SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- STUDY ON NUTRITION AND WELLNESS QUALITY IN CHILD CARE SETTINGS
- Notice Date
- 7/1/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Branch, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 228, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302
- ZIP Code
- 22302
- Solicitation Number
- AG-3198-S-13-0040
- Archive Date
- 7/31/2013
- Point of Contact
- Christina Carter-Kurant, Phone: (703) 305-2265
- E-Mail Address
-
christina.carter-kurant@fns.usda.gov
(christina.carter-kurant@fns.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- STUDY ON NUTRITION AND WELLNESS QUALITY IN CHILD CARE SETTINGS This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is for small businesses only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to determine the interest and feasibility of small business set-asides. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plan their acquisition strategy or plan. The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support (OPS) & Contracts Management Division (CMD), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, including small business set-asides, small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses capable of conducting a national study on nutrition and wellness policies of all licensed child care providers in the United States. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. All responding small business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. For this acquisition, the NAICS code is 541611, and the Small Business Standard is $14 Million. Teaming arrangements and joint ventures will be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research, provided the prime contract is awarded to an applicable small business and that small businesses provide fifty percent or more of the support. Section 223 of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 directs the USDA to conduct a study of the nutrition and wellness policies of all licensed child care providers in the United States. The Food and Nutrition Service under the Office of Policy Support is conducting market research to identify sources that can demonstrate their experience, skills, and qualifications with projects of similar scope and size completed within the last three (3) years, and explain in appropriate detail how they intend to demonstrate competency in each of the following points (A) through (I). Expound, utilizing specific examples, on how the firm has undertaken and/or demonstrated the prerequisites listed below: A. A dedicated project director who can deliver high quality work, adhere to project schedules, keep costs within budget, manage the work of many professionals on many tasks simultaneously, and contribute knowledge and understanding of FNS programs. The project director should also possess skilled expertise in research focused on the various child care settings in the US, including the Head Start Program, as evidence by publications on the CACFP program in peer-reviewed journals and/or government reports/publications (please cite in your response). B. Staff experienced in highly technical sampling techniques to obtain representative samples of all licensed child care providers in the U.S. and participants in FNS programs and the development of corresponding sample weights for complex sample designs. C. Staff experienced with developing comprehensive national study designs to address numerous complex interrelated research questions, questionnaires for computer assisted data collection or hard-copy completion and OMB Information Collection Packages (cite the OMB clearance numbers). D. Experienced survey managers who can recruit a sufficient number of capable data collectors to provide information nationwide and over a short period of time; can train and monitor data collectors' performance to collect high quality data, and minimize non-response. E. Experienced data collectors and interviewers who are proficient at collecting information from a wide variety of sources (e.g., State agencies, child care providers including CACFP and Head Start, etc.) using a variety of data collection techniques (e.g., CATI/CAPI data collection, on-site observation, record abstraction, etc.) F. Staff experienced with and demonstrating proficiency in using analytic methods, including mathematical modeling, multivariate regression analysis; and descriptive and inferential statistics. Staff with proficiency in manipulating large, complex databases, using mainstream software packages, synthesizing results from multiple research sources, performing literature searches and reviews, conducting nutrient, food group and other complex analyses; statistical adjustment for complex sample design; imputation; non-response bias analysis and correction; and creating complex, large scale databases accessible to any proficient database programmer. G. Staff who have the necessary skills and experience writing technical, high-quality, well-edited reports, which may be targeted to technical readers or to policy officials. Staff who can produce briefing materials (including PowerPoint presentations) and present study findings for technical and/or policy staff. Also writing reports of technical information put into language appropriate to non-technical audiences, as evidenced by examples of such reports. H. Staff who have knowledge of the operational and financial management aspects of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, including special assistance alternatives, program integrity issues, nutritional quality of meals offered, issues related to participation in these programs. Please include previous publications in peer-reviewed and/or government journals/reports on the aforementioned areas. I. Staff with experience conducting 24-hour AMPM Dietary Recall Analyses with children, as evidenced by reports detailing the results of these analyses. Please provide citations for the reports. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REQUIREMENTS : OBJECTIVE 1: Describe and assess the nutritional quality of all foods provided to children in licensed childcare provider facilities as compared to the recommendations in the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes. Research Questions on the Nutritional Quality of Foods: • What is the distribution and average nutrient content overall and for each type of meal served, including snacks, in a typical week? • How do the meals and snacks offered and served compare to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines/DRI's, and the most current version of the Healthy Eating Index? • What are the major food sources of calories and key nutrients in meals and snacks served? What foods are offered most frequently among the various menu elements? How frequently do meals include fresh produce and whole grains? What are the main sources of SOFAS? • What influences a provider's menu planning practices (e.g, nutrition training, and equipment availability)? What is the provider's food storage capacity (e.g., refrigerator/freezer capacity, pantry, etc.)? Are menus planned by another entity (e.g., sponsor, corporate office) or the provider? What policies and procedures are used to accommodate participants with food allergies or other special dietary needs? • What percentage of providers use cycle menus? By number of weeks, what is the distribution and average length of how often providers cycle their menus? • What percentage of providers conduct nutritional analyses of their menus? What tools or procedures do they use to do so? What percent make use of tools and resources (particularly those from USDA and National Food Service Management Institute) for selecting and purchasing healthier foods? e.g.: Nutrient analysis software approved by USDA, USDA recipes, food buying guide calculator, etc. • What percentage of providers participate in a food buying co-op? How does this vary by provider characteristics? • What percentages of providers have an After School Program? An After School Supper Program? Both? • What is the job title for the individual who is responsible for food purchases? What are typical purchasing practices with regard to branded entrées, pre-prepared foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and locally produced foods? • Where do providers obtain food for meals (e.g., retail, club stores, wholesalers, farmers markets, etc.) and how is the food transported (e.g., delivery versus provider vehicle). How does the distribution of food sources differ by provider characteristics? • What policies and procedures do providers follow to ensure food safety? How does the frequency of use of them vary by provider characteristics? What is the frequency of use of inventory control processes in place to allow for a product to be traced during a recall? • What are the policies and practices on receiving seconds for meals and snacks? Declining a food or beverage? Water offered? • What is the setting for participants served meals and snacks (e.g., family style, plated, etc.)? • How much time do participants have to eat their meals and snacks? Research Questions on Nutritional Quality of Foods Specific to the CACFP • Do those participating in CACFP participate in other food programs, such as SBP, NSLP, emergency food programs, WIC and SNAP? How many have other members of the household participate in these food programs? Do any members of the household receive Medicaid, CHIP, and TANF? • Who conducts documentation/frequency of meal counts? What is the frequency of use of different meal counting and documentation methods? OBJECTIVE 2: Describe the quantity and type of physical and sedentary activities in which children in licensed child care facilities participate. (For each question, find the mean, mode, distribution, and range, as applicable.)? • How often and how much time are participants provided physical activities? o What are the types of physical activities offered? Which are offered most frequently? • How much time is spent in sedentary activities? o What are the most frequent sedentary activities offered? • How much time is spent in "screen time" (e.g., TV, computer, movies, video games)? Does this differ by provider type? • How do physical activity levels compare with the IOM physical activity recommendations? • What are barriers to providing physical activities? How do each of these impact the quantity and type of physical and sedentary activities? How does this differ for transient barriers (e.g. rainy day) vs. more permanent barriers (e.g. distance of providers relative to parks or suitable area for outdoor activities or group activities in a large room)? CACFP SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 3-5; These objectives focus on CACFP only and exclude Family Day Care Homes. OBJECTIVE 3: Describe dietary food and nutrient intake of children in CACFP-participating child care centers, including sponsored and independent Centers and Head Start sites. All analyses for this objective should include comparisons between days the participants are in child care compared to non-child care days, and what they consume in child care compared to the remainder of the day. How does this differ by provider characteristics? • How do the nutrient intake levels of CACFP participants compare to the DRI's? • How much water are children consuming throughout the day? • What percentage of participants is at risk of inadequate intakes for specific nutrients, as measured using the DRI standards? • What are the mean numbers of MyPlate servings consumed by participants for each major food group within the CACFP meal patterns while in childcare and total for the day? How does this compare to the CACFP requirements? • What are the mean scores on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) for meal participants? • What proportion of daily mean nutrient intakes of participants are from the CACFP meals? (Mean, distribution, standard deviation, etc.) • How does the nutrient intake of participants compare with the nutrient intake of nonparticipants who consume meals/snacks brought from home? o How many participants bring meals/snacks from home? Why are they bringing foods from home? • What is participants' weight status (BMI and percentage overweight or underweight.) What is the participants activity level reported by the parents? OBJECTIVE 4: Determine the cost to produce an average CACFP breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack including indirect and local administrative costs in child care centers including Head Start sites. Relationship of Costs : • What is the average cost of producing each type of CACFP meal (breakfast, lunch, supper) and snack? What is the distribution among providers? What is the composition of those average reported costs (food, labor, other (utilities, equipment, etc.))? [see USDA/FNS school Lunch and Breakfast Cost Study for composition breakdown] • What is the relationship of meal costs to other CACFP provider characteristics, such as types of meals served, number of children, enrollment growth, provider income, participant household income levels, and other participant demographics? • What percentage of CACFP providers receives additional support for meals (e.g., food donations, state level programs such as augmenting reimbursement rates)? What are the sources of the additional support? • How are meal costs related to use of fresh produce? i.e. costs of food, production, labor, and storage • What is the relationship between the costs of production and the types of foods offered by CACFP providers to meet the USDA nutrition standards, such as reducing fat and sodium content of meals? • How do the costs of meal production compare to CACFP reimbursements? OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE 5: Assess and describe Plate Waste in CACFP Child Care Centers, including Head Start sites: • What is the extent of plate waste in meals? How does plate waste vary by foods and food groups? By meal/snack occasion? What foods are most frequently uneaten? • What happens to food that is left over from the CACFP meal/snack service? How much is discarded as waste? • How does plate waste affect the ability of meals to achieve nutritional objectives? What are the levels of nutrients (in addition to foods) wasted in meals relative to nutrients served? • How does the amount of plate waste vary with participant characteristics, such as age, gender, of the meals/snacks served, etc.? • How do characteristics of the environment (such as the time of meal and length of the meals/snacks affect plate waste? • How do characteristics of the environment (such as the time of meal and length of the meals/snacks affect consumption of fruits and vegetables? • How is plate waste affected by the timing of other activities (e.g. is plate waste lower if meals shortly follow physical activity?) OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE 6: Conduct a feasibility study to include participants in CACFP Family Day Care Homes to address Objective 3. Please submit the following information in response to the 9 capabilities (A - I) pre-requisites listed above: SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 1. Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b). The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the objectives above. The Government technical team will then assess the experience & capabilities based on: 1) Technical expertise relevant to the objectives; 2) Corporate/organizational experience relevant to the objectives, and 3) Relevant past performance. 2. Capability responses should be based upon the 9 capabilities (A - I) pre-requisites listed above. 3. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses. 4. Relevant past performance shall include the following information: • Contract name • Contracting Agency or Department • Total contract value (in $) • Period of performance • Description of work and how it relates to the requirements NOTE: Packages over 20 pages will not be evaluated. Your capability statement needs to include a list of three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past 3-years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Christina.Carter-Kurant@fns.usda.gov. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice - AG-3198-S-13-0040 Study on Nutrition and Wellness Quality in Child Care Settings. A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses or if the Government determines that no small business concerns are capable of performing this requirement based upon an assessment of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition. Please submit all information to Christina Carter-Kurant at Christina.Carter-Kurant@fns.usda.gov by July 16 2013 no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FNS/CMB/AG-3198-S-13-0040/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03104747-W 20130703/130701235038-6e391b78fb184e54679ba3c54e9faab7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |