Intent to Sole Source -- Strengthening School Nursing Practices to Address Food Allergies

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). IT IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION OR ULTIMATELY AWARD A CONTRACT. ANY COST INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHALL BE BORNE BY THE INTERESTED PARTY (PROSPECTIVE OFFEROR) AND WILL NOT BE CHARGED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) has among its FY2009 priorities attention to addressing food allergy and anaphylaxis among children, especially in school settings. In response to Congressional interest, CDC is partnering with national organizations to develop policies and practices to manage the risk of food allergies and anaphylaxis in schools and to provide parents, school board members and school with information and resources to address the management of food allergy-related issues in schools and communities. In concordance with Congressional recommendations and the scope of the proposed program, CDC/DASH also seeks to work with "knowledgeable private sector organizations to identify elements of model policy and guidance" related to food allergy and anaphylaxis among children. The vendor shall render in collaboration with CDC-DASH, and national and state partners to: (1) develop strategies for addressing food allergy management in schools, specifically to strengthen school nursing practices in managing students with food allergies by building on existing strategies for strengthening school nursing practices to address similar health conditions; (2) compile information about school nursing professionals' readiness in addressing school food allergy and anaphylaxis; beginning with the development of a readiness tool; (3) update and enhance existing food allergy guidance materials for schools specifically those that focus on strengthening school health services and school nursing practices. The vendor shall provide all labor, materials, supplies, transportation, equipment, and perform services necessary to work with CDC-DASH and its funded partners to conduct a systematic review of school nurse practices and readiness to manage food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools; and to enhance existing, evidence-based food allergy guidance materials for school nurses. Once developed, the guidance materials will be vetted through a panel of experts for validity, appropriateness, and feasibility. A separate vendor shall provide all labor, materials, supplies, transportation, equipment, and perform services necessary to work with CDC-DASH and its funded partners to conduct the expert panel. The vendor shall accomplish the following tasks as defined herein: (1) The vendor shall develop a readiness tool to help schools, specifically school nurses, assess their preparedness for caring for students with food allergies. The vendor shall make this readiness tool and information obtained from the pilot application of this tool available to other CDC-funded partners working on food allergy-related activities; (2) The vendor shall develop a list of available resources to advance school food allergy management for school nurses and make this list available to CDC-funded partners working on food allergy-related activities; (3) The vendor shall meet with CDC and representatives of CDC-funded partners working on food allergy-related activities, to plan strategies that can guide the management of food allergy for those working in schools and for parents; (4) The vendor shall work with CDC to plan and conduct an expert panel, in collaboration with logistical support from CDC contractor, and input from CDC-funded partners working on food allergy-related activities, on the enhanced guidance materials for schools; (5) The vendor shall create and submit a package of final draft guidance resource materials that address the health services management of students with food allergies in schools to CDC/DASH for review, input, and clearance; (6) The vendor shall work with CDC-funded partners working on food allergy-related activities to disseminate school health services- and school nurse-guidance for managing food allergy in schools, once cleared, through electronic mediums and presentations; (7) The vendor shall work with CDC-DASH and CDC-funded food allergy partners, to determine what additional translation/dissemination products would be useful to promote effective management of food allergies and anaphylaxis in school settings. This award will be made pursuant to FAR 6.302(a)(2), "when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for." The CDC has identified the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), located at 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 420, Silver Springs, MD 20910, as the sole source to provide the requirement. The period of performance of the contract is 12 months after contract award. However, responsible sources who believe they can provide the required services may submit a written capability statement, via e-mail to Dyad Searcy at fzj1@cdc.gov and Teri Routh-Murphy at tnr3@cdc.gov no later than 15 days from the published date of this announcement, July 23, 2009. All responses are limited to 5 pages, single spaced, 12 font, Times Roman. The cover letter is not includes in the 5 page limit, however should be included in the body of the email response. Telephone inquiries will be considered non-responsive.