Supporting Parents of Young Children

Notice Type: Intent to Sole Source Intended Awardee: The National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine / National Research Council 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 753 Washington, DC 20001 Ph: 202-334-1230 www.iom.edu/bcyf Title: Supporting Parents of Young Children Solicitation#: 14-233-SOL-00658 Date: August 21, 2014 Notice of Intent: The Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) intends to award a contract to support SAMHSA's efforts to The Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will convene a committee of experts to conduct a consensus study that will produce a comprehensive report on the state of the science and policies related to parenting that will inform a national framework. The study committee will review relevant research and practice-based literatures on parenting. The National Academies was mandated by Congress in 1997 and consist of four organizations with The Institute of Medicine (IOM) being one. IOM is an internationally recognized and trusted resource for independent, expert advice related to health and medicine. Their reputation for independence and ability to bring together leading experts, weigh the evidence, and produce reports that inform sound policies, makes them a unique source for this type of expert review and consensus building. The IOM is uniquely positioned to be able to not only identify relevant partners and stakeholders but also garner their participation in the proposed activities because of their existing structures and established reputation. Because of their routine and continuous on-going engagement with a variety of high level healthcare stakeholder, they are in a unique position to meet the needs of this contract. In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(;), competition is being restricted because The National Academies, Institute of Medicine is the only reasonable source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements. Background: Over the past several decades, the field has identified parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) that, when demonstrated consistently by parents, are associated with improved outcomes for children. Unfortunately, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers have not succeeded in embedding this knowledge into public systems and infrastructure to provide all parents with the information and support that they seek in order to promote their children's well-being. Despite many attempts at special initiatives and numerous programs designed for parents, we know that at a universal level, there is still an "information gap" as well as an "information to practice gap". In part, there has not been consensus about public health and education messaging effectively communicating- and consistently incorporating- core parenting KAPs into policy, resulting in a lack of coordinated and targeted efforts and supports aimed at promoting these parenting KAPs in practice. This warrants the need for a consensus report on a set of evidence-based parenting KAPs, around which policies, programs, and messaging initiatives can be built. Description: A committee under the auspices of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will conduct a study that will inform policies and practices related to strengthening the capacity of parents*of young children, birth to age 8. The committee will examine the research to identify a core set of KAPs tied to positive parent-child interactions and child outcomes, as well as evidence-based strategies that support these KAPs universally and across a variety of specific populations. These KAPs and strategies will be brought together to inform a set of concrete policy recommendations, across the private and public sectors within the health, human services, and education systems. Recommendations will be tied to promoting the wide scale adoption- of the effective strategies and the enabling of the identified KAPs. The report will also identify the most pressing research gaps and recommend three to five key priorities for future research endeavors in the field. This work will primarily inform policy makers, a wide array of child and family practitioners, private industry, and researchers. The resulting report should serve as a "roadmap" for the future of parenting and family support policies, practices, and research in this country. Specific populations of interest include: fathers, immigrant families, parents with substance abuse and/or mental health issues, low income families, single mother headed households, and parents of children with disabilities. Given the diversity of family characteristics in the United States, the committee will examine research across diverse populations of families and identify the unique strengths/assets of traditionally underrepresented groups in the literature, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Latinos. Contextual areas of interest include: resource poor neighborhoods, unsafe communities, rural communities, availability of quality health care and education systems and services (including early childhood education), and employment opportunities. Contractors possessing equal capabilities are encouraged to respond in writing no later than September 5th, 2014. All responses should provide at a minimum: 1. Cover Letter/Capabilities Statement illustrating organizations' technical capabilities and expertise, as it relates to the requirements presented in this notice. (Begin listing the items that are in your respective solicitations) 2. List of at least 3-5 Past Performance references to include: a. Description of previous work efforts b. Contract number c. Point of contact Estimated Value: $100,000.00 Period of Performance: September 30th 2014 thru September 29th 2015 Procurement Classification (Service) Code: B542 Special Studies/ Analysis - Education North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities Contracting Office: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration Program Support Center: Strategic Acquisition Service 12501 Ardennes Ave, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 Contracting Officer: Darnese M. Wilkerson, CPCM, DHHS/PSC/SAS/DAM-B Branch Chief Phone: 301-443-1730 Email: Darnese.Wilkerson@psc.hhs.gov Point of Contact: Peter D. Preston, Contract Specialist, SAS/PSC/DAM-B Phone: 301-443-5100 Email: Peter.Preston@psc.hhs.gov