Creation and Curation of Database for Efficient Data Mining and Analysis

Added: May 04, 2015 8:32 am INTRODUCTION
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-RFQ-15-321 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541711 with a Size Standard of 500 Employees.

SET-ASIDE STATUS
This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small businesses.

ACQUISITION AUTHORITY
This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5-Test Program for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-81, dated April 10, 2015. The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through this date.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Background Information
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Division of Preclinical Innovation (DPI) is a translational science center that prides itself on its tremendously productive pipeline and is innovative in a number of ways. First, our quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) paradigm, which tests all compounds at multiple concentrations in the primary screen, is unique. However, more and more academic and pharmaceutical groups are now adopting it in their own operations due to the enhanced data generation that enable compound bioactivity assessment and probe production efficiency. This efficiency derives not only from savings in post-screen cherry-picking, reconfirmation, dose-response testing, and initial SAR assessment, but also from the ability to perform reliable "virtual counter screens," thus allowing us to make more informed decisions on which scaffolds to pursue for probe development. Second, the NCATS is distinctive in its focus on collaboration with outside investigators to produce high-quality chemical probes to define new biology. This focus is reflected in our unprecedented Outreach program, which reaches hundreds of potential new investigators every year, and accounts for much of the new science being done at the NCATS. Third, the NCATS is uniquely focused on new technologies and paradigms to improve the process of probe development, typified by qHTS, our informatics platform, our utilization of structural biology to accelerate probe development, development of new synthetic and analytical chemistry paradigms.

Purpose
NCATS requires the creation and curation of a database to support some of NCATS projects, such as NPC, Inxight, NPACT, and Pharos.

Project Requirements
See attached Statement of Work

Anticipated Period of Performance
The contractor shall provide services for one (1) year after receipt of award.

Contract Type
The Government intends to issue a firm fixed price contract for this requirement.

APPLICABLE CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS
All Offerors MUST be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

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

FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items applies to this acquisition.
A completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, is required with any offer submitted. This requirement may be met by completion of the provision in the System for Award Management.

FAR clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial items apply to this acquisition.

The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items applies to this acquisition and the specific evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of that provision are as follows:

The Government will award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation on the basis of best value, technical factors and price considered. Technical factors together shall be considered more important than price. The technical evaluation factors are as follows, in order of importance:

Personnel Plan (40%)

The proposal describes the experience and qualifications of personnel who will be assigned for direct work on this contract. The personnel plan provides information that shows the composition of the task or work group, specifying the direct technical supervisors and key technical personnel, and the approximate percentage of the total time all personnel will devote to this contract.

Each individual of key personnel preferable also has experience in another discipline and has studied or proven record of experience in database building.

Technical Approach (50%)

The contractor shall demonstrate their understanding of the requirements and tasks detailed in the statement of work (SOW), and their technical approach to perform the required tasks outlined in the SOW.

The proposal demonstrates an understanding of and expertise in the applicability of the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the methods to be applied to the task levels to ensure compliance including intranet sites and custom software developed in the performance of this task order.

Corporate Experience/Past Experience (10%)

The Offeror shall identify two (2) contracts completed in the past five years, similar in size and scope to the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW), and for which the Offeror was the prime contractor. The following information must be provided for each contract identified:

• Name of contracting organization
• Contract number
• Contract type
• Total contract value
• Description of the requirement
• Narrative of specific responsibilities of the offeror as they relate to this SOW

The Corporate Experience factor will be evaluated based on the degree to which the offeror's:

a. Corporate experience reflects/identifies experience on projects that are similar in size, scope, and complexity to the requirements contained in the SOW.

b. Corporate experience reflects current experience and the offeror's roles and responsibilities are similar in size, scope and complexity to the requirements contained in the SOW.

c. Corporate Experience reflects the offeror's approach to client support to include quality control, risk management, and maintaining effective lines of communication.

RESPONSE FORMAT
Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria.

The offeror must submit a technical response and a separate price quotation. The technical response should be prepared in reference to the evaluation criteria identified in this solicitation. The price quotation must include the requirements listed above as well as associated pricing.

Contractors must provide their Company Name, Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), Business Size, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information in their responses. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

CLOSING STATEMENT
All responses must be received by the closing date of this announcement and must reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-RFQ-15-321. Responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Megan Ault, Contract Specialist, at megan.ault@nih.gov.