SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Accelerating Change and Transforming Organizations and Networks for AHRQ
- Notice Date
- 6/17/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Contracts Management, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD, 20850
- ZIP Code
- 20850
- Solicitation Number
- AHRQ-06-00001
- Response Due
- 9/21/2005
- Archive Date
- 10/6/2005
- Point of Contact
- Mary Haines, Contracting Officer, Phone 301 427-1786, Fax 301 427-1740, - Sharon Williams, Contracting Officer, Phone 301 427-1781, Fax 301 427-1740,
- E-Mail Address
-
mhaines@ahrq.gov, swilliam@ahrq.gov
- Description
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is soliciting proposals for approximately 9-12 task order contracts to provide the services for the project entitled, “Accelerating Change and Transforming Organizations and Networks” (ACTION). The purpose of the ACTION program is to accelerate the development, implementation, dissemination and uptake of demand-driven and evidence-based products, tools, strategies and findings to improve healthcare delivery systems and health outcomes in the U.S. “Demand-driven” refers to AHRQ’s intent for the work of ACTION to be heavily influenced by those who manage, deliver or receive health care services. Through ACTION, AHRQ will also support the development of new strategies and tools to achieve the programs’ goals. Information about the AHRQ’s precursor of this program, the Integrated Delivery System Research Network, can be found at www.ahrq.gov/research/idsrn.htm. To achieve the program goals, ACTION awardees will engage in rapid cycle tasks and activities that vary according to the scope of work of each individual task order under a task order contract. Tasks and activities may include: (1) Assessing needs for demand-driven and evidence-based findings, tools, products and strategies, particularly those identified by delivery system operational leaders and champions (clinical and managerial) who are making critical decisions and managing change; (2) Conducting timely applied research in these key areas; (3)Evaluating which interventions and strategies demonstrate improvement in the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of US health care delivery;(4) Most importantly, promoting the dissemination and uptake of demand-driven and evidence-based products, tools, strategies and findings that result from these projects to improve delivery systems and health outcomes. Activities may also include assisting AHRQ in exploring new strategies and tools to achieve the programs’ goals. The essence of this task will be to broaden adoption and successful implementation of clinical, organizational, and managerial practices, regardless of who originally produced the evidence. AHRQ is particularly interested in receiving proposals from partnerships that include one or more organizations with a demonstrated capacity to “turn research to practice” for proven interventions targeting those who manage, deliver or receive health care services. This may be achieved in various ways (e.g., through collaboration and communication tools established for members of the organization and its target audiences). If the lead organization does not have this capacity itself, it is expected to acquire this capacity through collaboration or affiliation with one or more organizations with a proven track record of promoting healthcare improvement and the uptake of findings and innovations within or among healthcare delivery systems. The existence of collaborative relationships, or willingness to consult, with experts in areas such as payment and incentives is also of value. Offerors’ partnerships may include healthcare delivery systems that: (1) Provide direct care to patients in settings including but not limited to: inpatient, outpatient or ambulatory care centers, community health centers, emergency medical services, laboratories, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, nursing homes, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, and adult day care; (2) Consist of, include, or are affiliated with, safety-net providers or providers caring for priority populations (low-income groups; minority groups; women; children; elderly; and individuals with special care needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals with chronic care or end-of-life health care needs); (3) Address healthcare concerns falling within or across AHRQ’s interests in: care management; cost, organization/design of delivery systems and socio-economics (including use of financial and non-financial incentives); data development; health information technology; long-term care; pharmaceutical outcomes; health protection, health promotion, and health marketing; quality improvement and patient safety; system capacity and emergency preparedness; and training. Not all topic areas will be funded in each year; offerors must be aware that shifts in funding opportunities throughout the contract period of performance will have an impact on topic foci from year to year. In addition, offerors’ partnerships may include: Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), Veterans Administration (VA) sites and other governmental organizations; Health plans of any model type or business line; Universities, academic health centers, research consulting firms, or other research organizations working to improve care in delivery systems and with expertise in the areas mentioned above; Employers or employer coalitions; Other organizations that work closely with providers as members or partners at the national, state or regional level to promote or leverage evidence-based improvements in health care and health care organization. It is not possible to specify the scope of work or performance criteria for each request for task order (RFTO) to be issued under the 9-12 task order contracts. In general, proposals submitted in response to an RFTO may include: A clear understanding of the issue addressed, well-reasoned goals consistent with the RFTO, acknowledgement of potential problem areas, the planned approach and justification compared with competing approaches; Relevant direct experience working with the proposed participating delivery system(s), experts, leaders or champions to successfully conduct the task order within its proposed timeframe; qualifications of key personnel; how responsibilities will be divided, decisions made, work monitored, and quality assured; Plans to successfully access and manipulate the necessary data and the quality, integration, size and diversity of proposed databases and information systems; Management plan and evidence of structures and processes in place to successfully collaborate among needed partner organizations and individuals within in the proposed timeframe; A budget estimate commensurate with the scope of work and level of needed commitment by key personnel, and the nature and extent of any resource contribution by the offeror; Anticipated findings/outcomes and contributions to the field of this work; A plan for the evaluation of findings, tools, products or strategies, including generalizability and resource implications; A plan for dissemination activities and how to document and assess the degree of uptake of the findings, tools, products or strategies; A schedule of milestones and deliverables. It is anticipated that 9-12 task order contracts will be awarded for a period of 3 years with one two-year option. Awards are expected by December 30, 2005. In addition to the solicitation being available on this site, it will also be available for downloading from the internet on AHRQ’s website at www.ahrq.gov. It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor this site for release of the solicitation, download their own copy of the solicitation and monitor the site for any subsequent amendments. Since it is not know who is downloading the solicitation, a bidders list will not be available. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be evaluated by AHRQ. It is estimated that the solicitation will be issue don or about July 6, 2005, with proposals due 75 days thereafter. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (17-JUN-2005); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/AHRQ/DCM/AHRQ-06-00001/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00831818-F 20050619/050617211652 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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