5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13A-19 Rockville, MD 20857

B -- NATIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY OF REGISTERED NURSES SOL HRSA 230-BHPr-7(9) DUE 042699 POC Suzanne Stinson, 301-443-5130 This announcement is a sources sought announcement, not a request for proposal or solicitation. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking to identify sources capable of providing for a National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses 2000. The objective of this study is to obtain data on the size and characteristics of the registered nurse (RN) population in the United States, for each State, and for policy relevant subgroups of the population as of March of 2000 as required by Congressional mandates. The study should be conducted using complex survey methodology, and the time frame for this study from start to completion is 16 months. The universe of RNs in the United States (more than 2.8 million RNs) is to be compiled from data collected from each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, taking into account two key characteristics of the sampling frame using different data collection mechanisms, different forms, different database structure and computer systems and must beadjusted for duplication within States between RN and advanced practice nurses (APN) listings. Quality control and quality assurance procedures should specify procedures for assessing and correcting licensure information supplied by respondents for completeness and consistency with State licensure records in accordance with the requirements for weighting under the survey design procedures. The sample design should use the rotating panel structure and a nested alpha-segment design to provide appropriate multiplicity adjusted weights for both State and national estimates with acceptable level of statistical precision and reliability. The overall sample size for this study is to be no more than 54,000 allowing for increased number of sampled nurses in geographic areas with a relatively high number of minorities. The NSSRN is a mail survey and Computer Assisted Interviewing (CATI) should be available for nonresponse follow-up procedures to achieve the overall response rate of 80 percent with the additional constraints of ensuring sufficient number of responses at the State and at the national level so as to make estimates at the State level as required by law. Quality assurance and quality control activities include but are not restricted to: 1) developing, documenting and implementing compiling, editing, deriving, and documenting all data related activities; 2) maintaining records of follow-ups made as a result of coding and editing procedures and prepare reports showing the number of respondents contacted and summaries of types of questions needing follow-up; and 3) including interim response rate analysis reports as part of each progress report during the collection of data phases of the study. Analysis support includes the derivation of unbiased estimates and respective standard errors of the characteristics of the target population are required using response-adjusted, but multiplicity adjusted sample weights. Computation of sampling variances should include computing at least 20 sets of pseudo-replicate, response-adjusted and multiplicity-adjusted sampling weights. Computation and assessment of design effect and development of general variance estimation techniques for complex survey design utilizing Taylor series approximations should also be provided. Preparing a final database for analysis will include all responses to the survey questionnaire, final coded and original data, all derived variables, sampling weights, and the set of at least 20 replicate pseudo sampling weights and all other fields required to carry out cross-tabulations of variables, analysis, and subsequent use of survey data. A technical report is to be provided describing the application of the sampling design to the study; methodology of data collection; complex statistical techniques used in data including computation of specific and generalized variances. Sources that are able to perform this study must submit their interest in writing, including a written capability statement clearly illustrating their capability to respond to the work described, including company name, address, telephone number, FAX number, type business (large, small, 8(a) etc.) and point of contact. Written responses are due no later than April 26, 1999 and can be mailed or sent by FAX. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this "sources sought" announcement. Should this market survey determine that there are organizations capable of providing such services, HRSA anticipates releasing a competitive Request for Proposal as soon as practicable. The mailing address is Attn: Suzanne Stinson, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 13A-19, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. The FAX number is 301-443-6038, Attn: Suzanne Stinson. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION. See numbered Note 25. Posted 04/07/99 (W-SN317495). (0097)

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