Independent Evaluation of the New York Tobacco Control Program

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) #C040649 seeking an independent contractor to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the New York Tobacco Control Program (TCP). This program, established under the Health Care Reform Act of 2000, aims to reduce tobacco-related illness, disability, and death across the state through a comprehensive, equity-driven, population-based strategy. The RFP outlines a five-year contract to perform structured and methodologically sound evaluations of TCP’s wide-ranging components, focusing on program effectiveness, impact on target populations, and public health outcomes. The contract is scheduled to begin October 1, 2025, with proposals due no later than December 3, 2024, by 4:00 PM ET. The TCP operates through a broad network of initiatives including media campaigns, community grantees, and direct cessation services like the New York State Quitline. Key program goals are to reduce initiation of tobacco use, promote cessation, eliminate secondhand smoke exposure, and mitigate tobacco-related disparities, particularly among historically marginalized populations. The independent evaluation will incorporate diverse methods including qualitative and quantitative research, surveillance surveys, logic modeling, performance measurement, and health equity assessments. The resulting findings are intended to guide ongoing policy development, funding priorities, and operational adjustments, and will be reported annually to state leadership. The successful bidder must demonstrate extensive experience in evaluating large-scale public health programs. Minimum qualifications include at least five years of experience across research design, data collection, public health surveillance, and equity-focused analysis. Additionally, applicants must submit a signed attestation confirming refusal of any funds from tobacco-related entities and agree to contract terms outlined in Attachment 8 of the RFP. Preferred qualifications include three or more years of experience specifically evaluating statewide tobacco control programs. The selected contractor will design and execute multiple deliverables annually, including the New York Adult Tobacco Survey, biennial New York Youth Tobacco Survey, ad hoc studies, media campaign evaluations, and an annual Independent Evaluation Report. Submission requirements are detailed in the RFP’s Calendar of Events and Section 6.0. No pre-application (e.g., LOI or concept note) is required, but applicants must adhere to the format and documentation requirements including completion of multiple attachments (1 through 14), a technical proposal narrative, and a cost proposal. The evaluation process will weigh technical quality (75%) and cost (25%). Proposals must be submitted electronically via separate PDF files for administrative, technical, and cost components, each sent by email to the DOH Contracts Unit. Contact information is provided for both designated procurement questions and subject-matter inquiries. Eryn Keefe serves as the designated contact for procurement matters, while Ken Juhas is the subject matter contact for technical questions. The deadline to submit written questions is October 18, 2024, with responses posted around November 8, 2024. The contract awardee must maintain data confidentiality and adhere to all security and reporting protocols. Recurring deliverables such as surveys and reports will contribute to statewide surveillance and policy-making, while capacity building activities like web-based monitoring and grantee technical assistance will further support systemic tobacco control goals.