**Statement of Work\
Continuation of Support\
NCATS 1038**

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the
secondment of Paolo G. Miotti, MD, MPH as Senior Clinical Researcher to
the Embassy of New Delhi, India. Dr. Miotti's appointment has been
extended until March 2010.

Dr. Miotti's activities in India will continue to support HHS
objectives, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) expands its
research activities to incorporate geographic areas critical for the
prevention, control and management of HIV/AIDS and other priority
diseases. By strengthening clinical research and local expertise in
clinical trials, this position will also continue to address global,
long-term goals in providing support for research against HIV/AIDS and
other priority diseases in resource-limited countries in Asia and
Africa.

Activities that Dr. Miotti will manage and coordinate in India are:

-   Training in clinical trials with a focus on HIV/AIDS and other
    infectious diseases for Indian professionals.

-   Providing assistance in the design and data analysis of clinical
    trials for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.

-   Providing assistance in developing accreditation norms for the
    conduct of clinical trials.

-   Providing assistance to the Health Attaché on clinical research and
    AIDS vaccine clinical trial related issues, including drafting
    reporting cables and attending meetings at the request of the Health
    Attaché.

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

Social & Scientific Systems (SSS) will continue to work with the local
vendor to maintain network capabilities for Dr. Miotti, which will allow
him to communicate with OAR staff in Bethesda, receive timely e-mail
messages via high speed connection, and provide video conferencing
capabilities.

SSS will provide administrative and logistical support for four
three-day workshops/meetings beginning this Fiscal Year 2008 (August 2,
2008) and in Fiscal Year 2009 (August 3, 2009).

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

Convene site visits to determine appropriate meeting space (venue)

Prepare rosters

Prepare invitation letters

Arrange for hotel accommodations for 50 -- 70 participants w/ government
per diem

Arrange participants' airline tickets

International guest speakers and

Domestic guest speakers\' airline tickets

Prepare logistical fact sheets

Prepare the workshop agenda

Prepare 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 Conference Specialists

1.  Register participants

    a.  Distribution of name badges and seat assignments

2.  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}**

July 15, 2008 -- August 2, 2009

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

Minimum: \$ 100,000

Maximum: \$1,000,000

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

Fees are to be determined per task/workshop. However, rates are to
follow GSA schedules where applicable.

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

Monthly reports and a 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 (HHS) 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* in 2005.

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.

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

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

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

5)  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 Diseases surveillance, involving CDC, ICMR, and India\'s
    National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

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

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

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

9)  Purchasing office and/or meeting supplies as needed to support this
    project.

 

SSS has established an office in New Delhi, India which makes their
staff easily accessible to Dr. Miotti.

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 every awardee 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