Data Archive on Adolescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention

Description This announcement is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. The purpose of this synopsis is to identify small business organizations with requisite qualifications to provide the services stated herein. Based on capability statements received in response to this Sources Sought Announcement this acquisition may be solicited as a 100% small business set-aside. All small business organizations (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB) are encouraged to respond to this notice. This requirement is assigned a code of 541990 in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and the size standard for such requirements is $7M. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/NIH, seeks capability statements from interested and qualified potential sources to continue to maintain, operate and further develop the Data Archive on Adolescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention (DAAPPP) and the Program Archive on Sexuality, Health and Adolescence (PASHA). NICHD is seeking information on the capabilities and limitations of organizations interested in providing the services described below. Organizations that submit capability statements in response to this notice will be evaluated against the following technical areas of experience and expertise: TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall accomplish the following tasks with respect to the Data Archive on Adolescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention (DAAPPP) and the Program Archive on Sexuality, Health and Adolescence (PASHA): 1) Demonstrate experience in the ability to constitute or continue national scientific advisory panels of at least five experts in teen pregnancy prevention research and other appropriate expertise. The purpose of these panels shall be to recommend data sets for inclusion in the DAAPPP and the PASHA and to evaluate the technical quality and substantive utility of those recommended. Panel members shall be consulted by the Contractor for advice on matters relating to the archives. 2) (i) Ability to identify and evaluate a minimum of three new data sets and programs per year on adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and STD/HIV/AIDS prevention that might be included in the archives; (ii) select and acquire at least one data set(s) and/or program(s); and, (iii) process and prepare appropriate documentation and materials. Attention shall be directed to newly-available data sets and programs that could not have been considered previously. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PERTAINS TO THE DAAPPP DATA SETS: 3) To evaluate data sets, the following explicit criteria shall be included, but not limited to: (i) scientific significance; (ii) policy and program importance; (iii) validity and reliability of data; and, (iv) ability to generalize and the feasibility of acquisition of the data set. Capability statements must address the ability to report the results of the evaluation of data sets to the advisory panel, which will review the results and recommend to the Contractor what data sets should be acquired and in which order. The Contractor shall inform the Project Officer of the advisory panel recommendations. The Project Officer shall make the determination of the data sets to be incorporated into the archive. 4) Ability to acquire and compile the data sets in an SPSS (statistical data program) format. It is anticipated that in most cases the data sets will be donated or acquired for the cost of reproducing them. However, the Contractor shall provide funding to the originator of the raw data for preparation of a data set for inclusion in the archive (e.g., additional data cleaning and documentation). This shall be handled in the following manner: Once data sets are acquired, the ability to reproduce data sets in a standard technical format such that all data sets are formatted in a completely consistent manner. Each data set will be edited to assure that recorded values are within the ranges specified in the documentation and that logically related values are internally consistent. Ability to determine if the data quality is unacceptable and recommend to the advisory panel that the data set not be archived or that it be cleaned to an acceptable level of quality in order to archive it. Ability to undertake such additional data cleaning and documentation as may be necessary for archiving the data set. 5) Ability to fully document each processed data file. Documentation shall include a list of all variables and categories and unweighted frequencies for each category. These items shall be available as a machine readable part of the data set and also in hard copy. Documentation shall also include machine readable programs for creating data files for an SPSS package. 6) Ability to prepare the following documents for the DAAPPP archive: (i) a user=s guide for each data set; (ii) a bibliography of reports based on the data set; (iii) an assessment of the quality of the data; and, (iv) a description of the contents of the data set. All documentation shall be in sufficient detail to satisfy the requirements of the experienced researcher, but shall be Auser friendly@ to the novice researcher, as well. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PERTAINS TO THE PASHA PROGRAM ARCHIVE: 7) To evaluate programs, the following explicit criteria shall be included, but not be limited to: (i) demonstrated effectiveness in changing behaviors related to pregnancy and/or HIV/STD/AIDS risk among teens; (ii) quality of research demonstrating effectiveness; and (iii) potential generalizability and the feasibility of acquisition of the program. The Contractor shall report the results of the evaluation of programs to the advisory panel, which will review the results and recommend to the Contractor which program(s) should be acquired and in which order. The Contractor shall inform the Project Officer of the advisory panel recommendations. The Project Officer shall make the determination of the programs to be incorporated into the archive. 8) Demonstrate ability to acquire and document the programs in a user-friendly format. It is anticipated that in most cases the programs will be donated or acquired for the cost of reproducing them. However, when recommended by the advisory panel and authorized by the Project and Contracting Officers, the Contractor shall provide funding to the originator of the program for preparation of a dissemination package for inclusion in the archive (e.g., additional materials or documentation). 9) Demonstrate ability to prepare dissemination packages for each program accepted for the PASHA archive. The program dissemination package will contain all materials needed to replicate or adapt the original program and a Ausers guide@ providing tips and guidelines for program implementation. It will also contain instructions and materials designed to assist program implementers in evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Materials to be developed include (but may not be limited to): (i) A complete set of program materials, such as training manuals, curriculum guides, workbooks, videos, games, etc.; (ii) A user=s guide describing the program and providing guidance for program implementation; (iii) An evaluation packet including the original evaluation instruments used to evaluate the program, the Prevention Minimum Evaluation Data Set, a generic questionnaire for use with teen pregnancy/HIV/STD prevention programs, and a directory of local evaluation experts capable of providing evaluation assistance; and, (iv) The telephone number for obtaining telephone support on program implementation and evaluation free of charge during the first year after purchase. (v) All documentation and materials shall be sufficiently detailed and complete to satisfy the requirements of the experienced program director, but shall be Auser friendly@ to the novice program director, as well. Demonstrate ability to furnish a plan and schedule for identifying, selecting, obtaining and processing programs within one month after the contract award. Demonstrate ability to evaluate the continuing utility of programs archived prior to 1998 and determine if materials might be updated to increase the relevance of the interventions for today's youth. If in the contractor=s opinion, such revisions would be cost-effective, the originator of the program will be consulted to obtain permission to do so, and to provide guidance for such revisions. 10) Experience in responding to all written and phone inquires from potential users of the archives with prompt and thorough attention. Inquirers shall be made aware of available offerings and the necessary procedures for obtaining and using archive products. 11) Ability to publicize the archives and their holdings in a variety of ways, which shall include, but not be limited to the following: (i) Experience in placing notices of the archives in the journals of professions that serve adolescents and that conduct research on the issues surrounding adolescent pregnancy; and, (ii) Experience in the ability to prepare a report biannually for users and potential users. This report shall cover recent acquisitions of the archives, uses that are being made of archive data, programs and other items of interest about the archives. Each report shall be limited to four pages and shall be distributed to users and potential users, as funds are available (through the option portions of the contract). One paper copy and an electronic copy of this shall be mailed to the Project Officer of the NICHD. The Capability Statements received will be evaluated using the following criteria: 1. Demonstrated ability to suggest a qualified national scientific advisory panel for the project. 2. Demonstrated experience in devising a plan for selection of new data sets on adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and STD/HIV/AIDS prevention that might be included in the archives 3. Demonstrated ability to produce a quality plan for reproducing, editing and documenting the acquired data sets. 4. Demonstrated ability to create a plan for disseminating information concerning the archive. 5. Demonstrated ability to create - user friendly program packages for those programs accepted for the PASHA archive. All documentation and materials shall be sufficiently detailed and complete to satisfy the requirements of the experienced program director, but shall be user friendly to the novice program director, as well. Interested organizations that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this project should submit electronic copies in addition to four (4) hard copies of their capability statement, addressing the areas above. Please limit responses to fifteen (15) pages or less. Any proprietary information should be so marked. Written capability statements should be received by the Contracting Officer by no later than 4:00PM local time on February 25, 2009. Capability statements must identify the business status of the organization (i.e. educational institution, non-profit, large business, small business, 8 (a), or other corporate or non-corporate entity). NO COLLECT CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED. RESPONDENTS MAY SUBMIT THEIR CAPABILITY STATEMENTS VIA E-MAIL IN ADDITION TO THE 4 HARD COPIES. See NUMBER NOTE 25. Responses should be no more than 15 pages. These pages exclude resumes. INQUIRIES Nicole Belanger Contracting Officer Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7A07, MSC 7510 Bethesda MD 20892-7510 Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service) Telephone: 301-443-5239 Fax: 301-402-3676 E-mail: belangern@mail.nih.gov OR Lisa Coleman Contracting Officer National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7A07, MSC 7510 Bethesda MD 20892-7510 Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service) Telephone: 301-435-6955 Fax: 301-402-3676 E-mail: lisa.coleman@nih.gov