RFP_Technical_Proposal_Instructions.pdf

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

These additional Technical Proposal instructions reflect the requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP). These additional instructions are tailored to the specific requirements of the RFP. The information provided here should be used, along with Section L of the RFP, to prepare the Technical Proposal. Offerors are advised to give careful consideration to the Statement of Work (SOW) including supplementary material, Mandatory Qualification Criteria, Technical Evaluation Criteria, and the RFP as a whole in the development of their proposals.

Offerors should submit a proposal that addresses the Mandatory Qualification Criteria and all task areas in the SOW;

merely restating the SOW is not considered demonstrating an understanding of the requirement. If the proposed approach involves a subcontracting arrangement(s), then the Offeror shall include a letter of commitment from the subcontractor(s), plus documentation of subcontractor’s expertise, qualifications, and prior performance, as well as a narrative describing how the Offeror will manage the subcontractor.

A. Submission Instructions

The proposal, including any necessary appendices, shall be formatted by section, cross-referenced, and include a detailed Table of Contents. Proposals should NOT include links to Internet Website addresses or otherwise direct readers/reviewers to alternate sources of information.

A detailed work plan should be submitted indicating how each aspect of the Statement of Work is to be accomplished. Your technical proposal should be in as much detail as you consider necessary to explain fully your proposed methods and rationale for their selection and should reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. The technical proposal must also include information on how the project is to be organized, staffed, and managed. Information should be provided which will demonstrate your understanding of management of timeframes for planning and accomplishing the work to be performed.

B. Facilities, Equipment, and Software The Offeror should describe the adequacy of available facilities, computer equipment, database access, and word processing, visualization, and communication software needed to perform the requirements of this procurement.

C. Information and Computer Security The Offeror should describe a plan for ensuring integrity and security of information including management, backup, storage, and transmission of all paper and electronic data collected, assessments, or documents retrieved or generated in the performance of the requirement. Computer security must be in accordance with NIH requirements which are outlined in Article H.10 of the RFP.

D. Support Personnel Support personnel must be proficient in the use of the following software that is to be used to analyze data:

• SAS

• JMP

• SUDAAN

• MatLab

• R

• Java

• C++

• FORTRAN

• Microsoft Office Suite

• Adobe Acrobat Pro XI (the COR may require new version as new releases become available)

• Oracle

• TDMSE

E. Technical Proficiency In order to demonstrate technical proficiency, the offeror shall carry out detailed analyses of two sample datasets. These datasets are typical of what might be encountered under the terms of this contract. The sample datasets and a description of the exercises are available at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/bb/resources/statistical_support/index.cfm. Offerors must fully describe their analysis methods and carry out sound analyses of both datasets, meeting the requirements of the project objectives. Offerors shall provide a response to these two datasets in a separately marked section of the technical proposal.

F. Other Information

Offerors shall submit the following plans as part of the Technical Proposal:

• Quality Assurance (QA) plan

• Conflict of Interest plan

• Management plan http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/bb/resources/statistical_support/index.cfm