National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect
This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, or proposal abstracts. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.
This is strictly market research. The Children's Bureau will not entertain any questions regarding this market research that may unfairly advantage one offeror over another.
Background:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially those who are most vulnerable. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is the agency within HHS that is responsible for Federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) administers the major Federal programs that support social services which promote the positive growth and development of children, youth and their families; protective services and shelter for children and youth in at-risk situations; and adoption for children with special needs. Within ACYF, the Children's Bureau (CB) plans, manages, coordinates, and supports child abuse and neglect prevention and child welfare service programs.
In 1988, in response to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act legislative requirement, CB developed a plan for an archive. The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect and now the Children's Bureau, funded the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) through a cooperative agreement until 2015. In 2015 NDACAN was funded through a one base year contract with one option year. Since its inception, NDACAN has resided at Cornell University, and is now found within Cornell's College of Human Ecology, in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (http://www.ndacan.cornell.edu).
Data sharing has long been recognized as an important part of the research process (American Statistical Association, 1999; Fienberg, Martin, & Straf, 1985). The federal government has adopted data sharing as a standard for federal agencies and grantees (Zients & Sunstein, 2010.) The requirement that research data be incorporated into grant requirements for much federally supported research (Council on Government Relations, 2012). In recognition of the importance of data sharing to the development of the field of child abuse and neglect the Children's Bureau adopted policy in 1994 that requires applicable research grantees to archive datasets with NDACAN. CB's archiving requirement allows a two-year grace period during which the original investigator has exclusive use of the research data, following the conclusion of federal funding.
In 1993, the Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect of the National Research Council identified the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect archive as a key component of a strong research structure in its book, Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect, (National Academy Press, 1993) Much progress has been made over the last 20 years to further the field of child abuse and neglect, however, key research questions still remain (National Research Council, 2014). Well-designed, theoretically grounded studies can inform research and policy for decades to come (Institute of Medicine & National Research Council, 2013). Secondary analysis of such well-designed research requires an environment in which data sharing is integral to the research process. Additionally, research has demonstrated an increased citation rate for investigators who share their data (Piwowar, Day, & Fridsma, 2007). NDACAN is a centralized facility that acquires, preserves, and disseminates machine-readable data sets to qualified researchers to foster exploration of important issues in child welfare and child maltreatment.
NDACAN currently holds nearly 126 data sets. Their holdings include, but are not limited to, all of the major datasets reported to the Children's Bureau, such as:
• The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS): collects
case-level information from state and tribal title IV-E agencies on all children in
foster care and those who have been adopted with title IV-E agency involvement.
Title IV-E agencies are required to submit AFCARS data twice a year.
• The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS): is a voluntary data
collection system that gathers information from all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico about reports of child abuse and neglect.
• The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD): collects information about youth
in foster care, including outcomes for those who have aged out of foster care.
• Discretionary grants for research and program development often produce datasets
that may be of interest for secondary analysis.
• Voluntary contributions of data from well-designed quantitative research studies.
• In addition to the data sources that are funded and facilitated by the Children's
Bureau, there are other very important datasets housed at NDACAN, such as:
o National Incidence Study (NIS)
o The Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN)
o National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW)
NDACAN actively supports secondary analysis of its datasets by providing technical support, workshops, and researcher networking opportunities including but not limited to the following: promotes a scholarly exchange among researchers by operating a listserv to disseminate information related to child maltreatment; acquires micro-data to distribute among leading researchers and promote national data collection efforts; provides datasets to the research community for secondary analysis; serves as a forum to connect the research community on the issue; supports information sharing by maintaining the Child Maltreatment Research List (CMRL) and developing the Updata e-newsletter; and provides data analysis through conference workshops and an annual summer research institute, where a select group of researchers are invited to gain hands-on access to data, statistical consultants, and dive deep into analysis with the support of a team to help them with their questions.
Purpose and Objectives:
A core mission of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) is to prevent child abuse and neglect and ensure that children who are victims receive treatment and care. Data collection and analysis, and the research knowledge that results, is integral to making important policy decisions, raising awareness, and effecting change. There are many datasets related to child abuse and neglect; some are large, national in scope, and legislatively mandated; other data collection efforts are on a smaller scale through discretionary grants or privately funded research evaluation projects. The National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) serves as a central repository for these datasets and makes them available for secondary analysis to researchers throughout the country. Providing analytic support, connecting the child maltreatment research community and providing a critical point of access to micro-level data for analysis is a critical function that fosters the continued growth of research-based knowledge on the incidence, causes, consequences, and prevention of child maltreatment, and other child welfare-related topics. The ultimate goal is to promote the expansion of a knowledge base leading to greater safety, permanency, and well-being for America's children.
Minimum Project Requirements
o The purpose of this requirement is to continue the operation of the National Data
Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) and to continue the processing,
housing, and dissemination of high quality data sets, and related activities to
increase the knowledge base in the child welfare field. Specific activities to be
undertaken include but are not limited to:
• Task 1- Maintain effective and efficient project management processes throughout
the task order; ensure protocols for communication are followed; resolve
conflicting priorities; hire and maintain a Project Director (PD) to serve as primary
liaison to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR);
• Task 2- Maintain contents of the existing data archive and archive additional data
sets as they become available (written guides and forms to support data set
preparation and submission process, active engagement with potential
contributors, and establish and maintain best practices around data confidentiality
and security protocols for the storing and transmission of all data sets);
• Task 3- Promote the use of the data sets among researchers through a variety of
training (annual research institute), workshops and webinars, ongoing technical
assistance, dissemination and marketing activities, and establish a national
advisory board;
• Task 4(a) Creation of an online dashboard to query to retrieve tables and
aggregate statistics on a variety of topics related to child maltreatment and child
welfare; 4(b)- Conduct ad hoc analyses of selected data sets within the archive for
Children's Bureau, ACYF Office of the Commissioner, and other requestors; 4(c)-
hire and maintain a child welfare subject matter expert to provide analytic support;
• Task 5- Maintain and update the digital library of research publications (Child Abuse and Neglect
Digital Library - CANDL) using datasets in the archive;
• Task 6- Continue operation of a listserv of child welfare researchers around the country to
promote the exchange of ideas and information that will help the field to move forward; and
Anticipated Period of Performance:
The anticipated period of performance will include one (1) 12- month base period and two (2) consecutive 12-month Option periods.
Capability statement/information sought:
Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, and length of time needed to become operational, which addresses the following:
1. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with key staff
throughout the Children's Bureau and other Federal agencies; local, regional, national, and
private organizations; institutions of higher learning; and other child welfare and related entities.
2. Demonstrated ability to provide professional staff with extensive expertise and substantive
knowledge in:
a. program and fiscal management;
b. current child welfare fields;
c. systems database and website development;
d. confidentiality and data security;
e. preservation formats, copyright, current trends in digital archiving; and
f. technical assistance.
3. Information regarding respondents':
a. staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training;
b. current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work;
c. evidence of extensive relationships with and understanding of the data and training needs of
the child abuse and neglect academic community
d. evidence of extensive relationships with and understanding of the data and analytic requests
related to child abuse and neglect;
e. prior completed projects of similar nature;
f. corporate experience and management capability; and
g. examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information.
4. Ability to provide all on and off-site personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies, materials, and
storage to operate all services and activities for NDACAN. Unless otherwise specified, all meetings,
trainings, and media operations will be conducted at the Contractor's facilities.
5. Demonstrated ability to ensure compatibility and adherence to all required Federal agency rules and
regulations regarding computer networks, databases, websites, conferences, and confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to produce multimedia materials (print, video, audio) in accordance with
government regulations, including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 749d)
6. Demonstrate an understanding of current NDACAN practices fulfilling the project functions (see
Minimum Project Requirements, above).
7. Ability to obtain a review or certification for the Federal Authority to Operate (ATO).
8. Ability to create a multimedia strategy, grounded in research assessing needs of child welfare
researchers and related professionals.
9. Ability to disseminate with an effective strategy for distribution and tracking.
10. Ability to create, maintain and facilitate a listserv that cover a wide range of research areas.
11. Demonstrated ability to manage large scale private and public databases, track inquiries, and
requests, and troubleshoot technical issues.
12. Demonstrated ability to transfer, maintain and enhance the NDACAN website.
13. Ability to receive and respond (within three business days) to public inquiries.
14. Demonstrated expertise and experience designing website materials, social media, promotional
materials, brochures and related publications.
15. Ability to exhibit and present at national and local conference across the United States.
16. Capacity to monitor and evaluate the quality of services and internal processes and procedures for
continuous quality improvement.
17. Estimate overall schedule
18. 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;
Information submission instructions:
Interested sources are invited to submit a capability statement no more than five pages. This capability statement should clearly and concisely describe:
• A cover letter which includes the offeror's name, company address, a point of contact, phone number,
email address, DUNS number, and current GSA schedules appropriate to this work (if any). If you have
a government approved accounting system, please identify the agency that approved the system, and
the type of company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via
the System for Award Management (SAM).
• The offeror's capability and organizational capacity to perform the work as described above.
• Provide the bios or resumes for proposed key staff members, including the project manager and lead
technical staff.
• The offeror's most pertinent previous experience with similar government contracts within the last four
years.
• Any websites and/or applications with strong social media components that the contractor has had
primary responsibility for developing.
• An outline narrating a data security plan to ensure the protection of the datasets as described above, especially
those that the offeror has used on previous similar performance based government contracts. This may
include:
o Specific system details
o How the information will be stored
o How will the information be protected
o How the information will be shared with requestors
• A outline narrating a potential quality assurance surveillance plan for measuring the work as described above, especially
those that the offeror has used on previous similar performance based government contracts. This may
include:
o Proposed standards, metrics, or acceptable quality levels.
o Methods of surveillance and/or inspection.
o Evaluation methods and/or procedures.
o Proposed incentive structures (positive and/or negative).
o Any other procedures used to ensure high quality and cost effective work.
This capabilities statement does not need to describe how the contractor would carry out the proposed tasks, and does not need to provide resumes or other information for non-key staff. 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) and for any other purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.
Qualifying small businesses which have the organizational capacity to provide either or both of the two main areas of work are encouraged to respond to this request. All teaming arrangements (if any) should also include the above-cited information with certifications for each entity on the proposed team.
All offerors must register or be registered on SAM located at: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. 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.
Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be announced to the public in Federal Business Opportunities in accordance with the FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
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.
All inquiries to this "Sources Sought" must be in writing to Peter.preston@psc.hhs.gov or:
Peter D. Preston Jr. Contract Specialist
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Program Support Center
Strategic Acquisition Service 12501 Ardennes Avenue Suite 400
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone (301) 443-5100
Fax: (301) 480-0547
Telephone responses will not be accepted. All inquiries must be typed in 12 Font. All inquiries submitted electronically should be in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Please keep responses to a maximum of 5 pages, only one copy of responses are necessary. All interested sources are encouraged to respond in writing no later than 04/06/2017.
Peter D. Preston, Contract Specialist, Phone 3014435100, Email Peter.Preston@psc.hhs.gov
