Inactive 8(a) Sole Source (FAR 19.8)

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95024Q00246 TITLE: Public Engagement Strategies to Advance the Mission of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) CLASS... NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95024Q00246 TITLE: Public Engagement Strategies to Advance the Mission of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) CLASSIFICATION CODE: R499 Support – Professional Other NAICS CODE: 541820 – Public Relations Agencies RESPONSE DATE: April 21, 2023, 1 pm EST PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: Giuliana C. Faller Giuliana.faller@nih.gov Phone: 301-480-9789 DESCRIPTION: INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The purpose of this acquisition is to procure consulting and communications outreach services for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Office of Policy, Communications and Education (OPCE) Communications Branch (CB). The goal is to support NCATS’ mission by strengthening its ability to effectively promote the center’s impact on the advancement of translational science to a broad range of stakeholders. Services shall include support and consultation for the NCATS CB as they work to develop and implement public engagement strategies. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541820 – Public Relations Agencies with a Size Standard of $19 million REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04 dated June 2, 2023. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: Services shall include support and consultation for the NCATS CB as they work to develop and implement public engagement strategies. In partnership with NCATS’ CB, the Contractor shall provide professional consulting services to strengthen NCATS’ ability to effectively promote NCATS’ mission and impact, as well as the value of translational science. The Contractor shall provide the following consulting services and deliverables: Establish and support implementation of a thought leadership strategy. Identify and pursue opportunities for NCATS spokespeople to present information at major meetings. Deliverables include: (1) Identify and support 3 new speaking engagements at major meetings; (2) on a monthly basis, review existing staff engagements and recommend ones for additional promotion. Write and place op-eds on behalf of NCATS leadership. Deliverables include: Up to 2 op-eds. Using outlines provided by CB, draft stakeholder engagement messages on behalf of the NCATS director. Deliverables include: Up to 5 blog posts from the NCATS director and up to 6 emails to send to the NCATS stakeholder listserv. Support strategic communications outreach. Refine and guide NCATS’ communication strategy through biweekly strategy and planning calls and other meetings with CB staff. Deliverables include: (1) Providing agendas ahead of the bi-weekly meetings. (2) Providing notes and action items within 24 hours of the meeting occurrences and (3) Tracking and sharing status of key action items between meetings. Provide spokesperson and/or media training to NCATS leadership and other key staff, including developing agendas and tailored training materials, conducting mock interviews, providing hands-on coaching, and soliciting feedback to enhance future sessions. Deliverables include: Planning and execution of up to 4 media trainings. Prepare and/or refine key messages for staff to use. Deliverables include: (1) Develop key messages on up to 4 NCATS initiatives; (2) Assist CB in regularly updating the NCATS core PowerPoint slide deck designed to provide NCATS staff with consistent messaging about the center. Advise on and support CB’s media outreach strategy by assisting the CB press team in identifying press outreach opportunities, crafting pitches, and identifying outlets for targeted pitching and deskside meetings. Deliverables include: (1) Identify and assist with conducting 3 desk side meetings with members of the media. (2) Attend regular CB press team meetings to identify and plan opportunities. (3) Craft up to 10 email pitches for distribution to targeted reporters. As needed, refine, and in some cases, design graphics/original illustrations that convey NCATS principles, goals, activities and complex translational science concepts in a clear and compelling way. Examples can be found at https://ncats.nih.gov/news-events/infographics-and-fact-sheets. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) turns research findings into health solutions through translational science. It brings together a diverse range of scientists, including medicinal chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and engineers, to transform the way that research is done, making it faster, more efficient and more impactful. NCATS’ mission is broad and requires extensive collaboration and disruptive thinking within the science community. To accomplish this mission, the CB develops and disseminates information to a wide range of stakeholders with diverse interests and needs, including patient groups, academic investigators, potential partners in the private and federal sector (including other NIH institutes and centers), venture capital groups, technology-focused research and development organizations (both for-profit and nonprofit), and other parties interested in speeding each stage of research along the translational science spectrum, from the biological basis of health and disease to interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. This requirement focuses on strategic communications services and resources necessary to develop and implement creative, scientifically accurate, fresh and cost-effective outreach approaches to advance NCATS’ mission. The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Burness Communications Inc., is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by NCATS in the interest of continuity of science. The intended source is: Burness Communications Inc. 7910 Woodmont Ave Ste 700, Bethesda, MD 20814-3093 POC: Gideon Hertz, (301) 280-5734; ghertz@burness.com CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number 75N95024Q00246. Responses must be submitted electronically to Giuliana Faller, Contract Specialist, at giuliana.faller@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.