SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Research & Development Support Services
- Notice Date
- 1/3/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-NHLBI-PB(HG)-2006-071-CDM
- Response Due
- 1/13/2006
- Archive Date
- 1/28/2006
- Description
- THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute intends to negotiate an award of a purchase order on a noncompetitive basis to the University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of Psychology, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9660, to continue an ongoing collaborator of exploring individual learning gene-environment interactions, a key concept in developing interventions to prevent common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The Statement of Work is as follows: Background: Individualized preventive medicine based on genetic risk has been described as an important possible benefit of Human Genome Project. According to this vision, individuals could choose to learn information about their susceptibilities to common diseases and then take steps to reduce their risks where possible. In order for individuals to benefit in this way from information about genetic susceptibility, however, medical and public health professionals need to be able to communicate the information in an understandable and usable way. The challenges involved in such communication are substantial; complex concepts must be conveyed and the information is inherently probabilistic. Individuals? levels of genetic-related knowledge and skills, or their ?genetic literacy,? also need to be considered. Existing research has demonstrated that nearly one-half of the population has limitations in their general literacy skills (e.g., reading, writing, number skills). As discussed below, very little data exist, however, on the genetic-related skills and knowledge of the general public. Adults? levels of conceptual knowledge, or knowledge of the background concepts required to understand and use genomic information, are likely to be problematic. Applying genomic information to improving health will require an understanding of the complex and multi-factorial nature of common disease and will rely on knowledge of several key concepts, including the idea of gene-environment interactions. Developing strategies to increase conceptual knowledge in adults with varying levels of literacy skills will be a critical step in using information about genomic risk to influence individuals? behaviors and health outcomes. However, existing research provides little guidance for the development of appropriate communication strategies for genomic concepts. The lack of effective, research-based strategies to meet the information needs of individuals with limited or average levels of literacy are a significant gap in the public health literature. This research study will focus on the health communication challenge of developing and evaluating effective communication strategies to present the key genomic concept of gene-environment interactions to adults with varying literacy levels. The findings from this study will be useful in developing ways to communicate genomic information to the general public and will address substantial gaps in the genetic and public health literature. Objectives: The objectives of this study are 1) to compare the effects of learning mode (learning-by-assimilation versus learning-by-doing) on participant comprehension of the concept that genetic and environmental factors interact to affect risk of common diseases; and 2) to explore possible mediation of variables such as sel-efficacy, motivation, attention, involvement, interest, enjoyment, and elaboration in the hypothesized relationship between learning mode and comprehension. Description of Work: The requirement falls into three categories: (1) consulting on the conceptual design of a virtual reality learning experience study; (2) programming of the virtual reality learning experiences; and (3) beta-version testing of the virtual reality learning experiences with healthy adult volunteers to evaluate the reality of the experience and other logistical factors (such as visual clarity, pilot subjects? ability to navigate through the system) that might impede the virtual experience. To comprehend and makes use of genetic information, individuals need a set of skills, vocabulary, and areas of conceptual knowledge, which can be referred to as their ?genetic literacy.? The development and evaluation of techniques that can increase genetic literacy is an important area of health communication research. An innovative technology known as Immersive Virtual Environment Technology (IVET) has a promise as a laboratory setting that could be used to test strategies to increase genetic literacy, but no existing research studies have addressed this issued to date. We are collaborating with the IVET team at the University of California-Santa Barbara, which will allow us to begin to investigate this timely research topic. To initiate this collaboration, we are developing a project that will be the first protocol for NHGRI?s new IVET laboratory. The overarching objective of this project will be to explore individual learning about gene-environment interactions, a key concept in developing interventions to prevent common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. To this end, we will be developing virtual learning experiences and testing their effects on individuals? understanding of information about personal risk for common diseases. Deliverables: The deliverables in regard to the study protocol ?Using Virtual Reality to Test Communication Strategies for Genomic Concepts? are: (1) Technical assistance on the design and development of the educational intervention. (2) Computer programming for four virtual environments. (3) Pilot testing of the virtual environments to be conducted at the Immersive Virtual Environment Technology (IVET) laboratory at the University of California-Santa Barbara?s Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior. Period of Performance: January 2006 through December 2006. Place of Performance: University of California-Santa Barbara?s Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior, Santa Barbara, California. The sole source determination is based upon the ongoing collaboration that began in 2004 - 2005 fiscal years with Dr. James Blascovich, a Professor and Department Chair of Psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). Dr. Blascovich is a leading authority on using IVET methodologies in experimental social psychology research and leads a premiere IVET research laboratory. The collaboration brings a unique combination of laboratory setting, research design, and programming skills needed for this project. An award to any other source for the items would result in a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures. It is noted that FAR Part 6, Competition Requirements, is not applicable simplified acquisition. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) applicable to this requirement is 541990, Size Standard $6 million dollars. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties are requested to review the above requirements, and submit a statement of interest which includes; a firm fixed price, documentation of similar research conducted and the benefits in obtaining the Government?s objectives; at least three (3) references documenting successful past performance in meeting the Government?s minimum specifications; and a proposed delivery plan. The submission will be evaluated on the submission of the above documents. The submission is due on January 13, 2006, 9:00 a.m. The submission must also include any prompt payment discount terms, the Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNs), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and the Offerors business size. The Offeror must also register in the Government?s Contractor Registry System. Note: www.ccr.gov. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement. Responses to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PS(HG)-2006-071/CDM, may be submitted by mail to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, Procurement Section, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge Building 2, Suite 6042, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Cecilia Morales, by fax transmission to (301) 480-3345 or by email to hawkinsd@nhlbi.nih.gov or moralesc@nhlbi.nih.gov . All responsible sources may submit information, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency.
- Place of Performance
- Address: University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of Psychology, Santa Barbara, California
- Zip Code: 93106-9660
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 93106-9660
- Record
- SN00960380-W 20060105/060103211623 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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