Statement of Work

**[Background Information:]{.underline}**

The biennial International Conference on Microbicides 2008 is a
scientifically focused international meeting of the world's leading
researchers working to prevent HIV infection. The goals of the
conference are to: (1) report novel or innovative work in the
microbicides field; (2) provide updates on recent microbicides research;
(3) provide a forum for discussion of new developments in microbicides
research including ethical, clinical, behavioral and methodological
issues; and (4) present opportunities for knowledge-sharing between
microbicides researchers, public-health workers, and advocacy
organizations.

The international conferences on microbicides have become the most
critical international scientific meetings on the research and
development of microbicides to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted infections (STIs). Starting in 2000, the previous
conferences were held in the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom,
and in South Africa, the first to be held in a developing country. The
location of the fifth biennial International Conference on Microbicides
2008, in India, is anticipated to attract a significant increase in the
registration of researchers, public health workers, and advocacy groups
from Africa and Asia, as well as from Europe and both North and South
America. The organizers will cap the number of participants at 1,500 in
order to retain the focus of the conference.

The conference program will be divided into four tracks: (1) basic
sciences, (2) clinical sciences, (3) socio-behavioral sciences, and (4)
community and advocacy. In conjunction with the Microbicides 2008
Conference, three satellite workshops will convene in India, on or about
the same time. The following workshop topics will be:

\(1\) Grantsmanship, (2) Behavioral and Social Science, and (3) ARV
Resistance.

The conference program will include scientific overviews with plenary
sessions, invited lecturers, and presentations of original research;
workshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design
and outcome measures; and ethical issues in the clinical trials of
microbicides. The scientific program ensures that emerging or
underdeveloped areas of research are featured proactively and
prominently throughout the sessions.

The International Conference on Microbicides 2008 organizers have
written to OAR because NIH through OAR has been one of the main
financial contributors to the previous microbicides conferences,
consistent with the U.S. Government commitment to accelerate the
development of safe and effective microbicides to prevent HIV and other
STIs. The NIH AIDS-related portfolio includes the discovery,
development, pre-clinical testing, and clinical trials of lead compounds
with microbicidal activity, as well as behavioral and social science
studies on the use of these topical agents to prevent transmission of
HIV and other STIs. NIH also supports phase I, II, and III clinical
trials of potential microbicides in both domestic and international
settings.

In addition to the above conference and satellite workshops; the NIH and
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will convene  a research
agenda-setting Workshop entitled, "Clinical and Translational Research
for Prevention and Treatment of Co-morbidities Associated with HIV
Infection" on September 23-26, 2007 in Delhi, India at the India Habitat
Centre.  This workshop, convened under the auspices of the U.S.-Indo
Joint Working Group on Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and
HIV/AIDS, will focus on preventing, treating, and ameliorating
HIV-related co-morbidities including co-infections, opportunistic
infections, and malignancies, as well as the metabolic and
cardiovascular abnormalities and adverse events associated with
antiretroviral therapy.  U.S. and Indian presenters also will address
the role of co-existing conditions including injection and non-injection
drug use, alcohol abuse, depression, stigma, and the socio-cultural
context in India and the impact these factors have on the translation of
research findings to the development and implementation of effective
prevention and treatment programs in India.  The workshop participants
will include leading U.S. and Indian basic and clinical biomedical and
behavioral researchers, program managers, and service providers. 

The goals of the co-morbidities workshop are to develop future research
collaborations and to provide information about NIH-sponsored
international HIV/AIDS research programs, NIH and IC research
priorities, and funding opportunities.  Representatives of the key NIH
Institutes with significant portfolios of research on HIV/AIDS who will
participate in technical discussions, serve as co-chairs and presenters
in scientific sessions and co-chairs of working group discussions.  The
number of NIH participants reflects the scientific diversity and breadth
of the NIH AIDS research portfolio across the ICs.

**[Program Objectives:]{.underline}**

SSS will provide administrative, logistical and conference support in
India for each conference and workshop listed above beginning September
15, 2007 and ending April 2, 2008.

**[Pre-Workshop Tasks:]{.underline}**

Convene site visits to determine appropriate meeting space (venue)

Prepare rosters

Prepare invitation letters

Arrange for hotel accommodations for 100 -- 200 participants w/
government per diem

Arrange participants' airline tickets

International guest speakers and

Domestic guest speakers\' airline tickets to include ground
transportation

Prepare logistical fact sheets

Prepare workshop agenda

Consolidate briefing materials

Prepare name badges

Miscellaneous duties include facsimile, directional signage, postage,
FedEx mailing, and office supplies to support the workshop.

**[On-site Support]{.underline}**

Two to three Conference Specialists

1.  Register participants

    a.  Distribution of name badges and seat assignments

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1.  Audio Visual Equipment

    a.  Coordination of guest speakers' power point presentations

    b.  Distribution of handouts

**[Post Workshop:]{.underline}**

Close down workshop

Pack up material

Finalize payment to the hotel

Finalize payment for venue

Process reimbursements

Follow-up correspondence

**[Period of Performance:]{.underline}**

September 15, 2007 to April 2, 2008

**[Estimated Costs:]{.underline}**

Minimum: \$1,000,000

Maximum: \$2,500,000

**[FEES:]{.underline}**

Fees are to be determined per task; however, rates will follow the GSA
schedules where applicable.

**[Deliverables:]{.underline}**

Monthly reports and detailed description of each approved task under the
NIH Conference, Administrative and Travel Service Contract. SSS will be
responsible for sending all invoices to the Project Officer within 30
days after services have been rendered.

**[Sole Source Justification:]{.underline}**

SSS was established in 1978 and has provided logistical support to the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and other federal
agencies for the past 27 years. SSS has received numerous corporate
awards, including the *Maryland Work-Life Alliance's "Workplace
Excellence" Seal of Approval* for each of the past six years, the
*Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County* in 2002, and the
*Silver Spring Excellence Award*.

SSS has provided logistical, technical, administrative and pass-through
financial support to the NIH and Office of AIDS Research (OAR) for many
years. This support has centered primarily on HIV and AIDS-related
activities, which provided SSS with an extensive knowledge of the NIH
and the OAR HIV/AIDS programs.

Since September 2001, SSS has supported the OAR and its HIV/AIDS efforts
in India.  Generally, the work has included:

1)  Administrative review of new proposals and progress of ongoing
    projects.

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1)  Communicating at all levels with scientists and government
    officials.

2)  Briefing and accompanying official visitors and assisting them with
    special and technical requirements.

3)  Surveying status of health research and health delivery in India and
    analyzing policies; produce in-depth reporting on developments in
    these areas while serving as a local access point for Indians
    seeking similar information from the U.S.

4)  Serving as an expert to the U.S.-Indo Contraceptive and Reproductive
    Health Research Program Joint Working Group involving the NIH and
    the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and to the Joint
    Oversight Board of the U.S.-Indo Program on Emerging and Reemerging
    Infectious Disease surveillance, involving CDC, ICMR, and India's
    National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

5)  Preparing weekly reports to the OAR about related projects and
    activities.

6)  Providing technical assistance in the establishment of offices or
    other facilities in India.

7)  Making arrangements for conference or training sessions which may
    include hotel and vendor negotiations, local transportation
    arrangements, correspondence preparation, and providing other
    logistical or administrative support.

> 10\) Providing logistical, administrative and conference support for
> the following international events all in India: Grantsmanship
> Workshop; ARV Resistance; Behavioral and Social Science Workshop,
> Co-morbidities Workshop -- September 23-26, 2007; and the 2008
> Microbicides Conference - February 24-27, 2008.

 

SSS has established an office in New Delhi, India that makes them easily
accessible to Dr. Miotti. In addition, Mr. Manmohan Saxena, an Indian
National, has worked as an employee of SSS since 2001, on numerous
projects for NIH. He will provide critical assistance in country on this
project.

The sole source justification complies with Federal Acquisition
Regulations (FAR) 16.505 (b)(2)(i) and (II).

**[FAR Clause (FYI)\
]{.underline}**

**[16.505 -- Ordering.]{.underline}**

\(B\) Formal evaluation plans or scoring of quotes or offers are not
required.

\(2\) *Exceptions to the fair opportunity process*. The contracting
officer shall give all awardees a fair opportunity to be considered for
a delivery-order or task-order exceeding \$2,500 unless one of the
following statutory exceptions

applies:

\(i\) The agency need for the supplies or services is so urgent that
providing a fair opportunity would result in unacceptable delays.

\(ii\) Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services
required at the level of quality required because the supplies or
services ordered are unique or highly specialized.