Studying Community Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity

SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH COORDINATING CENTER: Studying Community Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity Broad Agency Agreement Number: NIH-NHLBI-HC-10-15 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and potential technical capability of small business firms as defined by NAICS Code 541720 to perform as a research coordinating center for the research project Studying Community Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity. The goal is to examine community childhood obesity programs across the nation by using a natural experiment design. Results will be disseminated to inform research and national and local policy for reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity. The NHLBI plans to issue a Broad Agency Announcement to establish this evaluation study, with one five-year contract for a Research Coordinating Center anticipated. A national sample of communities will be examined to assess a variety of hypothesized factors addressed by community programs to improve diet and physical activity with the aim of reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity. The study will employ common metrics for evaluation across programs, obtain key measures across communities, and conduct analyses to examine associations between characteristics of community programs and targeted outcomes of those programs, such as community environments, the media, family behavior, children's diet and physical activity behaviors, and children's body mass index. The project will provide a platform for several partners to collaborate on program evaluations. One award is planned to a Research Coordinating Center, which will work with the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) to design and implement the research (see http://www.nccor.org/ for information about NCCOR). Over the past four decades, obesity rates have increased substantially among U.S. youth. Factors believed to have contributed to the increase are those that alter energy balance, including greater consumption of food and beverages with higher calories, and less physical activity during school along with more sedentary lifestyles out of school. Overweight and obese children are at higher risk of serious illnesses during childhood and adulthood, including heart disease, stroke, asthma, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancer. A 2008 AHA statement on Population-Based Prevention of Obesity recommends - population-based strategies that improve social and physical environmental contexts for healthful eating and physical activity. Community programs employing these concepts are being implemented across the nation, including programs supported by the NCCOR partners. This research project will conduct cross-program evaluations to identify factors associated with community program success, using common metrics and approaches. The Research Coordinating Center shall be responsible for performing the following tasks: Study Design and Methods 1. Providing leadership for development of a study protocol, including scientific aims and research questions, a theory-driven conceptual logic model, study design, measurement and quality control methods, and statistical analysis approaches; 2. Providing scientific leadership in state-of-the-art quasi-experimental study designs of natural experiments to evaluate outcomes associated with community programs related to childhood obesity. Of relevance are local and state policies, community characteristics, media, family environments, dietary and physical activity behaviors in youth, and child BMI; 3. Designing and implementing survey research methodology that employs proper sampling of individuals within communities, as well as organizations within communities, including attention to non-response rates, in order to enable proper estimates of variables of interest at the community level; 4. Planning and overseeing the conduct of interviews, focus groups, and surveys of key community leaders (e.g., Mayor, school superintendent) regarding policies that could have an impact on childhood obesity; 5. Providing leadership in analyzing and synthesizing both quantitative and qualitative data; 6. Designing and implementing a statistical analysis plan to examine associations between characteristics and extent of community programs and outcomes relevant to childhood obesity control. Analyses should take into account data of a hierarchical nature including (but not limited to) individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities when necessary for addressing the research questions; 7. Planning and overseeing collection of data on characteristics at the individual, family, organizational, and community levels, including key demographics (e.g., socio-economic status, ethnicity, education level), behaviors, policies, media, and environmental factors that may affect childhood obesity. Included are methods for measuring key dietary and physical activity parameters associated with obesity in youth as well as youth BMI; 8. Identifying reliable, valid, and feasible measurement instruments; judging the validity and reliability of existing instruments such as questionnaires, interviews, and measures of relevant environments and policies; using objective measurement approaches whenever possible; 9. Developing questionnaires and interview guides as needed including the use of cognitive interviewing to refine data collection instruments; 10. Developing and refining a study manual of procedures and pilot testing procedures; training and supervising data collectors; 11. Establishing and maintaining a study database; maintaining quality control and monitoring collection of a large amount of study data; Study Processes 12. Developing and refining a theory-driven conceptual logic model used to provide a vision for the project's activities, data collection, and analyses; 13. Leading a multi-disciplinary team with professional qualifications of scientific, managerial, and technical personnel in the following areas: evaluation research, physical activity, nutrition, behavioral science, social science, public health, statistics, and relevant technology; 14. Providing collaborative leadership for activities with multiple partners, where all partners needs are met. This includes providing leadership in the following areas: establishing an infrastructure for working together (including a committee and subcommittee structure), approaches to collaborative protocol development (including a process for decision-making), approaches to mutual problem-solving, and coordination of all aspects of the study; 15. Developing informed consent documents and processes as needed and obtaining approval of protocol and Informed Consent by any necessary IRBs; 16. Coordinating, arranging, participating, and providing information necessary for regular Steering Committee, training and other study meetings; 17. Providing reports for regular meetings of a study Data and Safety Monitoring Board; providing statistical support for investigators (including Research Coordinating Center investigators) to publish scientific papers and present at scientific meetings; 18. Providing technical reports as required by the Government, which is at least annually, but may be as frequent as quarterly, and at study completion; 19. Providing a lay-level summary of study findings used for timely and appropriate feedback to communities implementing childhood obesity programs or planning to do so. This is not a request for proposals (RFP) and the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. However, if an interested party believes that it can perform the requirements included abover, they may submit documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer at the address below. Partnering arrangements are considered to be acceptable. Include the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact. When submitting this information, please reference the notice number above. The capabilities statement should not exceed 14 single-sided or 7 double-sided pages in length. Do not include budget information. An original and two (2) copies of the capabilities statement must be submitted. Electronic submissions are acceptable and may be sent to the following e-mail address: cooperke@nhlbi.nih.gov. The due date is May 11, 2009 local time (Bethesda, MD). Kristiane E. Cooper, Contracting Officer, Office of Acquisitions, DERA National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS 6701 Rockledge Drive, Two Rockledge Centre, Room 6126-A, MSC 7902 Bethesda, MD 20892-7902 For overnight deliveries use zip code 20817, no MSC is required. The statement of capabilities must demonstrate: 1. Documented expertise, experience, availability and professional qualifications of professional, technical, and administrative personnel and ability to perform each of the tasks described above; 2. A description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software; 3. An outline of any projects of similar scientific approach, topic, size, scope, and complexity in which the business concern and the proposed personnel have participated; and 4. Any other information considered relevant to this research program. 5. The firms status as a small business under NAICS code 541720