Attachment_1_-_General_SOW.pdf

GENERAL STATEMENT OF WORK FOR

ANALYTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES (NIEHS)

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND NIEHS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

COLLABORATING CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

1.0. BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), located in Research

Triangle Park, North Carolina, is one (1) of 27 research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of

Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The mission of the NIEHS is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. The NIEHS as a primary function conducts, fosters and coordinates research on the biological effects of chemical substances and physical factors present in the environment, utilizing (1) its own laboratories and personnel; (2) contracts; and (3) grant-in-aid to universities for research projects, training, fellowships and environmental health centers. The NIEHS seeks by these means to develop understanding of the mechanisms of action of environmental substances, to provide the scientific basis for evaluating their extent and severity on a national scale, and to define and develop methods for diagnosis and treatment of environmentally induced illness.

1.1. The Bethesda office of the NIEHS coordinates and provides leadership to the Institute’s activities on Global

Environmental Health (GEH) and Climate Change and Human Health (CCHH). In order to serve this role for the

Institute, the Bethesda Office must communicate effectively with the other divisions of NIEHS, play a lead role in the development of communication and outreach materials that inform both Institute and external stakeholders of the activities and scientific information related to GEH and CCHH, and build partnerships with external organizations.

In addition, the Bethesda Office provides scientific expertise and leadership to a range of US government and international partners, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the US Global Change Research

Program and the World Health Organization.

Specific activities involved in these roles include the development of written and multimedia communications materials, including newsletters, feature stories, peer-reviewed publications, and web pages. In addition, the

Bethesda Office convenes federal scientists and program staff to accomplish programmatic goals within NIEHS, the

Department of HHS and in federal interagency processes, like the GCRP.

1.2. The NIEHS has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre for

Environmental Health Sciences. The Centre plays a key role in carrying out the Institute’s Strategic

Implementation Plan for Global Environmental Health (GEH) and is one means by which the Institute provides global leadership on Environmental Health research and research translation. The Terms of Reference, which outline the broad goals of the Collaborating Centre, are:

To assist WHO in promoting international cooperation among environmental health research institutes around the world.

To assist WHO in promoting global awareness of emerging issues in environmental health.

To assist WHO in the preparation of training materials and support education and training efforts in environmental and occupational health sciences.

1.3. The activities of the Collaborating Centre are organized around six focus areas, for which specific work plans will be developed and renewed annually, and a cross cutting theme of training and capacity building. The six focus areas of the Collaborating Centre are:

Children’s Environmental Health

Climate Change and Human Health

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Health Effects of Electronic Waste

Health Effects of Household Air Pollution

International Capacity Building for Toxicological Risk Assessment

2.0. OBJECTIVES: The Contractor shall provide analytical and technical support services to the NIEHS GEH Program and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health Sciences within the Bethesda Office of the Director (OD-

B).

3.0. SCOPE: This Statement of Work (SOW) will be used to execute a broad range of analytical and technical support services in support of the resultant single award requirements contract. During the contract period, the Government will identify tasks required to complete each specific project. Task orders with more specific details will be placed as needed by the NIEHS. Specific performance dates and quantities will be specified on each individual task order. This is a non-personal services contract to provide the NIEHS OD-B with analytical and technical support services. The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor. The Contractor, in turn, shall be accountable to the Government for Contractor or subcontractor personnel.

3.1. The Contractor shall provide services which may include but are not limited to:

Development and maintenance of databases and systems to assist program planning, monitoring, and evaluation

Technical assistance with analysis and reporting of program strategies and initiatives

Facilitation of appropriate staff meetings, conference calls, and online meetings, including webinars and teleconferences with global participation

Development of content for Internet and social media, and outreach materials for dissemination at meetings and events

Technical assistance with the development of newsletters, podcasts, reports, PowerPoint presentations, and manuscripts

Development and coordination of networks of research institutions, including other WHO Collaborating

Centers around the world

Convening and organizing meetings and workgroups of scientists and program staff to review scientific issues, develop scientific consensus and produce documents, including peer reviewed publications, to help translate research results and inform public health protection

Developing and disseminating educational materials, and conducting training and educational sessions

3.2. The Contractor shall provide staff and supervision with adequate skills and experience to perform the required tasks and sub-tasks efficiently.

4.0. TASKS: The Contractor shall provide services to manage and execute task orders awarded under this contract.

4.1. CONTRACT SUPPORT SERVICES:

4.1.1. The Contractor shall provide monthly “time on task” estimates that will describe the time to be spent, by contractor employee, on certain subtasks for that month and will provide a timeline of activities that clearly state the deadlines for each month’s deliverables. The timeline should be approved and accepted by the Project Officer.

4.1.2. At the end of each month the contractor will provide a final “time on task” summary that compares the monthly forecasted labor hours (see 4.1.1) with the actual labor hours used. The contractor shall also provide a monthly statement of funds remaining in the contract, by primary task.

4.1.3. The Contractor shall also participate in monthly meetings with GEH staff, preferably in person. The

Contractor shall also provide a monthly report that provides prospective activities for the upcoming month, including travel, for review and preapproval at that time.

4.1.4. Meet with NIEHS task leaders as needed to clarify specific tasks and subtasks, formatting and other details of deliverables, and timelines.

4.2. GEH PROGRAM COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS SUPPORT SERVICES:

4.2.1. Support production of the bimonthly GEH newsletter:

Develop a timeline for each bimonthly issue with NIEHS GEH staff

Document and track decisions about content for each bimonthly issue

Screen PubMed each week for relevant GEH articles published by NIEHS grantees and staff and select one article to feature in each newsletter

Screen for and solicit from the NIEHS GEH workgroup upcoming GEH events to be listed

Write features each issue on selected literature study and featured training and capacity building story, as well as up to one additional feature story per issue as requested

Do layout and graphic design for newsletters

Provide expert copy editing

Work with NIEHS web staff to publish newsletter on NIEHS webpages

Produce and maintain archive of past newsletters

4.2.2. Support maintenance of NIEHS webpages on GEH and CCHH

Review existing Collaborating Centre, CCHH and GEH content, report to NIEHS project director or focus area leader or designee on the timeliness and relevance of existing content, and suggest relevant additions and updates on monthly basis

When directed, write, summarize, or obtain content for NIEHS webpages

When necessary, obtain translation of document or information provided by other international institutions

Work with NIEHS web staff to post updated content on these webpages

4.2.3. Support production of up to four GEH podcasts per year

Work with NIEHS GEH staff to identify and schedule podcast speakers

Work with NIEHS GEH staff to develop interview questions

Conduct and record interviews and produce finished podcast

Develop and implement dissemination strategy for podcasts

4.2.4. Support production of up to six GEH program webinars

Work with NIEHS GEH staff to identify and schedule webinar speakers

Develop publicity materials for webinars (e.g., email content for listservs)

Use NIEHS Webex account to conduct webinars

4.2.5. Support planning for one GEH program full day seminar per year at NIEHS

Assist with finding space, developing background materials, coordinating planning meetings

Assist with identifying and invited speakers

Develop publicity materials

Take notes, assist with webcasting, and provide technical support for seminar

4.2.6. Support production of WHO Collaborating Centre Annual Report

Assist with drafting the report based on accomplishments and events entered into the GEH tracking database and interviews with WHO CC Focus Area Leads

Review content of Annual Report with Project Officer and WHO CC Focus Area Leads

Assist with uploading annual report to the online WHO Collaborating Centre Portal

Format and edit Annual Report for external audiences

Publish and post Annual Report on NIEHS webpages

4.3. ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROGRAM SUPPORT AND ANALYSIS:

4.3.1. Support and update tracking system for GEH program activities

Work with Project Officer, WHO CC Focus Area Leads and GEH WG members to identify relevant activities

Input activities into the database and report monthly on progress

Provide summary of activities for purposes of WHO CC annual report and GEH program strategic planning.

4.3.2. Provide administrative and technical support for other GEH Program and Collaborating Centre activities:

4.3.2.1. Support the development of a network of institutions focused on Children’s Environmental Health

(CEH)

Convene and facilitate quarterly teleconferences and other web-based meetings.

Develop e-mail based quarterly newsletter for internal dissemination among the Collaborating Centers;

tasks will include soliciting content (new activities, events, publications) from the Centers, writing brief descriptions of activities, events, publications, and monthly feature article, formatting and distributing.

Assist with planning and conducting conference calls, including scheduling, note taking, and delivery of post-meeting summaries; approximately one call per month.

4.3.2.2. Support activities related to all other Collaborating Centre focus areas (see section 1.3)

Assist with planning and conducting conference calls, including scheduling, facilitating when asked, note taking, and delivery of post-meeting summaries. Approximately one 1 hour call per month for all focus areas.

When requested, assist with the development of reports, training materials, manuscripts and other communications materials, including PowerPoint presentations; assist with communication among author teams; organize review, editing, and formatting of written materials; and assist with submission and publication processes

Assist with other Collaborating Centre administrative and technical tasks as may be requested by the

NIEHS task leader

4.3.3. Strategic Planning

Through data gathering and surveying of the NIEHS GEH working group and other interested parties in the

GEH and Climate Change fields, the Contractor shall provide assistance to the Project Officer in developing and annually updating a strategic plan for the operations of the GEH program, in accordance with the

NIEHS Strategic Plan and GEH Program Logic Model.

4.4. OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICE: The contractor shall arrange and manage technical meetings and workshops related to Global Environmental Health by performing the following:

4.4.1. Technical Meeting Facilitation

Facilitate technical assistance activities related to activities of the WHO Collaborating Centre and GEH

Program at the direction of the Project Officer. Provide assistance to the Project Officer and relevant

Collaborating Centre leads with development of agendas, and supply speakers with ready access to information for presentations. Contractor may also develop and provide recommendations with respect to topics, participants, and agenda items at the direction of the Project Officer.

4.4.2. Advanced Logistics

Provide administrative support to activity participants with logistical details such as site arrangements, lodging, and development and distribution of preparatory materials, and information developed in advance of the technical meetings or workshops. Administrative support shall include contacting attendees with information by telephone, in writing, or other appropriate means, and making travel arrangements for guest speakers and other guest participants. Costs for travel, meals, per diems etc. will be determined for each event and provide through a contract modification.

4.4.3. On-Site Coordination

When directed, coordinate logistics and provide on-site assistance at the activity site to include registration of participants, distribution of materials, set-up for audiovisual requirements, and arrangement of note-taking and capturing of the technical workshop proceedings. Workshop costs for the Contractor involve some on-site expenses including meeting room rentals, workshop materials, postage and shipping, audio-visual equipment rentals, and costs for recording the proceedings during the event. These costs will be approximated at the beginning of the six (6) month contract modification period for each event and incorporated as part of the budget. The Contractor is authorized to charge an attendance fee to offset the activity costs, such as costs for food during meetings. The attendance fee is cost neutral to the contractor.

The attendance fee will be agreed upon by the Project Officer and the Contractor at the start of each activity planning process.

4.4.4. Report

Prepare, edit, publish and distribute the technical activity proceedings and final report, which shall be completed at the direction of the Project Officer. A copy of the completed reports should be posted on the

GEH web site and disseminated to all workshop participants, which will include awardee representatives and additional resource people.

4.5. SPECIAL TECHNICAL OR ANALYTIC PROJECTS: The Contractor shall provide special technical or analytic services for projects as requested.

4.5.1. Manage the development and maintenance of on-line bibliographic databases, such as a database for climate change and health published literature, for publication on the NIEHS website, to include:

Development and implementation of automated search algorithms

Development and implementation of automated data extraction algorithms to code individual publications for specific categories of content and topics

Human curation of data records and coding

Updating of existing databases as specified with new references

4.5.2. Assist with the development of educational materials for environmental health, including professional training and capacity building and pre-college education

Support GEH program efforts to collaborate with outside partners to develop and distribute lesson plans, exercises and other materials to pre-college teachers

Identify and subcontract with educational experts to assist in the development of lesson plans, exercises and other materials related to climate change and human health

4.5.3. Assist with the development of white papers and other scientific manuscripts as requested by the NIEHS task leader. For substantive projects, terms and additional funding will be determined as needed.

4.5.4. Partnerships and Representation: In assisting the GEH Program in facilitating partnerships, domestic and international, the contractor is expected to have relationships with various non-governmental organizations whose missions align with the mission of the global environmental health and climate change program. International NGOs may be in a better position to reach target audiences through webinars, materials development, and workshops in their home countries than the contractor. The Program would expect the contractor to work in conjunction with the

NGO to ensure these efforts are accomplished. At times, the project officer will direct the Contractor to wire transfer funds or forward a check to provide financial support for international and other programmatic efforts. These checks or wire transfers may range from $500 to $50,000, and may be in direct support of the various non-governmental organizations, universities, foundations, and sponsorships, throughout the continental U.S. and abroad. The

Contractor should have funds available for immediate disbursement upon the government’s request. The Contractor staff will also represent the GEH program, through speaking opportunities or presentations, at specific GEH conferences, meetings, seminars and other events as requested by the Program Officer.

4.5.5. Assist with other Collaborating Centre administrative and technical tasks as may be requested by the

NIEHS task leader

5.0. DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE: See Section 4.0 above.

6.0. COMPLIANCE: Comply with NIEHS guidelines for websites and other communications materials (see

Attachments). See Section 508 accessibility guidelines as defined by the federal government. Please see the following URLs for details:

Section 508 Information: http://www.section508.gov/

Guide to the Section 508 Standards: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/guide-to-the-section-508-standards

Making Files Accessible: http://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/index.html

NOTE: If the deliverable includes features and functions in addition to those identified as requirements, these features and functions also need to conform to relevant Section 508 technical provisions, functional performance criteria, and information, documentation and support.

7.0. PUBLIC AFFAIRS CLEARANCES: Any printing product produced under this contract for public distribution shall be submitted by the Project Officer to the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) office for clearance using form HHS-615 (to be completed by contractor). There are no intended public products.

8.0. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES: This section identifies those items such as property, information and/or services that will be provided for the contractor’s use (without cost to the contractor) to allow the contractor to provide the required services, such as materials, facilities, training, etc. as follows:

8.1. The Government will furnish information necessary to fulfill this contract, such as source data and all necessary specifications for databases covered under this activity as well as the necessary information pertaining to the meeting website as described below.

9.0. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under section 13 of this PWS.

10.0. TRAVEL: The Contractor shall be required to travel to Continental United States (CONUS) and OCONUS locations and shall be in strict compliance with all specifications, terms and conditions, and all other provisions contained herein in.

10.1. Travel requires Government preapproval, authorization, and notification to the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR).

10.2. The Contractor shall be authorized travel expenses consistent with the provisions of Federal Acquisition

Regulations (FAR) 31.205-46 Travel Costs and the limitation of funds specified in this contract.

11.0. HOURS OF OPERATION. Work will be performed up to 40 hours per week during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Core hours are: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

11.1. The National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences observes the following holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day

Martin Luther King’s Birthday Columbus Day

Presidents Day Veteran’s Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Independence Day Christmas Day http://www.section508.gov/ https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/guide-to-the-section-508-standards https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/guide-to-the-section-508-standards http://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/index.html

12.0. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The Contractor shall work out of their own facility and shall be required to provide services within the Continental United States (CONUS) and OCONUS in accordance with the SOW. Any work

OCONUS requires Government preapproval, authorization, and notification to the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR).

13.0. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The requirement has a five (5) year ordering period. Individual task orders issued cannot exceed a 12 month period.

14.0. SAFETY AND HEALTH: The Contractor shall comply with all Federal, North Carolina State, Occupational

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and local laws and regulations concerning the environmental, occupational safety and health, and hazardous material. The contractor shall ensure employees have all required training and certifications related to OSHA requirements. The documentation shall be readily available for the

Contracting Officer to review at any time during the life of the contract.

15.0. DATA RIGHTS: The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract to the extent permitted by the data rights clauses. The parties mutually acknowledge their understanding that this is the government’s intent. All documents and materials, to include the source codes of any software, produced under this task order shall be government owned and are the property of the government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the contractor without written permission from the contracting officer. All materials supplied to the Government will be the sole property of the government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other government rights.