B -- TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VOICES/VOCES INTERVENTION PACKAGE

Notice Date

July 3, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA, 30341-4146

ZIP Code

30341-4146

Solicitation Number

2001-N-00148

Response Due

August 8, 2001

Point of Contact

Dale Defilipps, Contract Specialist, Phone (770)488-2637, Fax (770)488-2670, Email DDefilipps@CDC.GOV -- Dale Defilipps, Contract Specialist, Phone (770)488-2637, Fax (770)488-2670, Email DDefilipps@CDC.GOV

Description

CDC intends to award a Sole Source Contract to Education Development Center, Incorporated (EDC) to conduct a highly complex outcome evaluation to determine whether an intervention that was demonstrated to be effective in a research study is outcome- and cost-effective when implemented by STD/HIV prevention agencies, and to serve as a pilot study on how to conduct future large-scale effectiveness studies in non-research settings. The project has four main objectives: (1) to evaluate the outcome- and cost-effectiveness of the "Video Opportunities for Condom Education and Safer Sex" (VOICES/VOCES) intervention as implemented by STD/HIV prevention agencies, (2) to identify factors involved with successful transfer of VOICES/VOCES and its implementation by STD/HIV prevention agencies, (3) to identify factors involved with the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the VOICES/VOCES intervention when implemented by STD/HIV prevention agencies, and (4) to improve the process of conducting effectiveness studies of REP-packaged interventions implemented by non-researchers in STD/HIV prevention settings. More specifically, the contractor shall be required to test the effectiveness of the VOICES/VOCES intervention package as implemented by STD and HIV prevention agencies that target Hispanics and African Americans in the US and Puerto Rico. To deliver these services, the contractor shall: (1) Develop complex methods to evaluate the outcome- and cost-effectiveness of the VOICES/VOCES intervention as implemented by STD/HIV prevention agencies, employing the same outcomes and measures used to demonstrate the intervention's effectiveness in earlier research trials; (2) Coordinate and contract with two or more STD/HIV prevention agencies which will implement the VOICES/VOCES intervention; (3) Develop and submit applications for approval by the CDC's and the contractor's IRB, the OMB, and the local IRBs and Program Review Panels of the agencies, as well assisting all agencies to obtain OHRP-approved FWAs; (4) Prepare research sites to implement the VOICES/VOCES intervention using the VOICES/VOCES intervention package and provide technical assistance when requested by the research sites; (5) Collect data and information from the agencies' implementation of the VOICES/VOCES intervention according to the project's specified evaluation methods, with assistance from the agencies as necessary; (6) Analyze collected data to evaluate the outcome- and cost-effectiveness of the VOICES/VOCES intervention as implemented by the STD/HIV prevention agencies; (7) Analyze collected information according to the project's specified evaluation methods to identify factors involved with intervention effectiveness or ineffectiveness and the process of conducting effectiveness studies of agency-implemented interventions; and, (8) Report to CDC on results, make recommendations for improving the process of conducting effectiveness studies of agency-implemented interventions, and collaborate in the preparation of publications and presentations. The estimated performance period is 36 months. The successful contractor must have in-depth experience and working knowledge of the VOICES/VOCES research intervention program based on the activities performed under CDC cooperative agreements U62/CCU11-3446 and R30/CCR10-5029 and CDC grant R18/CCR11-5249; and the evaluation methods used to determine effectiveness of the VOICES/VOCES intervention program must be the same as used under these CDC cooperative agreements and grant. The successful contractor must have in-depth working knowledge of the original study design, outcomes, measures, and analyses. Also, the successful contractor must have extensive experience and expertise in training persons from the preventions agencies in how to deliver the VOICES/VOCES intervention sessions, and be able to provide expert technical assistance on VOICES/VOCES. Education Development Center is the only organization that can provide all of the required resources, measure of expertise, and other services necessary to meet ALL of the above requirements, including cost constraints. Hence, a sole source procurement is contemplated. See Notes 22 and 26.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2001-N-00148/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010706/BSOL001.HTM (D-184 SN50Q7Y5)