National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Bldg., Suite 7A07, 6100- Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

A -- THE EFFECTS OF SWIMMING LESSONS ON THE RISK OF DROWNING IN CHILDREN AGES 12-59 MONTHS SOL RFP NICHD-DESPR-98-09 DUE 061998 POC Lynn Salo, 301-496-4611; FAX 301-402-3676 WEB: National Institutes of Health, http://www.nih.gov. E-MAIL: National Institutes of Health, ls59u@nih.gov. The NICHD is planning to award a small contract to determine the feasibility of conducting a case control study to evaluate the relationship between swimming lessons and the risk of drowning in young children. Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. Young children, under the age of five, are at particularly increased risk. The effectiveness of swimming lessons in preventing drownings in this age group is controversial as they may actually increase exposure. While a carefully designed case-control study is probably the most appropriate manner in which to evaluate the effects of swimming lessons, questions remain about the feasibility of conducting such an investigation. The purpose of this feasibility study is to test various methods for identifying and enrolling cases (drowning and near drowning victims) and to determine the most feasible and cost effective method for selecting and enrolling controls. All eligible submersion victims in a defined geographic area will be identified. A subset of these victims will be enrolled in this pilot study and controls will be selected and enrolled utilizing several different selection strategies. The Offerors must demonstrate the ability to identify and enroll a minimum of 20 cases and 20 controls over a 12 month period. In order to provide data on the actual cost and feasibility of conducting such a study, the contractor will be asked to provide a time/motion description of all activities related to the conduct of the case/control study. This will include careful documentation the following activities: resources expended in surveillance for cases, time and expenses associated with the identification, contact, enrollment, and interview of cases; time and expenses associated with the selection, contact, enrollment and interview of controls; time and expenses associated with the conduct of site surveys. Cases will include children, ages 12 through 59 months, who drowned or nearly drowned in a swimming pool or other large body of water. Only warm water drownings/near drownings will be included. Near-drownings will be limited to patients who suffered a submersion event and required at least 4 hours of assisted ventilation. Controls will include children matched on age of the child (+/- 3 months), gender, presence or absence of a swimming pool at the child's home. Information on pool fencing, other barriers e.g. pool cover, amount of time the child spends in the home, child temperament, parenting style, and other potentially confounding variables will be collected at the time of the interview. Methods for identifying appropriate controls vary according to the type of drowning. Several mechanisms for identifying controls will be tested. Parents/Guardians of cases and controls will be interviewed within two months of the submersion event. The study will include an on-site evaluation of the physical environment for both cases and controls. This is a new procurement. The issuance of the RFP will be on or about April 27, 1998 and proposals aredue by 4:00 P.M. local time on June 19, 1998. Those organizations desiring a copy of the above RFP may request a copy by writing or FAXING your name and address to: Mrs. Lynn Salo, Contract Specialist, CMB, NICHD, NIH, 6100 Executive Building, MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510. FAX number: 301-402-3676. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered. This advertisement does not commit the government to award a contract. (0100)

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