The Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Office of Systems Engineering and Development, BioWatch Program has a requirement for the Center for Infectious Research and Policy—University of Minnesota (CIDRAP) to direct a series of public health, medical, and epidemiological activities for the BioWatch Program. This effort will be accomplished through the issuance of a sole-source, Firm Fixed Price contract to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy--University of Minnesota, C315 Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 263, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. This sole-source contract is being done under the statutory authority of 41 United States Code 253 (c)(1)—only one responsible source. CIDRAP, through their exhaustive knowledge of the BioWatch Program and their strong (over 20 years) relationships they possess with state and local public health officials/practitioners, offers a unique capability that is not otherwise available to the Government and is the only qualified source to perform this effort within the timeframe to meet the BioWatch program needs. As an academic research organization, CIDRAP occupies a unique niche that permits CIDRAP to act effectively as an intermediary between the Federal Government (i.e. the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security) and state and local public health organizations. The efforts described herein cannot be performed by any other source, without substantial and unrecoverable schedule slippage that represents an unacceptable programmatic risk. The primary objectives of this contract are as follows: (1) Promote communication to and between epidemiologists in BioWatch jurisdictions (at the state and local levels); (2) Increase signal interpretation and response planning capabilities at the state and local levels; and (3) Increase coordination of Federal and local interpretation activities and resources. The specific activities that CIDRAP will perform to achieve the above referenced objectives include the following: Activity 1-- BioWatch Epidemiology Workgroup—CIDRAP will utilize their public health background and existing relationships with epidemiologists and other public health staff to direct activities for the national BioWatch Epidemiology Workgroup (BWEW). CIDRAP will identify gaps, assess and prioritize public health-related issues, provide recommendations, and determine priorities for discussion with the BWEW. CIDRAP will initiate and lead topic-based discussions with local, state, regional, and Federal epidemiologists, as well as DHS, CDC, FBI, EPA and the national laboratory staff, as appropriate. Issues will be summarized and presented to the BWEW for their discussion, comment, and final recommendations. CIDRAP will initiate appropriate follow-up activities in conjunction with other BioWatch partners to implement these recommendations as part of a national public health action plan. Activity 2—CIDRAP will provide direction for the BioWatch Epidemiology Network (BWEN)--This network will inform BioWatch epidemiologists across the United States about new and upcoming public health activities. The “key contact” network of BioWatch epidemiologists will be consulted regarding implementation of new or revised programmatic areas of BioWatch. Comments and recommendations from this network will be considered and included, as appropriate, by CIDRAP in the national public health action plan. Activity 3—Regional BioWatch Meetings--CIDRAP will develop the goals and objectives for a series of eight regional meetings (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest 1 and 2, Texas, California, West and National Capital Region). CIDRAP will discuss the meeting agenda’s with the DHS management. The multidisciplinary BioWatch participants will be invited to the meeting objectives and goals. The regional meetings will include updates on new and ongoing BioWatch activities, discussions about local, regional, and national issues, and provide an opportunity to provide additional training or exercises for jurisdiction staff. CIDRAP will facilitate these discussions and assist regions with identifying areas of agreement/disagreement and planning for resolution of these issues. The meetings may utilize a variety of formats, including presentations, video, discussions, and small group breakouts, as needed, to advance regional response planning efforts. Regional issues will be documented by CIDRAP and incorporated into a national action plan for BioWatch public health efforts, as appropriate. Activity 4--BioWatch Guidance Document --CIDRAP will direct the development and implementation efforts to update, revise, and develop additional content areas for the overall BioWatch Guidance Document. CIDRAP will prioritize the guidance document development; direct the discussion and consensus building efforts necessary to implement these changes; and document issues and resolutions about future efforts. Consensus building is a major aspect of this development effort. CIDRAP will consult with local, state, and Federal epidemiologists in public health as well as DHS, CDC, FBI, EPA, and the national laboratory staff to ensure that the guidance will characterize the respective agency requirements. CIDRAP will direct the guidance documents discussion in both the BWEW and the Environmental Sampling Workgroups. CIDRAP will direct the discussion and development process for environmental sampling guidance through the BioWatch Environmental Sampling Group (BWESW). Activity 5—Veterinary Surveillance Summarization--CIDRAP will conduct a veterinary surveillance project to determine the occurrence and distribution of naturally occurring zoonotic diseases in the geographic areas surrounding the BioWatch jurisdictions. Activity 6—Attend and Participate in DHS and Federal Agency Requested Meetings--CIDRAP will attend and participate in meetings as requested by DHS and other Federal agencies involved with the BioWatch public health medical/epidemiological efforts. The anticipated period of performance for this contract will be 5 years (a one-year base period and four one-year options). The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 541690 and the applicable size standard is $6.5 Million. There is no pre-solicitation conference planned for this requirement. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS REQUIREMENT. This requirement will NOT be set-aside for small business concerns. Inquiries regarding the availability of subcontracting opportunities should be directed to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy—University of Minnesota (CIDRAP). Any questions concerning this notice should be directed to the Contracting Officer via email at
[email protected]. Number Notes 22 and 26 apply to this action.