D -- DISCLOSURE LIMITATION FOR NCHS TABULAR DATA

Notice Date

August 16, 2001

Contracting Office

DHHS, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, ADP Branch, Room 5-95 Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857

ZIP Code

20857

Point of Contact

Marc L. Long, Contracting Officer, (301) 443-7086

E-Mail Address

Program Support Center (mlong@psc.gov)

Description

The Division of Acquisition Management has a requirement for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and test software for disclosure limitation in two-dimensional and higher-dimensional tables. This software will be made available to the NCHS Research Data Center and data divisions as a tool for evaluating their disclosure limitation procedures and for their consideration for future use. The Office of Research and Methodology will use the software as a test bed for further research on disclosure limitation. The National Center for Health Statistics releases many tabular data products, that is, data released in the format of one or more two-dimensional tables. These tabulations are derived from information collected by NCHS on individual persons or establishments. Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act requires NCHS to preserve the confidentiality of person and establishment information it collects. Over the past two decades, mathematical and statistical methodologies for disclosure limitation in tabular data have been proposed and discussed in the scientific literature and community. A leading expert is Dr. Lawrence H. Cox, who recently joined NCHS as Associate Director for Research and Methodology. Dr. Cox has published many widely-accepted research papers on methods for disclosure limitation in two- and higher-dimensional tabular data, including rounding and cell suppression. Disclosure limitation at NCHS currently is performed using less sophisticated and theoretically based methods. This work will directly improve the quality and confidentiality of NCHS data products. Dr. Cox's methods appear to offer improvement in the quality of NCHS disclosure limited data products and in the scientific basis on which they are produced. Consequently, the Office of Research and Methodology is interested in implementing these methods in software and using the software to evaluate and improve NCHS disclosure limitation procedures for tabular data products. The Government knows of only one source, OptTek Systems, Inc., Boulder, CO. This proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). Interested persons may identify, in writing, their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 15 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any requests for solicitation packages will be considered nonresponsive. All submissions are to be sent to Marc L. Long, at the address above, referencing 01C103125. This acquisition is being made utilizing FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010820/DSOL012.HTM (W-228 SN50V234)