Inactive

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) intends to procure, on a sole source basis,... The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) intends to procure, on a sole source basis, services for a supplement to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute from The University of Oxford, 198 Madison Ave, New York, New York 10016-4308. The response close date of the notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(b). This acquisition will be processed and made pursuant to FAR Part 13 for other than commercial items and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 519190 and the business size standard is $30 million. 1.0 BACKGROUND The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP), requires a JNCI Monograph Supplement issue as an outcome of “The National Cancer Institute Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Cancer Research Symposium,” that was held virtually December 15-18, 2020. The symposium was one component of many activities for the NCI Cannabis and Cancer working group. As a Trans-NCI activity, the symposium included input from the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD), Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), as well as the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP). The symposium highlighted the state-of-the-science in cannabis, its chemical constituents (e.g., cannabinoids) and cancer research, including cancer epidemiology, use in cancer patients, cancer biology and prevention, pre-clinical and clinical cancer symptom, and treatment side-effect management, as well as the use of cannabis and cannabinoids as cancer therapeutics. The symposium also addressed current barriers to research and strategies to navigate these hurdles to ensure feasibility of rigorous studies designed to address gaps in knowledge as well as potential research opportunities in cannabis related cancer research. The JNCI Monograph Supplement will serve as an archive of the presentations and discussions from the December meeting as well as stimulate continued scientific dialogue on the topic. The supplement is planned as a summary of each of the sessions of the symposium as well as a synopsis of opportunities and challenges related to conducting research in this area. The JNCI Monograph is unique in that it is the only journal that specifically publishes proceedings and synopses from conferences, symposia, and workshops and is highly regarded in the cancer literature realm. The scientific impact factor for the JNCI is 12 and a score that is 10 or greater is considered an excellent score making this the ideal journal in which to publish the proceedings from the cannabis and cancer conference. 2.0 SCOPE The JNCI supplement shall include eight manuscripts that reflect the symposium sessions (written contributions from the invited panelists) and an introductory manuscript (written by the NCI program directors on the planning committee) which will serve as the Preface for the supplement. The manuscripts will be published in an online format and will be made available “Free-to-View” so that all readers have access to the publication, not just current subscribers to the JNCI. 3.0 CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall perform the following tasks: 3.1 Coordinate peer-review of NCI approved manuscripts 3.1.1 Distribute the individual manuscripts to designated peer-reviewers. The NCI shall provide the Contractor with manuscripts and peer-reviewer information. 3.1.2 Collate peer-reviewer comments for each manuscript and send them to the NCI Technical Point of Contact (POC) for response and assessment. 3.1.3 Distribute author updated manuscripts back to the designated peer-reviewers for subsequent review, as necessary. To resolve all peer-reviewer comments, tasks 3.1.2 – 3.1.3 may need to be repeated. 3.1.4 Obtain final peer-reviewer approval for each manuscript and forward to the NCI POC. 3.2 Format manuscript content for publication 3.2.1 Review each manuscript to ensure that the format is consistent and compliant with JNCI standard formatting, that tables and references are complete and correctly formatted; that language, syntax, and grammar are clear and correct; and that any tables and figures are explained. 3.2.2 Create draft page proofs for each manuscript and send to the NCI POC. 3.2.3 Make changes to the page proofs per the NCI POC comments. To resolve all issues, tasks 3.2.1 – 3.2.3 may need to be repeated. 3.2.4 Create final page proofs for each manuscript and send to the NCI POC. 3.3 Publish Conference Proceedings 3.3.1 The contractor shall publish print and online eight manuscripts that correspond to the eight panel sessions and one Preface paper that will serve as an introduction to the special issue. 3.3.2 The conference proceedings will be published online no later than April 14, 2022. 3.4 Provide Free-to-View Access 3.4.1 The contractor shall provide Free-to-View access so that members of the public will have immediate access to the conference proceedings without being subscribers to the JNCI. 3.5 Participate in regular phone calls or emails with the NCI POC to provide updates on the progress of the above activities. 4.0 TYPE OF ORDER This is a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order for non-severable services. The services specified in each contract line item (CLIN) have been determined to be non-severable services – a specific undertaking or entire job with a defined end-product of value to the Government. 5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The anticipated period of performance shall be for seven (7) months from September 15, 2021 – April 14, 2022. 6.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All services shall be performed at the Contractor’s facility. 7.0 REPORT(S)/DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE All written draft and final deliverable products shall be submitted in electronic copy for review and comment. All deliverables shall be sent electronically in Microsoft Word or Excel format, unless approved by the NCI Technical POC, TBD at award, per the following deliverable schedule: Deliverable #1 (Task 3.3): Publish online eight manuscripts that correspond to the eight panel sessions and one Preface paper that will serve as an introduction to the special issue by April 14, 2022. Deliverable #2 (Task 3.4): The contractor shall provide Free-to-View access so that members of the public will have immediate access to the conference proceedings without being subscribers to the JNCI by April 14th, 2022. Deliverable #3 (Task 3.5): Ongoing phone calls or emails with the NCI POC to provide updates on the progress of section 3 tasks. 7.1 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA Pursuant to FAR clause 52.212-4, all work described in the SOW to be delivered under this contract is subject to final inspection and acceptance by an authorized representative of the Government. The authorized representative of the Government is the NCI TPOC, TBD at award, who is responsible for inspection and acceptance of all services, materials, or supplies to be provided by the Contractor. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT), it shall be accessible to people with disabilities. Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to, and use of, information and data that is comparable to people without disabilities. Remediation of any materials that do not comply with the applicable Section 508 requirements as set forth below, shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. Products, platforms, and services delivered as part of this work statement that are ICT, or contain ICT, must conform to the Revised 508 Standards, which are located at 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Apps. A, C & D, and available at https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and- standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-rule/text-of-the-standards- and-guidelines Per Section 508 and as mandated under HHS Policy for Section 508 Compliance and Accessibility of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) (07/2020) all documents or electronic files provided to the NIH NCI under contract must be conformant with Section 508 standards and accessible to persons with disabilities. Conformance shall be confirmed by use of material provided at HHS OS Factsheets & Reference Guides and verified through the use of the HHS Checklist Documents (WCAG 2.0 Refresh); in addition, contractors and vendors are encouraged to make use of the instructional materials and checklists at GSA Section 508.gov’s Create Accessible Digital Products 8.0 UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR Published since 1940, JNCI is one of the oldest peer-reviewed journals in oncology. JNCI seeks to impart highly relevant and timely information to a broad audience of oncology and related specialists in the field. The journal is targeted toward oncologists and oncology specialists, hematologists, radiologists, basic science researchers, epidemiologists, pathologists, cancer prevention researchers, urologists, gynecologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, pulmonologists, and otolaryngologists. The JNCI accomplishes the goal of imparting highly relevant information by publishing original and review articles that facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the bedside; contribute to cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, cure, and rehabilitation; and diminish suffering from cancer. Publishing a supplement via the JNCI is required because it reaches the NCI’s intended audience of cancer researchers is acclaimed as the source for the most up-to-date information from the rapidly changing fields of cancer research and treatment. The JNCI is indexed in Medline, PubMed, and Science Citation Index and other databases which will facilitate reaching a large international audience. Oxford University Press is currently the sole publisher for the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) and their Monographs special issues specifically publishes manuscripts from key conferences dealing with cancer and closely related research fields. Therefore, no other source can publish the proceedings from the NCI Cannabis, Cannabinoids and Cancer Research Symposium. 9.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party, especially a small business, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a proposal or quote for the Government to consider. The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in enough detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. All responses must be submitted via email to Adam Hernandez, Contracting Officer at adam.hernandez@nih.gov. Responses are due no later than 3:00 PM EST Friday, August 06, 2021 (08/06/2021). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. To receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov, and have Representations and Certifications filled out. Reference 75N91021Q00201 on all correspondence.