RFP_24-10591_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

TOMÁS J. ARAGÓN, MD, DrPH GAVIN NEWSOM

Director and State Public Health Officer Governor

State of California—Health and Human Services Agency California Department of Public Health

RFP 24-10591 Questions and Answers

1. Training and Module Delivery

• Description: Clarification on module customization and material procurement.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Pages 3-6

Questions:

1. Are contractors allowed to customize module content to fit specific community needs?

a) The module content cannot change, as we use the Association of Asthma

Educators “Asthma Education for the Community Health Worker” curriculum in English and Spanish.

2. Will CDPH provide all physical training materials (e.g., lung models, peak flow meters, inhaler devices), or is the contractor expected to procure them?

a) Yes. CDPH will provide physical training materials.

2. Virtual and In-Person Training

• Description: Training platform and in-person logistics clarification.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Pages 6-8

1. Is there a preferred virtual training platform for conducting the training sessions, or can the contractor choose?

a) Yes. Zoom is the preferred training platform, given that it is often used with community health workers.

2. How should participant attendance for virtual sessions be tracked and reported?

a) Participant attendance for virtual and in-person sessions is tracked through an attendance form. Contractor will submit this attendance form to CDPH following each training.

3. How should the 20-hour training be allocated across modules? Is a sample training schedule available?

a) The 20-hour training is delivered across two and a half workdays. Each module is approximately 2.5 hours (with room for two stretch breaks and a lunch break each full day). CDPH will provide a sample training schedule to the awarded recipient.

4. If training is conducted in person, will lunch be provided to participants? If so, should the cost be included in the proposal, or will CDPH reimburse this expense separately?

a) No. CDPH does not provide lunch to participants.

California Department of Public Health Questions and Answers Center for Healthy Communities RFP 24-10591

3. Evaluation and Reporting

• Description: Clarification on performance metrics and evaluation data.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Page 10

1. What specific evaluation metrics will CDPH use to measure training effectiveness?

a) CDPH uses the following evaluation metrics: 1) participant satisfaction evaluation survey, 2) post-test surveys after Modules 1-4, 3) competency tests administered by the AE-C, and 4) verbal facilitator feedback. Contractor must have their own SurveyMonkey account and create and host the participant satisfaction evaluation survey and Module 1-4 post-tests. CDPH and the contractor will meet after each AsMA to discuss training and receive feedback,

2. Is there a required format for submitting evaluation and competency test data?

a) Yes. For a virtual training, contractor must download and email

SurveyMonkey data (including post-tests and satisfaction surveys) to CDPH.

For an in-person training, contractor must scan paper forms (including post-tests and satisfaction surveys) and email to CDPH.

4. Certified Asthma Educators (AE-Cs)

• Description: AE-C recruitment, approval, and testing procedures.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Pages 9-11

1. Does CDPH need to pre-approve selected AE-Cs before training begins?

a) Yes. CDPH will need to pre-approve AE-Cs.

2. Are there specific guidelines for scheduling and conducting competency tests beyond what is outlined in the Scope of Work?

a) Yes. Competency tests are conducted over Zoom and need to be completed within four weeks of the AsMA training. Competency tests are approximately one hour long (a minimum of 45 minutes). Contractor will need to coordinate and schedule competency tests with AE-C and participants. Before training, contractor must get availability dates and times from AE-C for participant competency tests. On the last day of the training, participants will sign up for competency tests. After the training, contractor will confirm competency test sign-ups and send to AE-C. Contractor is responsible for ensuring AE-C completes each participant scoring rubric for competency tests in SurveyMonkey.

5. Deliverables and Documentation

• Description: Standard formats and reporting timelines.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Page 12

1. Is there a standardized test format or scoring guide for module post-tests that must be followed?

a) Yes. CDPH will provide module post-tests, participant satisfaction surveys, and AE-C scoring rubrics for competency tests, as directed by the Association of Asthma Educators “Asthma Education for the Community Health Worker” curriculum.

2. How frequently should progress reports be submitted, and what specific details should they include?

a) Progress reports should be submitted monthly and after each AsMA. Progress reports should include status details on: physical materials inventory, recruitment, preparation for AsMA, and submission of AsMA evaluation materials.

6. Recruitment Process

• Description: Clarification on participant recruitment and budget allocation.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Pages 8-10

1. What specific recruitment strategies are expected for identifying participants from high asthma-burden communities, and will CDPH provide recruitment support or lists of potential partner organizations?

a) This section (Exhibit A, Scope of Work, pages 8-10) does not specify recruitment strategies for recruiting participants from high asthma burden communities.

b) If you are referring to Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Section VIII, CDPH identifies the contractor must “Recruit and compensate a diverse group of certified asthma educators (AE-Cs) to co-facilitate Academy trainings and conduct virtual competency testing for Academy participants, as outlined in the AAE curriculum,” CDPH will not be providing recruitment support or lists. We recommend you contact the National Board for Respiratory Care for a list of AE-Cs in California.

2. CDPH specifies a recruitment payment amount in the Scope of Work—should this cost be included in the maximum $300,000 contract value or considered a reimbursable line item outside of the maximum budget?

a) CDPH specifies that contractor will recruit and compensate AE-Cs $125 per competency test. These costs should be included in the maximum $300,000 contract value.

7. Program Administration

• Description: Project lead responsibilities and CDPH communication.

• Reference: Exhibit A, Scope of Work, Page 13

1. Does CDPH provide onboarding or orientation for the designated project lead from the contractor?

a) Yes. CDPH will provide an orientation for the contractor.

2. How frequently should the contractor liaise with CDPH, and what level of communication is expected?

a) Contractor will meet with CDPH monthly. CDPH may meet with contractor weekly (as determined by CDPH) in the weeks leading up to an AsMA, if needed. Contractor is expected to communicate by email, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or telephone.