U. S. Counties along the Mexican Border Initiative

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is soliciting proposals on an 8(a) competitive basis to provide program and administrative support to the Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention (CSAP).The SAMHSA/CSAP U.S. Counties along the Mexican Border initiative will follow this process through assessing the nature and magnitude of the substance abuse problems within the counties that are contiguous to the border, building capacity within those counties as well as communities comprising the counties in developing strategic plans, planning, implementing, and evaluation the prevention programs, policies and practices. Ensuring sustainability and have culturally and linguistically appropriate materials in tantamount to this initiative. The primary audience for this initiative will be local prevention providers living and working in all venues (e.g., schools, community centers, workplace, and faith-based organizations) within the contiguous counties and the communities comprising those counties. The goal of this initiative is infuse the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process within the area by adapting the model to be culturally and linguistically appropriate. This initiative will: Profile population needs, resources, and readiness to address the problems of substance abuse. Build counties? epidemiological capacity to collect analyze, and interpret epidemiological data relevant to substance abuse prevention, as substance use problems pervade a wide variety of domains (e.g. school, traffic safety, crime, public health), numerous types of State and local organizations are likely to and should be involved in these efforts. Convene an annual meeting with local prevention providers ?Substance Abuse Prevention for U.S. Counties along the Mexican Border? made up of key community representatives as well as organizations that provide health promotion services to the border. Review, develop training and technical assistance (T/TA) products, and adapt bilingual (English/Spanish) resources and webinar to enhance SPF capacity to address the specific needs of individuals living within the counties contiguous to border. Provide T/TA assistance to support effective evidence-based/science-based substance abuse prevention programs, practices, and policies so that they can be applied successfully within the diverse contexts of life occurring along the U.S. counties along the Mexican border. Such T/TA is coordinated with the ongoing work of SAMHSA development and dissemination efforts, especially underage drinking, preventing co-occurring disorders, suicide prevention, and working with minority institutions such as universities and faith centers.

The anticipated period of performance is a base period of 12 months, plus four (4) 12-month option periods. The estimated date for issuance of the RFP is March 20, 2008 with proposal responses due on April 21, 2008. The solicitation may be obtained by either of three ways: by mail, or electronically by downloading a file from FedBizOpps; or the SAMHSA Web Site at http://www.samhsa.gov/contracts/contracts.html.



Once downloaded, you should determine if you have a continuing interest in the RFP. Files will not be made available on either web site until on or after the estimated issuance date. If so, you must either write the individual identified above and request that a copy of the amendments (if any) to the RFP be sent to you by mail, or check the Web regularly for the amendments, which will also be posted at FedBizOpps and the SAMHSA Web Site and can be downloaded electronically. You may choose either of the two methods for obtaining the RFP and amendments. Note, however, that if you rely on the Web for obtaining the RFP and amendments, at this time we have no way to assure, and will therefore assume no responsibility for assuring, that you have downloaded these documents. All RFP requests must cite the RFP Number. Requests for copies of the RFP must be made in writing. Fax requests will be accepted at (240) 276-1510, but please confirm by phone that your fax request has been received. Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted. Telephone requests will not be honored. Pickups will not be permitted. Reference RFP No. 277-08-0215.