CSS_-_NIHDA-2018-00487.pdf

NIHDA-2018-00487

Title: Office of Extramural Policy and Review Professional and Scientific Support Services

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation;

proposals are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) The solicitation number is NIHDA-2018-00487 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP) as a total set aside for small business vendors.

In accordance with FAR 12.102(b), this acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items.

This requirement is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. A fixed-price type of contract is contemplated for this requirement.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2019-02 / 05-06-2019.

(iv) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with associated small business size standard of $15 Million.

This RFP does not commit the Government to pay the costs for offerors to prepare and submit a proposal. The Contracting Officer is the only individual who legally can commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds on any resulting contract.

All responsible small business sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government.

(v) Task Order Ordering Procedures

The guaranteed minimum value for services under this contract will be $18,000. The maximum value shall be $1,000,000 across the five-year period of performance. The Contracting Officer will obligate funds for each Task Order issued.

The Government shall issue Firm Fixed Price or Firm Fixed Price Level of Effort Task Orders which shall specify which Tasks as described in the Statement of Work are required to be performed under that Task Order and/or how many hours of labor (level of effort) are required, with deliverables to be due based upon the delivery timeline outlined under each Task. The Fixed Price Task Orders shall be priced based upon the Contractor’s quoted fully burdened hourly prices as shown below:

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Hourly Price

The Contractor will receive e-mail notification advising of each proposed task order requirement and will be issued a Task Order Request for Proposals (TORFP). All proposed task orders will incorporate all terms of this contract unless otherwise specified in the proposed task order.

The Contractor will be provided an adequate time to prepare and submit responses based on the Contracting Officer's consideration of the estimated dollar value and complexity of proposed task order. Responses will not be considered a proposal as defined in FAR Part 15. However, the Contractor shall provide information sufficient for consideration in accordance with FAR Part

16. The Contractor shall propose pricing in accordance with the Contractor’s quoted hourly rates as incorporated in the contract, and personnel in accordance with the requirements of the Statement of Work. Each TORFP will indicate the criteria for the evaluation of proposals. The Contractor shall submit a Task Order proposal in response to the TORFP.

The Government will evaluate the Task Order proposals against the requirements of the TORFP. Upon receipt of a Task Order Proposal, the Government shall evaluate the proposal under the factors identified in the TORFP. The Government may conduct discussions prior to awarding a Task Order or award a Task Order without discussions. The Government reserves the right to cancel a TORFP any time prior to Task Order Award.

(vi) Background:

The purpose of this purchase order is to provide professional and scientific support to the Office of Extramural Policy and Review (OEPR) for grants review functions. Support is needed in all areas of research funded by NIDA. Knowledge of the peer review process, applicable laws, policies and regulations, and NIH guidelines is critical.

The Division of Extramural Research (DER) provides management and oversight on the development, implementation, and coordination of NIDA’s extramural programs, research training, policies, reviews, and operations planning. Within DER is the Office of Extramural Policy and Review (OEPR) that is responsible for administering the peer and objective review of all Institute-based extramural grant applications; administering the concept and peer review of all NIDA research contract proposals; providing advice and guidance to the Director regarding the Institute’s peer and objective review processes;

providing scientific analyses of NIDA’s extramural research program, assessing the breadth and scope of the Institute’s research activities. OEPR also liaises with NIDA Divisions and the NIH Guide office to develop and publish NIDA lead Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to award discretionary grants or cooperative agreements, usually as a result of competition for funds.

Due to the unpredictable nature and level of Funding Opportunity Announcements’ applications received to conduct scientific review, support is needed to help with OEPR Scientific Review Officers’ reviews. OEPR staff will conduct all functions that are inherently governmental functions. In accordance with FAR Subpart 37.2 – Advisory and Assistance Services, the Contractor shall not conduct evaluations or analyses of any aspect of a proposal submitted for an initial contract award.

(vii) 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.

Under the direction of the NIDA Designated Federal Official (DFO)/Scientific Review Officer (SRO), the Contractor shall provide the following:

• Achieve substantive scientific understandings of grant applications received in response to Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) that are reviewed by NIDA to support and facilitate basic and clinical research relevant to drug abuse including the related basic science, medication development, and behavioral and social phenomena.

• Understand the applicable scientific needs and language of the FOA to determine if applications meet the scientific, procedural, and administrative criteria set forth in the FOA, and determine the involved research specialties, and which types of experts are qualified to review applications responding to the FOA.

• Coordinate with OEPR staff to facilitate the peer review process by identifying the relevant general and in-depth scientific expertise and to help in the recruitment and plans regarding the review process and assist with preparing initial drafts of summary statements for grant applications, and technical evaluation reports for contract proposals.

• Interpret scientific language and reviewer critiques to help prepare recommendations and suggested text for potential modifications and summary statement sections on animal/human subjects issues, and regarding gender/minority/children inclusion.

• Assist with the review process for grant applications in accordance with NIH Peer Review process, which includes the Conflict of Interest rules and regulations set forth in 42 C.F.R. Part 52h (2004) – Scientific Peer Review of Research Grant Applications and Research and Development Contract Projects.

• Utilize multiple database platforms including PubMed, the NIH electronic Research Administration (eRA) systems, which includes QVR, RePorter, the IMPAC II database, the Peer Review Module, the Committee Management Module, and Internet Assisted Review to process FOA responses.

Specific Requirements:

Specifically, the Contractor shall provide the following Tasks:

• Task A: Review and identify the scientific subject emphases of submitted grant applications and/or contract proposals to recommend potential researchers for DFO/SRO consideration. The Contractor shall generate a list of scientific experts for each FOA to submit to DFO/SRO for review/approval at least thirty (30) days prior of reviewing meeting date.

• Task B: Evaluate personnel and consultant lists and letters of collaboration to help determine potential conflicts of interest for DFO/SRO and candidate reviewer consideration. The Contractor shall generate a list of Conflicts of Interest for proposed expert reviewers for the DFO/SRO approximately two weeks from application receipt date.

• Task C: Prepare and update information pertaining to grant applications by means of electronic research administration databases. The Contractor shall review submitted grant applications, conducting an administrative review for the DFO/SRO approximately four weeks from application receipt date.

• Task D: Draft research and scientific summary statements and technical evaluation reports and edit as necessary for review, revision, and approval by the DFO/SRO to assist in timely preparation and release of high-quality summary statements. The Contractor shall generate draft Summary Statements based on reviewers’ critiques and notes obtained from the review meetings for DFO/SRO review/use approximately two weeks after the review meeting date.

• Task E: Edit scientific reviewers’ critiques to capture with clarity their recommendations and evaluations of the applications’ scientific content, and to identify issues for DFO/SRO consideration. The Contractor shall generate draft Summary Statements based on reviewers’ critiques and notes obtained from the review meetings for DFO/SRO review/use approximately two weeks after the review meeting date.

Level of Effort:

For proposal purposes, the minimum estimated level of effort for this requirement is an estimated 100 hours, and the maximum estimated level of effort for the 5-year duration of this requirement is an estimated 3500 hours. Specific required Level of Effort shall be specified on an individual Task Order basis.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

The government will provide a government issued computer for each contractor employee to access NIH secured systems, including card reader for use of PIV.

The NIDA COR will be responsible for reviewing and approving reports and final products generated under the contract. The Contractor employee may require access to government facilities, as requested by SRO (OEPR suite on 4th floor, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rockville MD 20852). Access may be restricted during federal holidays.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor shall submit required deliverables in accordance with the requirements set forth under Tasks A-E.

Publications and Publicity: Contractor shall not, nor is required to, publish any articles of data as a result of fulfilling this requirement.

Confidentiality of Information: All electronic data files accessed and produced under this award are to be considered confidential and property of the Government and the Contractor may not release, disclose, disseminate, or publish this information to anyone other than the Government.

(viii) Date(s) and Place(s) of delivery, acceptance, and FOB point

All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications.

At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition.

The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided. For the purpose of this SECTION, the Contracting Officer's Representative is the authorized representative of the Contracting Officer.

Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse 6001 Executive Boulevard Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Acceptance may be presumed unless otherwise indicated in writing by the Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative within 30 days of receipt.

This contract will be required to be delivered F.O.B. Destination as set forth in FAR 52.247-35, F.O.B. DESTINATION, WITHIN

CONSIGNEES PREMISES (APRIL 1984).

(ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(x) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

Selection of an offeror for contract award will be based on an evaluation of proposals against four factors. The factors in order of importance are: technical, price, Section 508 compliance, and past performance. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, price, Section 508 compliance, and past performance are also important to the overall contract award decision. All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. The Government intends to make an award to that offeror whose proposal provides the best overall value to the Government.

The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Contractors in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the SOLICITATION. The merits of each proposal will be evaluated carefully. Each proposal must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the SOLICITATION. Offerors must submit information sufficient to evaluate their proposals based on the detailed factors listed below.

The evaluation factors are used when reviewing the technical proposals. The factors below are listed with weights assigned to indicate relative importance for evaluation purposes, i.e., a higher weight indicates higher importance

NOTE: The Contract’s proposal must include four (4) detailed resumes as these will be the primary documents evaluated.

Technical Evaluation

Factor 1. Technical Approach (20 points) The Offeror’s Technical Proposal shall discuss:

1) The background, objectives, and work requirements of the statement of work as analyzed by the offeror,

2) The proposed methods and techniques for completing each task,

3) How each task will be evaluated for full performance and acceptability of work from the offeror's viewpoint; with support,

4) Any anticipated major difficulties and problem areas, along with potential recommended approaches for their resolution, and

5) Major logistical considerations.

Factor 2. Key personnel professional experience relevant to Scientific Review Official (SRO) roles regarding the review of NIH applications (20 points).

We will evaluate key personnel proposed for length and breadth of demonstrated experience, capabilities, and understanding of life sciences relevant to NIH and NIDA research. We will evaluate key personnel proposed for productivity and success in overseeing or assisting with the NIH grant review process, with attention to peer review systems and the policies and regulations relevant to government peer review operations.

We will evaluate key personnel professional experience and expertise to effectively interact with government employees, to help identify or anticipate problems early, to suggest solutions to technical or regulatory issues. The offeror is expected to document capabilities to efficiently help with the identification and recruitment of qualified reviewers, to identify potential conflicts of interest for SRO consideration, to modify or drafting documents related to NIH review, and to assist with drafts of summary statements.

We will evaluate the key personnel’s level of experience with scientific topics within the mission of NIDA as well as familiarity and proficiency with electronic systems such as PubMed, the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (NIH REPORTER) Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and similar database platforms.

Factor 3. Key personnel education and certifications (20 points)

Contractor shall possess the following:

• A degree (PhD preferred) in relevant scientific research area(s), such as cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, imaging, pharmacology, epidemiology, services or prevention research.

• Experience with government peer review system(s) and the rules and regulations under which the government peer review system operates.

• Capabilities (preferably expert level experience) regarding efficient and effective uses of database systems and applications, including Excel, PubMed, and of the NIH IMPAC II database and related module(s) including QVR, RePorter, the Peer Review Module, the Committee Management Module, and eCommons.

• Capabilities to understand a broad spectrum of science and to identify corresponding expert scientists involved in research relevant to drugs of abuse, including cell and molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, basic and clinical neuroscience, clinical trials, medication development, candidate medication and behavioral treatment and prevention, and epidemiology.

• Experience in the implications of scientific research studies on human subjects, especially clinical trials, and the ability to analyze supporting documentation regarding these studies.

We will evaluate key personnel proposed for conformance to the key personnel qualifications described above as well as for additional education and certifications related to the statement of work requirements. We will evaluate advanced education and certifications, as well as other evidence of advanced expertise applicable to business development in life sciences.

Factor 4. Key personnel collaborative team experience (20 points)

We will evaluate key personnel proposed for length and breadth of demonstrated experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.

Factor 5. Management Approach (20 points)

We will evaluate the Offeror’s approach for managing and controlling personnel performing the contract requirements.

The Offeror’s proposal should demonstrate an effective means for internal and external communications that demonstrates efficiencies and encourages clear communication across company lines with well-defined lines of authority;

and the ability to provide effective corporate management support with a strong benefits package to support retention of personnel while performing throughout the life of the task order.

Past Performance Evaluation

Offeror's past performance information will be evaluated subsequent to the technical evaluation. However, this evaluation will not be conducted on any offeror whose proposal is determined to be technically unacceptable.

The evaluation will be based on information obtained from references provided by the offeror, other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the offeror concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken.

The government will assess the relative risks associated with each offeror. Performance risks are those associated with an offeror's likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that offeror's record of past performance.

The assessment of performance risk is not intended to be a product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis of an offeror's performance on a list of contracts but rather the product of subjective judgment by the Government after it considers relevant information.

When assessing performance risks, the Government will focus on the past performance of the offeror as it relates to all acquisition requirements, such as the offeror's record of performing according to specifications, including standards of good workmanship; the offeror's record of controlling and forecasting costs; the offeror's adherence to contract schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance; the offeror's reputation for reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; and generally, the offeror's business-like concern for the interest of the customer.

The Government will consider the currency and relevance of the information, source of the information, context of the data, and general trends in the offeror's performance.

The lack of a relevant performance record may result in an unknown performance risk assessment, which will neither be used to the advantage nor disadvantage of the offeror.

The Key personnel proposed shall provide at least two (2) past performance references with knowledge of contractor’s relevant skills and experiences related to the requirements outlined in the statement of work. References should include the following information:

a) Name of organization

b) Brief description of contractor responsibilities

c) Point of contact name, title and telephone number

Past performances shall be evaluated for relevance to the current requirements as well as customer satisfaction in reference to the following:

1) interpersonal skills

2) attention to detail

3) computer and software literacy

4) writing communication and presentation skills

Section 508 Compliance

The Offeror’s proposal will be evaluated for section 508 compliance subsequent to the technical evaluation, and will be rated either acceptable or unacceptable. However, this evaluation will not be conducted on any proposal deemed technically unacceptable.

Price

Offerors submitting a response must provide a completed Price Quote to be evaluated and considered for award. Price quotes must indicate fixed unit pricing and total cost. For purposes of proposal evaluation, Offerors are to provide a price quote based on the attached Sample Task Order 1, for an estimated 100 labor hours. Offerors’ business proposal shall show what hourly rates are proposed, and shall show any price escalation proposed over the term of the contract. The Government will evaluate price based on the proposed price for Sample Task Order 1 and the Offeror’s proposed hourly rates. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the escalation of prices are significantly unbalanced.

The award will be made on a competitive best value basis, using “tradeoff” among cost/price and non-cost/price factors. The Government may elect to award to other than the lowest priced offeror, or other than the offeror with the highest rated non-cost/price proposal. In either case, a tradeoff will be conducted. The government reserves such right of flexibility in conducting the evaluation as necessary to assure an award with the Contractor providing the best value to the government.

The major evaluation factors for this solicitation include technical and cost/price factors. Interrelationships of these elements will be assessed consistent with the regulations concerning the considerations of cost and other factors in determining contract award.

Technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, however cost/price is also important to the overall contract award decision. Therefore, offerors are reminded that award will be made to the offeror whose proposal provides the combination of features that offers the best or greatest overall value to the Government.

The Government may request clarifying information from the schedule contractor, as it relates to its quote.

A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are clarifications requested after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(xi) The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Offerors MUST include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their offer, OR provide a copy of the valid certifications registrations and Representation and Certifications from the System of Award Management (SAM) applications at www.SAM.gov, which may be indicated on the Offeror’s cover sheet.

In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

(xii) The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xiii) The provision of FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The provisions are attached to this solicitation.

(xiv) Additional Contract Requirement(s) or terms and conditions:

http://www.sam.gov/

FAR Clause 52.227-14 Rights in Data - General

The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices:

1. Information Security and/or Physical Access Security-

See Attachment 1 of the Statement of Work.

2. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The following Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract:

To be specified in contract award

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The alternate COR is responsible for carrying out the duties of the COR only in the event that the COR can no longer perform his/her duties as assigned.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. Any signed agreement shall be incorporated by reference in Section K of the contract

The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

3. KEY PERSONNEL, HHSAR 352.237-75 (December 2015)

The key personnel specified in this contract are 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 (including, when applicable, Human Subjects Testing requirements). 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.

The following individual(s) is/are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder:

Name Title

TBD

4. HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is hereby understood and agreed that research involving human subjects shall not be conducted under this contract, and that no material developed, modified, or delivered by or to the Government under this contract, or any subsequent modification of such material, will be used by the Contractor or made available by the Contractor for use by anyone other than the Government, for experimental or therapeutic use involving humans without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING

The Contractor shall clearly state, when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money: (1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; and (3) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by nongovernmental sources.

6. DISSEMINATION OF FALSE OR DELIBERATELY MISLEADING INFORMATION

The Contractor shall not use contract funds to disseminate information that is deliberately false or misleading.

7. GUN CONTROL

The Contractor shall not use contract funds in whole or in part, to advocate or promote gun control.

8. RESTRICTION ON PORNOGRAPHY ON COMPUTER NETWORKS

The Contractor shall not use contract funds to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.

9. Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice, HHSAR 352.239-73 (December 2015)

a. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic and Information (EIT) Accessibility Standards (36 CFR part 1194), require that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

b. Accordingly, any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 . The complete text of the Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards .

10. ACCESS TO NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) ELECTRONIC MAIL

All Contractor staff that have access to and use of NIH electronic mail (e-mail) must identify themselves as contractors on all outgoing e-mail messages, including those that are sent in reply or are forwarded to another user. To best comply with this requirement, the Contractor staff shall set up an e-mail signature ("AutoSignature") or an electronic business card ("V-card") on each Contractor employee's computer system and/or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) that will automatically display "Contractor" in the signature area of all e-mails sent.

11. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION

a. Confidential information, as used in this article, 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.

b. The Contracting Officer and the Contractor may, by mutual consent, identify elsewhere in this contract specific information and/or categories of information which the Government will furnish to the Contractor or that the Contractor is expected to generate which is confidential. Similarly, the Contracting Officer and the Contractor may, by mutual consent, identify such confidential information from time to time during the performance of the contract. Failure to agree will be settled pursuant to the "Disputes" clause.

c. If it is established elsewhere in this contract that information to be utilized under this contract, or a portion thereof, is subject to the Privacy Act, the Contractor will follow the rules and procedures of disclosure set forth in the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and implementing regulations and policies, with respect to systems of records determined to be subject to the Privacy Act.

d. Confidential information, as defined in paragraph (a) of this article, shall not be disclosed without the prior written consent of the individual, institution, or organization.

e. Whenever the Contractor is uncertain with regard to the proper handling of material under the contract, or if the material in question is subject to the Privacy Act or is confidential information subject to the provisions of this article, the Contractor should obtain a written determination from the Contracting Officer prior to any release, disclosure, dissemination, or publication.

f. Contracting Officer determinations will reflect the result of internal coordination with appropriate program and legal officials.

g. The provisions of paragraph (d) of this article shall not apply to conflicting or overlapping provisions in other Federal, State or local laws.

The following information is covered by this article: All data collected, generated, manipulated, or otherwise processed under this contract.

12. REPORTING MATTERS INVOLVING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE

Anyone who becomes aware of the existence or apparent existence of fraud, waste and abuse in NIH funded programs is encouraged to report such matters to the HHS Inspector General's Office in writing or on the Inspector General's Hotline. The toll free number is 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). All telephone calls will be handled confidentially. The website to file a complaint on-line is:

http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/hotline/ and the mailing address is:

US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General

ATTN: OIG HOTLINE OPERATIONS

P.O. Box 23489 Washington, D.C. 20026

13. USE OF FUNDS FOR CONFERENCES, MEETINGS AND FOOD

The Contractor shall not use contract funds (direct or indirect) to conduct meetings or conferences in performance of this contract without prior written Contracting Officer approval.

In addition, the use of contract funds to purchase food for meals, light refreshments, or beverages is expressly prohibited.

14. USE OF FUNDS FOR PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

The Contractor shall not use contract funds to purchase promotional items. Promotional items include, but are not limited to:

clothing and commemorative items such as pens, mugs/cups, folders/folios, lanyards, and conference bags that are sometimes provided to visitors, employees, grantees, or conference attendees. This includes items or tokens given to individuals as these are considered personal gifts for which contract funds may not be expended.

POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

Contractor Performance Evaluations

Interim and Final evaluations of Contractor performance will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR Subpart

42.15. The Final performance evaluation will be prepared at the time of completion of work. In addition to the Final evaluation, Interim evaluation(s) will be prepared Annually following the anniversary date of contract award, if options are exercised.

Interim and Final evaluations will be provided to the Contractor as soon as practicable after completion of the evaluation. The Contractor will be permitted fourteen days to review the document and to submit additional information or a rebutting statement. If agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the matter will be referred to an individual one level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision will be final.

Copies of the evaluations, Contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file, and may be used to support future award decisions.

Electronic Access to Contractor Performance Evaluations

Contractors may access evaluations through a secure Web site for review and comment at the following address:

http://www.cpars.gov

(xv) All responses must be received no later than the date and time specified in this announcement - May 31, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST.

Late responses will not be accepted. All responses must reference solicitation number NIHDA-2018-00487.

(xvi) Responses must be submitted electronically to tracy.cain@nih.gov. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. For information regarding this solicitation, please contact Leon Wong by email at tracy.cain@nih.gov or by phone at 301-443-6677.

http://www.cpars.gov/ mailto:tracy.cain@nih.gov

NIDA CONTRACT TASK ORDER (T.O.)

Contractor: TBD T.O. Title: Professional Support for Grants Review

Contract No.: TBD T.O. No.: 1 (Fixed Price, Term/Level of Effort)

NIDA Ref No.: TBD T.O. Originator: NIDA COR

PART I: T.O. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

A. Period of Performance: 12 months from the date of award.

B. Task Description:

Under the direction of the NIDA Designated Federal Official (DFO)/Scientific Review Officer (SRO), the contractor shall provide the following:

• 100 Labor hours in the performance of Tasks A-E as described in the Statement of Work

C. Task Leader: the NIDA COR as specified in the Contract.

D. Deliverables: As described in the Statement of Work for the required Tasks.

E. Task Order Response Due Date: With contract proposal.

F. Level of Effort:

During the period of performance of this Task Order, the Contractor shall provide direct labor hours. The number of labor hours exclude vacation, holiday, and sick leave. These labor hours exclude subcontractor and consultant labor hours.

Task Order Labor Hours Task Order 1: Professional Support for Grants Review

The Contractor shall have satisfied the requirement herein if not less than 90% nor more than 110% of the total direct labor hours specified herein are furnished.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

NIHDA-2018-00487 Attachment 5: Sample Task Order

Contractor: TBD T.O. Title: Provide professional and scientific support to the Office of Extramural Policy and Review (OEPR) for grants review functions

Contract No.: TBD T.O. No.: 1 (Fixed Price/Level of Effort)

NIDA Ref No.: TBD T.O. Originator: NIDA COR

PART II. CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE TO T.O. REQUEST

(Contractor may attach additional sheets to this form to present requested data)

A. Estimated Cost and Effort:

1. List T.O. leader, specific individuals to be assigned, labor category, and estimated hours and hourly rates for each

2. Employee fringe benefits

3. Other direct costs

4. Travel

5. Subcontracts

6. Consultants

7. Indirect costs

8. Total estimated costs for this T.O.

9. Fee

10. Total estimated costs and fee for this T.O.

B. Detailed description of the approach to be used and of the deliverable(s). (Be specific.)

APPROVAL TO PROCEED: The Contractor shall not exceed the estimated T.O. amount, or change the T.O. leader without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

l. For the Contractor: Date:

(Signature)

Typed name:

2. For the Government: Date:

(Contracting Officer’s Representative)

Date:

(Contracting Officer)

Contractor: TBD T.O. Title: Provide professional and scientific support to the Office of Extramural Policy and Review (OEPR) for grants review functions

Contract No.: TBD T.O. No.: 1 (Fixed Price, Term/Level of Effort)

NIDA Ref No.: TBD T.O. Originator: NIDA COR

PART III. CONTRACTOR'S REPORT OF T.O. PERFORMANCE

(Contractor may attach additional sheets to this form to present the requested data.)

A. Actual Cost and Effort

1. Labor hours - list specific assigned individuals, labor category, and actual hours worked.

2. Labor costs - list labor category, individual, and total amount.

3. Employee fringe benefits

4. Direct Materials

5. Travel

6. Subcontracts

7. Other direct costs

8. Indirect costs

9. Total actual costs for this T.O.

10. Fee

11. Total actual costs plus fee for this T.O.

B. Report of Deliverables

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

The signatures below indicate that the services/products required under Task Order No. 1 have been delivered, received and satisfactorily meet the requirements of this Task Order.

l. For the Contractor: Date:

(Signature)

Typed name:

2. For the Government: Date:

(Contracting Officer’s Representative)

Date:

(Contracting Officer)