Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Solicitation No. HHS-CDC-EEHS-SS-09-11275 TITLE: Technical and Scientific Environmental Health Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Introduction: This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is studying how Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) can be applied to school violence prevention. One of the goals of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is to reduce the prevalence of violence among youth. Several important priorities included in the Center's published research agenda focus on studying how the physical environment influences behavior and risk for violence. The goal of the proposed acquisition is to implement a study to measure the association between scores on using the CPTED tool and measures of fear and violence-related behaviors on school property. Purpose and Objectives: The primary purpose of this procurement is to provide a firm-fixed price contract to support the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control by implementing a study protocol designed to measure the extent to which scores on the CPTED tool are associated with reports of fear and violence related behaviors on school property. The objective of the work to be performed under the proposed performance based contract is to recruit approximately 50 middle schools and conduct CPTED assessments independently in each school. Data on fear and violence related behavior shall be collected directly from a representative sample of approximately 75 students from each school. As designed, the protocol also includes data collection from a school counselor. The Contractor shall also consider the availability and utility of supplemental sources of data that can be used to understand potential confounders as well as fear and violence related behavior on school property. The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing all required personnel, consultants, materials, equipment and supplies to provide the work and services as specified in the order. The NAICS code is 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Project Requirements: The Contractor shall provide all management, training, licensed personnel, labor, permits, equipment, materials, supplies, tools, and all other services and items necessary to perform all functions, operations, and tasks set forth herein in accordance with all applicable industry performance standards, National, State and Local codes and Federal specifications. Attend an initial Planning Meeting within one (1) month after award of the contract (either in person or by teleconference) at CDC to discuss the merits and limitations of potential study and to discuss the project timeline and deliverables. Prepare a project plan documenting the Contractor's proposed methodology to perform contract requirements within the stated time frames, and management and staffing plans, to accomplish the requirements. Prepare monthly progress reports. Finalize existing drafts of OMB and IRB packages (provided by CDC) for CDC review and comment. Recruit the study schools (local to the Atlanta area, if possible) and provide CDC with a summary of the school participation rate and potential sources of bias in the school sample. As needed, the Contractor shall complete IRB or other review processes associated with school recruitment. Complete CPTED training with the study staff who shall be conducting the school assessments. The training shall include familiarization with the principles of CPTED and the use of the CPTED School Assessment tool (provided by CDC) for conducting school assessments. The training shall be conducted by CPTED practitioners who have experience evaluating the extent to which diverse (e.g., urban and rural) school environments adhere to CPTED principles using a comprehensive, standardized tool. The Contractor shall also provide training, as needed, to study staff responsible for collecting / administering existing student and counselor surveys (provided by CDC). Conduct the CPTED assessment at each school, using an existing CPTED School Assessment tool (provided by CDC). A team of at least two project staff shall independently complete the CPTED assessment at each school. The assessment requires staff to spend a full day at each school independently completing the tool. Study staff shall be required to be at the school to observe the drop-off in the morning, class changes, lunch sessions, and the pick-up at the end of the day. In addition, the Contractor shall schedule with the schools to collect other study data from students, staff, and school records, as indicated in the study protocol. Prepare, for CDC review and comment, draft codebooks and data cleaning plans for the following data collection efforts: CPTED assessment; student survey; counselor survey; and school profile. Implement the data coding and cleaning plans. Provide CDC with separate clean electronic databases of the CPTED assessment, the student survey, the counselor survey, and the school profile. Prepare a summary document appropriate for sharing with schools. This document shall provide an aggregate summary of the distribution of scores as well as school-specific information for schools that request this information. Disseminate the summary document that incorporates CDC comment, if any, to schools who participated in the project. Anticipated Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be up to twenty four (24) months from the contract award date. The performance period shall consist of a one (1) year base period and one (1) 12-month option period. Other Important Considerations: 1. Experience with Project coordination a. Oversight and direction of scientific studies with particular emphasis on implementing studies in the field of how physical environmental influences behavior and risk for violence. 2. Expertise with Scientific study consultation a. Demonstrate subject matter expertise in: study planning, protocol implementation, IRB and OMB package preparation, recruiting schools and students, data collection and database management pertaining to crime prevention through environmental design. 3. Experience with data analysis a. Analysis of collected data using advanced statistical packages and computer models. b. Expertise in the statistical theory underlying applied statistical methodology, particularly as it is used in the field crime prevention through environmental design. c. Substantial experience in using design tools in study protocols, analysis, etc. 4. Experience with program/project evaluation and knowledge of CDC's framework for conducting evaluation of public health programs. 5. Knowledge of evaluation principles, concepts, and techniques to provide expertise in evaluating programs, including cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness analyses to assess the efficiency of a program. 6. Experience performing training 7. Develop materials to support training of professionals, specialists and staff on using data collection, surveillance instruments, and interview techniques. 8. Publication development and assistance including experience content editing and proofreading. a. Support for developing format and content of public health materials such as manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, brochures, pamphlets, etc. b. Conduct background research, including a search of the peer-reviewed and popular literature. c. Translation of technical and scientific information into language for a lay audience. 9. Public health message dissemination/health communication a. Develop and disseminate public health information to reduce the occurrence of crime and violence by (re)designing physical features of the environment. Capability Statement/Information Sought: Please explain, in detail, your experience, knowledge and ability to provide the following: 1. Capacity to provide project coordination/management staff, both scientific and operational, that are capable of providing expert advice and technical assistance to reduce the occurrence of crime and violence related environmental health issues including, but not limited to, local and state government, public and environmental health; management of environmental and public health programs; and implementing scientific studies, including studies in the field, in keeping with sound current scientific methods, and CDC policies, procedures, and regulations. The contractor must demonstrate that these services can be provided in a timely manner. 2. Technical approach for recruiting and collecting and managing data from educational institutions. This shall include a description of a proposed sample, procedures used to recruit schools (including plans to address any IRB requirements at the recruited schools, procedures used to schedule data collection visits, plans for data management and arrangements for conducting human subjects reviews. 3. Knowledge and requisite experience conducting activities of similar complexity and size to the anticipated project. This includes demonstrated staff experience in study planning, protocol implementation, IRB and OMB package preparation, recruiting schools and students, data collection and database management. 4. Capacity to provide publications assistance, to write scientifically at a high level, to develop presentations in accordance with CDC guidelines, and to guide the dissemination of study results to participating communities and study populations. Note: If the Offeror does not have any of aforementioned experience, please provide detail as to how the Offeror proposes to accomplish the objectives. Information Submission Instructions: Please include a cover page with the following business information: a. DUNS: b. Company Name c. Company Address d. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this Sources Sought e. Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. f. Business size classification, (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) relative to the NAICS code 541690 size standard which is $7.0 M. g. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address h. Tax identification number i. Point of Contact, Phone and Email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the response. Page Limitation: Capability Statements shall be limited to 10 pages including cover page. Pages shall be formatted as follows: 8 - x 11, 12 pitch, Times New Roman font with one (1) inch margins. Response Due Date: Submit capability statements via email to Pamela A. Woodard, Contract Specialist at plw9@cdc.gov. Responses must be submitted not later than 2:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST) by 26 May 2009. Capability statements will NOT be accepted after the due date. The Government will not return capability statements received. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Contact information: Pamela A. Woodard, Contract Specialist, Phone 770-488-2857, Fax 770-488-2670, Email plw9@cdc.gov Vallerie Redd, Contracting Officer, Phone 770-488-2845, Fax 770-488-2670, Email gfj3@cdc.gov