AN22--Intent to Sole Source. Forum on Traumatic Brain Injury

ing in which the full spectrum of public and private sector experts and stakeholders will explore opportunities for collective action. The planned studies follow preliminary studies based on the same subject. The specific work to be performed includes: PURPOSE. To sponsor a Forum on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to bring together stakeholders from Government, academia, industry, foundations, and patient advocacy to provide an ongoing mechanism and a neutral setting in which the full spectrum of public and private sector experts and stakeholders will explore opportunities for collective action. BACKGROUND. The Forum on TBI will provide a trusted venue for the cooperative engagement of leaders from research sponsors, health care sectors, patient representatives, researchers, employers, and policy makers committed to work together to address short and long-term strategic planning for advancing TBI research and care, along the full continuum, from prevention through acute care, rehabilitation as well as other emerging issues important for improving TBI care and research systems for our Veterans. OBJECTIVES. The Forum will meet up to three (3) times per year to provide an ongoing mechanism and a neutral setting in which the full spectrum of public and private sector experts and stakeholders can explore opportunities for collective action. Topics may include issues related to current research gaps, the complexity of the systems involved in TBI treatment and rehabilitation, the challenge of coordination, and the wide range of related needs and challenges facing stakeholders in this field. MANDATORY TASKS AND DELIVERABLES. The contractor shall provide at least two (2) Forum meetings per year. The Contractor shall provide quarterly reports of the progress of the Forum's work and meetings and copies of the published summary documents or proceedings from the Forum's workshops. Specifically, the contractor shall: Task One. Conduct a minimum of two forum meetings per year. Deliverable 4.1.1. Provide quarterly reports of Forum progress. Task Two. The contractor may conduct a minimum of one workshop per year. Deliverable 4.2.1. Provide copies of the published summary documents or proceedings from the Forum's workshops 5. Schedule for Mandatory Deliverables. 5.1 Table of Base Period Mandatory Deliverables Due Dates REFERENCE DELIVERABLE DUE DATE 5.1.1 Post-meeting report Within 90 days after contract award 5.1.2 Workshop report Within 6 months after the contract award 5.1.3 Quarterly financial and technical progress reports, invoices, summary of salient results, and other grant reporting as requested. Due Quarterly PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The base contract ordering period of performance shall be from the date of award over a five (5) year period. Services will be awarded by individual task order with unique periods of performance. KEY PERSONNEL. Certain skilled experience professional and/or technical personnel are essential for accomplishing the work to be performed. These individuals are defined as "Key personnel" and are those persons whose resumes were submitted and marked by the vendor as "Key Personnel". Substitutions shall only be accepted if in compliance with "Substitutions shall only be accepted if in compliance with "Substitution of Key Personnel" provision identified below. Contractor Personnel Requirements. Personnel proposed shall have an in-depth knowledge of health care revenue cycle processes in addition to the following: Specific knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury. Staff Qualifications. 7.2 Expertise in Traumatic Brain Injury and associated conditions. 7.3 Evaluating scientific, technical, and policy-related issues and information. 7.4 Writing and editing scientific and policy documents 7.5 Conceptualizing, developing, and evaluating project proposals 7.6 Supervising and managing technical staff 7.7 Directing and managing expert committees in writing and preparing reports 7.8 Consensus-building with expert committees 7.9 Organizing, coordinating, and conducting national symposia and workshops 7.10 Procuring, managing, and monitoring program funding and annual budgets 7.11 Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences TRAVEL. The CBO anticipates approximately 106 days of travel reimbursement in the base year to cover expenses of experts traveling to the contractor's location. Travel and per diem shall be reimbursed in accordance with VA and Federal Travel Regulations. Travel expenses shall be invoiced within 60 days of completion of travel in order to be reimbursed. Travel is at a minimum, of 2 meetings and one workshop, but typically based on past contracts, there are 3 meetings and 3 workshops per year. TYPE OF CONTRACT. Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with Firm-fixed price task orders. GOVERNMENT AND CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES. 9.1. The CBO shall provide the contractor with copies of documents that the VA is required to provide. 9.2. The contractor shall request other VA documentation deemed pertinent to the work accomplishment directly from the COR. The contractor is expected to use common knowledge and resourcefulness in securing all other reference materials, standard industry publications, and related materials that are pertinent to the work. 9.3. The contractor shall maintain frequent communications with the Program Office and the COR to conduct work in progress reviews. Progress reports shall be delivered electronically to the COR, with an electronic courtesy copy to the Program Office. FORMAL COMMENTS ON DELIVERABLES The VA shall have 15 business days to review each document and provide feedback and comments. The contractor shall have five business days to incorporate comments it deems appropriate. A final review shall be conducted by the COR and the Delivery of the post-final review document with any incorporated comments from the final review meeting shall constitute acceptance by the VA with COR's written approval. QUALITY STANDARDS FOR DELIVERABLES - Performance Measures: Standards: 12.1 Review of relevant materials. Deliverables shall be timely, comprehensive, thoughtful, relevant presentation of alternatives, pros and cons, and feasible recommendations. 12.2 CBO Presentations. Presentations shall be clear, concise, executive-focused, and written in such a way as to be understood by lay persons. Quality of deliverable directly correlates with effectiveness of CBO communications. 12.3 Project Plan. Project Plan shall be timely and comprehensive; recognize and address authority, perceptions, and concerns of stakeholders; incorporate scope of requisite contract requirements across the CBO. 12.4 Reports. Reports are submitted on time and include those topics described in the SOW, agreed to in the master plan and as requested for special reports; necessary clearances are obtained as needed in a timely manner. 12.5 Publications and other documents. Deliverables are timely submission in formats appropriate to target audiences; consideration of best dissemination mechanisms; user friendly, clear, thorough and comprehensive documentation and publications. 12.6 Meeting support. Timely and thoughtful pre-meeting preparations and logistics; smooth meeting operations; timely and comprehensive post-meeting summaries. 12.7 Coordination. Contractor collaboration with CBO is timely, appropriate and demonstrates cooperative support to VHA Executiv