Inactive

INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The Nat... INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the on behalf of the National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to STATE OF MARYLAND for the purchase of services of fellows for the UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 611310 with a Size Standard of $30.0. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-05 effective March 10, 2021. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000). STATUTORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302- FAR 6.302-1—Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Place of Performance National Institutes of Health National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases 10 Center Drive Bethesda MD 20892 ? DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports much of the clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines. The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, inborn errors of metabolism, endocrine disorders, mineral metabolism, digestive and liver diseases, nutrition, urology and renal disease, and hematology. Basic research studies include biochemistry, biophysics, nutrition, pathology, histochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical and molecular biology, and pharmacology. NIDDK extramural research is organized into 4 divisions: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases; Digestive Diseases and Nutrition; Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases; and Extramural Activities. The Institute supports basic and clinical research through investigator-initiated grants, program project and center grants, and career development and training awards. The Institute also supports research and development projects and large-scale clinical trials through contracts. _________________________ The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts, supports, and coordinates research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines. Since 2005, NIH has been working with Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to administer an American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited joint Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. This program is designated the University of Maryland/NIH Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scholars Program. The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program is part of the Digestive Diseases Branch (DDB) in the NIDDK Intramural Research Program (IRP) and consists of two medical doctors who have finished advanced training in medicine and at least one year of clinical training in gastroenterology. To justify board certification, it is required that the NIDDK component of the fellowship program be part of an accredited gastroenterology training program. Therefore, this component of the contract supports the association of the Fellowship Program with a center with an established GI training program. A major component of the gastroenterology fellowship training program involves participation in provision of consultation services for patients with GI disorders followed in protocols sponsored by various other NIH departments. These consultations require the constant availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services. To adequately administer this service, it requires an individual (Fellow in gastroenterology) to be available twenty-four (24) hours a day to report to the NIH. Fellows shall be directly supervised by board certified attending gastroenterologists who are members of the medical staff of the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to general consultation services, the fellows must have demonstrated proficiency for performing standard upper and lower GI tract endoscope, including colonoscopy. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The scope of work consists of the University of Maryland providing 2 fellows in FY2021 and 2 fellows per year in subsequent years. Fellows accepted into the Program will complete their first year of training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine campus in Baltimore, MD. After completing this first year of training, fellows will complete the subsequent years of Gastroenterology training in the NIDDK intramural program at the Clinical Research Center on the campus in Bethesda, MD. SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS Specifically, the NIDDK requires the following: TASKS AREAS Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall provide the following: a. Selection and oversight process for trainees - Steering Committee: A Steering Committee shall be comprised of equal numbers of faculty members from the University of Maryland and NIH, not to exceed 8 members. It is expected that both the Head and GI Program Director at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and that both the NIH branch chiefs for Gastroenterology and Hepatology will be members of the Steering Committee. Possible additional members include the Chief of GI at the BVAMC and a hepatologist from UMMC. The Steering Committee will have the responsibility of interviewing and selecting new fellows for the Scholars Program. Moreover, the Steering Committee will monitor the progress and success of fellows in the Scholars Program. This committee will meet either in person or by teleconference at least every two months. b. NIH/NIDDK shall: • Provide funding for salary for 2 fellows per year, training, and parking • Provide fellows with workspace, computers, and necessary supplies for work at the NIH • Comply with ACGME-mandated policies and procedures • Comply with the policies and procedures for Gastroenterology fellowship training of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Specifically, this shall include at least six months of clinical training during the 2-year rotation at NIH that is necessary to complete ACGME requirements for credentialing in Gastroenterology. Fellows shall require 2-3 months of Hepatology training to comply with the mandated five months of Hepatology training during fellowship • Provide Weekly day outpatient continuity clinic experience at NIH, and, as mandated by the ACGME, the fellows will remain in the same clinic for at least six-month blocks c. University of Maryland, School of Medicine shall: • Administer and provide an ACGME-accredited Gastroenterology Fellowship program • Provide 2 new positions per year in the Gastroenterology Fellowship program for fellows in the Program • Treat fellows in the Program equally with the other University of Maryland Fellows in the first year of training • Participate along with NIH staff in advertisement, interviewing and selection of the Gastroenterology Fellows entering into the Program (see Section 3.a for composition of Steering Committee designed for this purpose) • Ensure that all Fellows accepted into the Program are graduates of an accredited medical school and that they have satisfactorily completed an internship approved by the Council on Medical Education. Residents must have completed at least 3 years of graduate medical training and be approved by the Medical Staff Affairs Office, Clinical Center, NIH • Provide clinical opportunities and rotations in the first year of training as necessary to meet ACGME requirements for board certification in Gastroenterology CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research. Only one source is available: Per FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) the Contracting Officer has determined STATE OF MARYLAND to be the only reasonable available source to provide services of fellows for the UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM. This acquisition was pursued on a sole source basis centered on the following: Since 2005, NIH has been working with Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to administer an American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited joint Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. This program is designated the University of Maryland/NIH Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scholars Program. The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program is part of the Digestive Diseases Branch (DDB) in the NIDDK Intramural Research Program (IRP) and consists of two medical doctors who have finished advanced training in medicine and at least one year of clinical training in gastroenterology. To justify board certification, it is required that the NIDDK component of the fellowship program be part of an accredited gastroenterology training program. Therefore, this component of the contract supports the association of the Fellowship Program with a center with an established GI training program. The University of Maryland School of Medicine accomplished accreditation to jointly sponsor this Gastroenterology Fellowship Program along with the NIDDK through a peer review process that took approximately 8 months for final approval. For over ten years, the NIH has been exclusively working with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to administer the University of Maryland/National Institutes of Health Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scholars Program. In achieving sponsorship accreditation with NIH Graduate Medical Education office, this requirement is continuation of a partnership with the University of Maryland to provide fellowship studies at NIDDK, prohibiting outside institution participation. Therefore, the proposed contract supports the association of the Fellowship Program with a well-established jointly sponsored Gastroenterology training program by the NIH Graduate Medical Education office and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (ACGME Program ID #1432321036.) Thus, maintaining an essential research, training, and programmatic capability provided by both institutions. This Gastroenterology Fellowship Program is part of the NIH Digestive Diseases Branch (Intramural) Research Program and consists of two University of Maryland School of Medicine medical doctors who have completed advanced training in medicine and at least one year of clinical training in gastroenterology. The Gastroenterology Fellowship program is a subspecialty training program that was granted joint sponsorship accreditation by the National Institutes of Health Graduate Medical Education office. Establishing the GE program accreditation through the ACGME is based on published accreditation standards and was accomplished through a peer review process that took approximately 8 months for final approval. This process involved review and approval by the Executive Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Review Committee (RRC). The sponsoring institution, NIH GME office, provides training program oversight and assumes ultimate responsibility for the GE Fellowship program, which extends to fellow assignments at all participating sites. In order to maintain accreditation of this subspecialty program the GE fellowship is reviewed by the RRC site visit team which are composed of physician members who are nominated by RRC appointing organizations and confirmed by the ACGME Board of Directors. The RRC site visit teams conduct site visits approximately every two to five years depending on the strength of the program. After a program is reviewed, the RRC members vote on the appropriate accreditation action for the program. The GE program has maintained full accreditation through January 1, 2022. ACGME accreditation letters are provided on an annual basis and accreditation is only granted for one year at a time. Site visits (required every 10-years) maintain the accreditation required as terms of the agreement between University of Maryland and NIDDK. The 10-year site visits were put on hold due to the pandemic. As a result, so site visits have been scheduled yet. A major component of the gastroenterology fellowship training program involves participation in provision of consultation services for patients with GI disorders followed in protocols sponsored by various other NIH departments. These consultations require the constant availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services. To adequately administer this service, it requires an individual (Fellow in gastroenterology) to be available twenty-four (24) hours a day to report to the NIH. Fellows shall be directly supervised by board certified attending gastroenterologists who are members of the medical staff of the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to general consultation services, the fellows must have demonstrated proficiency for performing standard upper and lower GI tract endoscope, including colonoscopy. 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. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: descriptive literature, delivery timeframe, warranties and/or other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing requirements, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), 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.” 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. 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. All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 to the Contracting Officer, Amber Harris, at amber.harris@nih.gov. Assessment of Capability Lowest Price Technically Acceptable

Inactive

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAMS) AGENCY: The National Institutes of Health, Nat... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAMS) AGENCY: The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) TITLE: ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM PROPOSED SOLICITATION NUMBER: NICHD-21-041 PROJECT SERVICE CODE: R499 - SUPPORTPROFESSIONAL: OTHER This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. There is no solicitation available at this time. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification according to the North American Industry Classification System, (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. 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. BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts, supports, and coordinates research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines. Since 2005, NIH has been working with Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to administer an American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited joint Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. This program is designated the University of Maryland/NIH Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scholars Program. The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program is part of the Digestive Diseases Branch (DDB) in the NIDDK Intramural Research Program (IRP) and consists of two medical doctors who have finished advanced training in medicine and at least one year of clinical training in gastroenterology. To justify board certification, it is required that the NIDDK component of the fellowship program be part of an accredited gastroenterology training program. Therefore, this component of the contract supports the association of the Fellowship Program with a center with an established GI training program. A major component of the gastroenterology fellowship training program involves participation in provision of consultation services for patients with GI disorders followed in protocols sponsored by various other NIH departments. These consultations require the constant availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services. To adequately administer this service, it requires an individual (Fellow in gastroenterology) to be available twenty-four (24) hours a day to report to the NIH. Fellows shall be directly supervised by board certified attending gastroenterologists who are members of the medical staff of the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to general consultation services, the fellows must have demonstrated proficiency for performing standard upper and lower GI tract endoscope, including colonoscopy. In order to support this effort previously, NIDDK provided a five-year (base + four options) purchase order (HHSN275201600932P) to the University of Maryland. Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the organization will provide 2 fellows in FY2021 and 2 fellows per year in subsequent years. Fellows accepted into the Program will complete their first year of training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine campus in Baltimore, MD. After completing this first year of training, fellows will complete the subsequent 2 years of Gastroenterology training in the NIDDK intramural program at the Clinical Research Center on the campus in Bethesda, MD. Fellows in Gastroenterology shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day to report to the NIH. Fellows will be directly supervised by board-certified attending Gastroenterologists who are members of the medical staff of the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to general consultation services, the fellows must have demonstrated proficiency for performing standard upper and lower GI tract endoscope, including colonoscopy. Specifically, the NIDDK requires the University of Maryland, School of Medicine to do the following: • Administer and provide an ACGME-accredited Gastroenterology Fellowship program • Provide 2 new positions per year in the 3-year Gastroenterology Fellowship program for fellows in the Program (total of 6 Fellows in the Program by FY2023) • Treat fellows in the Program equally with the other University of Maryland Fellows in the first year of training • Participate along with NIH staff in advertisement, interviewing and selection of the Gastroenterology Fellows entering into the Program (see Section 3.a for composition of Steering Committee designed for this purpose) • Ensure that all Fellows accepted into the Program are graduates of an accredited medical school and that they have satisfactorily completed an internship approved by the Council on Medical Education. Residents must have completed at least 3 years of graduate medical training and be approved by the Medical Staff Affairs Office, Clinical Center, NIH • Provide clinical opportunities and rotations in the first year of training as necessary to meet ACGME requirements for board certification in Gastroenterology This Sources Sought is for an organization or institution to provide the NIDDK with 2 fellows in FY2021 and 2 fellows per year in subsequent years who have completed their first year of training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine campus in Baltimore, MD. The purchase of these services is necessary to maintain the high quality of our research. All qualified small businesses, whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; interested in submitting a corporate capability statement should demonstrate their capability to provide equipment that meets the characteristics below. SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS: a. Selection and oversight process for trainees - Steering Committee: A Steering Committee shall be comprised of equal numbers of faculty members from the University of Maryland and NIH, not to exceed 8 members. It is expected that both the Head and GI Program Director at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and that both the NIH branch chiefs for Gastroenterology and Hepatology will be members of the Steering Committee. Possible additional members include the Chief of GI at the BVAMC and a hepatologist from UMMC. The Steering Committee will have the responsibility of interviewing and selecting new fellows for the Scholars Program. Moreover, the Steering Committee will monitor the progress and success of fellows in the Scholars Program. This committee will meet either in person or by teleconference at least every two months. b. NIH/NIDDK shall: • Provide funding for salary for 2 fellows per year, training, and parking. • Provide fellows with workspace, computers, and necessary supplies for work at the NIH. • Comply with ACGME-mandated policies and procedures. • Comply with the policies and procedures for Gastroenterology fellowship training of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Specifically, this shall include at least six months of clinical training during the 2-year rotation at NIH that is necessary to complete ACGME requirements for credentialing in Gastroenterology. Fellows shall require 2-3 months of Hepatology training to comply with the mandated five months of Hepatology training during fellowship. • Provide Weekly day outpatient continuity clinic experience at NIH, and, as mandated by the ACGME, the fellows will remain in the same clinic for at least six-month blocks. c. University of Maryland, School of Medicine shall: • Administer and provide an ACGME-accredited Gastroenterology Fellowship program. • Provide 2 new positions per year in the 3-year Gastroenterology Fellowship program for fellows in the Program (total of 6 Fellows in the Program by FY2023). • Treat fellows in the Program equally with the other University of Maryland Fellows in the first year of training. • Participate along with NIH staff in advertisement, interviewing and selection of the Gastroenterology Fellows entering into the Program (see Section 3.a for composition of Steering Committee designed for this purpose). • Ensure that all Fellows accepted into the Program are graduates of an accredited medical school and that they have satisfactorily completed an internship approved by the Council on Medical Education. Residents must have completed at least 3 years of graduate medical training and be approved by the Medical Staff Affairs Office, Clinical Center, NIH. • Provide clinical opportunities and rotations in the first year of training as necessary to meet ACGME requirements for board certification in Gastroenterology. d. Period of Performance The period of performance shall be for the base period and four (4) option periods. The following are the dates: Base Period: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 Option Period One: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Option Period Two: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Option Period Three: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Option Period Four: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This is a full and open competitive requirement. This is a requirement for the ACQUISITION OF FELLOWS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY/ HEPATOLOGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM. The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS. If you or your firm/business has an interest and possess the required expertise we invite you to submit a corporate capability statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. The associated NAICS code is 611310, Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools, and the small business size standard is $30.00. All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities. The capability statement should not exceed 15 pages using a font size 10 or larger. (b) Small business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the efforts should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. This capability statement should include: 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as they relate to the requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, and 4) any other specific and relevant information that would improve the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information presented. Further, Past Performance documentation, which should include, but not be limited to, a minimum of two (2) contracts performed for either Government or commercial organizations shall be provided. References shall include for each contract: names, titles, contract number, total price or cost, telephone numbers of government Contracting Officer Representative and Contracting Officers. (c) All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Point of Contact below in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The subject line must specify NICHD-21-041. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Electronically submitted capability statements are due no later than 9:00 AM (Eastern Prevailing Time) seven (7) calendar days (including date of submission to https://beta.sam.gov) after posting of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.