SOLICITATION NOTICE
L -- IT Professional Services to modify TIP for TB program
- Notice Date
- 3/17/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- 2006-Q-08462
- Response Due
- 4/14/2006
- Archive Date
- 4/29/2006
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR part 12. The request for quote will be in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: proposals ae being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Purpose of Contract Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seeks a vendor to provide the following services: 1. To provide computer programming expertise leading to the modification of an existing application, named Tuberculosis Indicators Project (TIP). 2. To implement additional programming based on necessary enhancements of the TIP application to enable all jurisdictions funded by and report to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to use this application for monitoring program progress toward national TB objectives. 3. To deploy this application and provide technical support and documentation to all users. Background Accelerating progress toward TB elimination requires new efforts and priorities. Program evaluation is an essential component of successful programs and a mechanism for TB programs to reach the goal of TB elimination. Survey findings and discussions with state partners identified the evaluation needs of local TB program staff. In the process, Evaluation Working Group?s (EWG) vision evolved. The vision of EWG, as stated in the Strategic Plan, a document detailing the goals and the action steps of EWG, are: - TB programs routinely conduct self-evaluations and use findings to improve and enhance programs - Data systems are in place to collect and organize data for evaluation purposes - Standard indicators for program performance are developed and reported to CDC - Evaluation findings are used to make systemic changes - Lessons learned from evaluations are shared between programs To address the needs of TB program staff at the state and local levels, and realize the vision of EWG, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) EWG is planning and developing a coordinated web-based system that includes 3 major functions in public health programs: (1) program planning, (2) outcome monitoring, and (3) program evaluation. As activities are planned and implemented, outcome indicators are monitored to see how the program is performing. If a program is doing well or poorly, it can be evaluated to understand why. The knowledge from the evaluation can then be used for planning improvements to enhance the program. These 3 functions operate simultaneously for optimal program performance and success. Leveraging existing resources and application within the field of Tuberculosis prevention programs, the development of part 2, outcome monitoring component, of the system will be built based on the existing Tuberculosis Indicators Program (TIP). This application will unify and standardize indicators of program performance reported to CDC. In addition, it will promote the use data currently being collected in Public Health data systems (i.e., Report of Verified Cases of Tuberculosis and Aggregated Report for Program Evaluation) for the purpose of conducting program evaluation and making program improvements. The existing TIP system was implemented using a multi-tier architecture using various Off The Shelf (OTS) software. Listed below is a brief description of the various tiers and the major technologies that were used. Presentation Tier: Web based interface for users to request analytical reports using Microsoft Application Service Provider Reporting Engine: Design of TIP report templates in Crystal Reports 8.5 based on XML data sources. The system uses the Report Designer Component (RDC) library to merge the data into the templates and produce a PDF document. The system extracts data from the Reporting database based on the user?s selection. Analytical Tier: Processing of raw data from the Surveillance system into summary data as required by the TIP templates. Also performs necessary data cleansing prior to processing. SAS programs are executed in batch to produce reporting data in the form of ASCII delimited files. The analysis is usually performed by the data managers on their desktops or servers. Reporting Database Tier: The ASCII delimited files from the above analytical process are imported into the reporting database. The reporting database is Microsoft Access. The existing TIP system currently provides indicator calculations for TB programs within the state of California. To provide the system for use by TB programs across the United States, the existing TIP system needs to be modified to reflect national indicator calculations if different from the national standarized calculation, accommodate data gathered at the national level from Tuberculosis Information Management System (TIMS) and Tuberculosis Surveillance Program Area Module (TB PAM), and enable reporting jurisdictions to access data within their jurisdiction and perform automatic reporting of indicators for national TB objectives. Data includes, but not limited to, those from Report of Verified Cases of Tuberculosis (RVCT) and Aggregated Report for Program Evaluation (ARPE). Access to the TIP system will be granted to perspective vendors for assessment before the submission of the project proposal. This statement of work is written to seek the needed computer programming expertise to modify TIP for use by TB programs across the United States. To successfully and efficiently complete the modification of TIP for national use, this project is divided into 3 phases: (I) System assessment and evaluation, (II) System development and modification, and (III) System deployment and user support. Preparation: System assessment/development/implementation work plan Cost estimate - system hosting/maintenance/support 365 days post deployment Phase I: System assessment and evaluation Vendor will provide or secure service to carry out the following tasks: To modify the existing TIP application to allow for pilot and evaluation System to be pilot tested/assessed for usability and functionality by 3 sites. Identify system modifications with DTBE based on pilot feedback and suggestions. DTBE will provide the following technical support in Phase 1: - Sites for pilot testing - Tools for system assessment and evaluation Upon successful completion of Phase I, Phase II will begin. Phase II: System development and implementation Vendor will provide or secure service to carry out the following tasks: Address minimum requirements established by CDC Analysis and Visual Reporting (AVR)working group (See Appendix A) Modify system to support scalability and security using either .NET or Java technology Modify system to include lessons learned from pilot testing to allow for national access by states and jurisdictions Modify system to enhance scalability and security allowing access at the CDC and reporting jurisdiction level Modify indicator calculations to reflect CDC standardization (See Appendix B) Addition of indicators currently not included in existing TIP (See Appendix B) Modify data sources so calculation will be based on data collected via TIMS and TB-PAM Modify data sources to utilize ARPE contact investigation data collected at CDC Develop data import user interface from CDC data sources. (Note: Processed reporting data to be imported from the Analytical stage into the Web Reporting database using a web based interface.) Develop population data import interface for both CDC import and individual user import. Population data will be imported for all reporting areas where available. Population data will be used for rate calculation when applicable. Both rate and percentage calculation functions will be built-in in case population data is not available for rate calculation. Modify system to be installed at CDC/national level for use by reporting areas (See Appendix C) System to be modifiable by state for state level installation and program management. Documentation of system development, modification, and construction Development of system installation scripts and guide to facilitate installation of the system at state level and allow state to modify/configure for their own use Pilot test enhanced system for usability and functionality by 3 sites. Provide access to technical support to CDC staff for user manual and training development. DTBE will provide the following technical support in Phase II: - National Electrionic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) AVR plan (See Appendix A) - A complete list of CDC/National TB program objective indicators including those not in the existing TIP (See Appendix B) - TB surveillance data with no patient identifiers in a file necessary for use in the CDC TIP application; that CDC will provide updates to the system as appropriate and become available; that data provided by CDC to the application will be dependant on states providing data to CDC via TIMS or NEDSS; Data for process indicators will be more frequently updated and outcome indicator data will be provided upon availability and if appropriate - ARPE data source; data provided by CDC to the application will be dependant on states providing data to CDC via TIMS or other venues - Indicator calculations in SAS code - Technical consultation from DTBE experts on calculations - CDC will also provide population data for rate calculations for 2004 data set pending on availability - Sites for pilot testing - Tools for system testing and evaluation - Development of system user training manual Phase III: System implementation Vendor will provide or secure services to: All reporting areas (See Appendix C) Deploy system Provide System hosting and maintenance 365 days post initial or completion of national deployment System refining, bug fixing and customer support 365 days post deployment (Vendor support limited to sites using CDC/national installed application) Provide training and demonstration to CDC project officer and staff Identify and install web based tools for technical Q/A and support request and ticketing. o DTBE to respond to content questions o Vendor to respond to system related questions DTBE will provide the following technical support in Phase III: - User manual - Training to states - Data use agreement - User support for non technical content questions - Develop FAQs Items to be Delivered and Delivery Schedule The vendor will perform analysis and provide each of the written deliverables listed below to the Project Officer by the dates shown below: Phase I 1. System development/implementation work plan 15 days Cost estimate - system hosting/maintenance/support after contract ended 2. Existing system ready for pilot test/user assessment 30 days 3. Existing system pilot tested by 3 sites 45 days Phase II 1. Data source/user access/indicator calculation tested/reviewed 90 days 2. Enhanced system pilot tested by 3 sites 130 days 3. Demonstration at National Tuberculosis Controller?s Association [June 1, 2006 4. Training to project officer and Staff 140 days Phase III 1. System deployment 150 days System documentation of development and implementation 2. System hosting and maintenance 365 days post deployment System bug-fixing and technical support Period of Performance Upon the award of the contract for a period of 18 months Program Project Officer Kai Young, Field Services and Evaluation Branch, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, will provide the technical monitoring of the contract. Other Government Furnished Information. The Government will provide access to: (1) existing Tuberculosis Indicators Program (TIP) system application, (2) information, including the tools and protocol prior to phase 1 of this effort, (3) data submitted from the participating pilot sites with identifiers removed, and (4) national TB objective indicators, indicator calculation and data sources. Government Furnished Property. None. Rights in Data. The Consultant is prohibited from publicizing or disseminating information from this project without the prior written approval of the project officer. MINIMUM CRITERIA REQUIRED OF VENDOR To meet the goals and objectives of this project, the vendor should have experience with website, database and data system development, especially experience associated with program performance indicator programming. Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Word, MS Excel, MS Access, SAS, Visual Basic, ASP.Net, JAVA, MS Access, Crystal Reports/XML/XSD is a must. Experience with the development of data systems for Tuberculosis Control Programs is a plus. The government reserves the right to make an award on the best value determination. All submissions must be transmitted in written form. Electronic mail and/or fax documents are acceptable. All responses ans any questions or inquiries you may have regarding this announcement, please direct to Gloria Sanders at the address listed in this synopsis, via email at gsanders@cdc.gov, phone 404/639-6025 of fax 404/639-8095.
- Record
- SN01008746-W 20060319/060317212000 (fbodaily.com)
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