Outdoor Physical Activity and Health Study - Prince George, BC

Title:

Outdoor Physical Activity and Health (OPAH) Study

Introduction:

The study will be conducted in Prince George, British Columbia during January through April 2014.Prince George is the preferred site for the purposes of this study based on geography, air quality characteristics, availability of air quality information at study sites of interest, and size of the community. 
	
Health Canada is seeking a contractor to conduct a panel study involving repeated measurements of respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes on 35-40 adults 55 years of age and older.

Subjects will participate in light exercise (e.g. walking) for 30 minutes each day, before and after which respiratory and cardiovascular measures will be performed. 

The following physiologic measurements will be made: spirometry; heart rate variability; endothelial function; exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO); blood pressure; pulse rate, and oxygen. Urine samples will be taken. 

The services provided by the contractor include:  hiring, scheduling and supervising the daily work of field staff; ensuring that staff follow all standard operating procedures; setting up and safeguarding the study site and all related equipment; recruiting study participants and overseeing their safety during the study; providing a storage and laboratory space and safeguarding documents and computers; shipping documents and laboratory samples to Health Canada and designated laboratories; and assisting in communications with community stakeholders.

Estimated Value:

The total value of any contract(s) resulting from this RFP shall not exceed $130,000.00, including travel and living expenses (if applicable), fees paid to study participants, other expenses and all applicable taxes. There will be an option to extend the contract for two additional years at $130,000.00 per year.

Ownership of Intellectual Property:

The Crown to own the Copyright in accordance with Section 6.4.1 of the Government of Canada’s Policy on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown Procurement Contracts which states that the Crown may retain ownership of the intellectual property arising from a government contract:

“where the main purpose of the Crown Procurement Contract, or of the deliverables contracted for, is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination;”


Security Requirement:

The Contractor must, at all times during the performance of the Contract, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS)  issued by the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate, Public Works and Government Services Canada.

The Contractor personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets or sensitive work site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (CISD), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of CISD/PWGSC.

	
Mandatory Requirements:

M1.  The bidder must demonstrate that within the last 10 years, members of the Study Team have undertaken at least one project using people as subjects of the study.   The bidder’s study team must have been responsible for the project management including recruiting of volunteer participants.  

M2.  The bidder’s technical proposal must include a detailed plan/strategy for recruiting and retaining qualified study personnel as well as 35 participants for the study.

M3.  The bidder must make a commitment that research staff will be present in Prince George throughout the duration of the study. The bidder must also make a commitment to have the study coordinator visit the site at least 90% of the days and be available to ensure the study runs smoothly on all study days.

M4.  The bidder’s technical proposal must include a communication plan that addresses how enquiries from the community will be handled (i.e. the news media, politicians, public health officials, members of the public, etc.)

M5.   The bidder must acknowledge that it is their sole responsibility to ensure they have sufficient liability coverage.


Request for information regarding this requirement must be addressed in writing to the following contracting officer of the Procurement and Contracting Unit:

Name:    Robert Merrick

E-mail address:     Robert.Merrick@hc-sc.gc.ca