Request for Proposals: RWJF QI resource center

Background

Purpose of Solicitation: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to increase the ability of the health and healthcare community to engage in Quality Improvement (QI). Though there are many and varied QI resources available to health and health care providers and leaders, no easily accessible, freely available organized collection of resources exists to address the needs of an interdisciplinary audience of faculty, students, clinicians and administrators. Further, there is no inexpensive way for those interested in acquiring basic training in QI to acquire expertise and skills through online training. 

The intent of this solicitation is to fund an initiative to create, manage, market and sustain an on-line QI resource center (the "QIRC") that is widely viewed as complete and useful; reflects the state of QI science; is effective in teaching QI skills; and is able to draw in and connect those seeking knowledge and skills related to quality improvement. The QIRC will connect learners with freely available training opportunities to enhance the ability of the health and healthcare community to improve the quality of care provided to Americans.

Related Foundation Projects: RWJF has made several recent investments to assess the state of QI knowledge and training among health and healthcare providers and leaders. A recently developed tool derived from an environmental scan of existing QI training options allows users to compare well-known programs on dimensions of cost, duration, content and requirements. To supplement this information about which models of QI training work best and why, a recently funded project will evaluate five varied QI training programs across the country to further inform and improve the decisions of those seeking to acquire training in QI.
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The Program

We are seeking proposals to create, manage, and sustain an on-line QI resource center (the "QIRC") that is widely viewed as complete, useful, reflects the state of QI science, effective in teaching QI skills and able to draw in and connect those seeking information about quality improvement.  The purpose of the QIRC is to attract and guide learners of all skill levels to resources and training opportunities that improve their ability to understand as well as use the theory and methods of process improvement in their daily work in public health and health care settings.  

The QIRC will offer the following resources:
- On-line QI curriculum
- Summaries, results and research products of RWJF funded evaluations of QI initiatives
- Links to various reports, tools and resources, funded by RWJF and others, relating to
- QI theory
- QI methods
- Acquisition and practice of QI skills
- Conduct of QI research and evaluation
- Virtual center supporting list-servs and blogs for both learners and experts

The on-line QI curriculum mentioned above will be developed by an independent entity chosen through a separate Foundation solicitation and review process.  However, this work will be executed through a subcontract to the grantee selected to create the QIRC in order to ensure technical and content compatibility.  We will be providing more information about this process in an informational call scheduled for November 12, 2008.

The core of the QIRC will be a website housed on the applicant institution's website and co-branded with the RWJF. We would expect the applicant to: (1) design and maintain the on-line resource center,   (2) create, collect, review and monitor content, (3) widely market the resource center to a broad audience, and (4) provide technical assistance to users experiencing difficulty with the website or any of its content. 

Proposals should describe a conceptual model for marketing the QIRC.  Additional resources will be made available for the execution of the marketing plan and thus do not need to be budgeted for in this proposal. 

The tools to be featured on the QIRC may be collected in a variety of ways. We are open to a range of formats and methods to deliver content including: videos, pod casts, simulation, interactive models, online chat rooms and/or blogs.  We would expect the QIRC to have a review process in place to ensure that content available is of the highest quality, and a mechanism for updating content.  We expect that the host organization would track the use of resources and alter content or delivery based on information received from users about usefulness of the on-line resource center and its content. 

The Foundation is committing to fund this resource center for a period of three years. However, we expect that the QIRC will exist well beyond this support period. We are asking all applicants to develop a sustainability plan that demonstrates how the QIRC will outlive the Foundation's financial support.

RWJF will be convening an advisory committee to guide the creation and maintenance of the QIRC.  Though we are seeking a grantee with extensive expertise in QI and adult education, the applicant should expect the Foundation and its advisors to play a major role in influencing the content of the resource center—particularly in the first year or two. To complete the task of creating, populating and maintaining the QIRC, we expect applicant proposals to include support for individuals from several areas of expertise, such as but not limited to: QI methods and implementation; web based teaching and learning; creative web development; internal evaluation and web metrics; online learning communities; and use of QI for health system change.  Where your organization may lack capacity or expertise in any of these areas, please feel free to engage consultants or to partner with other organizations. 

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Your Proposal

Applicants interested in applying to be funded to develop and implement the QIRC should submit a proposal of up to 20 pages due no later than Dec. 22, 2008.  Please address the following areas in your proposal:
1) Structure of the on-line QI resource center:
• How will it be organized, built and staffed?
• How will it be populated with information, links and resources?
• Who will provide technical assistance to users ?

2) Content of the on-line resource center:
• How will the content be collected/developed?
• How will the content be organized (i.e. what are the organizing principles behind each link on repository?  Will content be arranged hierarchically or by specific competencies?  Are these identified principles linked to outcomes? Will the content arrangement show a clear logical relationship?)
• How will you evaluate content to be added to the website to determine whether it is useful and of high quality? How do you propose to maintain and update the content/information?
• How will you evaluate the usefulness of the web site and its content?

3) Developing a QI learning community

• How and to whom you would market this resource center?
• How would you cultivate a community of individuals engaged in teaching and learning QI?
• How you would develop and maintain a learning community through which organizations engaged in institution-wide QI activities could share their resources and lessons learned?

4) Sustainability
• Describe how you will sustain this resource center after RWJF funding expires? 
• Please address pros/cons of at least two strategies (i.e. charging for access, receiving sponsors, etc)?
• Who would you propose for the advisory committee for the resource center?

Please provide a high level timeline of your work and deliverables over the next five years.

Please provide a mock up of a possible home page for the website. 
Include (but do not develop) links to:
1) Relevant material developed with support from RWJF, such as
a. Existing Quality Improvement Training Programs
b. Summary of QI environmental scan findings
c. Summaries of evaluations of Foundation QI programs
d. Tools to facilitate evaluation of QI initiatives
e. Online QI curriculum (from separate RWJF solicitation)
f. Nursing Quality and Safety Curriculum (QSEN)
g. Interactive model of organizational change (Charns Model)
2) Material available from other quality improvement organizations
a. Other curriculum to facilitate QI instruction in medical, nursing and dental school
b. Teaching tools such as case studies, simulation tools, syllabi, helpful articles
c. Information about QI training opportunities
d. Other QI training resources
3) Evidence/Literature
a. Links to evidence generated through Foundation's "evaluating QIT programs" initiative
b. Links to evaluations of RWJF QI programs
c. Articles about QI and QI training
4) Interactive on-line community of learners/teachers
a. Blogs, list servs, chat rooms, etc.
b. A learning community of QI innovators and champions of organizational innovation in QI which will provide a scaffolding for implementing QI at the institutional level.
Please identify up to 10 examples of the above elements currently available for learners—gratis, or for a cost.

Please describe how you will manage a sub-contract with the organization the Foundation has selected to design an online QI curriculum.

Please describe the staff you will engage in the tasks outlined above. 
• Describe how each individual will contribute to the success of this project.
o Attach CVs of
 Full time staff;
 Part time staff;
 Consultants from outside your organization
• Describe the role(s) of the consulting organization

Budget/Use of Grant Funds

We will accept budgets of up to $3.6M over three years to fund project staff salaries, consultant fees, data collection and analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel, software and other direct project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment essential to the project. Up to $600,000 of the 3.6M will be for a subcontract with an entity to be determined to develop the on-line curriculum.         

Your proposal should include a detailed budget using the preferred Foundation format (see attached Budget Preparation Guidelines). 

• In keeping with RWJF policy, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the costs of their health care, to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to construct or renovate facilities, for lobbying, or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities.
Please note that funding of this project will be contingent upon Board approval of the authorization in January 2009.

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants may be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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Selection Criteria
We have sent this letter of invitation to a select group of targeted organizations.  Proposals will be judged on how well the applicant addresses the proposal elements above and the assessment of RWJF staff and advisors on the following criteria:
• Ability of the applicant to design and implement an on-line QI resource center that is widely viewed as complete, useful, reflects the state of QI science, effective in teaching QI skills and able  to draw in and retain those seeking information about quality improvement. (please include a mock up of the landing page in your application)
• Perceptions of the applicant's organization as an independent broker of information, i.e. not subscribing to a particular QI organization or methodology
• Appropriate expertise and staff hours allocated to the tasks of creating and updating the website, assuring quality of content, moderating online discussions, etc.
• Strength of sustainability model

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Evaluation and Monitoring

We ask the applicant to propose a method of evaluating the effectiveness of the on-line resource center, for example tracking use, user satisfaction, and requests for more and /or different materials. In addition, an independent research group selected and funded by the RWJF may conduct an evaluation of the program. As a condition of accepting RWJF funds, grantees will be required to participate in the evaluation.

Grantees are expected to meet RWJF requirements for the submission of narrative and financial reports, as well as periodic information needed for overall project performance monitoring and management. We may ask project directors to participate in periodic meetings and give progress reports on their grants. At the close of each grant, (the lead agency) is expected to provide a written report on the project and its findings suitable for wide dissemination.

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How to Apply

Applicants are invited by e-mail to submit a proposal of no more than 20 pages accompanied by a budget and budget narrative to QIRC@rwjf.org.

For more information on the program and application requirements please contact:

Denise Davis, Dr.P.H., M.P.A.
Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Email contact: info@rwjf-qirc.org

RWJF does not provide individual critiques of proposals/applications submitted.
This program has a technical advisory committee that makes recommendations about grants to the Foundation staff. RWJF will make all final grant decisions.

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Responsible staff members at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are:
Denise Davis, Dr. P.H., M.P.A., Program Officer
John Lumpkin, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President, Director Healthcare Group
Lori Melichar, Ph.D., Senior Evaluation officer
Linda Wright Moore, M.S., Senior Communications Officer
Catherine Malone, M.B.A., Program Associate
Steve Theisen, M.S.M., Grants Administrator

Timetable
November 5, 2008
Call for Proposals available online.

November 12, 2008  (2:00 p.m. EST)
Informational Web conference calls.

December 22, 2008
Deadline for receipt of full proposals.

February 2-13, 2009
Site visits.

April 1, 2008
Finalist Selected.

May 1, 2009
Notification of awards pending finalization of letter of agreement

May 15,  2009
Start of grant.

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About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. The Foundation seeks to:
 assure that all Americans have access to quality health care at reasonable cost;
 improve the quality of care and support for people with chronic health conditions;
 promote healthy communities and lifestyles;
 reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse—tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.

For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime.

For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

Sign up to receive e-mail alerts on upcoming calls for proposals at: http://subscribe.rwjf.org

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