Multi-component evaluation of the BodyWorks program

Title: Multi-component evaluation of the BodyWorks program Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857 Notification of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract: The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health (OWH) intends to award a sole source contract to Shattuck and Associates for the multi-component evaluation of the BodyWorks program. Background information on the BodyWorks program: Through the BodyWorks program, OWH seeks to provide parents/caregivers with tools and strategies to improve family eating and activity habits. The BodyWorks program is designed to support adolescent girls and boys in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity. Launched in 2006, the program is based on research suggesting that parents/caregivers play an important role in shaping the nutrition and physical activity patterns of their children; adolescents are less likely to be overweight or obese if their parents maintain a healthy weight; and parent participation in childhood obesity prevention programs has been shown to have a positive effect on program success. The primary audience for the program is parents/caregivers of adolescent girls and boys. The secondary audiences are adolescents and other family members. BodyWorks programs are led by trained facilitators and are intended to include ten parent-focused sessions lasting 90 minutes each. Adolescents are invited to two of the sessions. The BodyWorks program includes English and Spanish versions. More information about the program can be found at www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks. OWH needs to know how the program is being implemented, which aspects are perceived as successful and which are not, as well as whether it is effective in changing health behaviors initially and at a 6 month follow-up. Specifically, Shattuck and Associates will evaluate 1) participant and trainer perspectives on the implementation of the BodyWorks program; 2) whether BodyWorks is associated with changes in behavior and if so, whether that change is sustained at a 6 month follow-up; 3) the comparative effect of the BodyWorks and Best Bones Forever programs (which of these programs has better outcomes); and 4) trainer perspectives on the Technical Assistance component to BodyWorks.. Shattuck and Associates is currently under contract to evaluate the Best Bones Forever pilot program. The Best Bones Forever pilot operates as a subcomponent of the BodyWorks program. Best Bones Forever is a more intensive version of BodyWorks, with a physical activity program for girls. One of the goals of the BodyWorks evaluation is to compare outcomes of BodyWorks with Best Bones Forever date to learn which of the programs leads to better results. The Government will use information from the comparison of these programs to determine which program to continue to support, if either. Shattuck and Associates is uniquely poised to complete the outlined tasks since they have an intricate understanding of the BodyWorks program and have the Best Bones Forever data. It is essential that data from the BodyWorks evaluation is collected, cleaned and formatted like the Best Bones Forever data. Only by using the same firm are we assured that the methodological and technical details of the data collections and tabulation will be statistically appropriate for the necessary comparisons. With more than one firmed involved, we would risk deviations in the implementation and analysis details that could compromise the ability for the government to learn which program, if either, should be supported. Shattuck and Associates is a women-owned small business with extensive expertise in evaluation research. Any firm that believes it may have similar capabilities is encouraged to submit their capability statement addressing each of the items/areas cited above. Written capability statements may not exceed ten (10) pages and must be received by the contracting officer not later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 24, 2010. Small Businesses are encouraged to review this notice. E-MAIL CAPABILITY STATEMENT TO: Rebecca.Hoffman@psc.hhs.gov The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1. No solicitation document is available at this time. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. For further information, contact Rebecca Hoffman at DHHS/PSC/SAS/DAM, Parklawn Building, Room 5-101, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857 or on 301-443-7078.