Genetic Literacy Survey (GLS)

i. "This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued." ii. The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NHLBI-CSB-(HG)-2013-305-DLM and the solicitation is being posted as a request for proposal (RFP). iii. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-69, September 3, 2013. iv. There are no set-aside restrictions, the associated NAICS code is 541910 and the small business size standard is 500 employees. The acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13. v. Contract line items are to be determined. vi. Background: The National Institute of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Social & Behavioral Research Branch (SDRB) has the overarching and broad objective to investigate social and behavioral factors that facilitate the translation of genomic discoveries for health promotion, disease prevention, and health care improvements. This research encompasses four conceptual domains: (1) testing the effectiveness of strategies for communicating information about genetic risks; (2) developing and evaluating behavioral interventions; (3) using genomic discoveries in clinical practice; and (4) understanding the social, ethical, and policy implications of genomic research. The specific research challenges being investigated by SBRB scientists include improving methods of communication about genetic risk to lay populations, establishing best practices in genetic counseling, investigating approaches for successfully integrating genetics into primary care settings, and studying broad issues relating to the appropriate public dissemination of genomic discoveries. SBRB investigators also are detailing the bioethical considerations for the involvement of human subjects in genomic research. There's lots of scientific rhetoric suggesting that the public lacks sufficient "genetic literacy". This is largely based on literacy assessments of objective knowledge that gauge one's capability to identify technical genetic vocabulary and concepts, ability to answer questions correctly regarding facts about genetics, and self-rated confidence in ability to understand genetic concepts. However, the public will likely encounter genetics in a variety of nontechnical contexts such as health settings, consumer appeals (e.g., cosmetics that espouse capitalizing on genetics; food), and entertainment (e.g., film and television; ancestry.com). There is a lack of research establishing whether assessments of factual genetic knowledge and literacy relate to people's ability to understand and apply the genetic information they will likely be exposed to. Also, this representation of the public's genetic literacy does not consider what the public thinks they need to know about genetics and thus is not particularly user sensitive. One of the challenges of considering what publics need to know is that they may not be familiar enough with genetics and the variety of contexts it can encompass to know what they don't know or want to know. Another challenge is that ideological differences among people might further influence how genetic information is processed. Objectives: The purpose of the Genetic Literacy Survey (GLS) is to measure factual and perceived genetic knowledge, health literacy, and ideology in a cross-sectional, probability sample of U.S. adults. The aim is to assess how these variables relate to the way people understand, interpret, and make decisions in a variety of genetic-related contexts. The Contractor, will recruit a population-based probability sample of US adults, format and program a Government-provided questionnaire so that it can be used as an online survey instrument, host the online survey, and deliver a data set for all survey data. Based on the provided questionnaire, it is important that the contractor has experience conducting statistical surveys/analysis in health policy and services, epidemiology, sociology, and social psychology. Contractor Requirements: Specific Tasks: 1. The Contractor will format the Government-provided questionnaire with the necessary instructions to prepare the questionnaire for programming. If appropriate, Contractor may ask the Government questions about logic specifications, and make recommendations for questionnaire improvements. 2. The Contractor will program the formatted survey instrument and place the programmed survey instrument on a password-protected web site for the Government's review. 3. The Contractor will conduct full quality control testing of all the programmed survey instruments prior to sharing the programmed survey with the Government for review. 4. The Contractor will conduct a pretest of 25 interviews to confirm the survey length and for quality control testing of the survey instrument. 5. The Contractor will send up to two (2) email reminders to non-responders to encourage response during data collection phase of project. Desired Results/Functions/End Items: 1. Programmed version of the instrument posted on a password-protected web site. 2. A self-documented Statistical Analysis Software (SAS/STAT) data set for all survey data (from all open-ended and close-ended questions) having complete variable and value labels. 3. Field Report documenting all sampling and data collection procedures, codebook, panel recruitment methodology, and statistical weighting 4. The data collected should have a response rate of 70% in order to insure a proper demographic sampling described below and to meet the time frame of the time sensitive survey. 5. The survey must be programed in a way that avoids self-selection bias from participants that respond to multiple voluntary internet surveys. Technical Specifications/Standards/Methods: a. The survey sample will target the following population: General population adults, age 18-70, English-language survey-takers; oversample of non-Hispanic African Americans. b. The contractor must have a system in place that allows it to provide representation from households that do not have internet access. This would require the contractor to randomly provide necessary households with computers and internet access. c. Interview sample sizes for the Pretest and Main Study are as follows: - An initial pretest of 25 completed interviews. - A total of 1,000 completed interviews from the Main Study from KnowledgePanel. o General population sample = 800 o Non-Hispanic African American oversample = 200 Government Responsibilities: 1. The Contractor shall deliver a questionnaire in Microsoft Word with complete logic specifications, question wording, and response categories in a version that the Client warrants is finalized for questionnaire programming. 2. The Government will review the formatted questionnaire and communicate to the contractor in a timely manner any disagreements with the contractor on interpretation of the intentions of the Client. 3. The Government will verify survey length and data quality after the pretest of 25 interviews has been conducted; give the contractor approval to commence the Main Study. Program Management and Control Requirements: - The contractor shall work independently with no direct supervision by any government employee. The Social and Behavioral Research Branch staff will provide guidance in terms of the technical needs and requirements of the project. - The COR for this project is Benjamin Ryan, National Human Genome Research Institute, 31 Center Drive, Room b1b54 Bethesda Maryland 20892. No additional costs will be incurred to this purchase order without approval by the contracting officer. Additional funds or extensions to the period of performance will be obtained through a modification to this contract. Inspection and Acceptance Requirements: - The contractor shall communicate with the research staff to ensure their work is consistent with the project needs. The PI will ensure the work conducted by the contractor is acceptable. vii. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables: 1. The contractor will send a formatted questionnaire back to the Client for review. 2. Programmed version of the instrument posted on a password-protected web site. 3. A self-documented Statistical Analysis Software (SAS/STAT) data set for all survey data (from all open-ended and close-ended questions) having complete variable and value labels. 4. General demographic profile data (listed in Attachment A: Standard Demographic Profile Variables) provided for all interviews. 5. Statistical weights incorporating the probabilities of selection and population benchmarks from CPS. 6. Field Report documenting all sampling and data collection procedures, codebook, panel recruitment methodology, and statistical weighting. 7. All deliverables will be sent electronically to the principle investigator Colleen McBride contact@example.gov. viii. The FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition and is hereby incorporated by reference. All Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses may be viewed at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. The proposal must reference the RFP Number: HHS-NIH-NHLBI-CSB-(HG)-2013-305-DLM. All responsible offerors may submit a proposal, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. For purposes of this solicitation Attachments A & B have been provided. Attachment B must be completed and provided with Contractor Proposal. Attachment A: Information System Security Office (ISSO) Requirements Attachment B: Section 508 Compliance / Government Product Accessibility Template (GPAT) All proposals shall contain the following: 1. Name of Contracting Organization; 2. Solicitation number; 3. Contract Type; 4. Total Contract Value and Discounts; 5. Description of Requirement; 6. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code; and 7. DUNS Number. ix. In accordance to FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items The Government will award a Purchase Order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. Experience in assessing consumers' attitudes and behaviors related to health. 2. Access to a diverse panel of consumers that will enable a sample that is representative of race/ethnicity without requiring targeted oversampling. 3. Experience working with academic researchers in schools of public health. 4. Price (This will be Firm-Fixed Price): An evaluation of the offeror's price proposal will be made to determine if proposed prices are realistic for the work to be performed, reflect a clear understanding of the requirements, and are consistent with the technical proposal. x. In accordance with FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. xi. FAR clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. xii. FAR clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items applies to this Acquisition. Additional FAR Clauses include: FAR clause 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUL2013) (Pub.L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). FAR clause 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (AUG2011). FAR clause 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). FAR clause 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management (JUL2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). xiii. There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions (such as contract financing arrangements or warranty requirements) determined by the contracting officer to be necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. xiv. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating does not apply to this acquisition. xvi. All responsible offerors may submit a proposal, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Offers are due by 12:oo Noon (EST) on September 20, 2013. Proposals shall be emailed to the Contracting Specialist, Dorothy Maxwell at contact@example.gov; Faxed proposals will NOT be accepted.