SOW-Public Engagement Strategies to Advance the Mission of NCATS EM BG (1).pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK (SERVICES)

(SOW)

Public Engagement Strategies to Advance the Mission of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure consulting and communications outreach services for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Office of Policy, Communications and Education (OPCE) Communications Branch (CB). The goal is to support NCATS’ mission by strengthening its ability to effectively promote the center’s impact on the advancement of translational science to a broad range of stakeholders.

Services shall include support and consultation for the NCATS CB as they work to develop and implement public engagement strategies.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) turns research findings into health solutions through translational science.

It brings together a diverse range of scientists, including medicinal chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and engineers, to transform the way that research is done, making it faster, more efficient and more impactful.

NCATS’ mission is broad and requires extensive collaboration and disruptive thinking within the science community. To accomplish this mission, the CB develops and disseminates information to a wide range of stakeholders with diverse interests and needs, including patient groups, academic investigators, potential partners in the private and federal sector (including other NIH institutes and centers), venture capital groups, technology-focused research and development organizations (both for-profit and nonprofit), and other parties interested in speeding each stage of research along the translational science spectrum, from the biological basis of health and disease to interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public.

This requirement focuses on strategic communications services and resources necessary to develop and implement creative, scientifically accurate, fresh and cost-effective outreach approaches to advance NCATS’ mission.

Title of Project:

Statement of Need and Purpose:

Background Information and Objective:

This project will consist of supporting the CB in developing and implementing public engagement strategies to effectively promote NCATS impact and the value of translational science. NCATS already conducts extensive outreach and would like to enhance its public engagement strategies and expand these efforts.

The place of performance shall be at both the NCATS headquarters located at 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda MD 20892-4874 and at the contractor’s site.

The Government does not have an estimate of the proportion of work that would be considered direct consultation (e.g. training, coaching, mentoring) versus offsite work (e.g. writing, development of deliverables, creation of graphics or videos, etc.).

The anticipated period of performance shall be: 5/1/2024 to 11/1/2025

SCOPE OF WORK

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, facilities, and travel, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform this Statement of Work.

In partnership with NCATS’ CB, the Contractor shall provide professional consulting services to strengthen NCATS’ ability to effectively promote NCATS’ mission and impact, as well as the value of translational science. The Contractor shall provide the following consulting services and deliverables:

1. Establish and support implementation of a thought leadership strategy.

a. Identify and pursue opportunities for NCATS spokespeople to present information at major meetings.

Deliverables include: (1) Identify and support 3 new speaking engagements at major meetings; (2) on a monthly basis, review existing staff engagements and recommend ones for additional promotion.

b. Write and place op-eds on behalf of NCATS

Place of Performance:

Period of Performance:

General Requirements:

Specific Requirements:

leadership. Deliverables include: Up to 2 op-eds.

c. Using outlines provided by CB, draft stakeholder engagement messages on behalf of the NCATS director. Deliverables include: Up to 5 blog posts from the NCATS director and up to 6 emails to send to the NCATS stakeholder listserv.

2. Support strategic communications outreach.

a. Refine and guide NCATS’ communication strategy through biweekly strategy and planning calls and other meetings with CB staff. Deliverables include:

(1) Providing agendas ahead of the bi-weekly meetings. (2) Providing notes and action items within 24 hours of the meeting occurrences and (3) Tracking and sharing status of key action items between meetings.

b. Provide spokesperson and/or media training to NCATS leadership and other key staff, including developing agendas and tailored training materials, conducting mock interviews, providing hands-on coaching, and soliciting feedback to enhance future sessions. Deliverables include: Planning and execution of up to 4 media trainings.

c. Prepare and/or refine key messages for staff to use.

Deliverables include: (1) Develop key messages on up to 4 NCATS initiatives; (2) Assist CB in regularly updating the NCATS core PowerPoint slide deck designed to provide NCATS staff with consistent messaging about the center.

d. Advise on and support CB’s media outreach strategy by assisting the CB press team in identifying press outreach opportunities, crafting pitches, and identifying outlets for targeted pitching and deskside meetings.

Deliverables include: (1) Identify and assist with conducting 3 desk side meetings with members of the media. (2) Attend regular CB press team meetings to identify and plan opportunities. (3) Craft up to 10 email pitches for distribution to targeted reporters.

e. As needed, refine, and in some cases, design graphics/original illustrations that convey NCATS principles, goals, activities and complex translational science concepts in a clear and compelling way.

Examples can be found at https://ncats.nih.gov/news-events/infographics-and-fact-sheets.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Government will provide Contractor personnel reasonable facility access for onsite work as well as workspace. No other equipment or materials will be provided. Access might be restricted during federal holidays and after business hours.

DELIVERY OR DELIVERABLES

1. A delivery date of each distinct and specific deliverable will be determined in collaboration of NCATS and the contractor.

2. Deliverables must be submitted in a format approved by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) before or on the date requested by NCATS.

3. A kickoff meeting will be held, and the date/time will be selected by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) where the contractor and its staff are to be introduced to the NCATS team.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The contractor will provide monthly status reports to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) during the performance period. The report will cover key activities and accomplishments and hours spent by each staff member. The template for the status report will be determined in collaboration of NCATS and the Contractor.

A meeting will be held with the NCATS team and Contractor every other week, either in person at NCATS headquarters or via video conference. This meeting will be focused on exploratory discussions on strategy and implementation of deliverables sought.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Services are invoiced monthly in arrears.

https://ncats.nih.gov/news-events/infographics-and-fact-sheets https://ncats.nih.gov/news-events/infographics-and-fact-sheets