Loren Data's SAM Daily™

SAMDAILY.US - ISSUE OF JULY 30, 2023 SAM #7915
SOURCES SOUGHT

R -- Sleep Study Data Analytics Services and Implementation and Dissemination Support in support of VISN 20, Portland,Oregon

Notice Date

7/28/2023 4:42:04 PM
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541990 — All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
 

Contracting Office

260-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 20 (36C260) VANCOUVER WA 98662 USA
 

ZIP Code

98662
 

Solicitation Number

36C26023Q0892
 

Response Due

8/7/2023 2:00:00 PM
 

Archive Date

08/27/2023
 

Point of Contact

Jennifer Robles, Contracting Officer, Phone: 253-888-4923
 

E-Mail Address

jennifer.robles1@va.gov
(jennifer.robles1@va.gov)
 

Awardee

null
 

Description

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following in support of the VISN 20, Portland, Oregon. VISN 20 has a need for: Sleep Study Data Analytics Services and Implementation and Dissemination Support If a solicitation is issued, interested vendors should be prepared to include a detailed proposal for contract services including: A detailed budget for the project period A narrative budget justification A narrative overview demonstrating understanding of the project and agreement with the stated scope of work A list of major milestones and/or deliverables CVs or BioSketches for Key Personnel and current staff who will work on the contract NOTE: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. Proposals are not being requested at this time. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. Scope of Service and Terms Parent Project Goals: The goal of the Office of Rural Health (ORH) Pathway to Partnership Sleep-Telemedicine Project is to continue the development, implementation, and evaluation of new approaches to the organization and delivery of sleep care. Specific questions to be addressed include: whether e-consultation, telehealth, and virtual care models result in equivalent care outcomes when compared to traditional face-to-face care, with special focus on Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT); whether these care models result in at least equivalent levels of Veteran satisfaction with care; determine the cost-effectiveness of these care models; and what approaches to implementation of best practices and system enhancements identified as part of this ongoing project can be standardized and disseminated. Based on points 1-4, identify the most effective way to streamline all sleep activities across VA including clinical care, quality improvement activities, and high yield basic science and clinical research activities (eg. Sleep Centers of Excellence and Sleep Quality Improvement & Research Actively Managed Portfolios). Contract Activities: This request for contracted services focuses on two activities: Data Analytics, and Implementation and Dissemination Support Activity 1: Data Analytics: As part of this ongoing process considerable Veteran and system level data have been and will continue to be collected to answer program questions. Critical to the ongoing success of this project is VA-wide, sleep specific informatics expertise with the goal of understanding how sleep data is collected, organized, and can be accurately retrieved from VA data repositories. Especially important will be the need to extract and analyze data from the new Cerner VA Electronic Health Record (EHR) as well as the current VA EHR (VistA). The contractor will work closely with the ORH Sleep Telehealth PI Dr. Sarmiento and with the San Francisco Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) led by Mary Whooley, MD to conduct timely, formative and summative evaluations of the ORH Sleep Telehealth programs throughout the VA. The contractor will determine, using guidance from the national QUERI Team, whether, how, and why the program is or is not working by using rigorous methodology to collect both process and clinical outcome measures. This in-depth evaluation will continue to be guided by the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance), a well-established model for guiding and evaluating the implementation and impact of health care programs. Implementation refers to the extent to which a program is delivered as intended. The contractor will work with the national QUERI Team and Sleep Telehealth Project Lead to first provide input regarding ongoing revision of key project metrics included in the project workflow and systematically collected throughout the implementation of new processes. The contractor will then conduct detailed qualitative analyses (formative evaluation) that will involve interviewing key (provider-, patient-, and system-level) informants so that the project PI can determine the intended and unintended consequences of program implementation. This information will be used to modify the implementation strategy as needed. Finally, using the framework developed by the national QUERI Team, the contractor will conduct a quantitative summative evaluation of the clinical impact of the project, including the performance of individual project sites as needed. Specific metrics will include the number and characteristics (rural, non-rural, male, female, native American, and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)) of Veterans who are (1) tested for OSA with Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT); (2) diagnosed with OSA by a provider; (3) treated for OSA using automatically-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP); and (4) monitored for OSA using tools available to VA sleep physicians. Other important outcome metrics will include patient satisfaction, care experience, acceptability, accessibility, comprehension, ease of use and continuity of care. The contractor will conduct evaluations as directed by the project PI of metrics specific to the evolving TeleSleep model within VA. For example, this could include evaluation of measures such as utilization of electronic consults, HSAT, ongoing monitoring of CPAP usage, and metrics related to exposure to recalled Philips CPAP equipment. Activity 2: Implementation and Dissemination Support As the TeleSleep hub and spoke model continues to evolve, necessary in part due to VA standardization activities related to the Oracle Cerner EHR transition, new barriers to implementing TeleSleep activities are arising, and need to be identified, and addressed by modification of currently used strategies. As a result, the TeleSleep PI provide guidance throughout the contract period regarding the measurement of these transitions. Because substantial progress has been made in standardizing TeleSleep activities nationally, especially with regard to asynchronous home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) programs, the role of implementation manager will be phased out after the first year of the contract. However, ongoing implementation and dissemination support will occur through contractor contribution to national sleep program office activities such as Community of Practice monthly webinars), Telehealth Services calls, and through the Sleep Community Sharepoint and Telehealth Services website. All training resources, best practices, and session feedbacks will be monitored, and materials updated in accordance with the role of Research in the Learning Healthcare System. Additionally, the contractor will engage in dissemination of reusable informatics infrastructure to other ORH programs as directed by the Sleep Telehealth national lead. Activity 3. The contractor will provide a report that synthesizes the knowledge gained from contract activities, identifying the key pathways for coordination of major sleep activities across VA. The activity will encompass pathways for dissemination of sleep informatics infrastructure developed during previous contract years, identification of highest priority areas for integrating sleep activities across VA and potential pathways for this integration, and identification of highest need and priority areas where gaps in knowledge exist and are barriers to improved delivery of sleep care in VA. The goal of this activity is to ensure that infrastructure is available for local and regional sleep programs to undertake their own Quality Assessment and Quality Improvement activities without reliance on the contractor. Contractor Personnel and Qualifications This scope of work is for a data analytics and implementation team. The team should minimally consist of: a PhD level supervisor and researcher who has experience overseeing contract work with the VA and has expertise in the following areas: evidence-based synthesis and systemic reviews on systems interventions; systematic evaluation of evidence based practices with regard to practice improvement and innovation; information needs for health services research including health care delivery models; VA systems based improvements; and project implementation; and evaluation of patient perspectives on care (needed for all contract years); a MD level provider with board certification in both the content area (sleep) and in clinical informatics to ensure that both the traditional and new care models are optimally evaluated and implemented (needed for all contract years); an individual with expertise in data analytics which includes data extraction, data validation, applicable statistical analysis of relevant data, and interpretation of data in conjunction with the other team members (needed for all contract years); a research assistant who will coordinate meetings, develop and track workplans, and manage references and documents including outreach materials and reports (needed for Year 1 of contracted only) and; a dually registered Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnography Technologist with a minimum of five years of experience setting up and managing a full-service sleep program including HSAT, in-lab polysomnography, durable medical equipment issuance, and CPAP Clinics. Additionally, the person in this position should have substantial expertise in the development and implementation of sleep-related training activities (needed for Year 1 of contract only). All contract personnel will work closely together to achieve the goals of the project. Contract Requirements: Data Security: Contractor team members will need to have a work without compensation (WOC) appointment at the Portland VA Health Care System. Security background investigations (Finger Print background check & The National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI)) must be completed prior to start date. A prohibition on unauthorized disclosure: Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. A requirement for data breach notification: The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and simultaneously, the designated Information Security Officer (ISO) and Privacy Officer for the contract of any known or suspected security/privacy incidents (SPI), or any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including that contained in system*s) to which the contractor has access. Such notification shall occur in the same time and manner as set forth in Section 4.G. of Business Associated Addendum between the parties effective as of April 23, 2008. The term security incident means an event that has, or could have, resulted in unauthorized access to, loss or damage to the VA assets, or sensitive information. A requirement to pay liquidated damages in the event of a data breach: In the event of a data breach or privacy incident involving any SPI the contractor processes or maintains under this contract, the contractor shall be liable to VA for liquidated damages in the amount of $37.50 per affected individual to cover the cost of proving credit protection services to those individuals. See Handbook 6500.6. App. C, paragraph 7a, 7d. Note: As of the date of Modification #54 (referenced above of said contract) and until further notice, $37.50 is the figure to be used in all contracts that require a liquidated damages clause. A requirement for annual security awareness training: Before being granted access to VA information or information systems, all contractor employees and subcontractor employees requiring such access shall successfully complete, on an annual basis, security awareness training provided or arranged by the contractor that conforms to VA s security and privacy requirements as delineated in the copy of the VA security awareness training provided to the contractor. A requirement to sign VA s Rules of Behavior: Before being granted access to VA information or information systems, all contractor employees and subcontractor employees requiring such access shall sign, on an annual basis, an acknowledgement that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by VA s Contractor Rules of Behavior dated March 12, 2010 which is attached to this contract see above referenced contract number). PRIVACY OFFICER LANGUAGE FOR PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data- General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1). VA information should not be co-mingled, if possible, with any other data on the contractors/subcontractor s information systems or media storage systems in order to ensure VA requirements related to data protection and media sanitization can be met. If co-mingling must be allowed to meet the requirements of the business need, the contractor must ensure that VA s information is returned to the VA or destroyed in accordance with VA s sanitization requirements. VA reserves the right to conduct on-site inspections of contractor and subcontractor IT resources to ensure data security controls, separation of data and job duties, and destruction/media sanitization procedures are in compliance with VA directive requirements. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management and its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract. The contractor/subcontractor must receive, gather, store, back up, maintain, use, disclose and dispose of VA information only in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable Federal and VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies. If Federal or VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies become applicable to the VA information or information systems after execution of the contract, or if NIST issues or updates applicable FIPS or Special Publications (SP) after execution of this contract, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to implement the information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies in this contract. The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state. If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed. RECORDS MANAGEMENT LANGUAGE FOR CONTRACTS REQUIRED The following standard items relate to records generated in executing the contract and should be included in a typical Electronic Information Systems (EIS) procurement contract: Citations to pertinent laws, codes and regulations such as 44 U.S.C chapters 21, 29, 31 and 33; Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a); 36 CFR Part 1222 and Part 1228. Contractor shall treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S. Government for which the Government Agency shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records. Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor must deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data. Contractor agrees to comply with Federal and Agency records management policies, including those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. These policies include the preservation of all records created or received regardless of format [paper, electronic, etc.] or mode of transmission [e-mail, fax, etc.] or state of completion [draft, final, etc.]. No disposition of documents will be allowed without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Agency and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of the Agency or destroyed without regard to the provisions of the agency records schedules. Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and Agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information. Summary of Contract Deliverables and Deadlines and Reporting The Contractor will submit quarterly reports to a designated VHA employee charged with contract oversight and provide copies of these reports to the appropriate contracting office. The first contractor report will be due by the last day of the month after the end of the first full VA fiscal year quarter after the contract is implemented (e.g., if contract implemented September 15, 2023, then first report will be due January 31, 2024). Thereafter, each quarterly report will be due by the last day of the month after the end of each quarter. This will ensure that reports are temporally align with the ORH reporting structure. The metrics reported will align with measured ORH TeleSleep outcomes which currently include ORH measures; Program Office measures; and Implementation measures. The TeleSleep lead may modify the metrics reported as needed to reflect programmatic changes during the contract period. Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated supplies at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov no later than August 7, 2023, 5PM EST. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, SAM UEI and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; whether services are presently offered on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, NASA SEWP contract or any other Government contract vehicle. NAICS Code 541990 Size Standard: $26.0 Million is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.
 

Web Link

SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/92497201d6054e008627792e37e12dcf/view)
 

Place of Performance

Address: Vendor offsite location located near: Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 20 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239-2964, USA

Zip Code: 97239-2964

Country: USA
 

Record

SN06768806-F 20230730/230728230052 (samdaily.us)
 

Source

SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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