SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Support to Implement Increased Transparency of the Processes of the USPSTF
- Notice Date
- 11/13/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Contracts Management, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20850
- ZIP Code
- 20850
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-AHRQ-SBSS-16-10002
- Archive Date
- 12/15/2015
- Point of Contact
- Scott Henderson, Phone: 301-427-1764, Erin B. Mills, Phone: 301-427-1169
- E-Mail Address
-
scott.henderson@ahrq.hhs.gov, Erin.Mills@ahrq.hhs.gov
(scott.henderson@ahrq.hhs.gov, Erin.Mills@ahrq.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- 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 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. Since its inception in 1984, the Task Force has worked to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services and health promotion. These recommendations for adults and children address screening tests, counseling about healthful behaviors, and preventive medications. Since 2009, the Task Force has focused on making its work as transparent as possible so that stakeholders and the public better understand and have more confidence in the approach of the Task Force. This also ensures that its work is open, credible, independent, and unbiased, and is recognized as such. By expanding opportunities for the public and stakeholders to engage in the process, the Task Force believes that its recommendations will be more accurate and relevant. As a result of these efforts, stakeholders and the public can: • Nominate new members to serve on the Task Force • Nominate new topics for Task Force consideration or request an update of an existing topic • Provide comments on all draft research plans • Provide comments on all draft evidence reports • Provide comments on all draft recommendation statements For additional information on the Task Force, its procedures including opportunities for public comment, and all documents (e.g., research plans; systematic evidence reviews and recommendation statements), please visit the USPSTF Procedure Manual at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf08/methods/procmanual.htm. The USPSTF also has been working to redesign its Web site (www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org) to enhance the look and feel, and functionality of the site. The new Web site features an automated system for posting and receiving public comments on draft documents. The redesigned Web site was launched in September 2014; version 2.0 was made available March 2015. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this requirement is to support AHRQ in its role of supporting the USPSTF in its work to be transparent in its work to make evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive services. The objectives of this task order include: 1. Understanding the basic principles of evidence-based medicine and prevention, and the methods and processes inherent in making and communicating evidence-based recommendations to be implemented in primary care. 2. Posting 30 - 45 research plans, draft evidence reports and draft recommendation statements postings each year and understanding the importance of timing, as well as historical perspectives and stakeholder engagement as it relates to the Task Force. 3. Developing tables of the public comments received in response to USPSTF draft research plans and draft evidence reports for use by Principal Investigators at Evidence-based Practice Centers; and, 4. Aggregating, reviewing, analyzing and synthesizing public comments received in response to USPSTF draft recommendation statements. 5. Establishing a coding scheme, how coders would be trained, how agreement among coders will be determined, quality control measures, how the data will be analyzed and synthesized. 6. Identifying major themes as a result of reviewing and synthesizing all the comments including a general description of the theme and suggestions for revisions to the draft recommendation statement that would address the themes/major concerns expressed in the public comments in context of the draft Recommendation Statement. 7. Identifying comments of particular Importance - reviewing of submitted comments that raise salient issues to which the USPSTF might want to give particular attention. Project requirements Below is a summary of the key anticipated requirements for this acquisition. Other tasks, including but not limited to, quarterly progress reports and monthly progress calls, will be in the final requirement. Respondents will be expected to have the ability to complete all tasks described below. Reports on Draft USPSTF Documents Organize into easily usable tables all of the public comments received in response to postings of USPSTF draft research plans and draft systematic evidence reviews. 1. The Contractor shall develop weekly tables for use by Principal Investigators at Evidence- based Practice Centers that include all public comments received to date on draft research plans and draft systematic evidence reviews. The Contractor shall have access to the content management system (CMS) of the redesigned USPSTF Web site for aggregating and creating tables of all the public comments received. The CMS will generate a table of comments entered via the Web form for use by the Contractor. In addition, the Contractor shall add letters received in the mail or uploaded to the Web site into the table of aggregated public comments. 2. After the public comment period closes, the contractor shall provide final tables, for use by Principal Investigators at Evidence-based Practice Centers that include all public comments received on draft research plans and draft systematic evidence reviews. The Contractor shall not be asked to do any analysis or synthesis of the comments and will not be responsible for creating a disposition table. The USPSTF anticipates posting 10 - 15 draft research plans and 10 - 15 draft systematic evidence reviews each year. Reports on Draft Recommendation Statements The Contractor shall aggregate, review, analyze and synthesize all the comments received during the public comment period for all draft recommendation statements and produce a report that includes, but is not limited to, the following sections: 1. The Contractor shall develop weekly tables for use by AHRQ Medical Officer that include all public comments received up to that date on draft recommendation statements. The Contractor shall have access to the content management system (CMS) of the redesigned USPSTF Web site for aggregating and creating tables for all the public comments received. The CMS will generate a table of comments entered via the Web form for use by the Contractor. In addition, the Contractor shall add letters received in the mail or uploaded to the Web site into the table of aggregated public comments. 2. In the weekly tables, the Contractor shall provide all the public comments, with a unique ID, question number, type of respondent, the actual comment and the content code(s). They shall remove any empty cells, e.g., if a respondent only enters comments in response to questions 1, 3 and 5, the empty cells associated with questions 2, 4 and 6 would be deleted. These tables should be sorted by respondent, i.e., answers to all questions for Respondent 1 would be shown in sequential rows. 3. For draft recommendations that receive comments from 25 or fewer respondents, the contractor shall provide a summary of the findings and suggested disposition of the themes no later than 2 weeks after the comment period closes. The summary should include the total number of comments received, the distribution of comments by respondent type, a list of organizations that provided comments and a summary of the number of respondents who agreed or disagreed with the draft recommendation. 4. For draft recommendations that receive comments from more than 25 respondents, the contractor shall identify major themes as a result of reviewing and synthesizing all the comments including a general description of the theme and suggestions for revisions to the draft recommendation statement that would address the themes/major concerns expressed in the public comments. This shall be provided no later than 2 weeks after the comment period closes. For draft recommendations receiving more than 200 comments the contractor shall provide no later than 4 weeks after the comment period closes. 5. For draft recommendations that receive comments from more than 25 respondents, the contractor shall provide a table that highlights specific comments from respondents that illustrate the major themes/concerns identified during the review and synthesis of all public comments. The disposition table shall include a space (row or column in the table, for example) for AHRQ USPSTF staff to enter a response for each theme. The contractor shall submit the example comment and themes table no later than 2 weeks after the comment period closes. 6. For draft recommendations that receive comments from more than 25 respondents, the contractor shall provide a comprehensive Final Report that includes the following sections and attachments: • Summary of Respondents, Responses, and References - summarizes the type of respondents that commented on both the Draft Recommendation Statement and the Draft Evidence Review which may include graphs and charts. • Summary of Findings and Recommendations - summarizes comments received on both the Draft Recommendation Statement and the Draft Evidence Review which may include graphs and charts. These include the themes that emerged in the review of the public comments to the Draft Recommendation Statement and are organized into the categories. • Themes Comments Disposition Table - highlights specific comments from respondents that illustrate the main themes identified in the narrative. • Methods - A section describing the methods for reviewing and synthesizing all the public comments. This should include, but is not limited to, how a coding scheme was developed, how coders were trained, how agreement among coders was determined, quality control measures, how the data are analyzed and synthesized. • Comments of Particular Importance - review of submitted comments that raise salient issues to which the USPSTF might want to give particular attention. • Attachments: • Comprehensive Table of Public Comments for the Draft Recommendation Statement • Table of Public Comments for the Draft Evidence Review • Draft Recommendation Statement Reference Disposition Table • Draft Evidence Review Reference Disposition Table This shall be provided no later than 4 weeks after the comment period closes. For comments receiving more than 200 comments the contractor shall provide no later than 6 weeks after the comment period closes. 7. For all draft recommendations with comments from more than 25 respondents, the contractor shall provide a table with the final coding scheme. 8. For all draft recommendations, a disposition table of all citations for additional studies listed in the public comments that includes: the full citation provided, whether the study was included or excluded or not considered in the systematic evidence review (this information is provided as part of the systematic evidence review) and a disposition for the study, e.g., excluded for study design (Letter to the Editor; Opinion Piece; Clinical Guideline, etc.). AHRQ will provide the Contractor with a template for the citation disposition table and suggested codes. Anticipated period of performance July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2021 12-month base period with four 12-month option years Other important considerations Since the mandate for Task Force "A" and "B" recommendations in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there is increased attention and a change in the type and quantity of stakeholders interested in the Task Force's recommendations. The public comments process is an important aspect of the USPSTF program and it is the primary way that the Task Force expands opportunities for the public and stakeholders to engage in the process. The Task Force believes that its recommendations are more accurate and relevant as a result of the public comment process. Capability statement /information sought Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a tailored capability statement that includes/addresses the following: Cover Page Must include the following: • DUNS number • organization name • organization address • size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the NAICS code 541990 • technical point(s) of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses • administrative point(s) of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses Tailored Response The tailored response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice should include the following sections and describe the requested information below. Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, information concerning: 1. full understanding of the USPSTF processes, scope, role, and the history of the Task Force; 2. full understanding of the philosophy and methods inherent in making and communicating evidence-based recommendations to be implemented in primary care 3. full understanding of the requirements and intent of the project; 4. full understanding of the value of stakeholder input on scientific research and qualitative data analysis and synthesis as it relates to the draft research plans, draft systematic evidence reviews, and draft recommendation statements; 5. understanding of the effects of the Affordable Care Act and other health policy on stakeholder engagement as it relates to the USPSTF; 6. Understand the requirement of supporting up to 30 - 45 research plans, draft evidence reports and draft recommendation statements postings in one year and the importance of timing, historical perspectives and stakeholder engagement as it relates to the Task Force; 7. an understanding of how to analyze qualitative data relating to public comment including: a. how a coding scheme is developed b. how staff are trained c. how agreement among coders is determined d. how disagreement among coders should be handled e. how qualitative data are analyzed and synthesized; 8. how to synthesize these types of data and effectively and efficiently report the findings including the identification of themes; 9. staff experience, including their availability, experience, and training; 10. current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; 11. prior completed projects of similar nature within the last 7 years (examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information); and 12. corporate experience and management capability. Responses must be provided via e-mail to the Contract Specialist (Scott Henderson, scott.henderson@ahrq.hhs.gov) no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 30, 2015. Responses should not exceed 10 single-sided pages (including the cover page, all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. 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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