Acupuncture for Deploying and/or Deployable Physicians

1. SUBJECT: The Air Force Office of the Surgeon General is conducting market research for two discrete, physician-oriented "Acupuncture for Deploying and/or Deployable Physicians" courses. 2. DISCLAIMER: This is not a request for proposals or a request for quotations; it is strictly a Request for Information (RFI). Neither, unsolicited proposals nor any other kinds of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. No contract will be awarded pursuant to this RFI. 3. BACKGROUND: The Director, Medical Corps has identified a need for Courses that are customized to address the needs of U.S. military physicians & the needs of the populations that they serve, both in a deployed environment as well as in home station situations. Each course is to accommodate two (2) courses of 30 students each (total 60 students) & be offered in an incremental fashion, incorporating a total of three, five day, on-site hands-on training sessions in the National Capital Region. Students to receive written documentation in support of incrementally increased privileging/credentialing following successful completion of each successive on-site session. 4. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS: The course is to be conducted using a combination of textbook study, CD-ROMs & other related materials including small group interactive patient evaluations, & we are interested in receiving information based instruction using new material addressing the requirement below, or using existing materials developed under the "Acupuncture for Deploying and/or Deployable Physicians" course that was recently developed for the AFMS. - Course to be accredited for 300 American Medical Association certified Category I credits - Course content to include a comprehensive review of the theory, use & practical applications of: 1. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture 2. Chinese Scalp Acupuncture 3. Auricular Acupuncture (to include, but not limited to, the use of the "Battlefield Acupuncture" technique) 4. Korean Hand Acupuncture 5. Electrical-Acupuncture (to include PENS & micro-current therapy & devices); 6. Piezoelectric Therapy & applications; 7. Cupping, Moxabustion, & others, as appropriate -Courses need to be customized to address the needs of U.S. military physicians & the needs of the populations that they serve, both in a deployed environment as well as in home station situations. Specific examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Battlefield Acupuncture technique 2. Techniques for weight loss, addiction (ex: smoking cessation) & scar deactivation (with & without the use of lidocaine); 3. Clinical Pearls for managing xerostomia, xero-ophthalmia, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, fertility, allergy & dermatologic conditions, and complex regional pain syndromes. 4. Approaches to the management of TBI & PTSD in a military setting; 5. How to document (AHLTA), run & manage a military medical acupuncture clinic. - Provisions for course delivery must allow for the incorporation of 2-4 military medical acupuncturists in the instructor cadre. - include provisions for course implementation & delivery. - A means of conducting & documenting both interim & ongoing student assessments/clinical summaries. The latter will need to be collected & developed using a secure electronic (web-based) program that is HIPAA compliant. Reports will need to be generated at monthly intervals during the actual training program and at 1, 3 & 6 months post course completion. - Preparation & submission of a comprehensive, written, post-course analysis & assessment also required. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS: -Must be recognized as an accrediting body for State Licensing Boards for Medical Acupuncture & able to award American Medical Association Category I Continuing Medical Education credits to physician participants. -Must be led & taught by a cadre of physician-acupuncturists, who are licensed to practice medicine & acupuncture in the United States. Each faculty member should have a minimum of 5 years clinical experience in the provision of medical acupuncture & be fluent in the English language. (i.e. fluent & fully comprehensible to native English speakers) -In addition to the above, Program Director qualifications include (at a minimum), professional affiliations with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) & the National Institutes of Health Acupuncture Advisory Committee. Affiliations with the World Health Organization Acupuncture Advisory Committee strongly desired, but not required. -Demonstrated expertise in caring for the needs & conditions involving severely Wounded (military) Warriors; to include involvement in clinical research focusing on the use of acupuncture related techniques for the care of patients with war related amputations & phantom limb pain. 5. RESPONSE SUBMISSION AND CONTACT INFORMATION: ELECTRONIC RESPONSES: Electronic responses to this RFI must be addressed to Mr. Rodney D. Aytch via e-mail to: rodney.aytch.ctr@afncr.af.mil, Mrs. Susan T. Starks susan.starks@afncr.af.mil and Mrs. Charlotte L. Rose charlotte.rose@afncr.af.mil. Responses must be received by this office on or before 4:00 p.m. 6 May 2010. This RFI is not a commercial solicitation. The Government will not pay or any information submitted, or for any costs associated with providing the information. 6. RELEASE OF CLAIMS, LIABILITY, AND PREPRATION EXPENSES: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI marked as "proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Information provided as a response to the RFI will not be returned. Contracting Office Address: AFDW/A7KM Medical Acquisition Branch 5201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1501 Falls Church, VA 22041 Primary Point of Contact: Mr. Rodney D. Aytch-ctr Contract Specialist Rodney.aytch.ctr@afncr.af.mil / (703) 681-6214