Questions_and_Answers_BRAIN_website.docx

Questions & Answers: NIHDA201800270 BRAIN Website

1. The instructions indicate a 20-page limit for the technical proposal, excluding resumes for key personnel and pricing. Is the Past Performance section (including examples of each content type described in the SOW) included in that page count?

Past performance does not need to be included in the 20-page limit for the technical proposal.

2. Can the government describe the acceptance criteria for each of the different types of deliverables?

Assuming the deliverables are: written articles, shorter written pieces, social media messaging, infographic pieces, video/multi-media pieces, and/or interactive web feature/program, the following guidelines of the SOW provide the parameters for acceptance:

Required components – absolutely necessary for deliverable acceptance:

· Reference one BIA member

· Reference a connection to BRAIN (e.g., research) dated after the April 2013 launch

· The overall theme of the piece is clarified with at least one concrete example that is accessible to a lay audience

· Written text pieces will include at least one piece of visual content (e.g., image, movie clip, audio)

Strongly desired components:

· Representation from women and underrepresented minorities where possible (e.g., lead on project, quoted in the interview)

· Clarifying that at least one specific example in the content piece is BRAIN-related

· The Contractor is encouraged to create pieces that follow the guidelines of the Plain Writing Act of 2010: https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/ unless otherwise instructed by the Government.

Preferred components:

· Connects to/builds on other pieces (e.g., a series of posted content on complementary topics)

· References two or more BIA members or BRAIN Initiative participants Additionally, guidelines were provided to outline the process for final approval of deliverables:

1. After discussion of content ideas/concepts with the BIA Editorial Board and contractor, the COR will give the contractor approval to pursue development/completion of each content piece.

2. The contractor is responsible for full editing and quality assurance checks of each piece and must indicate if/when they are requesting feedback on drafted content (with additional changes anticipated), or if they are providing the final version for approval.

3. All completed content must be approved by the BIA Editorial Board. If a completed piece is not approved by the BIA Editorial Board it will not be published to the BIA website, but the contractor may choose to publish the content on their own site without associating it to the Government or BIA.

a. If the BIA Editorial Board and/or Government does not approve content because the contractor creates a piece that disregards the criteria outlined in the contract, Statement of Work, then the services may be considered non-conforming.

4. A separate line item on the contract invoice must be created for each piece of completed content, in accordance with Government guidance on invoicing and the reporting requirements delineated in the awarded contract.

3. Can the government provide examples of content that was generated previously?

Please visit www.braininitiative.org, previously generated content is displayed across the site.

4. Can the government provide an anticipated/historical level of effort for the key personnel?

ESTIMATED LEVEL OF EFFORT: The following table is a level of effort estimate. This is only an estimate. Offerors are advised to carefully review the requirement in deriving the level of effort they believe is necessary to provide their best value proposal. You are not bound to propose these labor categories and quantities. Rather, offerors are expected to provide the best solution citing the labor mix and quantity required to accomplish the tasks. No materials or ODC’s are anticipated.

Media/ Graphic Designer

5. Will this be a Time and Materials type contract, and does the government anticipate a need for ODC to fulfill these requirements?

This is a Time and Materials type contract. The government does not anticipate any travel or ODC’s to fulfill the requirements.

6. Will the Government extend the due date for proposals by 10 business days to allow time to allow for full consideration of the Questions and Answers the Government provides?

The proposal due date is extended from 5:00PM EST on Friday August 17, 2018 to 5:00 PM on Friday August 31, 2018.

7. What is the government’s estimate for this effort, including level of effort by labor category?

See question 4 above.

8. Can the Government provide a detailed description of the process for content nomination, approval for development, and acceptance of products?

See question 2 above.

9. Can the Government specify the extent to which the key personnel are responsible for generating the scientific knowledge that is used to develop the deliverables? What are the Government’s responsibilities with respect to generating the scientific knowledge that is used to develop the deliverables?

The Government expects the key personnel on this contract to make their best effort to search for information and contacts necessary to complete each piece of content. The Government will direct the contractor to free, publicly available resources to help facilitate this. Once a piece has been drafted, the Government (with the aid of the BIA Editorial Board) May suggest edits related to scientific knowledge gaps. Key personnel are always encouraged to ask questions if at any point they are unclear about the science related to a given piece, but under no circumstances will the Government do the background research/work and/or drafting of pieces on behalf of the contractor. As these pieces are geared toward the public, the should not be any need for the contractor personnel to have a deeply technical or comprehensive understanding of the scientific basis for content pieces.

10. In Evaluation Factor 1: Technical Capabilities and Approach, #4 – the government states “[Ability to work with the Government and … BIA] will primarily be judged via the Contractor-created workflow document.” On Page 2 of the SOW, the Government describes the development of the workflow document as dependent on “the requirements, guidelines for content, approval of content ideas, and approval of content ideas to develop a workflow document.” Can the government clarify whether proposals should include a formal workflow document or, rather, an approach to developing a workflow document based on requirements to be provided by the government upon contract award?

Proposals may have either a formal workflow or an approach to developing a workflow document that will address the requirements and guidance in the SOW - but this information must be provided to the Government prior to contract award.

11. Can the government specify the place of work for this contract?

The contractor’s place of business.

12. If academic institutions or other scientists participate directly in the development of deliverables, or indirectly as members of an editorial board, are they precluded from competing for grant support through the BRAIN Alliance in the future? Are current grantees from the BRAIN Alliance precluded from participation as members of the team?

The BRAIN Initiative Alliance is not a legal funding body - members currently join and operate under a charter. Individual members, like the NIH, provide grant support for the BRAIN Initiative. Different members of the BIA use different mechanisms for funding grants. There is no scenario anticipated where anyone would be precluded from competing for grant support or from engaging with the BIA due to grant support.

13. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this?

It depends. We will follow Federal Acquisition Regulations and NIH policy on a case by case basis.

14. Whether we need to come over there for meetings?

No in-person meetings are anticipated for this requirement.

15. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA?

It depends. We will follow Federal Acquisition Regulations and NIH policy on a case by case basis.

16. Can we submit the proposals via email?

Per the CSS posted on FBO, proposals must be submitted via e-mail.