Inactive

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Scientific, Programming, and Analytical Support for the SEER-MHOS Data Resource Notice Number: 75N91021R00048 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions ... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Scientific, Programming, and Analytical Support for the SEER-MHOS Data Resource Notice Number: 75N91021R00048 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: June 14, 2021 by 12:00PM EST This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified Small Business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 with a size standard of $15,000,000. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. BACKGROUND The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program includes contracts with cancer registries to report uniform data on all incident cancer cases in their defined geographic areas. The program covers 34% of the U.S. population. In order to improve NCI’s understanding of health-related quality of life and health care quality for elderly cancer patients and survivors, the NCI has been enhancing SEER data with data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including the Medicare Health Outcome Study (MHOS) surveys. The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) is a survey that assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Medicare Advantage Organization enrollees representing over 30% of Medicare beneficiaries. MHOS is the first patient-reported outcomes measure used in Medicare managed care. Its goal is to is to gather valid, reliable, and clinically meaningful health status data from the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. The SEER-MHOS data resource is a 10 year, ongoing collaborative effort between NCI and CMS that links SEER data with MHOS surveys and other Medicare data (Medicare Advantage enrollment, Part D drug claims). This unique, publicly accessible data resource offers investigators an opportunity to examine health outcomes and care delivery research questions for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with cancer and to compare to those without a diagnosis of cancer. The SEER-MHOS linkage is updated on a biennial basis, and NCI is scheduled to complete the next linkage in FY 2021. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain specialized analytic data support to demonstrate the utility of recent SEER-MHOS data expansions and to investigate new methodological approaches taking advantage of the MHOS repeated multi-cohort design. SCOPE The Contractor shall provide specialized analytic support (described in detail below) for the data resource, NCI-directed SEER-MHOS studies, publications, and presentations. In addition, the Contractor shall also support targeted dissemination of methodological guidance and training materials. Throughout the duration of the contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for knowing current CMS and NCI privacy and confidentiality regulations related to access to and use of these data and comply with all requirements. The Contractor shall issue Data Use Agreements and any other data security documents required by NCI to access the data. All data collection procedures and data storage shall also comply with all HIPAA requirements of the Federal Government. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/ AND PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, materials and qualified personnel, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the requirement. Meet with NCI to discuss ways to enhance and support the SEER-MHOS data resource The Contractor shall participate in a meeting with NCI within a month of the award and exercise of an Option Period to be provided with relevant background information and updates about the linkage, as well as, review the Statement of Work and deliverables. The Base Period and Subsequent Option Year Meetings shall be in-person in Rockville, Maryland, and organized by the COR. Provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, programming, and analytical assistance to support extramural investigators using the publicly accessible SEER-MHOS data resource. Provide summary statistics and evaluate the quality of recent data additions to the resource (e.g., Part D Claims, Urban/Rurality indices); Provide guidance on requests from researchers on specialized topics related to new data additions (expected volume to be an average of 3 inquiries per month); Utilize scientific expertise in Part D claims data, longitudinal/cohort survey design methodology, and geocoding expertise to complete 2-3 projects focused on enhancing use of the data source for users. (Task examples: comprehensive guidance and statistical code to conduct propensity scoring to enhance cancer to non-cancer comparisons, generating a MHOS specific 5% all cancer sample, providing re-norming information for The Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12) composite scores to improve interpretation.) Prepare web-based and user-friendly guidance to highlight and assist extramural SEER-MHOS users of recent additions to the data resource, based on technical content provided by NCI or developed under this contract, including: A) 2-3 web-based (e.g. PDF) technical guidance documents of approximately 2-4 pages; and B) 2-3 web-based training videos of approximately 2-4 minutes (e.g. slide show presentation with voiceover); C) Support content development for a 45-min SEER-MHOS informational webinar. Provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, programming and analytical support for NCI-directed studies and presentations that demonstrate the use of the SEER-MHOS data resource. After award of the contract and exercise of each Option Period, the contractor shall provide a list of potential research topics that will be discussed with and prioritized by the COR to determine the three NCI-directed analytical studies and presentations to be supported by the SEER-MHOS data resource. These studies and presentations shall involve SEER data, MHOS survey cohorts, recent data additions and/or linkages (Medicare Part D claims file, geographic identifiers [geocodes]), and/or statistical method evaluations. The Contractor shall provide scientific expertise in collaboration with the NCI team; The Contractor shall provide a draft proposals of the NCI-directed studies, to be reviewed by NCI, CMS, and a SEER PI per SEER-MHOS protocol; The COR will facilitate NCI and CMS review of the research proposal, which will adhere to standard processes for proposal review; Meet monthly or more often as needed to discuss progress on ongoing and proposed NCI-directed studies; The Contractor shall provide a report to determine the feasibility for each of the NCI-directed SEER-MHOS analytical study options. The Contractor shall provide a draft report on the attributes and quality of the variables, sample sizes, years of available data for variables (if appropriate), and types of appropriate statistical models to use with these data. The draft report shall be submitted to the COR within two months after receiving proposals for the studies. If revisions are needed, the COR will send back a revised report within 2 weeks of receipt of the draft report. The Contractor shall then provide a final report 2 weeks after receiving comments on the draft report. Once the COR accepts the report, the Contractor shall analyze the data for the two studies according to the approved report. Analyzing the data shall include constructing new variable or composite scales, programming of analytical files for analysis, statistical assistance on power analyses, univariate and multivariate analyses, graphical representations of analyses. The Contractor shall prepare manuscripts, presentations, and posters of NCI-directed analytic studies in collaboration with NCI SEER-MHOS staff. All manuscripts and presentations shall adhere to NCI and CMS processes for review of internal projects (3 manuscripts and 3 presentations per Option Period). Contract Periods: Option Contract Close Out: Contract Close Out the Contractor shall establish a Transition-Out Plan, for the transfer of contractual activities and products to a successor contract in conjunction with the COR. The Transition-Out Plan shall be completed 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of the Contract. On or before the Contract expiration date, the Contractor shall turn over to the Government all Contract materials including but not limited to files, data, databases, programming code, documentation, graphics and final papers not already delivered to the COR. The Contractor shall provide a final Task Order report, including status of all projects started and completed from the inception of the task order. In the Final Contract report, the Contractor shall ensure that all software, procedures, and documentation developed by the Contractor is complete, accurate, and up-to-date, as needed to understand their content, operation, and maintenance. The Contractor shall comply with the HHS Rules of Behavior For Use of Technology Resources and Information found at http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/20080001.003.html. Transition-Out to Successor Contractor: The Contractor shall provide continuity of service during the transition period. The Contractor shall provide any other assistance deemed reasonable by NCI that may be required for the smooth transition of Task Order responsibility. The Contractor shall provide to the Successor Contractor, all Contract materials, including but not limited to, files, data, databases, programming code, documentation, graphics and final papers. In addition, the Contractor shall: a. Deliver the up-to-date systems documentation to the COR for purposes of transfer to a Successor and familiarization of the Successor with systems operations. This shall occur three (3) weeks prior to the end of the Contract. b. Support knowledge exchange activities. The Contractor shall be available to answer questions, provide identifications and passwords for non-personal account access, provide access to all software and documentation, and brief the COR and Successor on the status of work not completed. c. Provide briefings and other familiarization to the COR. The COR will act as a third party in all meetings and communications between the incumbent and successor for hand-off of information. TYPE OF ORDER This shall be issued as a severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. The services acquired under this contract are severable services. Funds are only available for use for the contract line item (CLIN) to which they are obligated. Unused funds from one CLIN may not rollover for use in other periods. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The base period of performance shall be for twelve (12) months from with four 12-month option periods, as follows: Base Period: August 29, 2021 through August 28, 2022 Option Period One: August 29, 2022 through August 28, 2023 Option Period Two: August 29, 2023 through August 28, 2024 Option Period Three: August 29, 2024 through August 28, 2025 Option Period Four: August 29, 2025 through August 28, 2026 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All services shall be performed at contractor’s facilities. * Please indicate any scheduled contracts. How to Submit a Response: Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. Organizations shall demonstrate 1.) Technical Approach 2.) Personnel Requirements and Organizational Experience. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than June 14, 2021 by 12:00PM EST Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and emailed to David.Romley@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) at Beta.SAM.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91021R00048 on all correspondence. 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 RFQ may be published in beta.SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: David Romley at David.Romley@nih.gov. 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.