Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) sampling

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award a sole source contract to Marketing Systems Group (MSG) for Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) sampling, covering a base year plus two option years. This contract will be issued under FAR Part 12 and utilizes the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) to negotiate exclusively with MSG, as it is the only provider capable of meeting the agency’s requirements. The sole source approach is justified by the unique nature of the BRFSS data, which is critical for public health surveillance in most states, and the need to ensure continuity during the integration of new sample frames, especially the incorporation of cell phone samples that better represent the population reliant solely on cell phone communication. MSG is the developer of the GENESYS database, which suppliers historically use to generate telephone survey samples for BRFSS. This database is updated quarterly and has become integral to the accurate and reliable sampling of respondents. Because all vendors experienced with BRFSS surveys source this database from MSG, the CDC considers MSG the only responsible source for this contract to maintain data quality and consistency. The contract’s performance location is Atlanta, GA, with the contracting officer being Darlene Seminko, reachable at the CDC. This procurement under NAICS code 541690 highlights the specialized nature of the work and the importance of this ongoing data collection effort.