MODIFICATION
A -- Testing Hierarchical HIV Prevention Messages for MSM Black and Latino Men
- Notice Date
- 3/14/2012
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541720
— Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- 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
- 2012-42820
- Archive Date
- 4/7/2012
- Point of Contact
- Jerry W. Outley, Phone: 770-488-2831, Julio E Lopez, Phone: 404-639-6401
- E-Mail Address
-
jmo4@cdc.gov, ftg4@cdc.gov
(jmo4@cdc.gov, ftg4@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Title: Testing Hierarchical HIV Prevention Messages for Black and Latino Men who have Sex with Men via Texting and Computer Delivery Modalities Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis: This is a sources sought notice to determine the availability of potential vendors (including, but not limited to, small business (e.g. 8 (a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantage business, and women-owned small business) that can conduct a randomized control trial research study on a large sample of HIV+ and HIV- black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in 2-3 US cities (at least 1 in the southeastern US) over 2 years. Background: Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to have very high incidence of HIV infection in the United States - particularly black MSM (Prejean, 2011), and new approaches are needed to reach and reduce HIV risk behavior of minority MSM. For 30 years, condoms have been the only effective physical intervention for reducing HIV infection risk, and thus correct and consistent condom use has been the single "gold standard" message available to sexually-active MSM for protecting themselves and their partners. Recently, multiple biomedical intervention options have become available. Results have been presented for partial efficacy of pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis (PrEP) with anti-retroviral (ARV) medications (Grant 2010), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is already available in emergency situations. Although there are serious concerns about access to PrEP for many people, recent studies have found that minority (vs. white) MSM were more likely to use (by HIV-negative MSM) and share with sex partners (by HIV-positive MSM) non-prescribed PrEP and PEP several years before known efficacy (Mansergh 2010). Further, minority (vs. white) MSM were more willing to use a less efficacious PrEP product in order to avoid using condoms (Koblin 2011), and were more willing to use PrEP even after PrEP efficacy results were known (Sullivan 2011). PrEP and PEP are likely to be prescribed only to HIV-negative MSM at highest risk for HIV transmission (by HIV-positives) and infection (by currently risky HIV-negatives). Even if PrEP access is not an issue, other biomedical interventions may not be too far in the future (e.g., topical ARV gels). Some studies (Marks 2010) have suggested that behavioral "seroadaptative" approaches may be an appropriate alternative for some - especially HIV-positive MSM. The relatively heightened willingness among some racial/ethnic minority MSM to use alternative products, and perhaps other HIV prevention intervention approaches, needs to be further understood. To help accomplish this, effective hierarchical messages are needed for multiple prevention options of varying levels of effectiveness. Little research has been conducted on the effects of focused hierarchical messaging in HIV prevention beyond single messaging of condom use. However, a study of hierarchical (vs. male condom only) messages for young black and Latino women found that women who received the hierarchical message (i.e., use male condoms; if not use female condoms...) were less likely to report that male condoms were effective in reducing HIV infection (Miller 2004). Adding a second option to an existing established option can potentially impact perceptions about, and intentions to use, various prevention options in the future. Are there communication approaches to maximize HIV infection risk reduction in a world of multiple effective options? For example, text messaging has demonstrated promise as an intervention approach for high-risk MSM (Reback 2011), but is it differentially effective compared to computer-delivered messaging of risk information? We are now entering an era of multiple prevention options (Shattock 2011) -- including PrEP, PEP, a topical ARV gel, or HIV seroadaptive behaviors (e.g., behavioral decisions based on viral load and anal sex position) -- and we need to prepare for disseminating simple and effective public health messages that clearly present these options to various populations at risk for HIV acquisition and transmission - particularly black and Latino MSM. Different hierarchical message options are likely to apply to HIV-positive, high-risk HIV-negative, and low-risk HIV-negative MSM. Implications of the findings of this research contract may apply to a variety of public health actions, from fact sheets to social marketing campaigns to federal guidelines, and may inform messaging within behavioral interventions currently implemented in communities of black and Latino MSM, as well as other populations. This proposal is aligned with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) Strategic Plan as they relate to black and Latino MSM: Goal 1. Reducing New HIV Infections : Step 2. Expand targeted efforts to prevent HIV infection using a combination of effective, evidence-based approaches (2.1. Design and evaluate innovative prevention strategies and combination approaches for preventing HIV in high-risk communities; and 2.4. Expand prevention with HIV-positive individuals.). Purpose and research questions: The purpose of this sources sought document is to assess contractor capabilities for conducting a randomized-control research trial that will test the efficacy of hierarchical prevention option messages compared to condom-only messages for HIV-positive, high-risk HIV-negative, and other HIV-negative, black and Latino MSM when delivered via texting and computer. Potential secondary prevention options that may be addressed in the messages include, but are not limited to, PrEP, PEP, future topical chemoprophylaxis, and HIV seroadaptive behaviors (e.g., behavioral decisions based on viral load and anal sex position), however subsequent options will vary across the groups. For example, HIV serosorting may be a secondary option for HIV-positive men, and PrEP may be a secondary option for high-risk HIV-negative men. The research questions are: 1. Do hierarchical prevention option messages (vs. condom-only messages) potentially increase or reduce perceived effectiveness of and behavioral intentions to use various HIV prevention options among HIV-positive, high-risk HIV-negative, and other HIV-negative, black and Latino MSM? 2. Are hierarchical and condom-only messages equally efficacious for black and Latino MSM in altering perceived effectiveness of and behavioral intention to use various prevention options? 3. Are hierarchical and condom-only messages delivered via text and computer-delivered messaging equally efficacious in altering perceived effectiveness of and behavioral intention to use various prevention options? The Vendor shall demonstrate capability with the following requirements: 1. Demonstrate evidence of conducting randomized-control trial studies. 2. Demonstrate evidence of recruiting and enrolling large samples of HIV-positive and HIV-negative, black (n=600+) and Latino (n=600+) MSM, including developing and using targeted recruitment and retention materials. 3. Demonstrate evidence of conducting research in multiple (2-3) cities, either directly or through subcontracts, including at least 1 city in the Southeast US. 4. Demonstrate evidence of the ability to develop a research protocol and obtain IRB and OMB approval for HIV related research projects. 5. Demonstrate evidence of the ability to hire and train peer staff for study recruitment and assessment. 6. Demonstrate evidence of previous research or evaluation of HIV risk-related text messages and computer-delivered messages. 7. Demonstrate evidence of developing and implementing behavioral assessment instruments. 8. Demonstrate the ability to safely and securely collect, store, download, merge, transfer, clean, and manage large datasets, as well as provide simple data frequencies and descriptive statistics to ensure clean data. Capability Statement: Vendors that believe that they have the ability to satisfy all of the above stated objectives are encouraged to submit a capability statement. The capability statements will be evaluated based on the information provided in relation to the research questions and requirements above and the current in-house capacity to perform the work including: (a) staff availability, experience, and training; (b) prior completed projects of a similar nature; and (c) examples of similar prior completed contracts, dollar value of the contracts, references, and other related information. Capability statements must demonstrate the requirements outlined above. Capability statements shall include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, phone/fax/email, and business size and status (e.g. small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantage business, and women owned small business). The remainder of the capability statement should be tailored to the requirements stated above and must demonstrate that similar research activities have been performed in the past. Submission Instructions: Interested parties having the capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements may submit a capability statement of up to 10 pages via email to Jerry Outley (Jmo4@cdc.gov). The subject line of the email shall be "Testing Hierarchical Prevention Messages for Black and Latino MSM". Responses are due no later than March 23, 2012 by 2:00PM EST. Capability statements will not be accepted after the due date.   Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the research activities required. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED ADEQUATE RESPONSES TO A SOLICITATION. Primary Point of Contact: Jerry W. Outley Contracting Officer Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) 2920 Brandywine Road M/S E-15 Atlanta, GA 30341 Email: jmo4@cdc.gov Phone: 770-488-2831 Fax: 770-488-2868
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2012-42820/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's Facility, United States
- Record
- SN02696970-W 20120316/120314235808-d27fc60319e0c3ce683f2b1f57127191 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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