2019 Request for Information (RFI) Hawaiʻi Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund Evaluation of Tobacco Cessation Community Grant Program and Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline Deadline: Friday, April 19, 2019, 4:00 p.m. HST Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to acquire information from qualified and experienced professional evaluation firms that can provide evaluation services to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) for the Hawai‘i Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund’s (Trust Fund) cessation programs, including the Tobacco Cessation Community Grants Program and the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline (HTQL). HCF seeks to enter into a contractual agreement with an evaluation firm to start on July 1, 2019 and end on June 30, 2024. The evaluation services will assist HCF and the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) in assessing overall performance of the Trust Fund cessation programs for the purposes of program improvement and accountability, and to document successes and lessons learned. Hawai‘i Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund and Hawai‘i’s Tobacco Strategic Plan Funding for an evaluation contractor comes from the Hawai‘i Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was created by state law following a Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between most US states and territories and the tobacco industry.1 HCF has held and managed the Trust Fund on behalf of the Hawai‘i Department of Health since 2000. Pursuant to the contract with the DOH, HCF administers community grants programs and the HTQL as components of a statewide comprehensive tobacco prevention, education, and cessation strategy to reduce and eliminate tobacco consumption based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) best practices for comprehensive tobacco control programs. Hawai‘i’s statewide tobacco prevention and cessation strategy is implemented through a coordinated effort between DOH’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, public health advocates, private and non-profit organizations, policy makers, and various communities throughout the state. Hawai‘i’s tobacco prevention and control programs also are guided by the State’s 2016-2020 Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Five-Year Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan) which focuses on reaching and serving priority populations in Hawai‘i with higher smoking rates.2 The Strategic Plan was developed with community input throughout Hawai‘i. HCF’s Tobacco Cessation Community Grant Program and the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline HCF’s Tobacco Cessation Community Grant Program focuses on providing intensive, evidence-based cessation services to priority populations with high smoking rates through program innovations and adaptations that help these populations quit smoking. The current tobacco cessation grant program, which started on July 1, 2016 and ends on June 30, 2019, has reached or surpassed program benchmarks and goals. Evaluation results from July 2016 through December 2017 revealed that a total of 4,510 unique tobacco users received tobacco treatment; 97% of participants Hawai’i Revised Statutes 328L-2 (2010). Hawai‘i Department of Health 2016-2020 Tobacco Use Prevention and Control in Hawai‘i, Five-Year Strategic Plan. https://health.hawaii.gov/tobacco/files/2013/04/2016TobPlanR.pdf 1 2
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came from priority populations; 74% of participants received stop-smoking medication for free through the grant or assistance to get it from another source (such an insurance); 80.2% overall achieved a 24-hour quit attempt rate; 25.7% overall achieved a 30-day abstinence rate; and 88% were very or mostly satisfied with the program. Grantees implemented a variety of program innovations and adaptations to reach and serve priority populations. In February 2019, HCF released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Cessation Grant Program and will award nonprofit organizations across Hawai‘i with grants to start July 1, 2019 and end on June 30, 2023. The RFP is posted on HCF’s open application webpage at https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/grants/open-applications. HCF hopes to continue to build on the momentum and lessons learned from the current cessation grant program. In conjunction with the HCF Cessation Grant Program, Hawai‘i smokers who want to quit smoking can also access help from the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline. The Quitline provides free cessation counseling services through a toll-free telephone line (1-800-Quit-Now) or online (www.hawaiiquitline.org). Like the Cessation Grant Program, the HTQL focuses on reaching and serving priority populations with cessation services. In 2018, HTQL started a youth program that provides cessation services to youth 13 to 17 years old. Current results of the HTQL revealed in FY2018 34% of HTQL respondents to a 7-month follow-up survey achieved long-term abstinence (30-day point prevalence) and 90% quit for at least 24 hours after enrolling, while 82% were very satisfied or mostly satisfied. The Quitline and the current cessation grant program are complementary as the cessation grant program is intended to provide free in-person services for individuals from priority populations, while the Quitline provides free telephone and online services to all interested smokers in all communities statewide. Both programs provide services to individual smokers and can distribute free FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies to eligible smokers (except those in the youth program). Both programs also provide services to persons who use e-cigarettes containing nicotine (vaping). HCF seeks to contract a professional evaluator to evaluate awarded nonprofit organizations of the Tobacco Cessation Grant Program and the HTQL and build on the positive results of the current programs in reaching and serving populations with high smoking rates to help more people quit using tobacco products. Tobacco Use in Hawai‘i & Focus on Priority Populations Tobacco use in Hawai‘i continues to be a serious public health problem, where roughly 1,400 deaths each year are attributable to smoking.3 Estimates of annual smoking-caused monetary costs in Hawai‘i include $526M in health care costs, $387M in lost productivity costs, and account for $141M of all Medicaid expenditures.4 Hawai‘i’s adult smoking prevalence rate in 2016 was 13.1% (about 140,700 adult smokers), a statistically significant decline since 20025. However, as stated by the Truth Initiative, tobacco is not an equal opportunity killer6. Despite the overall decline in tobacco use, certain groups in Hawai‘i still have disproportionate rates of tobacco use, and therefore disease and fatality, as evidenced by the Hawai‘i Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)7 and other surveys8. Those with higher smoking rates include: • Native Hawaiians (18%)
Campaign of Tobacco Free Kids (2018) - http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/facts_issues/toll_us/Hawaii. Campaign of Tobacco Free Kids (2018) - http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/facts_issues/toll_us/Hawaii. 5 2016 Hawai‘i Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2016 BRFSS), accessible through the Hawai‘i Health Data Warehouse at http://www.hhdw.org/ under BRFSS Reports. Tobacco Use, Prevalence and Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Tracker. 6 The Truth Initiative - https://truthinitiative.org/tobacco-use-hawaii. 7 2016 BRFSS, http://www.hhdw.org/ under BRFSS Reports, Tobacco Use, Prevalence. 8 See, for example, Hawai‘i Health Data Warehouse - http://www.hhdw.org/. 3 4
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Persons with mental health and/or substance use challenges (examples include: diagnosed depression 25.1% and heavy drinking 35.5%) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) communities (22.4%), and Low socio-economic status populations (examples: low income 21.3% and low educational attainment 23.6%).9
In addition, the statewide smoking rate for pregnant women during the last trimester of pregnancy was 8.1% in 2015.10 This has long-term consequences for the next generation as smoking during pregnancy causes significantly higher rates of premature birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).11 HCF seeks a professional evaluator that can evaluate the Trust Fund tobacco cessation programs in providing intensive, evidence-based cessation services to help priority populations, identified above, quit tobacco. Evaluation Goals HCF seeks a professional evaluator that can achieve the following evaluation goals for the Trust Fund cessation programs: • Design and implement an evaluation system to measure the reach, impact, and effectiveness of the cessation programs in their service to priority populations and their ability to help them quit smoking. • Develop process and outcome measures, indicators, and benchmarks for the cessation programs in conjunction with HCF and DOH. • Report impact of the cessation programs to HCF and DOH, and other partners of the Trust Fund as requested by HCF, through various reports and presentations. • Assess overall impact of the cessation programs and provide recommendations to HCF and DOH for future program improvement and positive performance. Contract Timeline & Amount • Funds are contingent on HCF and DOH entering into a 5-year contract effective July 1, 2019. If the contract is not entered by July 1, 2019, the contract may be delayed, deferred, or cancelled. HCF will notify contractor of the expected start date. HCF is not liable for any work, contract, costs, expenses, loss of profits, or any damages whatsoever incurred by respondents to this RFI. • The term of the evaluation contract is for a five-year (5) period to start July 1, 2019 and end on June 30, 2024. • The contract amount is expected to range between $250,000 to $300,000 per year for evaluation services. Funds are budgeted yearly by HCF and DOH and are subject to availability of funds from the Trust Fund. • HCF reserves the right in its sole discretion to discontinue funding if evaluation services are determined unsatisfactory. Desired Qualifications The following are desired qualifications that HCF seeks in a professional evaluator. Firms that meet these qualifications are encouraged to respond to this RFI.
2016 BRFSS, http://www.hhdw.org/ under BRFSS Reports. Tobacco Use, Prevalence, and Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Tracker. Early Childhood Indicator Report: Hawai‘i State and Counties. Health, page 5. He, S.J. & Pobutsky, A. (2015). University of Hawai‘i, Center on the Family - http://uhfamily.hawaii.edu/publications/brochures/bf021_COF_ECISState&CountyReport_2015_1001.pdf. 11 For example, see “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Smoking During Pregnancy (2018) https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/pregnancy/index.htm. 9
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Experience in leading the evaluation of tobacco cessation programs, including programs that involve behavioral change among specific populations. Lead staff have the expertise, experience, and knowledge in evaluating tobacco cessation programs involving behavioral change for specific populations. Experience in designing and operating an evaluation system that collects, tracks, and monitors quantitative and qualitative data for the tobacco cessation programs. Possess the capacity to manage Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) related data. Ability to track process and outcome measures, indicators, and benchmarks for evidence-based interventions or other strategies that create behavior change. Capacity to analyze data for results, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned, and provide recommendations for program improvement. Develop evaluation reports and presentations in various formats that illustrate the results of the cessation programs for various audiences to promote and increase learning, sharing, and knowledge and improve overall performance. Experience working with multiple partners and organizations, including government, nonprofit organizations, and the Quitline contractor, to implement a coordinated evaluation system. Possess knowledge of and have actively participated in Hawai‘i’s tobacco prevention and control field. Understand Hawai‘i’s unique culture and environment and their impact on behavioral change among specific populations.
Response Questions To respond to this RFI, please answer the following questions below. Please include the name of the organization, contact person (name and title), phone number, mailing address, and email address. Responses should be no more than 10 pages in length (single-spaced) and emailed to Lisha Kimura of HCF at lkimura@hcf-hawaii.org by Friday, April 19, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. HST. 1. Please describe your organization’s experience in leading the design and evaluation of tobacco cessation programs, including programs that involve behavioral change among specific populations. Provide an example of past or current projects that illustrate your organization’s experience and expertise. 2. Please name the lead staff that will be responsible for the evaluation contract. Explain their roles and responsibilities, as well as their expertise and experience in evaluating tobacco cessation programs involving behavioral change for specific populations. Please include their qualifications including educational degrees, awards, and honors. Please submit resumes of lead staff. 3. Please describe your organization’s experience in designing and operating an evaluation system that collects, tracks, and monitors quantitative and qualitative data for tobacco cessation programs. Indicate the use of any survey tools and instruments used in past and current projects for data collection. Please describe your organization’s experience and capacity to manage Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) related data. 4. Please explain your organization’s ability to track process and outcome measures, indicators, and benchmarks for evidence-based interventions or other proven strategies that create behavior change. Describe past or current projects where common indicators and benchmarks and/or unique and innovative indicators and benchmarks are tracked to evaluate strategies to motivate behavior change. 5. Please describe your organization’s capacity and ability to analyze data for results, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned, and provide recommendations for program improvement. Briefly share past or 4|Page
current projects that demonstrate your organization’s ability to analyze data for results and provide recommendations for program improvement. Include examples showing how your organization’s recommendation(s) improved program results. 6. Please explain how your organization has developed evaluation reports and presentations in various formats to illustrate the results of tobacco cessation programs for various audiences. Please share how these reports and presentations have promoted and increased learning and improved overall performance over time. If possible, please provide a past or current experience to demonstrate this effort. 7. Please describe current or past experiences working with multiple partners and organizations, that may include government, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit contractors, to implement a coordinated evaluation system. If your organization has any past experiences evaluating a Tobacco Quitline service, please describe how your organization worked with the Quitline vendor to implement an evaluation system. Please describe how your organization best worked with various partners to design and implement the evaluation processes, systems, tools and data. 8. If applicable, please describe any past or current projects or experiences that have contributed to efforts of Hawai‘i’s tobacco prevention and control field. Please indicate if these projects have included behavioral change efforts for specific populations, including the priority populations mentioned in this RFI. 9. If applicable, please describe any past or current projects or experiences that have contributed to your organization’s understanding of Hawai‘i’s unique culture, history, and environment and their impact on behavioral change among specific populations. Deadline The deadline to respond to this RFI is Friday, April 19, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. HST. Please email responses to Lisha Kimura at lkimura@hcf-hawaii.org. Review Process HCF will review responses received by the deadline and may invite selected respondents to submit full proposals. HCF will make the final decision on selection of an evaluation contractor for the Trust Fund cessation programs. Questions? Please direct questions to Larissa Kick at lkick@hcf-hawaii.org or 808-566-5565.
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