SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Horizon Scan
- Notice Date
- 12/2/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- 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, Maryland, 20850
- ZIP Code
- 20850
- Solicitation Number
- AHRQ-2010-10003
- Archive Date
- 12/30/2009
- Point of Contact
- Sharon L. Williams, Phone: 301-427-1781
- E-Mail Address
-
sharon.williams@ahrq.hhs.gov
(sharon.williams@ahrq.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- RECOVERY – This market survey is for a potential solicitation to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Program. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is conducting a market survey to seek potential small business sources, including 8(a), small disadvantaged, HUBZone, woman-owned business and service disabled veteran-owned small business, for a contract to establish a horizon scanning system in order to identify new and emerging issues for comparative effectiveness investments through the Effective Health Care (EHC) program. This project will be funded under ARRA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Program. The proposed contract will be firm fixed price for a period of 2 years and 3 option years. AHRQ is seeking capability statements from potential sources from qualified small business firms under NAICS Code 541611 (size standard - $7 million) which can demonstrate the capacity to perform the required tasks of this project. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriated $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research (CER), of which $300 million is allocated to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The goal of CER is to improve health outcomes and the quality of care by providing evidence to inform and enhance medical decisions made by patients and their medical providers. AHRQ is using ARRA funds to expand and broaden current CER activities and to support new initiatives in CER. This project presents AHRQ’s effort to implement its own horizon scanning system in order to identify new and emerging issues for comparative effectiveness investments through the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program. Horizon scanning involves: 1) the identification and monitoring of new and evolving healthcare interventions that are purported to or may hold potential to diagnose, treat or otherwise manage a particular condition; and 2) an analysis of the relevant healthcare context and landscape in which these new and evolving interventions exist in order to understand their potential impact on clinical care, the healthcare system, patient outcomes, and costs. This project will provide AHRQ with a systematic process to identify and monitor healthcare technologies that are likely to have a high clinical, system and cost impact in the US. The AHRQ Healthcare Horizon Scanning System shall be informed by existing methods but incorporate novel and innovative approaches. The purpose of this project is to meet an immediate need at AHRQ to establish a horizon scanning system. Through this procurement, AHRQ seeks to quickly and efficiently implement a horizon framework and infrastructure to immediately generate information that will inform comparative effectiveness research investments through the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program. It is expected that a majority of the effort necessary to accomplish the required tasks below will be dedicated to the implementation of a horizon scanning system and to the actual conduct of horizon scanning. Capability Statements should address interested sources’ capability and capacity to perform the following requirements of this project: •Refine and implement a protocol to identify and monitor new healthcare technologies. •Refine and implement a methodology to forecast the future clinical, system, and cost impact of identified technologies. •Report on findings from horizon scanning activities (through scheduled, periodic status updates and topical reports requested by AHRQ). •Review methods of horizon scanning used by public and private organizations in the US and internationally. •Develop a plan to evaluate the implemented horizon scanning protocol and methodology. Methods proposed by the Offeror to accomplish the above tasks shall be based on a justified scientific rationale, and the Offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of horizon scanning methods. The Offeror shall also demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of its proposed healthcare horizon scanning methods, and personnel shall have experience relevant to implementing proposed methods. Additionally, Offerors shall demonstrate the capacity to implement their proposed technical approach to the above performance requirements from a management perspective. Consideration will be given to the Offeror’s demonstrated ability to quickly and efficiently implement its proposed methods as well as the Offeror’s ability to provide substantive status updates and in-depth reports on its horizon scanning activities. Offerors shall demonstrate the ability to implement horizon scanning protocol and methods as well as produce written reports that are scientifically and methodologically rigorous. Offerors shall also demonstrate the capacity to conduct horizon scanning over the two-year performance period of contract and quickly respond to requests for additional reports at the request of AHRQ. The Project Team shall consist of a Project Manager, Project Director, and other key staff, which can include subcontractors and/or consultants. The Project Director shall have, at minimum, a doctoral or medical degree and have demonstrated knowledge of healthcare technology innovation and diffusion in the context of the US healthcare system and experience overseeing projects involving the development and assessment of relational data. Additionally, the Project Director shall not have less than ten (10) years of total work experience which includes: 1) demonstrated skills in organizing and monitoring complex projects conducted by groups of diverse professionals; 2) knowledge of payer (including Medicare) policies; and 3) knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements for drugs, devices and biologics. The Project Manager shall have training and experience in health services research, development and implementation of quality improvement strategies and personnel/project management. In addition, the Project Manager must have experience in working with diverse groups such as innovators, healthcare providers and purchasers, clinical and health service researchers, and healthcare policymakers. The Project Manager shall have, at a minimum, a Master’s degree in a health and human services-related specialty and at least ten (10) years total work experience which includes: 1) at least eight (8) years in a health-related field; and 2) demonstrated skills in organizing and monitoring complex projects conducted by groups of diverse professionals. Other key staff shall also have demonstrated experience in developing and analyzing relational data; working with issues related to healthcare technology innovation and diffusion in the US; payer (including Medicare) policies; and FDA regulatory policies. Interested SMALL BUSINESSES ONLY should submit capability statements (no more than 25 pages in length). Capability statements should be submitted by e-mail to: Sharon Williams, Contracting Officer, at sharon.williams@ahrq.hhs.gov Capability statements must specifically address the capability and capacity to accomplish the above listed performance requirements of this notice and include references of current or past performance of similar requirements. Include information on key staff experience and education and a description of corporate experience with similar projects. Generic corporate brochures which do not address the requirements of the Domain for which the firm wishes to be considered will not be considered to be responsive to this market survey. Using the results of AHRQ’s review of capability statements received, a decision will be made whether or not this project can be issued as a small business or other type of set-aside. No solicitation is yet available. Capability statements must be received no later than 12:00 noon, (EST), on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.
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