NIGMS_Statement_of_Work_SOW.6.1.18.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

A. Information about the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Office of Communications and Public Liaison

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. NIGMS-funded scientists investigate how living systems work at a range of levels from molecules and cells to tissues and organs, in research organisms, humans, and populations. Additionally, to ensure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, NIGMS provides leadership in training the next generation of scientists, in enhancing the diversity of the scientific workforce, and in developing research capacity throughout the country.

The Office of Communication and Public Liaison (OCPL) informs the general public and targeted audiences about NIGMS-supported research and training programs. OCPL works to strengthen public understand and appreciation of basic biomedical science, and to inspire the pursuit of careers in basic biomedical research. The office publishes free science education materials including fact sheets, publications, and digital media on a range of topics. The Office also informs teachers and students about NIGMS-funded training programs and products, such as materials resulting from Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA) grants that may be useful to teachers and students across the country.

B. Background Information

A key target audience for NIGMS messages and information are America’s youth—the next generation of biomedical scientists. NIGMS aims to create a sustainable program that drives student interest in basic biomedical science and inspires students to pursue research careers. By informing middle and high school-aged students about careers in basic science, and exciting advances in basic biomedical research, NIGMS can influence their career trajectories and encourage the pursuit of biomedical scientists.

C. Scope

To effectively communicate targeted education messages to middle and high school students nationwide, NIGMS seeks to reach as many teachers and students as possible, repeatedly, through a trusted medium/source, and provide options for increasing their level of engagement with the materials.

NIGMS seeks to reach millions of middle and high school science students in all 50 states and with a broad demographic mix (i.e. urban, suburban, rural, etc.) annually, through articles in Science World, a Scholastic, Inc. magazine, and a dedicated website. The Institute seeks to utilize Scholastic’s expertise in engaging students and meeting the needs of classroom teachers. The Institute also seeks to utilize Scholastic’s expertise working with government and corporate partners to meet the needs of classroom teachers.

The primary objective of this project is the development, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of educational print and online materials that nearly 2.5 million school students read as part of their in-classroom educational experience.

II. Services To Be Performed

A. General Requirements Independently, and not as an agent of the government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, materials (except as otherwise specified herein), supplies, equipment, and services and perform the work set forth below.

The NIGMS Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will monitor all work under the contract. Through this contract, the Contractor shall provide NIGMS with communication support services by providing the effort necessary to make the materials developed under this contract publication-ready and to facilitate the manufacturing/ publishing and distribution of these materials through Scholastic, Inc. magazines.

B. Specific Requirements NIGMS must receive all specified deliverables for the successful completion of the Tasks outlined in this Statement of Work.

Task 1. Develop Educational Materials for the contract year; the Contractor shall plan, draft, and complete final development of at least one:

1) Student magazine article;

2) Corresponding teaching lessons, including a student worksheet

3) Additional tools online document for each teaching lesson that includes videos; and

4) Digital Version of the article(s).

Educational materials developed should focus on careers in basic biomedical research, and other relevant NIGMS research, educational initiatives and related content, as approved by NIGMS.

Print and online content posted on and developed specifically for the accompanying website (see Task 1a) must be scientifically accurate (created in collaboration with NIGMS), graphically compelling, and written in a style and at a level commensurate with target population's reading and comprehension skills.

For successful completion of Task 1, the Contractor must conduct the following activities per funding period:

1. Plan and attend one in-person project meeting between Scholastic Project Management and NIGMS staff at NIGMS headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland to agree on the direction, topics, and timetables for the following school year's materials.

2. Create and manage timetables/review schedules for materials development allowing NIGMS a minimum of 2 weeks to review materials for review and approval. As necessary, the Contractor will bundle documents that support the same Insert to facilitate and maximize the efficiency of NIGMS’s internal review.

3. Work collaboratively with the NIGMS COR to identify relevant and accurate source materials to create a content outline for each educational material developed.

4. Recommend and draft text content and identify and design images for student articles, teacher lessons, including the student exercises, and supporting online materials (items 1-4 above). This also includes creating and mapping the Additional Tools document to the Common Core State Education Standards and providing content for the Digital Versions of printed student articles. Included in this task is the establishment and oversight of agreements with consultants and venders, including writers, graphic designers, illustrators and vendors for use and publication of photographs, and for development all materials.

5. Provide the NIGMS COR with electronic files as necessary for the review, editing, and approval of all draft and final materials.

6. As requested by the NIGMS COR, compile and create the files for NIGMS to print copies of the article(s)/supplement(s) and teacher lessons, including designing the cover, reviewing NIGMS printer comps and completing necessary paperwork.

Task 1a. Maintain and Update Project Website As technology increasingly becomes the standard in classrooms across America, it is important that this project support a robust and modern website that increases utilization of developed materials. Additionally, to maintain NIGMS’s commitment to educating all Americans, the project website must continue to be an open and free resource to all.

For the successful completion of Task 1a, the Contractor must conduct the following activities:

1. Recommend and finalize website-only materials. Under this task the Contractor may be asked to post NIGMS created videos and/or graphics for which NIGMS will provide all necessary files, poll questions, or other interactive features to draw visitors to the site.

2. Update the site with new rotators and associated promotion pieces to call attention to updated materials or NIGMS education initiatives, including updating the free resources link to reflect new NIGMS resources.

3. Maintain overall functioning of the project website including monitoring and repairing links the project’s and NIGMS’s websites, increase visibility on the Contractor's website, and conduct regular checks that search features and other interactive functions work properly.

Task 2. Manufacture and Distribute Print Educational Materials

The Contractor shall utilize its existing mechanisms for manufacturing, printing, and distributing the printed educational materials created under Task 1 to directly reach subscribers of at least one Scholastic, Inc. magazine targeting middle and high school-aged science students.

For the successful completion of Task 2, the Contractor shall conduct the following activities per funding period:

1. Provide at least one student article and accompanying lesson plan into Science World.

The Contractor should estimate production and distribution numbers for all teacher subscribers.

Task 2a. Post Online Educational Materials

The project website must reflect the most current offerings of NIGMS supported educational material.

For the successful completion of Task 2a, the contractor shall conduct the following activities per funding period:

1. Update the project website with the html and pdfs of printed materials at the time they arrive in schools and in accordance with 508 compliance regulations. See: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/index.html.

2. The Contractor will report documentation at the end of each school year in a 508 compliance report.

Task 3. Market and Track Use and Reach of Educational Materials

The value of the educational materials developed under this contract is a combination of the quality of the products themselves and their use by middle and high school teachers and their students.

For successful completion of Task 3, the Contractor shall conduct the following activities per funding period:

1. Submit a marketing plan that outlines: 1) the strategy the Contractor will employ to increase traffic to the project site, that may include an eblast to teachers, social media posts, digital promotion on Scholastic.com, a press release, promotion at conferences, or other outreach tools; 2) how success will be measured and tracked; and 3) timing of promotion.

2. Monitor and report on web traffic and print distribution through tracking of web analytics and documentation of subscription rates of materials for education materials developed under this contract, as well as other tracking procedures employed by the Contractor.

3. Provide consultation, data and graphics support (converting images for jpegs, etc.) for presentations and other information requests that detail the Contractor's developed materials and reach.

C. Options (Period and Quantity)

1. Option Period(s)

This option extends the period of performance of this contract for 18 months and may be exercised three times during the life of the contract. The option will be exercised by formal contract modification by the Contracting Officer. NIGMS will provide preliminary written notification at least 60 days prior to contract expiration.

2. Option Quantity(s) Option 1: NIGMS may request that the Contractor provide editorial assistance to NIGMS in translating into Spanish selected educational materials. The Government may exercise Option 1 once during the Base and each Option Period.

Option 2: NIGMS may request that the Contractor assist in developing promotional and supplemental educational materials for other communications initiative targeting middle and high school students, as well as their teachers and families. The Government may exercise Option 2 three times during the Base and each Option Period.

Option 3: NIGMS may request that the Contractor assist in coordinating or hosting activities related to other NIGMS outreach events targeting K-12 students and taeachers. The Government may exercise Option 3 once during the Base and each Option Period.

ARTICLE C.2. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

All reports required herein shall be submitted in electronic format. In addition, hardcopies of reports shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer's Representative in accordance with Section F, Article F.2. All electronic reports submitted shall be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Additional information about testing documents for Section 508 compliance, including guidance and specific checklists, by application, can be found at: under "Making Files Accessible."

All paper/hardcopy documents/reports submitted under this contract shall be printed or copied, double-sided, on at least 30 percent post-consumer fiber paper, whenever practicable, in accordance with FAR 4.302(b).

a. Technical Reports

In addition to those reports required by the other terms of this contract, the Contractor shall prepare and submit the following reports in the manner stated below:

Note: The Contractor shall include, in any technical progress report submitted, the applicable PubMed Central (PMC) or NIH Manuscript Submission reference number when citing publications that arise from its NIH funded research.

1. Monthly Progress Report

This report shall include a description of the activities during the reporting period, and the activities planned for the ensuing reporting period. It will cover all updates and items of interest for the reporting period, including budget information, web analytics and tracking report, and recommendations for on line enhancements or additions. The COR and Contractor will agree to the format of this report at the start of the base and any option period. The reporting period shall consist of each calendar month. Reports shall be due on or before the 10th calendar day following each reporting period.