Journal supplement to be published in Psychosomatic Medicine, entitled “Bio-Behavioral and Neurobehavioral Processes Relevant to the Intersection of Mental Health and HIV”

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: NIMH-21-004146 TITLE: Journal supplement to be published in Psychosomatic Medicine, entitled “Bio-Behavioral and Neurobehavioral Processes Relevant to the Intersection of Mental Health and HIV” 2. CLASSIFICATION CODE: 7630– Newspapers and Periodicals 3. NAICS CODE: 511120 – Periodical Publishers 4. RESPONSE DATE: July 26, 2021 at 3:00 PM EST 5. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: Michelle Cecilia [email protected] Phone: (301) 827-7199 6. DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION: THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Psychosomatic Medicine for a supplemental special issue. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under 511120 – Periodical Publishers with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2021-06 dated June 10, 2021. BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF REQUIREMENT Although the proposed Psychosomatic Medicine issue will be co-guest edited, the primary responsibility for the proposed work resides with the Psychosomatic Medicine editorial staff. The issue will include up to 13 manuscripts. All articles submitted for consideration for the Issue shall be peer reviewed according to the Journal’s normal standards. Editorial decisions will be made based on the Journal’s normal standards including merit, scientific validity, methodological rigour, quality and scope. The Editor-in-Chief retains overall editorial control of the issue content at all times. The Editor-in-Chief may request changes, corrections, rejections or withdrawals where articles do not meet Journal standards, both prior to and post-publication. The Journal shall be responsible for all communications with authors submitting manuscripts for publication in the Theme Issue. Articles shall be prepared according to the “Instructions for Authors” as detailed on the Journal’s website. Specific Requirements: The co-guest editors will serve as lead organizers and co-editors of the special issue and will meet all of the responsibilities that this implies. They will be charged with inviting, preliminarily reviewing, and providing feedback from reviewers on papers relevant to the supplement topic. Dr. Adam Carrico will provide updates to NIMH on the progress toward publication of the supplement within 30 days of the performance period mid-point and the end date. An estimated publication date should be included in the second update. This journal supplement to be published in Psychosomatic Medicine involves a special themed issue and will be compiled by three Guest Editors. Adam Carrico, Ph.D., is a Professor of Public Health Sciences and Psychology and Director of the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami. His clinical and translational research program focuses on the intertwining epidemics of substance use and HIV. Leah Rubin, Ph.D., M.P.H. is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. She is a cognitive neuroscientist with a program of translational research focused on neurocognitive function in people living with HIV. Robert Paul, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and the Director of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health. His research is focused on understanding subcortical brain systems, particularly in the context of HIV. Potential topics that may be covered by the articles in this special issue include: 1) bio-behavioral and neurobehavioral mechanisms (e.g., neuroinflammation, microbiome-gut-brain axis) that underlie greater risk of mental health disorders in PWH; 2) bio-behavioral and neurobehavioral pathways whereby exposure to stigma related to HIV, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual minority status, or intersectional identities could increase risk for mental health disorders in PWH; and 3) studies examining the relevance of medical comorbidities (e.g., cardiometabolic alterations) as important determinants of increased risk for mental health disorders in PWH. The overarching goal of this special issue is to advance our understanding of bio-behavioral processes linking neuropsychiatric disorders and HIV, particularly among those receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). It builds on a meeting and subsequent RFA published by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Division of AIDS Research. Up to 13 papers may be published; topics may include (but are not limited to): 1) bio-behavioral and neurobehavioral mechanisms (e.g., neuroinflammation, microbiome-gut-brain axis) that underlie greater risk of mental health disorders in people living with HIV (PWH); 2) bio-behavioral and neurobehavioral pathways whereby exposure to stigma related to HIV, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual minority status, or intersectional identities could increase risk for mental health disorders in PWH; and 3) studies examining the relevance of medical comorbidities (e.g., cardiometabolic alterations) as important determinants of increased risk for mental health disorders in PWH. Period of Performance: August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022 CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION Psychosomatic Medicine is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal publishes experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies on the role of psychological and social factors in the biological and behavioral processes relevant to health and disease. Psychosomatic Medicine is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal devoted to high-quality science on biobehavioral mechanisms, brain-behavior interactions relevant to physical and mental disorders, as well as interventions in clinical and public health settings. Psychosomatic Medicine is currently the only journal that is considering a special issue on bio-behavioral processes relevant to the intersection of mental health and HIV. This is a topic of critical importance to the field of mental health and HIV, which is a top priority of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR). Psychosomatic Medicine is a top-tier journal with a strong impact factor that is focused on the role of psychological and social factors in the biological and behavioral processes relevant to disease; given the bio-behavioral focus of this journal it is uniquely positioned to tackle this interdisciplinary topic and to reach the appropriate interdisciplinary audience interested in bio-behavioral processes relevant to mental health and HIV. There are currently no other opportunities to publish a collection of research on this important and timely topic that is critical to our Program. The intended source is: Wolters Kluwher Health, Inc. 2001 Market Street, Suite 5 Philadelphia, PA 19103-7044 CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. 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. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11 point or 12 point font, 8-1 /2" x 11" paper size, with 1" top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, NIMH-21-004146. Responses must be submitted electronically to Michelle Cecilia, Contract Specialist, at [email protected]. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.