Preventing Fentanyl Exposures in WV Hospitals and Clinics
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE AN ORDER/CONTRACT. This is not a request for competitive proposals/quotes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), hereby announces its intent to issue a sole source order/contract to West Virginia University Research Corp., 886 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Morgantown, WV 26506.
The NAICS code for this acquisition is 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, with a size standard of $15 million.
In 2018, NIOSH issued guidance to protect workers in hospitals and clinics from fentanyl exposure. This guidance includes instructions on hazard assessment, work practices, training, personal protective equipment and decontamination. While significant stakeholder input was included during the drafting of this guidance, the feasibility of implementing these recommendations is unclear. In addition, the extent that these recommendations have been disseminated and implemented remain unknown. Discussions with NIOSH fentanyl subject matter experts have indicated a need for this kind of evaluation and feedback, as very little is known about fentanyl exposures and prevention in healthcare settings.
During 1999-2017, nearly 400,000 deaths occurred from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids. This epidemic continues to grow. In 2017, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids was 6 times higher than the number of deaths in 1999. West Virginia leads the nation with the highest rates of death due to drug overdose with 57.8 per 100,000 in 2017. Even after adjusting for age, this rate of death much higher than the next highest state, Ohio (46.3 per 100,000).
The rise in overdose deaths has been described in three waves, as opioid use has changed from prescription opioids to heroin to synthetic opioids such as illicitly-manufactured fentanyl. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Illicitly-manufactured fentanyl sold illegally in the U.S. and is frequently mixed with heroin or cocaine, often without the user's knowledge.
This surreptitious incorporation of fentanyl into illicit drugs is not only dangerous for drug users, who may unknowingly overdose, but also emergency responders and healthcare providers to may render aide to a patient who has overdosed. This occupational exposure to fentanyl can occur via inhalation of powders or aerosols, mucous membrane contact, ingestion, or exposure through open skin (ie: needlesticks). Any of these exposures can potentially result in result in a variety of symptoms including dizziness, confusion, altered vision and/or life- threatening respiratory depression. Several NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations have documented these exposures and health effects among workers in law enforcement, emergency medical services, and fire fighting.
Documented exposure to fentanyl among healthcare personnel has been less well-described. Healthcare personnel may be exposed with direct contact or even proximity to the patient or their personal items which may be contaminated with illicit fentanyl. In August 2017, three nurses at Affinity Hospital in Massilion, OH were exposed to fentanyl while cleaning the room of an overdose patient and required Narcan administration. In this example, the patient was not present when the nurses were exposed to fentanyl indicating that healthcare workers, even those without direct patient care duties, are at risk for fentanyl exposure.
The evaluation of NIOSH recommendations is critical to making positive impacts on worker safety and health. Efforts to align the Institute's science-based recommendations with the needs of the healthcare provider community are necessary to maintain NIOSH's relevance and impact.
The purpose of this contract is to evaluate the implementation of NIOSH's guidance for "Preventing Fentanyl Exposure in Hospitals and Clinics" in WV hospitals and clinic.
The scope of this project is to obtain an independent evaluation of NIOSH's guidance for "Preventing Fentanyl Exposure in Hospitals and Clinics" for the purposes of improving NIOSH guidance. This project does not involve human subjects, as data will be collected at a hospital or clinic level. The OMB process is expected to be significantly shortened by using the fast-track process. No publication of the data is planned and sharing of the final results will be largely kept to West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCSTI), NIOSH and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR).
Period of Performance: 12 months
A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action will be based on responses to this notice and is solely in the discretion of the Contracting Officer. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov , prior to an award of a federal contract.
This action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit quotations.
This is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will review any/all product, capabilities, and pricing information submitted prior to the closure of this notice. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are hereby afforded the opportunity to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward product and pricing information to Diane Meeder, Contracting Officer, CDC, OAS, through email at Dmeeder@cdc.gov.
Any responses should be emailed to Diane Meeder at DMeeder@cdc.gov by July 5, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. ET.
Diane J Meeder, Phone (412)386-4412, Email DMeeder@cdc.gov
