SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Cognitive Testing of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Items using Asian Sample - Statement of Work
- Notice Date
- 8/6/2009
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- 2009-Q-11646
- Archive Date
- 9/1/2009
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Seminko, Phone: 770-488-2878
- E-Mail Address
-
fxo3@cdc.gov
(fxo3@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- Statement of Work This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a Total Small Business Set-Aside for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and proposals are being requested. The Government contemplates award of a Firm Fixed Price commercial contract resulting from this Request for Quote (RFQ) but does not guarantee that an award will be made. The associated NAICS code is 541690. The period of performance shall commence upon award of a purchase order and shall continue through completion no later than September 30, 2010. The work will be performed at the contractor's facilities. Title of Project - Cognitive Testing of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Items using Asian Sample for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health (NCCDPHP/DACH) 1. Background and Need - Increases in lifespan have necessitated extending measures of morbidity and mortality to assess the impact of impaired health on people's quality of life. The World Health Organization, recognized the importance of evaluating and improving individuals' quality of life (see: World Health Organization, 1995). When considered in the context of health and disease, quality of life is commonly referred to as health-related quality of life (HRQOL). When considered in the context of population health, HRQOL is a broad population health outcome that supplements mortality and provides an indicator of multiple determinants on health. The Health-Related Quality of Life Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has defined health-related quality as an individual's or group's perceived physical and mental health over time (CDC 2000; http://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/). HRQOL has been operationally defined for surveillance purposes since 1993 in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and since 2000 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). There are four core questions for monitoring HRQOL from these two surveys. They are the following four questions: 1. Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor? 2. Now thinking about your physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good? 3. Now thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good? 4. During the past 30 days, for about how many days did poor physical or mental health keep you from doing your usual activities, such as self care, work, [school*], or recreation? The CDC's four core HRQOL questions have undergone cognitive testing, and have been shown to demonstrate content validity, construct validity, criterion validity with the Short-Form 36, predictive validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. (CDC 2000; Moriarty, Kobau, Zack, & Zahran, 2005). Besides these four HRQOL questions, some States and communities have collected information on five additional "Healthy Days" questions as part of a BRFSS optional module ("Healthy Days Symptom Module") that specifies potentially remediable causes of poor HRQOL indicated in the first four questions. See http://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/hrqol14_measure.htm#3 for list of 5 additional Healthy Days Symptoms questions. Respondents to these surveys who identify themselves as Asians or Pacific Islanders consistently report better HRQOL than other racial or ethnic groups (Zahran, Kobau, Moriarty, Zack, Holt, Donehoo, 2005). On average, this better HRQOL reflects better self-rated health, fewer physically unhealthy days, fewer mentally unhealthy days, and fewer recent activity limitation days (3, Tables 4 and 5). Both women and men who identify themselves as Asians or Pacific Islanders report better HRQOL than women and men of other racial or ethnic groups (3, Tables 7 and 8). Why these differences occur remains unexplained. Because those with higher socioeconomic status report better HRQOL (3, Tables 4 and 5), and because Asians may be better educated or have higher household incomes than those in other racial or ethnic groups (Barnes, Adams, Powell-Griner, 2008), differences in socioeconomic status may account for these differences in HRQOL. However, socioeconomic status may not account for all of these differences. Different cultural attitudes and upbringing and language differences may make the concepts of QOL and HRQOL unfamiliar to respondents of some racial or ethnic groups. Some respondents who are unfamiliar with being interviewed or uncertain about the intent of the interview may be noncommittal or reluctant to admit to problems with their health and HRQOL. Other respondents may prefer to answer such questions personally in face-to-face interviews rather than impersonally over the telephone. While the CDC HRQOL questions have undergone cognitive testing in some population groups, they have not undergone specific cognitive testing in Asians of different nationalities. If the general concepts of QOL or HRQOL are less familiar to or less culturally appropriate for certain Asian nationalities, then re-evaluation of surveillance for HRQOL may be necessary in these subgroups--perhaps considering surveillance for other, related but more culturally appropriate concepts than HRQOL. Even if Asians of different nationalities are familiar with and understand QOL and HRQOL, determining why they report better HRQOL than other racial or ethnic groups still remains unexplained: Degree of acculturation, problems with translation of the CDC HRQOL questions into different languages, and the mode of interview may then affect the reporting of HRQOL in Asians of different nationalities. 2. Project Objective - The purpose of this acquisition is to design and implement a cognitive testing study of the nine previously described CDC HRQOL questions in a sample of 24 Asian of at least three different nationalities. 3. Scope of Work - Products from this contract will include 1) a written review of the literature on the ascertainment of quality of life and especially health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Asians of different nationalities to determine their familiarity with and their understanding of these concepts and what affects this familiarity and understanding; 2) the development of a plan for cognitive testing of the nine previously described CDC HRQOL questions in Asians of at least three different nationalities; 3) the completion of four focus groups or 24 individual cognitive testing sessions; 4) a report and/or manuscript describing the study methodology and its findings; and 5) a final report describing cognitive testing results, including possible recommendations for changes in the wording of the CDC HRQOL questions or the mode of their administration, based on study findings. The vendor will provide all labor, materials, and equipment required to complete the tasks outlined below. 4. Technical Requirements - 1) Provide a written review of the literature on the ascertainment of quality of life and especially health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Asians of different nationalities to determine their familiarity with and their understanding of these concepts and what affects this familiarity and understanding; 2) Develop a plan for cognitive testing of the nine previously described CDC HRQOL questions in Asians of at least three different nationalities. The proposed budget will include support for incentives for population recruitment (~$100.00 per participant). This project will be exempt from CDC IRB review at CDC because CDC investigators have no interaction with study subjects or with identifiable data. 3) Complete four focus groups or 24 individual cognitive testing sessions. 4) Target groups to be recruited may include 6-8 Asians from at least three different nationalities aged 18 years old or older in at least three of the following groups: a. Age: 18-49 years old; 50 years old or older. b. Birthplace: Born in the U.S.; foreign-born. c. Duration of residence in the U.S.: Entire life; 10 or more years but less than a lifetime; less than 10 years; d. Sex: Males; Females; e. Language spoken at home: Only English; Both English and the native language; Only native language. 5) Write a report and/or manuscript describing the study methodology and its findings. 6) Provide a final report describing cognitive testing results, including possible recommendations for changes in the wording of the CDC HRQOL questions or the mode of their administration, based on study findings. BASIS FOR AWARD Contractors are advised that in the evaluation process, technical quality is more important than cost or price. While cost will not be the controlling factor in the selection for Task Order award, the degree of importance of cost as a factor could become greater depending upon the degree of equality of the technical proposals. Where competing technical proposals are determined to be substantially equal, cost and other cost-related factors would become controlling factors. If the government makes an award, it shall be made to the offeror whose quote is considered to be the best value to the Government. The prospective offeror shall submit capability statements or curriculum vitaes with prospective offeror's response/pricing proposal. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (End of Provision) FAR 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference. (Feb 1998) This Request for Quote may incorporate one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfhhsara.htm FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998) This contract may incorporate one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfhhsara.htm FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items (Jan 1999) (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; (ii)Price; (iii) Past performance (see FAR 15.304); and (iv)Small disadvantaged business participation. The following provisions apply to this commercial solicitation: 1. FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the provision. 2. FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, if used, and the specific evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of that provision. If this provision is not used, describe the evaluation procedures to be used. 3. Offerors are to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with its offer. 4. FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the clause. 5. FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding which, if any, of the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition. QUOTE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Your submission should include two separate proposals. Page Suggestion: Contractor proposals should be no more than fifteen (10) double-spaced pages, excluding graphs, charts, and/or resumes. The technical proposal should fully address the requirements for the evaluation criteria. Submitted resumes should be no more than five (5) pages each. Budget format suggestion: Contractor proposals should provide an itemized budget breakdown for each task and deliverable identified in this RFQ. 1. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL The proposals shall be evaluated according to the criteria and points as set forth below: Evaluation Criteria Points or Relative Value of Criteria A. Understanding of the Problems and Objectives 15 B. Methodology and Approach 30 C. Management Plan and Personnel 25 D. Experience and Capabilities 30 TOTAL 100 A. Understanding of the Problems and Objectives The vendor adequately and clearly describes the problem, the scope, and the objective of the project. The vendor demonstrates an understanding of the intent and the requirements of this Task Order. B. Methodology and Approach The vendor describes the proposed approach to comply with each of the requirements specified in the statement of work, the methods used in conducting the various tasks, the names and the person-hours for all personnel, and the scheduling of time and resources. The proposal includes a milestone schedule for the project. The proposal describes potential problems that may be encountered in completing each segment of the project and factors that may influence the success of the project. C. Management Plan and Personnel The vendor describes the project's organization including (1) the person-hours and percentage of time for key personnel and (2) curriculum vitae detailing relevant training and experience for all persons involved in the project to make it clear that each person has adequate qualifications to perform the required tasks. The proposal describes the functions of each key person and relates these functions to that person's qualifications. At least one of the key persons should have expertise and experience in cognitive testing. At least one of the key persons should have expertise in the health of, and experience in working with, and access to Asian adults of different nationalities. At least one of the persons should have expertise and experience in reviewing and summarizing the literature on topics like those relevant to this project. The proposal also includes an organizational chart of the overall management of the project. D. Experience and Capabilities The vendor describes relevant experience in developing questionnaires for surveys, particularly cognitive testing of questions. The proposal briefly describes relevant work, when it was performed, what organization it was performed for, and the name and the telephone number of a person who may be contacted by the Government to discuss the performance of the referenced work, as it relates to requirements in the statement of work. The proposal describes how the vendor will recruit Asian adults of different nationalities in the age groups and other demographic groups described in the statement of work. The proposal demonstrates past performance with both Cognitive testing and working with Asian populations. 2. PRICE PROPOSAL A. Offerors must submit a firm fixed price quote. A cost analysis of the cost proposal shall be conducted to determine the reasonableness of the Contractor's cost proposal. Your quote shall provide price breakdown by year by labor categories and rates. The budget proposal should be prepared in Microsoft Excel format and shall include breakdowns for each of the base and option periods by task. The contractor is responsible for determining the required supplies, materials, and equipment required to perform the work under this task order unless identified as Government-furnished property and to include it in its budget for the work. B. Past Performance A list of no more than three (3) most current (within the last 5 years), relevant contracts and/or subcontracts (completed or currently in progress) for the prime offeror and any subcontractors (3 each for prime and significant subcontract(s)). Contracts listed may include those entered into with the Federal Government, agencies of state and local governments and commercial customers. The offeror shall provide the following information for each reference. Include the following information for each contract/subcontract: 1) Name of Contracting Activity 2) Contract Number 3) Contract Type 4) Total Contract Value 5) Contract Description 6) Contracting Officer and Telephone Number Questions regarding this requirement shall be emailed to DSeminko@cdc.gov (same as fxo3@cdc.gov) by the deadline, Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Quotes in response to this requirement are due Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please forward four (4) copies of the hardcopy proposal to: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ATTN: Darlene Seminko 2920 Brandywine Road, Rm. 3723, M/S E-09 Atlanta, GA. 30341-5539 Please also include a Compact Disc (CD) containing an electronic copy of the proposals in a Portable Document Format (.pdf), and in Microsoft Excel for the Price proposal. Please e-mail one (1) copy to Dseminko@cdc.gov. Facsimile proposals are NOT authorized.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2009-Q-11646/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Procurement and Grants Office, Atlanta, Georgia, 30132, United States
- Zip Code: 30132
- Zip Code: 30132
- Record
- SN01901377-W 20090808/090806235628-4d14c91a38f050ef3f55c105df257308 (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 |