**STATEMENT OF WORK**

## Graphic Design Services

The vendor will provide a specific range of graphic design services to
the ILRSP, including the design and production of the UGSP application
packets and binder covers and spines. The vendor will also coordinate
the storage inventory and retrieval of UGSP outreach materials.

### Application Packets

The vendor will produce and update files for the UGSP application. The
application packet will be designed as a booklet with a pocket folder on
the inside back cover that contains all the information and forms
necessary to apply for the scholarship program. The vendor will work
with multiple files that differ in page size, number of pages, binding
method, and quantity of pages. After all the requested text changes are
approved, the vendor will create camera-ready files, a comprehensive
booklet, and provide printing specifications for the printer. After the
document has been forwarded to the printer, the vendor will then use the
new files to create Web-based forms that can be used by students who
wish to apply for the program online. In addition, the vendor will
create PDF files of the packet and forms which include form fields so
that applicants can type directly into the forms and print them. The
vendor will also make the forms compliant with section 508 by making
them accessible to those who are visually impaired by altering the
verbal tagged text in the document. The vendor will ensure that text is
clear and concise.

### Binder Covers and Spines

The vendor will develop and produce binder covers and spines using
existing designs or creating new designs, as required. PDFs must be
provided to ILRSP for review. Upon approval, the binder covers and
spines must be color laser printed and trimmed in house, then delivered
by courier to ILRSP in a timely manner.

1.  2\) Information technology (IT) support for the maintenance and
    enhancement of the ILRSP Web sites, must include (but not be limited
    to)

    1.  a\. hosting, maintaining, and enhancing the ILRSP Web sites,
        including the ILRSP site
        ([[www.ilrsp.nih.gov]{.underline}](http://www.ilrsp.nih.gov/) ),
        the UGSP site
        ([[www.ugsp.nih.gov]{.underline}](http://www.ugsp.nih.gov/) ),
        the Scholars/Advisors Only portion of the UGSP site, and the
        maintanence, management, and reporting pages of the UGSP site,
        which are utilitized by ILRSP staff to administer the UGSP

        b\. modifying existing Web pages including copy, graphics,
        design and functionality as directed by the ILRSP

        c\. creating new pages and additional features as directed by
        the ILRSP

        d\. ensuring quality through testing and debugging

        e\. providing ongoing technical support, and, if needed, train
        ILRSP staff in the use of applications and systems

## IT Support

### Hosting, Maintaining, and Enhancing ILRSP Web Sites

The vendor will host, maintain, and enhance the ILRSP Web sites,
including the public UGSP site used for outreach and to accept
scholarship applications. In addition, the vendor will support the
secured Scholars/Advisors Only portion of the UGSP site (the "SAM" site)
including the maintenance, management, and reporting pages which are
used by ILRSP staff to administer the UGSP. Vendor support must include
creating new pages and adding new features to the site, modifying
existing Web pages as directed, and providing ongoing technical support
and training to ILRSP staff in the use of the site's applications and
systems.

The vendor must update application and informational materials and
collect and disseminate evaluations, travel information, summer program
information, etc., using online database applications.

### 3.2.2 Modifying Existing Web Pages

The vendor must collaborate closely with the Government UGSP staff in
developing and deploying updates. The vendor will continue to maintain
\"development\" versions of the UGSP and SAM sites, and the vendor will
deploy new materials on these sites for review by the Government. The
vendor must ensure that all changes are compliant with Section 508
requirements.

### 3.2.3 Creating New Pages and Additional Features

The vendor must focus primarily on the SAM site, but frequent updates
and new features are also common on the UGSP site. The SAM site is
especially dynamic, because it supports a community of bright college
students. The key to an effective SAM site is to quickly post new
material and applications, so as to maintain interest and intra-group
communication. The use of passwords on the SAM site makes it especially
important to provide timely, compelling content.

### 3.2.4 Ensuring Quality

All work on the UGSP and SAM sites is required to proceed through three
rounds of quality review. First, the developer or page author must
create and review/test the initial version of the new material. This
detailed, expert examination is the first and perhaps the most important
step in ensuring quality results.

Second, the new material must be posted to the development site and
reviewed by a different vendor staff member.

Finally, the vendor must notify the appropriate Government employee to
review the material on the development site. This will ensure that our
work fully addresses the requirements of the Government. Upon approval,
the vendor will deploy the new material to the public site.

In addition, the vendor will immediately respond when the vendor
discover or are alerted to quality issues in the public site. The vendor
will also provide routine quality assurance efforts, including weekly
monitoring for broken links, daily backups, and monthly reviews of
utilization statistics.

### 3.2.5 Providing Technical Support and Training

The vendor's Webmaster, lead programmer, and project manager must be
available to the Government during normal business hours. They must
provide technical support whenever needed, including customized,
individual training as requested.

### 3.2.6 Certification and Authorization

The vendor must work with UGSP and NIH staff to ensure compliance with
NIH security policies. All the vendor staff with access to UGSP data
must undergo background checks, and the vendor will enforce the
documented security procedures and policies for these sites. The vendor
will work with Government staff to conduct the reviews and audits called
for in the C&A documentation, and the vendor will respond immediately to
any recommendations arising from those efforts.

**SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION**

The activities described in this Statement of Work are currently
performed by Social and Scientific Systems (SSS). SSS has superbly
performed these duties since the inception of the UGSP and the
Intramural LRP over ten years ago. The past performance demonstrates
that they have the ability to meet and exceed the work requirements and
evaluation criteria.

Additionally, due to the complexity of the UGSP Web site, in particular
the maintenance, management, and reporting pages and their underlying
databases, it is in the best interest of the government to select a
contractor with existing comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the
architecture and functions of the UGSP Web site. Educating a contractor
that is not already knowledgeable of the site's functions and
programming would require weeks or months of transition time at a great
cost to the government. Because SSS has developed and maintained the
UGSP Web site for the past 10 years, they are the only contract who
would not require weeks or months of transition time.

Finally, the UGSP and SAM sites are scheduled to be moved to the NIH,
but are currently hosted at SSS. SSS successfully obtained NIH
Certification and Authorization to operate, and the continue to comply
with relevant security policies and procedures. To list only a few, SSS
ensures that all critical software updates from Microsoft and other
platform vendors are expeditiously applied, that anti-virus software is
operational and continuously updated, and that nightly backups are made
and appropriately secured in case of disaster. This Certification and
Authorization permits SSS to host the UGSP and SAM sites until the site
move has been completed. It would be very difficult to identify a vendor
that would be able to immediately host these sites and provide seamless
transition of the site move to the NIH servers.