Inactive

Introduction: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP) in Baltimore, MD, is seeking capability statements from BOT... Introduction: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute on Drug Abuse - Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP) in Baltimore, MD, is seeking capability statements from BOTH Other than Small Business and Small Business organizations to provide the Government support for grassroots outreach and community partnership services at the NIDA IRP Clinical Program. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability of BOTH Other than Small Business and Small Businesses (e.g., 8(a), Veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned small businesses) with the capability to meet the objectives and requirements described below. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. Background: The mission of NIDA IRP is to conduct state-of-the-art research on basic mechanisms that underlie substance use disorders (SUDs), and to develop new methods for the treatment of SUDs. Research is supported at the molecular, genetic, cellular, animal, and human clinical levels and is conceptually integrated and utilizes highly innovative strategies and techniques. The long-term goal of the research is to better understand the biological and behavioral factors contributing to initiation, maintenance, and elimination of SUDs (and associated diseases), and to translate this knowledge into improved strategies for prevention, treatment, and reduction of negative consequences for the individual and for society caused by substance use disorders. Using volunteer human participants, the NIDA IRP Clinical Program in Baltimore, MD conducts outpatient and inpatient research studies that interrelate with pre-clinical laboratory work. In general, these studies include assessment of drug-use patterns, investigation of underlying brain mechanisms, and testing of a variety of SUD behavioral and biomedical treatments. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is for Market Research to identify vendors with demonstrated experience and capabilities in providing grassroots outreach and community engagement and partnership services to aid in the recruitment of eligible research participants for human research studies conducted by the NIDA IRP. The NIDA IRP seeks to enroll a highly targeted and representative study population including those with an active SUD (e.g. nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, opioids) who are not seeking treatment, who are seeking treatment, as well as people who occasionally use one or more of these substances and healthy controls who are matched with the other populations on age, gender, socio-economic status (SES), IQ, etc. Many studies seek to enroll participants without dual diagnoses. The NIDA IRP is also conducting studies requiring HIV-positive populations. Special attention and consideration is needed due to the sensitive nature of the data collected. General Requirements: NIDA is requesting Capability Statements from Capable Vendors. A Capable Vendor must demonstrate its experience and ability to perform the following key requirements: Grassroots Outreach Establish trust with the local community and develop ongoing grassroots community outreach to increase local awareness of NIDA and the research opportunities it provides. Provide education and awareness of research in general and of NIDA and its work, specifically, in the local community to support targeted recruitment, focused on the populations we recruit and the sensitive data we collect regarding SUDs and/or HIV. Use community feedback (e.g. focus groups, etc.) to develop cost-effective outreach campaigns and associated outreach materials that allow recruitment of potential research participants via connections with social organizations and SUD-specific programs and organizations. Provide expert consulting services to advise and work with NIDA staff to select and attend outreach events and train NIDA staff on effective attendance at community outreach events. Community Engagement and Partnerships Identify and establish relationships with community organizations and foundations (e.g. faith-based, gathering places, barber shops, SUD service providers, etc.) with tight and trusted connections to the various populations we seek to enroll. The overall goal is to learn about the community and communicate who NIDA is and the research being done, while creating a mutually beneficial relationship founded in trust with the local community. This an ongoing initiative. Contact healthcare providers, local physicians, and addiction treatment centers to make connections and partnerships that will enhance research enrollment through the development of a referral network. (Examples include but not limited to, such entities as Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, St. Agnes, Mountain Manor, etc.) Also, to utilize systems like MyChart for recruitment as well as other local medical portals to contact patients to inform them of research opportunities. Maintain an active database for recording the places contacted, contact information, and other pertinent information to that partnership. Identify and develop potential activities NIDA can participate in with the community to build trust and foster relationships such as mural painting, lot clean up, food drives, etc. Informed and Flexible Staffing Create an outreach team whose members have grassroots outreach and community engagement experience with already-established Baltimore community relationships a plus. Work closely with NIDA IRP staff to understand the study experience that NIDA IRP provides its research participants. Develop a good working knowledge of the various active studies to be able to properly relay information to the community and be able to answer questions about studies. Work with NIDA staff to attend outreach events and familiarize the potential research participants with NIDA staff they will interact with, should they participate in a study. Maintain close communication with NIDA IRP staff to determine and optimize how participants who are interested and eligible for multiple studies will proceed through the recruitment process and into a study. Support the effective communication and coordination of all requirements through regular reporting and the implementation of an automated system to track and generate specific performance reports. Provide staffing solutions with flexible and adaptive hours, (including evenings and weekends) capable of conducting grassroots outreach campaigns that require a presence at community events or meeting with various organizations at their preferred schedule. Coordination with other participant recruitment services The Outreach and Engagement team should work closely with other existing NIDA IRP recruiting services including advertising and marketing and participant screening. Whenever possible outreach and other participant recruitment services should be integrated, reinforcing, and coordinated in theme and timing. Instructions: Interested organizations must demonstrate and document in the submitted capability statement extensive experience in the technical areas and requirements listed above. Furthermore, organizations should include relevant and specific information on each of the following qualifications: 1) Experience: An outline of previous similar projects, specifically the techniques employed in the areas described above. List of established community partnerships and networks. 2) Personnel: Name, professional qualifications of personnel with specific experience in the work requested and knowledge of, and experience in, the field of community outreach and engagement. 3) Capability of the Requirements: Vendors must identify and demonstrate specifically how they have and can perform the requirements listed above. The Government will assess the appropriateness of professional and technical personnel classifications. The Government will consider any other specific and relevant information about this particular announcement that would improve our assessment of respondents. Organizations should demonstrate capability to administer and coordinate interrelated tasks in an effective and timely manner. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, contracts in which the organization performed equivalent tasks (Government and commercial); references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability; and awards or commendations. All capability statements also should include the following: 1) company name and address; 2) point of contact, 3) phone/fax/email; 4) NAICS Code(s), 5) business size and status; 6) capability information in response to the requirement and qualifications identified in this notice; and 7) type(s) of business, if applicable (e.g., Other than Small, Small, Veteran-owned, service-disabled Veteran-Owned, women-owned, 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone). THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses under this announcement nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information sent for the Government’s use. Any proprietary information should be so marked. 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 to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The information submitted must be in a clear and concise format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement listed above. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to fifteen (15) pages not including a cover page or executive summary. Responses must include your technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Additional marketing materials, pamphlets, and information not relevant to the requirements identified above should not be submitted with the capability statement. Any business concerns that believe they possess the capability necessary to successfully undertake the work described above must SUBMIT CAPABILITY STATEMENTS ELECTRONICALLY to the Contract Specialist, Josh Lazarus at Josh.Lazarus@nih.gov, NO LATER THAN 4:00 p.m. EST on March 25, 2021. The Subject line for the submission should include this Sources Sought Number. NIDA will not accept paper or faxed capability statements.