LSJ - Pandemic-Driven Changes in Alcohol Consumption.pdf

Limited Source Justification

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity.

Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

b. Sponsoring organization.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

c. Project Officer information.

Project Officer name. Gregory Bloss

Mailing address. 6700B Rockledge Drive, RM 1444, MSC 6902, Bethesda, MD 20817

E-mail address. Gregory.Bloss@nih.gov

Telephone number. 301-443-3865

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is one of the 27 institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being. It is the largest funder of alcohol research in the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to wide-ranging changes in behavior and in commercial availability of alcoholic beverages. There is a critical need to understand how these changes have affected alcohol consumption and related behaviors, both overall and in specific segments of the population.

The purpose of this acquisition is to (1) re-survey an internet panel of approximately 993 persons that was previously surveyed by RTI International over May 8-15, 2020 to assess how alcohol consumption levels and patterns have changed over the course of the pandemic period, and (2) to analyze the data from both surveys to identify trends, characteristics of persons or populations at risk, and the determinants and consequences of drinking behaviors in the pandemic context. The findings will help to inform areas where additional prevention, treatment, and research resources are most needed.

b. Project background.

The NIAAA Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research (DEPR) promotes and supports applied, translational, and methodological research on the epidemiology and prevention of hazardous alcohol consumption and related behaviors, alcohol use disorder, alcohol-related mortality and morbidity, and other alcohol-related problems and consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic has created profound changes in a range of factors that are understood to affect drinking behaviors, including incomes and employment, stress, opportunities for socializing, and alcohol availability. Simultaneous upheavals in these and other factors may create profound changes in drinking patterns and, in turn, the need for prevention and treatment services. The NIAAA has a clear interest in monitoring and understanding these changes and their effects on public health.

Media reports in early April, 2020 indicated that sales of alcoholic beverages had increased enormously relative to the previous year.

However, those reports generally focused only on sales at off-premises outlets (e.g., grocery stores, liquor stores, and convenience stores) and did not account for sharp declines in sales through bars, restaurants, and other on-premises drinking establishments. The net effect on aggregate drinking behavior was unclear, as were the effects on the drinking patterns and behaviors of individuals.

In July 2020, Dr. Carolina Barbosa and colleagues at RTI International presented data from a survey they conducted in May 2020 of changes in drinking behaviors between February (before widespread recognition of the pandemic) and April, 2020 (when the pandemic was in full swing and a wide range of stay-at-home orders and restrictions on gatherings and commercial activity were in place in many states). The key findings from the analyses of the survey data were that alcohol consumption, including excessive consumption, had increased during the pandemic period, both overall and among specific groups, including females, Blacks, and adults with children in the home. The largest increases in alcohol consumption were among people who increased their usual quantity consumed and those who were not drinking in excess of recommended guidelines in February.

Findings from a single survey can be misleading, however, and generally cannot support strong conclusions pertaining to cause-and-effect relationships. In addition, some important related behaviors were not addressed in the initial survey. A follow-up survey of the same individuals will provide a clearer picture of and additional insights into the changes in alcohol consumption and related behaviors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and permit more powerful analyses to understand the factors driving such changes.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title. Assessing Pandemic-Driven Changes in Alcohol Consumption Survey

b. Project description.

The Contractor shall re-survey the panel of respondents that was surveyed by RTI over May-8-13, 2020 (first wave N=993) to provide longitudinal data on alcohol consumption and related behaviors during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new survey will include the same questions as the previous survey to facilitate longitudinal comparisons.

The new survey also may include a limited number of additional questions that will support subgroup analyses and analyses of the causal determinants of changes in drinking and related behaviors. The Contractor shall analyze the responses to the new survey, both separately and in conjunction with the data from the previous survey. In conducting these analyses, the Contractor shall use analytic and statistical methods appropriate to assess changes in drinking behavior in the aggregate and among subgroups of interest, including subgroups addressed in the analyses presented in the webinar delivered by RTI on July 14, 2020 and additional subgroups as may be warranted by initial exploration of the data.

1. Repeat the May 8-13 survey with the same respondents and including the same questions, adapted to the timing of the new survey. Include a limited number of additional questions to capitalize on the longitudinal nature of the data and to assess changes in closely-related behaviors that were not fully addressed in the original survey.

2. Analyze responses to the new survey and the original survey responses to assess changes in aggregate alcohol consumption levels and patterns through the COVID pandemic period.

3. Analyze responses to the new survey and the original survey responses to assess changes in alcohol consumption levels and patterns among relevant subgroups, including (but not necessarily limited to) groups defined by gender; race and/or ethnicity; age;

employment status; presence of children in the home; mental health screening; and previous alcohol problems.

4. Analyze responses to the new survey and the original survey responses to identify factors associated with changes in risky drinking behaviors and, as feasible, the causal role such factors may play in determining such changes.

5. Prepare and deliver a written report on the methods and findings of a length and level of rigor and detail suitable for publication in a leading public health journal and including appendices providing the underlying survey data, analytic and statistical programs for analyses, and the detailed results of analyses.

6. Prepare and deliver a slide presentation of the methods and results of this project suitable for audiences of public health professionals, academics, researchers, and educated lay audiences.

Requirement type.

Research & development (R&D) R & D support services Supplies/equipment

X Support Services (non-R&D) Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build Other (specify): ____________________

Type of action.

X New requirement Follow-on Other (specify): ______________________

Proposed contract/order type.

X Firm-fixed-price Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee): __________ Cost-plus-fixed-fee Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee): ___________ Time and materials Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements): ___________ Other (specify): ___________ Completion Form Term form

Acquisition identification number. RFQ-NIH-NIAAA-2020-21

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period.

Total estimated dollar value is $194,513, with a performance period of approximately eight (8) months from date of award.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

a. Acquisition authority.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program. Consideration of schedule contractors will be restricted to fewer than the number required by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(a)(1) (i.e., fewer than three FSS contractors).

X This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program. Consideration of schedule contractors will be restricted only to the item peculiar to one manufacturer as provided in FAR 8.405-6(a)(2).

b. Demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

RTI International 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Point Of Contact:

Geiselle Thompson, Senior Contracting Officer Office of Contracts, RTI International 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd.

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

(919) 541-6044 gthompson@rti.org

Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s).

The required Contractor services include re-surveying a panel of respondents that was surveyed in May 2020, using the same questions and repeating analyses of the resulting survey response data. Because of the unique nature of the survey and the urgent public health need for understanding of factors that lead to increases in high-risk alcohol consumption, the requirements also include expanding the survey to include questions that will identify demographic, social, economic, and behavioral factors that are closely associated with the primary survey responses to identify public health needs and strategies.

Successful completion of the requirements of this project depends on knowledge of the detailed specifics of the prior survey and access to the identical panel of survey respondents (subject to normal attrition). The Contractor will also need specific knowledge of the analytic tools and methods that were applied to the results of the first survey to generate valid comparisons with the previous findings.

RTI International planned and conducted the first survey, analyzed the results, and presented the findings. RTI International has proprietary information detailing the specific questions and framing of the previous survey and the details of the analyses that were conducted on the responses. The researchers who conducted the previous survey and analyses are uniquely qualified to re-survey the same panel and apply the same analyses to develop valid comparisons of changes that occurred over the period.

5. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The order through RTI International represents the best value to the government.

RTI International has been proven to be a highly successful contractor technically speaking. In addition to its technical competence, RTI has performed work in the past at a highly competitive price. RTI’s rates charged under its schedule are competitive and have been determined appropriate for the work to be completed under this order. As RTI International has the infrastructure in place to support the work required by NIAAA, there would also be no additional learning curve or establishment of/start-up costs that would be needed for this effort. The savings in time and funding by avoiding those start-up activities would be significant given the timeline required for this effort. In addition, RTI has unique proprietary information and knowledge that would require significant time and cost to be added to the effort for a different vendor to complete the work. The delay in time, and resultant additional funding required would be significantly detrimental to NIAAA’s efforts.

6. Description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

a. Certified Cost and Pricing Data will not be required in accordance with FAR 15.403-1(b)(2) because this is a commercial item.

b. The contractor will be required to submit a cost proposal, which will be compared to current commercial prices.

c. An independent government cost estimate is based on commercial pricing with NIH applicable discounts.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sweeping changes throughout American society (and, indeed, throughout most of the world). These changes include health-related behaviors and factors that influence them. Importantly, there are indications that levels and patterns of alcohol consumption have changed during the pandemic period, and that pandemic-related factors such as social isolation, unemployment, and stress may lead to changes in health outcomes associated with alcohol. It is critical to understand how alcohol consumption has changed and for whom, and what other factors and behaviors are associated with such changes. This understanding will help to inform appropriate public health responses in the current pandemic and improve planning and preparedness for future circumstances that may create similar changes in behavior. Thus, this procurement capitalizes on an extremely time-sensitive opportunity to advance understanding of critical factors affecting public health.

8. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

It is the policy of NIAAA to promote the use of competitive procedures whenever and wherever possible. To remove or overcome barriers to competition in the future, the market will be scanned frequently for new companies and products that could satisfy the Government’s requirement. The NIAAA staff meets periodically to discuss various changes to products and processes. Vendor, trade magazines, and scientific publications are scanned for new, open scientific changes that can satisfy various on-going protocols. The agency will continually re-evaluate and will continue to research the various vendors, products, and services that could be in the Government’s best interest. The current situation requires the vendor RTI International, which has the unique, proprietary information and knowledge required to conduct the re-survey and analyses required for this project.

9. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No other sources expressed interest in the proposed acquisition.

10. Program office certification.

This is to certify that the portions of this justification that have been developed by the undersigned program office personnel, including supporting information and/or data verifying the Government’s minimum needs, schedule requirements and other rationale for other than full and open competition, are accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Project Officer Gregory Bloss Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research

Project Officer’s

Ralph Hingson, Sc.D.

Director, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research

Gregory R.

Bloss -S

Digitally signed by Gregory R. Bloss -S Date: 2020.09.17 10:16:06 -04'00'

Immediate Supervisor

Head of the Sponsoring

Program Office

Ralph Hingson, Sc.D.

Director, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research

11. Contracting Officer certification.

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Contracting Officer

Jeremy D. White -S

Digitally signed by Jeremy D. White -S Date: 2020.09.17 20:37:23 -04'00'