HHS-NIH-NIDA(MH)-12-031_Amend04.pdf

OMB Approval 2700-0042

11. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT N/A 1 I 8

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REO. NO. 15. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

04 04/13/2012 N/A N/A

6. ISSUED BY CODE I 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE N/A

National Institutes of Health Office of Acquisitions- NIDA Neuroscience COAC NIMH R&D Contract Management Section 6001 Executive Boulevard, room 8154, MSC 9661 Bethesda, MD 20892-9661

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No. Street, County, State and ZIP: Code) (Jill 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

t-

HHS-NIH-NIDA(MH)-12-031 X

TO ALL OFFERORS 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

03/23/2012 TITLE: Development of State Health Policy Database for Research (SHPDR) to 10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

Advance Health Economics Research on Health Care Reform

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE I FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

[8:1 The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers D is extended, I:8J is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning one (1) copy of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATA SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and data specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

N/A

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

~ A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

c. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor [8:1 is not, D is required to sign this document and return ___ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PURPOSE: To correct Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, to correct Article H.2 Salary Rate Limitation, and to respond to questions asked about this solicitation

NOTE: Offerors should acknowledge receipt of all amendments with their proposal.

(Continued on p. 2)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 1 OA, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

158. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

PREVIOUS EDITION UNUSABLE

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

Bruce E. Anderson, Contracting Officer

15C. DATE SIGNED 168. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

BYID~ 1.~ '-/ jJJ/ I;)...

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

30-105 Computer Generated

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

RFP- HHS-NIH-NIDA(MH)-12-031

Amendment No. 04 SPECIAL PROVISIONS

(04/13/12)

The following are an additional twenty-one (21) questions that have been asked about this acquisition, with NIMH responses (see also Amendment 03 questions and answers):

Q.1. On the first page of Section M (page 77) one of the four evaluation factors includes

"Small Disadvantaged Business participation".

Since this solicitation is set aside for small businesses anyway, why would there be an evaluation factor for Small Disadvantaged Business participation? Would you consider removing that factor as part of the evaluation criteria?

NIMH RESPONSE: In accordance with FAR 19.1202-2(b) SOB participation should not be evaluated in total small business set-asides; therefore, this verbiage is incorrect and· is hereby deleted.

Section M, paragraph 1. GENERAL, is hereby modified to read:

1. GENERAL

Selection of an offeror for contract award will be based on an evaluation of proposals against three (3) factors. The factors in order of importance are: technical, cost, and past performance. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, past performance and cost/price are also important to the overall contract award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost/price. The Government intends to make an award to that offeror whose proposal provides the best overall value to the Government.

Q.2. The RFP states that there is a salary rate limitation of Executive Levell (Section H.

Article H.2. page 23); however, there was a notice effective Jan. 2012 that states: "Salary

Limits: Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act prohibits payments for salaries under grants and other extramural mechanisms to rates in excess of

Executive Level II" in http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-12-

036.html.

(04/13/12)

Which is the correct limit ... Executive Level I or Executive Level II?

NIMH RESPONSE: The current salary rate limitation is the Executive Level II (not Levell, as stated in Article H.2. in the solicitation). Reference: NOT-OD-12-036, released January 20, 2012, which states in part:

"Salary Limits: Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act prohibits payments for salaries under grants and other extramural mechanisms to rates in excess of Executive Level

II. Guidance related to Section 203 will be published in the NIH Guide in the near future."

Q.3. Is the intent for the State Health Policy Database to contain raw data (e.g., number of primary care physicians per county), links to state databases, links to regulations and state policies and/or actual policy information (e.g., state licensure guidelines for community support providers)?

NIMH RESPONSE: The emphasis is on the latter (actual policy information) with special focus on state health policy legislation relevant for health care reform, and related economic activities at the state level.

Q.4. We have the following questions:

1) It is understand that the Principal Investigator or Project Director should have

Ph.D in social or behavioral science -would equivalent capability include

Doctorate and experience in Health Law as well?

2) Should the resource be full-time or can we hire the resource on a consulting basis?

3) Is it reasonable to have the resource provided by a subcontractor or is it required that the resource be aligned with the prime contractor?

NIMH RESPONSES:

Page 4 of 8 (04/13/12)

1) We cannot advise you in this regard. Each offeror should propose a Project

Director/Principal Investigator they believe is qualified to direct this Project.

2) This individual should devote a sufficient amount of time to ensure the Project is satisfactorily completed.

3) We interpret the term "resource" to mean the Project Director/Principal Investigator in this question. This individual cannot be a subcontractor and must be a bona-fide employee of the offeror.

Q.S. Per item 5 under the Task 1, Proposed Phase D work sequence (SOW page 7), the number of participants in the SHPDR webinar will be an indicator of the appropriateness of the data set for scientific research. Will the contractor be responsible for mar~eting the SHPDR website webinar to potential users?

NIMH RESPONSE: Marketing in the sense of making sure that the resource is publicized/targeted to the logical audience (NIH-funded policy researchers and economists, member of relevant societies, relevant conferences, workshops and websites, is necessary.

The Contractor will be assisted by a list of currently funded health economist grantees of NIH.

Q.6. Please clarify that the budget for these six tasks should not exceed $3.2 million (per

Article 8.3).

NIMH RESPONSE: Please see Amendment 03, response to Q.1. Offerors should propose what they estimate is "reasonable" to do this Project, based upon the Statemnent of Work and considering other information in the solicitation. However, please be advised that this is a competitive acquisition, and proposed cost will be a consideration in determining the source that is the best value to the Government.

Q.7. We understand this project is a cost reimbursement with ceiling of $3.2M. Is that limit fixed, or can it vary up or down based on the size, scope and nature of the project

NIMH RESPONSE: See above response to Q.6.

(04/13/12)

Q.8. We understand that agency did an estimate of the solution. How did the agency determine the maximum budget to be $3.2M? Is this the budget available or did the agency estimate cost based on the projected effort for the solution? Did the agency

·include the expert team, policy advisory meetings, etc. in the estimate?

NIMH RESPONSE: See above response to Q.6. The actual Government estimate is not releasable, and is based upon market research and input by experts in this field. The maximum contract ceiling and the Government's cost estimate to do this work are not one and the same. All effort, including the advisory panels, are included in the estimated level of effort in Attachment 19 and Section L.

Q.9. What type of staff or staff titles is included in "Support" category (reference Attachment

19 and Section L, p.51 )?

NIMH RESPONSE: It will be up to the offeror to propose the types of "support" positions needed/necessary to do this project.

Q.1 0. Is it expected that the Implementation Expert Panel meeting will take place in

Washington, DC?

NIMH RESPONSE: Yes, the meeting will be held in the Washington DC area.

Q.11. Will the expert panel members who are not federal staff or contract staff receive an honorarium for participation in the panel meeting? If so, can the government provide a uniform costing amount for the expert panel · members?

NIMH RESPONSE: Expert panel members will get honorarium. Federal guidelines apply concerning the amount of the hourly rate for providing expert opinion to the government.

Assume a $200 honorarium per day, in addition to the travel costs.

Page 6 of 8 (04/13/12)

Q.12. In Section L, the RFP states that the start and end date of the contract is 09/01/12-

08/31/17 (Section L.1.d.1 p. 50) and that the award will be on or about 09/01/12 (Section

L.1.d.2). However, in Attachment 19 (p. 3) it lists the start date for Task 1 as August 1, 2012.

What is the correct date to start Task 1?

NIMH RESPONSE: The actual start date in most acqusitions is only estimated in the solicitation stage, and becomes more definite closer to award. Given the delay in issuing the solicitation, a start date of September 1 is probably more realistic; therefore, use September 1.

2012 as the estimated contract start date for your proposal- however, the actual start date could be earlier.

Q.13. Per the guidance provided in Amendment 2, Attachment 19 - Section Ill, Note 2 (p. 2-3 of 4), Task 2 should begin on August 1, 2013 and be completed no later than July 31, 2014; and Task 3 should begin on August 1, 2015.

Based on this guidance, there does not appear to be any meaningful activity on the

SHPDR project for the 12 months beginning August 1, 2014 and ending July 31, 2015. Please clarify if it is the government's intent for the contract to be relatively idle for that period, with no updates being performed on the database?

NIMH RESPONSE: It is anticipated, but not guaranteed, that Task 6 will be ongoing throughout the contract period.

Q.14. As stated in Question 5 in Amendment 3, we understand that the Contractor is responsible for establishing relationships with the states and/or organizations that currently collect relevant data. Will this also be the case with other HHS agencies or will NIH take the lead with respect to working out relationships for obtaining or sharing data and linking data resources with these other HHS agencies?

Page 7 of 8 (04/13/12)

NIMH RESPONSE: NIH will not take the lead with respect to working out relationships for obtaining/ sharing/linking public use data sources collected/maintained by other HHS agencies. If developing working relationship with other HHS agencies is needed, this will be the contractor's responsibility.

Q.15. It is our understanding that the Technical and Business Proposals should address Task

Areas 1-5. We are not sure whether Task Area 6 should be included in either the

Technical or Business Proposal. Please clarify.

NIMH RESPONSE: In accordance with solicitation Attachment 19 (Amendment 02) p. 2 of 4

(Note 4 to Offerors) you should submit a general approach to this task with your Technical

Proposal.

Q.16. In Attachment 1, paragraph 3 there is a requirement to submit two COs for the

Business Proposal. Should only the excel spreadsheet be included in the COs or the entire Business Proposal?

NIMH RESPONSE: Please include at least the Excel spreadsheets and the accompanying narrative (explaining how the budget was developed) on COs.

Q.17. Section L: Paragraph 1.d.2, "It is anticipated that the award from this solicitation will be a multiple-year Cost-Reimbursement type Completion Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite

Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a Period of Performance of 09/01/2012- 08/31/2017." The

Period of Performance for this contract is 5 years. The Tech-Prop-Cost-Summ.pdf as provided in Attachment 5 indicates Period of Performance for 7 years. Please clarify the requirement.

NIMH RESPONSE: This attachment is a tillable form designed to accommodate a representative sample of NIH contracts (1-7 yrs.in length). Use only the columns needed for this acquisition (i.e., columns 1-5).

Page 8 of8 (04/13/12)

Q.18. In Tech-Prop-Cost-Summ.pdf and in spshexcl.xls, government seems to indicate that offeror must list all employees working on this contract. Shall we assume the offeror should list only the Labor Categories to be utilized, or shall we provide a complete list of employee names, including key and non-key personnel?

NIMH RESPONSE: You should list all "named" employees with relevant roles, with their qualifications/CVs, so that the personnel can be adequately evaluated at the Review meeting.

Q.19. There are 3 attachments for the technical proposal, 4 attachments for the business proposal, and 7 informational attachments mentioned in the solicitation. Do we need to submit all of them? If so, where should the informational attachments be added to proposal package?

NIMH RESPONSE: You should complete and return Attachments: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 (i.e., budgets for each Task- see Attachment 19), 10, and 11. Informational attachmnets are for your information only, but should be reviewed.

Q.20. We are a firm teaming up with 2 other partners. Is there any restriction on the total number of past performance references from the prime and subcontractors?

NIMH RESPONSE: Provide comparable past experience from the Prime and all/any subcontractors to allow a thorough evaluation by the Government.

Q.21. Shall we assume that the application will be hosted at CIT or another NIH data center, and will be subject to all applieable standards, procedures and controls of any other

NIH application?

NIMH RESPONSE: No, this is incorrect. The Contractor will construct a website and host and maintain this resource. Please see the Statement of Work, Attachment 3 to the solicitation.