NIMH Mental Health in Rural and Frontier America - Questions_(All Questions) 9-3-2020_mc.pdf

Solicitation Number: NIH-NIMH-20-004329 Questions and Answers

Title of Project: Mental Health in Rural and Frontier America

# Question

Would the Government assist in facilitating recruitment of rural mental health providers, researchers, patients, policy makers, advocates, and family members for the stakeholder interviews?

A. No, the Government is interested in a contractor that has the ongoing relationships and the experience to facilitate recruitment of rural mental health providers, researchers, patients, policy makers, advocates, and family members for the stakeholder interviews.

The solicitation posted on www.Sam.gov at:

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/3a88cd23e6e24ba381e188a6587ffd35/view) specifies a 15-page limit with 10-pt. font size.

However, RFP Attachment 2, Technical Evaluation Criteria, on page 1, paragraph 1 specifies a 10-page limit and an 11-pt. font size.

Could the Government please confirm the page limit and font size for bidders’ proposals?

A: The government is limiting responses to a 15-page limit and an 11 pt. font size.

Would the Government please confirm graphics and tables can in a readable 9-pt.

size?

A: Yes, tables and graphics can be in a readable 9-pt. font size.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://beta.sam.gov/opp/3a88cd23e6e24ba381e188a6587ffd35/view

The RFP requires bidders to provide examples of evidence that demonstrate a pre-existing, respectful, trusting relationship between the contractor and rural American Indian and rural Alaskan Native residents, care providers, families, and mental health researchers.

Would the Government please confirm that these examples can be provided in an appendix and are excluded from the page limit?

A. Yes, examples can be provided in an appendix and excluded from the page limit, however, a summary of relevant aspects should be included in the technical proposal narrative.

For budgeting purposes, can the government please confirm the number and the desired length of time for each stakeholder interview?

A. Offerors should propose and support the number and desired length of time for each stakeholder interview in their technical approach and their technical proposal.

Also, will OMB clearance be needed?

A. OMB clearance will not be needed for the purposes of research by the

NIH.

Does NIMH have a preference on with whom the stakeholder interviews occur?

Understanding that they must occur in rural areas, is there a preference beyond that?

A. It is difficult to predict what is most appropriate at the time given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but it seems likely that much or all of the stakeholder interviews may need to be conducted virtually, and with rural residents. Due to the pandemic they may not necessarily occur in person in a rural area. From the SOW, “Stakeholders will consist of rural mental health providers, researchers, patients, policy makers, advocates and family members. Stakeholders will be sampled from a variety of rural settings, regions, and states, and will include representation from the many demographic groups significantly represented in rural areas (e.g., African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, veterans, etc.)” NIMH anticipates that the contractor will finalize the sampling plan for stakeholder interviews after reviewing the report from the RFI-based efforts NIMH is conducting in preparation for this book. After consultation with the NIMH, this final stakeholder plan can be implemented.

Is there a preference for how many rural community stakeholder interviews (e.g. 3 communities and 30 stakeholders)?

A. No, but from the SOW: “Stakeholders will consist of rural mental health providers, researchers, patients, policy makers, advocates and family members.

Stakeholders will be sampled from a variety of rural settings, regions, and states, and will include representation from the many demographic groups significantly represented in rural areas (e.g., African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, veterans, etc.)” We can estimate that 20-30 interviews will be conducted.

However, this is dependent on the results of the RFI.

Is there a preference for how many of these interviews should occur with Native American Tribal populations?

A. No, the offeror shall plan their proposed approach in the technical proposal.

Will NIMH provide the offeror selected with links or copies of all prior editions of the Mental Health and Rural America: 2005 – 2015 books?

A. Yes, https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/mirror/6/657/RuralMentalHealth.pdf

Is NIMH pleased with the current edition of this book and or would they like to see any new areas or key focus areas (e.g. designs, graphics, style, etc.)?

A. NIMH is pleased with the current edition of the book however, aesthetic and readability decisions are up to the largely up to the successful offerors.

May offerors submit subcontractor past performance for one of the required references?

A. Yes, but they need to be referred to in the main body of the application and relevant aspects summarized, although it can be brief.

Do past performance references/descriptions count toward the page limit?

A. Yes

The solicitation lists Past Performance under “Non-Scored Evaluation Criteria”. How will Past Performance be factored into the evaluation?

A. Past performance will be used to substantiate statements made in the main body of the document about technical expertise and relationships with various rural populations, especially Native American and Alaskan Native.

Is there an incumbent contractor that developed the predecessor publications?

A. Yes.

https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/mirror/6/657/RuralMentalHealth.pdf

Due to the COVID pandemic, can the Government please confirm that travel is anticipated and acceptable to conduct stakeholder interviews, etc.?

A. It is difficult to predict what is most appropriate at the time given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but it seems likely that much or all of the stakeholder interviews may need to be conducted virtually. It is difficult to predict what is most appropriate at the time given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but it seems likely that much or all of the stakeholder interviews may need to be conducted virtually. If offerors believe travel is required, they should include it in their technical and firm fixed price quote.

Is the level of effort for labor based on a specific number of hours per full-time equivalent (e.g. 1920 vs 2080)?

A. The Government anticipates a Firm Fixed Price type purchase order. The proposed number of hours and labor mix should be determined by the offeror.

In “Additional Information”, the solicitation states the offeror is to include a signed copy of the provisions at FAR 52.204-24, FAR 52.204-25, 52.204-26 and 52.212-3. The provided Attachment 4 - FAR Clauses 52.204-24, 52.204-25, 52.204-26 and 52.212-3, does not include FAR clause 52.212-3. Can an updated Attachment 4 be provided, or should the offeror add the clause to the existing Attachment 4 for certification?

A. The government will upload FAR 52.213-3.

Can the government please confirm that this opportunity is still being classified as a simplified acquisition?

Also, if this is confirmed as a simplified acquisition, please confirm that the threshold that applies to this effort for the period of performance is $250,000.

A. This is a Simplified Acquisition and the threshold is below $250,000.00.