Respiratory Protection Educational Competencies and Training

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL), Surveillance, Communication and Scientific Support, hereby announces its intent to issue a purchase order to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) regarding the AAOHN Respiratory Protection Competencies and Training Project (RPCTP). BACKGROUND: The Respiratory Protection Competencies and Training Project (RPCTP) addresses recommendations in the IOM letter report, Occupational Health Nurses and Respiratory Protection: Improving Education and Training (August, 2011) indicating that a "stronger understanding of the current respiratory protection roles and responsibilities of occupational health nurses (OHNs) in their workplace is needed to improve respiratory protection curricula and the teaching methods used in education and training." The report resulted in seven (7) recommendations for improving the respiratory protection curricula for occupational health nursing programs, summarized below: 1. The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), working in collaboration with NPPTL and other agencies and professional organizations, conduct a survey of OHNs to determine current roles and responsibilities related to respiratory protection in their workplace and input regarding their education and training needs. 2. OHNs should take responsibility to achieve and maintain knowledge and skills in respiratory protection appropriate to their scope of practice and demonstrate leadership in motivating workers to use respirators appropriately. 3. Expand respiratory protection education across all levels of nursing education and training including academic and continuing education. 4. Ensure essential respiratory protection content in occupational health nursing graduate curricula and adapt and apply it to continuing education and training for all nurses. 5. Develop, expand and evaluate innovative teaching methods and resources to establish best practices. 6. Expand online resources particularly case studies. 7. Explore the development of a set of core interdisciplinary competencies in respiratory protection to guide the education and training of OHNs and other occupational health and safety professionals. PURPOSE Responsibilities are incumbent on healthcare institutions to provide appropriate policies, training, equipment, and evaluation to minimize hazardous exposures and support worker health and safety. Healthcare workers must use proper hand hygiene practices, appropriate PPE, and adhere to unit safety practices. There is a growing body of evidence that indicates healthcare workers are marginally compliant with the use of PPE and not following recommended respiratory protection practices. Many factors have been identified as reasons for this underuse including lack of time, lack of ready access to equipment, concerns about interference with patient care, and problems with comfort. The Working Advisory Group on Respiratory Protection initiated a grassroots, non-funded national survey of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to address the IOM Letter Report's Recommendation 1. An online / web-based survey, conducted by AAOHN, opened May 2, 2012 with data collection ongoing until May 30, 2012. As of May 10, 2012, there have been 1,395 respondents; this is an experienced group of OHNs, averaging 17 years of experience. The majority are professionally affiliated as reflected by membership in AAOHN and certification through ABOHN. The majority (89%) work in facilities with respiratory protection programs; 52% of the OHNs report being primarily responsible for the Respiratory Protection Program (RPP), and 51% perform respiratory fit testing. NIOSH spirometry certification is current for 32% of the sample. Educational needs have been identified in this preliminary analysis; 27% report none or slight comfort and 20% report moderate comfort in explaining the difference between a surgical mask and an N95. For all aspects of a RPP, OHNs are least comfortable in the areas of inspection and cleaning of respiratory equipment, and writing a respiratory protection policy. Preferred educational methods include attendance at professional conferences and participation in webinars, with 87% accessing an online webinar from their worksites. The final findings of the survey will inform the planning and development of continuing education and formal educational materials / modules aimed at OHNs, as outlined in the IOM recommendations, and will aid in the development of OHN competencies specific to respiratory protection knowledge and skills. SCOPE: The contractor will provide all labor and outputs required to complete the five tasks outlined below. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED In order to extend and build upon the survey work in process, NIOSH's objective with this contract is to identify OHN respiratory protection competencies, develop a template for RPP educational modules targeting OHNs, and establish a strategic planning process with a future goal to ensure the integration of RPP education in all levels of nursing education. Thereby addressing recommendations 2, 5, 6 & 7 as presented in the IOM letter report. Therefore, in collaboration with NIOSH, the vendor will: Task 1- Identify OHN educational competencies relative to respiratory protection; Task 2- Develop and pilot test one educational module, using existing NPPTL educational RPP resources; Task 3- Develop content outlines for additional respiratory protection modules related to the selection, use, care and maintenance of respiratory protection devices; Task 4- Recommend best practices for the delivery of both continuing education and academic education of OHNs relative to respiratory protection; Task 5- Identify a strategy to integrate respiratory protection educational competencies for all levels of nursing education, beginning with one paper to be published in a general nursing publication Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written item description/item characteristics and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward the item description and pricing information to Margaret L. Mooney, CDC NIOSH, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, Reference 2012-Q-14683. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.ccr.gov. The Government will review any/all item descriptions and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), negotiations will be conducted with American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, 7794 Grow Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514 as the only source and a purchase order will be issued without any additional notices being posted.