Inactive

Action Code: S Classification Code: R408, Program Management Support Services Solicitation: 693JJ920RQ000065 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Hi... Action Code: S Classification Code: R408, Program Management Support Services Solicitation: 693JJ920RQ000065 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, $16.5M Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Toxicology Consultant Services (FY20–24) Description(s): The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to negotiate with the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI), the award of a follow-on, non-competitive, sole source award to build upon NHTSA employee’s level of understanding by consulting those who are involved in the drug arena to gain knowledge from their expertise in the areas of pharmacology or toxicology the training. The UMDI uniquely has the ability for continued provision of highly-specialized services in the areas of chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology, and emergency medicine for maintenance of the high technical quality, unbiased and even-handed technical support required by the agency. The statutory authority for the proposed sole source award is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) "Only One Responsible Source." NHTSA requires the continued professional, technical and administrative support services of UMDI to conduct the scientific and technical activities needed to support NHTSA’s requirements. The successful management and delivery of the requirements described in the statement of work requires an organization that possesses the ability to handle the requests for technical assistance coming from several NHTSA offices (sometimes simultaneously); that have the education and experience across several topics pertaining to drug use and abuse (these are emergency medicine physicians that have a subspecialty in toxicology and treat car crash victims); that have experience in educating others on a range of toxicological topics (they train other MDs in the field in a range of toxicological areas, including medical toxicology, clinical, and forensic toxicology). In addition to providing notice of intent to sole source contract for these services, this notice seeks to identify any potential qualified Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a) Certified SDB, HUBZone SB, SDVOSB, or WOSB concerns that may be interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. NHTSA welcomes all qualified certified Small Business concerns with the appropriate NAICS Code and past experience to submit their Corporate Capability Statements that demonstrate their ability to successfully accomplish the goals of the proposed project as listed below. In addition to soliciting on the open market, the government may decide to later limit its competition to those qualified GSA MOBIS Schedule holding contractors listed under SIN 874-1, Integrated Consulting Services, 874-4, Training Services: Instructor Led Training, Web Based Training and Education Courses, Course Development and Test Administration, Learning Management, Internships, and/or 874-7, Integrated Business Program Support Services. NHTSA does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses to this notice or otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made; and no formal evaluation of the information received will be conducted by NHTSA. NHTSA may; however later on issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). However, should such a requirement fail to materialize, no basis for claims against NHTSA shall arise as a result of a response to this notice. BACKGROUND: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. The agency develops, promotes and implements effective educational, engineering and enforcement programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies and reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. NHTSA is striving to move forward with research and programs to reduce impaired driving. We are at the cusp of exciting forward movement in the drugged driving area, with a number of innovative and significant research projects to guide us towards refining problem identification, improving enforcement strategies, and developing countermeasures. However, NHTSA’s work on drug-impaired driving is many years behind our efforts with alcohol-impaired driving. There are a multitude of drugs with which to contend, each acting in a variety of ways on the body as they are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. Though NHTSA has a vested interest in how drug use impacts driving performance, few people in the Agency have expertise in the areas of pharmacology or toxicology. To fully understand the issues and to converse with professionals in the fields we must reach out to, for example, analysts in state labs, program experts at NIDA or FDA, medical examiners, or toxicologists serving as expert witnesses. We also need to better understand the real- world abilities and limitations of those with whom we work, who are involved in the drug arena. NHTSA needs to know what is possible now, and what can be possible, especially in drug testing. The issue of older driver safety continues to demand involvement from health care providers, family members and friends to prepare drivers even before a driver’s license has to be taken away. Intervention begins with knowledge: knowledge of resources; knowledge of the impact of health and aging on driving ability, impact of medications and alcohol on driving, and impact of even upcoming technologies on independent mobility (driving and walking). Now more than ever, health care professionals are a vital link to the safety of their aging clientele. As this knowledge base is needed across offices, NHTSA’s needs can best be served by procuring the services of a contractor with extensive experience in the field of toxicology. The contractor shall be instrumental in both educating NHTSA staff on basic toxicology issues, in helping us frame our research and program plans, and also can serve as a representative among her/his peers in disseminating our needs and goals with outside organizations. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this project are to facilitate greater interaction between NHTSA and the Toxicology community, to raise the awareness of traffic safety issues, and to increase NHTSA’s knowledge and credibility in the area of alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. In support of this goal, NHTSA plans to contract for the Consultant Services of an experienced Toxicologist (or staff of Toxicologists) to 1) aid NHTSA in understanding, studying, and addressing issues related to chemical testing and the impairing effects of drugs; and 2) network with colleagues in the Forensic Toxicology/Criminology and Medical communities to encourage more interest and activity on traffic safety research, issues, and needs. Capabilities: The corporate capability statement must address the capabilities necessary to accomplish the scope outlined above as well as the additional tasks and characteristics given in the attached draft SOW and demonstrate the contractor possesses knowledge of and experience in using research and statistical methods across several subfields in toxicology, and their experience in educating others on a range of toxicological topics to be fully capable of meeting the program office requirements to accomplish the objective outlined above, as well as the additional tasks listed in the attached draft SOW. Format of Corporate Capabilities Statement: The anticipated period of performance is for a base period of twelve (12) months after award of the resultant contract. A Time and Materials type contract is anticipated. This notice of intent is NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS nor is a Request-for-Proposal solicitation document currently available. Interested firms should identify their capability provide the services described above. The written response must include detailed information relating to the specific data being requested. Expressions of interest without sufficient detail to permit evaluation of one’s ability to provide the requested information will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this action 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 acquisition. In the absence of responses from interested firms demonstrating their capability, NHTSA intends to request a proposal from National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine on a noncompetitive basis for the work described. Responses must be received by the listed procuring office with 15 days from the date of publication of this notice.