NSF Office of Polar Programs Physician Support

Update 8 June 2021: Amendment 0001 has been posted, as well as an updated questions and answers document. The amendment, a conform copy combining the original soliciation and the amendment's changes, and the Q&A document are available in Attachments/Links. 

Update 28 May 2021: A document containing questions and answers has been made available in Attachments/Links.

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 requires one (1) advisor to perform the above duties.
• The requirement is for 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.

Contract Structure and Details

• This is a 100% small business set-aside under the NAICS 621111, with a size standard of $12M.
• This will be a firm-fixed-price contract.
• This is a five-year requirement, captured as a one-year base period with four separate one-year option periods. There is also a six-month extension possible under Clause 52.217-8.
• Each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) affords a maximum of 600 hours per year. A proposal may not propose fewer or more hours.
• 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.
• 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. 

Solicitation

• Please submit all questions to the contracting officer, William Engelhart, at wengelha@nsf.gov.
• Please submit questions no later than 7 June 2021, 1pm EST.
• Anticipated contract award will occur late June or early July. Note that performance will not begin until 2 August 2021. 
• Please review the solicitation's Section A.3 Instruction to Offerrors and its addendum.

Update 28 May 2021: A document containing questions and answers has been made available in Attachments/Links.

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 requires one (1) advisor to perform the above duties.
• The requirement is for 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.

Contract Structure and Details

• This is a 100% small business set-aside under the NAICS 621111, with a size standard of $12M.
• This will be a firm-fixed-price contract.
• This is a five-year requirement, captured as a one-year base period with four separate one-year option periods. There is also a six-month extension possible under Clause 52.217-8.
• Each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) affords a maximum of 600 hours per year. A proposal may not propose fewer or more hours.
• 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.
• 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. 

Solicitation

• Please submit all questions to the contracting officer, William Engelhart, at wengelha@nsf.gov.
• Please submit questions no later than 7 June 2021, 1pm EST.
• Anticipated contract award will occur late June or early July. Note that performance will not begin until 2 August 2021. 
• Please review the solicitation's Section A.3 Instruction to Offerrors and its addendum.

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 requires one (1) advisor to perform the above duties.
• The requirement is for 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.

Contract Structure and Details

• This is a 100% small business set-aside under the NAICS 621111, with a size standard of $12M.
• This will be a firm-fixed-price contract.
• This is a five-year requirement, captured as a one-year base period with four separate one-year option periods. There is also a six-month extension possible under Clause 52.217-8.
• Each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) affords a maximum of 600 hours per year. A proposal may not propose fewer or more hours.
• 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.
• 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. 

Solicitation

• Please submit all questions to the contracting officer, William Engelhart, at wengelha@nsf.gov.
• Please submit questions no later than 7 June 2021, 1pm EST.
• Anticipated contract award will occur late June or early July. Note that performance will not begin until 2 August 2021. 
• Please review the solicitation's Section A.3 Instruction to Offerrors and its addendum.