SOURCES SOUGHT
G -- Disaster Health Information Outreach and Collaboration Project 2013
- Notice Date
- 3/7/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 519120
— Libraries and Archives
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland, 20894, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- NIHLM2013697
- Archive Date
- 4/2/2013
- Point of Contact
- Keturah D. Busey, Phone: 3014966546
- E-Mail Address
-
buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov
(buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research. This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service- disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. BACKGROUND Recognizing the untapped potential of libraries, librarians, and information services to aid in the nation's disaster management efforts, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Board of Regents' Long Range Plan (2006-2016) Subcommittee recommended that NLM create a "Disaster Information Management Research Center" (DIMRC) to support national emergency preparedness and response efforts. Since the Center opened in 2008, NLM has worked to train and support librarians to serve as Disaster Information Specialists to help meet their communities' information needs in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and public health emergencies. Several pilot projects were conducted by a variety of institutions including the Sarasota Memorial Hospital, New York University, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, HHS, in conjunction with the NIH Library. In March 2011, DIMRC hosted a Disaster Information Outreach Symposium to explore various ways in which librarians can assist their institutions, organizations, and communities. DIMRC also develops disaster and emergency information resources for health professionals and the public. (http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov). These tools include access to the relevant biomedical literature via PubMed (http://pubmed.gov) and the non-commercial literature via the Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov), as well as tools to assist in the response to hazmat and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events These tools include the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER; http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov) with information on over 400 chemical, biological, and radiological agents, Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM; http://remm.nlm.gov) and Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM; http://chemm.nlm.nih.gov). NLM, as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recognizes that it is critical to establish relationships with organizations that encourage and foster communication and information access. All those working in disaster medicine and public health need fast and easy access to the most up-to-date and accurate health information to effectively prepare for and respond to incidents. Evidence-based information from past events, incoming information from social media sources, and tools to aid in analysis are needed by health departments, hospitals, academic institutions, emergency management agencies, and non-governmental organizations to assist with disaster planning, as well as for response and recovery. Libraries and librarians are highly qualified to assist with these information needs. Based on our pilot disaster health information studies at several institutions since 2008 and the Disaster Information Outreach Symposium in March 2011, NLM funded for the first time in 2011 the Disaster Health Information Outreach and Collaboration Project for libraries and other organizations to work together to improve awareness of, access to, and use of disaster medicine and public health information by organizations, institutions, and agencies working in any phase of disaster/emergency management (all-hazards). Funds were offered again in 2012. Previously funded projects can be viewed at http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/disasterinfofunding.html. NLM defines "disaster health information" broadly as clinical, public health, medical, and health information needed for preparedness, response and recovery from all-hazards disasters and emergencies, including public health emergencies. "All-hazards" includes natural events, terrorism, industrial accidents, transportation accidents, public health emergencies such as major disease outbreaks, chemical/biological/radiation/nuclear events with potential for causing mass casualties, and other incidents that require emergency response or have the potential to exceed local response resources. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the Disaster Health Information Outreach and Collaboration Project is to design programs for improving disaster medicine and public health information access for health professionals, first responders and others (paid or volunteer) that play a role in health-related disaster preparedness, response and recovery. (See the section below on Target Audiences.) Emphasis is on providing information or access to health and medical information in a way useful to the target audiences, and increasing the awareness and utilization of high-quality, professional-level online medical and public health information resources on disaster, all-hazards, and emergency topics including resources from the National Library of Medicine listed in the Background Information above. The purpose is also to promote new and creative collaborations on disaster health information needs among and to the mutual benefit of librarians, information specialists, or informationists and the disaster workforce. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS Projects must involve two or more of the following information access categories: 1. Needs Assessment: To determine and evaluate disaster health information needs, available resources, training needs, preferred information access tools, gaps in types or content of materials, and other aspects of the provision of information services by and for librarians and the disaster workforce. 2. Roles in Providing Disaster Health Information: To develop new or expanded roles for librarians/informationists with organizations that have major disaster health-related responsibilities and/or to develop new or expanded roles for disaster workforce members' participation in development, evaluation, promotion and use of health information resources. To promote cross-training and mutual awareness of each organization's disaster roles and health information needs. 3. Practices and Methods in Information Sharing: To develop collaborative information practices, methods, and communication tools among information organizations (libraries or similar) and disaster organizations for sharing of health information to enhance disaster planning, situational awareness, response, and recovery. Practices and tools could address, for example, building community resilience, online mapping of post-disaster resources, use of social media in disasters, biosurveillance, and other means for enhancing communications. Projects may also support the health information needs of an institution developing continuity of operations plans or disaster response plans, but funds will not be provided for actually doing that planning. 4. Skills Development: Training to develop skills in accessing or using disaster health-related information including the use of online databases and general disaster information resources in order to improve services, benefit the community, and enhance understanding of the context for using disaster information. This may include training for the staff of an agency, development of training programs for clients and patrons, training programs for other agencies, etc. 5. Information Retrieval: To provide or improve access to electronic disaster medicine and public health information resources for organizations with disaster-related responsibilities or by the clients they serve and to implement access to state-of-the-art disaster health-related information tools via the Internet or mobile devices. This may require the purchase of hardware (computer equipment), software, or contractual relationships necessary to obtain a connection to the Internet for the benefit of organizations with disaster responsibilities and for the purpose of accessing and sharing disaster health-related information. 6. Document Access: Access to disaster health-related documents and other types of health information. This may include the enhancement of library collections, development of connections between disaster-related organizations and local health sciences or other libraries to obtain use of their collections, to procure interlibrary loan services, etc. Projects must also include: Participation in the NLM Disaster Information Specialist Program: One or more staff associated with a project must participate in the Disaster Information Specialist Program by subscribing to the DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB listserv (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dimrclistserv.html), participating in monthly Program conference calls, and contributing to collaborative efforts of this community of practice as appropriate. PROJECT PARTNERS Projects must include at least one library, defined as : A library, library system, information center or consortium of libraries that has some experience in providing health information resources or disaster/emergency information resources to their constituents. Examples include, but are not limited to, college and university libraries, corporate or special libraries, public libraries, and health sciences libraries. Preference will be given to libraries that serve a wide or unrestricted audience, or an entire community. A consortium of libraries may include any number or types of libraries as long as one of the member libraries participating in the project has experience in providing medical and health information resources or disaster/emergency information resources. AND projects must include at least one non-library organization that has disaster-related responsibilities, defined as: An organization or consortium of organizations that plays a defined role in all-hazards preparedness, response and recovery, plays a role in implementing FEMA-defined Emergency Support Functions (ESF) 6 or 8, and works primarily with human (not animal) populations. These public or private organizations should include licensed or trained, paid or volunteer, permanent or as-needed workers who play key disaster functions in their institutions or communities and would benefit from access to disaster health information resources. Examples of these workers are listed in the section below on target audience. Preference will be given to organizations with significant disaster-related responsibilities in their communities, or organizations that reach a wide audience. Examples of such organizations include health departments, public safety departments, emergency management departments, pre-hospital and emergency medical services or other local, municipal, or state agencies with disaster health responsibilities, hospitals, faith-based and voluntary organizations active in disasters, fire and rescue services and others. Emergency Support Function-6 includes responsibilities for mass care, emergency assistance, disaster housing and human services. Emergency Support Function-8 addresses public health, medical, and mental health services as well as mass fatality management. TARGET AUDIENCES The target audiences for outreach projects include licensed or trained, paid or volunteer, permanent or as-needed workers who play a defined role in all-hazards preparedness, response and recovery, play a role in implementing Emergency Support Functions (ESF) 6 or 8, and work primarily with human populations. Examples of such workers include, but are not limited to: Licensed/credentialed health professionals (paid or volunteer) as listed for ESAR-VHP: • Advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurses specialists) • Behavioral health professionals (marriage and family therapists, medical and public health social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers, psychologists, and mental health counselors) • Cardiovascular technologist and technicians • Dentists • Diagnostic medical sonographers • Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics • Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses • Medical and clinical laboratory technicians (includes phlebotomists) • Medical and clinical laboratory technologists • Pharmacists • Physicians • Physician assistants • Radiologic technologists and technicians • Registered nurses • Respiratory therapists • Veterinarians [Source: Who is Eligible? Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP). http://www.phe.gov/esarvhp/pages/registration.aspx] Additional licensed or trained disaster workforce, paid or volunteer: • Trained community volunteers, such as American Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams • Administrative and support staff for Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT), and Disaster Mortuary Teams (DMORT). • Librarians, library staff, informationists, information specialists • Crisis digital volunteers • Clergy • Military and civilian humanitarian assistance workers • Hospital and other health center administrators (clinics, rehab centers, dialysis units, long-term care facilities, etc.) • Health educators • Toxicologists • Environmental health workers • Epidemiologists • Laboratory administrators, support staff • Public Information Officers (as defined in Incident Command System) • Firefighters, including hazardous materials responders • Public health workers • Emergency managers Disaster Mortuary Team members: • Medical examiner/coroners • Forensic pathologists • Forensic anthropologists • Fingerprint specialists • Forensic odontologists • Funeral directors/embalmers • Dental assistants • X-ray technicians • Mental health specialists • DNA specialists • Medical records technicians • Evidence specialists [Source: Who makes up a DMORT team? http://www.dmort.org/DNPages/DMORTPeople.htm] ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE It is anticipated that the period of performance shall be for twelve (12) months from the date of award. Awards are anticipated to be made in September of 2013. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS The proposed acquisition will be procured in accordance with the policies and procedures under FAR Part 12- Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quotations (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice must provide a capability statement that displays the following: (a) Microsoft Word or pdf file in 12 point font (b) DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code) (c) Technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses (d) Staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (e) Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (f) Prior completed projects of similar nature; (g) Corporate experience and management capability; and (h) Examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; 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 3 pages (excluding attachments.) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 12:00pm eastern standard time on Monday, March 18, 2013 to Keturah Busey, at buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov. 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 work. 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. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/OAM/NIHLM2013697/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Vendor's site, United States
- Record
- SN03006849-W 20130309/130307235139-62d0aa07ecaf46ff2d09a904f3425525 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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