SOURCES SOUGHT
70 -- Sources Sought notice for Applying Computerized Adaptive Testing to the Soc. Security Adm Disability Evaluation Process
- Notice Date
- 9/8/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center/Office of Purchasing & Contracts, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 106, MSC 5480, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-5480
- ZIP Code
- 20892-5480
- Solicitation Number
- SSNCAT002
- Point of Contact
- Ann G Argaman,, Phone: (301) 594-5919
- E-Mail Address
-
ann.argaman@nih.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a market survey and sources sought synopsis to identify Small Business concerns (including 8(a) Small Disadvantaged; Service-disabled Veteran Owned; Woman-Owned; and HUBZone Business firms) with expertise and experience in developing innovative ways to apply computerized adaptive testing methods based on item response theory to evaluate the functional abilities of adults in relationship to performance requirements for substantial gainful employment. Industry responses are encouraged from all interested sources and will aid in the development of the Government’s functional and technical requirements, by identifying capabilities of firms to provide the scope of services required to meet the Government’s needs. In addition, responses will be utilized to aid in our determination for set-aside purposes. The Rehabilitation Medicine Department in the Clinical Center at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland has agreed to assist the Social Security Administration to explore innovative methods for augmenting the disability evaluation process. This requires assessment of applicants’ functional abilities across a variety of domains (such as movement and physical activities, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and applied cognition) in relationship to functional demands in the workplace and features of the workplace, home, and community environments. Rapid assessment methods are needed that are compatible with SSA processes and will yield easily interpretable results that can be efficiently and meaningfully integrated to provide accurate and uniform information about an applicant’s ability to engage in substantial gainful employment. To meet this objective, we will evaluate the feasibility of a promising new testing method that has the potential to precisely measures outcomes across the full continuum of human functioning using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) coupled with Item Response Theory (IRT). CAT represents a simple form of artificial intelligence software requiring computer technology for administration. The demonstrated advantages of the CAT instruments compared to more traditional testing methods are: reduced respondent burden, increased score precision, elimination of ceiling and floor effects, client-specific confidence intervals, monitoring of data quality in real time, and lower data collection costs. Because functional outcomes have been shown to have a clear hierarchical structure, gains in precision and efficiency of score estimation are superior to traditional fixed forms of functional assessment, thus transforming the ways in which outcomes can be monitored. We propose application of CAT methods to the determination of key domains useful to the SSA disability determination and claims decision-making processes. There is substantial additional work to be done before the full potential of IRT-CAT can be realized in this environment. These efforts will include a thorough evaluation of the feasibility of implementing CAT tools in the SSA environment, further development of existing CAT instruments, and development of new CAT instruments to assess critical aspects important the disability evaluation process such as job related functional requirements and the workplace environment. The contractor should have the ability to accomplish two major phases of this project including: 1) evaluation of the usefulness and feasibility of developing a CAT approach to evaluate individuals’ functioning, their home, community and workplace environments, and their physical and mental job requirements in order to evaluate potential to engage in substantial gainful employment; and 2) if a CAT approach is determined to be feasible, development of CAT software specific to SSA data collection processes and methods of disability assessment. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT announcement only, and your response is not an offer. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary. The Government will not pay for the information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in the preparation or submission of industry responses. SOLICITATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME AND AS SUCH ANY SUCH REQUESTS FOR SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. Information collected via this market survey will in no way be used to limit or screen potential offerors from future consideration for selection. Information provided by any offeror in response to this market review shall not be disclosed if doing so would reveal the vendor’s confidential business strategy and will be protected under FAR 3.104 or FAR Subpart 24.2. All proprietary and restricted information provided in response to this synopsis should be clearly marked. Interested parties with performance capability should send supporting information that documents that belief and documents their capability to address and meet the needs described in this RFI. Responders should provide a thorough description of their current capabilities relevant to this project. Capabilities provided should be as specific as possible and should identify unique technical qualifications in specific areas. More specifically, the contractor should provide evidence of the following knowledge, capabilities, past performance, and staffing: 1)Familiarity with contemporary theoretical models of the disablement process and SSA disability evaluation processes as demonstrated by scholarly publications, participation in scientific forums as a content expert, and scientific committee participation in these areas; a. Senior investigators with substantial expertise in computerized adaptive testing methods and item response theory applied to the development of functional assessments 2)Demonstrated success developing, testing, and implementing CAT modules in real world settings administered to individuals with a variety of limitations and those without limitations, and yielding immediate, interpretable results; 3)Demonstrated ability to adhere to ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements for research involving human subjects. 4)Technological capabilities to support all aspects of CAT development, implementation, and integration with SSA processes; The information provided need not be excessive in length, but should be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that your company understands the nature of work involved and has the expertise and resources to perform the work successfully The NAICS and small business size thresholds for this requirement are respectively 541512 and 21.0 million dollars is the small business size standard. Responding companies should advise if they are considered a large or small business based upon the size standards provided. Responses are requested by September 23, 2008. Please address responses to Ann Argaman, Contracting Officer, National Institutes of Health, Office of Purchasing and Contracts, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 106, Mail Stop Code 5480, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5480 or via e-mail to aargaman@cc.nih.gov. Please ensure that you have included your return e-mail address, mailing address, telephone number and facsimile number in the body of your response.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c5a0b530cb89a786c8c87b104c3a83fe&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Record
- SN01663652-W 20080910/080908222438-c5a0b530cb89a786c8c87b104c3a83fe (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |