Special Supplemental Journal Issue on the
This is a presolicitation/notice of intent to sole source for commercial services prepared in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. It is the intent of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) to procure professional services on a sole source basis from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (140 Huguenot Street, 3rd Floor, New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215) under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) to provide the OBSSR a Special Supplemental Journal Issue on Childhood Obesity Declines. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 511199 - All Other Publishers (This U.S. industry comprises establishments generally known as publishers. These establishments may publish works in print or electronic form).
Background
The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) furthers the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by emphasizing the critical role that behavior and social factors play in health, health care, and well-being. OBSSR serves as the focal point for coordination and development of goals and objectives in the behavioral and social sciences at NIH. OBSSR is also a liaison between the NIH intramural and extramural communities, other Federal agencies, academic and scientific societies, national voluntary health agencies, the biomedical research community, the media, and the public on matters pertaining to behavioral and social sciences research. OBSSR's mission is to bring together the biomedical, behavioral, and social science communities to work more collaboratively to solve pressing health challenges facing our nation. OBSSR's mission includes: 1) improving the synergy of basic and applied behavioral and social sciences research; 2) enhancing and promoting the research infrastructure, methods and measures needed to support a more cumulative and integrated approach to behavioral and social sciences research; and 3) facilitating the adoption of behavioral and social science research findings in health research and in practice.
Purpose/Objective
The purpose of this requirement is to produce a publication for the scientific community on a topic of key interest to OBSSR, NIH program staff, NIH investigator community, health researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. The special issue publication will further the aims of OBSSR by addressing OBSSR's priorities two and three (stated above) by disseminating the results of a study regarding a novel approach to the evaluation of community based natural experiments which produced reductions in childhood obesity, a growing health problem of epidemic proportions. This requirement will help to further the adoption of novel evaluation strategies into health research and practice. The special issue will contain articles describing the purpose of the Childhood Obesity Declines (COBD) project, why it exists, the methods used, the main findings across the four sites studied, address intervention components and their actions, and provide implications for the field of prevention and intervention in childhood obesity.
This requirement is to obtain the services of a contractor to plan and produce a Special Supplemental Journal Issue on the Childhood Obesity Declines Project (COBD) which will focus on strategies to prevent and treat childhood obesity.
The contractor shall provide the following services:
• Coordinate and provide peer review of each of the six papers submitted. The review should determine the appropriateness and scientific rigor of the submitted manuscripts;
• Return manuscripts to the lead author of each paper, after peer review, for revisions and clarifications required by reviewers/journal editors;
• Provide final editorial review and prepare manuscripts for publication and disseminate to authors for final approval; and
• Produce a special issue and disseminate it through the usual print and web channels used by the journal. The contractor shall distribute the journal to its subscribers and print an additional 200 copies for OBSSR to distribute further.
Deliverables
The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables:
NO. DELIVERABLE TIMEFRAME OF DELIVERY
1 Organize reviewers for manuscripts and conduct planning conference calls. Two weeks after award
2 Provide electronic versions of introductory and synthesis papers to the assigned reviewers. One month after award
3 Return manuscript reviews and requests for revisions (including resubmission date) to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and authors. Three months after award
4 Complete final review and editorial approval process. Four months after award
5 Produce and distribute the special issue to its subscribers. Five months after award
6 Provide 200 additional copies of the special issue to OBSSR for further distribution. Six months after award
7 Provide open access to the full supplement on journal's website and provide the COR a link to the Special Issue where anyone can download the PDFs. Seven months after award
8 The Contractor shall attribute proper acknowledgment of NIH OBSSR sponsorship for the theme issue of the Childhood Obesity journal. This acknowledgement shall be displayed in both the print and online versions of the issue. The following language shall be used: "This 2017 theme issue of the Childhood Obesity journal is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) to support the dissemination of novel research on evaluation of community based prevention and intervention strategies to reduce rates of childhood obesity; and inform future research, program and policy implementation efforts."
• Reference to NIH or any of its Institutes and Centers (ICs) or components, as well as use of Government names, symbols, logos, and other identifying marks, shall not be used for endorsement or implied endorsement of any non-NIH entity, product or service. Duration of the project
Period of Performance
The period of performance shall be seven (7) months from date of award.
Place of Performance
The work shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. However, the Contractor shall be available by phone, fax, and e-mail during normal business hours.
Mandatory Criteria
The Contractor shall be affiliated with associated journals in the childhood obesity fields. The journal must routinely contain content focusing on diverse multilevel factors effecting childhood obesity, and provide a central forum for exploring effective, actionable strategies for weight management and obesity prevention in children and adolescents. The journal must serve a diverse audience who are involved in such activities:
• Physicians;
• Nurses;
• Dietitians;
• Nutritionists;
• Psychologists;
• Health counselors;
• School administrators;
• Community organizers;
• Federal, state, and local health experts; and
• Policymakers, among others.
Program Management and Control Requirements
The OBSSR COR will exercise management control over the project, communicate with the Contractor, and track the progress of journal supplement preparation. Telephone and e-mail conversation, as well as in person meetings, between OBSSR staff and the Contractor are expected to identify unanticipated issues that will be documented and resolved. Inspection and acceptance requirements will be based on FAR 52.246-4 Inspection of Services-Fixed-Price.
Sole Source Justification
Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a leading company in the Scientific, Technical, and Medical knowledge and information industry. They are known for authoritative international publications in cutting-edge basic and translational biomedical research, with expanding scope in engineering, business, environment, and legal publications. These publications play an active and important role in advancing critical research and facilitating collaboration throughout the world in academia, industry, and government, and are also highly respected resources for legislators, policy makers, and educators.
More important, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is the sole publisher of Childhood Obesity Journal, which is the only journal that provides a central forum for exploring effective, actionable strategies for weight management and obesity prevention in children and adolescents. Health disparities and cultural sensitivities are addressed, and plans and protocols are recommended to effect change at the family, school, and community level. The Journal also reports on the problem of access to effective healthcare and delivers evidence-based solutions to overcome these barriers.
Childhood Obesity Journal coverage includes:
• Genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors causing obesity in children and adolescents;
• Prevention and management initiatives and interventions;
• Strategies to promote education and policy changes;
• The role of primary care healthcare providers;
• Long-term health risks for overweight children;
• Health disparities and lack of access to health care;
• Economic impact of childhood obesity; and
• Research advances.
The Journal's audience includes physicians, nurses; dietitians; diabetes specialists and educators; nutritionists; psychologists; health counselors; school administrators; community organizers; and federal, state, and local health experts and policymakers; among others. The Journal is published in collaboration with the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Due to the reasons listed above, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is uniquely qualified to fulfill the requirements listed in this Statement of Work.
The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference. Full text may be found at https://www.acquisition.gov/Far
FEDERAL ACQUISITION REQULATION (FAR) CLAUSES
FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items
FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes and Executive orders
This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), nor is a RFP available; however, all responsive sources may submit a proposal in a timely manner which will be considered by NLM. Firms interested in responding to this notice must be able to provide the referenced service as specified above. Responses must be in writing and must be received electronically by 2:00 PM EST on Monday May 22, 2017. Proposals must include pricing information and should reference Solicitation No. Intent to Sole Source NIHLM2017976MAH and should be submitted to Mario.henriquez@nih.gov.
Mario Henriquez, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-827-7629, Email mario.henriquez@nih.gov - Sally Boakye, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-496-6546, Fax 301-402-0642, Email boakyes@mail.nih.gov
