IACUC Annual Conferences and Training Workshops

Added: Aug 14, 2015 6:09 pm SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (NON-R&D) # NIHLM2015629

TITLE: Annual Conferences and IACUC Training Workshops

NAICS Code: 813920 -Professional Organizations

This is a sources sought notification/request for information for commercial services prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Part 10 Market Research, utilizing FAR 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research.

This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service- disabled , veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 813920 "Professional Organizations".

STATEMENT OF WORK

BACKGROUND

The National Institutes of Health, Office of Extramural Research, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), is responsible for the general administration and implementation of the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and does this through a variety of educational and assurance mechanisms. One such mechanism is the support of educational workshops and conferences. There is a particular need for basic training of incoming Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members in the practical implementation of the PHS Policy and in advanced and complex topics affecting IACUCs, and for educational opportunities that address how to achieve and coordinate compliance with the major oversight systems, including OLAW/PHS.

SCOPE

OLAW is in need of a company who can provide education and training in the field of animal care and science; and topics such as animal welfare, basic and applied scientific inquiry, best practices of humane care, use, and management of animals involved in research, testing or education in laboratory, agricultural, wildlife or other settings. In addition a company to provide ongoing activities and information on regulations and guidelines, ethical issues, performance standards, protocol review, facility design, the relationship between people and animals in a research setting, and alternative research methods.

TASKS

The contractor shall provide educational Conferences, Workshops, and Programs / Information within the animal care and science fields.

• The vendor must present an annual educational conference to include; presentations and multiple breakout sessions addressing various challenges for institutions, timely topics of interest, and opportunity for discussion. Topics to include such as; dealing with noncompliance, running an efficient animal care and use program, and managing the inspection process.

• The vendor must present up to three IACUC-Advanced training workshops per year. IACUC Training Workshops are needed to focus on advanced and complex topics of interest to IACUC members. The topics include advanced protocol review; such as what to look for in a protocol that includes relieved and/or unrelieved pain and distress, how to recognize and evaluate the level of pain and distress, appropriate end points, and special environmental conditions required because of potential pain and/or distress.

• The vendor must provide programs and information on topics of interest to IACUC members with a particular emphasis on the requirements of the PHS Policy. Also provide a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of laboratory animals supplemented with examples and possible approaches for successful and effective administration. There will be opportunities for participants to consider and discuss complex challenges to complying with PHS Policy.

REQUIREMENTS

The contractor must fulfill government training requirements as stated in USDA/APHIS/AC Policy 15 IACUC members should be trained in understanding the Animal Welfare Act, protocol review and facility inspections.

Conferences and workshops must be reviewed and approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) RACE program and must provide continuing education credit for Veterinarians and
Veterinary Technicians.

The vendor will make a concerted effort to solicit appropriate participation of women, racial/ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, and other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science, in accord with the NIH Policy "Guidelines on Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in NIH Sponsored Intramural and Extramural Scientific Meetings and Conferences." (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not95-123.html)

The Conference and Workshops will be held at accessible sites, as outlined by section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and, as applicable, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that permits convenient accessibility for attendees. Participants with disabilities will be permitted to voluntarily identify any special needs.

Promoting Efficient Government Spending

On September 21, 2011, the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum M-11-35 , entitled, "Eliminating Conference Spending and Promoting Efficiency in Government," emphasizing the President's priority to ensure that the Government operates with the utmost efficiency and eliminates unnecessary or wasteful spending. This was followed by the Executive Order on Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government ( EO 13576 ) and the Executive Order on Promoting Efficient Spending ( EO 13589 ). On January 3, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued the memorandum "HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing, and Publications" (See http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/acquisition/effspendpol_memo.html ). In support of these directives, the NIH issued a January 30, 2012, Memorandum, entitled, "NIH Guidance Related to the HHS Policies on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences, Conference Grants and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications." (See http://oamp.od.nih.gov/ )

This contract will:
Specifically prohibit the use of contract funds for the provision of food for meals, light refreshments and beverages for any NIH funded meeting or conference; and Limit the procurement of meeting space, promotional items, printing, and publications in accordance with the provisions of the HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending.

Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/ Government Furnished Information (GFI)

No government equipment will be furnished. The only government furnished information may be the names and addresses of the IACUC Chairs at institutions with PHS Animal Welfare Assurances, which may be provided for purposes of publicizing the Conference and Workshops and may not be used by the vendor for any other purpose.

CONTRACT TYPE

Firm Fixed Price


PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Contractors designated establishment

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be: a one year base with four (4) one year option years.

RESPONDING TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Interested firms responding to this sources sought notification should adhere to the following:

(a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities; however, the statement should not exceed 5 pages.

(b) The capability statement must identify the responder's: Business Type and Size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and Technical and Administrative points of contact (POC's), including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

(c) Companies responding may include their applicable Streamlined Government Contract Vehicles they have been awarded such as: GSA Schedules.

(d) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00pm eastern standard time on Friday, August 21, 2015 to Eliza Menchaca Contract Specialist, eliza.menchaca@nih.gov. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Sources Sought Announcement Number and Title.

 DISCLAIMER
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and/or solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses by the response date or if the Government determines that no small business concerns are capable of performing this requirement based upon an evaluation of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition.

CONFIDENTIALITY
No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).