SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Dynamics of Health Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Research Study
- Notice Date
- 5/12/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Mental Health, Contracts Management Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9661
- ZIP Code
- 20892-9661
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-RDSS-11-158
- Archive Date
- 2/15/2012
- Point of Contact
- Rosanne S Wilson, Phone: 301-443-4433, Suzanne Stinson, Phone: 301 443 4116
- E-Mail Address
-
wilsonr@mail.nih.gov, sstinson@mail.nih.gov
(wilsonr@mail.nih.gov, sstinson@mail.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Research and Development (R&D) Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential R&D requirement. Small Businesses are encouraged to respond. BACKGROUND The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has a need for a project entitled, "Dynamics of Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Research Study." This is a continued need of the Health ABC Study under Contract No. N01-AG-6-2106 (currently being performed by the University of California, San Francisco). The purpose of this study is to characterize the extent of change in body composition in older men and women, identify clinical conditions accelerating these changes, and examine the health impact of these changes on strength, endurance, disability, and weight-related diseases of old age. The study population consists of 3,075 persons age 70-79 at baseline with about equal numbers of men and women. Thirty-three percent of the men are African-Americans as are 46% of the women. All persons in the study were selected to be free of disability in activities of daily living and free of functional limitation (defined as any difficulty walking a quarter of a mile or any difficulty walking up 10 steps without resting) at baseline. The principal goals of the HEALTH ABC are (1) to assess the association of baseline body weight, lean body mass, body fat, and bone mineral content, in relation to weight history, with incident functional limitation, incidence and change in severity of weight-related health conditions, recovery of physical function after an acute event, baseline measures of strength, fitness and physical performance, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status; (2) to access the contribution of episodes of severe acute illness in healthier older persons to changes in body weight, bone mineral content, lean body mass and body fat, and the relationship of these episodes to risk of functional limitation and recovery; (3) to assess the impact of weight-related co-morbid illness on the risk of functional limitation and recovery; (4) to assess the ways in which physiologic mediators of change in body composition influence and are influenced by changes in health in older adults and contribute to change in body composition; to understand how changes in body composition affect weight-related cardiovascular disease risk factors such as lipids, blood pressure and glucose tolerance; (5) to assess the interdependency of behavioral factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, co-morbid health conditions, and their association with change in body composition in old age; and (6) to provide a firm scientific basis for understanding issues related to weight recommendations in old age through increased knowledge of the potential trade-offs between weight and risk of functional limitation, disability, morbidity and death; to provide information critical for developing effective strategies for the maintenance of health in older persons. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The intramural Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry (LEDB) has been supporting the clinical research study entitled the Dynamics of Health, Aging and Body Composition (HEALTH ABC) since 1997. This study, targeted to understanding the decline in function of healthier older persons, complements research efforts in prevention of functional decline for healthy and frail older persons by focusing on the substantial majority of older persons in transition from vigor to frailty. The major objectives of the HEALTH ABC Study relate to observations that change in body composition in old age, particularly the increase in body fat and the decline in lean mass and bone mineral, represent a common pathway by which multiple diseases contribute to disability. There are many unanswered questions regarding the patterns and health impact of changes in weight and body composition in old age. Weight generally increases over the lifetime until late middle age, then tends to decrease into old age with changes in muscle, fat and bone. It has been postulated that the accelerated loss of muscle and strength in old age contributes to the onset of disability. Studies of weight and its relationship to mortality in older persons have yielded contradictory findings, leading to controversy regarding public health recommendations for weight in old age. Few studies have examined weight-related morbidity in old age, especially among African-Americans. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS The primary study tasks include: A) Support of data collection activities of the Field Centers for 6-month telephone interviews and disease and death outcomes adjudication; B) Data management, maintenance, and distribution of data files for 6-month telephone interviews, disease and death outcomes adjudication, and select other sources of data such an ancillary studies; C) Participation in and administration of the activities of the Diagnosis and Disease Ascertainment Committee; D) Participation in and administration of the publications review process, including the review of analysis proposals and manuscripts; E) Participate in the scientific direction and progress of Health ABC, including administration of the Ancillary Study proposal review process; F) Maintenance of biologic specimen repositories, including genetic material; and G) Information Technology Security Requirements. REPORTS/DELIVERABLES: All reports shall be submitted in electronic form as PC-formatted computer files in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel and/or searchable PDF format. The following reports will be required: A. Annual Progress Reports, the Contractor shall submit to the COTR and Contracting Officer (CO) a report describing the activities during the reporting period. Each annual progress report shall include a summary of the results of the entire contract work for the period covered and the activities planned for the ensuing reporting period. An annual progress report shall not be required when the final report is due. B. Final Progress Report and Summary of Salient Results, a final report shall be submitted on or before the last day of the period of performance. This report shall include a summation of the work performed and results obtained for the entire contract period of performance. This report shall be in sufficient detail to explain comprehensively the Tasks accomplished and the results achieved, and shall summarize data and statistical analyses performed in text, tabular and graphical form. C. Other Reports and Deliverables: Annual Technical Progress Report for Clinical Research Study Populations. The Contractor shall submit information about the inclusion of women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations for each study being performed under this contract. The Contractor shall submit this information in the format indicated for the Inclusion Enrollment Report. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The anticipated period of performance is five 12-month performance years from 2/15/2012 through 2/14/2017. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: (1) The government is expected to use procedures in FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiations. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code will be 541712 (500 employees); (2) The Contractor must use the data management system developed for and used for the Health ABC Study. Because the University of California, San Francisco (USCF) is the sole proprietor of this specific version, access to this data management system is limited; and (4) The Contractor must access participants enrolled in the Heatlh ABC Study and provide services to include training study personnel; developing forms, protocols and organizational procedures; ensuring website updates; managing databases, repository subcontracts and the reading center, and overseeing meeting organization. It is essential the Contractor provides optimal performance of services so there will be no discontinuity in work performance and that smooth continuation of the Health ABC Study is maintained. CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT. a. Capability Statement - Respondents to this notice must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement to include the following: (1) information regarding respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, background with change in body composition in older men and women, examination of the health impact of these changes on health and diseases of the old, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work, including access to the identified health study; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; (2) provide any catalog/list prices for services described in this notice; (3) respondents' DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code(s); and (4) any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the OPDIV's acquisition requirements. b. Information Submission Instructions - Respondents should provide responses accordingly: (1) submit information both electronically and by mail. No telephone and facsimile responses will be accepted; (2) format capability statements using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF including attachments, resumes, charts, etc. Use single space, 12 font minimum and 8 ½ x 11 size paper; (3) organize material in such a manner that clearly identifies and address capability requirements and provide an executive summary; (4) capability statement should not exceed ten (10) single sided pages including references; (5) respondents must send two original copies via mail and one electronic copy via email; (6) RESPONSES SHOULD BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MAY 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM LOCAL TIME; (7) include respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses; and (8) send responses to this notice via email to wilsonr@mail.nih.gov. The original statements mailed using the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to ATTN: Rosanne S. Wilson, National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions - NIDA Neuroscience COAC, NIA R&D Contracts Management Section, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, MD 20892-9661. If using a courier service such as the UPS, Federal Express, etc., change the City, State and Zip Code to Rockville, MD 20852. (Please be aware that the U.S. Postal Service's "Express Mail" DOES NOT deliver to the Rockville, Maryland address.) 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)."
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