OS152662-Questions_and_Answers_to_15-233-SOL-00616.docx

Questions and Answers to 15-233-SOL-00616

1. What is the allocated budget for this study?

The government can provide a cost range. The cost range is $500,000 - $600,000.

1. Can you clarify if “women’s health” is referring to both behavioral and physical health on the second question of page 4 (“What is known about the impact of the change in environment due to the energy development on women’s health?”), or is that just referring to behavioral health? Yes. Though the primary focus is on behavioral health, we would expect this deterioration of mental health/behavioral health to have some impact on physical health as well. For example, we hypothesize there may be an increase in depression, anxiety and that may see an increase in other chronic diseases.

On page 7, Task 2, Subtask 2.2., it states, “The design should consist of secondary data analysis of available quantitative data on both the behavioral health and physical of women in the affected region. Deterioration of physical health may result from poor mental health. Data sources should include but not limited to; vital statistics, surveillance data, and data from behavioral health surveys pre and post the increase in economic activity due to expanded energy development.”

1. Is the assessment of women’s behavioral health expected to come solely from secondary sources? No. See page 7, Task 2, Subtask 2.2., we expect the mixed method design to be both primary and secondary data.

1. Will the data and report be made publicly available? The final report will be a public domain document. However, we recognize that some of the data, such as primary data collected would not be as it could contain personally identifiable data.

1. If the proposed designed were to include an original survey data collection, would HHS’ interest be more on understanding incidence rates in the regions of western North Dakota and eastern Montana, or understanding behaviors of women in specific risk populations? Ideally both. Having a cross sectional analysis of specific risk populations could help providers tailor prevention and intervention methods.

1. Of the social pathologies mentioned (such as substance abuse and prostitution), are you emphasizing understanding some more than others? Not necessarily. We would like to assess how women’s mental/emotional well being has been affected in these areas that have experienced a many stressors, both good and bad.

For purposes of this contract, we will use the definition from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Behavioral Health: Is a state of mental/emotional being and/or choices that affect wellness.

Mental Health Indicators According to the CDC, researchers suggest that there are indicators of mental health, representing three domains. 1-3 These include the following:

Emotional well-being

· Such as perceived life satisfaction, happiness, cheerfulness, peacefulness.

Psychological well-being

· Such as self-acceptance, personal growth including openness to new experiences, optimism, hopefulness, purpose in life, control of one’s environment, spirituality, self-direction, and positive relationships.

Social well-being

· Social acceptance, beliefs in the potential of people and society as a whole, personal self-worth and usefulness to society, sense of community

1. Has HHS sponsored similar mixed-methods community studies in the past?

Yes, however not on this specific topic. For the Office on Women’s Health, there have been mixed methods studies most recently on weight lost interventions in GLBT women. In 2013, the Department of Justice awarded a five year grant to evaluation more specifically the impact on violence against women in this geographic area. We hope that data found could be complementary to those findings.

1. We are considering submitting a proposal to conduct the Assessment of the Impact on Behavioral Health of Women in Western ND and Eastern MT. Is there a total fixed-price for this task order?

The government can provide a cost range. The cost range is $500,000 - $600,000.

1. Ryff CD, Keyes CLM. The structure of psychological well–being revisited. J Pers Soc Psychol 1995;69:719–727.

1. Ryff CD. Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well–being. J Pers Soc Psychol 1989;57:1069–1081.

1. Keyes CLM. Social well–being. Soc Psychol Quart 1998;61:121–140.

Definition of Behavioral Health

For purposes of this contract, we will use the definition from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Behavioral Health: Is a state of mental/emotional being and/or choices that affect wellness.

Mental Health Indicators According to the CDC, researchers suggest that there are indicators of mental health, representing three domains. 1-3 These include the following:

Emotional well-being

· Such as perceived life satisfaction, happiness, cheerfulness, peacefulness.

Psychological well-being

· Such as self-acceptance, personal growth including openness to new experiences, optimism, hopefulness, purpose in life, control of one’s environment, spirituality, self-direction, and positive relationships.

Social well-being

· Social acceptance, beliefs in the potential of people and society as a whole, personal self-worth and usefulness to society, sense of community.

Additionally, there are social determinants of mental health as there are social determinants of general health that need to be in place to support mental health. These include adequate housing, safe neighborhoods, equitable jobs and wages, quality education, and equity in access to quality health care.

Definition of Gender Analysis

For purposes of this contract, we will use the definition from the World Health Organization, Department of Gender and Women’s Health

Gender Analysis: Identifies, analyses and informs action to address inequalities that arise from the different roles of women and men, or the unequal power relationships between them, and the consequences of these inequalities on their lives, their health and well-being. Gender analysis in health therefore highlights how inequalities disadvantage women’s health, the constraints women face to attain health and ways to address and overcome these constraints.4

1. Ryff CD, Keyes CLM. The structure of psychological well–being revisited. J Pers Soc Psychol 1995;69:719–727.

1. Ryff CD. Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well–being. J Pers Soc Psychol 1989;57:1069–1081.

1. Keyes CLM. Social well–being. Soc Psychol Quart 1998;61:121–140.

1. World Health Organization. Gender Analysis in Health, A Review of Selected Tools, Geneva, Department of Gender and Women’s Health, World Health Organization, 2002.