POTS24-001957

Submitted by fratecm on
Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date
Closing Response Date
Proposed Award Date
Project Title
Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) Mentor Workshop for Faculty and Staff Scientists
Contracting Office
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Contact Points

Primary Contract Specialist

Tam
Ngo
ngot@mail.nih.gov
NAICS Code Number
611710
The contractor must have experience with teaching mentor training to supervisory level research faculty and scientific staff. They must be able to incorporate interactive segments to reinforce learning and recommendations for improved mentor-mentee relationships. It is imperative for the instructor to be proficient in all areas of mentor training since this training requirement is important for the professional development of the NIMH Faculty and Staff Scientist community.

The contractor is responsible for providing the following:
• Two facilitators for the onsite research mentor training. Facilitators must have scientific background and have experience with delivering research mentor training for senior scientist level.
• Two 4-hour research mentor trainings with one session in the morning (accommodate up to 32 participants) and the second session (accommodate up to 32 participants) in the afternoon.
• Developing a dynamic and impactful presentation and supplemental resources (e.g., handout, case scenarios etc) that relays the importance of good mentorship, tools to be an effective mentor and developing the mentor-mentee relationship.
• Addressing a variety of topics that align with enhanced mentoring practices. They include but are not limited to:
 Establishing Welcoming & Inclusive Practices in Work Environment
 Aligning Expectations for Mentor-Mentee Relationships
 Effective Communication & Maintenance

For the Mentor Training Workshop, the contractor must meet all the specified requirements below.
 Provide mentor training for senior scientific faculty and junior staff members that is evidence based.
 Provide group based instructional sessions to discuss tools, evaluate participant learning through interactive activities and give recommendations for improvement.
 Deliver two 4-hour research mentor trainings with one session in the morning (accommodate up to 32 participants) and the second session (accommodate up to 32 participants) in the afternoon on the same day.
 Provide materials to supplement mentor training. These include but are not limited to handouts, PowerPoint presentations.


Small Business Size Standard
Large
FPDS Classification Code
25235
Estimated Period of Performance
03/15/2024-03/14/2025
Competition Status
Brand Name Only
Vendor Name
University of Wisconsin System, DBA University of Wisconsin – Madison
Address
CIMER Information & Contact Details

Legal name: University of Wisconsin System, DBA University of Wisconsin – Madison
Address University of Wisconsin-Madison, 21 N Park St., Madison, WI 53715.
The CIMER point of contact for payments, invoicing, etc. is Ahna Holliday ahna.holliday@wisc.edu
Single-Sole Source Determination
The Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) is part of the broader National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and is the delegated authority for conducting facilitator trainings for academic and research institutions across the US. CIMER is the sole provider for this research mentoring request and can deliver mentor training for mentors and mentees specifically in STEM at all career stages. Their approach is to provide mentor training backed by the study of evidence based research and using culturally responsive interventions to help improve mentoring relationships. CIMER has a network of trained facilitators who have backgrounds in the biomedical field along with extensive experience delivering mentor training for scientific staff and research oriented settings. To date CIMER has delivered mentor trainings to over 86 institutions ranging from universities to laboratories. Presently CIMER has held 214 mentor trainings and has 900+ trained facilitators who are knowledgeable and specifically trained using their evidence based approaches and guidance to improve mentor-mentee relationships. As such CIMER is fully capable of providing a team of experts who can lead a series of instructional and interactive workshops on the critical elements necessary for enhanced mentor training for NIMH Faculty and Senior Scientists. The qualities of the company that make them a premier leader is their niche focus on research mentoring, mentoring relationships, preparedness, curricula and ability to cater to client needs for customized training. Most of all the company embodies a true desire to champion their mission of improving mentoring relationships for the next generation of researchers. CIMER is able to provide a custom mentoring training and workshop for NIMH faculty and senior scientists in supervisory roles. The workshop can be developed for our unique needs by way of having two 4 hour workshop sessions on the same day (one session in the morning and the other in the afternoon) that can accommodate up to 32 staff per session. The workshop can specifically address critical topics of interest for NIMH mentors which include but are not limited to Maintaining Effective Communication, Aligning Expectations, Articulating Mentoring Philosophy and Plan and Reflecting on Diversity and Establishing Inclusive Practices in the Work Environment. Additionally, they can provide the training within the specified timeframe that we have requested for March 2024 which will ensure we meet our mentor training delivery time. CIMER takes pride in their trainings and assures that the workshop will be high quality, interactive and relevant to the scientific backgrounds of NIMH participants. Moreover, CIMER is able to meet our critical requirement of providing a team style teaching approach and can accommodate multiple workshops in a single day for a mixed level of supervisors (Faculty and Staff Scientists/Clinicians) who have a range of basic, translational and clinical research backgrounds. The unique ability of CIMER to assemble a knowledgeable team of expert facilitators who are familiar with research disciplines of NIMH researchers is impressive and demonstrates their expertise in catering evidence based training and mentor-mentee content for their clients. During each workshop there will be discussions and interactive exercises. CIMER will also provide relevant resources and case scenarios specific to our group to help stimulate interaction and further implement the concepts and toolkit of skills taught during the mentor training.
Background/Description of Requirement

The NIMH Office of Fellowship Training requests contract approval for an in person Research Mentor Workshop for Faculty and Staff Scientists. The vendor, CIMER, is the premier leader for delivering mentor training for mentors and mentees at all career stages. Their approach is to provide mentor training backed by the study of evidence based research. They will provide two faclitators to deliver two 4 hour mentor training workshops for faculty and scientific staff. The two trainings will be delivered on the same day with a morning session and afternoon session.

The training request listed herein is available from only one source, Center for the Improvement of Mentored Research of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

This acquisition is restricted to the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Research of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER).

Interested parties may identify in writing their interest and capability in response to this requirement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by closing date and must reference the announcement. Responses may be submitted electronically to the attention of the contract specialist. Fax responses will not be accepted.

All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.