Statistical Analysis Services on Research Data Related to Family Health History and Risk for Disease

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, CB 3270, Davie Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270 to provide statistical support for projects within the Social Network Methods Section of the Social and Behavioral Research Branch at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). General Description: The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the Social Network Methods Section of the Social and Behavioral Research Branch (SBRB), Division of Intramural Research (DIR) has a need for the services from Dr. Abigail Panter at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Panter's expertise, along with two graduate students in the Ph.D. program in quantitative psychology, will provide statistical support for projects within the Social Network Methods Section. Dr. Panter and her team will provide basic descriptive analyses of the data and measures used for each analysis, as well as report overall trends in the research by utilizing HLM and Growth Curve Models. They will also convert their findings into written form, preparing the analytic sections for scientific papers that will be submitted for publication. In this statistical analyses based upon two proposed papers from two ongoing projects within the section, the first project titled, - The Role of Family History and Culture in Communal Coping with Mexican American Families (Protocol #07-HG-N140) aims to 1) examine whether a family-centered feedback approach encourages communications regarding family risked in the development of strategies to adopt health promoting behaviors within the household, 2) investigate whether the type of personalized risk feedback affects family members beliefs about the causes and controllability of disease onset and perceived risk of disease, 3) investigate whether shared perceptions of risk and beliefs about disease mediates the relationship between communications about family risk and the development of cooperative strategies to adopt health promoting behaviors within the family, and 4) understand how culture and the familial social system facilitate or impede communications regarding family health history and risk for disease, and the development of strategies to adopt health promoting behaviors. The second ongoing project incorporates two complementary protocols related to the hereditary cancer syndrome known as Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HPNCC) titled - Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Testing for HNPCC (NHGRI Protocol #05-HG-N249), and - Outcomes of Education and Counseling for HNPCC Testing (NHGRI Protocol #95-HG-0165). The data obtained from the second project will be used to address the following aims: 1) develop and refine statistical models for the partial family networks; 2) explore the relationship between family social structure and participation in genetic counseling and testing, disclosure of test results, communication about hereditary risks, adjustment to risk status, and cancer screening practices; and 3) comprehensively assess the impact of the recurring provision of genetic services within these families on genetic knowledge and risk assessment, attitudes toward genetic testing, depressive symptoms, cancer related distress, worry about cancer, cancer screening and family relationships. The period of performance is August 14, 2009 through August 13, 2010. Analyses may not be limited to these two projects during the contract time frame. The reference number for this notice is NHLBI-PB-(HG)-2009-252-RD. The resultant acquisition will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and the resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-35, July 15, 2009. The total estimated amount of this contract is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold of $100,000. The sole source determination is based upon the fact that Dr. Panter has extensively worked in developing research designs and data-analytic strategies for applied health systems. This work has incorporated two complementary protocols; NHGRI Protocol# 05-HG-N249 (Psychosocial Aspects of Genetic Testing for HNPCC) and 95-HG-0165 (Outcomes of Education and Counseling for HNPCC Testing). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this requirement is 541990 and the associated small business size standard is $7.0 million. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. The resulting acquisition will be entered into pursuant to the acquisition authority set forth in FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 252 (1) and HHSAR 306-302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this requirement. The determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract 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 future competitive procurement. Responses to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PB-(HG)-2009-252-RD may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6042, Room 6128, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Renee Dougherty. Responses may be submitted electronically to Dougherr@nhlbi.nih.gov or ROwens@nhlbi.nih.gov or by FAX to 301.480.3345. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative and received on or before August 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST).