Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program Notice Number: 75N91020R00040 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.g... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program Notice Number: 75N91020R00040 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: June 8, 2020 by 12:00PM EST This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified Small Business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611430 with a size standard of $11,000,000 As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Healthcare Delivery Research Program (HDRP) was established within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) in January 2015 to address the increasing demands for evidence to improve cancer care delivery. Understanding the many factors that influence care and how they act and interact is an essential component of healthcare delivery research at NCI. The knowledge generated from this research can be used to design and test interventions that will promote patient-centered, evidence-based care. HDRP accomplishes its work by developing and leading funding initiatives, identifying and prioritizing major research gaps, and calling attention to emerging and understudied questions. As an extramural research organization, it is also critical to invest in training early and mid-career investigators. The NCI Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program serves the dual purpose of bringing the knowledge of recognized experts in cancer care delivery research to NCI and training mid-level scholars to use and understand NCI resources, structures and data. Additionally, this program provides a unique opportunity to partner with a leading health services organization. This requirement builds on the work of a previous contract to pilot test a healthcare delivery research fellowship program. This requirement will enable HDRP to work with up to two new scholars to spearhead projects in key areas of healthcare delivery research. The primary objective of this requirement is to recruit applicants and administer a visiting scholars program aimed at making significant progress in priority areas of healthcare delivery research. The program will support up to two scholars. The goal of this program is to advance the science of healthcare delivery research. The scope of the contract includes the following: Assemble an advisory committee; Develop a communication plan and corresponding materials to disseminate to the oncology and healthcare delivery/health services communities; Manage the application and selection process; and Administer the visiting scholar program. The Contractor shall manage all the responsibilities associated with the administration of a comprehensive visiting scholars’ program, including the following tasks: Task 1: Assemble Advisory Committee (BASE PERIOD) The Contractor shall convene an Advisory Committee that includes one individual from NCI (this role may be taken on by someone other than the Technical Point of Contact), one ex officio individual from the Contractor, and five nationally-recognized experts in fields that may include cancer care delivery, cancer screening, patient caregivers, patient generated data, patient reported outcomes, quality measures, patterns of care, care coordination, health disparities, shared decision-making, survivorship, employment after cancer diagnosis, health economics, health information technology, and/or healthcare delivery teams. NCI shall provide an initial list of potential Advisory Committee candidates, but it will be the Contractor’s responsibility to contact, interview, and evaluate candidates and submit a draft Advisory Committee Slate to NCI. The final list of Advisory Committee members shall be approved by the Technical Point of Contact in consultation with other relevant NCI scientific staff. The Contractor shall convene the Advisory Committee for three meetings that are up to two hours in length each, to (1) discuss the goals of the program (including identifying selection criteria), (2) review visiting scholar applications, and (3) provide evaluative feedback for future iterations of the program. Task 2: Develop Communication Plan/Materials, Disseminate Announcements (BASE PERIOD) The Contractor shall develop a public-facing webpage specifically for the purposes of engaging potential applicants and assisting them in applying to the visiting scholar program. The webpage shall contain background information and program goals, eligibility requirements, information regarding the application process, submission of application materials, review criteria, and deadlines. This website shall use the existing web pages from the healthcare delivery research visiting scholars pilot program as a starting point. The Contractor shall design and disseminate materials that can be used to publicize the visiting scholar program. Using targeted marketing strategies that have been successful for similar programs and for the previous pilot program, the Contractor shall publicize application materials to the oncology and health services research communities through appropriate channels including websites, emails, newsletters, and social media. The Contractor shall also use recruitment strategies to target their membership and affiliates by tapping their own proprietary listservs of health services research and health policy professionals. These listservs shall also include cancer researchers and others in the oncology community. The Contractor shall provide monthly updates to the Technical Point of Contact about marketing efforts and any challenges encountered. Task 3: Review Applicant Submissions, Select Finalists, and submit final report (BASE PERIOD) Recruitment and Finalist Selection The Contractor shall manage all phases of the recruitment process, including advertising the visiting scholars program, reaching out to applicants and responding to their inquiries, collecting applications, preparing application packages for review, facilitating the review process, and submitting an ordered list of finalists to NCI for review and approval. The Contractor shall serve as the main point of contact for all potential applicants and applicant inquiries. Prior to review, the Contractor shall assemble packets of application materials for each candidate and disseminate these packets to the review committee. These packets shall include all required application materials in an easily printable format. To review applications, the Contractor shall convene a review board consisting of 3-5 members of the Advisory Committee. The group may convene by phone or webinar for 1.5-2 hours. At the conclusion of the review meeting, the review board shall provide a prioritized list of applicants for NCI consideration, review, and final selection. The Contractor shall facilitate the entire review process, ensuring that reviews are conducted in accordance with published selection criteria. The Contactor shall use a platform for the review that allows for online voting during the call to facilitate the selection process. If mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the Technical Point of Contact, a member of the review board may be invited to serve as the chair / facilitator of the review call. The Contractor shall notify the entire Advisory Committee and all applicants of the results (i.e. selected or not selected) once final selections have been made by NCI. Notifications via email are acceptable. Candidates who have been selected for visiting scholar positions shall be notified first. Up to two candidates may be selected as finalists and receive offers. Non-selected candidates shall be notified after selected candidates have accepted visiting scholar positions. The Contractor shall solicit feedback from the Advisory Committee about the application and selection process as well as recommendations for subsequent rounds of the program. Feedback shall be obtained by group conference call. The Contractor shall prepare evaluation questions in advance of the call for Technical Point of Contact review and approval. The Contractor shall document the recruitment process including selection recommendations and shall maintain a ranked list of all candidates. The Contractor shall provide recruitment updates to the Technical Point of Contact on a biweekly basis via email or phone. Final Report of Recruitment and Selection Activities The Contractor shall produce a draft and final report of recruitment activities that summarizes the following: advisory committee membership and credentials (e.g. bios); marketing plan and communication activities conducted to promote the visiting scholars program; details of the recruitment process including any challenges or pitfalls; the final ranked list of applicants; and recommendations for improving the program in future years. Task 4: Administer the Visiting Scholar Program (OPTION PERIOD ONE) Visiting Scholar Activities During the one year visiting scholar period, the Contractor shall facilitate the scholars’ participation in the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM), a pre-ARM methods seminar, and an AcademyHealth Interest Group meeting, as well as the option to choose to participate in the AcademyHealth National Health Policy or the Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation. This shall include paying for travel and registration costs to attend the meetings and providing opportunities for scholars to present original research. The Contractor shall also provide AcademyHealth membership and arrange for networking opportunities. Finally, the Contractor shall facilitate a one-hour webinar for each scholar where the scholar(s) can present their project and results from the work done through the program. The webinar shall be advertised through similar channels as those of the original posting for recruitment. The webinar(s) shall be held towards the end of option period one. Evaluation The Contractor shall design and conduct an evaluation with the scholar(s) and NCI mentor(s) to obtain feedback about the process of recruitment, the course of mentorship and research development options, and the benefits of meeting attendance and networking opportunities. The purpose of the evaluation is two-fold: 1) to understand how the program has furthered the visiting scholars’ research goals and to determine which areas need improvement, and 2) to understand the benefits and challenges of the mentorship process from the NCI staff perspective. The Contractor shall design evaluation questions in advance for Technical Point of Contact review and approval prior to starting the evaluation process. The scholars and NCI mentor calls may be conducted by group conference call or individual calls. Final Visiting Scholars Report The Contractor shall produce a draft and final report that summarizes the following activities: (1) Meetings and conferences that the visiting scholar participated in and their role at the meeting; (2) Documentation of AcademyHealth membership; (3) Highlights of programmatic strengths and weaknesses garnered from the evaluation; and (4) Recommendations for improving the program in the future. How to Submit a Response: Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. Organizations shall demonstrate 1.) Technical Approach 2.) Personnel Requirements and Organizational Experience. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than June 8, 2020 by 12:00PM EST Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and emailed to David.Romley@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91020R00040 on all correspondence. 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. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a RFQ may be published in Fed Biz Opps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: David Romley at David.Romley@nih.gov. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.
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