Pediatric Consultant

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Womens Health (OWH) requires the professional services of a pediatrician and adolescent specialist to provide expertise and guidance in its mission to serve the interests of adolescent girls. During the past decade, up to September 2007, there was a full-time presence of pediatric/adolescent expertise at OWH. During Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 the OWH contracted for the services of a pediatric/adolescent presence. The OWH plans negotiate on a sole source basis for these services with Jonelle Rowe, M.D., 1015 33rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 for Fiscal Year 2010. The period of performance is one year from date of award for approximately 769 hours. Specifically, the contractor shall (1) Work with OWH to implement an age appropriate strategic plan for implementation and roll out of a bone health program for girls, providing ongoing medical expertise as this program is executed; (2) Work with OWH outreach and collaboration division to review and update the content of the girls health website for medical accuracy and age appropriateness; (3) Work with OWH as it continues to implement the Body Works Obesity Prevention Program; particularly the Spanish version as well as work with the Indian Health Service on the implementation of the Native American version; (4) Work with OWH in dissemination of the evaluation results of the Body Works Obesity Prevention Program; (5) Assist OWH in developing and implementing the Anticipatory Guidance materials for Hispanic parent/families of adolescent girls, reviewing all materials for medical accuracy; (6) Work with OWH as it rolls out the soon to be completed Anticipatory Guidance materials for African American parents/families; (7) Provide adolescent expertise for other issues that arise as the OWH continues to work on girls health; and (8) Work with OWH on medical issues of maternal and child health, as needed. This requirement will be awarded using FAR Subpart 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures and shall not exceed the Simplified Acquisition threshold. Dr. Rowe has been justified as a sole source in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) because she is uniquely qualified due to her 10 years as a pediatric expert in the Office on Womens Health where she played a crucial part in the development and oversight of virtually all the programs on adolescent health in the office and since retiring, has continued to provide her pediatric expertise under a contractual arrangement for the last 2 years. She had a leading role in the creation and on-going success of Body Wise, an eating disorder awareness campaign, the Body Works Toolkit, an obesity prevention program, the girls health website, the media literacy and youth development campaign and the anticipatory guidance program for parents of adolescent girls. Dr. Rowe has played a pivotal role in the development of the OWH Bone Health Campaign and is expected to continue as a significant member of the campaign as it moves forward. In addition to her adolescent health policy expertise, she has specific research and clinical background on the problem of calcium needs of children and adolescents because of her experience before joining the Federal Government and more recently in her collaboration with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in revisiting and updating its Milk Matters campaign. This position requires a state licensed, board certified pediatrician with significant experience in working at the Federal level developing public health programs dealing with adolescent girls health, specifically experience working on issues of eating disorders, body image, self esteem, obesity prevention, media literacy and youth development and counseling parents of adolescent girls. Additionally knowledge of medical issues concerning maternal and infant health issues would be an asset. The pediatrician must be able to interact effectively with members of the Society of Adolescent Medicine and other health professionals. Interested parties may identify their interest and submit a capability statement addressing their experience in the field of adolescent girls issues, medical credentials and ability to provide the services set forth above. There is no solicitation. All responses must be e-mailed to msunday@psc.gov no later than 11:59 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, September 30, 2009. All submissions shall be reviewed by the Government and be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.