SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Health Services Researcher / Statistical Analyst
- Notice Date
- 3/15/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541720
— Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center/Office of Purchasing & Contracts, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 106, MSC 5480, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-5480
- ZIP Code
- 20892-5480
- Solicitation Number
- RMD03142012
- Archive Date
- 4/19/2012
- Point of Contact
- Brian J. Lind, Phone: 301-402-0735
- E-Mail Address
-
LindBJ@cc.nih.gov
(LindBJ@cc.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center is conducting a market survey/sources sought to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZONE small business capable of serving the needs mentioned below. This market survey/sources sought announcement is not a request for proposals and the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. The information from this market research is for planning purposes only and will assist the Government in planning its acquisition strategy. This is strictly market research and the Government will not entertain questions concerning this market research. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this market survey. The Rehabilitation Medicine Department (RMD) resides within the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, currently is working in conjunction with the Social Security administration (SSA) in examining the disability evaluation processes and explore innovative methods for augmenting these processes. The purpose of this requirement is to obtain the analytic and scientific support services needed to sustain the SSA project through analyses of complex administrative data sets. Our immediate needs are for a highly skilled and experienced health services researcher to conduct analyses using restricted SSA data that will allow NIH-RMD to fulfill the objectives of the Inter-Agency Agreement with the SSA. The purpose of this requirement is to acquire the necessary research support services of a single experienced analyst with an in-depth working knowledge of SSA data sets (including the SSA-DRF, SIPP files linked with SSA administrative data, and NHIS files linked with SSA administrative data), who can perform appropriate statistical analyses, interpret the results, and present results in written and oral form. The contractor will work with a highly skilled and inter-disciplinary group of researchers including economists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, computer scientists, epidemiologists, health policy researchers, and physicians. It is critical for the contractor to possess the skills needed to work effectively with such a talented and diverse team. Beyond the immediate research needs, this requirement will allow NIH-RMD to acquire the additional support needed to conduct additional high quality scientific research including project conceptualization, protocol development, data file construction/manipulation, statistical analyses, and preparation of reports. Substantive contributions to associated publications is expected. Knowledge of and adherence to the ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements for research involving human subjects is a necessary component of the required support services as well as the provision of authoritative technical assistance, instruction, and consultation to the E&B section and RMD staff and trainees in areas of substantive expertise including statistical analysis, research design, and health services / disability research. Task Areas and Specific Tasks The activities for which task orders shall be issued include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Analysis of complex data sets, interpretation and dissemination of results • Maintain Special Sworn Status permitting access to SSA SIPP-linked data • Maintain all necessary SSA clearances to access SSA restricted data files • Access and analyze SSA SIPP-linked data at one of the designated Census sites • Access and analyze NHIS-linked data at the NCHS research data center or at NIH if available • Access and analyze SSA restricted data files including the DRF files • Gather available documentation on analytic data file/s • Develop and document an in-depth, detailed working knowledge of analytic data file/s • Critically assess data file/s and present findings to project collaborators • Participate in formulating an analytical plan including approaches to data preparation • Carry out data preparation tasks which may include, but are not limited to: o Data file construction (such as file linkage and transposing event-level files to person-level files), variable construction / modification, and internal consistency checks o Data cleaning o Assessment of data quality o In concert with collaborators, establish procedures for handling missing data o Preparation of appropriate data file documentation including a data dictionary / guide, description of analytic decisions and processes, and reference materials for data sources • Conduct statistical analyses, including descriptive and modeling techniques • Apply statistical techniques to produce meaningful tables, charts, and graphs • Interpret results in conjunction with RMD scientific collaborators • Prepare and submit timely reports of substantive results for review o Assess the adequacy and quality of data used in the analyses o Explain analytic methodologies o Interpret and defend the statistical validity of results o Substantively contribute to preparation of manuscripts intended for publication in peer reviewed scientific forums o Conduct and/or collaborate on presentations for professional meetings, Government agencies, or academic venues • Participate in meetings with Government personnel to present results and monitor study progress • Adhere to the highest ethical standards in all aspects of work on the project 2. Advise and assist RMD staff and trainees with research design and statistical analyses of data (as requested) • Advise and direct RMD staff and trainees by conducting statistical, technical, or other scientific work for research projects within deadlines established by the Chief of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section of RMD o Prepare data for statistical analysis including data organization and quality assurance; instruct RMD staff in these methods o Select and perform appropriate statistical analyses; instruct RMD staff in these methods as appropriate o Prepare tables and graphs using appropriate software as needed o Document statistical and technical consultations following established Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section procedures • Perform RMD protocol reviews • Provide consultative and statistical support that is in full compliance with NIH ethical standards • Conduct in-services for RMD staff as requested 3. Provide instruction in areas of substantive expertise to RMD students and trainees (as requested) • Provide instruction in research design and methods • Provide instruction in / advise on use of statistical software • Provide instruction in health services and disability research including critical review and discussion of seminal publications • Conduct in-services for RMD trainees 4. Develop and implement new research projects • Obtain approval for project concept from the Chief of the Epidemiology Section and the Chief of RMD • Follow established NIH CC procedures to obtain necessary IRB and/or Office of Human Subjects Research approvals • Prepare research protocol according to NIH CC guidelines and follow procedures for obtaining internal departmental and CC protocol clearance • Implement and complete proposed projects • Present and publish results in peer-reviewed scientific venues One or more deliverable items shall be required for each task order. Deliverables may include: 1) Agendas, minutes, and next steps documenting proceedings of project meetings; 2) Data file documentation including data dictionaries, file linkage diagrams, variable constructions, analytic decisions and processes, and reference materials for data sources; 3) Annotated analytic code developed for each sub-project; 4) Presentation of project progress and outcomes in the form of research reports, manuscripts, and research summaries that include summary data in tabular and graphic formats; 5) Documentation of statistical and technical consultations using established Section procedures; 6) Training materials including presentations for in-services, reading lists, and other instructional materials; 7) Research protocol/s and associated documentation of necessary approvals and clearances Required Experience and Educational Background The required experience and educational background of the individual contractor should include: 1) An educational background in health services or health policy research, with specific reference to disability programs and policies, reflected by a doctoral degree; 2) Education and experience using statistical software such as SAS, SUDAAN, SPSS, or STATA; 3) Experience in research survey development and qualitative interviewing techniques; 4) Extensive experience in designing and implementing research studies; 5) Extensive experience working with interdisciplinary research teams as a member and as a project leader; 6) Knowledge of statistical methods for analysis of complex surveys; 7) Extensive experience analyzing large, complex administrative data sets including the SSA DRF data 8) Extensive experience in the analysis of survey and other large data sets, including the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP); 9) Experience preparing research proposals, technical reports, and scientific publications including a successful publication record relevant to disability, disability programs, and/or health services; Location of Performance: Work will be conducted on-site at the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD and will include working off-site at one of three local Census data access sites in Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC in accordance with approved NIH system security procedures and procedures for obtaining Census Special Sworn Status. A portion of the work may also be conducted at the NCHS research data center in Hyattsville, MD. Period of Performance: The Government is anticipating a base year with a 12 month period of performance and 4 subsequent option years consisting of 12 months each. The vendor responses must demonstrate their expertise in ALL of the areas described above. Please note that failure to specifically demonstrate capability to provide the required services in your response to this market survey may affect the Government's review of industry's ability to perform these services. The vendor's response shall be in sufficient detail to allow the Government to assess the capability of your firm. The vendor response shall also include any other specific and relevant information related to the requirements of this project that will enable the Government to determine the capabilities of the company to perform the specialized requirements described in this synopsis. Interested organizations must demonstrate and document in any response submitted, to this market survey extensive experience with and the ability to perform all of the specialized requirements elsewhere described. This notice is a market survey and is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The Government will not award a Purchase Order or Contract based upon Vendor responses to this announcement. The Government shall not assume any costs for preparing or submitting any information in response to the market survey or the Government's use of the information. Any proprietary information should be clearly identified as "proprietary information". Vendors must send written capability responses by April 4, 2012 at 12 noon (EST) to the Contract Specialist at the following e-mail address lindbj@cc.nih.gov.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/CCOPC/RMD03142012/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center, Depoartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN02698210-W 20120317/120315235542-a8fdb8a8505fb56aa8a37dd6807562f6 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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