MODIFICATION
R -- Cancer Information Services (CIS)
- Notice Date
- 6/17/2003
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Br., 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Suite 600, Rockville, MD, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- N02-CO-41001-13
- Point of Contact
- Mary Landi-O'Leary, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 435-3807, Fax (301) 480-0309, - Mary Landi-O'Leary, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 435-3807, Fax (301) 480-0309,
- E-Mail Address
-
ml186r@nih.gov, ml186r@nih.gov
- Description
- Cancer Information Service---- Concept for 2004------ The draft concept for the next cycle of the National Cancer Institute?s Cancer Information Service contracts published in FedBizOpps on May 21, 2003 elicited numerous comments and questions. This updated concept document incorporates additional information on the concept and serves as a general response to the most frequently cited concerns and questions. THIS DOCUMENT IS PUBLISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. COMMENTS ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. No response to this announcement is necessary. --------- -----------Background----------- The Cancer Information Service (CIS) is the National Cancer Institutes (NCIs) communications network for the public. The program is operated through contracts competitively awarded every five years. New contracts will be awarded to commence operations on October 15, 2004. As the NCI Cancer Information Service Office prepares for re-competition of its Cancer Information Service regional contracts, two divergent but equally important priorities are apparent. A new concept for the program must retain current, valuable regional partnerships developed with key stakeholders over the 2 previous contracting cycles (13 years). Changes to the current network configuration could destroy the credibility the program has worked hard to establish and ultimately damage NCIs influence with regional partners and in State Cancer Control Planning activities. At the same time, the need to maintain the CIS regional presence must be balanced with the imperative to hold the line on program costs and utilize technological advances that enable an efficient and economical operation of the CIS Information Service --------- CIS 2004-------------------- The following is a concept for the next 5-year CIS contract period (2004-2009). The concept is based on two factors: cancer health disparities and advances in technology. The CIS Partnership Program is currently addressing the critical issue of cancer health disparities successfully. The Partnership Program collaborates with partner organizations to reach minority and medically underserved populations and populations with limited access to health and cancer information. Consolidation of CIS telecommunication operations will reduce duplication of effort and maximize program resources. Use of new systems technology will enhance efficiency and quality of program operations. ---------- In the proposed CIS concept, a regionalized CIS Partnership Program is the foundation of the program. The current network configuration will be maintained to operate the Partnership Program, with the addition of Hawaii as a separate region. The Information Service, currently operated as a program component in 14 regional offices, will continue to provide multiple access points for the public. However, it will be consolidated into four Coordinating Centers geographically situated to provide support and coordination of critical functions for a cluster of surrounding regional Partnership Program contracts. ------ The four Coordinating Centers are configured to achieve approximate equivalency in population numbers in the eastern, central, and western portions of the country, while also accounting for differences in time zones and the partnership configuration. Experience in the current contracts shows that when calls are routed to the next available agent in a cluster of regions that the telephone service operates efficiently and transparently to users. The reduction in the number of CIS contact centers does not decrease capacity. The same number of users will be served. The reduction in the number of contact centers allows significant cost savings while permitting the Coordinating Centers to function as anchors for the Partnership Program.----- The plan is to award 15 contracts to operate the Partnership Program. All potential contractors shall propose to operate the Partnership Program in one of the designated regions. All offerors will be encouraged to pursue Partnership Program subcontracts or other agreements to provide an equitable regional presence of the program as in the current contracts. --------REGIONS FOR CONTRACT AWARD-------- NEW ENGLAND: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont--------- -----NEW YORK: state of New York -----ATLANTIC: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania -----MID ATLANTIC: Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia -----SOUTH EAST: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina -----MID SOUTH: Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi -----COASTAL: Florida, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands -----MID WEST: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio -----HEARTLAND: Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska -----NORTH CENTRAL: Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin -----SOUTH CENTRAL: Oklahoma, Texas -----ROCKY MOUNTAIN: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming -----PACIFIC: Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington -----CALIFORNIA: state of California -----HAWAII: state of Hawaii and Pacific Territories------- The Research Initiative will continue for all CIS contracts and focus on supporting NCIs research mission. The Cancer Information Service will participate in cancer control, behavioral and health communications research that supports the National Cancer Institutes (NCI) priorities and programs, particularly those addressing cancer health disparities. Contractors will be expected to nurture research partnerships that build the CIS research portfolio contributing to NCIs research mission. -------Proposal Options----------- BASE OPTION: Partnership Program Contracts ----------- The NCI intends to award 15 contracts to operate the Partnership Program. All potential contractors must submit a proposal to operate the Partnership Program in one of the designated regions. In responding to the solicitation, offerors may also choose to propose on one or more of the following options.------------ OPTION 1: CIS Coordinating Center --------------- Offerors proposing on Option 1 will operate one of four CIS Coordinating Centers providing coordinating services to a designated cluster of Partnership Regions and the operation of one of four contact centers. In-depth understanding of the Partnership function is essential to providing the coordinating aspect of this option.----- Each CIS contact center will provide the following services: operate the toll free telephone service at 1-800-4 CANCER and the Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT and provide LiveHelp instant messaging services.----- In addition, the Coordinating Center will provide the following services to the CIS network: -------------- Coordination of:---Training to a cluster of CIS Partnership Offices; Regional information for a CIS national partnership website; Cancer and clinical trials content expertise.----- ----COORDINATING CENTER A will provide Contact Center Services and Partnership Program support to the following CIS Regions: New England, New York, Atlantic, Mid-West----- ----- COORDINATING CENTER B will provide Contact Center Services and Partnership Program support to the following CIS regions: Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Mid-South, Coastal----- ----- COORDINATING CENTER C will provide Contact Center Services and Partnership Program support to the following CIS regions: North Central, Heartland, South Central, Rocky Mountain--------- ------- COORDINATING CENTER D will provide Contact Center Services and Partnership Program support to the following CIS regions: Pacific, California, Hawaii ------------ Prerequisite: propose to operate the CIS Partnership Program in one of the designated regions. Please note that offerors are free to propose on the Partnership Program exclusively if they choose.------------- OPTION 2: Spanish Telephone Service--------------- One successful offeror for Option 1 (Coordinating Center) will have the option to provide Spanish language services for the nation. All areas of the country will have access to this service during the regular hours of operation for each of the time zones.------- --------Prerequisite: propose to operate the CIS Partnership Program in one of the designated regions and propose on Option 1. Please note that offerors are free to propose only on the Partnership Program and Option 1 if they choose. ---------- OPTION 3: Email Center------------ One successful offeror for Option 1 (Coordinating Center) will respond by E-mail to individuals who address cancer information questions to NCIs website Cancer.gov. -----Prerequisite: propose to operate the CIS Partnership Program in one of the designated regions and propose on Option 1. Please note that offerors are free to propose only on the Partnership Program and Option 1 if they choose.---------- ------------------CONCLUSION------------------------- The proposed concept for the CIS does not reduce the capacity of the CIS to meet the cancer information needs of the public. It realigns program resources, reduces costs, and promotes competition while retaining the strengths of its current CIS regional Partnership Program. The new concept maximizes NCIs potential for preserving trusted, long-standing regional relationships. At the same time, CIS is using technology to consolidate operations without severing the Partnership Program from the vital resources of the Information Service. In the new concept, regionalized Partnership Program contracts maintain and enhance CISs ability to promote and deliver NCI products such as Cancer Control PLANET and the Clinical Trials Education Series through established partners. In addition, the concept facilitates a practical communications link between regional Partnership Program contracts through the creation of Coordinating Centers that use technology to consolidate operations and provide a centralized location for streamlining critical program functions such as training and technical support for all program areas.
- Record
- SN00349431-W 20030619/030617213254 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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