Request for Information (RFI): Development of the NCI NanCI Mobile Application to Help Scientists Connect

This Request for Information (RFI) is intended to obtain information to help formulate a procurement strategy. This RFI should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Although "proposal" and "offeror" may be used in this RFI, your response will be treated as information only. It will not be used as a proposal.

The responses to this RFI may guide the NCI in awarding future contracts at an undetermined time. There is no solicitation available at this time; no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of this RFI, responses thereto or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. This notice is for market research only to help identify potential products and services capable of fulfilling the needs of the requirement outlined in the draft Statement of Work.      

BACKGROUND

The NCI Center for Cancer Training (CCT) is committed to developing a 21st century workforce capable of advancing cancer research using a scientifically integrated approach. The Center for Cancer Training coordinates training opportunities at NCl's laboratories and clinics (intramural) and administers Fellowships, Career Development Awards and Institutional Training awards that support training at universities, medical schools, and cancer centers (extramural). The Center for Cancer Training is comprised of two intramural components - the Office of Training and Education, the Intramural Diversity Workforce Branch - and one extramural component, the Cancer Training Branch. The CCT provides training opportunities and career development activities aimed at catalyzing the career development of early-stage scientists, clinicians, and other health professionals as they integrate into the cancer research workforce. The cancer training and career development opportunities on NCl's campus cover a broad spectrum of disciplines for individuals at career stages ranging from high school students, graduate students, scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals.

In 2020 and 2021, the Center for Cancer Training conducted a survey and focus groups, respectively. The surveys and focus groups' participants were NCI trainees (graduate students, postbacs, postdocs, research, and clinical fellows) from all Divisions, Offices, or Centers (DOCs). There were several repeated themes shared throughout both:

1) Trainees felt a sense of information overload, particularly through emails and from the large biomedical literature
2) Trainees want to be able to see information that is tailored to where they are in their career and focuses on their research interests
3) Trainees want a multi-functional centralized source and
4) Trainees shared a strong emphasis on being able to connect with potential resources beyond their assigned mentor or Division, Office, or Center.  Trainees repeatedly reported feelings of being overwhelmed and under-informed about what really matters to them as a trainee at NCI, and a feeling of isolation despite being in a large, active organization.

The NanCI mobile application will address these issues by learning each trainee's interests and using that knowledge to target recommendations for learning opportunities that fit those needs, including papers, career development events and scientific talks. At full capability, the NanCI mobile application would be able to tailor the trainees’ experience at NCI and across the U.S. assisting in building their network, locating events to attend, discovering scientific papers, and providing peer-to-peer matching. Ultimately, the success of trainees' training experience is crucial to the future of cancer research discoveries and impacts the next generation of cancer researchers workforce.

REQUESTED INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please submit one (1) electronic copy of your response via e-mail to Contract Specialist, Renee Jones-Chuang, at renee.jones-chuang@nih.gov. 

NCI requests that interested vendors submit the following information:

• Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of the primary point-of-contact
• Company / organization name
• Company Universal Entity Identifier (UEI) and CAGE code

To assist NCI in understanding the technical and functional capabilities of your organization, the NCI requests responses to the RFI questions included in Attachment 2 – RFI Questions.

HOW TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE

Respondents should submit a response to this Request for Information not to exceed 500 characters per question or 10 single sided pages in total including all attachments, charts, etc. (single space, 12-point font minimum) that clearly responds to the questions in Attachment 2. Interested offerors may use “Attachment 2 – RFI Questions” to submit responses or any other electronic format.  Brevity and structured responses are encouraged whenever applicable to aid in processing.  Responses will be held in a confidential manner.  NCI will provide confirmation of response submission, but respondent may not receive individualized feedback. 

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

Respondents are discouraged from including any proprietary or otherwise sensitive information in their responses. The inclusion of proprietary or otherwise sensitive information may delay or limit the NCI’s ability to effectively review the response. Respondents must explicitly mark all proprietary or sensitive information that is included, and are encouraged to mark only those pages or responses which contain the proprietary information.

All information furnished must be in writing.  All questions must be in writing and emailed to renee.jones-chuang@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Please reference Notice Number 75N91023R00039 on all correspondence.