The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking information through a Sources Sought Notice for Pilot Peer Review Services aimed at enhancing research administrative services for its Pilot Project Program (PPP) within the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE) at the NJ Health Care System. The purpose of this initiative is to facilitate peer reviews for internal investigators’ applications and to ensure a robust and unbiased review process by engaging external subject matter experts. The overarching goal is to expedite research addressing health issues related to military environmental exposures while alleviating administrative burdens on current efforts. Key objectives include expanding the pool of eligible investigators, formalizing review processes, and minimizing conflicts of interest. This procurement will play a critical role in fostering innovative research and improving overall grant submission processes for veterans' health concerns. Responses to this notice are due by December 22, 2024, and will be archived 60 days after that date.
The Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE) at the VA NJ Health Care System requires a contractor to provide peer review services for its Pilot Project Peer Review Program. The objective is to enhance research efforts addressing Veterans' health issues related to military environmental exposure. The contractor will facilitate proposal solicitations from both internal and external researchers, recruit subject matter experts for reviews, and streamline the review process to ensure integrity and minimize biases.
Key requirements for the contractor include over five years of experience in research proposal review, access to a wide pool of qualified reviewers, and the capability to manage a secure web-based platform for confidentiality. The contract covers project management, database setup for submission tracking, compliance reviews of proposals, and coordination of expert reviewer recruitment.
The performance period includes a Base Year with three optional years, and work will primarily take place virtually. The contractor is tasked with regular progress reporting, key personnel management, and adherence to security protocols while coordinating closely with VA representatives. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to improving health research and outcomes for Veterans while ensuring a thorough and unbiased review mechanism.
The Department of Veterans Affairs' Network Contracting Office 2 is conducting a market survey to identify qualified firms for "Pilot Peer Review Services" at the NJ Health Care System in East Orange, NJ. This notice is purely informational, encouraging interested parties to provide details about their capabilities, experience, and socioeconomic status by December 22, 2024. Specifically, firms are requested to submit an expression of interest via email, including information such as company name, individual contact, capability statement, examples of relevant work, and business classification under the NAICS code 813920. The intent of this market research is to inform potential future procurement decisions, and no formal solicitation is currently available. Any future solicitations will be published on SAM.gov, requiring separate responses. The document emphasizes the VA's commitment to engaging a diverse array of vendors, specifically highlighting various small business designations.