Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation support for the NIH

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition will be made in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and solicitation for commercial Items,” as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation (a written solicitation will not be issued) and quotes are being requested.

This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-04. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 611710 - EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES (size standard: $24,000,000). The requirement is being competed as full an open competition and is NOT a small business set aside. The Solicitation number is RFQ-CC-24-000856 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotes (RFQ).

National Institute of Health’s Clinical Center (Program) has to remain current and up-to-date with the frequently changing and increasingly prescriptive Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities sponsored by the NIH.

The CME Program staff in the Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education (OCRTME) work closely with continuing education Activity Directors and their staffs in all 27 NIH Institutes and Centers and the NIH Continuing Medical Education Committee (CMEC), which is composed of individuals representing a wide range of medical and scientific disciplines.

Since the NIH and the NIH Clinical Center does not have a CME office, contractual support by an ACCME-accredited entity that can also engage in partnerships to provide CME for other entities is required for CME activities sponsored at the NIH. Thus, to maintain accreditation for NIH CME activities, Program requires a full-service ACCME-accredited CME provider to cover comprehensive educational activity and data management support to achieve its training & educational objectives. See Statement of Work (SOW) attached for details on the exact requirements for the training and other services.

Place of Performance or Delivery: The Period of Performance is one (1) base year from 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025. Up to four option year periods may be exercised: Option Year 1 – 10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 Option Year 2 - 10/01/2026 – 09/30/2027 Option Year 3 - 10/01/2027 – 09/30/2028 Option Year 4 - 10/01/2028 – 09/30/2029 Quote responses should include the price breakdown for the required base year and four (4) one-year options periods.

Place of Performance: NIH Campus at Bethesda, MD 20814 The following FAR provisions apply to this acquisition:

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items (SEPT 2023)

FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (DEC 2022)

FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management (OCT 2018) (Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://www.sam.gov/ in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items (Please ensure 52.209-2 -- Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations--Representation. (Nov 2015) is updated in your SAM record)

FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements – Representation (JAN 2017) 52.204–26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (OCT 2020)

Must complete representation if attached to this solicitation- see attachment 52.204-26 The following FAR contract clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52-212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (DEC 2022) FAR 52-212.5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (SEP 2023)

FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (MAR 2023)

FAR 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

FAR 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (NOV 2021)

HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 2015) 52.252-2 -- Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (Feb 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm.

By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation (www.sam.gov).

Copies of the above-referenced provisions and clauses are available from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/loadmainre.html & http: //www.hhs.gov/regulation/index.html or, upon request, either by telephone or fax.

The government intends to award a “firm fixed price” order (in the form of a PO, IDIQ, or BPA) to the responsible contractor as a result of this RFQ that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. The government will evaluate quotes to determine the proposal that conforms to the solicitation and presents the best value to the government (eg. the most advantageous to the Government based on price, performance, availability of funds, etc.).

The award will be made based on technical capability to meet the requirements/technical factors, price, and past performance. For this solicitation, price will be a factor in the selection, but technical factors shall be just as important or more important than price. The technical factors are:

1. Quality of Technical proposal, 2. Quality of Key Personnel, 3. Quality of Management Plan, 4. Required Corporation Experience and Capability Submission shall be received not later than 05/16/2024 by @ 4:00 PM EST. Offers may be emailed to Lu Chang at <lu-chang.lu@nih.gov> by the date and time stated above. Offers shall include RFQ number in the subject line (RFQ-CC-24-000856). Late submission shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f). All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this Agency. Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via email to the respective contacts above.

Edit #1: Please note, references to non-profits being required can be ignored.