Usability Testing of the National Institute on Mental Health Division of Intramural Research Programs Website

Amendment 1 is issued on July 26, 2012.  It provides answers to questions.  In addition, it extends the due date and time to August 7, 2012 at 3 PM.

This is a total small business set aside.  The format is in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.6.

The evaluation criteria is revised to add weights to each criterion: 1) Technical Approach:  Ability to meet technical qualifications 35 points  2) Proposed personnel with capabilities and experience in website design, content and usability 35 points 3) Past Performance:  Experience with three similar services in the past five years 30 points. 

There is also clarification on the usage of the HHS usability test lab. The contractor will not be charged the usage of the lab space and time.  The contractor will need to incur travel costs and should factor them into the price. Offerors may propose to utilize other labs or resources as it is not mandatory to use the HHS test lab.

The contract type is level of effort with other direct costs. 

FAR 52.212-1 and FAR 52.212-2 apply to this solicitation. 

The size standard is $25.5 million under NAICS 541512.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This is a total small business set-aside. This solicitation number is RFQ2611980 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-58. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on behalf of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to issue a purchase order for the usability testing of the NIMH Division of Intramural Research Programs (NIMH DIRP) website. The Contractor shall perform the following tasks (See Attached Statement of Work.) Quotations will be evaluated on the following criteria: (1) Technical Approach: Ability to meet technical qualifications. (2) Proposed personnel with capabilities and experience in website design, content and usability. (3) Past Performance: Experience with three similar services in the past five years. Period of Performance is 25 weeks. Contract type is firm fixed price. NIMH staff who participate will be given short work release for the testing. NIMH will provide the contact information. The contractor will be awarded temporary access to the intranet via VPN. It is a single award. Offers will also be evaluated on best value in relation to price. Quotations are to be sent electronically to nsangous@mail.nih.gov. Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with its offer. Clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Condition Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.