5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13A-19 Rockville, MD 20857

R -- SOURCES SOUGHT FOR THE ORGAN PROCUREMENT AND TRANSPLANTATION NETWORK (OPTN) SOL HRSA-OPTN-SS DUE 032699 POC Lorah Tidwell (301) 443-5128 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is issuing this sources sought announcement to determine the availability and capability of private nonprofit entities that have expertise in organ procurement and transplantation, to operate the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). The purpose of the OPTN is to coordinate and improve effectiveness of the nation's organ procurement, distribution, and transplantation systems by increasing the availability of, and access to, donor organs for patients with end-stage organ failure. HRSA is contemplating issuing a Request For Proposal (RFP) in the second quarter of calendar year 1999 to solicit proposals for the continued operation of the OPTN. In past contracts, funding for the operation of the OPTN has come from two sources: 1)appropriated funds from HRSA and 2) revenues generated by the Contractor by charging patient listing fees to OPTN members. The current appropriated funds represent approximately 12% of the actual contract operating costs. Revenues generated as a function of being the OPTN contractor shall be subject to government oversight and be used to further the joint objectives of HRSA and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) contract activities. HRSA is currently under contract with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for the operation of the OPTN. This contact expires in September 1999, unless one or both of the two, previously negotiated, one year option periods are exercised by the government. Provisions have been included in the current contract for cooperation and coordination between the incumbent contractor and any new contractor to provide for a transistional period. To allow sufficient time for the procurement process and transition of the OPTN operation, if a new contractor is awarded this contract, HRSA may exercise its first option year with the incumbent contractor, which will extend the period of performance for the current contract through September 2000, thereby ensuring a one year or partial year overlap for a smooth transition. HRSA may also exercise a one-year option period to allow all offerors sufficient time to prepare and submit competitive proposals. The current contractor utilizes software developed and owned by UNOS. It is the government's intent to partner with any new contractor in the development of a new OPTN copmputerized system capable of matching and allocating organs consistent with established policies and regulations. Any potential source must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in cooperation and coordination with government program and oversight staff in the furtherance of the transplantation program goals and objectives. Interested private, nonprofit entities with expertise in organ procurement and transplantation are requested to describe their capabilities to perform the following tasks: 1)provide a computerized system capable of matching and allocating organs consistent with established policies and regulations and in coordination and cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services; 2)transmit data; 3)establish and maintain a Board of Directors and committees; 4)develop and monitor policies; 5)conduct professional and public education to increase organ donation; 6)communicate with OPTN members, transplant patients, and the general public; and 7)design and conduct research studies. Additional detail on each of the tasks can be found by accessing either of the following websites: http://www.organdonor.gov/ or http://www.hrsa.gov/osp/dot/ Information to be provided by interested parties shall include a tailored capability statement that briefly and specifically addresses the experience and requisite qualifications to perform the tasks described above. Interested organizations should include the professional qualifications of technical personnel in acccordance with the outline of the tasks; an outline of previous contracts having a national scope in which the proposed personnel have participated; and any other information considered to be relevant to the described effort. This is not a Request For Proposal (RFP) and the Government is not committed to award a contract or issue an RFP pursuant to this announcement. Respondents who believe they have the capabilities necessary to undertake this effort should submit four (4) copies of a tailored capability statement to be recieved no later than 4:00PM EST on March 26, 1999 to Lorah Tidwell, Contracting Officer, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13A-19, Rockville, MD 20857. Capability statements should not include cost or pricing information. Depending on the results of this sources sought announcement, a competitive RFP may be issued by HRSA. An announcement in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) will be made prior to the issuance of an RFP for this request. Posted 02/24/99 (W-SN301722). (0055)

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