News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts Environmental Health Perspectives

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, NIHES2017096, is issued as a RFQ to provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to execute a broad range of news writing, graphics, and podcast support services for the monthly scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) located at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Services (as specified in each task order under the resulting contract) shall be performed in strict compliance with the 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 herein.

(2) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); HHS Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR); FAR Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) FAC 2005-89 effective July 14, 2016.

(3) Notice of Set-Aside, Associated NAICS Code, and Size Standard: This solicitation is being competed as a total small business set-aside. 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, NIHES2017096, News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts - Environmental Health Perspectives.

(5) Description of Requirements for the Items to be Acquired: The purpose of this requirement is to provide news writing, graphics, and podcast support services for the monthly scientific journal EHP. The contractor shall commission news articles for publication in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) and on its website; obtain graphics for use and publication with EHP materials, based on guidance and feedback from EHP staff; and create podcasts for publication based on EHP guidance. A Fixed Price (FP) requirements contract with a total estimated ceiling of $3,557,975.61 for this acquisition. The requirement currently includes defined and undefined tasks that will be issued as task orders. As needed task orders will be placed by the NIEHS. Specific performance dates, locations, and tasks will be specified on task order PWSs. The types of orders that are authorized for use under this requirements contract are FP orders only. 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 five (5) year ordering period (April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2022). The EHP requires a one (1) month phase in period within the first year. The phase in period shall be from April 1, 2017 through April 30, 2017. The management office place of performance, and the place of performance for EHP's customer support representative, shall be anywhere in the United States. Additionally, writers and podcast hosts can be anywhere in the United States, as these positions require high-level language skills due to the customer support requirement. Any other personnel involved in the contract outside of these particular positions, can be anywhere in the world as long as they are available in the required times of operations so as not to delay any contract requirement to the Government.

(7) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017096, News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts - Environmental Health Perspectives.

(8) Applicability of the provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017096, News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts - Environmental Health Perspectives.

(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, NIHES2017096, News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts - Environmental Health Perspectives.

(11) FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items. See document titled RFQ, NIHES2017096, News Writing, Graphics, & Podcasts - Environmental Health Perspectives.

(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 Thursday November 17, 2016 at 10:00 AM EDT.

(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 Thursday December 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM. EDT.

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