Description
The Department of Health and Human Services intends to negotiate with Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc., 6401 Hollis Street, Suite 150, Emeryville, CA 94608, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 6.302.1 to award a contract to develop an electronic talking book that combines pictures, audio and multi-layered content in an interactive medium to be utilized to teach Afghan women urgent lessons regarding their health and that of their children and families, regardless of their ability to read. The contractor must possess extensive knowledge of the unique culture, disease patterns, state of the country and its health systems in order to create this product. The product must be culturally sensitive, contain accurate information and be appropriate to the situation in which Afghan women and their families live. The contractor must identify the economic and social barriers to the process of implementing this technology in the current clinical setting. The contractor will be responsible for the concept design, researching the material, developing visual and audio components of the product, translating the material into the two predominant local languages, Dari and Pashto, and then producing the books. Production of 20,000 copies must be completed with an initial installment in April 2004. Leapfrog has immediately available people fluent in both languages who understand the health needs, cultural differences and current clinical settings of the Afghan people. Leapfrog has produced a similar prototype specific to the Afghan people, currently has on staff personnel with the unique qualifications and expertise required and possesses the production facilities and abilities that would allow the project to be completed in time to meet the deadline. Any other contractor would have to: 1) have immediately available the critical personnel and required expertise, 2) provide a prototype for approval shortly after award and 3) be able to produce 20,000 copies of the approved product with an initial installment in April 2004. Therefore, the government believes that to award this contract to any contractor but Leapfrog would result in a significant increase in cost and an unacceptable delay in production. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there may be other sources with the requisite qualifications to perform the work described above. Any organization capable of performing the work should submit a cost estimate, production timeline with initial installment date no later than April 1, 2004, and statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the Government’s requirement as described above. No solicitation document is available. Capability statements should be submitted within 10 calendar days of the publication of this synopsis to the contact point and address given above.