SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- HEALTCARE COST AND UTILIZATION PROJECT
- Notice Date
- 8/26/2008
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541618
— Other 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, Maryland, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- 08R000136
- Response Due
- 9/4/2008 2:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 9/19/2008
- Point of Contact
- Raleigh Tanner,, Phone: 202-260-8856
- E-Mail Address
-
raleigh.tanner@psc.hhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) through the Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Strategic Acquisition Sourcing, Division of Acquisition Management intends to award a sole source, Simplified Acquisition, FAR Part 13.105, to the Pamela Owens, who is unique based on her expertise and facility in using and disseminating ambulatory surgery and emergency department outpatient data. As a result of her institutional knowledge gained in performing similar work for AHRQ, Pamela Owens existing mastery of outpatient data and analytic data skills position her to provide expedited manner in completing the task(s) within the timeframes required. Therefore, because of her prior institutional knowledge, Dr. Owens is the only responsible source known that can satisfy and meet the needs of the agency, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only responsible source. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) seeks to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. As part of this mission, AHRQ provides data resources and evidence focusing on the quality of care in the hospital outpatient setting through the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Half of the states in the U.S. voluntarily provide emergency department and ambulatory surgery data to AHRQ under HCUP. The most recent initiative under HCUP involved the use of the State Emergency Department Databases and the State Inpatient Databases to create the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. These data efforts not only support multiple Agency portfolios, including Patient Safety, Comparative Effectiveness, Value of Health Care, Health Information Technology and Innovative programs related to emergency care and emergency preparedness, but also support larger Departmental and Federal Government initiatives, such as the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Emergency Medical Services for Children program and GAO’s report on emergency department overcrowding. Technical expertise and focused attention is required to sustain and promote HCUP’s outpatient initiatives to fulfill the mission of AHRQ. Due to staffing changes and restrictions, AHRQ does not presently have enough regular employees that are qualified and available to perform the particular tasks required to continue the HCUP outpatient initiative in full capacity. The purpose of this contract is to provide the necessary staffing to continue development and expansion of the HCUP outpatient data until regular AHRQ employees are available to perform the tasks. 6. Scope of Work: Task 1: Administration (5% of effort) Subtask 1.1Within 1 week of the award, the contractor shall meet with the project officer (PO) and other relevant AHRQ personnel to review and clarify the scope of work and delivery schedule for this contract, to delineate further roles and responsibilities, and to establish communication protocols. Subtask 1.2The contractor shall deliver to the PO a plan including deliverables, tasks and schedule and provide updates for the completion of the project. Subtask 1.3The contractor shall deliver to the PO and to the Contracting Officer a monthly progress report in electronic format within ten days after the end of the month being reported. The report shall state in concise form: •a brief narrative on what was actually accomplished for each assigned task during the reporting period and a summation of the cost and level of effort expended for each task; •preliminary or interim results and conclusions that the contractor believes will be of assistance to AHRQ; •problems or delays the contractor has experienced in the conduct of performance requirements including what specific action is proposed to alleviate the problem(s); •adjustments that are being implemented to project; and, •planned activities during the next reporting period, including anticipated staffing requirements, level of effort and cost. Task 2: Projects Related to State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) (65% of effort) The contractor shall provide technical guidance to AHRQ on the creation and development of the State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Technical guidance will be given via phone conversations, email exchanges, and participation in conference calls. Technical guidance may include, but is not limited to, the following topics: Creation of SEDD Recruitment of states with emergency department data Guidance to AHRQ and HCUP Partners on the completion of the Memorandum of Agreements with the states regarding the NEDS Creation of the 2006 NEDS The contractor shall assist in the dissemination of information related to the NEDS. Dissemination may include, but is not limited to, the following: Briefs submitted to emergency department journals Comparison of the NEDS to other Federal data sources on emergency department visits Technical guidance to HCUP presentations Technical guidance related to the SEDD and NEDS in HCUPnet The contractor shall use the SEDD and NEDS to better inform researchers and policymakers about emergency department care in the U.S. The contractor will not have direct access to intramural databases, but will work with AHRQ to define and interpret appropriate analyses. Use of the databases may include, but is not limited to, the following: Examination of the patterns of admission from the ED for mental health issues Examination of hospital characteristics and patterns of ED use for mental health issues Examination of patterns of ED use for sickle cell disease Statistical briefs related to ED care Technical assistance to AHRQ related to the use of and findings from the SEDD and NEDS Task 3: State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD) (25% of effort) The contractor shall provide technical guidance to AHRQ on the creation and development of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD). Technical guidance will be given via phone conversations, email exchanges, and participation in conference calls. Technical guidance may include, but is not limited to, the following topics: Creation of SASD Recruitment of states with ambulatory surgery data The contractor shall assist in the dissemination of information related to the SASD. Dissemination may include, but is not limited to, the following: Technical guidance to HCUP presentations Technical guidance related to the SASD in HCUPnet The contractor shall use the SASD to better inform researchers and policymakers about outpatient surgical care in the U.S. The contractor will not have direct access to intramural databases, but will work with AHRQ to define and interpret appropriate analyses. Use of the databases may include, but is not limited to, the following: Examination of ambulatory surgery volume and outcomes Statistical briefs related to AS care Technical assistance to AHRQ related to the use of and findings from the SASD Task 4: Technical Assistance and Use of the Data, As Needed (5% of effort) The contractor shall provide technical guidance to AHRQ on the development and use of HCUP data, as it relates to outpatient care, pediatrics, and mental health and substance abuse conditions. Such assistance and use may include, but is not limited to, the following: Technical assistance to AHRQ related to the use of and findings from the NIS and KID related to outpatient care, pediatrics and mental health Statistical briefs Examination of pediatric care Deliverables and Payment Schedule: Deliverables include monthly progress notes, summaries of technical assistance, detailed instructions of work completed on analytic projects, copies of all interim project materials, draft and final briefs, and draft and final manuscripts. Due to the exploratory nature of the data analysis projects, the form of the analytic report deliverables will be determined in consultation with the PO. The contractor shall follow AHRQ’s guidance for completion and specification of all deliverables, with the knowledge that every project will have at least one deliverable associated with it. All written materials to AHRQ in brief or report format will have a draft and final product. Text delivered electronically shall be in Microsoft Word format. The items specified for delivery below are subject to the review and approval of the (PO) before final acceptance. The contractor will be required to make revisions deemed necessary by the PO. If necessary, this schedule can amended with approval of the (PO) to better meet the goals of AHRQ. Deliverable Schedule – (please propose specific dates) TaskDate Due Administrative Kick-off call: Schedule a call with PO to discuss goals/objectives of the contract, key questions, etc., due 7 days from award Submit summary of kick-off call to PO due 3 days from call Submit project plan for deliverables and tasks due 2 weeks from award Monthly reports: Submit monthly progress reports to PO due 10 days after end of each month Draft Analytic Reports due 8 months after award Final Analytic Reports due 10 months after award Final report: Submit final report that summarizes all activities under the contract to PO2 weeks prior to end of contract THE PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION ACTION IS FOR SUPPLIES OR SERVICES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SOLICIT AND NEGOTIATE WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 6.302. INTERESTED PERSONS MAY IDENTIFY THEIR INTEREST AND CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENT OR SUBMIT PROPOSALS WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO COMPETE THIS PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PURCHASE BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT RALEIGH TANNER, CONTRACTING OFFICER, ROOM 315-B, HUMPHREY BUILDING, 200 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 OR ON (202) 260-8856 or FAX (202) 690-6630.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9fcbcb794e5c504b7807e3ca86eb0a41&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, United States
- Zip Code: 20850
- Zip Code: 20850
- Record
- SN01651950-W 20080828/080826230438-9fcbcb794e5c504b7807e3ca86eb0a41 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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