B -- REALIZING WOMEN AND MINORITY FACULTY POTENTIAL IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE: DATA ANALSIS FROM A FIVE-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office on Womens Health anticipates award of a contract to Brandeis University, Womens Study Research Center, Waltham, MA 02454, utilizing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures to support the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collection from interview and national surveys conducted by the National Initiative on Gender, Culture and Leadership, a partnership of five medical schools (Duke University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, and University of New Mexico School of Medicine), Brandeis University and the American Association of Medical Colleges regarding issues related to under-representation of women and minorities in academic medicine. Specifically the contractor shall (1) convene a conference among Federal partners to discuss the National Initiative and gain partner?s perspective on topics of interest for the analysis; (2) conduct detailed analyses of the qualitative and quantitative survey data with emphasis on institutional atmosphere; opinions and perceptions about the workplace, support for achieving leadership opportunities, and institutional values and practices; (3) cross-tabulate the answers to questions on the faculty experience with both faculty demographics and career characteristics, level of involvement in research relevant to health disparities or womens health and for clinicians the percent of patients who are women and the percent of their patients who are underserved; (4) synthesize findings for presentation to the collaborating HHS agencies. Brandeis University has been justified as the only source capable of performing this requirement in accordance with FAR 13.106-(b)(1). Brandeis University is the coordinating and lead entity on this project. They designed it and recruited the other schools. They have no direct stake in the outcome as their school is not a subject of the study, so they are less likely to be biased by adverse or positive finding on an individual institution, than would one of the institutions involved in the project. Interested concerns capable of providing the services identified in the paragraphs above may submit a capability statement with documentation supporting its ability to meet the above requirements. No solicitation is available at this time. Information received will be evaluated for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Following evaluation of capability statements, a determination by the Government not to compete this requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received within 15 calendar days from the date of this synopsis the Contracting Officer shall proceed with award to Brandeis University.