REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Consultant to Develop Educational Materials for the Applied Informatics Team Training Table of Contents: Part I. Overview Information Part II. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description 1. Background 2. Objectives 3. Deliverables 4. Timeline Section II. Award Mechanism 1. Mechanism(s) of Support 2. Funds Available Section III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Section IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Content and Form of Application Submission 2. Submission Dates and Times a. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates b. Submitting an Application c. Application Processing Section V. Application Review Information 1. Criteria 2. Review and Selection Process Section VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices 2. Award Recipient and Responsibilities 3. CSTE Responsibilities 4. Contact Information PART I. OVERVIEW INFORMATION Issuing Organization: Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) at www.cste.org Participating Organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov. Funding by Cooperative Agreement Number U38-OT000143-05.
PART II. FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Background CSTE is developing a team-based on-the job informatics training program to build STLT informatics capacity. The interdisciplinary teams (up to 10) will be comprised of 3-5 members from health departments and can include individuals from outside the organization such as academic, clinical, or private sector partners. Teams will work collaboratively on a public health informatics public health project focused on Meaningful Use, Surveillance System Improvement, or the Informatics Savvy Health Department Assessment. Each participating team will be grouped with other teams working on similar projects to foster peer-to-peer learning. The intensive program will begin recruiting in October 2017, selection completed by December and begin in January 2018. The program will include webinars, peer-to-peer calls, and conclude with an in-person case study at the CSTE Annual Conference in June 2018. Each team will also be provided a training stipend proved to the health department to provide a flexible supplement for health department training needs relevant to the project. CSTE will conduct an evaluation for lessons-learned from this team-based STLT training approach. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit a consultant to develop and instruct up to four training webinars and a case study on public health informatics principals. Objectives By June 30, 2018, the consultant will develop and instruct up to four training webinars and a case study on public health informatics principals. Deliverables To meet the above mentioned objective, the consultant will be required to: Participate in calls with CSTE as needed Provide regular progress reports/invoices to CSTE Adhere to the timeline for activities as described below Participate in evaluation activities as appropriate All developed training materials will be provided to CSTE o Develop and deliver 2-4 training webinars (one hour in duration each) on public health informatics principals o Develop a case study on public health informatics principals o All training materials must be rooted in adult learning theory and should be relevant to the training goals and project topics of the participants. o Work with CSTE to align evaluation materials to the curricula elements
Timeline Monday, October 30, 2017 RFP release Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 11:59pm EST Applications due Friday, December 1, 2017 Award Notification Date December 2017 Consultant orientation February 2018 Deliver and instruct Webinar #1 March 2018 Deliver and instruct Webinar #2 April 2018 Deliver and instruct Webinar #3 May 2018 Deliver and instruct Webinar #4 June 10, 2018 Deliver and instruct the case study at the 2018 CSTE Annual Conference (This date is not flexible) Section II. Award Mechanism Mechanism(s) of Support CSTE will manage matters related to financial support for this project. Funds Available Funding for this project will be firm-fixed; CSTE intends to commit up to $30,000 to support the consultant for this project. Travel for the consultant to attend the 2018 CSTE Annual Conference is included in the $30,000. CSTE receives funding for this project through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cooperative agreement number U38-OT000143-05. Funds awarded to contractors under this announcement are subject to the laws, regulations and policies governing the U.S. Public Health Service grant awards. All estimated funding amounts are subject to the availability of funds. Section III. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Applicants should have significant public health informatics experience, knowledge of adult learning principles, and previously teaching experience. Ideal candidates will be familiar with the practice of public health informatics within state, local, territorial, or tribal health departments and current initiatives and mandates affecting the practice of public health informatics (e.g. Meaningful Use, Digital Bridge Project). Section IV. Application and Submission Information Content and Form of Application Submission Applications should include the following headings in the order listed and should address the issues included under each heading below: 1) Contact information (1/2 page maximum) 2) Statement of interest and experience (1 page maximum) 3) Proposed project plan (4 pages maximum) 4) Proposed budget (1 page maximum) 5) Appendix additional materials (not required and may not be reviewed) 6) CV or Resume of Key Personnel
For further assistance, technical questions, or inquiries about the application, contact Jessica Arrazola at CSTE (770-458-3811 or informaticstraining@cste.org). Representatives from CSTE will be available to speak to potential applicants to discuss technical or administrative questions. All questions and answers will be made available to all potential applicants upon request. Submission Dates and Times Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates: Application Submission Receipt Date: Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 11:59pm EST Award Notification Date: Friday, December 1, 2017 Anticipated Start Date: Monday, December 11, 2017 Anticipated End Date: Friday, June 29, 2018 Submitting an Application Application materials should be sent to Jessica Arrazola at informaticstraining@cste.org and must be received by 11:59pm EST Sunday, November 19, 2017. Notification of successful receipt of the application will be sent to the applicant upon request. Electronic applications are encouraged, however, CSTE will accept applications mailed to CSTE National Office at the following address: Jessica Arrazola, DrPH, MPH, CHES Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2872 Woodcock Blvd, Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30341 Mailed applications must still arrive by the aforementioned deadline. Application Processing: All applications received by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, November 19, 2017 will be reviewed by Friday, December 1, 2017. Section V. Application Review Information Criteria The following criteria will be used to review all submitted applications: 1. Ability of the applicant to meet the objectives of the project described in Section I, above, satisfactorily (25%) a. Prior experience b. Qualifications 2. Applicant s understanding of the project deliverables (25%) 3. Proposed work plan (25%) a. Addresses plan to develop webinars and the case study b. Incorporates adult learning principles c. Feasibility d. Ability to meet the timeline e. Quality of submitted proposal 4. Extent to which the budget is justified (15%) 5. Completeness of the application (5%)
Review and Selection Process Eligible applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by CSTE in accordance with the review criteria stated above. All consultants will be reviewed to determine their eligibility as independent contractors. Funding awards will be made based upon the quality of the submitted proposal and the ability of the applicant to meet the criteria stated above. Reviewers may include representatives from key stakeholders, including CDC. Section VI. Award Admission Information Award Notices All applicants will be notified via email or phone no later than Friday, December 1, 2017. Award Recipients and Responsibilities The award recipient will have the primary responsibility for the following: 1. Accomplish the agreed upon objectives and deliverables listed in this announcement during the award period. 2. Provide written progress reports and invoices to CSTE as required in the contract agreement. 3. Be available through multiple avenues for feedback and discussion (conference calls, etc.) on a regular basis (at least once monthly). CSTE Responsibilities CSTE will have the primary responsibility for the following: 1. Serve as the awardee s principle point of contact 2. Facilitate work and provide avenues for communication between awardee and stakeholders 3. Monitor the terms of the agreement 4. Fund according to the terms of the agreement Contact Information For more information contact: Jessica Arrazola, DrPH, MPH, CHES Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2872 Woodcock Blvd, Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30341 Phone: 770-458-3811 Fax: 770-407-5108 Email: informaticstraining@cste.org