Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Outreach, Training, and Virtual Certification Opportunities to Increase the Number of B-Readers in the United States (Virtual Course)

Statement of Work / Performance Work Statement Title: Outreach, Training, and Virtual Certification Opportunities to Increase the Number of B-Readers in the United States Period of Performance Period of performance of this contract is: September 1, 2026 to November 30, 2027 Base Period: September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027 Option Period One: September 1, 2027 to November 30, 2027 SECTION 1 – BACKGROUND The NIOSH B Reader Program, established in 1974, was developed to ensure consistent, accurate classification of chest radiographs for the detection and surveillance of pneumoconioses, including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and asbestos-related lung disease. The program certifies physicians who demonstrate proficiency in applying the International Labor Organization (ILO) International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses, a globally recognized standard designed to minimize variability in radiographic interpretation. Certified B Readers play a critical role in: Federal health surveillance programs such as the NIOSH Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program Epidemiologic research and public health monitoring Legal and administrative proceedings related to occupational lung disease compensation Worker health protection efforts in industries with mineral dust exposure To maintain certification, B Readers are required to successfully retest every five years, underscoring the need for rigorous, up‑to‑date examination preparation and validated assessment methods. SECTION 2 – PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE The purpose of this contract is to deliver virtual training and certification to maintain a qualified pool of B Readers. Objectives include delivering three courses, providing ~20 hours instruction each, enabling expert interaction, administering three exams, and transitioning to virtual delivery. SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK The contractor (American College of Radiology) shall transition in-person training to a virtual environment and deliver three training and certification cycles including LMS setup, course delivery, and secure exams. Deliver three NIOSH B Reader preparation courses aligned with current examination standards. Provide 20 hours of instruction per course, equivalent to previously delivered in‑person programs. Incorporate live virtual “in‑person” sessions to allow direct interaction with expert faculty. Administer three secure, remotely proctored NIOSH-aligned virtual examinations. Fully transition instruction and assessment to a virtual system within the same instructional time and scope historically provided. This proposal supports the ongoing mission of NIOSH to maintain a highly trained, competent pool of certified B Readers essential to federal worker surveillance programs, research activities, and compensation systems. SECTION 4 – TASKS TO BE PERFORMED Task 1: One-Time Content Transition to ACR Virtual Learning System This project includes two discrete, one‑time setup activities to transition existing NIOSH B Reader preparation courses and examinations from the information technology infrastructure that currently supports ACR’s in‑person course and examination offerings to ACR’s established virtual learning and assessment system. These activities are initial, non‑recurring implementation efforts designed to enable sustainable virtual delivery while maintaining program integrity. One-Time Preparation Course Setup ACR will conduct a one‑time setup and configuration of the three NIOSH B Reader preparation courses for delivery within its virtual learning environment. Existing instructional materials developed for in‑person delivery will be migrated and structured for virtual access without modification to content scope, instructional rigor, or total instructional hours. This one‑time preparation course setup includes: Migration of existing lecture content, case-based learning materials, and supporting resources into the ACR learning management system (LMS) Configuration of course structure, sequencing, and learner workflows to support approximately 20 hours of instruction per course Integration of live virtual session functionality to enable expert-led instruction and real-time participant questions System testing and quality assurance to ensure functionality, accessibility, and instructional continuity Upon completion of this one‑time setup, the preparation courses will be fully configured for repeat virtual delivery within the same instructional timeframe and structure previously provided through in‑person offerings. One-Time Examination Setup ACR will also perform a one‑time setup and validation of the three examinations associated with the NIOSH B Reader preparation courses. This activity transitions the existing in‑person exam infrastructure to a secure virtual testing environment and establishes standardized workflows for future exam administration. This one‑time examination setup includes: Configuration of examinations within ACR’s secure virtual assessment platform Integration of professional remote proctoring services, including identity verification and monitoring Establishment of exam access controls, scoring processes, and reporting mechanisms System testing to ensure examination security, reliability, and alignment with NIOSH B Reader certification standards Following completion, the virtual exam environment will be fully operational and will only require regular infrastructure updates, as needed, to support ongoing exam administrations. Task 2: Virtual Preparation Courses Followed by Virtual Examination ACR will deliver three virtual NIOSH B Reader preparation courses, each followed by a corresponding secure, remotely proctored virtual examination. This integrated instructional model ensures that participants progress from structured learning to formal assessment in a consistent, standardized manner aligned with NIOSH B Reader certification expectations. Virtual Preparation Courses Numb…