The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award a sole source firm fixed price purchase order to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for the Modifying and Maintaining the Two CDC Diabetes Simulation Models NCCDPHP’s Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT), in collaboration with RTI International, has developed two new computer simulation models for diabetes type 1 and 2. The type 1 model is able to predict the long-term health and economic outcomes of interventions for preventing type 1 diabetes-related complications while the type 2 diabetes model is able to predict the long-term health and economic outcomes of interventions for both preventing type 2 diabetes and its complications. The two models are currently available online on the CDC network and researchers within CDC can use them to conduct diabetes epidemiological and cost-effectivness research. Currently, at least four different projects are using the simulation models. Like many other simulation models, the two diabetes simulation models need to be modified and updated periodically to continuously function in a changed IT environment and to produce valid and reliable results. There are at least four reasons to justify the modifications and updating of the two model. First, due to limited funds at the time when the two models were built, the two models did not go through the scan process to fully meet the CDC IT security and 508 requirements. Second, original programming codes used to program the two models were from 2018 and are no longer comparable with the current CDC IT environment. Third, as both models are new but very complex, “bugs” and computation inefficiency, inconsistency cross outcomes were identified through model testing and applications which need to be fixed. Fourth, many desired features were not built into the model due to limited funds at the time of building the two models. The two simulation models have not been made available for non-CDC researchers to serve the public because of these issues. Purposes of this contract are to modify and maintain the two models. Specifically the contract is to provide the fund needed to (1) make the two models fully meet the current CDC IT security and 508 requirements, (2) reprogram the model with the latest version of the programming code, (3) fix the existing “bugs ” in the models, (4) increase the computation efficiency of the models, (4) make the models more user-friendly with added features (defined below), (5) add the bariatric surgery to the type 2 diabetes simulation model, and (6) make additional modifications resulting from any changes in the CDC IT environment and fix additional “bugs”/”conflicted” outcomes identified by users during the two-year performance period. RTI International was the developer of the two diabetes simulation models. It has all the expertise required to complete the tasks needed for this project including epidemiologists, statisticians, and computer programmers. In addition, as the original developer, RTI knows the design and all data and methods and programming codes used for this model. Thus, RTI International has been identified as the only vendor that can meet all the requirements to complete the tasks of the project and deliver the best value to the government. This contract 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) (SAP) and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government. 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. Any quotation/response should be emailed to contract specialist at
[email protected] by COB 5pm Est, July 14, 2023