This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement
The NAICS code for this project is 561422. The size standard is $15M.
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Contact Center, also known as NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS), was established in 1975 and is a federally funded program that is an essential part of NCI's cancer education and information efforts. The first call the Contact Center took was in early 1976. This project is for the re-competition of contract HHSN261201700010C with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of NCI.
Purpose and Objectives:
The purpose of this effort is to provide scientifically based, unbiased information to patients, their families and friends, physicians and other health professionals, and the general public about all aspects of cancer including: cancer research and clinical trials; cancer prevention; risk factors; symptoms; early detection; diagnosis; treatment; living with cancer; and tobacco and cessation counseling and information.
The NCI Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) coordinates and manages the Institute's interaction with the public (including patients, friends and family), researchers, and the media. OCPL informs the public and the media about the Institute's research activities and scientific advances. OCPL also works closely with NCI scientists and partner organizations to design and develop effective methods to reach diverse audiences and to meet their needs for the latest, evidence-based cancer information.
The NCI's CIS is an important component of the agency's communications enterprise and supports the NCI mission in numerous ways. The NCI Contact Center:
Serves as the voice of the NCI to the public
Supports clinical trials recruitment and NCI's clinical trials initiatives
Impacts health behavior by providing accurate, credible and evidence-based cancer and smoking cessation information
NCI is seeking capability statements from all eligible businesses in performing the tasks herein. 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.
Project Requirements:
A copy of the draft Statement of Work (SOW) pertaining to this requirement, which is subject to revisions, is attached to this notice.
Anticipated Period of Performance:
The anticipated period of performance, inclusive of options, for this proposed acquisition is May 1, 2020 - April 30, 2025. A single award is anticipated.
Capability Statement/Information Sought:
All businesses possessing experience and demonstrated capability to accomplish the aforementioned requirements and level of effort are to supply pertinent information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform the required services. Information furnished must not exceed 20 pages (12-point font minimum), including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.; and should include an outline of previous or similar projects performed. All responses must include an indication of current business status clearly marked on the first page of the capability statement, as well as the eligible business' name, point of contact, address, and DUNS number.
Information Submission Instructions:
This sources sought notice follows a small business sources sought (HHS-NIH-NCI-SBSS-ETSB-1100-58) released on November 6, 2018. Small business concerns that previously responded to HHS-NIH-NCI-SBSS-ETSB-1100-58 do not have to submit a new capability statement, the original response will be considered.
All capability statements sent in response to this Sources Sought notice must be sent electronically (via email) to Rosa Lopez, Contracting Officer at rosa.lopez@nih.gov and Jill Johnson, Contracting Officer at jill.johnson2@nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by March 27, 2019; 2:00PM Eastern. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Capability Statements received after that date and time will not be considered.
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 the information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
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.
