Epidemiology Distance Learning

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION COOPERATIVE BIOLOGICAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM EPIDEMIOLOGY DISTANCE LEARNING Synopsis: This is a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This notice is for MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, and in no way obligates the United States Government to issue a solicitation or otherwise make a contract award. The RFI responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future Request for Proposals, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the grants.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Background: The Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) has historically provided epidemiology training to its partner countries in order to enhance capacity and capability to detect, analyze, and report pathogens of security concern. Training has been provided in various formats; however, at this time, CBEP is looking to provide a more sustainable approach to training. Distance learning will provide a more sustainable continuous training option for a country because it will eliminate the need for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and United States Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (DTRA/SCC-WMD) to send in trainers to support specific cohorts over a pre-determined period of time. Distance learning may result in a more sustainable approach to outside training for the partner countries and may build capacity to eventually develop and institutionalize their own training programs. Moreover, distance learning is a viable option for those instances when sending trainers to a country is not feasible due to security risks, high costs, and other challenges of hosting training events. Purpose and Objectives: The objective of this RFI is to identify interested sources capable of developing distance learning training courses and a sustainable platform to share the courses with CBEP partner countries, including, but not limited to Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Distance learning courses developed should provide a scalable and tailorable solution to epidemiology training in settings where continuous, sustainable training is needed. The following list includes examples of the activities that are considered for inclusion in this scope: - Collaborate with CBEP to create methodology for the development and implementation of epidemiology distance learning courses, to include the following: o Identification of gaps in epidemiology workforce knowledge in collaboration with CBEP and its partners o Use of known gaps to develop a training plan for distance learning o Development of methodology to effectively implement distance learning training to multiple cohorts over a period of time - Develop distance learning courses in the following domains to be provided to trainees in CBEP partner countries, for example: o Epidemiological Methods - candidates are capable of employing epidemiology methods to conduct descriptive and analytic studies ? Introduction to Epidemiology ? Infectious Disease Epidemiology ? Study Designs ? Introduction to Analysis of Epidemiological Data ? Advanced Analysis of Epidemiological Data ? Computer Technology for Data Analysis and Visualization, etc. o Biostatistics - candidates are capable of using biostatistics methods to examine epidemiological data ? Introduction to Statistics ? Introduction to Data Presentation ? Measures of Disease Frequency and Association ? Hypothesis Testing, etc. o Public Health Surveillance - candidates understand all relevant components of a public health surveillance system and how to take part in and manage a surveillance system ? Introduction to Surveillance Systems ? Epidemiological Methods in Surveillance Systems ? Surveillance System Reporting and Communications ? Reporting to International Organizations, etc. o Epidemiology of Priority Diseases - candidates have a strong working knowledge of priority diseases within their country and are familiar with the epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic aspects of these diseases ? Disease-Specific Courses, as appropriate - Provide a certificate of course or course-series completion - Develop exercises and/or field work options that can be provided to ensure that course material has been retained - Maintain records of course attendance and completion - Provide course material in both online and offline formats (for trainees without stable internet access) - Translate course material into the primary language of the partner countries (to be specified) - Assist the partner country in institutionalizing the training material to facilitate sustainability of training Response Requirements: Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. Responses shall be three-five pages including diagrams. Pages not included in the total page count are the cover page, the cover letter and the table of contents. Submission Instructions: Responses shall be in Microsoft Word for Office 2007 compatible format, limited to three-five 8x11 pages, and shall: - Confirm source's ability and interest to meet purpose and objectives provided; - Identify any aspects of the requirements stated that cannot be met and any issues/concerns with the requirements as stated; - Assess whether purpose and objectives can be accomplished within 36 months, or provide a realistic alternative timeframe for completion; - Provide any information on past work on epidemiology course development and/or distance learning course development; - Provide a brief description on the capabilities and functionalities, as well as the hosting architecture used for distance learning courses; - Provide any information on any past work in training international cohorts on topics in public health; - Provide information on any existing business relationships that your company has with government personnel in the target countries that could be used to leverage buy-in from key stakeholders Meeting and Discussions The Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential RFI service provider. Such meetings and discussions would only be intended to obtain further clarification of potential capability, especially any development, certification, and copyright risks. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This is a Request for Information. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for Solicitation and inquiries related to same will not receive a response. THIS NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, AND IN NO WAY OBLIGATES THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION OR OTHERWISE MAKE A CONTRACT AWARD. Any and all information submitted in response to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this notice and shall become the property of DTRA/SCC-WMD. 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 organizations 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, DTRA/SCC-WMD CBEP may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation which may be published in the future. Confidentiality: No classified or confidential information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Any proprietary information should be clearly marked. Questions Questions regarding this RFI should be submitted in writing by e-mail to Kamesha Walker at kamesha.r.walker.ctr@mail.mil .