Testing Innovative Strategies for the Implementation of Collaborative Care for Management of Mental Disorders and Reduction of Racial and Ethnic Disparities In Mental Health Care

Amendment 01 is attached to respond to Offeror's questions. ______________________________________________________________ The purpose of this action is to upload/post the BAA solicitation itself; the original presolicitation notice is below. The actual due date for Formal Research Proposals is January 29, 2014. ____________________________________________________________ Presolicitation Notice INTRODUCTION The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) supports research on the implementation of collaborative care with the goal of eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in access to, and use of, mental health services. The NIMH, Office for Research on Disparities and Global Mental Health (ORDGMH), plans to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under the provisions of FAR 35.016 and FAR 6.102(d)(2), to support research on innovative strategies for the implementation, in multiple urban and rural locations, of collaborative care interventions that have shown effectiveness in the reduction of mental health care disparities. This new BAA initiative will solicit proposals that focus on a single research topic entitled: "TESTING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLABORATIVE CARE FOR MANAGEMENT OF MENTAL DISORDERS AND REDUCTION OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE" AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The specific aims of this initiative are to: 1. Develop implementation models that will enable rigorous and sustained delivery of collaborative care for the management of mood and anxiety disorders in individuals ages 18 and older in a range of community service settings found across the United States (e.g. social service organizations, faith-based organizations, human services settings, primary care clinics); 2. Test the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation model in communities with substantial racial and ethnic minority populations; and 3. Assess the implementation model's overall impact on achieving increased access to and use of indicated mental health care services for racial and ethnic minority populations, compared to implementation as usual. OVERVIEW This is a Presolicitation Notice in advance of the Request for Proposal (RFP), and the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. Solicitation no. BAA-HHS-NIDA(MH)-13-038, detailing the specifics of the project as well as information pertinent to the development of an offeror's proposal, will be available electronically on or about October 10, 2013 and will be posted to Federal Business Opportunities website at: http://www.fedbizopps.gov. No paper copies will be available. This BAA will utilize a 4-step process to include: Step 1 - Technical Dialog Step 2 - White Paper Submission Step 3 - Formal Research Proposals; and Step 4 - Potential Award(s) This BAA utilizes a multi-step process for organizations contemplating submission of a Formal Research Proposal which allows for an early feedback of the potential NIMH interest in a proposed study, based on technical merit, applicability to the NIMH mission and projected funding. Offerors are strongly encouraged to participate in the Technical Dialog period and to submit White Papers, but this is not required. The steps will be explained in detail in the RFP. The BAA RFP will have a section which details the NIMH Research Objectives for this initiative. The RFP will not have a Statement of Work as in a typical research solicitation, and it is the responsibility of the offeror to propose a Statement of Work in the Formal Research Proposal. The Technical Dialog Period begins with the issuing of the solicitation and closes when White Papers are due. White Paper will be due on or about November 17, 2013, and Formal Research Proposals will be due on or about January 17, 2014. The RFP will specify the exact dates. All communications prior to award of this contract shall be directed to the Contracting Officer. It is anticipated that one (1) multi-year, cost-reimbursement, completion contract award will be made for a period not-to-exceed five (5) years, beginning on or about July 25, 2014. Offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments and for routinely checking the Internet site for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued by the Government. The NIMH estimates that the average annual total cost (direct and indirect costs combined) is up to $6 million per year (total up to $30.0 million for 5 years). However, it is anticipated that the total cost for the award may vary depending upon the scope and technical approach to the project. The length of time for which funding is requested should be consistent with the nature and complexity of the proposed research. In no event shall the period of performance proposed by an offeror exceed 5 years. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the NIMH.