Exhibition Design and Web Design and Production

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information contained in this notice.  This announcement constitutes the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) 75N97021R00019 and a written solicitation WILL NOT be issued.  The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through September 10, 2021 Federal Acquisition Regulation revision, which includes the consolidation of all Federal Acquisition Circulars 2021-07.  This acquisition is a 100% small business set-aside and the NAICS code is 541430. It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to procure professional creative and technical services to a) enable the National Library of Medicine to design and produce meaningful exhibition experiences (Exhibition Design) and b) to develop 508 compliant, responsive websites using existing templates and to develop new templates for 508

compliant, responsive websites (Web Design and Production) for the Exhibition Program. Providers will a) create and deliver exhibitions and exhibitions-related products (Exhibition Design) and b) create, code, and program error free, 508 compliant, responsive websites (Web Design and Production).  Physical and online exhibitions will effectively communicate historical, educational, scientific, and health related information to diverse audiences with different learning styles and ranges of prior knowledge. Exhibitions and exhibition-related products including online exhibitions will effectively and consistently deploy the information hierarchy established by the Exhibition Program for each project.EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD1. GENERALOfferors should submit individual and separate Technical Proposals to be considered for an Exhibition Design award and/or a Web Design and Production award. Thus, if an Offeror wants to be considered for both Exhibition Design and Web Design and Production, they must submit two Technical Proposals.Proposals that merely offer to conduct the work in accordance with the requirements of the Government’s statement of work will not be scored favorably. The Offeror must synthesize the requirements of this solicitation and submit an explanation of why their proposed technical approach meets the needs of the Government.2. MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONThe Mandatory Qualification Criteria establish conditions that must be met at the time of receipt of the Exhibition Design proposal or the Web Design and Production proposal in order for the response(s) to be considered any further for award.Technical Proposals that do not respond to the Mandatory Qualification Criteria or responses do not pass 508 Compliance inspection (which will be applied to final deliverables under the Statement of Work), will be determined by the National Library of Medicine’s Official to NOT to meet the Mandatory Qualification Criteria. Those Technical Proposals will not be submitted to the Technical Evaluation Panel for review and will not be considered any further for award.Listed below are the Mandatory Qualification Criteria.Exhibition DesignOfferors proposing to provide 508 Compliant PDFs as part of any final deliverable (included in the Statement of Work for Exhibition Design) must include digital files, produced by the Offeror, of two (2) 508 Compliant PDFs, which include typical features of an exhibition brochure and poster (images and text), that will be inspected for Section 508 Compliance Criteria. The Mandatory Qualification is NOT a request for Offerors to design a brochure and poster. However, these examples should be comparable to the requirement outlined in the Statement of Work and should be included in one (1) clearly marked section at the front of the Technical Proposal.Web Design and DevelopmentOfferors proposing to provide 508 Compliant websites as part of any final deliverable (included in the Statement of Work for Web Design and Production) must include a link to an existing public facing website, produced by the Offeror, that will be inspected for Section 508 Compliance Criteria.  The Mandatory Qualification is NOT a request for Offerors to design a website.  However, this example should be comparable in scope to the requirement outlined in the Statement of Work and should be included in one (1) clearly marked section at the front of the Technical Proposal.2.1 Justification for Mandatory Qualification CriteriaThe mandatory requirement for Section 508 Compliance is justified by the law (29 U.S.C § 794 (d)), which applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others.3. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIAThe following technical evaluation criteria will be used by the Government when reviewing the technical portion of the proposal. The Criteria below are listed in the order of relative importance with weights assigned for evaluation purposes.The technical evaluation factors for this Request for Proposals (RFP) include:1. Adherence to Section 508 requirements (Mandatory)2. Past Performance or previous work (35%)3. Technical/Creative Approach, Philosophy and Methodology (25%)4. Key Personnel proposed for this award (25%)5. Management Plan (15%)The Technical Evaluation Panel will review technical proposals that the National Library of Medicine’s Official has determined satisfy the Mandatory Qualification Criteria.  The Offeror’s technical proposal should be labeled Exhibition Design or Web Design and Production and be as complete and specific as possible.  The technical merits of each proposal will be carefully evaluated in terms of the requirements and in relation to the criteria listed below in Section 4.4. EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR VOLUME I – TECHNICAL PROPOSAL    Mandatory        Weight    Section 508      pass/fail    Criterion           Weight    A. Past Performance - 35 points    B. Technical/Creative Approach, Philosophy and Methodology - 25 points    C. Key Personnel - 25 points    D. Management Plan - 15 points    TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS   100 pointsIn Volume I the Technical Proposal, Offerors and proposed Key Personnel must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the following critical elements of work.All examples and narrative descriptions for evaluative factors 4.A., 4.B., 4.C., and 4.D. shall be focused to address the following Criteria:1. Offeror’s knowledge of contemporary audience/user theories in museum or online environment2. Offeror’s skills designing and producing products that are accessible and 508 Compliant3. Offeror’s ability to accurately convey complex historical, technical, or scientific concepts in a storytelling narrative that engages and is responsive to interpretive intent and informs and entertains visitors with different learning styles.4. Offer’s ability to develop design strategies that are logical and responsive to content hierarchy and effectively designed for final form (exhibition, banners, small displays, and desktop and personal devices, and PDFs).5. Offeror’s skills and ability to present large amounts of content (text, physical objects, digital media, etc.) in a logical, accessible, and engaging manner and that support interpretive narratives.6. Offeror’s skills presenting archival and library materials in an exhibition or online setting.7. Offeror’s skills collaborating in multidisciplinary creative teams and incorporating client feedback in a meaningful and efficient manner8. Offeror’s ability to work productively with Library staff and other contractors4.A. Past Performance - 35 PointsPast Performance should consist of a minimum of three (3) and no more than five (5) examples of exhibition projects, developed since 2016 that are similar in scope and complexity to the National Library of Medicine’s exhibitions developed since 2016, which are described in the Statement of Work. Offerors should make clear in the proposals their roles on the submitted exhibition projects and why Past Performance examples are relevant to this solicitation (e.g.: similar design problems solved, size, content complexity, budget, creative team, etc).Each Past Performance example will include narrative descriptions of the projects; visual records of the projects such as website links, or illustrative materials; and summary/contact information for references.The Technical Evaluation Panel will review narratives, visuals, and summary/contact information provided in the proposals; and contact references, as necessary, to determine that the Offeror possesses the required knowledge and abilities to meet the Criteria as listed above.4.B. Technical Approach, Philosophy, and Methodology - 25 PointsThe Technical Approach, Philosophy, and Methodology should consist of a narrative description that articulates/illustrates the Offeror’s proposed creative/design approach to the Statement of Work. The Technical Approach, Philosophy, and Methodology will articulate how the Criteria listed above is incorporated into the Offeror’s approach.The Technical Evaluation Panel will review Technical Approach, Philosophy, and Methodology for clarity, relevance, and appropriateness to the performance of task orders of comparable scope, content, and complexity to the work outlined in the Statement of Work and is evidenced in the recent previous exhibitions produced by the National Library of Medicine.4.C. Key Personnel - 25 PointsThe Technical Evaluation Panel evaluates Key Personnel against the Criteria listed above to ensure proposed personnel are qualified to perform the tasks issued under this Statement of Work. If the work products of Key Personnel are not included in Past Performance, sufficient detail of their past work to facilitate evaluation of capabilities should be included in this section.Suggested labor categories for Key Personnel and relevant qualifications for each category are listed below. The Library anticipates that each of the personnel categories listed will be used but makes no guarantee that will occur.The Technical Proposal should include all information relevant for Key Personnel to document individual training, education, experience, qualifications, and expertise necessary for the successful completion of all contract requirements. Limit CVs to one (1) or two (2) pages and include experience with projects of comparable scope, content, and complexity to the National Library of Medicine previous exhibitions.Key Personnel included in this proposal are expected to be available for this contract. Substitute Key Personnel are subject to review and approval by the Contracting Officer. The National Library of Medicine is not responsible for the time required to bring substitute Key Personnel up to date on projects.Suggested Key PersonnelProject Manager: Five (5) years of experience managing collaborative and creative projects. Consistent and successful management of creative teams and delivery of products on time and on budget. Able to manage quality assurance process.Graphic Designer (Exhibition Design): Five (5) years of experience designing for museum exhibitions and managing graphic production including a) ability to prepare production ready files; b) advanced skills using contemporary design software programs such as InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.; and c) skills preparing files for production and managing graphic fabrication/production projects.Graphic Designer (Web Design and Production): Five (5) years of experience designing in the web environment for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.Creative Director: Five (5) years of experience managing the creative approach and design solutions that reflect the intent of the project content, audience needs, and accessibility requirements.Web Developer (Web Design and Production): Five (5) years demonstrated proficiency in web-based application programming technologies featured in web environments on museum or similar educational, content intense responsive projects including but not limited to: Java, JavaScript, HTML, HTML5, XML, user interface design, and database management systems. Proficiency in UNIX (Solaris) and Windows NT platforms. Requires expertise and experience developing sites that meet Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for users with disabilities, and responsive sites. Proficiency developing websites that become imbedded within an institutional content management system and connect to other databases and servers. Experience with TeamSite 7.5 and Python/Drupal preferred.Other Personnel: Offeror may include relevant information about other personnel who may provide services outlined in the Statement of Work. These personal may provide exhibition design, environmental design, experience design, interpretation, writing/editing, project coordination, or research services. In addition, Other Personnel may provide animation/illustration, video production, digital strategy, usability strategy, brand strategy, writing/editing, project coordination, or research services. The omission or inclusion of qualifications of Other Personnel in the Key Personnel category will not affect the evaluation of this technical element.4.D. Management Plan - 15 PointsThe Management Plan demonstrates the ability of the Offeror to provide adequate and appropriate resources and management skills to develop exhibitions that reflect the interpretive intent of the provided content and to complete task orders in accordance with the National Library of Medicine’s technical, schedule, and cost constraints—with 100% on time delivery of 100% technically accurate exhibitions.The Technical Evaluation Panel evaluates the Management Plan for reasonableness and responsiveness to the statement of work. If the Management Plan references past projects, those projects should be highlighted in Past Performance. In addition to the Criteria above, Management Plan factors may include:1. The role and responsibilities of the project manager and his/her/their relevant skills and experience to manage and execute projects of comparable scope, content, and complexity of previous projects produced by the National Library of Medicine.2. Management’s commitment of adequate and quality resources to this requirement as reflected in the completeness, practicality and feasibility of the proposed management plan and the allocation and delineation of authority.3. Reasonable plan for project organization, staffing, and management in relation to the planning, initiation, implementation, conduct, monitoring and completion of typical tasks described in the Statement of Work.4. Description of the project management systems that will be used to track activities and to keep multiple activities on time and budget. The plan may include a description of the quality control methods that will be used to ensure the effective and efficient initiation, implementation, management, and oversight of contract requirements.5. EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR VOLUME II – THE BUSINESS PROPOSALPrice/Cost is evaluated separately.All evaluation factors other than Price/Cost, when combined, are significantly more important than Price/Cost.Price/Cost will be evaluated for completeness and reasonableness.  Price/Cost will represent a portion of the total evaluation, it is possible that a Vendor might not be selected for award because of unreasonable, unrealistic, incomplete, inaccurate, or noncurrent Price/Cost proposal information.Each Vendor's Price/Cost information will be evaluated for realism, completeness, and reasonableness to determine the Vendor's understanding of the work and ability to perform the contract.  Vendors may provide a narrative description of the Price/Cost proposal as a means of indicating completeness and reasonableness.Realism is evaluated by assessing the compatibility of proposed costs with the technical/management/qualifications of the personnel.Completeness is evaluated by assessing the level of detail the Vendor provides for all requirements.Reasonableness is evaluated by assessing the acceptability of the Vendor's methodology used in developing the cost.  The existence of adequate cost competition may support a determination of reasonableness.  This includes both original submissions and final proposal revisions (if requested).To assist Offerors in preparing their business proposals, this solicitation includes 1) a Sample Task Statement of Work for a traveling banner exhibition for Exhibition Design and 2) a Sample Task Statement of Work for a Template C project for Web Design and Production.The content for these Sample Tasks, which the Exhibition Program develops, is templated.  Please see the relevant Sample Task scripts.  The Sample Task scripts show the scope of the content and how the content is organized, which is consistent from project to project allowing for the efficient design of traveling banner exhibitions and Template C web sites.  The two Sample Tasks represent typical tasks to be issued under the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity orders and can be used in developing the business proposal.The solicitation includes a Cost Proposal Template with a page for Exhibition Design and a page for Web Design and Production.  The Cost Proposal Template is formatted to respond to the Sample Tasks and includes additional optional labor categories.The Cost Proposal Template is organized to make easy the determination of the best value to the government however it is not required that Offerors submit their costs using the Cost Proposal Template.  Offerors are free to modify the Cost Proposal Template to align with their preferred business approach or to use a cost proposal template of their own design as long as all proposed labor categories to be included in the award, material costs, and costs for projects described in the Sample Task Statement of Work(s) are all inclusive and complete.Of best value to the government will be Offerors with price reasonableness or cost realism for fully loaded hourly rates and reasonableness or cost realism for project costs in response to the Sample Tasks for traveling banner exhibitions and Template C websites.Travel is not anticipated but if required, the government will reimburse actual costs not to exceed federal per diem rates.It is anticipated that UP TO TWO IDIQ AWARDS will be made from this solicitation.  Individual orders will be firm-fixed-price.  This requirement is for a base year with options for four (4) successive one-year periods.  The period of performance is on or about January 2022.  The offeror shall include all information which documents and/or supports the qualification criteria in one clearly marked section of its proposal.  ** The Statement of Work (SOW), Sample Tasks, and Sample Task Templates of this requirement are attached to this solicitation. **All proposals received by Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 5:00 P.M., EST (Eastern-Daylight Savings Time) will be considered by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).  Responses must be in writing and must include pricing information and meet the criteria requirements.  All responses from responsible sources will be considered.  Inquiries regarding this procurement may be made to the National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5488, Attention:  Uyen Phuong, Contracting Officer via email at phuongu@mail.nlm.nih.gov no later than October 4, 2021 at 12:00 P.M. EST. Submission Instructions:  Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services must be submitted via NLM’s Electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) system at https://ecps.nih.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m., (Eastern Daylight Savings Time), Tuesday, October 12, 2021.NOTE:  For directions on using eCPS, control-click here https://ecps.nih.gov and click on "How to Submit." To submit your electronic proposal using eCPS, all offerors must have a valid NIH External Directory Account, which provides authentication and serves as a vehicle for secure transmission of documents and communication with the NLM.  The NIH External Directory Account registration process may take up to three (3) business days to become active.  Submission of proposals by facsimile or e-mail IS NOT accepted.The contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this order.  Full text of clauses and provisions are available at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.  The FAR provisions and clauses sited herein are incorporated by reference into this solicitation.  Offerors are advised to propose in accordance with the provision of FAR 52.212 1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items (Sep 2021).  FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items (Oct 2014).  Offerors are advised to provide with their offer a completed copy of the following provisions:  FAR 52.212 3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items (Feb 2021).  The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition:  FAR 52.212 4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (Oct 2018) with Addenda [Stop Work Order, FAR 52.242-15 (August 1989)]; FAR 52 212 5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (Sep 2021); and NLM (RC)-RIGHTS IN DATA - SPECIAL WORKS (11-30-88).