SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) 2nd Generation National and Tribal EvaluationHealth Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) 2nd Generation National and Tribal Evaluation
- Notice Date
- 2/9/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, Maryland, 20857, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-ACF-OPRE-SBBS-15-121
- Archive Date
- 2/28/2015
- Point of Contact
- Isaac Bellamy, Phone: 3014430150
- E-Mail Address
-
isaac.bellamy@psc.hhs.gov
(isaac.bellamy@psc.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) 2 nd Generation National and Tribal Evaluation Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Acquisition Management Services, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, MD, 20857, United States. Description: This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background: The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) plans to conduct a rigorous evaluation of the new grants that will be awarded under the extension of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program. HPOG was first established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 to fund education and training programs in high-demand, healthcare professions that are targeted to TANF recipients and other low-income individuals. In 2010, ACF awarded five-year grants to 32 HPOG grantees in 23 states. Current HPOG grantees are post-secondary educational institutions, workforce investment boards (WIBs), state or local government agencies, and community-based organizations. Five grantees are tribal organizations. HPOG grantees are required to carry out their projects in coordination with the State TANF agency, relevant local and State WIBs, and the State apprenticeship agency. Further, the demonstrations are expected to: (1) target skills and competencies demanded by the healthcare industry; (2) support career pathways, such as an articulated career ladder; (3) result in an employer- or industry-recognized certificate or degree (which can include a license, as well as a Registered Apprenticeship certificate or degree); (4) combine supportive services with education and training services to help participants overcome barriers to employment, as necessary; and (5) provide training services at times and locations that are easily accessible to targeted populations. HPOG’s authorizing legislation called for evaluation activities to demonstrate whether and how the program meets its goals. OPRE is using a multi-pronged evaluation strategy to assess the success of the HPOG programs funded in 2010. The research and evaluation activities aim to provide information on program implementation, systems change, outcomes, and impact. The current ACF career pathways portfolio includes seven complex and inter-related research and evaluation projects. For more information on these projects, see HYPERLINK "http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/research/project/evaluation-portfolio-for-the-health-profession-opportunity-grants-hpog" http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/research/project/evaluation-portfolio-for-the-health-profession-opportunity-grants-hpog. ACF has announced plans for a competition to award new program grants in FY 2015 for a five-year project period, with the understanding that subsequent awards in years two through five of the project will be contingent on the availability of funding. In this announcement, ACF indicated they expect to award approximately 35 grants to grantees serving TANF recipients and other low-income individuals, and approximately five grants to tribes, tribal organizations or tribal colleges or universities. For the forecast announcements for this competition, see HYPERLINK "http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/index.cfm?switch=grant.view&gff_grants_forecastInfoID=70680" http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/index.cfm?switch=grant.view&gff_grants_forecastInfoID=70680 and HYPERLINK "http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/index.cfm?switch=grant.view&gff_grants_forecastInfoID=70681" http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/index.cfm?switch=grant.view&gff_grants_forecastInfoID=70681. OPRE plans to rigorously evaluate the new demonstration programs to be funded by the grants awarded under the extension of the HPOG program in order to expand the career pathways evidence base and to build on what has been learned to date about how to design and implement successful career pathways programs for low-income and low-skilled individuals, and improve the outcomes of individuals who participate in these programs. A contract is currently in place to design a rigorous evaluation of the estimated 35 grants to be awarded to entities serving TANF recipients and other low-income individuals. This evaluation will use random assignment at the individual level in all awarded grantee sites, and may involve randomization of program components at the grantee or program site level in a subset of sites, to answer research questions such as: How are health professions training programs being implemented across the grantee sites? What changes to the service delivery system are associated with program implementation? What individual-level outputs and outcomes occur (e.g., recruitment, enrollment, retention, completion [accreditation/ certification], job entry, employment retention and advancement, and earnings)? What are the impacts (e.g., educational attainment and earnings) of HPOG programs on their populations of interest? How do effects of career pathways programs vary over time, across outcomes or domains, by occupation, or by participant characteristics? What key components or approaches are successful or contribute to the success of these programs? Do different program models, strategies, or components lead to different impacts for participants? Additionally, this contract is responsible for defining uniform data collection requirements that the HPOG grantees must adhere to in order to track activities, outputs, and outcomes, and for designing, building, and maintaining a web-based data system into which this data will be entered. The system will be used by all grantees for program management and to inform continuous quality improvement efforts, and by ACF for performance monitoring and research and evaluation purposes. Purpose and Objectives: Under a new project, OPRE intends to build on and add to the knowledge generated in the current ORPE career pathways research and evaluation portfolio, as well as other similar studies that have been conducted. Specifically, under this project OPRE intends to complete the following key tasks: (1) conduct an impact evaluation of new HPOG programs; (2) design and conduct a coordinating comprehensive implementation evaluation of the estimated 35 grantees; (3) design and conduct an evaluation of the estimated 5 Tribal HPOG grantees; (4) design and conduct cost benefit analyses of all awarded HPOG grants; (5) design and conduct follow-up studies at 36 months with grantees participating in the impact study to rigorously evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of the HPOG grants; (6) consult experts, as needed, to provide specialized advice and guidance on any aspect of the work conducted under this project; (7) generate and release a series of briefs, reports, and other products to disseminate findings to a wide range of stakeholders; and (8) manage the project and ensure that all work is of highest quality, on time and within budget. Project Requirements: In order to successfully complete the key tasks outlined above, the following sub-tasks/deliverables—and the requisite skills, expertise, and corporate and staff capacity to engage in and successfully complete these subtasks/deliverables—are required: Conduct the impact evaluation designed for the estimated 35 grantees serving TANF recipients and other low-income individuals: Develop, field test, and obtain both IRB approval and OMB clearance for research-based, valid and reliable data collection instruments for the impact study. Establish program/site selection criteria for the random assignment of program components, and randomly assign components accordingly. Work with selected sites to set up the implementation and experimental test of the assigned component(s). Develop Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each site in the evaluation that specifies the intervention and, for a subset of sites, program component to be tested along with performance plans and benchmarks, and addresses the payment of funds to sites to help offset the costs of participating in a rigorous evaluation. Provide technical guidance to help the HPOG grantees meet evaluation requirements. Monitor the completeness and quality of baseline data being collected through the uniform data system; collect follow-up data using the approved survey, obtaining at least an 80 percent response rate at each site. Develop an analysis plan for the study that includes: the study logic model and research questions; a narrative discussion of the measures and analytic techniques to be utilized in answering each research question; relative advantages or disadvantages of approaches or methods; and, for each data source, the specific types of data analyses that will be employed. Conduct an impact analysis based on survey and administrative data. Produce and secure data files and documentation including public use or restricted use files. Contractors should have the organizational capacity, capability and relevant prior experience to conduct a multi-site, large-scale experimental evaluation involving different populations in a variety of settings. Contractors should have the capacity, capability and relevant experience to work simultaneously with geographically dispersed programs and provide technical guidance and manage large volumes of data for approximately 40 evaluation sites at the same time. In addition, this project will require the availability of adequate computer/statistical resources and the institutional capability to process and analyze a large volume of data, including capacity to input data, clean data, and conduct quality control checks. Design and conduct a coordinating comprehensive implementation evaluation of the estimated 35 grantees: Design a state-of-the-art implementation evaluation which may include, but is not limited to: site visits, onsite observations, time studies, case studies, and other state ‐ of ‐ the art methods. Develop, field test, and obtain both IRB approval and OMB clearance for research-based, valid and reliable data collection instruments for the implementation study, including protocols for the assessment of program implementation. Design and execute an evaluation of the estimated 5 Tribal HPOG grantees: To inform the evaluation design, engage in knowledge development tasks regarding diverse programmatic approaches to health professions training programs serving tribal populations; incorporate stakeholder input, including but not limited to input from tribal leadership and/or elected officials and other local stakeholders. Create and execute a feasibility assessment for individual Tribal HPOG grantee(s) participation in the impact study (described under subtask 1 above), if any tribal grantee(s) indicates an interest in participating in random assignment. Any Tribal HPOG program that does not participate in the random assignment evaluation will automatically be part of the separate Tribal HPOG evaluation design and conducted under this subtask. Design a comprehensive implementation and outcome evaluation of the Tribal HPOG programs that will: Provide an in-depth, systematic analysis of program implementation, operations, and outputs and outcomes in all the sites served by the grantees; and Compare implementation, operations, and output and outcomes data within and across sites to examine correlations and patterns and generate hypotheses about the effectiveness of different program approaches for tribal populations. Develop, field test, and obtain both IRB approval (including tribal IRB, if applicable) and OMB clearance for rigorous and culturally appropriate data collection instruments. Comply with any tribally established cultural protocols for evaluation and research. Conduct the comprehensive implementation and outcome evaluation and analyze findings. Provide technical assistance to help grantees meet the evaluation requirements and build local capacity to engage in and apply research. In collaboration with tribal leadership and/or authorized designee(s), design a dissemination plan to disseminate findings from the Tribal HPOG evaluation. Produce and secure data files and documentation including public use or restricted use files. Contractors and/or subcontractors conducting this evaluation should have the capability, relevant prior experience, and expertise to conduct research with tribal communities. Design and conduct cost benefit analyses of the HPOG grants: Develop measures and information collection protocols as necessary, obtain both IRB approval and OMB clearance, and conduct the analyses. Design and conduct follow-up studies to rigorously evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of the HPOG grants: Design measures, information collection protocols, and instruments to examine longer term impacts at 36 months after random assignment. Obtain both IRB approval and OMB clearance, and conduct the additional follow ‐ up and analyses. Consult experts, as needed, to provide specialized advice and guidance: As needed, identify experts with expertise in research methodology, programs and populations similar to those being employed or served in HPOG (e.g., TANF, health professions, career ladder programs, sector ‐ based employment strategies), health sector demand issues, relevant outcome measures and methods of measurement, analyses issues, and research in tribal communities. Secure agreements with experts for consultation. Prepare any materials needed for the consultations, and draft written summaries of information learned from the consultations and how it will be applied to project tasks. Generate and release a series of briefs, reports, and other products to disseminate findings to a wide range of stakeholders including practitioners, researchers, and policymakers: Design a dissemination plan to disseminate findings from the impact and implementation studies to appropriate stakeholders. This may include draft, interim and final reports following periods of data collection, briefings to ACF and other relevant policy officials, conference presentations, working papers, scholarly journal articles, reports on special topics, and research/issue briefs. Overall program management: Staff managing and involved in the project should have the technical qualifications and academic, professional, and technical experience to successfully complete the requirements of the project and ensure that all work is of highest quality, on time and within budget. Staff should have the relevant experience in: Relevant topical areas (e.g., TANF, health professions, education and training programs for TANF and low income individuals, career pathways programs, sector-based employment strategies), technical requirements (e.g., evaluation design and approach, including in experimental evaluation strategies), and management requirements (e.g., relevant experience with direct management of large teams, including subcontractors, on complex project and contract oversight responsibilities). Innovative and rigorous evaluation design of complex human service and education systems. Assessing the suitability of demonstration programs for different types of evaluation. Conducting complex analyses utilizing state-of-the-art statistical techniques to assess net impacts across programs and among sub-groups. Managing projects of similar scope and complexity. Working collaboratively and successfully with other research teams, program administrators and staff, representing diverse fields and programs, and other stakeholders in carrying out the kinds of tasks as required for this project. Conducting research in tribal communities; this requirement can be fulfilled via subcontract if necessary. Robust management and communication structures must be established that account for the complexity of the project and need to coordinate with a range of stakeholders. Anticipated Period of Performance: It is anticipated that this project would start when the new HPOG grants are awarded (by September 30, 2015). Taking options into account, including those pertaining to the long-term follow-up studies, this project will likely extend through September 29, 2025. Other Important Considerations: The proposed project is large and complex in scope, and will require extensive coordination among a large project team, approximately 40 grantees, and the federal government. Further, the project will be expected to coordinate with contractors involved with other OPRE-sponsored HPOG and career pathways related projects to assure consistency, avoid duplicative efforts, and promote cross project learning. Coordination with the broader research and practice field and other federal agencies engaged in career pathways initiatives is also expected. The HPOG program was initially funded by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the requirement to demonstrate whether and how the program meets its goals is authorized by the Act. Therefore ACF has invested significant resources in implementing a comprehensive, multi-faceted and rigorous evaluation approach to assess the implementation, outcomes and impacts of the HPOG program. ACF intends to expand upon this portfolio with its rigorous evaluation of the new grants to be awarded under the extension of the HPOG program. Given ACF’s significant investment in the program and its evaluation, it is of the utmost importance that work conducted under this project is rigorous, timely, and of high quality. Capability Statement/Information Sought: Capability statements must include the following information: Demonstration of how you would meet the requirements of this project, as outlined above, including: Staff expertise, experience, and availability; please provide resumes for any key personnel cited in the capability statement Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work Prior completed projects of a similar scope Corporate experience and management capability Examples of prior completed Government contracts that are similar to in scope to this effort Description of any proposed teaming arrangements and how the entities included in these arrangements meet the above-cited information regarding expertise and experience. Company name, address, DUNS, Point of Contact, Phone and Email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses, and business size and status (e.g., small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women owned small business). Interested parties having the capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements may submit capability statements electronically via email to isaac.bellamy@psc.hhs.gov. The capability statement should be in MS Word format and is limited to 40 double ‐ spaced pages (exclusive of any cover letter, title page, table of contents, and resumes). It should have standard 1” margins all ‐ around and font size no smaller than 12 pt. Only one copy of the capability statement should be submitted. Capability statements must be received at the email address indicated above by 12pm EST, February 18, 2015. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
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