SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Health Literacy Tool Shed
- Notice Date
- 12/23/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 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
- NIHLM2013039
- Archive Date
- 1/21/2014
- Point of Contact
- Sheila R. Edmonds, Phone: 3014966546
- E-Mail Address
-
sheila.edmonds@nih.gov
(sheila.edmonds@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- 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. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ). NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. 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. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541990-All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services with a small business size standard of $14 million. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a Market Survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below: Background Health literacy has become a well-established area of study. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has a health literacy working group that coordinates NLM's work with similar working groups administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) also has an active health literacy interest group among its membership. The Health Literacy Tool Shed, a one-stop (Internet-based) location, will create an arena where researchers can obtain many of the quantitative tools needed to conduct and improve the methodological quality of health literacy research. The Health Literacy Tool Shed represents a service that provides outreach to health literacy professionals. For the first time, researchers and practitioners will be able to find many of the available constructs and quantitative tools used to measure health literacy in clinical, public health, and health campaign intervention research. Although the project's beneficiaries are health literacy researchers and practitioners, the project is designed to create a needed educational resource. The Health Literacy Tool Shed will organize constructs, measures, and instruments that are currently scattered across an array of health literacy research. There is no current resource where practitioners and researchers can consult what health literacy measurement measures, constructs, and instruments are best suited to a planned project. Since there is no repository for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners to retrieve detailed information on health literacy assessment instruments, this foundational gap inhibits the field's development as a coherent body of knowledge and practice. The end of methodological fragmentation in the health literacy field (and the availability of a website to find the best instruments for specific projects) also will assist NLM's future health literacy research and help make NLM a leader in health literacy research and practice. The Health Literacy Tool Shed will be unique educational resource. While this type of resource often is touted by health literacy researchers and practitioners, currently it does not exist nor is a similar resource under construction or consideration elsewhere. Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance shall be a 12-month base period with (1) additional 12-month option period. The proposed contract type will be firm fixed price. Purpose/Objective This Health Literacy Tool Shed educational and outreach project creates a unique resource center to support health literacy researchers and enhance the quality of national and international health literacy research. While the project's beneficiaries are health literacy researchers and practitioners, the current project creates an educational resource that provides outreach to a research community as well as a topic of interest to the NLM. The project will create a one-stop website, where researchers can assess many of the quantitative tools needed to conduct and improve health literacy research. The proposed Health Literacy Tool Shed educational resource will provide a vital outreach service for the health literacy research community. For the first time, researchers and practitioners will be able to identify and assess many of the available constructs and quantitative measures used to assess health literacy in clinical, public health, and health campaign intervention research in one, accessible location. Although dozens of health literacy measurement tools have been introduced and the literature has proliferated, a core problem in health literacy outreach and intervention efforts is the uneven quality of methods used by health literacy assessment teams and a confusing array of constructs, measures, and instruments. Some examples of the current methodological confusion and fragmentation in health literacy research is found in Appendix A, which suggests there are at least 15 separate measures based on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy. Appendix A also notes there are nine different measures based in the Test of Functional Health Literacy (TOFHLA) as well as many other constructs and measures of aspects of health literacy. Despite the widespread availability of health literacy measurement tools, criticisms from independent reviewers reflect that health literacy research methodological flaws may stem from a lack of infrastructure to support health literacy researchers and practitioners. Since there is no repository for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners to retrieve detailed information about health literacy assessment constructs, measures, and instruments, the gap impedes the health literacy field's development into a more coherent body of knowledge and practice. The Health Literacy Tool Shed educational resource will create for the first time: 1) access to health literacy assessment tools; 2) a health literacy tool selection process for investigators; 3) an overview of researcher adherence to various health literacy instruments; and, 4) background information about a construct/measure's validity or empirical validation. The Health Literacy Tool Shed will be a virtual indexing system for health literacy methods with specific information on the following: ● Administration instructions (how long it takes to administer, number of questions, languages, method of administration, etc.) ● Constructs measured (i.e. numeracy, word pronunciation, problem solving, general health maintenance, etc.) ● Links to the instruments (or information on how to obtain the instrument when the Contractor has not secured permission to post the instrument) and to validation articles ● Expert commentary on strengths and limitations and on how to select instruments in various research and practice contexts. The Health Literacy Tool Shed also could identify some gaps in the current array of health literacy instruments and provide a venue for users to discuss the development of further health literacy research assessment tools. In addition, the Health Literacy Tool Shed provides an excellent complement to NLM's Consumer Health Informatics Research Resource (chirr.nlm.nih.gov), which provides general information about common constructs used in consumer health informatics assessment, including health literacy. Mandatory Criteria 1) The Contractor must possess extensive academic knowledge and expertise in the field of health literacy research and extensive experience in health literacy practice in both health care delivery and public health. 2) The Contractor must display a track record of national and international leadership in evaluating health literacy research. 3) The Contractor's subject matter experts (health literacy researchers and practitioners) must possess a Ph.D. or M.D. degree and publish regularly in a refereed academic journal. Contractor Requirements Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, materials, supplies, equipment, and services needed to complete this project. All work performed under this procurement shall be monitored by the NLM Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). General Contractor Tasks The Contractor shall provide an education resource that encompasses many of the existing research measures, constructs, and instruments listed in Appendix A. The Contractor shall create a website that provides interactive guidance to enhance the use of health literacy research constructs, measures, and instruments. The guidance should include specific information such as: what the construct/measure/instrument's assess, the time to administer the construct/measure, the number of questions needed to assess the construct, links to articles regarding the instrument's validation, as well as expert commentary on what instrument best fits different health literacy research and practice contexts. The Contractor shall develop the project's educational and training materials in consultation with the NLM COR. The Contractor shall provide a brief report of the resource's development, diffusion, and possible expansion in an executive summary to the NLM COR. The executive summary shall introduce the educational materials developed within the proposed contract and should assess user feedback and provide some suggestions for the further development/expansion of the resource. Upon completion of the contract, it is possible the Contractor may have opportunity to conduct additional outreach and educational activities, based on its findings, which may result in presentations, reports, or publications. After contract expiration, Government funds will not be utilized to support the Contractor's possible additional presentations, reports, or publications. The Contractor shall obtain the approval and cooperation of health literacy researchers who have developed constructs and measures to display and assess these contributions. The latter approval and cooperation will include copyright reproduction permission. The Contractor shall update the Health Literacy Tool Shed website as new developments warrant throughout the term of the contract. The Health Literacy Tool Shed's materials should be prepared so they are accessible and understandable to health care professionals, health literacy practitioners, and the NLM. All documents shall be written in a Microsoft Word compatible format and shall be Section 508 compliant. The Health Literacy Tool Shed, an educational website, shall be developed by the Contractor in consultation with the NLM COR. The Health Literacy Tool Shed shall provide user access to health literacy constructs, measures, and instruments. The website shall be interactive or encourage discussion between developers of health literacy constructs, measures, and instruments, the actual experiences of website users, and the Contractor's staff. The Contractor's staff shall be health literacy domain experts with the knowledge and experience to curate, monitor, and contribute to the proposed Health Literacy Tool Shed website. The Health Literacy Tool Shed education resource website shall be Section 508 compliant. The Contractor shall develop an interactive website that focuses on (and explains the use of) health literacy measurement constructs, measures, and instruments. The Health Literacy Tool Shed website shall provide user access to updated health literacy measurement constructs, measures, and instruments. The website shall encourage discussion between developers of health literacy constructs, measures, and instruments, the actual experiences of website users, and the Contractor's staff. The Contractor shall obtain the approval and cooperation of health literacy researchers who have developed constructs and measures to display and assess these contributions. The latter approval and cooperation may include copyright reproduction permission. Required Contractor Tasks: The Contractor shall complete the following tasks as outlined. The professional services to be performed consist of the delivery of hours of professional services in support of the following tasks. All phases and subtasks described below shall be completed in monthly, iterative states with reports provided to the NLM COR. Task Descriptions Task 1: Phase 1 Subtask 1-The Contractor shall organize the Health Literacy Tool Shed website's development and implementation. Subtask 2-The Contractor shall initiate the process to hire website design consultant and secure a web domain. The Contractor will hire a website designer to create the Internet site of the Health Literacy Tool Shed website and provide quarterly website maintenance which updates the Health Literacy Tool Shed use assessment. Subtask 3-The Contractor shall initiate the process to obtain copyright permission for non-public domain constructs and measures. Subtask 4. The Contractor shall initiate the process to identify and involve key stakeholders, or experts in health literacy research and practice, to review the materials developed for the Health Literacy Tool Shed website. Subtasks 1-5 shall be completed within the 1st three (3) months after contract award. Task 2: Phase 2 Subtask 1-The Contractor shall initiate the Health Literacy Tool Shed website's development and implementation. Subtask 2-The Contractor shall begin work with a website design consultant and secure a web domain. Subtask 3-The Contractor shall obtain copyright permission for non-public domain constructs and measures. The Contractor shall obtain copyright permissions from publication companies to disseminate non-public domain tools and measurement validation articles to populate the Health Literacy Tool Shed website. Subtask 4-The Contractor shall identify and involve key stakeholders, or experts in health literacy research and practice, to review the materials developed for the Health Literacy Tool Shed website. The Contractor will invite the creators and authors of the featured health literacy measurements on the Health Literacy Tool Shed to review the information collected and provide feedback. Subtask 5-The Contractor shall identify key stakeholders, or experts in health literacy research and practice, to be active participants, to interact with Health Literacy Tool Shed website users. Subtasks 1-5 shall be completed within the 3rd through the 8th eighth month after contract award. Task 3: Phase 3 Subtask 1-The Contractor shall receive copyright permission for non-public domain constructs and measures. Subtask 2-The Contractor shall ensure the previously identified key stakeholders, or experts in health literacy research and practice will complete their reviews of the materials developed for the Health Literacy Tool Shed website. Subtask 3-The previously identified key stakeholders, or experts in health literacy research and practice (as well as the Contractor) shall become active participants and interact with Health Literacy Tool Shed website users. Subtask 4-The Contractor shall open the Health Literacy Tool Shed website to health literacy researchers and practitioners. Subtask 5-The Contractor shall prepare an executive summary about the Health Literacy Tool Shed's development, diffusion, future plans, and challenges. The executive summary shall introduce the educational materials developed within the proposed contract and should assess user feedback and provide some suggestions for the further development/expansion of the resource. Subtasks 1-3 shall be completed within the 7th to the 10th month after contract award. Subtask 4 shall be completed within the 11th-12 month after contract award Subtask 5 shall be completed within the 12th month after contract award. Contractor Dissemination of Findings The Contractor shall develop an interactive website that focuses on (and explains the use of) health literacy measurement constructs, measures, and instruments. While the Health Literacy Tool Shed website's development will be the primary dissemination activity developed by the Contractor, the website might be supplemented by other outreach efforts. For example, it is suggested that the Contractor might demonstrate the resource at conferences that emphasize health literacy research and practice. The Contractor shall be responsible for all expenses involving conference attendance. The Contractor is expected to obtain the approval and cooperation of health literacy researchers who have developed constructs, measures, and instruments to display and assess their contribution. The latter approval and cooperation will include copyright reproduction permission. The Contractor shall update the Health Literacy Tool Shed website with new developments. The Contractor may develop some additional presentations, reports, or publications about the Health Literacy Tool Shed which could possibly occur after the contract has been completed. Government funds will not be utilized to support the Contractor's possible additional presentations, reports, or publications after contract expiration. The Health Literacy Tool Shed's materials should be prepared so they are accessible and understandable to all possible website users including health literacy researchers and practitioners. Deliverables Task 1: Phase 1-Subtasks 1-5 will be completed within the 1st three (3) months after contract award. Task 2: Phase 2-Subtasks 1-5 will be completed within the 3rd through the 8th month after contract award. Task 3: Phase 3-Subtasks 1-3 will be completed within the 7th to the 10th month after contract award. Subtask 4 will be completed within the 11th-12th month after the contract award. Subtask 5 will be completed within the 12th month after contract award. Reporting requirements The Contractor shall provide reports about the project's progress. These informal monthly progress reports (by teleconference or email) should be provided to the NN/LM, and NLM's designated COTRs. Based on the SOW requirements and tasks described above, the Contractor shall develop an interactive Health Literacy Tool Shed website. The Contractor shall provide an executive summary of these activities to NLM and NN/LM. The executive summary should be written in a Microsoft Word compatible format. If the Contractor prepares a paper for refereed academic meetings or journals based on materials developed in conjunction with the contract, the Contractor is expected to cite the NLM contract. All instruments, publications, and presentations should be section 508 complaint. The Contractor shall deposit any future publications resulting from this work in PubMed Central. Requirement to Notify Government of Proprietary Work Dependencies Offerors are required to notify the Government in writing of any dependencies of the deliverables under this contract on proprietary, copyrights, or patented work that potentially inhibits, restricts, or requires permission for the dissemination of the deliverables to the public, other governmental agencies or research groups, or any other parties whatsoever. Appendix A Some currently utilized health literacy constructs/measures that may be included in the Health Literacy Tool Shed: REALM-based measures: Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (128 words); Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (66 words); Turkish REALM, REALM short form (REALM-SF; seven words), REALM Short form (8 words), Hong Kong Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (HKREALD-30), Medical Term Recognition Test (METER), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Genetics (REAL-G), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Vascular Surgery (REALM-VS), Short Assessment of Health Literacy - Spanish and English (SAHL-S&E), Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish-speaking Adults (SAHLSA-50), REALM-Teen, Test of Health Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-99), REALD-30, Validation of REALM in an UK population with Coronary Health Disease. TOFHLA-based measures: Functional Health Literacy Tests (FHLTs), Health Literacy Test for Singapore (HLTS), Hebrew Health Literacy Test (HHLT), Literacy Measure of Patients with HIV, Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA), Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry (TOFLiD), Validation of a German, Italian, and French version of the S-TOFHLA to be used in Switzerland and neighboring nations, TOFHLA (in Serbian), Computerized Validated Version of the S-THFHLA Numeracy measures: Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT), Diabetes Numeracy Test short version (DNT-15), Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument (GHNT), Asthma Numeracy Questionnaire (ANQ). General Literacy assessments: PIAT-R, WRAT-R, SORT, Functional Health Literacy Tests (FHLTs), Spanish Parental Health Literacy Activities Test (PHLAT), Spanish Parental Health Literacy Activities Test short version (PHLAT-8), Health Literacy Assessment Test using Talking Touchscreen Technology (Health LiTT), Talking Touchscreen (TT), Dutch Translation of Health Literacy Scales from Ishikawa et. al., Health Literacy Skills Instrument (HSLI), Korean Health Literacy Scale (KHLS), HBP Health Literacy Scale (HBP-HLS), All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS), Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS), Medication Literacy Assessment in Spanish and English (MedLItR xSE), Validation of Self-reported Health Literacy Questions among Diverse England and Spanish-speaking Populations, Evaluate the Validity of Cancer Message Literacy Test-Listening (CMLG-Listening), Cancer Message Literacy Test-Reading (CMLT-reading). Subjective measures of health literacy: Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS), Chew Questions Validated against the REALM and TOFHLA, Subjective Numeracy Scale (SNS) NVS type assessments: Newest Vital Signs Measure (NVS), Food Label Literacy for Applied Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (FLLANK), Turkish NVS The proposed acquisition will be procured in accordance with the policies and procedures under FAR Part 13. 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 Quote (RFQ), nor is a RFQ available. (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. 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 ten (10) pages, excluding cover page, appendices, and resumes. (b) The capability statement should include references, key personnel, and any teaming arrangements needed to fulfill the requirements. It must identify the responder's small business type and size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than NOON EST on Monday, January 6, 2014 to Sheila Edmonds at sheila.edmonds@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).
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