MODIFICATION
R -- National Immunization Survey - Revised Solicitation - Responses to Questions
- Notice Date
- 7/18/2017
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541910
— Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- 2017-N-18110
- Archive Date
- 8/17/2017
- Point of Contact
- Thaddeus E Rollins, Phone: 770-488-1971
- E-Mail Address
-
tnr6@cdc.gov
(tnr6@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Responses to Questions Amended solicitation: section C corrections, adding new HHS Policy Alert 017-01 to section H.13, revising section L.8 (a) (3) and revising section L.9 (b) The purpose of amendment two is to revise solicitation to perform the following: 1) Add response to potential offerors questions attachment; 2) Change RFP due date to noon 08/02/17; 3) Add section C corrections; 4) Add new HHS Policy Alert 017-01 to section H.13; 5) Revise section L.8 (a) (3); 6) Revise section L.9 (b), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to issue a full and open competition Request for Proposal (RFP) to support National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) /Influenza Division. This will be a follow-on requirement to a previous National Immunization Survey Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) single award contract. It is anticipated that the resultant contract will be cost plus fixed fee and firm fixed price types. The period of performance of sixty (60) months is anticipated. The applicable NAICS code is 541910. The RFP will be posted on FedBizOpps and is expected to be released on or about May 15, 2017. Interested parties are responsible for checking the website regularly for release of the RFP and for other procurement-related documents. TELEPHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The information provided in this pre-solicitation is for information purposes only. If there are any differences in the information provided here and the actual solicitation when released, the information provided in the actual solicitation shall govern. Background and Need The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), a center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), require the planning and conduct of the National Immunization Survey (NIS) and related tasks. Vaccination for childhood diseases has proven to be one of the most effective public health measures available. This has been shown through the reduction in the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases throughout the United States. The adoption of laws for vaccinations as a requirement for school entry has been credited with high vaccination levels in this population. The 1989-1990 measles outbreak in the United States brought into focus the public health problem of under-vaccination among preschool children. Healthy People 2020 objectives for immunization and infectious diseases include reaching high proportions of children receiving recommended vaccinations by their second birthday and adolescents receiving additional recommended vaccinations by 13-15 years of age. In 1992, the 50 States and 28 local areas were awarded grants to improve the vaccination levels of children by their second birthday, and improve related service delivery, information and education, and assessment activities. Each grantee area developed an Immunization Action Plan (IAP) for the use of these funds and proposed approaches to improve the immunization delivery system in their areas (referred to as IAP areas). Determination of vaccination levels and changes over time was necessary for monitoring the success of the grants to these IAP areas. The NIS was established in response to the immediate and continuing need for quality and timely data pertaining to the vaccination coverage of pre-school children across the United States. Beginning in 1994, in addition to national vaccination coverage data collected via the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the NCHS and the National Immunization Program (NIP), which is now NCIRD, began collecting vaccination information for children 19-35 months in these 78, non-overlapping geographic IAP areas across the United States via the NIS, based on a random-digit-dial (RDD) landline telephone sample of households with immunization provider record check verification. This information has been used to monitor the need for vaccinations among 19-35 month old children in each IAP area and nationally in the civilian noninstitutionalized population. During 2005 and 2006, some of the non-grantee IAP areas were rotated off the survey (no longer oversampled) to allow new selected sub-state areas to be oversampled. Starting with 2007 data collection, the 22 IAP areas that did not receive direct Section 317 immunization grant funding from CDC were no longer automatically oversampled. Starting in 2007, state immunization programs were offered the opportunity to direct grant funds to oversample sub-state areas of their choice. This change resulted in core NIS data collection in 56 non-overlapping, geographically defined Local Sampling Areas (LSAs), including the 50 states and six urban areas that receive Section 317 immunization grant funding directly from CDC (District of Columbia; City of Chicago, IL; City of New York, NY; Philadelphia County, PA; Bexar County, TX; and City of Houston, TX). Additional sub-state areas and U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions may be added and may vary from year to year. By 2006, three new vaccines had been licensed and recommended for routine use in adolescents: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), tetanus, diphtheria, acelluar pertussis (Tdap), and (for girls) quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV4). In the 4th quarters of 2006 and 2007, the NIS-Teen was conducted using the NIS sampling frame and methods to estimate vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13-17 years. In 2008, the NIS-Teen sample was expanded to provide estimates for the 56 core NIS LSA's, and starting in 2009 additional sub-state areas were added at the request of some states. It is possible that CDC may need to change the age range of children included in the NIS in the future. The NIS has periodically added topical modules to the household interview to collect additional vaccine-related information as needed by CDC. A health insurance module to determine status of eligibility for the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) was added in 2003 and became part of the core NIS survey in 2006. Recent modules have included expanded questions related to socioeconomic status and parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children. Surveys of adult vaccination were conducted in 2003, 2004 and 2007. During October 2009-June 2010, questions were asked of children of all ages identified during NIS screening to monitor seasonal and monovalent 2009 (H1N1) influenza vaccinations. These data were combined with a stand-alone dual frame landline and cell phone RDD influenza vaccination survey to comprise the National 2009 H1N1 Flu Survey (NHFS). For subsequent influenza seasons, this data collection, called NIS-Flu, has continued each October through June for children aged 6 months through 17 years. Collectively, the data collected from the same sample frame consisting of children 19-35 months (NIS core), 13-17 years (NIS-Teen), and 6 months - 17 years (NIS-Flu) is described as the NIS Family of Surveys. Research to improve the validity of survey estimates and effectiveness and efficiency of survey operations has been integral to the NIS since its inception. In recent years, declining willingness of the public to participate in surveys and changes in households' use of the telephone has resulted in declining response rates in the NIS and other surveys. Of particular concern is the increasing prevalence of households that have substituted their landline telephone for wireless service only. Over 40% of children aged 19-35 months may not be reachable by a landline survey. Addition of a cellular telephone sampling frame was piloted in 2010 and incorporated into the NIS starting in 2011 (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/nis/child/dual-frame-sampling.html). Other research has investigated the potential role of Immunization Information Systems (IIS) in the conduct of the NIS. IIS are confidential, population-based, computerized databases that record all immunization doses administered by participating providers to persons residing within a given geopolitical area. At the point of clinical care, an IIS can provide consolidated immunization histories for use by a vaccination provider in determining appropriate client vaccinations. At the population level, an IIS provides aggregate data on vaccinations for use in surveillance and program operations, and in guiding public health action with the goals of improving vaccination rates and reducing vaccine-preventable disease. IIS exist in most states, but vary in their level of child and provider participation, completeness of vaccination histories, and completeness and accuracy of household contact information. With continued development of IIS and increased use of electronic medical record systems and their integration into IIS, they may eventually replace the role of NIS in providing timely, valid and comparable estimates of vaccination coverage across state and local areas. In the shorter term, NIS and NIS-Teen samples have been matched to selected IIS to compare vaccination histories reported by both, and the potential use of IIS as a sampling frame, as a supplement to or in place of a telephone sample, has also been evaluated. Substantial efficiencies could be gained using IISs to supplement or replace the current NIS RDD telephone sampling frame. Further work is needed to define when an IIS is ready to be used as a sample frame, identify legal and policy barriers to data sharing, and assess willingness and resources needed by states to participate. The potential role of IIS to improve the efficiency of the NIS provider record check has also been evaluated. Project Objective The NIS contract will obtain a contractor to conduct the NIS and other related research tasks through the issuance of individual task orders. The objective of the NIS is to produce annual estimates of the proportion of noninstitutionalized children 19 through 35 months and 13 through 17 years receiving vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), in each of the nonoverlapping LSAs. It is also intended to describe sociodemographic disparities in vaccination coverage, factors that influence the vaccination status of children, the uptake of newly recommended vaccines, and how information about immunization is understood by the public. The objective for other related research is to: assess influenza vaccination utilization and related information during annual influenza seasons; assess additional vaccination-related information from children or adults of any age in response to emerging program needs; and improve efficiency, quality and validity of NIS. Scope of Work Project objectives will be achieved through issuance of firm fixed price or cost plus fixed fee task orders to conduct survey activities that are organized into the following subject areas: a. NIS Core. Collection of vaccination data for children aged 19-35 months in each of at least 56 state and local areas of the United States. b. NIS-Teen. Collection of vaccination data for adolescents aged 13-17 years using the same sample as the NIS, in each of at least 56 state and local areas of the United States. c. Influenza Vaccination Surveys (children 6 months to 7 years). Collection of data related to influenza vaccination among persons of all ages. d. Optional Vaccination-related Modules. Collection of additional vaccination-related data for children eligible for the NIS or NIS-Teen, NIS-Flu or from other age groups of children or adults, using the same sample as the NIS, or using separate, stand-alone sampling frames. e. Operational Methods Research. Evaluation, research and experiments to improve efficiency, quality and validity of NIS. Period of Performance The period of performance for issuance of task orders against the IDIQ contract is a base period of one year and four one-year option periods. Individual periods of performance will be specified per each task order. Technical Requirements Task orders will be issued by NCIRD under the following general categories: a. NIS Core. Collection of vaccination data for children aged 19-35 months in each of at least 56 state and local areas of the United States. The NIS Core Task Orders will involve: 1) the design and conduct of quarterly/annual surveys to be fielded in each of the LSAs collecting data from the families of age-eligible children in RDD interviews for specified data years; 2) collecting data from the medical providers reported for those children (with oral consent from the parent or guardian); 3) combining the information from the responding providers and families to produce improved vaccination estimates comparable over time; 4) other data collections; 5) performing descriptive analyses of the data collected; 6) preparing computer files from edited survey data and reports documenting the files and the survey data collection methods and process results, and 7) performance monitoring and quality improvement efforts to assess and improve data quality and survey efficiency. A NIS data year refers to one calendar year, January 1 - December 31, during which quarterly samples of landline and cellular telephone numbers are dialed to identify households with age-eligible children and conduct NIS interviews. Associated with each data year are approximately three prior months for planning (October - December), 12 months for household data collection, and approximately nine subsequent months to complete household interviews, complete follow-up of medical providers, prepare and deliver restricted access and public use data files, and final reports. For example, NIS data year 2018 includes activities that would span from approximately October 2017 through December 2019. NIS data year 2019 would span from approximately October 2018 through December 2020. Thus, activities associated with separate Task Orders for consecutive NIS data years would overlap in their period of performance. b. NIS-Teen. Collection of vaccination data for adolescents aged 13-17 years using the same sample as the NIS, in each of at least 56 state and local areas of the United States. Survey procedures are generally similar to those required to conduct the core NIS. c. Influenza Vaccination Surveys (children 6 months to 7 years). Collection of data related to influenza vaccination among persons of all ages. Task orders in this category may include influenza modules asked of children of any age identified during NIS screening, and general population surveys using an independent sample conducted continuously or periodically during the vaccination period, typically during October through June. CDC may use this contract for annual monitoring of influenza vaccination, with expanded approaches implemented as needed in emergent situations (e.g., pandemic influenza, shortage of influenza vaccine). d. Optional Vaccination-related Modules. Collection of additional vaccination-related data for children eligible for the NIS or NIS-Teen, or NIS-Flu from other age groups of children or adults, using the same sample as the NIS, or using separate, stand-alone sampling frames. Short (e.g., approximately 5 minutes) survey modules may be added to the end of the NIS, NIS-Teen, or NIS-Flu survey to collect additional vaccination related information (e.g., parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination). Task orders in this category may also include vaccination-related surveys using the NIS sampling frame, or separate, standalone sampling frames, to obtain parental information regarding vaccination of children of any age, or to obtain information from persons ≥18 years about their own vaccination-related behavior. e. Research Tasks. Evaluation, research and experiments to improve efficiency, quality and validity of NIS. Task orders in this category may include experiments to test modifications of survey instruments, survey operations and procedures, designing more efficient or valid sample designs (e.g., improved telephone sample design, switch to an address-based sample frame, or incorporating IIS as a NIS sample frame), and matching of NIS and NIS-Teen samples with IIS to evaluate completeness of IIS and NIS vaccination data. To the extent possible, changes in NIS design, methods, and operations are tested and evaluated before and after implementation, to ensure continuity in validity of estimates over time. In general, the contractor's responsibilities include such activities as: • Questionnaire design and testing; • Survey instrument modification if necessary and approved by CDC; • Sampling plan, design, and selection; • Preparation of the survey questionnaire(s) and other necessary data collection materials; • Recruitment, training and performance monitoring of interviewers; • Administration of telephone, mail surveys, and web surveys for providers; • Development of weighting procedures and implementation of estimators; • Design and implementation of quality control procedures; • Conversion of data on paper forms into machine readable form; • Preparation of field and methodological reports; • Preparation of verified, edited, and documented data files (on tape or other electronic format acceptable to the Contracting Officer's Representative {COR}); • Preparation of materials for submission to the ERB; • Methodological Studies; and • Other activities essential for the successful completion of the project. Place of Performance Services will be performed at vendor specified site in the United States. All aspects of work related to this contract must be performed in the U. S., this includes work performed by the Contractor and any sub-contractors. For individual task orders, some work may be conducted in the U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions (e.g., United States Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico) at the specific request of the COR. Reporting Schedule Contractor reporting requirements will be defined in each individual task order. Reports may include weekly, monthly, or quarterly reports, along with a final report. Travel Any required travel will be identified on individual task orders as necessary. The Contractor shall coordinate all travel requirements with the CDC Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and obtain written approval from the Contracting Officer prior to beginning such travel. Government will reimburse the Contractor for travel related costs. The Contractor shall submit receipts for airfare, lodging, car rentals, and other incidental travel-related expenses. Travel costs shall not exceed the maximum per diem rates set forth in the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). The FTR per diem rates and regulations can be found at the following website: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104877 Training The Contractor, at its own expense, shall perform training for their professional staff associated with required competencies for each task. The Government will provide orientation and training on specific department, unit, site, programs or education requirements, policies, and procedures peculiar to the work to be performed by the Contractor and unique to CDC operations if required for specific tasks. The Government will not authorize training for Contractor employees to attend seminars, symposiums, or user group conferences unless determined that attendance is mandatory for the performance of task requirements and such training is approved in advance by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for keeping Contractor employees abreast of advances in state-of-the-art technologies.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2017-N-18110/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's Facility, United States
- Record
- SN04584076-W 20170720/170718235021-63f93ff1dd98d1ac0c7e43902c44fa39 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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