**BONE GENETICS MEETING SUPPORT**

**STATEMENT OF WORK**

**[A. Background]{.underline}**

The Bone Genetics Meeting is being held to develop more collaborative
approaches to the study of bone mass and fracture risk. The group will
consider steps that NIAMS can take to: 1) strongly encourage the sharing
of genotypic and phenotypic data among investigators studying the
genetics of bone mass and fracture risk; and 2) consolidate existing
sample populations into one or more aggregate samples(s), in order to
support future studies of greater statistical power.

**[B. Contractor Requirements]{.underline}**

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor
shall be required to furnish all of the necessary services, qualified
personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided
by the Government, as needed to perform the Performance Work Statement,
below:

This statement of work is for the support of the Bone Genetics Meeting
to be held on May 8 -- 9, 2006, with approximately 25 invited
participants (20 of whom will be reimbursed), plus another 15
specifically invited individuals, and an additional 5 self-selected
attendees from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) staff.

The Contractor shall provide management and administrative support and
all services necessary for successful conduct of the meeting to be held
at a conference facility designated by the Government, in Bethesda, MD;
and shall perform the following type of work assignments:

1.  Make domestic travel and lodging arrangements for approximately 20,
    who will also receive reimbursement for per diem and other travel
    related expenses (the lodging arrangements should be made at the
    same location as the conference facility);

2.  Assist in reproduction of supporting meeting documentation;

3.  Assist in assembling and mailing of invitation and other letters as
    required, on Government provided letterhead, to meeting
    participants;

4.  Create table tents with Government provided logo, and printed name
    badges, with Government provided logo, in clear plastic holders
    attached to lanyards;

5.  Handle meeting sign-in roster if required;

6.  Assist in the assembly of meeting of Government provided folders,
    each containing: a meeting agenda and roster; other supporting
    meeting documentation as required; and writing utensils and paper;

7.  Coordinate provision of light refreshments during meeting breaks
    with meeting facility;

8.  Coordinate on-site audio/visual services and overflow room needs, if
    necessary;

9.  Arrange for transportation that may be needed between hotel and
    meeting site;

10. Provide frequent and ongoing proactive communication, as required
    for efficient meeting management, with meeting attendees, hotel
    staff, and others regarding tracking of hotel reservations, travel
    arrangements, all aspects of registration, etc., as well as
    personnel of other relevant organizations;

11. Maintain ongoing, proactive communication with the NIAMS Extramural
    Program (EP) project officer and EP staff from the beginning to the
    end of the task, including 2 -- 4 meetings at NIAMS EP offices, or
    by teleconference.

**Provide Management and Administrative Support.**

1.  Project Manager:

The Contractor shall provide a project manager/director who shall serve
as the principal point of contact with the Government, and if necessary,
provide a consistent, knowledgeable person to back up the project
manager. The project manager shall take responsibility in a proactive
manner for (1) directly supervising and coordinating project staff and
consultants, (2) providing and assuring the quality of
assignments/tasks, (3) providing staffing continuity, (4) assuring and
monitoring quality control, (5) monitoring contract progress, (6)
providing deliverables, (7) preparing reports and plans, and (8)
maintaining budget control.

1.  Multi-skilled Staff:

The Contractor shall assemble a multi-skilled staff, which may include
consultants, who have demonstrated ability to support (but not limited
to) the following activities, and the Contractor shall ensure staff and
consultant continuity and availability when making such staff task
assignments as:

Meeting format design;

Material and database design and development;

Contract negotiation with vendors, including hotels and caterers;

Travel coordination;

Data management such as invitation and registration tracking;

All support services for activities before and during the meeting

Post-meeting support, including but not limited to participant
reimbursement

**Meeting/Conference Support Services.** The Contractor and appropriate
contact staff shall schedule and attend an initial planning (kickoff)
meeting with the NIAMS EP project officer and/or delegated program
person responsible for the task. This meeting will be for the purpose of
discussing the task objectives, the expectation and requirements,
procedures for quality control and other needs used by the Contractor,
potential problems and cost estimates. The Contractor shall then develop
and submit a detailed Task Work Plan for implementation of the task.
This plan must address all work to be accomplished under that task, as
well as identifying the key people assigned to accomplish that work,
including their availability and timeliness. In addition, to major
elements discussed elsewhere, the plan must include all required work
such as (but not limited to) participants' travel arrangements,
material, name cards, etc., delivery of all material to the meeting
site, all audiovisual needs including tape recording to ensure
high-quality summary reports, and all other efforts the Contractor deems
necessary for that specific task.

Upon approval of the Task Work Plan, the Contractor shall begin work.

During the period of the task, the Contractor will submit an interim
progress report, including labor, activities and costs. After the task
is completed, the Contractor shall submit to the project officer a
detailed final task report reconciling actual number of participants,
costs, etc. with the approved Task Work Plan. This report shall include
a supplement showing all costs incurred for that task.

**[C. Special Requirements]{.underline}**

1.  To ensure rapid response to urgent program needs and to ensure
    adequate day-to-day management of activities involving NIAMS EP
    staff, the Contractor's staff (and consultants, if any) must be
    available to meet with NIAMS EP program staff in Bethesda, MD with
    as little as two (2) hours advance notice. Such meetings may involve
    one or members of the Contractor's team. It may be assumed that
    meeting notices will be given by telephone. Whenever possible, NIAMS
    EP staff will schedule meetings as least a couple of days in
    advance.

2.  The Contractor shall have sufficient staff so that the NIAMS EP
    project officer can develop a working relationship with the
    Contractor's dedicated project manager from the very beginning of
    the task and work with the same assigned staff over the life of the
    contract task.

3.  The Contractor shall maintain knowledge and understanding of current
    Federal Travel Regulations, including but not limited to
    reimbursement of travel, per diem, and other subsistence costs, as
    well as the handling of hotel contracts, etc.

4.  The Contractor shall deliver all electronic documents in a format
    that is compatible with software used at NIAMS EP. At the present
    time, all text documents should be prepared using MicroSoft (MS)
    Word and all spreadsheets using MS Excel. Should NIAMS EP change
    desktop standards during the term of the contract, the Contractor
    shall prepare and deliver documents in accordance with these new
    standards.

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

The period of performance for this contract is from March 13, 2006 --
June 13, 2006. Please note that the completion of the period of
performance is contingent upon the Contractor ensuring that the process
for reimbursing applicable participants for travel related expenses are
complete.

**[E. Evaluation Criteria]{.underline}**

1.  Experience with setting up and conducting Government meetings -- 40%

2.  Experience with the Government travel and travel reimbursement
    process -- 20%

3.  Past performance -- 30%

4.  Price -- 10%