Data science assistance in Neurodegenerative Disease

Added: Jan 26, 2018 3:07 pm PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT
NON-COMPETITIVE

INTRODUCTION
PURSUANT TO FAR Subpart 5.2-Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions, THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION.

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisitions, Contracts Management Branch Blue, on behalf of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) intends to negotiate and award a contract to Faraz Faghri, 607 W. Illinois St., Urbana, IL 61801-3929 for Data Science Assistance services in Neurodegenerative Disease.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services with a Size Standard of 15.0 million.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses of the Federal acquisition Requlation (FAR) in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-95, dated January 19, 2017.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Project Title: Data science assistance in Neurodegenerative Disease

Purpose and Objectives
As a result of previous work/research, the Laboratory of Neurogenetics (LNG), NIA needs supplemental personnel qualified to integrate genetic, imaging and clinical data into complex machine learning models. Additionally, this is area of work will need computer infrastructure development for data collection, management and analytics that cannot be addressed by current LNG staff.

General Requirements
Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the Statement of Work below:
• Perform state of the art data science to meet the goals of the LNG.
• Provide state of the art statistical and computing advice to staff, postdoctoral scientists, visiting scientists and other trainees.
• Perform extensive independent research that focuses on the statistical analysis of molecular genetics and genomic data; collaborate with researchers from around the world.
• Lead the analysis of genotype and multi-dimensional phenotype data.
• Develop cloud-based analytic pipelines to improve the productivity of the laboratory for long-term research gains.
• Identify next generation framework and solutions to the management and analysis of massive scale data produced and used within LNG.
• Deliver presentations to international audiences in the field of data science and neurodegeneration.
• Prepare technical reports detailing the methodological approach and results of analyses.
• Draft and complete manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals

Specific Requirements
In keeping with the General requirements above, the contractor shall:
• Perform ad hoc research support with data science focus on both a project and personnel level to the LNG as needed by the NIA point of contact (Dr. Singleton). This will account for ~2 hours per week.
• Conduct independent research relating to the genetics of neurodegeneration attributable to the overall goals of the laboratory, guided by the point of contact ~4 hours per week. This includes cloud based pipeline development for multi-modal data analytics and storage incorporating data from ongoing collaborative efforts within the laboratory.
• Data communication is essential in this role both for presenting projects to other scientists and journals but as well as internal oversight and project development. Project updates will be ongoing and weekly. This will account for roughly 2 hours per week and include time for meetings, presentations plus manuscript drafting and revision. This will also help ensure that the scope of work and general requirements is being adequately fulfilled in a timely manner.

Key Personnel Minimum Requirements
• M.Sc. and ongoing Ph.D. in a related discipline.
• Minimum of six (6) years of related experience.
• Strong communications skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and time management skills.

1. Upon employment, must complete within 30 days upon arrival at NIH the required NIH safety and research integrity coursework/training as mandated for all scientific staff working in NIH facilities:
a) Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research
b) Introduction to Laboratory Safety
c) Laboratory Safety at NIH
d) Protection of Human Research Subjects
e) Technology Transfer Online Training

2. Must sign Patent Agreement form and Contractor Employee Patent Agreement form at vendor's orientation
3. Upon employment, must complete required on-line training within 30 days upon arrival at NIH:
o NIH Computer Security Awareness Training
o NIH Sexual Harassment Training
o Disability Awareness Training
4. Must complete required annual or bi-annual on-line training, per NIH guidelines, for:
o NIH Computer Security Awareness Training
o NIH Sexual Harassment Training
o Disability Awareness Training

Period of Performance
The period of performance will consist of one 12-month base period and four option periods as specified below:

Base Year: February 12, 2018 - January 31, 2019
Option Year 1: February 1, 2019 - January 31, 2020
Option Year 2: February 1, 2020 - January 31, 2021
Option Year 3: February 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022
Option Year 4: February 1, 2022 - January 31, 2023

CLOSING STATEMENT
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 notification must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The technical proposal must include CV information for proposed Key Personnel that meet the minimum requirements specified above.

In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. 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 February 5, 2018 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time and must reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-NOI-18-029.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Jon Gottschalk, jon.gottschalk@nih.gov, and must reference the solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-NOI-18-029, on your electronic request. FAX requests are not accepted.

"All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency."