Notice_of_Intent_1.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: 75N94023Q00089 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non-Competitive) Title: NIMHD: Services: Prospective Cohort Data Analyses Project NAICS / Size Standard: 611310/ 34.5 Million

Introduction

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston to provide services to support the Prospective Cohort Data Analyses Project.

Background Information

The Tamura Lab in the Population and Community Health Sciences Branch at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) focuses on the socio-spatial determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk leading to health disparities by race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic position, and geography for cardiovascular health outcomes. One area of focus for the Tamura Lab is using geospatial methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), to objectively investigate the role of neighborhood exposures that promote adverse cardiovascular-related outcomes and risk factors in prospective cohort data. In addition, we utilize mobile devices such as global positioning systems (GPS) and smartphone/watch to track individuals’ daily mobilities to contextualize their psychosocial and environmental factors in relation to cardiovascular health. Our laboratory projects utilize data from such objectively measured large cohorts to examine the mechanisms by which certain neighborhood contexts impact CVD and its risk factors.

A contracting epidemiologist focusing on statistics with specific expertise in complex analyses utilizing large, population-based datasets with complex sampling methods has been required to perform statistical analyses for research projects at the Tamura lab. These analyses specifically involve the cohorts from the NIH American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Diet and Health Study, the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS), and NCI Activities Completed over Time in 24 hours (ACT24). Expertise with these specific population-based datasets and with complex statistical analyses using neighborhood features is not readily available within the Population and Community Health Sciences Branch at the NIMHD.

Purpose and Objectives

1) Perform complex statistical analyses for the AARP Diet and Health Study to better understand how neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and environmental characteristics (e.g., light at night, proximity to roads) are linked to health behaviors (such as sleep, sedentary behaviors, diet) and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD), including CVD, cancers, and diabetes among White and Black adults living in U.S. six states. For this study, the contractor will conduct statistical analyses to investigate the longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses on the associations between adverse neighborhood SES and CVD-related risk factors and outcomes.

2) Conduct statistical analyses for the SCCS to further elucidate the mechanisms by which environmental and socio-economic factors impact lifestyle-related behaviors and chronic diseases. The contractor will use sophisticated analytic techniques to assess the longitudinal and cross-sectional mediation/moderation analyses on the associations between exposures to environmental and social factors and chronic disease outcomes.

3) Conduct statistical analyses for the NCI ACT24, time-use survey data from 2019 and 2020 developed and designed to investigate the role of neighborhood residential segregation and CVD risk factors, such as domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviors. For this research, the contractor will examine associations between various neighborhood segregation indices and physical activity and sedentary behaviors in ACT24 participants. This work is being done in collaboration with a senior investigator at the NCI.

Period of Performance

The Period of Performance will be September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024 with the potential for two option years as follows:

Option Year 1: September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025 Option Year 2: September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026

Contractor Requirements

The contractor shall provide analyses that adheres to the following requirements:

• Perform cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of population-based large cohort data with SAS software.

• Perform cross-sectional and longitudinal mediation/moderation analyses of CVD risk factors in relation to neighborhood contexts and psychosocial factors with SAS software.

• Conduct monthly meetings via Zoom to discuss analysis results from projects and the next steps for analyses.

• Provide reproducible statistical results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Deliverables

• The contractor shall maintain and share with NIMHD an itemized budget and a semi-annual progress report.

• The contractor shall provide the cleaned data, dataset documentation, and analytic codes.

Sole Source Justification

The individual provided by the University of Texas Health Science Center has unique skillsets in epidemiology and statistical analysis, particularly studying the neighborhood environment and health disparities in large complex population studies; a uniquely qualified candidate for this position. This individual is uniquely suited for the proposed work due to expertise in the following specific areas 1) using census variables to characterize neighborhood SES;2) applying statistical methods for determining the relationship between neighborhood environment and health outcomes; and 3) familiarity with data from the specific studies included in this work, including the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, Southern Community Cohort Study and the ACT24. Furthermore, this individual published over 90 articles in high-impact factor journals, including multiple studies linking neighborhood social and physical adversities with sleep, physical activity, obesity, cancer, and mortality in older adults. background and extensive training place her to offer specific expertise in the role of neighborhoods and cardiovascular disease risk and will significantly contribute to the goals of Dr. Tamura’s laboratory at the NIMHD, NIH.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

FAR Clauses

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this notice to the offeror listed above. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offer: The contractor shall demonstrate its ability to provide the detector listed that meets the specifications provided above.

FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, is applicable. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.acquisition.gov. If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, is applicable to this award as follows:

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within the terms of this contract; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend 10 days prior to contract expiration. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

http://www.acquisition.gov/

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed three (3) years.

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 611310 and the Small Business Size Standard is 34.5 Million. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04 effective June 2, 2023.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by July 20, 2023 5:00 PM ET and must reference solicitation number.

75N94023Q00089. Responses shall be submitted electronically to nicole.freid@nih.gov. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:nicole.freid@nih.gov