IHS-25-SS-1503227.pdf

Sources Sought Notice: IHS Produce Prescription Pilot Program

MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY

NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is conducting market research to support the Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP) to coordinate and facilitate IHS Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4) evaluation activities to address food insecurity in Native communities.

This is a Sources Sought notice to determine the availability of small businesses (inclusive of VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE) capable of supplying the required solution and support services.

This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an invitation for Bids, Request for Proposal or Request for Quotation or an indication the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this notice. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

I. Background

Food insecurity has been defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/). American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people experienced double the rate, and at times triple the rate, of food insecurity that white Americans did between 2010-2020.

Examples of nutrition-related health disparities amongst AI/AN adults include rates of obesity of 48.1%, and childhood obesity rates in some tribal communities that surpass 50%. AI/AN adults have almost four times the rate of diabetes than the non-Hispanic white population in the US.

Contributing factors include many Native communities experiencing higher food prices than the average US shopper. Additionally, lack of transportation, due to rurality of reservation communities, worsened issues with higher prices of food. (https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-historical-determinants-of-food-insecurity-in-native-communities). According to the Native Farm Bill Report, Gaining Ground: At least 25% of all American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in the country were relying on SNAP to meet their monthly dietary needs as of 2018, and the pandemic’s impacts on food insecurity have only exacerbated that need.

(https://www.nativefarmbill.com/_files/ugd/8b3589_763e8879ac2842c0baa45c586ddfd83a.pdf).

Over the past 10 years, one strategy to address food insecurity implemented by public health, non-profit and government organizations, has been produce prescription programming. The produce prescription program models are typically designed to provide free or reduced fresh produce to patients who have been identified as food insecure, with a diet-related chronic health condition. There has been emerging evidence to support the effectiveness of produce prescription programs. For example, in a cross- university analysis of produce prescription programs, led by https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/ https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/ https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-historical-determinants-of-food-insecurity-in-native-communities https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-historical-determinants-of-food-insecurity-in-native-communities https://www.nativefarmbill.com/_files/ugd/8b3589_763e8879ac2842c0baa45c586ddfd83a.pdf

Mozaffarian et al., it was estimated that 296,000 cases of cardiovascular disease could be prevented in 40–79-year-old participants, over the current patient’s lifetime https://now.tufts.edu/2023/07/07/produce-prescription-programs-patients-diabetes-could-save-billions-healthcare-costs.

To address this concern in Native communities, the Indian Health Service (IHS) awarded a total of $2.5 million in funding to help decrease food insecurity in Native communities. Of that funding, five tribes and tribal organizations received $500,000 each in 2023 to implement a produce prescription program in their communities. In order to address this initiative at a national, local, and community level, additional support is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these five programs. The IHS is looking for a contractor to assist with the development, management, and facilitation of an evaluation framework for this initiative.

II. Scope of Work / Capabilities Sought:

1. Creating and Management IHS Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4) evaluation framework:

Sources respondent to this notice shall be responsible for demonstrating their capabilities in performing the following activities/deliverables representative of this task:

• Creation and utilization of an adapted IHS P4 Theory of Change method to help frame evaluation as a deliverable at the end of P4 pilot grant cycle.

• Data files, infographics and report of outcome evaluation findings will be delivered at end of each phase.

• Final deliverables will include outcome evaluation documentation tools and report of outcome evaluation findings.

o Phase 1: Process evaluation approach to adapt and tailor Theory of Change to IHS

P4 o For each P4 continuation year, assist with developing the annual progress report, coordinate the review process, and assist with application reviews, as requested.

o Assist with developing and maintaining grantee databases, distribution lists, and spreadsheets; generating requested information and reports; and distributing communications to grantees, as needed.

o Assist with providing technical assistance to grantees, DGM staff, and Project Officers regarding the grant application process.

o Provide data management services for the P4 by coordinating and implementing the collection and analysis of outcome and statistical data.

https://now.tufts.edu/2023/07/07/produce-prescription-programs-patients-diabetes-could-save-billions-healthcare-costs.

https://now.tufts.edu/2023/07/07/produce-prescription-programs-patients-diabetes-could-save-billions-healthcare-costs.

o Assist with determining requirements for data submission, processing, and reporting.

o Collect the data from the P4 grantees and organize the data via a database/data management system.

o Summarize, analyze, and report on P4 outcome measures.

Theory of Change Planning Multiple Learning Circles with Experts Multiple Interviews to Elicit Story Telling with Additional

Experts Presentation of Adapted IHS P4 Theory of Change to individuals involved in steps 1 and 2 o Phase 2: Process Evaluation Process evaluation planning Data collection with P4 projects o Phase 3: Outcome Evaluation

Outcome evaluation planning Qualitative and Quantitative data collection with P4 programs to determine impacts of P4 projects on participants and communities

2. Organization and Facilitation of Meetings with IHS P4 Program Staff

Sources respondent to this notice shall have the ability to provide a strong meeting facilitator with experience in planning and coordinating activities to accomplish project objectives; planning meeting formats; obtaining participant input and maximizing feedback; ensuring participants achieve meeting goals and objectives, while maintaining timelines; recording and summarizing meeting activities and outcomes; and maintaining a database of internal and external partners.

• Assist with conducting P4 evaluation planning meetings, approx. one (1) to two (2) times a month, which address the following:

o Produce Prescription Programming in Native Communities o Food Insecurity Surveillance (individual groups and community level) o P4 implementation of evaluation process o Training o Special Projects

• Assist with conducting virtual and in-person meetings and trainings for P4 grantees.

3. Organizing Nutrition Security Training and Evaluation Activities for P4 Grantees

This involves the provision of a variety of skills that assists DDTP in developing and implementing training webinars to provide AI/AN people, providers, educators, community representatives, P4 grantees, etc. information about nutrition, nutrition security, assessing for food insecurity, evidence-based interventions to address food insecure people or families, and how to efficiently and effectively coordinate a P4 program. Activities include:

• Assisting with developing webinar trainings for P4 grantees

• Coordinating and facilitating training presenters versed in nutrition, nutrition security, and Native community resources. Work with presenters for each training, ensuring educational objectives are appropriately met.

• Market and deliver virtual trainings to grantees and other stakeholders.

III. Capability Statements:

Responses to this sources sought shall unequivocally demonstrate the respondent's capabilities to provide the services above. At a minimum, responses shall include the following:

1. Cover Page: Business name and bio, Unique Entity ID (UEI), business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB IEE, or ISBEE), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number and email address. Provide this same information again if responding to provide a service offered by another firm.

2. Relevant Past Performance information inclusive of date of services, description, dollar value, client name, client address, client contact name, client point of contact mailing address (if different from that provided for client), client point of contact phone number, client point of contact email address, and name of company (to include UEI number and size status) if not the respondent.

3. Descriptive literature, brochures, marketing material, etc. detailing the capabilities of the firm and their relevance to those sought so that the Government may make a determination that the firm is potentially capable if a future solicitation is released.

4. Staffing and Management Capabilities shall detail the respondent's ability to have all necessary staff available to perform the function and support roles requested above and should highlight the firm’s ability to work with Government staff during projects and internal controls available.

III. Response Instructions:

Interested parties shall respond with capability statements; no larger than 20 pages (not inclusive of the cover letter) via e-mail in PDF or Word format before 4:00 PM Eastern Time on December 13th, 2024 to Christopher.McGucken@ihs.gov.

In your response, please use "IHS-25-SS-1503227” followed by your organizations name as the subject line.

Additionally, if your firm is an Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) or Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE)- Please include a completed and signed copy of attached form “IHS IEE Form.pdf” with your response. This form will not be counted towards the total page limit.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: 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).

mailto:Christopher.McGucken@ihs.gov