283-12-1000 Remainder Questions and Answers.doc

Remaining Questions and Answers for the SAMHSA IDIQ 283-12-1000

1. How large should the capacity of the data warehouse be in order to store/collect the required data

The term “data warehouse” is not in the RFP. Its unlikely that we would need the capacity of a data warehouse to be larger than approximately 100-250 gigabytes initially and growing up to 3-4 terabytes over time.

2. Question re: Reporting/Analytics Tools—Are there any other reporting/business intelligence tools to be used in the analysis of the data (other than the stated SUDAAN, Westvar and STATA) Offerors are encouraged to propose using any appropriate analytic tool in the analysis of complex quantitative data given that the software is provided by the contractor.

3. Question re: Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL)—Is there a need for an ETL tool to extract the data and load it into the data warehouse? If so, what is being considered? The term “ETL” is not in the RFP. An ETL tool may be needed if a data warehouse were developed under this IDIQ. However, we would only anticipate the need for periodic (once or twice a year) extractions.

4. The change management requirement outlines several activities related to change management. Is this change management at the company or the field level? Related, can you speak to the inclusion of a kick-off meeting as a change management activity? Change Management is often needed at the company, project, and field levels. The offeror should determine whether the kick-off meeting is part of their change management approach.

5. Page 68 of the RFP—in which the Oral Proposal is discussed—notes in bold type that “No method for viewing visual aids will be provided by the Government. Offerors are encouraged to supply and use any visual equipment that will aid them in their presentation.” Is SAMHSA requiring that Offerors bring their own laptops, for example, or does this stipulation require that each and every bidder should bring their own laptop, LCD projector, screen, extension cords, etc.? Please clarify. Each Offeror providing a presentation is to bring their own laptop, projector, screen, cords, etc that they determine necessary to provide the presentation. The offerors are provided 5 minutes to "set-up" the room for their presentation. They can have staff come in to assist in the set up but they will need to leave for the presentation. The Offerors are permitted to have an AV person attend the presentation to work the equipment for the meeting.

6. Regarding Domain I, the first paragraph refers to feasibility studies. Please elaborate on the specific types of data I.e. Structured patient data, imaging data, genomic data, data collected from bio specimen samples, etc. that will be included as part of the targeted feasibility studies. Data from administrative records, data collected via a response to a questionnaire, focus groups, or other secondary data may be included in a feasibility study. It is unlikely that imaging data, genomic data, or data collected from bio specimen samples would be part of the targeted feasibility studies.

7. Regarding Domain I, the second paragraph refers to evaluations. Will SAMHSA provide any existing data sets or will all data used for evaluations need to be collected as part of the study? In some instances, SAMHSA may provide existing data sets for use in evaluations. In other cases, all data may need to be collected as part of the study. ALL proposed evaluations are expected to make the most efficient use of resources available, and leverage existing data to the degree that the existing data can address the evaluation questions.

8. The Title for Domain III references "Informatics" in one place, but not in others. Does SAMHSA intend to include informatics or health information technology within this domain? The word informatics was originally in Domain III but was later taken out as not relevant, but was erroneously left in on page 1 of the domain descriptions or and erroneously left in the title for the Domain III Evaluative Criteria. But in the specific description of Domain III, it does not include “informatics” and it is not mentioned in the body of the description of Domain III. Informatics is not to be part of Domain III.

9. Will the due date for proposals be extended for 10 days or a short period? No, the due date for proposals is still January 12, 2012, time doesn’t permit us to provide an extension.