Division of Contracts Management, Office of Program Support, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 670, Rockville, MD 20857

B -- TREATMENT IMPROVEMENT PROTOCOL SERIES (TIPS) EVALUATION SOL 270-97-7005 DUE 041197 POC Catherine Kellington, Contract Specialist, 301-443-4980, Mary Anne Glitz, Contracting Officer The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) intends to negotiate a contract for the management of a large-scale national field evaluation of the Treatment Improvement Protocol Series (TIPS). Initially, TIPS came into existence as part of the technical assistance initiatives conducted under the State Systems Development Program (SSDP). The SSDP was designed to target resources provided by the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant technical assistance set-aside to meet identified State needs. Providing the States with information about best practices in substance abuse treatment and allied fields was and continues to be a CSAT goal in serving the field. Currently, approximately one million copies of 23 different TIPS have been disseminated to the public. The purpose of TIPS are to facilitate the transfer of state-of- the-art protocols and guidelines for the treatment of alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse fromacknowledged clinical, evaluation, and administrative experts to the Nation's AOD abuse treatment field. Institution of a field evaluation is imperative to: 1) assess the extent to which providers are aware of, and implement, TIPS; 2) evaluate the effects of TIPS on both the process and outcomes of addiction treatment; and 3) ensure that future Federal resources devoted to TIPS are effectively targeted. The evaluation will have five components: 1) Retrospective Study -- TIPS Registration Card Sample; 2) Retrospective Study -- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information Requestors Sample; 3) Comparison Study of TIPS Impact; 4) Prospective Study; and 5) Curriculum Impact Study. The Contractor will be responsible for acquiring a thorough knowledge of the TIP series and related policies and procedures, developing a final methodology for all five components of the study, related databases, and an information system for tracking project data. The Contractor must submit a variety of analytic and progress reports. The Contract will analyze and report on the following questions: 1) Are TIPS reaching the target audiences for whom they were intended?; 2) What are the impressions of target users of the accessibility and utility of TIPS?; 3) What are the relative advantages users perceive in using TIPS over other methods of updating and enhancing clinical and administrative practices?; 4) Does the existing TIPS format promote or inhibit partial or full adoption by targeted users?; 5) Do existing characteristics of the field sectors/organizations being studied impact on their ability and willingness to use the information recommended by TIPS?; 6) What are the environmental conditions of the substance abuse treatment infrastructure that influence dissemination, adoption, and ongoing integration of the TIPS and the practice changes recommended within them?; 7) How do the communication linkages between CSAT and the target users of TIPS (e.g. training/other assistance) impact on their ability and decision to adopt TIPS and the practice changes recommended within them?; and 8) Have the practices suggested in the TIPS had an impact on improved program management, treatment effectiveness, and client outcomes? Special studies that address related policy issues that arise during execution of the study are required. CSAT intends to contract with a contractor who is accustomed to conducting national projects, that can provide the required services and end products through its own resources. However, subcontracts with local organizations and with individuals, academic settings, or agencies that offer special expertise in areas such as methods development, data collection and analysis, or dissemination practices are permitted. Demonstration of specific expertise in all required programmatic and methodological areas and the ability to produce high quality analytic products quarterly, annually, and on a task schedule over the course of the project period is required. The Offeror must present evidence of experience appropriate to the task. The Contractor must have successful, strong, and extensive experience in conducting evaluations within the substance abuse treatment field; in conducting both prospective and retrospective studies, including identifying, locating, and surveying of respondents; in the integration of projects with others underway or completed; in managing a complex contract with multiple tasks, many of which will need to occur simultaneously; and other contract management experience and production of interim and final deliverables in a timely manner. CSAT plans a four year award. The estimated date for issuance of this RFP is February 24, 1997 with responses due thirty days later. This solicitation may be obtained in either of two ways; electronically, by downloading a file from the SAMHSA Bulletin Board System (BBS) at 1 (800) 424-2294 (8,N,1) or by mail. Files will not be made available on the BBS until on or after the estimated issuance date. Download instructions are posted on the BBS. Once downloaded, you should determine if you have a continuing interest in the RFP. If so, you must either write the individual identified above that you wish copies of amendments to the RFP (if any) sent to you by mail or check the BBS regularly for amendments which will also be posted there and can be downloaded electronically. You may choose either method for obtaining amendments. Note, however, that if you rely on the BBS for obtaining amendments, at this time we have no way to assure, and will therefore assume no responsibility for assuring, you have downloaded these amendments. Requests for copies of the RFP to be mailed must be made in writing and will be honored if received within twenty calendar days after issuance of the solicitation. Requests received after this period will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted; however, there is no assurance that copies requested after the twentieth day will reach the requestor before the due date for receipt of responses. Requests shall be forwarded to the attention of Catherine Kellington, Contracting Officer, Division of Contracts Management, OPS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockwall II Building, Room 670, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Telephone requests will not be honored. No pickups will be permitted. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by CSAT.***** (0051)

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