IN-DEPTH CELL CHARACTERIZATION HUB (IDCCH) VENDOR PROPOSAL – Format Guidance

A detailed work plan must be submitted indicating how each aspect of the statement of work is to be accomplished. Your technical approach should be in as much detail as you consider necessary to fully explain your proposed technical approach or method. The technical proposal should reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. The technical proposal must include information on how the project is to be organized, staffed, and managed. Information should be provided which will demonstrate your understanding and management of important events or tasks. The technical discussion included in the technical proposal should respond to the items set forth below.

1.Objectives

State the overall objectives and the specific accomplishments you hope to achieve. Indicate the rationale for your plan, and relation to comparable work in progress elsewhere. Review pertinent work already published which is relevant to this project and your proposed approach. This should support the scope of the project as you perceive it. 

2. Approach

The offeror must submit an explanation of the proposed technical approach in conjunction with the tasks to be performed in achieving the project objectives. Proposals which merely restate the requirements of the scope of work will not be eligible for award. 

Use as many subparagraphs, appropriately titled, as needed to clearly outline the general plan of work. Discuss phasing of research and, if appropriate, include experimental design and possible or probable outcome of approaches proposed. 

3. Methods

Describe in detail the methodologies you will use for the project, indicating your level of experience with each, areas of anticipated difficulties, and any unusual expenses you anticipate. 

4. Schedule

Provide a schedule for completion of the work and delivery of items specified in the statement of work. Performance or delivery schedules shall be indicated for phases or segments of work, as applicable, by contract year as well as for the overall contract. Schedules shall be shown in terms of calendar months from the date of authorization to proceed or, where applicable, from the date of a stated event, as for example, receipt of a required approval by the Contracting Officer. Unless the request for proposal indicates that the stipulated schedules are mandatory, they shall be treated as desired or recommended schedules. In this event, proposals based upon the offeror's best alternative schedule, involving no overtime, extra shift or other premium, will be accepted for consideration. 

5. Personnel

Describe the experience and qualifications of personnel who will be assigned for direct work on this program. Information is required which will show the composition of the task or work group, its general qualifications, and recent experience with similar equipment or programs. Special mention shall be made of direct technical supervisors and key technical personnel, and the approximate percentage of the total time each will be available for this program. OFFERORS SHOULD ASSURE THAT THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, AND ALL OTHER PERSONNEL PROPOSED, SHALL NOT BE COMMITTED ON FEDERAL GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR MORE THAN A TOTAL OF 100% OF THEIR TIME. IF THE SITUATION ARISES WHERE IT IS DETERMINED THAT A PROPOSED EMPLOYEE IS COMMITTED FOR MORE THAN 100% OF HIS OR HER TIME, THE GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE ACTION ON THE PART OF THE OFFEROR TO CORRECT THE TIME COMMITMENT. 

Single Principal Investigator/Project Director List the name of the Principal Investigator/Project Director responsible for overall implementation of the contract and key contact for technical aspects of the project. Even though there may be co-investigators, identify the Principal Investigator/Project Director who will be responsible for the overall implementation of any awarded contract. Discuss the qualifications, experience, and accomplishments of the Principal Investigator/Project Director. State the estimated time to be spent on the project, his/her proposed duties, and the areas or phases for which he/she will be responsible. 

Other Investigators List all other investigators/professional personnel who will be participating in the project. Discuss the qualifications, experience, and accomplishments. State the estimated time each will spend on the project, proposed duties on the project, and the areas or phases for which each will be responsible. 

Additional Personnel List names, titles, and proposed duties of additional personnel, if any, who will be required for full-time employment, or on a subcontract or consultant basis. The technical areas, character, and extent of subcontract or consultant activity will be indicated and the anticipated sources will be specified and qualified. For all proposed personnel who are not currently members of the offeror's staff, a letter of commitment or other evidence of availability is required. A resume does not meet this requirement. Commitment letters for use of consultants and other personnel to be hired must include: 

• The specific items or expertise they will provide. 

• Their availability to the project and the amount of time anticipated. 

• Willingness to act as a consultant. 

• How rights to publications and patents will be handled. 

Resumes of all key personnel are required. Each must indicate educational background, recent experience, specific or technical accomplishments, and a listing of relevant publications. 

6. Other Considerations

Record and discuss specific factors not included elsewhere which support your proposal. Using specifically titled subparagraphs, items may include: a. Any agreements and/or arrangements with subcontractor(s). Provide as much detail as necessary to explain how the statement of work will be accomplished within this working relationship. b. Unique arrangements, equipment, etc., which none or very few organizations are likely to have which is advantageous for effective implementation of this project. c. Equipment and unusual operating procedures established to protect personnel from hazards associated with this project. d. Other factors you feel are important and support your proposed research. e. Recommendations for changing reporting requirements if such changes would be more compatible with the offeror's proposed schedules. 

7. Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency.

The offeror shall demonstrate compliance with the NIH Policy on enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency as described in NIH Guide Notice NOT- OD-15-103.

8. Section 508 accessibility standards.

If applicable, deliverables and materials that do not comply with the accessibility standards of 36 CFR Part 1194 as shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to remediate.

BUSINESS PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS 

The business proposal must contain sufficient information to allow a basic analysis of the proposed cost or price of the work. This information shall include the amounts of the basic elements of the proposed cost or price.  

Proposal Cover Sheet

The following information shall be provided on the first page of your pricing proposal:

1. Solicitation, contract, and/or modification number;

2. Name and address of Offeror;

3. Name and telephone number of point of contact;

4. Name, address, and telephone number of Contract Administration Office, (if available);

5. Name, address, and telephone number of Audit Office (if available);

6. Proposed cost and/or price; profit or fee (as applicable); and total; 7. The following statement: By submitting this proposal, the offeror, if selected for discussions, grants the contracting officer or an authorized representative the right to examine, at any time before award, any of those books, records, documents, or other records directly pertinent to the information requested or submitted.

8. Date of submission; and

9. Name, title and signature of authorized representative.

This cover sheet information is for use by offerors to submit information when certified cost or pricing data are not required but information to help establish price reasonableness or cost realism is necessary. 

Data submitted shall be sufficient to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representatives to determine price reasonableness or cost realism, e.g., data to support an analysis of material costs (when sufficient data on labor and overhead rates is already available), or data on prices and quantities at which the offeror has previously sold the same or similar items. Data submitted must support the price proposed. The offeror shall include sufficient detail or cross references to clearly establish the relationship of the data provided to the price proposed. The offeror shall support any data provided with explanations or supporting rationale, as needed, to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representative to evaluate the documentation. 

a. Direct Labor

Provide a time-phased (e.g., monthly, quarterly, etc.) breakdown of labor hours, rates, and cost by appropriate category. Key personnel will be separately estimated as above and identified. Give the basis for the estimates in each case. 

b. Materials

Provide a consolidated price summary of individual material quantities included in the various tasks, orders, or contract line items being proposed and the basis for pricing (vendor quotes, invoice prices, etc.). 

c. Subcontracted Items

Include parts, components, assemblies, and services that are to be produced or performed by others in accordance with offeror's design, specifications, or direction and that are applicable only to the prime contract. For each subcontract over $750,000, the support should provide a listing by source, item, quantity, price, type of subcontract, degree of competition, and basis for establishing source and reasonableness of price, as well as the results of review and evaluation of subcontract proposals when required by FAR 15.404-3. 

d. Raw Materials

Consists of material in a form or state that requires further processing. Provide priced quantities of items required for the proposal. 

e. Purchased Parts

Includes material items not covered above. Provide priced quantities of items required for the proposal. 

f. Fringe Benefits

Show fringe benefits as a separate line item. Include the rate(s) and/or method of calculating fringe benefits. Provide a copy of your fringe benefit rate or institutional guidelines. 

g. Indirect Costs

Indicate how offeror has computed and applied offeror's indirect costs, including cost breakdowns, and provide a basis for evaluating the reasonableness of proposed rates. Indicate the rates used and provide an appropriate explanation. Where a rate agreement exists, provide a copy. 

h. Special Equipment

If direct charge, list any equipment.  

i. Travel

Provide the cost of travel including destination, duration, purpose, per diem, transportation, and the basis for pricing.

j. Other Costs

List all other costs not otherwise included in the categories described above (e.g., computer services, consultant services) and provide basis for pricing. 

9. Small Business Subcontracting Plan

If the proposed contract exceeds a total estimated cost of $700,000 for the entire period of performance, the offeror shall be required to submit an acceptable subcontracting plan in accordance with the terms of the clause entitled "Small Business Subcontracting Plan." THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.