Journal Web Hosting Support Environmental Health Perspectives

September 13, 2017 - The purpose of this Amendment is to:

(1) Revise the Request for Quote (RFQ){Section H.7.A.23.2.a, Section L.4.(2), Section L.4.(3)a, Section L.4.(3)b, Section L.4.(3)c, Section M.1.b., and Section M.1.c.};
(2) Revise Attachment I - Performance Work Statement;
(3) Revise Attachment III - Deliverables; and
(4) Provide the Government's response to Industry questions (pages 55 - 59 of the RFQ)

• The RFQ closing date remains Tuesday, October 3, 2017 2:00 PM ET.
• All changed items are highlighted in "yellow" in the conformed copy of the RFQ.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 in conjunction with FAR 13.5, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. All items within the Request for Quote (RFQ) must be fully completed and returned by the due date and time indicated above.

(1) This solicitation document, NIHES2017101, is issued as a RFQ to provide journal web hosting support for a new website for the monthly scientific journal, Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). The Contractor shall provide all qualified personnel, labor, materials (hardware, internet access), travel, other items, and non-personal services necessary to provide journal web hosting for a brand-new website on an established third-party, separately hosted journal-publishing platform as required at the NIEHS, RTP, North Carolina in strict compliance with the contract, Attachment I - the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Attachment II - Quality Assurance Requirements Summary (QARS), Attachment III - Reporting and Deliverable Schedule, and all specifications, terms, conditions, clauses, and all other provisions contained in the RFQ and subsequent contract.

(2) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through FAR; Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR); FAR Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-94 and 95 thru Jan 19, 2017.

(3) Notice of Set-Aside, Associated NAICS Code, and Size Standard: This solicitation is being competed on an unrestricted basis/full and open competitive basis. The associated NAICS code is 519130; "Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services" and has a size standard of 1,000 employees.

(4) List of Contract Line Item Number(s) and items, quantities and units of measure, (including option(s): See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017101, Journal Web Hosting Support - EHP.

(5) Description of Requirements for the Items to be Acquired: The purpose of this requirement is to provide journal web hosting for a new website on an established third-party, separately hosted journals-publishing platform in support of the scientific journal EHP. The platform must be able to ingest EHP production content without specific manual conversions, and must offer uninterrupted access to users worldwide. The platform must be versatile enough to handle our multiple types of content (Research, News, Abstracts, Collections, Podcasts) and our international/translated content, and should do so through a single site/platform. The service must also be robust enough to serve our users throughout the world. Being a fully open-access journal, the site must offer unfettered access to all readers in all countries. A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type is anticipated. The number of awards anticipated as a result of the solicitation is one (1).

(6) Date(s) and place(s) of performance and acceptance and FOB point: The requirement has an anticipated one (1) year base period (January 31, 2018 through January 30, 2019 (inclusive of a nine (9) month phase-in period)) with four 1-year option periods. The phase in period shall be from January 31, 2018 through October 30, 2018. The place of performance for all parties directly affiliated with fulfilling the services of this contract shall be within the continental United States.

(7) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017101, Journal Web Hosting Support - EHP.

(8) Applicability of the provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017101, Journal Web Hosting Support - EHP.

(9) FAR 52.212-3, applies to this acquisition: Representation, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors - In accordance with provisions FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items, IF YOU INTEND TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, YOU MUST: (1) Go to the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) and complete the Representations and Certifications. Offerors must access ORCA through the System for Award Management (SAM) at http:// www.sam.gov; and (2). Complete, and INCLUDE as part of your price proposal.

(10) FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017101, Journal Web Hosting Support - EHP.

(11) FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017101, Journal Web Hosting Support - EHP.

(12) Questions are Due: The Quoter shall submit written questions to the following e-mail address: The Contracting Officer (CO) at uche.washington@nih.gov at or before Monday September 11, 2017 at 2:00 PM ET.

(13) The Date, Time and Place Quotes are Due: The Quoter shall submit dated quote to the following e-mail address: The CO at uche.washington@nih.gov at or before Tuesday October 3, 2017 at 2:00 PM. ET.

(14) The point of contact (POC) for this acquisition is the CO, Ms. Onyenauché Washington at (919) 541-0423/uche.washington@nih.gov.