THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY OF THE NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION WILL CONSIDER QUALIFICATION STATEMENTS ONLY FROM FIRMS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN THIS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES ISSUE DATE: April 18, 2013 DUE DATE: May 3, 2013 ISSUED BY: DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION 6600 SW 92ND AVE., SUITE 300 PORTLAND, OR 97223
Page 2 1.1. Introduction and Purpose. SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION The Department of Government Relations and Advocacy of the National Psoriasis Foundation in concert with the Foundation s Advocacy Committee is soliciting Qualification Statements from interested persons and/or firms for the provision of Federal government relations services. Through a Request for Qualification process described herein, person and/or firms interested in assisting the National Psoriasis Foundation with the provision of such services must prepare and submit a Qualification Statement in accordance with the procedures and schedule in this RFQ. The Department of Government Relations and Advocacy will review Qualification Statements only from those firms that submit a Qualification Statement, which includes all the information required as specified herein. The Department of Government Relations and Advocacy intends to qualify person(s) and/or firm(s) that (a) possess the professional, financial and administrative capabilities to provide the proposed services, (b) have demonstrated success with organizations of similar size and scope to the Foundation, and (c) will agree to work under the compensation terms and conditions determined by the Department of Government Relations and Advocacy. 1.2. Procurement Process and Schedule. The Department of Government Relations and Advocacy has structured a procurement process that seeks to obtain the desired results described in this RFQ, while establishing a competitive process to assure that persons and/or firms with the proven success in the field are provided an equal opportunity to submit a Qualification Statement in response to the RFQ. Qualification Statements will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in Section 2 of this RFQ, which will be applied in the same manner to each Qualification Statement received. Qualification Statements will be reviewed and evaluated by Department of Government Relations and Advocacy and the Foundations advisors. Based upon the totality of the information contained in the Qualification Statement, including information about the experience and results of similar engagements, the Department of Government Relations and Advocacy will invite three candidates to participate in an interview with the Foundation on May 8 th or 10 th, 2013, and submit a formal federal consulting proposal by May 24, 2013 for Advocacy Committee consideration. All communications concerning this RFQ or the RFQ process shall be directed in writing to the Designated Contact for the National Psoriasis Foundation. DESIGNATED CONTACT PERSON: Leah Howard, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy National Psoriasis Foundation lhoward@psoriasis.org Qualification Statement must be submitted to, and be received by the National Psoriasis Foundation, via email, by 5:00 p.m. EST on May 3, 2013. The RFQ should be emailed with a subject line RFQ for Federal Government Relations Services.
Page 3 ANTICIPATED PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE ACTIVITY DATE Advertisement of RFQ April 18 May 3, 2013 Issuance of Request for Qualifications April 18 May 3, 2013 Receipt, Opening, and Reading of Qualification Statements May 3, 2013 5:00 p.m. Completion of Evaluation of Qualification Statements May 6, 2013 Respond to Candidates May 6, 2013 Forty-five minute meetings with top three candidates May 8 & 10, 2013 1.3 Cost of Proposal Preparation Each proposal and all information required to be submitted pursuant to the RFQ shall be prepared at the sole cost and expense of the respondent. There shall be no claims whatsoever against the National Psoriasis Foundation, its staff or consultants for reimbursement for the payment of costs or expenses incurred in the preparation of the Qualification Statement or other information required by the RFQ or subsequent RFP. 1.7 Proposal Format Responses should, at a minimum, cover all information requested in Section 3, Submission Requirements, of this RFQ.
Page 4 SECTION 2 SCOPE OF SERVICES The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is a non-profit, voluntary health agency dedicated to finding a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and eliminating their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education. Founded in 1968, the Psoriasis Foundation has evolved to become the leading patient advocacy group for the 7.5 million Americans living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. As emerging research continues to demonstrate the serious, systemic effects of these chronic autoimmune diseases, our highest priority is to find a cure. The National Psoriasis Foundation's advocacy priorities are focused on strategies that promote federal research efforts and ensure individuals living with psoriatic disease have fair and affordable access to needed treatments. The 2013 advocacy agenda includes: Growing and supporting federal investment in psoriasis and psoriatic disease research, Advancing the psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis public health efforts at the CDC, Reducing out of pocket expenses for medication and treatments Ensuring affordable access to new treatments. As budgets have tightened, and the appetite in Washington for disease specific legislation has diminished, the Foundation s advocacy strategy has evolved to include a strong focus on agency relations and activities. Such a focus is complimented by the Foundation s collaborative coalition work that recognizes numerous connections between psoriasis and a number of other chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Crohn s and others. The Foundation is committed to working in collaboration with patient advocacy organizations to address issues and concerns that impact the broader chronic disease community and seeks a firm that has experience working with organizations in this space. It is the intent of the National Psoriasis Foundation to solicit Qualification Statements from Respondents that have expertise and demonstrated success in the provision of Federal government relations services for patient advocacy organizations. Firms and/or persons responding to this RFQ shall be able to demonstrate that they will have the capabilities to perform these services: Advise the Foundation on the tactics and allotment of resources best suited to achieve the current government relations and advocacy agenda, which includes a combination of agency and congressional priorities sought both independently and in concert with coalition partners. Work with the Foundation to seek programmatic appropriations and report language under the Fiscal Year 2014 Labor Health and Human Services Education Appropriations measure. The focus of this effort is on building support for funding to implement the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Public Health Agenda released by the CDC in February 2013. Advise the Foundation on federal agency opportunities for advancing psoriasis research and access to care efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services. Facilitate, cultivate, and maintain relationships with federal agencies in collaboration with the Foundation. (e.g. CDC, NIH, FDA, PCORI, etc).
Page 5 Provide input and recommendations to Foundation staff on continuing efforts to expand and strengthen the Foundation s grassroots and grasstops programs, with a focus on building the base of Congressional champions that the Foundation has in both the House and Senate. Advise the Foundation on regulatory opportunities to advance the Foundation s mission. Conduct policy research and advise on, review, draft, or edit letters, materials and other documents upon request. As desired, provide advocacy training and other government relations support to government relations and community development staff. Engage in strategic planning for the future, and assist with business plan development for the upcoming Foundation fiscal year.
Page 6 SECTION 3 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Section 3.1 General Requirements. The Qualification Statement submitted by the Respondent must meet or exceed the professional, administrative and financial qualifications set forth in this Section 3 and shall incorporate the information requested below. In addition to the information required as described below, a Respondent may submit supplemental information that it feels may be useful in evaluating its Qualification Statement. Respondents are encouraged to be clear, factual, and concise in their presentation of information. Section 3.2 Administrative Information Requirements. The Respondent shall, as part of its Qualification Statement, provide the following information: 1. A description of the business organization (i.e., corporation, partnership, joint venture, etc.) of each firm, its ownership and its organizational structure. a. Provide the names and business addresses of all Principals of the firm or firms submitting the Qualification Statement. For purposes of this RFQ, Principals means persons possessing an ownership interest in the Respondent. If the Respondent is a corporation, Principals shall include each investor who would have any amount of operational control over the Respondent and every stockholder having an ownership interest of 10% or more in the firm. b. If a firm is a partially owned or a fully-owned subsidiary of another firm, identify the parent company and describe the nature and extent of the parents approval rights over the activities of the firm submitting a Qualification Statement. Describe the approval process. c. If the Respondent is a partnership or a joint venture or similar organization, provide comparable information as required in (b) above for each member of the partnership, joint venture or similar organization. d. A statement that the Respondent has complied with all applicable affirmative action (or similar) requirements with respect to its business activities, together with evidence of such compliance. 2. The number of years your organization has been in business under the present name. 3. The number of years the business organization has been under the current management. 4. Any judgments within the last three (3) years in which Respondent has been adjudicated liable for professional malpractice. If yes, please explain. 5. Whether the business organization is now or has been involved in any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings in the last ten (10) years. If yes, please explain. 6. Whether the Respondent has performed any work, which is the subject of this RFQ, for the National Psoriasis Foundation previously. 7. Confirm appropriate federal and state licenses to perform activities.
Page 7 Section 3.3 Professional Information Requirements. 1. Respondent shall submit a description of its overall experience providing the type of services sought in the RFQ. At a minimum, the following information on past experience should be included as appropriate to the RFQ: a. Description and scope of work by Respondent b. Name, address and contact information of references c. Explanation of perceived relevance of the experience to the RFQ 2. Describe the services that Respondent would perform directly. 3. Describe those portions of the Respondent s services, if any, that are subcontracted out. Identify all subcontractors the Respondent anticipates using in connection with this project. 4. Resumes of key employees.
Page 8 SECTION 4 EVALUATION The National Psoriasis Foundation s objective in soliciting Qualification Statements is to enable it to select a firm or organization that will provide high quality and cost effective services to the Foundation. The Department of Government Relations and Advocacy will consider Qualification Statements only from firms or organizations that, in the Department s judgment, have demonstrated the capability and willingness to provide high quality services to the psoriasis community in the manner described in this RFQ. Qualifications and subsequent proposals will be evaluated by the Department of Government Relations and Advocacy. The evaluation will consider: 1. Experience and reputation in the field of government relations and specifically government relations with regard to national patient advocacy organizations of similar size; 2. Knowledge of the psoriasis (or chronic disease) community and the subject matters addressed under the contract; 3. Knowledge of the Federal Government, its departments and agencies with particular focus on the Department of Health and Human Services, 4. Congress, and the legislative process; 5. Experience in regulatory assistance; and 6. Longevity of federal consulting services.