RFPCoverLetter.docx

Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C2-21-15 Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Office of Acquisition and Grants Management

June 24, 2010

Subject: RFP-CMS-2010-0040 – Small Business Research and Demonstration (SBRAD)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), under the subject request for proposal (RFP), is soliciting proposals to establish Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Task Order Contracts (TOC) for SBRAD/TOC. Task orders issued under the SBRAD/TOC are to provide a wide range of general research, analysis, demonstration and survey activities.

This requirement is a Small Business Set-Aside. The North-American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541720.

Proposals, consisting of an original and fifteen (15) copies, with separate technical and business proposals must be received no later than 12:00 PM, Local Prevailing Time, on August 23, 2010, at:

Proposals received after the above specified date and time shall be handled in accordance with FAR clause 52.215-1, entitled “Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisitions”, dated January 2004, Alternate I, dated October 1997, incorporated by reference in Part IV, Representations and Instructions,” Section L, “Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors or Respondents” of the uniform contract format.

Please review all requirements of the RFP. Special attention is directed to Section C, “Description/Specifications/Statement of Work”, Section L which includes instructions for preparation of the technical and business proposals and Section M, the evaluation factors for award.

Section L provides detailed instructions on submitting your proposal. Evaluators will neither make assumptions nor draw inferences regarding missing or incomplete data. Therefore, it is imperative that all requested information is included with your proposal. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria contained in Section M. You are advised that an award may be made without discussion. Therefore, your initial offer should contain your best offer from a technical and cost standpoint.

All offerors are responsible for checking the Federal procurement website (www.fedbizopps.gov) for any amendments that might be issued to this solicitation. All amendments must be acknowledged by the offeror in their proposal.

This solicitation and the resultant contract incorporate clauses by reference as identified herein. Such clauses have the same force and effect as if they are incorporated in full text. The full text of incorporated clauses and provisions can be viewed at www.arnet.gov.

Offerors are advised that in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.306(c) (2) and FAR clause 52.215-1 (f)(4), the Contracting Officer may determine that the number of most highly rated proposals that might otherwise be included in the competitive range for the SBRAD/TOC exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted. Therefore, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number of most highly rated proposals that will permit an efficient competition. The Government considers that efficient competition can be maintained if the number of proposals in the competitive range for the SBRAD/TOC does not exceed fifteen (15).

Pursuant to Federal Register Volume 70, No. 45 dated Wednesday, March 9, 2005, Rules and Regulations; Final Rule Effective March 9, 2005, Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulations (HHSAR) Subpart 317.204, “Contracts”, the base term of the SBRAD multiple award IDIQ task order contract is five (5) years with provision for five (5) one-year option periods.

Task orders awarded under the SBRAD/TOC may be cost–reimbursement, fixed-price or time-and-material. CMS reserves the right to award various task order types.

This RFP does not commit the Government to pay any cost associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal.

Offerors are hereby advised that the place for submission of proposals (CMS’ single site located at 7500 Security Blvd. Baltimore (Woodlawn), Maryland) is a secure building. Therefore, when hand-delivering or utilizing a mail carrier service to deliver proposals offerors should allow for sufficient time to undergo a vehicle inspection, obtain a visitor’s parking pass, and register at the Security Guard’s desk located in the Central Building (main entrance to the complex). Proposal delivery must be made to the exact location stated in the RFP solicitation on or before the date and time specified. Proposals delivered by a mail carrier service other than the U.S. Postal Service are not accepted in the CMS mail room; therefore, offerors’ proposals may not be delivered timely to the location and person specified in this RFP solicitation. Offerors are reminded that FAR 52.215-1 does not make allowance for proposals received late when submitted by mail services other than the U.S. or Canadian Postal Service. Offerors are advised to take that possibility into consideration in determining when and how a proposal must be received at the specified location to meet the date and time requirement. Offerors are also advised to make sure that the proposal is clearly marked with the RFP number, the date and time for receipt, the intended room location, the intended recipient, and the telephone number of the intended recipient.

All questions concerning this solicitation shall be submitted in writing, via email, and shall be received by both the Contract Specialist (Joseph Feibel) and Contracting Officer (Evelyn Dixon) no later than July 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm local prevailing time. All questions for which answers can be provided will be conveyed to all prospective Offerors by amendment to this solicitation, with copies of both the questions and answers being supplied without reference as to the originating source. QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE HONORED.

AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS - FUNDS ARE NOT PRESENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE MINIMUM STATED IN SECTION B. NO LEGAL LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANY PAYMENT MAY ARISE UNTIL FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, AND UNTIL THE CONTRACTOR RECEIVES NOTICE OF SUCH AVAILABILITY, TO BE CONFIRMED IN WRITING BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER.

All inquiries concerning this RFP shall be e-mailed to joseph.feibel@cms.hhs.gov and evelyn.dixon@cms.hhs.gov.

Sincerely, Evelyn R. Dixon Contracting Officer

NOTE: All organizations that intend to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation are requested to advise the Contract Specialist, joseph.feibel@cms.hhs.gov and Contracting Officer, evelyn.dixon@cms.hhs.gov, via e-mail by July 7, 2010.

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