SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Technical Support Services for the NIDDK Epidemiology Coordinating Committee
- Notice Date
- 10/20/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Nat'l Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, & Kidney Diseases, 2 Democracy Plaza, Suite 700W 6707 Democracy Blvd., MSC 5455, Bethesda, MD, 20892-5455
- ZIP Code
- 20892-5455
- Solicitation Number
- NIH-NIDDK-07-02
- Response Due
- 11/3/2006
- Archive Date
- 11/18/2006
- Description
- The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is conducting a market survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs mentioned below. NIDDK will be seeking an organization or an institution to provide technical support services for the NIDDK Epidemiology Coordinating Committee. The contractor will be responsible for the following requirements (tasks): 1) Epidemiologic Research in Diabetes/Endocrinology/Metabolic Diseases, in Digestive Diseases/Nutrition/Obesity, and in Kidney/Urologic/ Hematologic Diseases: The Contractor shall collaborate with NIDDK Epidemiology Committee scientists in conducting original scientific research relating to diabetes/ endocrinology/ metabolic diseases, to digestive diseases/ nutrition/ obesity, and to kidney/ urologic/ hematologic diseases. 2) Biostatistical Consultation: The contractor shall provide statistical consultation in determining the correct and most efficient approach and the technical feasibility of specific proposed analyses, considering such factors as total sample size, cell size, missing data, etc.; and shall provide consultation to NIDDK Epidemiology Committee scientists as requested regarding statistical assessment of the complex NCHS data tapes and other data sources. 3) Data Management, Data Processing, and File Documentation: The contractor shall procure and maintain complex data files from epidemiologic surveys and other data sources; re code data to create new variables or scales which are logical functions of existing variables; merge data files; and construct working subfiles. 4) Biomedical Literature Review and Preparation of Reports for an Educated Lay Audience: The contractor shall review the published biomedical and epidemiology literature, select significant articles relevant to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders under the purview of the NIDDK and provide synopses of research results in language suitable for an educated lay audience. 5) Development and maintenance of electronic data systems for scientific activities in NIDDK or at other sites using the Internet or other appropriate tools: These systems shall include administrative records for use within NIDDK as well as information intended for electronic access by the broader scientific community. The success of this project depends extensively on the capabilities and qualifications of the contractor's staff. The NIDDK considers the contractor's project manager, epidemiologists, biostatistician, and senior computer programmer to be key personnel. The project manager will be responsible for implementation and monitoring of all contract activities. This person must have evidence of previous successful managerial and supervisory experiences in biomedically-?related work involving management and analysis of complex data files; commitment and demonstrated leadership ability of such projects; ability to facilitate activities of scientific and technical personnel such as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and computer programmers; ability to implement and monitor all contract activities; ability to coordinate logistics, planning, and documentation for the project; ability to anticipate potential problems and expedite necessary corrective action; ability to assess potential needs and plan to fulfill these needs; ability to facilitate the coordination of logistics, planning, and documentation for the project; and ability to prepare intelligible written reports that document activities, plans, and progress of contract activities. Three epidemiologists must be available on the contractor?s staff or through subcontract. Each of the three epidemiologists must have a Ph.D. degree in epidemiology; or an M.D. degree with training/experience in epidemiology or public health; or a lower level degree with significant experience in chronic disease epidemiology. It is required that one epidemiologist have demonstrated expertise in diabetes or endocrinology; that one have expertise in digestive diseases, nutrition, or obesity; and one have expertise in kidney, urologic, or hematologic diseases. Each of the epidemiologists must have demonstrated experience in conducting and analyzing complex statistical studies in epidemiologic and/or pubic health contexts using large samples, complex data files, and a wide range of univariate and multivariate statistical techniques; experience in writing analytic and statistical reports; demonstrated ability to work in a consultative mode with other epidemiologic investigators; ability to clearly express themselves orally and in writing; and demonstrated ability to collaborate with computer programmers. Demonstrated experience working with NCHS or similar complex data tapes and demonstrated familiarity with SAS and SUDAAN will be highly desirable. The biostatistician should have a Ph.D. in biostatistics or a lower level degree with significant experience in biomedical research; demonstrated experience in designing statistical aspects of epidemiologic analyses; demonstrated ability to take both innovative and rigorous statistical approaches to analyses; ability to determine the most efficient and feasible approach of specific proposed analyses, considering such factors as cell size, missing data, etc.; ability to select appropriate statistical analytic methods for specific analyses (e.g., descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis, correlation and regression analysis, survival analysis, etc.) and apply these to specific analyses; experience in conducting statistical testing of complex stratified cluster sample surveys of the NCHS and other large epidemiologic studies; ability to collaborate in a consultative mode with epidemiologists; and experience in writing analytic and statistical reports. The senior computer programmer should have understanding of and experience with epidemiologic analyses; ability to work with analysts in epidemiologic research in biomedical areas; demonstrated ability with the SAS computer analysis system; experience with performing SAS analyses on microcomputers; experience with the NIH Center for Information Technology computer systems; demonstrated experience in programming data from complex stratified cluster sample surveys such as NCHS data sets from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Hospital Discharge Survey, and the Health Interview Survey; understanding of analytic programs for statistical testing of NCHS and other complex survey data; familiarity with SUDAAN and other statistical packages for analyzing complex sample surveys; proficiency in statistical programming including univariate and multivariate analysis and statistical testing, correlation, and regressions; ability to prepare specialized tables, graphs, and histograms from computerized data; experience in data storage and retrieval; experience in manipulating large data files involving complex editing, merging, and updating functions leading to the construction of specialized working files from primary source data tapes; experience in converting files back and forth between SAS data sets and external files; and experience in uploading and downloading such files. The key personnel are expected to work closely with the NIDDK Project Officer, the individual scientists in the NIDDK Epidemiology Coordinating Committee, and other NIDDK staff. The Project Officer must be kept fully and constantly informed of all activities and must approve all plans and activities related to the project. The staff proposed must be diverse enough to cope with the wide variety of needs and experienced enough to perform the tasks quickly and efficiently. It is expected that the contractor will provide management expertise based on previous experience in similar or related activities using the full talents of the proposed staff. This request is for interested firms with the capability of providing the required services to submit a corporate capability statement along with projected pricing, to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought notice should adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities, however, the statement should not exceed 15 pages. (b) The capability statement should include references, key personnel, and any teaming arrangements needed to fulfill the requirements. (c) All capability statements must be submitted in writing to the address identified in this synopsis no later than November 3, 2006 by 3:00pm eastern standard time. Responses should be forwarded to the attention of Mr. Dana Harris (see point of contact below) to the Contracting Officer Address stated above. Responses will not be accepted via email or fax. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, MD
- Zip Code: 20817
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20817
- Record
- SN01168598-W 20061022/061020220312 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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