organization’s ability to effectively promote the advancement of translational science to a broad range of stakeholders to accomplish NCATS’ mission.

Services shall include support and consultation for the NCATS CB as they work to develop and implement public engagement strategies.

Background Information and Objective:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives. The National Center for Advancing Translational

Sciences (NCATS) is a translational science center that prides itself on its productive pipeline and is innovative in a number of ways. NCATS brings together a diverse range of scientists, including medicinal chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and engineers, in order to ultimately translate basic science into real products and services that help improve people’s lives.

NCATS’ mission is broad and requires extensive collaboration, transformational cultural change and disruptive innovative thinking within the science community. To accomplish this mission, the

CB develops and disseminates information to a wide range of stakeholders with diverse interests and needs, including patient groups, academic investigators, potential partners in the private and federal sector (including other NIH institutes and centers), venture capital groups, technology-focused research and development organizations (both for-profit and nonprofit), and other parties interested in speeding each stage of research along the translational science spectrum, or the path from the biological basis of health and disease to interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public.

This requirement focuses on strategic communications services and resources necessary to develop and implement creative, scientifically accurate, fresh and cost-effective outreach approaches to advance NCATS’ mission.

This project will consist of supporting the CB in developing and implementing public engagement strategies to effectively promote NCATS and the value of translational science.

NCATS already conducts extensive outreach and would like to enhance its public engagement strategies and expand these efforts.

Place of Performance:

The place of performance shall be at both the NCATS headquarters located at 6701 Democracy

Boulevard, Bethesda MD 20892-4874 and at the contractor’s site.

The Government does not have an estimate of the proportion of work that would be considered direct consultation (e.g. training, coaching, mentoring) versus offsite work (e.g. writing, development of deliverables, creation of graphics or videos, etc.).

Period of Performance:

The anticipated period of performance shall be:

Base Period: 09/18/2022 – 03/17/2023 (6 months)

Option Period 1: 03/18/2023 – 03/17/2024 (12 months)

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, facilities, and travel, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform this Statement of Work.

Specific Requirements:

In partnership with NCATS’ CB, the Contractor shall provide professional consulting services to strengthen NCATS’ ability to effectively promote the advancement of translational science and the NCATS mission. The Contractor shall provide the following consulting services and deliverables:

1. Provide ongoing support to the NCATS Communications Branch for the identification of key stakeholders, in the areas of:

a. Media

b. Policy thought leaders

c. Venture capitalist groups

d. Technology-focused research and development organizations

e. Other groups as determined

Period of Performance Deliverable

Base Period up to 90 hours

Option Period up to 180 hours

2. Provide consultation and training for NCATS leadership:

a. Work closely with NCATS CB to hold media trainings for key staff, including the development of materials, refinement of messages, conducting mock interviews, and providing feedback and coaching.

Period of Performance Deliverable

Base Period up to 3 media trainings

Option Period up to 6 media trainings

b. Refine and offer guidance on NCATS’ messaging and communication strategy through biweekly strategy and planning calls and other meetings.

Period of Performance Deliverable

Base Period up to 20 hours

Option Period up to 40 hours

3. Arrange and set meetings with policy thought leaders, members of the press, the scientific community, research-based non-profit entities, venture capitalist groups, technology-focused research and development organizations and other groups as they are determined to facilitate engagement and collaboration.

Base Period up to 5 meetings

Option Period up to 10 meetings

4. Advise and contribute to the ongoing implementation of the digital and multimedia content strategy including:

a. Videos:

Lead planning and production of videos that further educate target audiences about NCATS programs and initiatives and Translational Science.

Base Period up to 3 videos

Option Period up to 6 videos

b. Graphics:

Design graphics/original illustrations that convey NCATS principles, goals, activities and complex translational science concepts in a clear and compelling way. Examples can be found at https://ncats.nih.gov/media/infographics.

Base Period up to 5 graphics/original illustrations

Option Period up to 10 graphics/original illustrations https://ncats.nih.gov/media/infographics

5. Advise and contribute to the development and implementation of public engagment strategies to advance the NCATS mission including:

a. Media outreach:

Planning and execution of promotional efforts to raise awareness about NCATS’ mission, accomplishments and translational science. Tactics may include media and key stakeholder outreach, deskside pitching and identification of speaking opportunities for NCATS leadership.

Base Period up to 8 promotional efforts

Option Period up to 16 promotional efforts s

b. Op-eds:

Write and place op-eds intended to reach key stakeholders in a memorable and engaging way to raise awareness of NCATS mission and the importance of translational science.

Base Period up to 3 op-eds

Option Period up to 6 op-eds

c. Stakeholder engagement:

Draft email or similar messages on behalf of the NCATS director to inform stakeholder audiences of key NCATS activities.

Base Period up to 5 email or similar messages

Option Period up to 10 email or similar messages

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Government will provide Contractor personnel reasonable facility access for onsite work as well as worspace. No other equipment or materials will be provided. Access might be restricted during federal holidays and after business hours.

DELIVERY OR DELIVERABLES

1. A delivery date of each distinct and specific deliverable will be determined in collaboration of NCATS and the contractor.

2. Deliverables must be submitted in a format approved by the Contracting Officer

Representative (COR) before or on the date requested by NCATS.

3. If the deliverable cannot be provided within the scheduled time frame, the contractor is required to contact the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) in writing with a reason for the delay and the proposed revised schedule. The request of a revised schedule must include the impact on related tasks and the overall project.

4. A request for the revised schedule must be reviewed and approved by the Contracting

Officer Representative (COR) before placed in effect.

5. The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will complete a review of each submitted deliverable within 5 working days from the date of receipt.

6. The contractor has up to 5 weeks to deliver final deliverables from the date of receipt of

NCATS comments.

7. Timely submission of deliverables is essential to successful completion of requirements.

8. Multiple deliverables may be accomplished concurrently.

9. A kickoff meeting will be held, and the date/time will be selected by the Contracting

Officer Representative (COR) where the contractor and its staff are to be introduced to the NCATS team.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The contractor will provide monthly status reports to the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) during the performance period. The report will cover key activities and accomplishments and hours spent by each staff member. The template for the status report will be determined in collaboration of NCATS and the Contractor.

A meeting will be held with the NCATS team and Contractor every other week, either in person at NCATS headquarters or via video conference. This meeting will be focused on exploratory discussions on strategy and implementation of deliverables sought.