SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance of Long Distance Truck Drivers and their Assistants in Angola
- Notice Date
- 2/2/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- 2011-94188
- Archive Date
- 4/15/2011
- Point of Contact
- Gwendolyn Cody, Phone: 7704882436
- E-Mail Address
-
dvv1@cdc.gov
(dvv1@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Title of Project: Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance of Long Distance Truck Drivers and their Assistants in Angola 1 Background and Need Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is building the capacity of resource-constrained nations to strategically collect and use information for program accountability and improvement. CDC collaborates with U.S. government PEPFAR partners, host governments, Ministries of Health, non-governmental organizations, U.S.-based universities, and the private sector to achieve this goal. To better understand the relationships among populations, HIV prevalence, and existing services, CDC: Builds in-country capacity to design, implement, and evaluate HIV/AIDS-related surveillance systems and surveys; and assists and trains countries on how to analyze, disseminate, and use HIV/AIDS data. Develops tools, guidelines, recommendations, and policies to translate research for improved planning and program implementation. Evaluates and implements novel approaches for conducting surveillance and surveys. Considering the well reported importance of monitoring the epidemics and the behavior of most at risk populations (MARPs) for HIV, the Instituto Nacional de Luta contra a SIDA (INLS) has requested assistance in conducting behavioral and serologic surveillance (BSS) in Angola with MARPs. Based on the results of a qualitative assessment with most at risk populations in the provinces of Luanda and Cunene, it was recommended that BSS to be conducted with men who have sex with men (MSM) in Luanda, long distance truck drivers in both Luanda and Cunene provinces, and young women involved in transactional sex in the border region of Cunene. This request for contract is to conduct a BSS among long distance truck drivers in Luanda and Cunene. Although no serological data is available for truck drivers in Angola, several studies have identified them as a vulnerable population for acquiring and transmitting STI (sexually transmitted infections), including HIV, in different locations throughout the world. HIV risk in this population is driven by the mobile nature of their work, which makes them move away from protective social networks, including family and broader communities, and may result in greater exposure to risky behaviors while traveling (Lippman et al., 2007). Following Angola's civil war, the borders of neighboring countries opened, allowing greater mobility to and from neighbor countries with generalized HIV epidemics. As a result, long distance truck drivers have become an important population for acquiring and transmitting STI/HIV. 2 Project Objectives To assist the Government of Angola in understanding the HIV epidemic among long distance truck drivers, CDC will support a behavioral and serological surveillance (BSS) baseline survey for the targeted population. The objectives of the survey are: 1) Examine attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of risk related to HIV and STD among truck drivers; 2) Estimate HIV and syphilis prevalence among truck drivers; and 3) Develop capacity within the Ministry of Health to implement subsequent BSS surveys among most at risk populations for HIV. This information collected will be used by program managers and planners to develop and improve HIV prevention and care programs for the target population. 3 Scope of Work BSS will include an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire along with biological testing for syphilis and HIV. Phase 1: Protocol Development, • Develop a comprehensive, cross-cutting protocol that includes behavioral and serologic data collection among long distance truck drivers and their assistants in Luanda and Cunene. • Obtain required Institutional Review Board approvals or exemptions. Phase 2: Survey Implementation, • Recruit long distance truck drivers and their assistants to participate in the survey. • Conduct in-depth interviews with eligible survey participants. • Provide HIV counseling and testing services. • Collect and test syphilis and HIV specimen. • Provide clinical services and referrals for participants with positive test results and participants with complaints of STIs. • Follow-up with participants that have reactive tests results. • Pay participant allowances. Phase 3: Data Management and Analysis • Analyze both quantitative and quality data collected. • Summarize analyses. Phase 4: Dissemination of Results • Prepare a final written report of the survey. • Disseminate information, in writing and orally, to interested stakeholders. Continuous: Capacity Building • Share tools with host government epidemiology staff. • Include appropriate representatives of the host government on the study team. • Provide training. 4 Technical Requirements Phase 1: Protocol Development (90 days) Subjects and Methods Use a cross-sectional design for the survey of long distance truck drivers and their assistants; include biological testing for syphilis and HIV with an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Include only truckers and theirs assistances who travel with them will be included in the survey if aged 18 or over and who have travelled across provinces or internationally. Use a systematic sampling method to sample trucks passing at four data collection points, the fiscal police station of the three main exits of Luanda (i.e. Barra do Kuanza, Cacuaco and Viana), and at the entrance of the main parking station of Santa Clara in Cunene. Secure an adequate house or office in a discrete area of the center of the survey sites. Informed consent is required of all participants. Participants must be sober, not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when interviewed. Consent for syphilis and HIV testing are not required for inclusion. Use Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS), including dual a dual incentive system. Conduct face to face interviews in Portuguese only. Interviewers will enter the data in handheld computers. Protocol must be reviewed by the appropriate IRB (s) before initiating data collection. Phase 2: Survey Implementation (180 days) Survey Procedures Recruit 700 participants in Luanda and 250 participants in Cunene according to the inclusion criteria and methods described in Phase 1. Obtain informed consent and conduct in-depth for interviews using hand-held devices. Offer and conduct counseling and testing for HIV and STDs according to established local guidelines; collect specimen for testing when accepted. Conduct rapid tests for HIV and syphilis (treponemic) using rapid testing technology according to local policy; provide results during post-test counseling on the initial visit. Refer participants with positive test results to a predetermined site for care and treatment; this includes participants with complaints of other STDs. Follow participants to assist with care and treatment referrals. Record recruitment cards, conduct recruitment interviews, and pay allowances. Phase 3: Data Analysis (150 days) Data Management and Analysis Develop the database and questionnaire with the Nova Research Company Questionnaire Development System. Enter questionnaire responses directly into the database as interviews are conducted by using pocket computers. Backup data daily. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using the Respondent-Driven Sampling Analysis Tool (RDS). Use 95% confidence intervals for analysis. Phase 4: Dissemination of Results (90 days) Reports and Presentations Prepare a final written report of the survey, including an abstract and details of the methods, challenges, findings, and recommendations. Information obtained from the long distance truck driver BSS will first be presented to CDC, INLS, and provincial government representatives. This will include the final written report as well as a summary oral presentations. A special dissemination seminar will be conducted for interested stakeholders, especially local NGOs working in the areas of STD and /HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment, including distribution of the final written report. Dissemination of results may also occur through publications in peer-reviewed international journals and presentations at conferences and other scientific meetings with concurrence from INLS and CDC. Continuous: Capacity Building (18 months) Technical Assistance Facilitate IRB approvals with the host government; Consult with host government representatives on all phases of the survey; Obtain host government approval for each phase (protocol development, survey implementation, data analysis, and dissemination of results) prior to initiating the next phase. Share tools with host government epidemiology staff. Include appropriate representatives of the host government on the study team. Provide training to local survey staff on-site for all phases of the survey. Supervise survey implementation. Other: Consult with CDC and other stakeholders on protocol development, survey implementation, data analysis and dissemination of results; Obtain CDC approval for each phase (protocol development, survey implementation, data analysis, and dissemination of results) prior to initiating the next phase 5 Reporting Schedule None 6 Special Considerations The proposed survey must be conducted in accordance to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol will be will be reviewed by CDC as required and will be submitted to the National Ethics Committee in Angola for review. Participants will not be enrolled in the survey until both reviews have been completed. CDC and host government representatives will monitor the project for compliance with the approved protocol. The awardee will meet with CDC and host government representatives as requested. 7 Government Furnished Property None 8 References None 9 Deliverables Survey Protocol • 2 electronic copies in Microsoft Word 1 English copy 1 Portuguese copy • Submit to contracting officer at RPSO and COR at CDC Angola • First Draft Due 30 days after award If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Second draft Due 15 days after receiving response to the first draft If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Final protocol Due 15 days after receiving response to the second draft Summary Data Analysis • 2 electronic copies in Microsoft Word 1 English copy 1 Portuguese copy • Submit to contracting officer at RPSO and COR at CDC Angola • First Draft Due 90 days after completing data collection If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Second draft Due 15 days after receiving response to the first draft If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Final protocol Due 15 days after receiving response to the second draft Final Report • 2 electronic copies 1 English copy 1 Portuguese copy • 50 bound hard copies in Portuguese • Submit to contracting officer at RPSO and COR at CDC Angola • First Draft Due 30 days after receiving approval of data analysis If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Second draft Due 15 days after receiving response to the first draft If no response provided within 15 days after submission, assume no comments • Final protocol Due 15 days after receiving response to the second draft 10 Performance Period Start date: date of the award End date: 18 months from date of award.
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