NSF Office of Polar Programs Medical Advisor

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP), Safety and Occupational Health Officer has a need for Physician Support Services to OPP due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and for other medical concerns.

Position falls within the Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Officers oversight and is a member of the Safety and Occupational Health team. As such, this is a Front Office position falling directly under the Director, Office of Polar Programs.

Efforts may involve late night calls for medical emergencies that need a physician’s oversight and during the day, urgent medical consultation as needed. Flexibility with support will be needed with prior notification for times when vacation and other matters may prohibit contract execution so that other coverage for medical support can be secured as able. It is understood that emergent situations may arise where limited to no notification can occur.

Duties in Brief:

• Medical support for waiver and other related matters requires compliance with 45 CFR 675-Medical Clearance Process for Deployment to Antarctica.
• Attendance at formal, reoccurring meetings and informal meetings (as able).
• Ability to be available for contact with a response within a reasonable amount of time.
• Review complicated medical waivers and recommend approval or denial to the Safety and Occupational Health Officer in a written format with justification.
• Provide consultation on serious medical concerns such as, but not limited to, infection control and medical response plans being developed for COVID-19 by both the Arctic and Antarctic Programs.
• Act as the NSF OPP liaison with the Medical Review Panel (MRP), attending the annual meeting, as well as any formal and informal meetings throughout the year. Provide an expert review of any MRP recommendation for appropriateness developing an ultimate written recommendation for concurrence or non-concurrence sent through the Safety and Occupational Health Officer to the Director, Office of Polar Programs.
• Provide any other medical review/support requested or advise on any medical concern identified on own accord that could be value-add to the OPP mission.

Expected Level of Effort:

• NSF expects one (1) advisor to perform the above duties.
• NSF estimates 600 hours per year. This is not intended to be a full-time-equivalent position. The workload above does not require a 40-hour work week.

Potential Contract Structure and Details

• NSF anticipates a 100% small business set-aside under the NAICS 621111, with a size standard of $12M.
• NSF expects this will be a firm-fixed-price contract.
• NSF expects this will be a five-year requirement, captured as one-year base period with four separate one-year option periods.
• A potential CLIN structure is included as an attachment.
• NSF will provide the expected hours per CLIN. A proposal may not propose fewer or more hours.
• As this is a commercial effort, NSF expects to release a combined synopsis/solicitation in mid-May. NSF anticipates a contract award in late June.
• This is a follow-on to a one-year contract (#49100420P0040) awarded 30 July 2020. The contract was not competed under FAR 6.302-2 authority. This follow-on is being competed, with a set-aside being highly likely.
• The primary place of performance will be the contractor’s location with the possible need to attend meetings at the National Science Foundation.
  • The NSF is located at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.
• The advisors will be listed as key-personnel (subject to change).

Soliciting Your Feedback

• This sources sought is to gauge interest in the requirement overall.
• NSF is seeking feedback regarding potential evaluation criteria.
  • Lowest-Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) is being considered. Technical acceptance would focus on meeting minimum hours of experience in certain subject areas. The wining proposal would have the lowest price but meet the technical standard.
  • Technical/Price Tradeoff is being considered. This would allow NSF to award to an individual with additional experience but at a potentially higher price.
  • Potential subject areas to demonstrate technical expertise are attached. These subject areas and rating scales are subject to change! Your feedback may inform the evaluation criteria for the final solicitation.
• This type of set-aside is subject to change regarding vendor interest. (Ex; changing from 100% small-business to 100% WOSB, or 100% SDVOSB, etc.)
• The NAICS is subject to change regarding feedback.
• Let us know what elements are missing from the statement of work that prevent your interest or your ability to adequately propose.  At present the statement of work does not contain any information not included in the Duties in Brief section above – your feedback can help develop this section.