A23_Solicitation_1-29-2019.pdf

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THIS RFQ IS IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

1. REQUEST NO. 2. DATE ISSUED 3. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NO. 4. CERT. FOR NAT. DEF. RATING

UNDER BDSA REG. 2

AND/OR DMS REG. 1

5A. ISSUED BY 6. DELIVER BY (Date)

5B. FOR INFORMATION CALL: (No collect calls) 7. DELIVERY

NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER FOB DESTINATION (See Schedule)

OTHER

AREA

CODE

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a. NAME OF CONSIGNEE

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d. CITY e. STATE f. ZIP CODE d. STATE e. ZIP CODE

10. PLEASE FURNISH QUOTATIONS TO THE ISSUING OFFICE ON

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This is a request for information, and quotations furnished are not offers. If you are unable to quote, please so indicate on this form and return it. This request does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of this quotation or to contract for supplies or services. Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by quoter. Any representations and/or certifications attached to this Request for Quotations must be completed by the quoter.

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

a. 10 CALENDAR DAYS % b. 20 CALENDAR DAYS % c. 30 CALENDAR DAYS % d. CALENDAR DAYS

NUMBER PERCENTAGE

NOTE: Additional provisions and representations are are not attached.

13. NAME AND ADDRESS OF QUOTER 14. SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN QUOTATION 15. DATE OF QUOTATION

a. NAME OF QUOTER

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AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 18 (REV. 6-95)

Previous edition not usable Prescribed by GSA-FAR (48 CFR) 53.215-1(a)

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

1 57 X

15PNJD19Q00000001 01-29-2019

15PNJD19PR00000004

N/A

Acquisition Management Division DOJ, Office of Justice Programs

810 7th Street, N.W.

Washington DC 20531

AMANDA HAWKINS

DOJ, Office of Justice Programs

810 7th Street, N.W.

Washington

DC 20531

02-28-2019

See CONTINUATION Page

This is a combined synopsis solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

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Table of Contents

A.1 SF 18 REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

A.2 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

STATEMENT OF WORK

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

OJP CONTRACT CLAUSES

A.3 OJP 2852.203-1 DOJ OIG WHISTLEBLOWER INFORMATION DOCUMENT (AUG 2016)

A.4 OJP 2852.204-77 OJP NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS (NOV 2012)

A.5 OJP 2852.204-78 SECURITY OF DEPARTMENT INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS (APR 2015)

A.6 OJP 2852.209-70 CORPORATE REPRESENTATION REGARDING FELONY CONVICTION

UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW OR UNPAID DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY (DEVIATION 2015-

02) (MAR 2015)

A.7 OJP 2852.209-71 CORPORATE REPRESENTATION REGARDING FELONY CONVICTION

UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW OR UNPAID DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY (DEVIATION 2015-

02) (MAR 2015)

A.8 OJP 2852.209-74 CONTRACTOR INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR

STATEMENTS PROHIBITING OR RESTRICTING REPORTING OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND

ABUSE — SOLICITATION (DEVIATION 2015-02) (MAR 2015)

A.9 OJP 2852.209-75 CONTRACTOR INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR

STATEMENTS PROHIBITING OR RESTRICTING REPORTING OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND

ABUSE — AWARD (DEVIATION 2015-02) (MAR 2015)

A.10 OJP 2852.232-72 INVOICES/PAYMENTS (OCT 2016)

A.11 OJP 2852.242-77 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) (FEB 2012)

FAR CONTRACT CLAUSES

A.12 52.216-31 TIME-AND-MATERIALS/LABOR-HOUR PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS—

COMMERCIAL ITEM ACQUISITION (FEB 2007)

A.13 52.227-17 RIGHTS IN DATA—SPECIAL WORKS (DEC 2007)

A.14 52.232-7 PAYMENTS UNDER TIME-AND-MATERIALS AND LABOR-HOUR

CONTRACTS (AUG 2012)

A.2 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

ITEM

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION OF

SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

0001 1.00 YR __________________ __________________

National Baseline Study Research Center

Contract Period: Base POP Begin: 03-15-2019 POP End: 03-14-2020

1001 1.00 YR __________________ __________________

National Baseline Study Research Center

Contract Period: Option 1 POP Begin: 03-15-2020 POP End: 03-14-2021

2001 1.00 YR __________________ __________________

Contract Period: Option 2 POP Begin: 03-15-2021 POP End: 03-14-2022

3001 1.00 YR __________________ __________________

Contract Period: Option 3 POP Begin: 03-15-2022 POP End: 03-14-2023

4001 1.00 YR __________________ __________________

Contract Period: Option 4 POP Begin: 03-15-2023 POP End: 03-14-2024

GRAND TOTAL __________________

STATEMENT OF WORK

Statement of Work

National Baseline Study Research Contractor (NBSRC)

Introduction & Overview The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) , Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has a legal and trust responsibility1 to support tribal justice systems and may better carry out this critical function through the improved data collection, research, analyses, and reporting on crime and justice administration in Indian country.2 However, data on tribal crime and victimization rates are severely limited. In addition, the accuracy, objectivity, and reliability of available data make it difficult to get an accurate picture of the problem. As a result, the incidence, prevalence, and nature of crime and victimization in Indian country and Alaska Native (AN) villages is critically needed:

(1) to improve our understanding of the programmatic, service, and policy needs of American Indian (AI) and AN people and communities, and (2) to educate and inform policymakers and the public about the public safety and health issues affecting AI and AN people. In addition, information is needed on victims’ experiences with and opinions of the services they receive from justice authorities and health providers, as well as their reasons for not seeking those services.

NIJ—the research, development, and evaluation agency of the USDOJ—is dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ provides objective and independent knowledge and tools to reduce crime and promote justice, particularly at the state, local, and tribal levels. NIJ’s principal authorities are derived from sections 201 and 202 of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 USC §§ 10121- 10122), and from Subtitle D of Title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 USC §§ 161-165).

NIJ’s AI and AN crime and justice research program gathers much needed practical, measurable, and descriptive information on methods and efforts employed by tribal communities in providing services, addressing public safety issues, preventing and controlling crime and violence, and strengthening tribal justice systems. NIJ’s tribal crime and justice portfolio aims to: (1) provide an accurate reporting of crime and violence; (2) provide reliable, valid estimates of the scope of the problem; and (3) identify barriers to and possible solutions for dealing with these significant public safety issues. NIJ makes a concerted effort to improve the quality and relevance of research in tribal communities by ensuring that the research is done collaboratively with AI and AN people at the community level either by increased participation or in an advisory capacity.

Background

1 See the Department’s policy on Indian sovereignty and government-to-government relations with Indian tribes at https://www.justice.gov/archives/ag/attorney-general-june-1-1995-memorandum-indian-sovereignty or the Department of Interior’s (DOI) FAQ web page at https://www.bia.gov/frequently-asked-questions.

2 “Indian country” is defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1151 as follows: . . . “(a) all land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and including the rights-of-way through the reservation, (b) all dependent Indian communities within the borders of the United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a state, and (c) all Indian allotments, the titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same” (see https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1151).

https://www.justice.gov/archives/ag/attorney-general-june-1-1995-memorandum-indian-sovereignty https://www.bia.gov/frequently-asked-questions https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1151

The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (Public Law Number 109-162), at Title IX, Section 904(a) (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 10452 note) mandates that NIJ, in consultation with the USDOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), conduct a National Baseline Study (NBS) on violence against AI and AN women living in tribal communities. Because of the broad scope of the work outlined in the legislation and the complexity of the topic, NIJ refers to this directive as a program of research, rather than a single baseline study, because multiple research projects over a period of time are required and being commissioned to address the entire statutory mandate. The purpose of the research program is to:

examine violence against AI and AN women (including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and murder) and identify factors that place AI and AN women at risk for victimization; evaluate the effectiveness of federal, state, tribal, and local responses to violence against AI and AN women; and propose recommendations to improve effectiveness of these responses.

NIJ’s Violence Against Indian Women (VAIW) program activities and studies are led by NIJ, OVW, and the Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women. The Task Force was commissioned under the authority of Section 904(a) (3) of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-162 (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 10452 note) and has been deemed a Federal Advisory Committee (5 U.S.C. App. 2). The Task Force is managed by OVW and is responsible for assisting NIJ in the development, implementation, and reporting of all study activities, findings, and recommendations. For more information on the Task Force, go to https://www.justice.gov/ovw/section-904-task-force.

Ultimately, NIJ’s VAIW program is expected to (1) produce a deeper understanding of the issues faced by Native American women in Indian country and Alaska Native villages, (2) evaluate the response by all levels of government to violence against AI and AN women, and (3) help formulate public policies and prevention strategies to decrease the incidence of violent crimes against AI and AN women. The capstone of NIJ’s VAIW program is the National Baseline Study (NBS), which will be critical to quantifying the magnitude of violence and victimization in tribal communities and understanding service needs for the first time. The data collected in this study will provide reliable and valid estimates of the scope of the problem and aid in identifying possible solutions for addressing the needs of Native American women.

For more information on NIJ’s program of research, go to https://www.nij.gov/topics/tribal-justice/vaw-research/pages/welcome.aspx.

Study Parameters The purpose of this request for quote (RFQ) is to solicit a Contractor to take primary responsibility for implementing and managing the tribal NBS research sites under the direction of NIJ. The NBSRC will implement a study of public health, wellness, and safety among AI and AN women living in Indian country and Alaska Native villages. The National Baseline Study Data Center Contractor (NBSDCC) will manage the NBS data processing center (See attached document A09 NBS Organizational Chart). The study was developed with input from tribal stakeholders to help ensure the NBS would be viable, culturally and community appropriate, and respectful of those involved; and that the information collected would be relevant and useful for AI and AN communities.

The NBSRC will oversee the data collection effort that requires in-person survey administration by field interviewers (FIs)from adult AI and AN women in public, yet secure settings (not in the respondent’s home) using a mode that combines computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) and audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) capabilities in addition to computer-assisted recorded interviewing (CARI) audio files that allow laptops to be programmed to record sections of the interview randomly for quality-control purposes (that is, with permission from the respondent) with support from the NBSDCC.

The NBS survey will collect respondent characteristics and ask questions regarding their experiences with violence and victimization, health and wellness, community crime, service needs, help-seeking behavior, in addition to their opinions https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109hr3402enr/pdf/BILLS-109hr3402enr.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109hr3402enr/pdf/BILLS-109hr3402enr.pdf https://www.justice.gov/ovw https://www.justice.gov/ovw/section-904-task-force https://www.justice.gov/ovw/section-904-task-force https://www.nij.gov/topics/tribal-justice/vaw-research/pages/welcome.aspx https://www.nij.gov/topics/tribal-justice/vaw-research/pages/welcome.aspx about safety issues in their community, the kinds of support available to them, and their opinions about law enforcement and service providers.

The NBS CAPI-ACASI instrument will be fielded in English but interpreters will be available to assist respondents, if requested. The instrument was designed to maximize respondent cooperation and confidentiality, be easily understood, and not exceed an average respondent burden of 60 minutes (from informed consent to survey conclusion), not including time building rapport with respondents and the post-survey debriefing. The NBSRC will offer respondents compensation for their NBS time and effort.

The NBS will be conducted in geographically dispersed tribal communities across the U.S. (lower 48 and Alaska) using a NIJ-developed sampling strategy for which the primary aim is to provide an accurate national victimization rate of violence against AI and AN women. The multistage sampling plan provides a practical and accurate approach that will involve enlisting at least 40 tribes and randomly selecting 25 households for each participating tribe in which all adult AI and AN women (i.e., 18 years and older) living in the household will be approached to participate in the study. The Offeror shall anticipate at least five outreach contacts per household during the recruitment phase. This approach is expected to result in more than 1,500 completed interviews with an accuracy of ±5%.

The NBSRC shall recruit and train local FIs to collect data for an approximate four-week period at each study site. In cases where a tribe has requested nonlocal FIs, the NBSRC will deploy NBS national FIs to collect data at the site.

Ongoing monitoring of the quality of the study team members’ work will be determined collaboratively by NBSRC and NBSDCC and approved by NIJ. Where appropriate and needed, interpreters shall be hired by the NBSRC to help interviewers with the administration of the survey.

The NBSRC shall manage the day-to-day operations of the NBS network. As such, the NBSRC will: (1) assess the feasibility of including particular sites in the program; (2) assess the need to replace a particular site due to lack of local interest; (3) hire field staff and train field staff; (4) monitor sites with respect to adherence to specified procedures and human subject guidelines, collection deadlines, data integrity, expenditures, and staff performance with support from the NBSDCC; (5) assess the need to replace non-performing local site staff; (6) promote efficient and effective site operations through innovations in management techniques and the use of available technology; and (7) communicate problems and provide feedback to the Government and NBSDCC on a regular basis.

The NBSRC has primary responsibility for implementing and managing more than 40 tribal research sites that comprise the NBS sample. The NBSRC oversees the NBS research network and is responsible for six key elements of the NBS to include:

Assisting with the selection of NBS tribal research sites and determining tribal support and willingness to participate in the NBS and identifying additional or replacement sites, if needed.

Assisting with the refinement of the NBS questionnaire and drafting and maintaining of all NBS documents (e.g., study manual, training materials, study protocols, individual sampling plans, marketing/outreach plan, USDOJ Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection paperwork).

Subcontracting with local data collection services (if appropriate and approved), recruiting data collection teams (e.g., site coordinators, field interviewers, interpreters), and coordinating local data collection support activities (e.g., transportation, child care, behavioral health services).

Developing and maintaining a NBS site data collection schedule and monitoring NBS site data collections efforts with respect to adherence to specified NBS procedures and human subject guidelines, collection deadlines, data integrity, and staff performance including supervising transmission of data to the NBS Data Center.

Promoting efficient and effective site operation through innovations in management techniques and the use of available technology, and communicating problems and providing feedback to the Government on a regular basis.

Assisting with data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of NBS findings.

The Contractor shall provide staff that is qualified to perform the work described in this statement of work (SOW). In addition, the Contractor will be expected to present a skilled team of in-house staff and consultants experienced in data collection, data analysis, and reporting for national, multi-site survey programs (See attached NBS Organizational Chart).

Staff must have the capability to develop and manage a major, continuing data collection effort; design, edit and write research reports and peer reviewed manuscripts; and develop and deliver high quality training and technical assistance to study sites throughout the country. The Contractor also must have in-house or subcontract capability to implement publications or other appropriate media to promote, recruit, and inform tribes, communities, and participants about the study (e.g., brochures, fliers, posters, recruitment cards).

Study Major Tasks For each task described, the Offeror shall provide descriptions of specific strategies and approaches that are part of the Contractor’s work to complete the task; describe and demonstrate capabilities and expertise enabling them to complete the task successfully; and provide detailed cost estimates for performing the work, using the parameters described below. The technical quote shall include a detailed description of research site recruitment, respondent recruitment, interviewer and interpreter recruitment, the study’s training structure and content, and the management of a multi-site tribal data collection network.

Task 1—Study Protocol Development, Review, and Adjustment In partnership with NIJ and the NBSDCC, the NBSRC will help to develop and maintain all study documents [e.g., NBS data collection instrument (DCI), NBS study manual, training materials]. The Contractor may provide input from qualified Contractor personnel or experts via subcontractors/consultants regarding the study methods and protocols, as NIJ deems necessary.

In collaboration with the NBSDCC, the NBSRC will develop a training course and materials for NBS study staff that ensure data collection quality. In addition to mandatory Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative3 (CITI Program) online training, a 40-hour in-person NBS field staff training will be conducted for each site (or region) with the NBSRC taking the lead and the NBSDCC providing approximately 16 hours of training that includes certification of field staff on study laptops. The NBSRC will take the lead on certification of field staff on research ethics, study protocols, question by question review (QxQ), interviewing techniques/conventions, participant/interviewer safety, vicarious trauma, household and respondent recruitment strategies, and informed consent and confidentiality. The NBSDCC will assist the NBSRC with developing a training schedule and materials as it specifically pertains to the use and maintenance of study laptops and survey mode and administration. The NBSDCC will provide the NBSRC with these training materials and provide in-person training to field staff on those specific components. Training will be based on a NIJ pre-approved curriculum and in some cases may be specifically tailored for a site to address identified unique circumstances.

The NBSRC shall provide each NBS field staff member a NBS study manual updated as necessary with support from the NBSDCC. These manuals shall be provided to all national and field staff and be replaced and updated as needed. These manuals shall constitute a binding method of data collection such that deviations from the procedures described therein shall be grounds for suspension or reassignment of data collection to another group, individual, or organization.

Under this task, activities shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Developing, maintaining, and updating a NBS study manual with assistance from the NBSDCC for NIJ review and approval. The manual shall describe the study protocol and all relevant data collection information. It will be a stand-alone reference document that fully describes the methods, including any deviations based on site-specific

3 The CITI Program is a collaborative web-based training forum on human subject research protections. The content for NBS staff should be directly relevant to social and behavioral science research including research ethics and indigenous communities.

protocol or requirements. The final, complete version of this manual shall be submitted at the end of the contract period, and include a section on observations and lessons learned from conducting this study for each Contractor that will be useful for future studies. In the event that the Government opts to pursue another cycle of data collection similar to this study in the future, recommendations for implementing any future updates shall be included as well.

b) Assisting with the creation, maintenance, and updating (as needed) of NBS training materials that includes an overview of the NBS interview, QxQs, CAPI and ACASI demos and standards, data security, materials, supplies, and record keeping, and procedures for transmission of data to the NBS data processing center. NBS training materials are part of the NBS study manual.

c) Assisting with the development, maintenance, and updating (as needed) of a comprehensive NBS dissemination strategy. This should include a plan that will assist in delivering NBS findings in an effective and efficient manner that is meaningful and relevant for a variety of tribal and federal stakeholders. Key elements of the strategy should include, but not be limited to:

Facilitating collaboration among AI and AN tribal nations, community groups, and other relevant agencies and organizations to build tribal support and lay the groundwork (or create the capacity) for NBS data collection implementation.

Establishing a strong working relationship with local tribal site authorities, either directly or by engaging the assistance of tribal representatives or stakeholders.

Gathering input and feedback on study activities and how best to disseminate study findings for multiple public safety and health sectors representatives.

Task 2— Site Outreach, Selection, and Recruitment The NBSRC will assist NIJ in determining tribal support and willingness to participate in the NBS and identifying additional or replacement sites, if needed. The required mode of entry to tribal communities shall be based on a NIJ-designed NBS sampling plan and subsequent tribal participation agreements. The Contractor will work from a sampling design plan provided by NIJ. A key element of the sampling plan will be the recruitment of the selected sites for participation.

Official NBS correspondence between the Contractor and the sites shall be reviewed and approved by the contracting officer’s representative (COR) and NIJ NBS Project Director prior to being sent. Additionally, the Contractor shall maintain files of all correspondence with sites. These files will be made available to the COR upon request.

When possible, a NIJ representative will accompany the NBSRC on recruitment site visits to enlist tribal participation, and for project monitoring and problem-solving purposes, as necessary, throughout the study period. The Contractor shall expect a constant field presence of USDOJ representatives especially given the government-to-government relationship between federally recognized Indian tribal governments and the Federal government. That said, it is important that each of the local sites form a close working relationship with the NBSRC, and NIJ will take steps to foster such a relationship.

However, NIJ reserves the right to contact each of the tribal sites directly.

Following preliminary contact with selected sites, it may be necessary to reassess and consider the need to replace particular sites due to lack of local interest. NIJ fully anticipates the recruitment process to be a careful balancing act, recognizing that tribal nations may be reluctant to participate in the study. Therefore a second, third, or fourth cycle of enlistment may be required. The NBSDCC will provide assistance with sampling work as appropriate, and as needed.

The most critical partners of the NBS are the tribal nations themselves, each of which is unique and will require negotiations to acquire onsite right of entry, data collection implementation, and information sharing activities. NIJ and Contractor staff will work hand-in-hand with tribal communities to develop and implement participatory agreements and ensure all tribal requirements are satisfied. The NBSRC will document site-specific considerations regarding logistics and preferences for and concerns related to study methods that may involve tribal consent regarding FI preferences (e.g., local or non-local FIs to ensure confidentiality or anonymity to respondents), data sharing and access (e.g., lists to be used to select tribal households such as a tribal enrollment log, census list, address/housing list, voting log), how best to enroll households to participate, and how to recruit local FIs, interpreters, and respondents.

In addition, the Contractor will create a community profile for each participating tribe that includes information on each tribe’s history, culture, customs, language, and government and economic structures, and be responsible for keeping a journal of community activities/events throughout the data collection period. The NBSRC will develop and maintain a tribal community calendar listing tribal-specific social and political activities, ceremonies/observances (e.g., Feast Days, pow-wows, festivals, dances, ceremonies), and seasonal characteristics (e.g., fishing/hunting/ harvesting seasons, weather considerations) to determine the best possible dates for data collection activities to occur for each participating tribe.

Using these site profiles and calendars, the contractor will construct a customized data collection calendar/schedule.

Ultimately, at least one site, and more often multiple sites, will be collecting data in any given month during the data collection phase.

In addition, the NBSRC will solicit, document, and report on all tribal-site input as it pertains to the NBS implementation plans, protocols, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, and research report(s). Understanding of the local Native American language and customs are critical to the successful completion of this task and could be facilitated by hiring a local onsite research coordinator (a tribal designee) who knows the local customs and protocols and who can assist with local coordination and buy-in.

NOTE: NIJ encourages the Contractor to work with the Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women members, tribal coalitions, tribal epi-centers, and other tribal stakeholders in a consulting or other appropriate capacity to facilitate the conduct of this study. This process may be facilitated by engaging tribal consultants and stakeholders or researchers as consultants to the Contractor. However, the Contractor is not required to arrange subcontracts with local organizations to implement this study unless the Contractor deems it necessary.

The Contractor shall work closely with NIJ to identify approximately 40 tribal study sites from a pool of federally recognized tribal nations with recognized tribal land. This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Drafting individual site profiles (community profiles) on randomly selected NBS Indian tribes to include:

historical background, tribal cultural guide, tribal government structure, tribal council membership, basic infrastructure, and so on.

b) Contacting tribal authorities in local sites and conducting site visits to assess the feasibility of including particular sites in the study’s sampling plan. The Contractor’s responsibilities in providing assistance to NIJ for determining site feasibility include, but are not limited to:

Assessing the level of cooperation offered by local officials (e.g., tribal council, tribal administrators, and other organizations/individuals that might be called on to participate in data collection efforts at the sites).

Gaining access to and analyzing tribal census lists, enrollment logs, housing lists, or other records and characteristics and their impact on proposed sampling plans, protocols, and data collection methods;

Identifying and securing adequate facilities for interviewing (e.g., public buildings, but private rooms to ensure confidentiality in which data can be collected such as a community center, tribal office, local library, health clinic); and

Identifying steps to improve readiness of sites selected for data collection.

c) Arranging access to the community by securing participatory agreements or other required/needed legal documents (e.g., tribal resolutions or executive orders, memorandum of understanding/agreement, data sharing agreements, information transfer agreements) to secure and collect data at each site.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/section-904-task-force

d) Developing site-specific protocols and calendars in partnership and coordination with participating tribal nations.

e) Drafting site visit reports describing the reason for the visit, the findings, and any recommendations.

Task 3—Institutional Review Board (IRB) Quote Preparation and Submission USDOJ regulations (28 CFR Part 22) require recipients of NIJ funding to submit a Privacy Certificate as a condition of approval of any grant application or contract quote that contains a “research or statistical component under which information identifiable to a private person” will be collected, analyzed, used, or disclosed. The funding recipient’s Privacy Certificate must include a description of its policies and procedures to be followed to protect the confidentiality of identifiable data (28 CFR Section 22.23). The Department’s regulations provide, among other matters, that: “Research or statistical information identifiable to a private person may be used only for research or statistical purposes” (28 CFR section 22.21). Moreover, any private person from whom information identifiable to a private person is collected or obtained (either orally or by means of written questionnaire or other document) must be advised that the information will be used or disclosed only for research or statistical purposes, and that compliance with the request for information is voluntary and may be terminated at any time (28 CFR section 22.27). The Privacy Certificate and related informed consent documents must be received and approved by NIJ’s Human Subjects Protection Officer (HSPO) before any research activities or data collection occurs.

In addition, the Department of Justice has regulations with respect to the protection of human research subjects (see 28 CFR Part 46). In brief, 28 CFR Part 46 requires that research involving human subjects conducted or supported by federal funds be reviewed and approved by an institutional review board (IRB) with a federalwide assurance, and in accordance with the regulations, before any federal funds are expended for that research. As a rule, persons who participate in federally funded research must provide their “informed consent” and must be permitted to terminate their participation at any time. Funding recipients, before they will be allowed to spend NIJ funds on any research activity involving human subjects, must submit appropriate documentation to NIJ showing compliance with 28 CFR Part 46 requirements. Funds may not be spent on any research activities involving human subjects, nor may any interaction with or data collection about human subjects occurs without the approval of the NIJ HSPO.

General information regarding Data Confidentiality and Protection of Human Research Subjects can be found on the following NIJ web links:

https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/welcome.aspx;

https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/human-subjects.aspx;

https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/confidentiality.aspx;

https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/privacy-certificate-guidance.aspx; and https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/employee-confidentiality.aspx.

The Contractor shall work closely with NIJ to develop and revise, as necessary, the study protocol to be included in all required USDOJ Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection paperwork. This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Drafting and submitting IRB packets.

b) Submission of all processed and approved IRB packets and Privacy Certificates to NIJ’s HSPO for review and ratification. The Contractor also shall be responsible for submitting and receiving annual IRB renewals, as needed.

The NBSRC is responsible for obtaining written approval (e.g., tribal resolution, executive order, participatory agreement) from any additional IRB or review boards (outside of their own IRB) that may be required by participating tribal sites. These documents will be provided to the COR and NIJ NBS Project Director. Copies of these documents shall be provided to the NBSDCC.

https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/privacy-certificate-guidance.aspx https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/documents/NIJ_pccr_fillable.pdf https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/welcome.aspx https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/human-subjects.aspx https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/confidentiality.aspx https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/privacy-certificate-guidance.aspx https://nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/employee-confidentiality.aspx

TASK 4—Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Because OMB approval must be obtained prior to collecting information for any study in which 10 or more respondents are involved and the questions are standardized in nature, the NBSDCC shall (working closely with NIJ and the NBSDCC) assist with the drafting of the OMB clearance packet and application materials (and any revisions thereof), and participate at briefings needed to secure permission to conduct the NBS.

The Government will be responsible for drafting and preparing all Federal Register Notices (to include 30- and 60-day notices), and all required OMB documents needed to receive government approval for this survey and statistical information collection (e.g., Form 83i, supporting statement, justification memorandum, and copies of all related survey documents). The NBSRC and NBSDCC will assist, as needed and appropriate, in preparing the NBS’s OMB Information Collection Request and assist with any subsequent information or data requests posed by NIJ or OMB.

This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Drafting and submitting all OMB clearance packet/application materials, as needed.

NOTE: This task also will include revisions to the survey instrument and study protocol, subject to conditions governing the OMB clearance process and IRB approval.

Task 5— Prepare for Data Collection The Contractor shall work closely with NIJ to prepare for the NBS field implementation. The NBSRC will be responsible for hiring and training FIs and local Native American interpreters (bilingual/bicultural) who will be available, as needed, keeping in mind mandatory reporting requirements that may conflict with USDOJ research regulations.4 In addition, the Contractor may need to secure other service support to include transportation and/or childcare for respondents and behavioral health specialists who may be called upon to assist distressed respondents and field staff.

This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Subcontracting with local data collection services (if appropriate and approved).

b) Recruiting data collection teams (e.g., site coordinators, field interviewers, interpreters).

c) Coordinating local data collection support activities (e.g., transportation, child care, behavioral health services).

d) Drafting and implementing approved site sampling plans for each site.

e) Developing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for tribes, participating communities, and respondents regarding information on confidentiality; how the data will and will not be used; voluntary nature of the study; definitions of terms; and general sample information.

f) Developing local and national resources/referral materials and lists dealing with public health and safety issues for participating communities and respondents.

g) Developing outreach materials for respondent recruitment [e.g., tribal newsletter article(s), fliers, public service announcements].

h) Developing and maintaining a NBS site data collection schedule.

i) Obtaining any necessary administrative or other site-specific data necessary for field implementation.

j) Testing and evaluating the NBS CAPI-ACASI instrument (installed on study laptops) prior to study implementation.

4 U.S. Department of Justice Confidentiality Statute (34 USC §10231) states “[N]o officer or employee of the Federal Government, and no recipient of assistance…shall use or reveal any research or statistical information furnished…by any person and identifiable to any specific private person for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was obtained… Such information …shall be immune from legal process, and shall not, without the consent of the person furnishing such information, be admitted as evidence, or used for any purpose in any…judicial, legislative, or administrative proceedings.” Confidentiality can only be broken with the subject’s assent/consent. Identifiable data collected can only be used for research purposes and no other purpose without the subject’s assent/consent. The regulations do not apply to information gained regarding future criminal conduct.

NOTE: The NBSRC will contact the NBSDCC at least four weeks before the initiation of each data collection effort. At that time, the NBSDCC will provide feedback to the NBSRC, inform the NBSRC of any procedural changes in data collection protocol processing, and obtain and record information on any significant changes at the site. In turn, the NBSRC will provide the NBSDCC with field staff names and contact information.

Upon completion of Tasks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the Contractor shall be ready to perform Task 6.

Task 6— Implement Data Collection in Sites Based on the NIJ-approved methods and protocols as developed under Tasks 1-5, the NBS data collection activities shall commence at NBS sites. The NBSRC and NBSDCC are expected to create and maintain a strong system of management over a large number of tribal research sites across the U.S. through a centralized system of oversight that includes establishing, monitoring, and enforcing minimum standards of performance by all research sites and staff to include the development and implementation of standardized study procedures and protocols. The NBSRC is responsible for ensuring survey data are transmitted electronically to the NBS data processing center in a timely manner.

The NBSRC will include in the NBS study manual recruitment and selection criteria for eligible respondents according to a specified protocol approved by NIJ. The NBSRC will ensure field staff completes necessary interview forms by recording required background information and securing informed consent from respondents along with any other necessary administrative data required pre- and post-interview.

The NBSRC (with support from the NBSDCC) will oversee data collection at sites to ensure they perform the following:

(1) select respondents according to a specified protocol; (2) initiate interview forms by recording required background information; (3) secure informed consent from respondents; (4) collect study data as specified; and (5) complete and upload survey data to the NBS Data Center according to the deadlines specified.

The NBSDCC will provide NBS field staff with all necessary materials before data collection begins [e.g., study laptops (hardware/software), training materials, usernames/passwords).

Additional training should occur when necessary. On-site monitoring and problem-solving trips, conducted by the Project Director, Project Manager, and/or Field Operations Manager(s), should occur during data collection initiation. The Contractor should be on-site a minimum of two (2) days per site for monitoring recruitment activities and interviews.

Monitoring and problem-solving visits should occur as necessary for the successful operation of a site.

As it pertains to the NBSRC, this task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Providing new and in-service training to data collection teams (site coordinators, interviewers, interpreters, and support staff).

b) Ensuring all research staff has completed research ethics education (i.e., CITI training), successfully completed the 40-hour mandatory NBS training, and been certified to operate the study laptops.

c) Implementing and monitoring site sampling and study protocols at participating NBS sites.

d) Maintaining sampling data collected and forwarding data, as needed, to the NBSDCC.

e) Ensuring survey data are transmitted electronically to the NBSDCC in a timely manner.

Task 7— Manage Multi-Site Data Collection and Data Linkage and Processing The NBSRC shall maintain close contact with the COR, NIJ NBS Project Director, and the NBSDCC regarding day-to-day issues. Under NIJ’s direction, the NBSDCC will operate as a liaison with NBSRC staff, maintaining close communication on all aspects of the data collection effort.

The NBSRC shall maintain a telephone log detailing the date of any communication with NBSDCC staff, the person spoken to, the reason for the call, the outcome of the call, and relevant comments. Copies of this log or summaries of it shall be provided to the COR upon request.

The NBSRC shall compile information on patterns of problems observed and/or issues of concerns raised by the sites or field staff. This comprehensive report will be submitted to the COR on a monthly basis as part of the monthly progress report (see Task 9).

The NBSRC shall submit monthly a complete list of data collection efforts and any problems encountered via the monthly progress report (see Task 9).

The NBSRC shall ensure that each NBS site collects accurate respondent data and sends to the NBSDCC within one month of the end of data collection for that site. The NBSDCC will provide electronic receipt of field staff data submissions to the NIJ NBS Project Director and NBSRC staff. For cases in which respondent data are not available, the NBSRC and NBSDCC shall develop and implement a method for the timely gathering of necessary data.

For each site, the NBSDCC will provide the COR, NIJ NBS Project Director, and NBSRC staff a detailed Feedback Report on FIs’ performance and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement, if necessary. Working together, the NBSRC and the NBSDCC shall take adequate steps for ensuring quality data collection, possibly including developing FI performance standards that may include, but are not limited to:

Analysis of error rates and patterns;

Analysis of timeliness of data collection and submission for processing;

Analysis of data as submitted by field staff.

FI performance criteria will be established in consultation with NIJ and approved by the COR.

This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Supervising site study team(s) and monitoring adherence to specified study procedures and human subject requirements.

b) Supervising and managing collection of study data and transmission to the NBS Data Center.

c) Maintaining site data collection journals for each research site and debriefing with field staff at the end of each data collection effort.

NOTE: The Government shall have unlimited rights in the data delivered under this contract, and in all data first produced in the performance of this contract, pursuant to FAR 52.227-17, Rights in Data – Special Works (DEC 2007).

The NBSRC may not use any data obtained through this contract for any presentations or publications and may not disseminate these data until NIJ has released the data to the public and the CO has authorized such use or dissemination.

In addition, the NBSRC shall follow all NIJ policies, including a signed transfer agreement, regarding the transfer or sharing of NBS data with any outside agencies, organizations, or individuals after receiving NIJ approval.

Task 8—Analysis, Reporting, and Dissemination The NBSRC shall participate in the analysis and preparation of research findings along with NIJ and the NBSDCC as requested by the COR and NIJ NBS Project Director. The Contractor shall develop text for the NBS Project Director’s review and approval and edit text provided by the COR for NBS publications. The Contractor shall edit all text for accuracy, style, and grammar. Editing notes shall be returned to the COR. The NBS research report will be published by NIJ. The Contractor shall assist with the preparation of the NBS research report including any subsequent presentations or special topic monographs.

NIJ’s Office of Communication staff will manage the layout of text, graphs, and tables for NBS publications; however, the Contractor may propose layouts for NIJ approval. The Contractor shall prepare charts, graphs, and tables for publication based on specifications provided by the COR and NIJ NBS Project Director. The Contractor shall ensure that data described in the text is consistent with data presented in corresponding tables, graphs, and have been represented accurately.

In addition to analyses for publications, special analyses are periodically requested for reports and briefings for senior USDOJ officials or in response to special requests by the General Accountability Office, other Federal agencies, as well as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. For purposes of this quote, Offerors can assume a minimum of three requests per year.

The Offeror may propose research topics or studies and analyses for the COR’s and NIJ NBS Project Director’s review and approval; that is, topics for special monographs such as evaluating NBS local capacity building or conducting methods or measurement studies all of which would be designed to establish or improve the quality and integrity of the data. If approved, the Contractor shall conduct studies/analyses and draft documents with the results for possible publication.

The Government reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any work, publication, or report prepared through this contract for federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so. Unless expressly waived in the subsequent writing by the Government, the Department also has the right to obtain, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the data first produced from federal funds, and to authorize others to receive, publish, or otherwise use such data for federal purposes.

This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Conducting data analyses.

b) Preparing study findings for presentations, reports, and special topic monographs.

c) Proposing research topics and analyses for approval.

The NBSRC must be able to identify and enter into an agreement with a pool of consultants to provide a number of diverse tasks that include, but are not limited to, short-term assignments in the following areas:

Analytic review of the NBS methods/data and NBS-related publications;

Technical and statistical review of NBS and NBS-related publications; and Review of methods issues related to the NBS and NBS-related projects.

Task 9—Other Tasks This task shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Participating in a “Kickoff Meeting” within fifteen (15) business days of award date. This face-to-face meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. to meet with the CO, the COR, and key NIJ staff (e.g., NIJ NBS Project Director and science staff) to discuss the details of the project. This meeting shall provide an opportunity for NIJ staff to explain the history, goals, and design of the study. At this meeting, the NBSDCC shall present a draft work plan and a schedule of deliverables for discussion.

b) A revised work plan incorporating feedback from the meeting shall be submitted within two weeks of the initial meeting. The revised plan shall include a detailed timetable for each task, subtask, and deliverable (including progress reports);…