SOLICITATION NOTICE
70 -- Develop Recruitment Strategy and Recruit Participants for a CAT Tool Study associated with SSA's Disability Evaluation Process
- Notice Date
- 7/12/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- 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
- NIHCL2010069
- Point of Contact
- Ann G Argaman, Phone: (301) 594-5919
- E-Mail Address
-
ann.argaman@nih.gov
(ann.argaman@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Rehabilitation Medicine Department in the Clinical Research Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH-RMD) in Bethesda, Maryland has agreed to assist the Social Security Administration (SSA) explore innovative methods for augmenting the disability evaluation process. This requires assessment of individuals' abilities across a variety of functional domains while considering functional workplace demands and environmental features of workplace, home, and community settings. Current efforts to develop assessments of human functioning using computer adaptive testing (CAT) tools founded upon item response theory (IRT) are underway. The use of CAT tools could potentially allow the SSA to collect more relevant and precise data, in a faster, more efficient fashion. 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 individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful employment. To meet objectives associated with the NIH-RMD collaboration with the SSA, CAT tool development will require a calibration study for each instrument. A calibration study is a field study of item content and structure conducted with samples of respondents representing the intended users of the CAT instruments. Item pool development and subsequent item calibration are unique for each CAT tool and for the target population for which they are developed. To better support the SSA's evaluation process, distinct applicant and provider CAT instruments are being developed. Participant recruitment and telephone as well as internet test administration will be needed to conduct the CAT tool calibration studies. The NIH-RMD seeks a contractor who will develop a detailed recruitment plan and implement a participant recruitment effort to achieve projected sample sizes for the calibration studies. The recruitment plan must seamlessly integrate with existing work conducted by Boston University to develop CAT tools under contract number HHSN26920090004C. For the purposes of CAT calibration, it will be necessary to collect information from both providers and claimants about the functional abilities of claimants relative to workplace demands. It is recommended pairs (or dyads) of claimants and providers be recruited for the CAT calibration studies. Sample sizes for most scientifically defensible CAT calibration projects are in the range of 500-700 respondents. This sample size is needed to support a series of confirmatory factor analyses and to perform statistical modeling. Inadequate sample size may lead to inaccurate and unstable statistical outcomes. Due to projected response rates for the recruitment of claimants and providers, the anticipated recruitment volume will require the contractor provide evidence of established procedures and staffing to efficiently manage the recruitment effort. The contractor must demonstrate expertise in CAT tool development and the application of CAT technology for the purposes of disability assessment. The contractor should demonstrate prior success in the completion of calibration studies associated with CAT tool development in domains of human functioning. In order to optimize the contractor's ability to complete this requirement in the established timeframe, current SSA clearances are required. RFP NIHCL2010069 for this requirement will be posted on the FEDBIZ Opps site. Potential offerors are responsible for downloading a copy and for monitoring any amenndments or changes made to this RFP.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/CCOPC/NIHCL2010069/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02203223-W 20100714/100712235241-3b0aba29569d305d8672385126fa6e56 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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