National Children's Study Coordinating Center Task 3: Field Support

Added: Mar 25, 2010 9:03 am Modified: Apr 06, 2010 1:38 pmTrack Changes The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to solicit proposals from sources to support the continued planning and implementation of the NCS. All services acquired through resulting awards will be considered part of the overarching NCS Coordinating Center (CC). The NCS is a longitudinal cohort study that will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of approximately 100,000 children enrolled from 105 distinct geographic areas across the country to form a nationally representative sample. Environment is broadly defined to include biological, physical, chemical, and social/cultural influences on children’s health and development. Priority outcomes include obesity, diabetes, and physical development; injuries; asthma; pregnancy-related outcomes; child development and mental health; and identifying beneficial health effects. Children will be followed from before birth until the age of 21 years, via distributed data collection of a common core protocol. The CC is intended to support and assist in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of all Study components. The CC shall coordinate and support the NCS Vanguard Study as a platform for feasibility testing of methods for possible inclusion in the main study. The services will be acquired through full and open competitive procedures under NAICS 541990. It is anticipated that multiple cost reimbursement, completion type contracts will be awarded with a 1-year base period and 4 (four) 1-year options of performance beginning on or about September 30, 2010. All successful offerors shall demonstrate the capability to perform a set of core requirements, and at least one additional optional task. The core functions are considered applicable to each substantive area of expertise required by the NCS and include: • Administration & Management • Development of Instruments & Procedures • Development of the Manual of Operations and Procedures • Support of the Development & Implementation of Training Materials & Programs • Collaboration with NICHD and Other Contractors • Transition Planning and Transfer of Tasks Offerors shall also provide evidence of expertise in at least one of the four task areas. These include: Task 1: Participant Recruitment, Tracking, & Retention - Assist in developing procedures for participant recruitment, enrollment, continued contact and retention, as well as locating participants lost to follow-up. This effort shall include but is not limited to assisting in developing and implementing plans and procedures to recruit participants from households, health care providers, and larger communities. Task 2: Visit Event Flow/Choreography - Refers to the process of designing the order and flow of individual components within Study visits. Assist the COTR in integrating all visit elements into a smooth, efficient and pleasant data collection event. Task 3: Field Support - Field Support addresses the range of activities designed to aid in the administration of NCS data collection. Specific tasks include: • Study Center Readiness Support • Data Collection Monitoring & Management • Transition Support Services Task 4: Primary Data Collection - Conduct primary data collection activities in support of the NCS. These efforts may include interview administration via telephone, mail, web or in-person. The RFP will be available electronically on or about April 12, 2010 and may be accessed through the FedBizOpps. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted. No facsimile or email transmissions will be accepted.