Hispanic Aging Survey Feasibility Study

National Institute on Aging, IRP, intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive basis with Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC for a project entitled - Hispanic Aging Survey Feasibility Study. Health disparity is defined as a marked difference or inequality in a health measure, such as disability or mortality, between two or more population groups. These population groups may be based on race or ethnicity, gender, education, or other criteria. This project establishes the instruments necessary to assess the initial health status of a sample of American of Latino Ancestry. The Initial design of this study tests whether instruments similar to those used presently by the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study will apply to this group. The goal of this work is to examine the feasibility of extending the ethnic comparisons in HANDLS to Latinos, a minority group that is under-represented in Baltimore and excluded from the baseline HANDLS sampling design. Initial measures will include a health screen for overall health, a health history summary, psycho-social indicators of psychological support and stress, health behaviors, and physical performance indicators. These data will be collected in English or Spanish depending upon participants preferred primary language. Materials will be translated from English into Spanish, and back-translated to insure the accuracy of contact and nuance. All data collected will be preserved in electronic format. Primary analyses will be performed in collaboration with HANDLS investigators, including comparisons with baseline HANDLS results. The purpose of this procurement is to provide the expertise required to test the feasibility of extending the present HANDLS study materials to samples of American of Latino Ancestry. This is a test of whether measures developed based for urban African Americans and whites generalized to English and Spanish speakers in semi-urban and rural areas. This procurement will provide materials translated into Spanish and initial data for comparisons with existing baseline data from HANDLS. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), FAR 13,106-1(2)(b). The cited authority is applicable because Wake Forest University is the only source that can fulfill the requirement of this contract. They are an expert in cross-cultural bio-behavioral epidemiological studies that combine health status, functional status, and psycho-social inventories in multicultural settings in the United States and elsewhere. They have published extensively on the influences of psychological measures on health outcomes in urban and rural minority samples. A survey of the literature in this field and recommendations from investigators doing related research shows that there are no other sources for these services. The period of performance is 12 months. This acquisition is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition procedures and is exempt from the requirements of FAR, Part 6, Competition Requirements. Award will be made on an all or none basis to the lowest priced, technically acceptable source.