Support contract for the national toxicology progrem interagency center for the evaluation of alternative toxicological methods (NICEATM)

AMENDMENT 4 IS FORTHCOMING. AS A RESULT, THE DATE AND TIME FOR THE RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS IS HEREBY EXTENDED TO 3 PM ON OCTOBER 24, 2014.

SEE AMENDMENT 3

SEE AMENDMENT 2

SEE AMENDMENT1

SEE ATTACHED SOLICITATION PACKAGE

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) intends to issue a solicitation in the form of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with the acquisition procedures of FAR Part 15.
The RFP shall solicit qualified Small Businesses which have the ability to provide the necessary support for the NICEATM in promoting the development, validation, acceptance, and use of alternative and other new testing methods and strategies that are more predictive of human health and ecological effects than currently available methods and strategies. This is a Pre Solicitation Notice in accordance with FAR Part 5 all responsible Small Business sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.

BACKGROUND: The mission of the NIEHS is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. Our vision is to provide global leadership for innovative research that improves public health by preventing disability and disease from our environment. The NTP arose out of increasing scientific, regulatory, and Congressional concerns about the human health effects of chemical agents in our environment. The NICEATM and the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) contributes to the mission and vision of NIEHS and the NTP by advancing improved safety assessment tools to protect, promote, and advance the health of people, animals, and the environment. NICEATM is responsible for ensuring compliance with duties and provisions of the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 2851-3). The overall goal of NICEATM is to promote the development, validation, acceptance, and use of alternative and other new testing methods and strategies that are more predictive of human health and ecological effects than currently available methods and strategies. ICCVAM is a statutorily mandated interagency committee established under NICEATM.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain contractor support for NICEATM to provide administrative, logistical and scientific support.

With COR approval, the contractor shall acquire and apply new and existing scientific knowledge to develop, evaluate, and validate novel computational approaches that can be used for chemical prioritization, hazard identification, and risk assessment with direct relevance to human health. Data development, analysis, and evaluation represent a large portion of the work conducted under this requirement.

These approaches include, but are not limited to:
• Exposure assessment and modeling;
• Physiologically based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling;
• Reverse toxicokinetic modeling;
• Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship modeling and comparisons;
• Analysis of quantitative high throughput screening and high content data; and
• Development of novel Integrated Testing and Decision Strategies (ITDS) and/or Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) using in vivo, in vitro and/or in silico data sets.

Meeting Support
As directed by the COR, the Contractor shall provide support for all meetings deemed necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of NICEATM and ICCVAM. The Contractor shall anticipate Contract Staff travel (local, domestic, and/or foreign) to support NICEATM and/or ICCVAM-related meetings and/or activities and to present ICCVAM and NICEATM data at professional meetings. The Contractor shall provide administrative and logistical travel assistance for all invited members, as identified by the COR.

Maintenance of the NICEATM/ICCVAM Web Site and Webinar Hosting
NICEATM uses public and restricted access websites to communicate with the public and stakeholders. The Contractor shall ensure the timely and accurate posting of materials and information websites, as directed by the COR. All final documents posted to the website shall be Section 508 compliant. In addition, the Contractor shall have the capacity to organize, initiate, and participate on Webinars and provide technical support for remote viewers.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: With the exception that NIEHS hosts the servers for the web site, the Government does not intend to furnish equipment, services, or facilities. The contractor shall provide all equipment, internet access, materials, software, hardware, supplies, facilities, etc. required to perform the objectives of the proposed requirement and produce the deliverables as required in this statement of work. All deliverables must be 508 compliant. The contractor must maintain systems compatible with the equipment, internet access, systems, software, hardware, etc. used by NICEATM Government Staff (currently Macintosh computers and laptops, Microsoft Office + Outlook for Mac Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, EndNote, and TIBCO Spotfire). The software/hardware must meet the needs for activities such as word processing, data collation, e-mail communication, electronic transfer of files, and web-based searches.

PROXIMITY: Although this requirement is for off-site support, the nature of the support role requires frequent, often impromptu, in-person meetings with NICEATM staff. To assure rapid response to changing program needs, and to assure adequate day-to-day management of multiple complex activities that must be conducted in close concert, contract staff must be capable of meeting face-to-face with NICEATM staff daily (2-4 hours), and on short notice (within an 2 hours of request). Therefore it is mandatory that the contractor establish and maintain a maximum of 30 - 45 minute drive to the NIEHS Campus located at 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville NC 27560. Such meetings on any given day will involve one or more members of the Contractors Staff representing different areas of service.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:
The anticipated start date of the award is June 1, 2015.
It is anticipated that the base period of the contract shall be one year with nine one year options.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: 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.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available solely via the FEDBIZOPPS web page at http://www.fedbizopps.gov on or about August 7, 2014. It is the Offeror's responsibility to monitor the FEDBIZOPPS web page for the release of any solicitation and amendments, and to download the RFP and all attachments.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) intends to issue a solicitation in the form of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with the acquisition procedures of FAR Part 15.
The RFP shall solicit qualified Small Businesses which have the ability to provide the necessary support for the NICEATM in promoting the development, validation, acceptance, and use of alternative and other new testing methods and strategies that are more predictive of human health and ecological effects than currently available methods and strategies. This is a Pre Solicitation Notice in accordance with FAR Part 5 all responsible Small Business sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.

BACKGROUND: The mission of the NIEHS is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. Our vision is to provide global leadership for innovative research that improves public health by preventing disability and disease from our environment. The NTP arose out of increasing scientific, regulatory, and Congressional concerns about the human health effects of chemical agents in our environment. The NICEATM and the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) contributes to the mission and vision of NIEHS and the NTP by advancing improved safety assessment tools to protect, promote, and advance the health of people, animals, and the environment. NICEATM is responsible for ensuring compliance with duties and provisions of the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 2851-3). The overall goal of NICEATM is to promote the development, validation, acceptance, and use of alternative and other new testing methods and strategies that are more predictive of human health and ecological effects than currently available methods and strategies. ICCVAM is a statutorily mandated interagency committee established under NICEATM.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain contractor support for NICEATM to provide administrative, logistical and scientific support.

With COR approval, the contractor shall acquire and apply new and existing scientific knowledge to develop, evaluate, and validate novel computational approaches that can be used for chemical prioritization, hazard identification, and risk assessment with direct relevance to human health. Data development, analysis, and evaluation represent a large portion of the work conducted under this requirement.

These approaches include, but are not limited to:
• Exposure assessment and modeling;
• Physiologically based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling;
• Reverse toxicokinetic modeling;
• Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship modeling and comparisons;
• Analysis of quantitative high throughput screening and high content data; and
• Development of novel Integrated Testing and Decision Strategies (ITDS) and/or Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) using in vivo, in vitro and/or in silico data sets.

Meeting Support
As directed by the COR, the Contractor shall provide support for all meetings deemed necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of NICEATM and ICCVAM. The Contractor shall anticipate Contract Staff travel (local, domestic, and/or foreign) to support NICEATM and/or ICCVAM-related meetings and/or activities and to present ICCVAM and NICEATM data at professional meetings. The Contractor shall provide administrative and logistical travel assistance for all invited members, as identified by the COR.

Maintenance of the NICEATM/ICCVAM Web Site and Webinar Hosting
NICEATM uses public and restricted access websites to communicate with the public and stakeholders. The Contractor shall ensure the timely and accurate posting of materials and information websites, as directed by the COR. All final documents posted to the website shall be Section 508 compliant. In addition, the Contractor shall have the capacity to organize, initiate, and participate on Webinars and provide technical support for remote viewers.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: With the exception that NIEHS hosts the servers for the web site, the Government does not intend to furnish equipment, services, or facilities. The contractor shall provide all equipment, internet access, materials, software, hardware, supplies, facilities, etc. required to perform the objectives of the proposed requirement and produce the deliverables as required in this statement of work. All deliverables must be 508 compliant. The contractor must maintain systems compatible with the equipment, internet access, systems, software, hardware, etc. used by NICEATM Government Staff (currently Macintosh computers and laptops, Microsoft Office + Outlook for Mac Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, EndNote, and TIBCO Spotfire). The software/hardware must meet the needs for activities such as word processing, data collation, e-mail communication, electronic transfer of files, and web-based searches.

PROXIMITY: Although this requirement is for off-site support, the nature of the support role requires frequent, often impromptu, in-person meetings with NICEATM staff. To assure rapid response to changing program needs, and to assure adequate day-to-day management of multiple complex activities that must be conducted in close concert, contract staff must be capable of meeting face-to-face with NICEATM staff daily (2-4 hours), and on short notice (within an 2 hours of request). Therefore it is mandatory that the contractor establish and maintain a maximum of 30 - 45 minute drive to the NIEHS Campus located at 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville NC 27560. Such meetings on any given day will involve one or more members of the Contractors Staff representing different areas of service.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:
The anticipated start date of the award is May 1, 2015.
It is anticipated that the base period of the contract shall be one year with nine one year options.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: 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.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available solely via the FEDBIZOPPS web page at http://www.fedbizopps.gov on or about August 7, 2014. It is the Offeror's responsibility to monitor the FEDBIZOPPS web page for the release of any solicitation and amendments, and to download the RFP and all attachments.