MODIFICATION Application of Systems Approaches to Health Disparities & Population Health

This notice is issued to publish the Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) for this contract entitled, "The Application of Systems Approaches to Health Disparities & Population Health." JOFOC is attached. It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine to modify an existing contract with the University of Michigan, 109 Observatory St. SPH Tower, Room 3667, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 under authority of FAR 6.302, for the Application of Systems Approaches to Health Disparities & Population Health. There is a growing recognition that most major threats to the public's health are complex in the sense that each one arises from a mix of behavioral and social factors interacting with biological factors, as well as each other, over the lifespan and across an array of settings As highlighted in the OBSSR prospectus (http://www.thehillgroup.com/OBSSR_Prospectus.pdf) there is great need to bridge the study of these multi-level factors to catalyze new research, analytic and intervention efforts directed at addressing the complex problems of health disparities and population health. Systems science methodologies provide a way to address complex problems, while taking into account the "big picture" and context of such problems, however, despite large NIH investments in areas of health disparities and population health, there has been no systematic attempt to apply systems approaches to these issues. The development of multi-level, integrated approaches to health disparities and related population health problems have been stymied by academic research that tend to isolate researchers working in different disciplines, failure to bring adequate expertise to a shared research table for an extended period of time, a lack of conceptual and theory-driven approaches that provide a clear and well-specified roadmap to link various levels of influences, and the absence of appropriately complex analytical approaches. A committed network of experts who meet periodically over an extended period could prove an efficacious way to move this agenda forward. Such networks have had important transformative effects in other areas of science and health. The University of Michigan submitted an unsolicited proposal entitled: Application of Systems Approaches to Health Disparities & Population Health. This proposal was accepted and awarded as a contract (HHSN276200800013C) on 9/25/2008. The work includes a convened network to engage in collaborative research with an innovative focus on merging health disparities, population health, and complex systems research. The network is developing an inter/multi/ transdisciplinary agenda that builds bridges between disciplines interested in health disparities/population health and complex systems research. The process of conducting the first phase of this contract made clear that modifications would be necessary. There is a need for the increase in the level of effort for the PI on the project. Experience during the first two years demonstrated the need for adequate modeling support given the interest level and inexperience with complex systems modeling of most network members. The contractor shall rearrange several of the associate positions currently on the contract. Our review of the many disciplines and approaches that could contribute to advancing our understanding of health disparities and population health clearly indicated the need for a broader disciplinary representation. The contractor should include 4 members of the network who are primarily experienced complex systems modelers and increase in domain specialists. A critical element of the network is the collaborative complex system modeling work that will be carried out by network members. Some of this work will be supported by the modeling core, while other work will be supported by pilot funds. To the best knowledge of the OBSSR Program office, a research network applying systems science to address problems of health disparities and population health does not exist within or external to the government.