R -- A RADIATION INFORMATION CONTRACTOR

Notice Date

May 17, 2001

Contracting Office

National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

ZIP Code

20892-7227

Solicitation Number

NCI-RFQ-10026-NG

Response Due

June 5, 2001

Point of Contact

Malinda Holdcraft and Gail Zois phone 301-402-4509

Description

Description. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation prepared in accordance with the Federal Regulation Part 13, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 97-23. This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses. The North American Industrial Classification Code is 541690 and the business size standard is $5. Background: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is being inundated by requests for information on radiation-related risk from government agencies, news media, and members of the public. Many requests for guidance have an urgency and complexity that requires substantial expenditure of high-level scientific staff resources, to the extent that the NCI's program of original scientific research may suffer. The NCI wishes to create a new, and more proactive, mechanism that will allow it to carry out responsibilities more efficiently. The proposed mechanism is to issue an order for a Radiation Information Specialist on radiation health effects, whose responsibility will be to prepare informational materials that can be used by the NCI Office of Communications (OC) and the Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB) to coordinate and implement responses and activities to substantive requests for information about radiation-related risk. In general, Dr. Land, or another REB staff member, will provide technical scientific review and approval of all contractor-generated documents; Ms. Collins will provide technical communications policy review and approval, and coordinate final review and clearances according to established NCI procedures. The OC has developed a communications plan to address exposure to the radionuclide I-131 from nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) in the 1950s and 1960s. OC is currently implementing the plan and testing concepts for the eventual development of educational materials. An expert in both radiation-related issues and communications is needed to advise OC, as it develops these materials to facilitate timely implementation of the project. Project Officers: Ms. Clare Collins, Office of Communications; Dr. Charles Land, Radiation Epidemiology Branch Requirement: OC and REB REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor shall perform the following: Prepare fact sheets for use by the OC and REB: Many information requests are on similar subjects and can be handled by providing an appropriate fact sheet that has been prepared in advance. Examples of topics that need to be addressed by a fact sheet include: risk of thyroid and other cancers related to exposure to radioactive fallout, risk of benign and malignant brain tumors associated with use of cell phones, leukemia risk and exposure to power line frequency electromagnetic radiation, and cancer risk associated with radiation exposure in the workplace.The contractor shall obtain the relevant information necessary to create and prepare the aforementioned fact sheets from literature searches, scientific articles, technical reports and reviews by expert committees, the REB library and the National Library of Medicine, NIH. The Contractor may prepare 6 -- 10 fact sheets per year; each will take 4 weeks to prepare. The fact sheets shall be created as either WordPerfect or Word documents and shall be formatted to match the style of the NCI series of Fact Sheets. The following information shall appear in each fact sheet in an enumerated list: background information, relevant facts, conclusions, recommendation, implications for public policy and individual behavior. Routine: Requests for information on radiation-related risk come from Congressional inquiries, the media, cancer patients, the general public, health professionals, the Director of the National Cancer Institute and the Director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. Upon receipt of a request, the Project Officers will provide it directly to the contractor and will oversee that particular project. Upon receipt of a request from a Project Officer, the contractor will begin the assignment by gathering necessary information from the sources listed above. By having the contractor do the necessary research and draft an initial response to these important requests, the NCI communications staff can focus on implementation and the scientific staff will have more time to devote to research. Respond to informational requests: Many requests, in the area of radiation-related risk, are coordinated by NCI's Office of Legislation and Congressional Activities, and require thoughtful and carefully phrased responses that are technically accurate, compassionate, and understandable by non-specialists. This kind of writing can be difficult and time consuming, particularly when policy implications must be considered. In such cases, the contractor will conduct the fact-finding and research required, and draft an initial response for review by the Project Officers. Produce background and rationale for NCI's Web site dose calculator for public audiences: NCI's Web site dose calculator will be undergoing usability testing to examine its ease of use with the general public. It will be necessary for any proposed changes to reflect scientifically accurate statements and explanations, while also maintaining understandability for public audiences. The Contractor shall edit and review the Web site and develop a 10 page document. This document shall include suggestions on how to improve scientific and statistical information presented in the Web site to enable better understanding by the general public. Review and edit informational materials about I-131 exposure from the NTS: The concepts for educational materials about I-131 exposure from the NTS will be tested with the public through focus groups and other formative research means. Once concepts have been tested, educational materials, developed by the OC based on focus group finding, shall be reviewed in order to assure that they are scientifically accurate, while also appropriate for specific audiences including the general public, health professionals, and the advocacy community. The contractor shall review these educational materials and document out deficiencies and concerns. Approximately 5-10 brochures/public health print pieces may be reviewed by the Contractor. Attend and participate in meeting s with OC and REB staff: Bi-monthly meetings or conference calls shall be held to review ongoing work and to discuss the development and review of educational materials. The contractor may have to attend approximately 2-3 meetings per year in the Washington Metro area. Respond to scientific inquiries posted to the I-131 NTS Fallout Listserve: OC currently maintains a listserve to keep interested individuals updated on the implementation of the I-131/NTS Communications Plan. Science-related questions are often posted to the listserve that require a timely and accurate response. Based on previous postings, it is estimated that approximately 50 listserve questions will be generated that will require a response each year. Period of Performance: The base period of performance shall be upon award of the purchase order to April 30 2002. In addition, there shall be an additional one year option with a period of performance set at May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2003, if exercised. This option can be unilaterally exercised by the Government for the base period. In performing the above services, 300 hours shall be provided by the Contractor. If the option is exercised, the Contractor shall provide another 300 hours for the option year. The REB Project Officer responsible for this procurement will arrange for the Contractor to have access to all radiation-related materials that will be necessary to perform the activities listed above. These materials will include journals, articles that are in press and published, proceedings, and the like. Evaluation and Criteria: One award is anticipated from this solicitation. Offerors must propose on the entire requirement, including the option, in order to be considered for award. The technical quotation will receive paramount consideration in the selection of the Contractor for this acquisition. All evaluation factors, other than price, when combined are significantly more important than price. However, price will become a critical factor in source selection in the event that two or more offerors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of all technical factors. The price evaluation will be based on the aggregate price for the base period services plus the price for the option period. Any purchase order that may result from this solicitation will contain option provisions. In accordance with the FAR Clause 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options (July 1990), the Government will evaluate quotes for award purposes by adding the price of the option to the total price for the basic requirement, except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government's best interest. The following technical evaluation criteria will be used by the Government when reviewing the technical portion of the quotation. The criteria below are listed in order of relative importance with weights assigned for evaluation purposes: 1) Understanding and awareness of the tasks required and experience in preparing, providing and communicating knowledge to a non-technical audience in the area of radiation-related risk: (40 points). 2) Knowledge and expertise in research on radiation-related health effects, as demonstrated by their publication history: (40 points). 3) Experience with similar research activities and requirements documented above (20 points). Mandatory Information: Offers must be submitted on an SF-18, SF 1449 form with a completed "Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services." Quotes must be accompanied by a completed "Offeror Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items -- with DUNS Number Addendum," signed by an authorized representative of the offeror. In addition to the price quotation, offerors must submit a technical quotation plus descriptive literature, warranties, and/or other materials that demonstrate that their offer meets all of the foregoing basic and optional requirements. The offeror shall provide a separate price for the base and the option. The offeror must insure that the aforementioned technical/descriptive literature or other information within the technical quotation includes the following: 1) Description of how the offeror plans on doing the work; 2) All resumes, position descriptions of proposed personnel; 3) A detailed description of experience with similar projects. This solicitation incorporates the provisions at FAR Clause 52.213-4, Terms and Conditions Simplified Acquisitions. Offerors must submit a complete a complete copy of Representations and Certifications, including the provision for the DUNS Number (FAR Clause 52.204-6), with their offer. The Representations and Certifications must be signed by an authorized representative of the Offeror. Full text copies of the Terms and Conditions and the Representations and Certifications can be obtained from Malinda Holdcraft, Purchasing Agent on (301) 402-4509 or by fax on (301) 402-4513. Technical and price quotations, along with a "Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items -- with Duns Number Addendum," must be received in the contracting office by no later that 2:00 PM EST on June 5, 2001. Please cite the RFQ number on your offer. Quotations can be faxed to (301) 402-4513. While facsimile quotations will be accepted, it is the responsibility of the offeror to contact Malinda Holdcraft (301) 402-4509 to insure prompt and accurate receipt of the facsimile prior to the closing time. Telephone calls verifying receipt will be duly noted on the received quotations. Also, if you have any questions pertaining to this solicitation, please contact Malinda Holdcraft, Purchasing Agent at the above telephone number. No collect calls will be accepted. Offers that fail to furnish the required information or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010521/RSOL001.HTM (W-137 SN50M3L1)