U--EVALUATION OF ONLINE COURSES

Sources Sought - This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals or quotes. General Statement of Need The purpose of this Notice is to obtain information regarding: TITLE OF PROJECT: Evaluation of VA National Center for PTSD online courses in nationally-represented audience samples 1. PURPOSE. The overall purpose of this project is to evaluate two online courses (OLC) developed by the VA National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) Executive Division. One course is to be evaluated within two probability-based nationally-representative random samples within the general population, one of Veterans and one of non-Veterans. The other course is to be evaluated within two nationally-representative random samples of providers within the general population, one of psychiatrists and one of family/general practitioners. 2. BACKGROUND. The National Center for PTSD was created in 1989 within the Department of Veterans Affairs in response to a Congressional mandate (PL 98-528) to address the needs of Veterans with military-related PTSD. The mission of the NCPTSD is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's Veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. NCPTSD consists of seven VA academic centers of excellence across the U.S., with the Executive Division serving as headquarters in White River Junction, VT. As part of its educational initiatives, the NCPTSD develops interactive online courses on various topics related to PTSD for both Veterans/general public and for providers/researchers. 3. Objectives. In keeping with NCPTSD's focus on supporting evidence-based practices, NCPTSD aims to evaluate its educational products in order to continually improve their quality and effectiveness. The NCPTSD online courses are multi-media interactive courses made available to both lay and professional audiences via the NCPTSD website. Our objectives for this contract is to secure (a) access to nationally-representative random samples of the general public (Veterans and non-Veterans) and samples of health providers and (b) provision of the NCPTSD-developed pre- and post product evaluation surveys specific to each sample. Specific objectives related to the general public audience include: (1) screening survey of a large sample of the audience composed of both individuals interested in and not interested in evaluation of the product; this screening will yield data on standard demographic characteristics and data from a very brief screening survey assessing interest in evaluating educational materials related to health, level of understanding of PTSD, and level of understanding of PTSD treatment; (2) a pre/post survey of the online course "Understanding PTSD Treatment" and the companion pdf document "Understanding PTSD Treatment" in terms of usability and effects on attitudes, knowledge, and behavioral intentions within a subsample of the initial larger sample who indicate interest in evaluation of the product, with this subsample consisting of equal numbers of Veterans and non-Veterans, and (3) post evaluation of satisfaction with and usability of the online course and companion pdf for "Understanding PTSD Treatment" in the subsample who indicated interest in evaluation of the product. Specific objectives related to the provider samples (n = 150 psychiatrists, n = 150 general practitioners) include: (1) collection of data on sample characteristics, (2) pre/post evaluation of the online course "PTSD 101: Pharmacological treatment of PTSD and Comorbid Disorders" in terms of effects on attitudes, knowledge, and behavioral intentions, and (3) evaluation of satisfaction with and usability of the online course "PTSD 101: Pharmacological treatment of PTSD and Comorbid Disorders". 4. Scope. The Contractor shall conduct product evaluation with a public audience and a product evaluation with a provider audience. For the public audience survey, the Contractor will provide standard demographic variables for and survey two probability-based nationally-representative random samples (N = 1000 male and female non-Veterans 18+ years of age, N = 1000 male and female Veterans 18+ years of age) with a 2-minute 3-question survey assessing interest in evaluating educational materials related to health, level of understanding of PTSD, and level of understanding of PTSD treatment Within the subsamples of Veterans and non-Veterans who indicate interest in evaluating educational materials related to health, the Contractor shall administer a pre and post evaluation survey to n = 400 male and female Veterans and n = 400 male and female non-Veterans. Following the 25-minute pre-survey, individuals in each subsample of 400 will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (a) receipt of a link to the NCPTSD online course "Understanding PTSD Treatment" or (b) receipt of a link to the NCPTSD pdf document "Understanding PTSD Treatment". Following one week's time from when the links are provided, the Contractor will administer a 25-minute post-survey to the samples of Veterans and non-Veterans. It is expected that 80%, or n = 320, of the Veteran sample and 80%, or n = 320, of the non-Veteran sample will complete the post-survey. For the provider audience survey, the Contractor shall survey nationally-representative random samples of health providers; one sample (n = 150) will consist of male and female psychiatrists and one (n = 150) will consist of male and female family/general practitioners. Within one occurrence for each sample, the Contractor will administer a 25-minute pre-survey, provide a link to the NCPTSD online course "PTSD 101: Pharmacological Treatment of PTSD and Comorbid Disorders", and following up to 60 minutes for review of the course, the Contractor will administer a 25-minute post-survey. For both audience surveys, the Contractor will program each survey instrument, post these on a password-protected website, and conduct pilot testing of at least 25 subjects to ensure full quality control of the programmed survey instruments prior to final survey administration. Links to each of the three products to be evaluated will be provided by the NCPTSD project team to the Contractor. Within four separate, self-documented Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) data sets, the Contractor will provide standard demographic variables for the initial N = 2000 sample of Veterans and non-Veterans and for the provider samples, along with all survey data collected and associated field reports on data collection methodology. 5. Mandatory Tasks and Deliverables. If for any reason, any deliverable cannot be delivered on time according to the below schedule, the contractor shall provide a written explanation three days prior to the due date to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR). This written transmittal shall include a firm commitment of when the work shall be completed. This transmittal to the COTR shall cite reasons for the delay, and the impact on the overall project. The COTR will review collaboratively with the program office and facts and issue a response in accordance with the contract terms and conditions. Unless otherwise specified an electronic copy shall be placed in the designated CBO SharePoint site or other CBO-designated site. The contractor shall provide a detailed work plan and briefing for the NCPTSD project team that presents the contractor's plan for this project within 15 days of contract. This work plan and briefing will include the approximate number of survey panelists who meet study criteria, as well as information regarding the planned survey methodology. The links to the products to be evaluated are NCPTSD online course "Understanding PTSD Treatment": http://www.ptsd.va.gov/Public/understanding_TX/startCourse_NCPTSD_Treatment_1435.html and pdf document "Understanding PTSD Treatment": http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/understanding_TX/booklet.pdf and PTSD 101: Pharmacological Treatment of PTSD and Comorbid Disorders": http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/Pharmacological/player.html The Contractor will program the survey instruments, post them on a password-protected website, and conduct a pilot testing to ensure quality control testing of the programmed survey instruments within 60 days of contract. The will create four separate, self-documented Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) data sets (one for each survey sample) containing all final survey data with complete variable and value labels, as well as general demographic profile data, and statistical weights. The will also provide field reports containing information regarding all sampling and data collection procedures, codebook, panel recruitment methodology, and statistical weights for each of the surveys. This will be delivered within 8 months of contract award date. 6. Period of Performance. The period of performance shall be from the date of award for a base period of one year. 7. Place of Performance. The Contractor's work will be performed at the Contractor facilities. 8. Key Personnel. We are looking for experts in the science of evaluating nationally-representative random samples within the general population. Specific details include use of probability-based sampling methods, pre/post survey piloting and final survey administration, and provision of final weighted data and standard demographic variables. 9. Travel. The CBO does not anticipate travel. 10. Type of Contract. A Firm- Fixed Price Contract will be issued for this effort. Contract duration is estimated to be a one year period. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH THAT WILL ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VISN 1 PLAN THEIR ACQUISITION STRATEGY. This is NOT a Request for Proposals (proposals will not be accepted at this time) and does NOT constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. The information based on responses to this notice solely within the discretion of the VA. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market research/Sources Sought Notice. Responding small businesses should have an active CCR registration, DUNS number and up to date ORCA registrations. SDVOSBs and VOSBs MUST be registered in VetBiz.gov and provide a current certified letter from Washington, D.C. The NAICS code for this service is 611699, size standard is $7.0 million. Service disabled veteran owned business and small businesses that feel that they may be capable of providing these services should submit all applicable information, including business size, by September 8, 2011 3PM EST. You may submit this information via email to contact@example.gov The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining how to conduct the procurement process.