Health Care Financing Administration 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD. 21244-1850

G -- NATIONAL FORUM AND SET UP OF FOCUS GRPS. TO EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION REGARDING MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES IN REFERENCE TO ADULT IMMUNIZATION FOR INFLUENZA DUE 120197 POC Renee Wallace, Contract Specialist (410) 786-5128 PENDING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS -- -The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) intends to award, under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures, on a sole source basis, a firm fixed price award with the SPRY Foundation, 2000 K Street, NW #845, Washington, D.C. 20006 for the development of a format, presentation and questions for a Town Forum, a 90 minute live television program transmitted via satellite with questions called in from six focus groups. Focus of the program will be on how quality of care measures related to preventive health care can influence Medicare beneficiaries and other seniors. Contractor must organize six focus groups to view the program and ask questions over an "800" number. These groups must contain sufficient numbers of reactions of Medicare beneficiaries to allow the contractor to compare and contrast qualitative data on the reactions of Medicare beneficiaries and potential Medicare beneficiaries. HCFA is interested in exploring ways in which it can work with beneficiary advocacy groups, that have already established credibility with our beneficiaries to understand the information needs of our beneficiaries and test the cost effectiveness of different ways to present quality information. The SPRY Foundation provides HCFA with a unique opportunity to work with a highly credible organization that has already established private sector support for using mass media to present an interactive educational program for local communities. The SPRY Foundation is an affiliate of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. The National Committee is a bi-partisan, non-profit grass roots education and advocacy group with over six million members. The National Committee is already a credible source of educational material to millions of current and potential Medicare beneficiaries. The contractor has already established a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The participation of a major employer organization has two advantages: 1) Access to the broader audience of mature Americans allows us to reach potential as well as actual Medicare beneficiaries, which is important for forecasting future communications strategies 2) Access to local chambers who will be essential organizing local focus group participation in six cities. The contractor has already identified an independent evaluator, to conduct pre and post program evaluation of the six focus groups. The contractor is uniquely qualified and positioned to provide these services without delay or the gathering of additional resources. It is critical for the focus groups to be conducted during the flu season, since 1997 is the first year in which a measure will be available regarding adult immunization for influenza and this information is needed in order to best evaluate qualitative information on the relevance of this measure to the consumer decision making process. Anticipated date of award December 1, 1997. All responsible sources may submit capability statements, which shall be considered by the agency, in accordance with the requirements in the synopsis. (0304)

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