The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is conducting a market survey to seek potential sources from qualified 8 (a) firms under North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code 519130 that currently have a GSA Schedule contract which have the capability to assist the Agency in its project entitled Electronic Information Dissemination and Library Support Services. AHRQ is interested in finding 8(a) contractors who currently have a contract under a GSA Schedule who are interested and capable of performing the work as outlined below. Assistance is sought for on-site staffing of AHRQs Electronic Information Dissemination Program, which includes AHRQs Information Resources Center (IRC), which is both a physical and virtual library, and the AHRQ Web site. Contractor will be responsible for responding to the electronic and information needs of AHRQ staff and programs in an appropriate and professional manner. Tasks will include information management including the full range of library services and Web coding support for AHRQs many products and tools. Some Web development is included, but limited to those tasks that support the accurate display of AHRQ information products and tools. The estimated period of performance of this project is for 1 year with four 1 year option periods. The IRC is a full-service library--both a physical library and a virtual library that emphasizes access to electronic resources--with increasing demands for information services on a walk-in, phone, or e-mail basis. The IRC provides library services to AHRQ as a whole while providing targeted research support to Offices and Centers, program staff, and the public. Library services and research support are instrumental to the many research activities of AHRQ staff. Resources include a periodical and reference collection, on-line data retrieval systems, CD-ROM subscriptions, multi-media materials, and Web-based training. The IRC performs customized searches using on-line and CD-ROM sources, handles reference questions for clients, and fulfills interlibrary loan requests. The IRC is a member of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, the Federal Libraries and Information Centers Coordinating Committee, and the DHHS Libraries Consortium. The 3 key functions of the IRC are to: 1) Administer Day-to-Day Activities of the IRC, 2) Manage Information, Reference, and Research Services, 3) Provide Training, Evaluation, and Support Services to AHRQ staff. The AHRQ Web site provides electronic dissemination (ED) support across the Agency. The AHRQ Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer (OCKT) Web site enhances and builds upon OCKTs mandate to provide dissemination and research translation functions to AHRQ using a variety of venues. The OCKT Web staff coordinates their activities with other components of OCKT (public affairs, publishing, and KT staff), as well as other AHRQ Offices and Centers, other Federal Agencies, and DHHS. Many of the Agencys programs and constituency groups depend heavily on timely, accurate, and reliable information provided on the Web. The OCKT Web staff ensures that products and tools are generically accessible to users and provides the support required to maintain and enhance on-line information access for the AHRQ Web site, other third-level domain Web sites supported by AHRQ, Web-based tools and services (including support for the Virtual Library), related electronic products from Agency programs, and DHHS and other inter-agency and partnership portal projects. The Intranet contributes to knowledge management activities of the Agency and access to research resources through the Virtual Library. The Web staff codes, updates, and loads approximately 7,000 new and replacement files per year (40 percent new files, and 60 percent replacement). In addition, they provide support for numerous other activities that impact on provision of electronic information services to the Agencys internal and external clients. The 4 key functions for the Web Services are: 1) Maintain AHRQ Web Site, Including Web Page Design, Coding, and Loading Files to the Site, and Template Development, 2) Provide Multimedia Services, 3) Administer and Provide Information Management Services, 4) Support AHRQ IT Infrastructure. The Project Director must demonstrate they possess, at a minimum, ten (10) years of experience working managing contracts in relevant technical areas and: 1) at least three (3) years in the substantive supervisory positions; and 2) demonstrated skills in organizing and monitoring complex projects conducted by groups of diverse professionals. Key technical personnel should possess the education, experience, and demonstrated skills to implement the activities as stated above. Sources must demonstrate the credentials of all Web coders and librarians to ensure appropriate experience and/or degrees/certifications. Interested 8 (a) firms with a GSA Schedule Contract ONLY should submit their capability statements (no more than 15 pages in length) to Jessica Alderton, Contracting Officer, by email at
[email protected], no later than 12pm (noon) EST on Monday, February 25, 2008. Capability statements must be tailored to this request and identify the sources capabilities to complete this requirement. Organizations must also specify (on the cover page) the GSA Schedule their contract falls under (example: 8(a) Stars, E-buy, GSA Advantage, etc.), their GSA contract number(s) and any small business designation in addition to being an 8(a) company. It is AHRQs intention to solicit this project to those interested 8 (a) contractors under the GSA Schedule (specific schedule to be determined based upon responses to this sources sought notice).