SPECIAL NOTICE
U -- IACUC Annual Conferences and Training Workshops
- Notice Date
- 9/3/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 813920
— Professional Organizations
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland, 20894, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- NIHLM2015629
- Archive Date
- 9/25/2015
- Point of Contact
- Eliza M. Menchaca, Phone: 3014354377
- E-Mail Address
-
eliza.menchaca@nih.gov
(eliza.menchaca@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to enter into a sole source procurement with Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) for the purpose of acquiring a company to provide education and training in the field of animal care and science; and topics such as animal welfare, basic and applied scientific inquiry, best practices of humane care, use, and management of animals involved in research, testing or education in laboratory, agricultural, wildlife or other settings. In addition a company whom can provide ongoing activities and information on regulations and guidelines, ethical issues, performance standards, protocol review, facility design, the relationship between people and animals in a research setting, and alternative research methods. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations, nor is a RFQ available. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirement it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement can be accompanied by descriptive literature, certifications, and/or other information that demonstrates that the vendor is capable of successfully performing this requirement. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13 Simplified Acquisition procedures for commercial acquisitions. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 813920 "Professional Organizations" and the business size standard is $15M. BACKGROUND The National Institutes of Health, Office of Extramural Research, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), is responsible for the general administration and implementation of the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and does this through a variety of educational and assurance mechanisms. One such mechanism is the support of educational workshops and conferences. There is a particular need for basic training of incoming Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members in the practical implementation of the PHS Policy and in advanced and complex topics affecting IACUCs, and for educational opportunities that address how to achieve and coordinate compliance with the major oversight systems, including OLAW/PHS. TASKS The contractor shall provide educational Conferences, Workshops, and Programs / Information within the animal care and science fields. • The vendor must present an annual educational conference to include; presentations and multiple breakout sessions addressing various challenges for institutions, timely topics of interest, and opportunity for discussion. Topics to include such as; dealing with noncompliance, running an efficient animal care and use program, and managing the inspection process. • The vendor must present up to three IACUC-Advanced training workshops per year. IACUC Training Workshops are needed to focus on advanced and complex topics of interest to IACUC members. The topics include advanced protocol review; such as what to look for in a protocol that includes relieved and/or unrelieved pain and distress, how to recognize and evaluate the level of pain and distress, appropriate end points, and special environmental conditions required because of potential pain and/or distress. • The vendor must provide programs and information on topics of interest to IACUC members with a particular emphasis on the requirements of the PHS Policy. Also provide a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of laboratory animals supplemented with examples and possible approaches for successful and effective administration. There will be opportunities for participants to consider and discuss complex challenges to complying with PHS Policy. REQUIREMENTS The contractor must fulfill government training requirements as stated in USDA/APHIS/AC Policy 15, IACUC members should be trained in understanding the Animal Welfare Act, protocol review and facility inspections. Conferences and workshops must be reviewed and approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) RACE program and must meet the requirements for continuing education credit for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians. The vendor will make a concerted effort to solicit appropriate participation of women, racial/ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, and other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science, in accord with the NIH Policy "Guidelines on Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in NIH Sponsored Intramural and Extramural Scientific Meetings and Conferences." (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not95-123.html) The Conference and Workshops will be held at accessible sites, as outlined by section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and, as applicable, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that permits convenient accessibility for attendees. Participants with disabilities will be permitted to voluntarily identify any special needs. PROMOTING EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT SPENDING On September 21, 2011, the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum M-11-35, entitled, "Eliminating Conference Spending and Promoting Efficiency in Government," emphasizing the President's priority to ensure that the Government operates with the utmost efficiency and eliminates unnecessary or wasteful spending. This was followed by the Executive Order on Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government ( EO 13576 ) and the Executive Order on Promoting Efficient Spending ( EO 13589 ). On January 3, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued the memorandum "HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing, and Publications" (See http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/acquisition/effspendpol_memo.html ). In support of these directives, the NIH issued a January 30, 2012, Memorandum, entitled, "NIH Guidance Related to the HHS Policies on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences, Conference Grants and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications." (See http://oamp.od.nih.gov/ ) This contract will: Specifically prohibit the use of contract funds for the provision of food for meals, light refreshments and beverages for any NIH funded meeting or conference; and Limit the procurement of meeting space, promotional items, printing, and publications in accordance with the provisions of the HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending. Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Government Furnished Information (GFI) No government equipment will be furnished. The only government furnished information may be the names and addresses of the IACUC Chairs at institutions with PHS Animal Welfare Assurances, which may be provided for purposes of publicizing the Conference and Workshops and may not be used by the vendor for any other purpose. CONTRACT TYPE Firm Fixed Price PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Contractors designated establishment PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance shall be: a one year base with four (4) one year option years. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) is the only known source to NLM that can meet the above requirements. SUBMISSION Capability statements & Questions must be received to the attention of the contracting officer by 1pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on September 10, 2015 via email to Eliza Menchaca at Eliza.menchaca@nih.gov. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. 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 information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.
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- SN03870172-W 20150905/150903235636-41a1a914685a4309823254b254f89ac8 (fbodaily.com)
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