2008 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Services for Female Youth at Greater Risk for Juvenile Delinquency

2008 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Services for Female Youth at Greater Risk for Juvenile Delinquency INTRODUCTION The following requirement shall be solicited utilizing FAR Subpart 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures and is therefore mandated by law to be set aside for small business concerns. The Simplified Acquisition award threshold shall not exceed $100,000. This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE seeks to determine the availability of small business concerns (e.g. 8(a) concerns, service-disabled, veteran-owned small business concerns, HubZone small business concerns, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses) that have the capability to: Implement a program that provides prevention/intervention education, on a community level, to female youth that are putting themselves at greater risk for gang involvement and STD/HIV infection. This information is sought for market research purposes and will assist the Government plan its acquisition strategy. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. THE OFFICE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. BACKGROUND A number of researchers have suggested that, - the gang can serve as a surrogate extended family for adolescents who do not see their own families as meeting their needs for belonging, nurturance, and acceptance (Huff, 1993: 6; see also Campbell, 1990; Joe and Chesney-Lind, 1995; also see Decker and Van Winkle, 1996; Hunt, Mackenzie and Joe-Laidler, 2000). The gang can offer a network of friends for girls whose parents are unable to provide stable family relations; moreover, girls friendships with other gang members may provide a support system for coping with family problems, abuse and other life problems (Fleisher and Krienert, 2004; Joe and Chesney-Lind, 1995). According to respondents to the 2005 National Gang Threat Assessment Survey, at risk female youth appear to be moving from minor delinquent behaviors to more violent gang related crimes. Some female gang members have graduated from affiliate's status to membership. Many girl gangs are splinter organizations of male gangs and appear to be influenced by their male counterparts. For example, females now assist in the movement of drugs and weapons for male gang members, while others are committing drug sales, robberies, assaults, and drive-by shootings on behalf of male gang members. Although, females are taking more active roles in gangs they also continue to assume traditionally subordinate functions such as providing sexual support to male gang members. Respondents to the 2005 National Gang Threat Assessment Survey reported that female gang members in their jurisdiction often engage in prostitution. This type of risky sexual behavior puts girls at risk for contracting STD/HIV. RESPONSE INFORMATION Responses must clearly convey a contactors experience and/or capability to perform the following identified tasks: 1. Recruit and retain at least 50 at-risk girls in a 9 month model program that addresses the intersection between STDs/HIV/AIDS, violence and juvenile deliquency as well as the concurrent risks that are inherent to the at-risk population (i.e. anger, self-esteem, depression, and other social threats, etc...) 2. Develop and implement a gender-specific, age-appropriate, culturally sensitive curriculum which addresses the link between sexually transmitted diseases, violence and juvenile deliquency. 3. Build (form, lead and develop) partnerships/coalitions within the targeted community to develop capacity among community organizations that target and service youth. 4. Develop and implement an assessment tool that will measure the effectiveness of the model program based upon evidenced-based methods of evaluation. 5. Be able to define "at-risk" within a targeted community and identify girls that meet the targeted parameters. 6. Have a diversified staff that is capable of addressing the multiple concurrent issues of female youth targeted for this model program. 7. Work in collaboration with other contractors and federal staff members. 8. Write, publish and present information obtained from research and from implementing this model program. Each response should include the following Business Information: a. DUNS. b. Company Name. c. Company Address. d. Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). All companies or individual seeking to contract with the Government must register on the CCR located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp e. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements should also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Responses must be submitted not later than July 23, 2008. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for submission is 15 pages.