CDMRP_PATS_RFI.docx

Subject: Program Administration and Technical Support Services primarily to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, and its subordinate commands

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ); IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITATED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

1.0 DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained.

2.0 SUBJECT: The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is conducting market research to locate sources capable of providing program administration and technical support services. In line with the above goal, USAMRAA wishes to obtain information from sources that possess the capability to provide the above mentioned support services for current and future research programs. The anticipated contractor support duties are attached (Attachment 1).

3.0 BACKGROUND: The United States Congress directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to manage appropriations totaling over $9 Billion since fiscal year 1992 (FY92), for intramural and extramural programs directed toward targeted medical research initiatives. The United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) is responsible for administering these targeted research program appropriations. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is the lead office for all execution management for the USAMRMC.

Based on recommendations provided by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, a two-tier review process for evaluating and selecting research applications has become a cornerstone within CDMRP. This novel two-tiered process involves reviewing every research application for scientific merit as well as programmatic relevance.

The CDMRP directs the management of a number of medical research programs, including breast, prostate, ovarian, and lung cancer, defense health, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis complex, autism, psychological health/ traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury research, bone marrow failure, multiple sclerosis, and other medical research programs. CDMRP requires subject matter experts, technical and administrative contractor personnel to assist in the management of these programs. The anticipated level of support is dependent upon annual program funding but it is estimated that over the entire period of performance, roughly 25-50 support personnel could be required.

For more information on the office of the CDMRP, go to http://cdmrp.army.mil and review materials provided on the website.

4.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Respondents should address the following in their submission:

· Name and address of company.

· Any small business designation as certified by the Small Business Administration.

· A thorough description of experience in managing support requirements of this nature.

· A recruitment and retention strategy to confirm their capability to provide varying levels of support for the tasks listed below.

· Management strategy which explains how acceptable supervision for contractor support personnel would be handled.

Responses to this positing shall be submitted via email NLT COB 14 December 2015. All correspondence should be directed via email to the contacts provided in Section 5.0 (below).

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION: All information regarding this posting shall be submitted via email to Christopher Baker at christopher.l.baker132.civ@mail.mil.

6.0 SPECIFIC TASKS

Specific Tasks

Objective 1 – Provide Administrative Support to the CDMRP The contractor shall provide the administrative support necessary to support all aspects of CDMRP’s mission.

Key Task: Administrative Support The contractor shall provide general administrative support to the CDMRP. The contractor shall provide for CDMRP main telephone line coverage, receive visitors, provide general administrative support to Program Managers and Science Officers, provide general administrative tasker support, receive and distribute mail, schedule and maintain the CDMRP conference rooms, coordinate FedEx shipments, provide 540 preparation and distribution, update CDMRP documents on a monthly basis, track all training requirements for CDMRP military, federal civilian, IPA and contractor personnel, and provide general administrative support to working groups within CDMRP.

Key Task: Travel Coordination Support The contractor shall provide travel coordination support to CDMRP Public Health Service Officers and CDMRP federal personnel. The contractor shall be responsible for preparing all documentation necessary for staff to travel (travel orders and amendments), coordinate all travel arrangements (air/train/car, hotel, and miscellaneous travel arrangements), process all travel claims, coordinate with DFAS to resolve issues, prepare cross org funding, prepare Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests, and Invitational Travel Orders for travelers outside of CDMRP. The contractor shall also assist with responses to taskers related to travel and maintain a spreadsheet of all CDMRP travel.

Key Task: Clerical Support to the Grants Management Division The contractor shall provide all clerical support to the CDMRP Grants Management division. The contractor shall in/out-process all progress reports using CDMRP’s Electronic Grants System (EGS), assist the Science Officers with Grants Officer Representative file maintenance including upload electronic contracting documents and support agreements into EGS, review documents for accuracy in comparison with the EGS data, and collaborate with USAMRMC personnel to resolve any discrepancies.

Key Task: Logistical Support The contractor shall provide logistical support services to assist in the government oversight of all CDMRP logistics and property management functions. The contractor shall provide assistance in CDMRP warehouse operations, in assembly of new furniture and equipment, assist in maintaining office supplies in three (3) office buildings, assist in moving furniture, supplies and equipment between the CDMRP warehouse and three (3) office buildings, act as the facility manager for four (4) buildings, provide planning and repair support services and planning renovation and construction projects, and have working knowledge of the Army Regulation (AR) 40-61, Inventory Management and Medical Supply Support Account (MSSA) procedures.

Objective 2 – Provide Technical Support Services to the CDMRP The contractor shall provide all technical support necessary to support all aspects of CDMRP’s mission.

Key Task: Public Relations Support The contractor shall provide all CDMRP public relations support services. In collaboration with CDMRP leadership and staff, the contractor shall provide public relations planning support services, public relations coordination services, provide web media support services, and provide CDMRP social media services. The contractor shall also collaborate with USAMRMC public affairs office, other federal agencies, consumer organizations, professional associations, biotechnical industries, and educational institutions.

Key Task: Program Evaluation Support The contractor shall provide program evaluation support services. In collaboration with CDMRP leadership and staff, the contractor shall provide expert guidance and support on program-specific evaluation projects. The contractor shall also lead, design, and implement program evaluation studies and analyze the results of those studies. The contractor shall also identify key areas of the organization’s processes that can be feasibly assessed and improved through detailed evaluation. The contractor shall also prepare graphic presentations including summary spreadsheets and graphs in support of program evaluation efforts. The contractor shall also maintain the program evaluation calendar, attend, participate in, and write minutes for all program evaluation meetings.

Key Task: Portfolio Analysis Support Serve as the primary custodian of all data obtained through CDMRP’s portfolio analysis process and ensure the integrity of this data in EGS, track the annual validation of portfolio codes by program and coordinate the code locking process in EGS, serve as an external resource to individual IPTs by preparing pie charts and graphs for specific project requests, maintaining summary tables for each program, and by annually developing baseline pie charts for each program, coordinate efforts to review and update the portfolio coding outlines, and maintain coding guidelines and provide training materials for portfolio coding.

Key Task: Data Management and Reconciliation Support The contractor shall provide data management and reconciliation support services by tracking, monitoring, and confirming data deliverables for imports into EGS; coordinate, quality control review, correct, and format all exports of data from EGS; document data procedures, policies and practices and ensure compliance by users of EGS; monitor and verify data on CDMRP website; train new EGS users on data management processes; define data elements shared across organizations within MRMC for their data requirements; reconcile EGS and website data with Financial Manager’s records; identify data on the CDMRP website that requires updates and/or identify incorrect data.

Objective 3 – Provide Program Administration Support to the CDMRP The contractor shall provide the program administration support services necessary to support all aspects of CDMRP’s mission. The specific programs to be supported shall be identified at the task order level.

Key Task: Program Analyst Support The contractor shall provide technical and administrative Program Analyst support by assisting with harvesting, analyzing and collating data and/or information for responses to information requests, developing program reports, award progress tracking, assisting with program evaluation and portfolio analysis, providing program and project briefings, developing and tracking interagency support agreement documents, reviewing and following up on delinquency reports, and providing project management support to the Science Officers and Grants/Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Key Task: Program Administration Support The contractor shall provide program administration and management support (research program to be identified at the task order level) by providing program planning, budgeting, and execution in accordance with established milestones; responding to taskers, Congressional inquiries, data calls, and all other inquiries; developing and facilitating efforts to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of identified research programs to inform Congress and for future planning; assisting in identifying research program accomplishments for information dissemination; leading or participating on the research program’s Integrated Program Team to support all aspects of the program life cycle; managing the update of the program announcement templates for use by any CDMRP program; and coordinating activities related to enhancing the rigor of preclinical research across multiple levels of the CDMRP award cycle.

7.0 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The CDMRP has categorized its requirements into three broad categories, as defined in Attachment I, for purposes of identifying, avoiding or mitigating against Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.5.

The Organizational Conflict of Interest Category Designation for this requirement is: Category 2