SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Scientific Resource Center to Support 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-16-10001
- 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. Task Force recommendations focus on interventions to prevent or decrease the severity of disease, and they apply only to people without signs or symptoms of the disease or health condition under consideration. USPSTF recommendations address services offered in the primary care setting or services to which patients can be referred by primary care professionals. The Task Force makes recommendations to help primary care clinicians, patients, and families decide together whether a particular preventive service is right for an individual's needs. 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. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this requirement is to establish a Scientific Resource Center (SRC) to support AHRQ in its role of supporting the USPSTF in its work to make evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive services. The objectives of this task order include establishing a Scientific Resource Center to support and coordinate some of the governing functions of the USPSTF and many of the overall activities associated with all USPSTF topics including: 1. Conflict of Interest 2. Horizon Scanning 3. Topic Nomination & Topic Development 4. Methods 5. Liability Insurance 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. Conflict of Interest Policy Implementing Updated Conflict of Interest Policy Over the past two years, the USPSTF has worked to revise its conflict of interest policy focusing on disclosures and mitigation of potential conflicts for USPSTF members. The contractor shall be responsible for implementing the updated USPSTF COI policy which includes: • Developing a secure and confidential online tool to collect the COIs and update the tool and related materials before each TF meeting and before the start of new topics. • Distributing the secure online disclosure links to USPSTF members prior to each in-person meeting, summarizing all potential conflicts and providing results in an excel spreadsheet and individual word documents. • Participating on a phone call with AHRQ staff to review the process, timeline and updated information before the deployment of the disclosures. • Reporting the progress of this work as part of the monthly progress reports to AHRQ. This should include a discussion of the challenges and successes of implementing the COI policy. The contractor also shall complete the update of the COI policy which will include: developing a template for publically reporting conflicts of interest (USPSTF members' disclosures and mitigation activities) and developing a COI policy for others who work with the USPSTF such as investigators at Evidence-based Practice Centers, peer-reviewers, AHRQ staff and other contractors. This activity should include a presentation to the Task Force during one of its in-person meetings to seek approval for an updated COI policy. In-person meetings are scheduled in March, July, and November each year. Implement Horizon Scanning The Task Force has developed a process for conducting a literature watch ("LitWatch"), consisting of a timely search of selected journals for new evidence that could influence either USPSTF topics currently under review or the timing of an update of a USPSTF topic. The Contractor shall implement horizon scanning by conducting a LitWatch quarterly and reporting the results according to a template. The Contractor should report the progress of this work as part of its monthly progress reports to AHRQ. This should include a discussion of the challenges and successes of horizon scanning. Topic Nominations & Topic Development The contractor shall manage the receipt, initial assessment, processing, and tracking of topic nominations and reconsiderations received via the USPSTF Web site (www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org). Depending on the volume, the contractor shall conduct an initial assessment of nominations and reconsiderations on a monthly or bimonthly basis. The initial assessment could include documenting how new nominations fit within the scope of the USPSTF and how they may be related to previous USPSTF recommendations. The contractor shall follow the established processes for topic nominations in order to assist the Topic Prioritization Workgroup, a subset of USPSTF members, in determining the final disposition of nominated topics. The SRC may need to contact the nominating organization for further specification. A Topic Nomination Background document should be prepared for each topic nomination/reconsideration. Once a newly nominated topic has been selected, it is prioritized by the Task Force. Because the Task Force has as its goal to update all topics every 5 years, each year it reviews all active topics that will need to be updated. In general, new topics and reconsiderations will be prioritized during this yearly prioritization process by the Task Force. The Task Force first decides if an active topic will stay active or if it should be inactivated or referred to another organization. The contractor shall follow the existing processes for assisting the Topic Prioritization Workgroup in prioritizing the active queue of topics. The contractor should design a Topic Brief with the goal of providing the necessary background information for the Topic Prioritization Workgroup and USPSTF to review, discuss, and vote on a final disposition for active topics and to assist with prioritizing all active topics. The contractor shall plan on preparing Topic Nomination documents and leading a conference call with the Topic Prioritization Workgroup at least one month prior to each Task Force meeting (February, June and October) to determine final disposition and recommendation for all nominated topics. This information will be presented to the full Task Force for a vote at each in-person meeting (March, July and November). The contractor shall develop Topic Briefs for all topics eligible for updating (topics published 2-3 years earlier). The contractor shall plan on preparing for and participating on monthly conference calls with the Topic Prioritization Workgroup to determine the final disposition for all active topics. In addition, the SRC will participate in topic prioritization. The SRC shall update and implement the USPSTF's process for soliciting feedback on the annual priority rating of all topics in its active queue. The goal of this process is to have a prioritized list of 12-20 topics each year whose review will begin over the next 12-18 months. The SRC shall facilitate involvement of USPSTF members, partners and other identified stakeholders in the process. The SRC shall develop and distribute an online tool to collect the feedback from the different stakeholders. The SRC shall provide a summary memo and provide results in Microsoft excel and word. The SRC will use the USPSTF content management system to document and track the full library of USPSTF topics focusing on the status of newly nominated topics, the prioritization of active topics, and the timing of updates. The Contractor shall implement the processes associated with topic nomination, prioritization and development. The Contractor should report the progress of this work as part of its monthly progress reports to AHRQ. This should include a discussion of the challenges and successes of topic nominations, prioritization and development. Support and Development of Methods to Advance the Work of the USPSTF The SRC will help to identify and prioritize potential methods projects for the USPSTF. The Contractor(s) shall be asked to conduct 1 - 3 research methods projects each year to advance the work of the USPSTF; the number will depend on the size (small, medium, large) of prioritized projects. Small methods research projects typically involve commissioning an expert consultant to provide scientific support and feedback to the USPSTF on a specific issue of concern. This would likely be in conjunction with one of the USPSTF methods work groups. Medium-sized projects would involve a small team (1 Investigator and 1 Research Associate) to provide support to a USPSTF work group in a targeted area. The work conducted by the project team would likely include activities such as a (non-systematic) literature review, audit of current processes, or development of a conceptual framework. The project deliverable would be a brief report or update to the Procedure Manual. Finally, large methods research projects would be the most intense in terms of staffing and development of new or more extensive methods guidance. A typical team would include two Investigators along with a Research Associate who are devoting a fairly substantial effort to the project with the intention of authoring a methods manuscript in conjunction with a USPSTF work group or a more extended final report. The contractor shall participate in monthly calls with AHRQ staff to discuss methods activities. The contractor may be asked to attend conference calls with the USPSTF Methods Workgroup, a subset of USPSTF members, to discuss specific methods projects. The Methods Workgroup meets monthly. The contractor may be asked to present research findings and or/proposed updates to the full Task Force at one of its in-person meetings. Assist the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in Purchasing Liability Insurance The Contractor shall secure the services of an insurance agent to work with USPSTF members to review the existing liability insurance policy. The Contractor shall ensure that the policy meets the current requirements of USPSTF members. While AHRQ staff will review the policy, the USPSTF members will approve the final policy. The Contractor shall arrange for the Task Force to renew/purchase a one-year policy based on the final approved policy. The Contractor shall monitor the policy and arrange coverage for new members who join the Task Force. The Contractor shall distribute and collect reimbursement forms and process reimbursement payments for 3 to 16 members for the cost of the policy. The Contractor shall send a copy of the policy to all current members of the USPSTF. The Contractor shall respond to any correspondence from the insurance company or Task Force members related to the policy. The Contractor shall provide monthly electronic progress reports to the TOO until the policy has been purchased and all Task Force members have been reimbursed. NOTE: The USPSTF Procedure Manual will be provided with the RFP. Anticipated period of performance July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2021 12-month base period with four 12-month option years Other important considerations The contractor shall understand the basic principles of evidence-based medicine and prevention, and the methods and processes inherent in making and communicating evidence-based recommendations. They shall help ensure the Task Force is on the cutting edge of the science and processes of methods related to prevention, evidence-based guideline development, and systematic reviewing. They shall ensure capacity to assist in the governance and scientific support of the Task Force. 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 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 requirements and intent of the project; 2. full understanding of the USPSTF processes, scope, role, philosophy and methods of developing evidence-based recommendations for clinical preventive services and the history of the Task Force; 3. full understanding of efficient methods, processes, and challenges of literature searching and systematic review related to preventive services, including challenges in searching for literature related to behavioral interventions and in searching "grey" literature; 4. knowledge of techniques to engage USPSTF members, partners and other identified stakeholders and to assist them in prioritization and reaching consensus in the prioritization process; 5. capacity to assist with both the scientific and governance activities of the Task Force in horizon scanning, topic nomination, development and prioritization, COI mitigation and obtaining liability insurance. 6. staff experience, including their availability, experience, and training; staff should demonstrate experience in evidence-based medicine; clinical preventive services; quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the development of methods to evaluate the evidence on clinical preventive services ; as well as experience in engaging a group in collaborative and cooperative efforts 7. current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; 8. prior completed projects of similar nature within the last seven years (examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information); and 9. 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 15 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).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/AHRQ/DCM/HHS-AHRQ-SBSS-16-10001/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03945698-W 20151115/151113234413-39176cc113b0457c23545dbf69b0e95c (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 |