POTS24-001969

Submitted by fratecm on
Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date
Closing Response Date
Proposed Award Date
Project Title
Title of Project: Professional Services - Amish Liaison

Contact Points

Primary Contract Specialist

Tam
Ngo
ngot@nih.gov
NAICS Code Number
541715
The contractor will support clinical mental health genetics research work as directed by the Branch Chief. This will include continual improvement of the Branch’s ongoing family volunteer recruitment effort and ascertainment strategies within targeted special populations, performance of diagnostic assessments in the field, assisting the Branch in the refinement of diagnostic procedures, and assisting the branch with collection of blood specimens from research volunteers in the field. Because of their unique genetic and social circumstances, much of the work is done in the field with family volunteers of Amish or Mennonite ancestry. Thus, considerable travel, sensitivity to cultural differences, and independent professional judgement are required.

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the Statement of Work below:

The contractor will serve as a liaison with the Amish community through personal visits (80%), written communications (10%), and telephonic communication with intermediaries (10%). As a liaison and psychiatrist, he will need to be fluent in German, Spanish and English and will need to have experience in working with the Amish and Mennonite population. The liaison duties will entail assisting the Section Chief in enrolling study subjects and moving them through the stages of study participation. Occasional diagnostic assessments will be performed, if needed. Written reports will be submitted to the Section Chief on a regular basis.
Small Business Size Standard
Small Business
Estimated Period of Performance
February 26, 2024 and ending February 25, 2025.
Delivery of Goods
The contractor will serve as a liaison with the Amish community through personal visits (80%), written communications (10%), and telephonic communication with intermediaries (10%).
Set-Aside Type
Small Business (SB)
Single-Sole Source Determination
I hereby determine that the Professional Services Contract for Clinical Genetics Research listed herein is available from only one source, and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.
This acquisition is restricted to:

Dr. Thomas G. Schulze, MD
c/o SCHULZE, THOMAS G
4317 Trout Lily Lane
Manlius, NY 13104
(202) 758 8130
thomasgschulzemail.com
(NCAGE Code: 64M24)

The essential characteristics of the Professional Services Contract for Clinical Genetics Research that limit the availability to a sole source are only for specific individuals experienced in Amish/Mennonite customs who can gain their trust and work appropriately with research volunteers. Only this suggested source can furnish the requirements and being fluent in German, Spanish and English is an additional requirement for proper communication with the Amish and Mennonite population in the North, South and Central America
Background/Description of Requirement

The Section on the Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, within the NIH Intramural Research Program, is a clinical genetics research program with both human-subjects and laboratory components. 

Our leadership position in the field depends critically on the ability to recruit unique populations. This requires expertise in clinical psychiatry, human subjects research, and cultural/language abilities suited to the target population. A major focus of our research involves members of the Amish community, a reclusive community who speak German at home and generally eschew telephones and electronic media. Thus, we need a psychiatrist with human subjects’ research experience who is fluent in German and able to work effectively with the Amish in face-to-face situations. The existing resources of the Intramural Research Program are not sufficient to meet these needs. Therefore, the most cost-effective and efficient way to proceed is to assign these tasks to an outside contractor.

The Government Project Officer will provide overall supervision, general instructions on limitations and deadlines, and is responsible for administration of the task order in compliance with the contract to include inspection and acceptance of deliverables. The Government Project Officer will also be responsible for receipt and acceptance of services.

Project Officer:  Francis J McMahon

Phone Number: 301-451-4453

Fax Number:     301-702-9083

E-Mail:  mcmahonf@mail.nih.gov

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.