SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Promote Collaboration Between Critical Access Hospitals and other Safety Net Providers in Rural Communities
- Notice Date
- 7/23/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-04H120859
- Response Due
- 8/6/2004
- Archive Date
- 9/1/2004
- Point of Contact
- Darren Jansen, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-443-1857, Fax 301-443-3238, - Margaret Kelly, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-443-4988, Fax 301-443-3849,
- E-Mail Address
-
djansen@psc.gov, mkelly@psc.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES DATE: JULY 23, 2004 REQUISITION NO: 04H120859 INTENDED SOURCE: K and R CONSULTING PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD THROUGH TWELVE MONTHS PURPOSE: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HRSA, OA, OHRP THROUGH THE PROGRAM SUPPORT CENTER, PLANS TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION TO K and R CONSULTING. CLOSING DATE IS AUGUST 6, 2004. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS: BACKGROUND THROUGH POLICY DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GRANT MAKING AND ADVOCACY, THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION=S (HRSA) OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY (ORHP) SEEKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE MORE THAN 62 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AMERICA. IN 1998, THE ORHP WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE MEDICARE RURAL HOSPITAL FLEXIBILITY GRANT PROGRAM (FLEX). THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES $25 MILLION A YEAR IN GRANTS TO STATES, TO HELP THEIR SMALL RURAL HOSPITALS: (1) CONVERT TO CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS (CAHS), (2) IMPROVE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, (3) DEVELOP LOCAL NETWORKS OF CARE AND (4) IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 900 CAHS. MOST ARE LOCATED IN HPSAS OR MUAS, AND 24 PERCENT ARE IN FRONTIER AREAS. CAHS ARE PROVIDING PRIMARY CARE TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY ROOM (OFTEN UNCOMPENSATED) AND ABOUT HALF OF THEM OPERATE AN INDEPENDENT OR PROVIDER-BASED RURAL HEALTH CLINIC (RHC). THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROVIDERS AS THEY WORK TO ADDRESS THE PRIMARY CARE NEEDS OF THEIR UNDERSERVED LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) PROGRAM PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS. AS AN FQHC "LOOK-ALIKE," THESE HEALTH CENTERS GET COST-BASED REIMBURSEMENT FORM MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR LOW COST DRUGS, AND CAN BE A NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORP (NHSC) PROVIDER SITE. THOSE THAT QUALIFY FOR FQHC (I.E., COMMUNITY OR MIGRANT HEALTH CENTERS WHO ARE ALSO GRANTEES UNDER SECTION 330 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT) STATUS, RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANTS TO PAY FOR (1) UNCOMPENSATED CARE, (2) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (3) NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND (4) DENTAL AND PHARMACY SERVICES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 3,000 FEDERALLY-CERTIFIED RHCS THAT RECEIVE SPECIAL MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE IN UNDERSERVED RURAL AREAS. RHCS ARE REQUIRED TO USE A TEAM APPROACH OF PHYSICIANS AND MIDLEVEL PRACTITIONERS (NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES) TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. DURING FY 2004, THE ORHP SUPPORTED A SMALL ($50,000) CONTRACT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FOUR STATES (LA, AR, TX AND NH) START TO IMPROVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THEIR CAHS AND OTHER RURAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS. WITH LEADERSHIP PROVIDED BY THE STATE'S OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH, THE PRIMARY CARE OFFICE (PCO), PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION (PCA) AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION MET FOR THE FIRST TIME TO DISCUSS WAYS THAT SAFETY NET PROVIDERS COULD WORK TOGETHER TO BETTER MEET THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THEIR UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES. PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 15 STATES (SORH, PCO, PCA, AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION) TO HELP THEM IMPROVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CAHS AND OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS (I.E., FQHCS AND RHCS) IN THEIR UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES. SSTATEMENT OF WORK: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ALL WORK DONE UNDER THIS CONTRACT SHALL BE DONE UNDER THE GENERAL GUIDANCE AND MONITORING OF THE PROJECT OFFICER. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SERVICES, QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT, AS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE TASKS AS SET FORTH BELOW. SPECIFICALLY, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL FULFILL THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONTRACT BY PERFORMING THE TASKS LISTED BELOW: TASKS: TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL CONDUCT THE FOLLOWING TASKS: 1. MEET WITH PROJRCT OFFICER THE CONTRACTOR SHALL, WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EDOC, MEET WITH THE PROJECT OFFICER BY PHONE TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR MEETING THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONTRACT. 2. IDENTIFY COMMITTED STATES THE CONTRACTOR SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PO, IDENTIFY 15 STATES THAT DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING COLLABORATION BETWEEN CAHS AND OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS IN THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO A NUMBER OF STATE OFFICES OF RURAL HEALTH AND THEIR PARTNERS (PCO, PCA AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION) THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING A WORKSHOP. 3. DEVELOP WORKSHOP CURRICULUM THE CONTRACTOR SHALL DEVELOP AN AGENDA, CURRICULUM, RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MATERIALS FOR THE STATE WORKSHOPS INCLUDING EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES, PARTNERSHIPS AND MODELS OF COLLABORATION. 4. PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THE CONTRACTOR SHALL, WORKING WITH THE STATE'S OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH AND PARTNERS (PCO, PCA AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION), CONDUCT A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP THAT HELPS PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN RURAL CAHS, FQHCS AND RHCS. ATTENDEES SHALL INCLUDE LEADERSHIP FROM THE SORH, PCO, PCA, RHCS AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS. WORKSHOPS SHALL BE RESPONSIVE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH STATE. 5. PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP THE CONTRACTOR SHALL WORK WITH THE STATE'S OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH AND PARTNERS (PCO, PCA AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION) TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT STATE-LEVEL PARTNERS CAN USE TO HELP PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONG THEMSELVES AND BETWEEN CAHS AND OTHER RURAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. 6. INFORM WORKGROUP THE CONTRACTOR SHALL, UPON REQUEST OF THE PO, PROVIDE BRIEFINGS TO THE EXISTING WORKGROUP ON CAH AND FQHC COLLABORATION WHICH INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP FROM ACROSS HRSA AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 7. PROMOTE COLLABORATION THE CONTRACTOR SHALL, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE PO, MAKE PRESENTATIONS AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEETINGS WHICH WILL HELP INFORM AND PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CAHS AND OTHER RURAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS. 8. SUBMIT FINAL REPORT THE CONTRACTOR SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT WHICH INCLUDES (1) A SYNTHESIS OF ACTIVITIES, OBSERVATIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS PROJECT AND (2) AN ACCOUNTING OF COSTS. SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING: K & R CONSULTING HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING THE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY PROJECT "PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS" DURING THE PAST YEAR. SITE VISITS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FOUR STATES TO FACILITATE A 1-2 DAY MEETING WITH STATE OFFICES OF RURAL HEALTH, PRIMARY CARE OFFICES, PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATIONS, AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATIONS. NUMEROUS ATTENDEES REPRESENTED CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS AND FQHCS, AS WELL AS OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS, SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH, RURAL HEALTH CLINICS, SMALL RURAL HOSPITALS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. EVERY MEETING HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING TOGETHER THESE SAFETY NET PROVIDERS-SOMETIMES FOR THE FIRST TIME-SHARING WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, HIGHLIGHTING SUCCESSES AT COLLABORATION AND EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER COLLABORATION. FOLLOW UP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED UPON REQUEST TO ALL STATES. K and R CONSULTING HAS A LONG AND EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN WORKING WITH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, COMMUNITIES TRYING TO SERVE THOSE POPULATIONS, SAFETY NET PROVIDERS AND STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES. THE CONTRACTOR IS UNIQUELY FLUENT IN THE TECHNICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF MULTIPLE SAFETY NET PROVIDERS AND IS RECOGNIZED AS AN EXPERT BY THESE PROVIDER TYPES THROUGH NUMEROUS CONSULTING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT NATIONAL MEETINGS. AFTER CONSULTING WITH NUMEROUS RURAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANOTHER CONSULTANT THAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE THAT K AND R CONSULTING HAS WORKING WITH FEDERAL PROGRAMS, STATES AND RURAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS. IN FACT, BASED ON THE CONTRACTOR'S PAST WORK AND EXPERIENCE, WE BELIEVE IT WOULD ADD SUBSTANTIAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH DUPLICATION OF EFFORT THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAS ALREADY DEVELOPED. IF THE GOVERNMENT OBTAINED THESE SERVICES FROM ANOTHER CONTRACTOR THAT ENTITY WOULD NEED TO DEVELOP MANY OF THE SAME PROTOCOLS AND KNOWLEDGE BASES AND CONTACTS ALREADY IN PLACE THIS CONTRACTOR. THE PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION IS FOR SERVICES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SOLICIT AND NEGOTIATE WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE (FAR 6.302-1). A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO COMPETE THIS PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. CONTRACTORS MAY FORWARD CAPABILITY STATEMENTS TO THE REFERENCED ADDRESS. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DARREN JANSEN, IN ROOM 5C-13, PARKLAWN BLDG., 5600 FISHERS LANE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20857 OR ON 301-443-1857.
- Record
- SN00629363-W 20040725/040723211918 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |