A -- NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a requirement for the Development of the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function. The NIH is seeking small business concerns, including 8(a) small business and/or small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business and Service-Disabled Veteran small business concerns with the capabilities to assist in the development of the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function. This toolbox is to provide investigators with a brief, but comprehensive, measurement tool for assessment of cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor function of participants in large cohort studies such as epidemiological studies, clinical studies, or clinical trials. Specific goals of the contract are: 1) To develop a core set of tasks that will address the domains of cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor function. 2) To integrate the specific following characteristics in the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function: Multidimensional - Should include multiple constructs within each of the domains of cognitive, motor, sensory and emotional function. Versatile - The assessment method should be capable of monitoring neurological and behavioral health status and function over time (as in longitudinal epidemiological studies) as well as evaluating effectiveness of interventions and treatments (as in clinical trials). Ceiling and floor effects should be considered. The measures should be modular and readily portable from one type of study design to another. Where psychometrically feasible, the method should incorporate ways to - crosswalk to existing and previous studies through the use of embedded benchmark items. This would eventually allow the mapping of a smaller set of test items back to a unifying latent construct where a common metric can be used across measures. Brief - All efforts should be taken to ensure low respondent burden. Methodologically sound - The measures should demonstrate validity and reliability. State-of-the-art - Development of the assessment method and measures should employ modern psychometric approaches to the measurement of latent dimensions, e.g., itemresponse theory models and computer-adaptive testing, to the extent relevant. Diverse - The assessments should have known measurement properties across cultures and age ranges. English and Spanish versions should be developed and validated in culturally and geographically diverse groups. Dynamic - It will be strongly encouraged that the assessment method be dynamic, i.e., capable of being adapted over time in response to advances in science and/or advances in technology. Measures should be employed that are internally flexible, e.g., adaptive testing. The instrument should demonstrate sensitivity to change over time. The tasks will be structured in two phases. Phase I will encompass qualitative research focusing on the identification of content area and the development of domain specific tasks. Phase II addresses the formal testing and refining of the final toolbox of tests. The NIH is requesting capability statements from small business concerns capable of fulfilling this requirement. The Technical Evaluation Criteria for this project is posted herein. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No RFP is available at this time. Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the work described above should submit an original and two (02) copies of their capability statement, not to exceed 15 pages, to the address shown in this notice by February 17, 2006. Interested sources should tailor their capability statements to be responsive to the tasks described above and the evaluation criteria posted herein. Capability statements exceeding the page limitation will not be considered. Electronic copies of capability statements will also be accepted and can be submitted via email to contact@example.gov or faxed to Danielle C. Sweeney @ +1 (555) 000-0000. Electronic capability statements are also subject to the 15 page limitation. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code is 541720. SEE NUMBERED NOTE 26. No collect calls will be accepted.