SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Continued Support to the National Health Plan Collaborative
- Notice Date
- 7/10/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical 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-06-00038
- Response Due
- 7/20/2006
- Archive Date
- 8/4/2006
- Description
- The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) intends to award a contract on a sole-source basis to the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) to continue to support the National Health Plan Collaborative (NHPC). This is a market survey to determine if, in fact, CHCS is the only qualified source for this effort. The NHPC, which began in 2004 and is jointly sponsored with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, involves nine health plans working to address issues of racial and ethnic disparities in health care in their enrollees. In its initial phase, the NHPC facilitated the efforts of health plans to: (1) support health plan leadership in building support for health disparities reduction activities; (2) obtain primary data on or estimates of the race and ethnicity of their members to better identify potential disparities; (3) develop and test pilot interventions to reduce disparities; (4) develop novel approaches to focus interventions in areas or populations with the potential for the greatest positive impact; (5) measure the impact of those interventions; and, (6) communicate the outcomes of the NHPC. The next phase of the NHPC will expand and accelerate the current work; facilitate coordinated activities where plans can work collectively to reduce racial and ethnic disparities; and, identify and gather promising and innovative concepts in measurement, data analysis, outreach and interventions by health plans and/or their partners, to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a national non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of health care services for vulnerable populations, especially those with chronic conditions. Over the past decade it has established itself as a leader in providing training and technical assistance to purchasers and health plans and in promoting innovative and the spread of best practices. Most of its work is done through operationally and results oriented learning collaboratives involving multiple stakeholders, sponsoring organizations, and expert faculty partners. During the first phase of National Health Plan Collaborative (NHPC), quality improvement approach designed by CHCS and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) generated documented results in improved measurement, data collection and analysis, outreach and interventions. The CHCS has established strong working relationships with a number of key partners, including the co-sponsors, RAND, IHI, Greer Margolis (GMMB), Mathematica, and the Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The CHCS staff has established strong and productive relationships with all of the participating health plans, including their leadership representatives. Moreover, CHCS has both the qualitative and quantitative data collected and analyzed during the first phase of the collaborative. We know of no other learning organization that has these relationships and data; has already established appropriate operational work groups and committees; and, has the experience and expertise required for the next phase of the NHPC. The proposed acquisition is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. It is anticipated that one award will be made with a period of performance of two years. Award of the contract is expected in September 2006. AHRQ seeks a contractor with the proven capacity to: (a) support cross-health plan collaborative efforts and learning to make the business, economic and social case for quality, (b) to manage cross-health plan collaborative testing of administrative practices and quality improvement interventions at the provider and member level; (c) to facilitate joint, coordinated health plan initiatives; and (d) to work with multiple sponsors as well as multiple partners with complementary expertise such as data collection, analysis and intervention support and expertise in provider quality improvement. Interested organizations capable of performing the above and with the requisitie qualifications and expertise should submit, no later than July 20, 2006, a statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the requirements as described above. Capability statements should be no longer than 10 pages and may include appendices (for resumes, etc.) which do not count toward the 10 page limitation. Capability statements should be submitted electronically to Sharon Williams at sharon.williams@ahrq.hhs.gov or hard copies (original and two copies) may be sent by mail to Sharon Williams, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850. A determination by the Government to compete or not to compete this requirement is solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation or Request for Proposal is currently available.
- Record
- SN01085469-W 20060712/060710220251 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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