The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award on a single source basis a purchase order to MGC Data Services, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

The purchase order is to provide estimates of confidence intervals and assess the reliability of those estimates through bootstrapping. Provide programming for cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical analyses and provide general SAS programming support, technical assistance and training in order to increase efficiency of CDC research staff efforts.

MGC oversaw development of data management and statistical analysis program files for previous work in estimating arthritis prevalence and costs, and thus has a library of programs available for use in this project..

SCOPE OF WORK
The vendor will devote 46 days to this project providing statistical programming and analysis expertise as follows:

Generating confidence intervals for cost estimates for 7 specific types of arthritis
Estimate confidence intervals using bootstrapping methods to account for MEPS' complex survey design.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the burden of arthritis
Conduct analyses of cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets (including the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, National Health Interview Survey) to describe burden of arthritis in association with co-morbidities, chronic disease risk factors and arthritis attributable effects.

Provide SAS Programming Support and Training
Provide ongoing SAS programming technical support to CDC research staff

This order is a firm fixed price requirement.

The vendor shall provide the following deliverables to the Project Officer by the dates required.

Deliverables Date required Hours
1. Confidence intervals will be estimated using bootstrapping to account for MEPS' complex survey design. Four months following project commencement 75
2. Conduct descriptive analyses of burden of arthritis using large national complex datasets such as National Health Interview Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Ten months following project commencement 240
3. Provide ongoing SAS programming technical support to arthritis program staff. ongoing 50
Two trips to Atlanta Georgia to conduct data analyses for deliverable #1. Sept/Nov n/a

Minimum Vendor Requirements- The vendor must have demonstrated expertise in the following areas:
1) Bio-statistical and econometric estimation methods;
2) Developing and modifying program management and statistical analysis program files for arthritis cost estimation from MEPS;
3) SAS and SUDAAN;
4) Extensive knowledge of design and statistical issues pertaining to MEPS including complex survey designs;
5) Knowledge of restricted data use protocols;
6) Knowledge of statistical methods for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses,
7) Implementation of bootstrapping procedures; and
8) Efficient management and analysis of large (> 2 million observations) datasets,

The North American Classification System Code is 541690. This requirement is not set aside for small businesses. It is being procured under the simplified acquisition procedures, found in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13. The authority for this sole source is FAR 13.106-1(b)- Solicitation Competition-single source. The period of performance shall continue for 12 months after award date.

This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, firms that believe they can provide all items listed for procurement need to submit a written notification of interest and capability to the Contracting Specialist within 15 days from the publication date of this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a future competitive procurement. Inquiries may be sent to Ivory Reid email [email protected] or by fax to 770-488-2671.