Amendment_1-Final.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

N/A

PAGE

OF PAGES

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

ONE (1)

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

See Block 16C, below

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. N/A

5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable) N/A

6. ISSUED BY CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)

CODE N/A

National Institutes of Health The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Acquisition Services Branch, Office of Acquisitions, NICHD 6710B Rockledge, Drive, 1161C MSC 7510 Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, city, county, State and ZIP Code)

TO ALL PROSPECTIVE VENDORS/OFFERORS

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

NIH-NIMHD-DIR-ASB-2019-001

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

July 29, 2019

X

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER

NO.

CODE

FACILITY CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended, X 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 ____ 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 RECIEVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE 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 date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (if required)

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 is not required to sign this document and return two copies to issuing office.

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

PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE RESPONSES/ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSED TO THE SUBJECT

SOLICITATION.

THE DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS IS HEREBY EXTENDED UNTIL NOON, August 8, 2019.

All other terms and conditions to the solicitation remain the same and unchanged.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

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

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

Dana L. Harris Contracting Officer, ASB, OA, NICHD, NIH, DHHS

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

BY ______________________________________________

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY _________________________________________

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

REQUEST FOR QUOTE

NIMHD U.S. Burden of Health Disparities

NIH-NIMHD-DIR-ASB-2019-001

Questions & Answers General Questions

1. Has the U.S. Burden of Health Disparities Working Group been receiving support from non-NIH epidemiologists and biostatisticians, in other words, is there an incumbent for some or all of the work described in the RFQ?

The U.S. Burden of Health Disparities Working Group has not been receiving support from non- NIH epidemiologists and biostatisticians. This is a new requirement and there is no incumbent.

2. Since there is only one week to prepare the proposal after the amendment that provides answers to questions, would the Government be willing to extend the due date to August 8?

The deadline for submission of quotations/proposals is extended until 12:00 p.m., August 8, 2019.

3. Please confirm if it is the intent of NIMHD that estimates be provided disaggregated or race/ethnicity and SES separately (i.e., not simultaneously disaggregated for both categories – e.g., not Hispanic of X income or education level). We anticipate that disaggregating by both race/ethnicity and SES simultaneously may cause challenges with data availability with this level of granularity for many causes or risk factors, as well as significant small-number issues in many counties and census tracts, leading to undesired levels of uncertainty.

We do want the estimates to be simultaneously disaggregated by both race/ethnicity and SES and recognize that this may cause challenges with data availability. However, we are asking contractors to possess the ability to develop computational approaches that allow for estimation of the burden of disease at the county level by race/ethnicity, gender, and SES simultaneously for all U.S. counties and that yield robust and valid models/estimates.

Contractors must demonstrate the ability to achieve out of sample predictive validity for specific race/ethnic groups for smaller areas where data are sparse.

4. In providing the proposed staff hours do we need to provide them by task and subtask and is it included in the 25-page limit of the technical quote? Does the government request that proposed staff hours for each of the proposed individuals be allocated against each task or subtask for the project” to also be used for the Business Quote, in addition to the Technical Quote? I.e., do you prefer the cost estimates to broken by down at line-item detail for each person/role, by task, for each of the 10 tasks?

The Technical Quote may include a breakdown of total labor by task area only; however, the business quote should provide a breakdown by each proposed position by Task and Subtask.

There is no page limitation to the business quote and in the event the proposed labor of the technical quote is extensive; please feel free to submit it as an appendix to the technical quote.

5. Please confirm if the salary rate limitation of $192,300 is required to be used in cost estimates?

Salary rate limitation only applies to compensation for personal services in accordance with FAR 31.205-6; these services are considered “non-personal” and Salary Rate Limitation shall not apply.

RFQ Section Questions

1. Section B, page 6; the table of “Schedule of quantities and charges for future option periods” can you please clarify:

a. The option period #1 and option period #2 refer to?

b. Does the minimum amount refer to cost or to hours?

Option Period 1 and Option Period 2 refers to Year 2 and Year 3 as optional periods that the government shall have the unilateral right in exercising based on continued need and availability of funds. The minimum amount refers to the price; keeping in mind that your business proposal shall include the breakdown by hours and price for the respective periods.

2. Section L, page 47 Can you please confirm the time-zone for the deadline for submission?

The time-zone for the deadline for submission is Eastern Standard Time.

3. Section L, page 47 AS part of our Technical Quote, may we include a Table of Contents, and if so, does it count against the 25-page Limit?

Table of Contents may be included as part of the Technical Quote and will not count against the 25-page limit.

4. Section L, page 48 states; “For proposal planning purposes only, the government estimates 9,000 hours annually. Instructions are provided for the government estimate of 9,000 hours annually. No instructions are provided for the desired optional quantities. Is there a government estimate for the optional quantities?

The government estimates the option periods to be 9,000 hour annually as well.

5. Section L, page 48 states, “…the contractor should assume 9,000 labor hours annually. Is this inclusive of both key and non-key staff? Are any of the positions expected to be full-time?

The estimates are inclusive of all labor associated with fulfilling the requirements. Based on the Offeror’s technical approach to fulfilling the requirement shall determine if any positions are full-time.

6. Section L, page 48 states that the contractor should assume the performance of work activities is “off-site,” however, on page 53, Factor 2. Project Management and Administration, the final bullet asks for a staffing plan that addresses “issues related to working at a Government facility.” Please clarify whether the performance site is NIH or the contractor’s own facility.

The performance of work activities will be “off-site” – at the contractor’s own facility.

7. Section L, page 48-49 Past Performance Information, Can the government please clarify whether CVs are required for all proposed staff? Should Past Performance be a stand-alone document? As part of the detailed information; how many examples should be provided and do they have to be federal examples?

CVs are required for all Key Personnel; and submission of CVs for other Personnel is highly encouraged as it will give the evaluation panel an opportunity to further review the qualification(s) against the activities being performed. Offerors may provide as many as they deem appropriate however 3-5 relevant past performances is sufficient. These examples of past performance do not have to be federally funded; however, they are preferred as it will give the source selection team an opportunity to check and verify through federal systems (i.e. CPARs).