A -- VIOLENCE PREVENTION AMONG HIGH-RISK EARLY ADOLESCENT YOUTH

Notice Date

July 23, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 7A07, MSC7510, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7510

ZIP Code

20892-7510

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-NICHD-DESPR-SS-2001-02

Response Due

August 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Charles Newman, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-496-4611, Fax null, Email cn43m@nih.gov -- Charles Grewe, Lead Contract Specialist, Phone 301-435-6957, Fax 301-402-3676, Email cg59b@nih.gov

Description

The National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is considering conducting a study, to test the efficacy of a multi-component, mentor-implemented, violence prevention program directed at high-risk early adolescents. The purpose of this announcement is to request Capability Statements from interested small businesses in order to determine, for planning purposes, whether there are any potential responsible small businesses that have the capability to perform the study. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this study is 541720. Therefore, the small business size status is $5 million in average annual receipts, or less, for the past three years. Reducing the amount of youth violence is a national priority (USDHHS, 1990). The prevalence of aggression and serious violence tends to increase through adolescence, peak in late adolescence or early adulthood, and then decrease with age (CDC, 1998). Aggression and violence are thought to have roots in childhood and progress with age, the result of a combination of personal attributions and reinforcing social environments. Risk and protective factors for aggression and violence are diverse, including personal, family, and school factors (Hawkins & Weis, 1985; Wilson & Howell, 1995. The objectives of the intervention are to utilize the benefits of mentoring relationships (Rhodes, 1994; Rogers & Taylor, 1997); enhance social skills, social interaction, and academic performance; increase involvement in pro-social activities; and increase parental involvement among early adolescents (Eccles et al., 1997). The primary research question is 'Does providing mentor-implemented violence prevention during the transition from elementary to middle school increase children's skills and moderate aggression and violence?' A sample of at-risk 5th or 6th graders and a parent would be recruited to participate in the study. Family members would provide consent to participate and would be informed about the nature of the research and the potential risks and benefits, interviewed upon recruitment, and followed for two years. Parent-child dyads would be randomly assigned to the comparison group (information only) or the special intervention group, involving participation in a mentor-implemented, violence-prevention after-school program. Participants would be interviewed at the beginning and ending of two consecutive school years, with the potential of further follow-ups. Outcomes would include parent behaviors and child pro-social-activity involvement; academic achievement, aggressive behavior, and violence; and problem-solving, academic, and social skills. Interested small businesses that meet the aforementioned size standard and believe they have the capabilities necessary to successfully perform this study and are encouraged to submit a Capability Statement to Mr. Charles Newman, Contracting Officer, at the address provided by 3:00 P.M. EDT on August 31, 2001. Please note, there is no standard form or format for such Capability Statements. However, at a minimum your submission must clearly provide the following information concerning your organization in an organized manner: 1. Experience with randomized behavioral trials involving youth, schools, and parents, including participant recruitment, informed consent, multiple measures collected repeatedly over time, intervention development and implementation, and evaluation; 2. Experience recruiting and maintaining participation of elementary or middle schools in health or behavioral research; 3. Experience with school-based survey administration; 4. Experience conducting educational interventions with parents of pre/early adolescents, including home visits; 5. Demonstration of financial responsibility and adequate financial resources to perform a contract for this study. Please be advised there is NO solicitation or Request for Proposal(s) associated with this announcement, therefore, contract proposals will not be considered at this time. Additionally, the Government reserves the right to cancel this requirement at any time.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NICHD/Reference-Number-NICHD-DESPR-SS-2001-02/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010725/ASOL010.HTM (D-204 SN50S6I6)