A -- RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DATA COLLECTION REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

Notice Date

July 27, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration, Acquisition and Grants Group, 7500 Security Blvd. C2-21-15, Central Building, Baltimore, MD, 21244-1850

ZIP Code

21244-1850

Description

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration intends to award on a sole source basis, under the Simplified Acquisition Procedure (Dollar Threshold of $100,000), a firm fixed price award to the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc., 440 First Street, NW, Suite 430, Washington, DC 20001. The purpose of this acquisition is for the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) to provide technical services for the assessment of CMS data systems to ascertain the agency?s capacity to acquire racial and ethnic data in accordance with OMB standards. In addition, SHIRE will make recommendations to CMS regarding barriers and options to overcome them with respect to enhancing the ability of CMS to meet the health needs of a culturally diverse beneficiary population. SHIRE will engage experienced technical consultants to conduct this assessment, including individuals participating in CMS-supported Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC). The review will take place over a 90-day period, and will culminate in a written report. It is anticipated that this effort will contribute to the delivery of high quality, culturally competent health services that will meet the needs of all racial and ethnic groups. The goal of this Racial and Ethnic Health Data Collection Review and Assessment activity is to provide information to CMS decision-makers to enhance the agency?s ability to meet the health needs of a culturally diverse CMS beneficiary population through the provision of high quality, culturally competent services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is partnering with SHIRE to conduct the Racial and Ethnic Health Data Collection: Review and Assessment for CMS Systems Enhancement activities. The coordination and management of all aspects of the data review and assessment will be centralized through the contractor. This data review and assessment is designed to:=20  Improve and enhance CMS Racial and Ethnic health data collection.  Document the current CMS data collection activities and the extent to which available CMS systems collect data on the race and ethnicity of agency beneficiaries, pursuant to OMB standards.  Discuss a mechanism for ongoing communication between CMS and the Social Security Administration on the collection of racial and ethnic data (African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders). The contractor will be engaged to develop and implement a system that will carry out the Racial and Ethnic Health Data Collection: Review and Assessment for CMS Systems Enhancement activities. The contractor shall supply all the personnel, materials, and supplies needed to carry out this scope of work. The contractor shall have a thorough and demonstrable understanding of racial and ethnic health data systems. The contractor will make contacts with the appropriate CMS personnel about this activity. It shall facilitate the development and implementation of this activity. The project will involve the following major tasks: Task l. Make direct contact with the appropriate CMS personnel to acquire information about the data systems. (Month 1) Task 2. Examine fully the CMS data systems. (Regular Activity) Task 3. Provide for project officer review and approval of materials produced by the contractor. (Regular Activity) Task 4. Work directly with project director in coordinating project activities. (Regular Activity) A noncompetitive purchase order is justifiable for an award to Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) to carry out the Statement of Work for the Racial and Ethnic Health Data Collection: Review and Assessment for CMS Systems Enhancement activities.? A major factor for the sole source justification is that this SHIRE is addressing a racial and ethnic data issue that CMS is concerned about. SHIRE is a tax exempt 501( c )(3) organization established in 1997 to act as an effective resource for the elimination of health disparities and the attainment of optimal health among vulnerable populations. Its focus is on health care consumers of African descent and other vulnerable populations. SHIRE is guided by the vision of a nation where health care is a right, fully implemented and where individuals and communities are empowered to achieve and sustain optimal health and well being. It work to fulfill these aims by offering information, technical assistance, networking program development, research, and evaluation services to community organizations, public and private sector agencies, corporations and philanthropic institutions. SHIRE places emphasis on key strategies to promote individual and group health and produce measurable health outcomes, particularly among African Americans and other underserved groups. SHIRE is governed by a Board of Directors whose members have extensive experience in health service delivery, communications, research, evaluation and policy analysis. SHIRE?s expertise also comprises the skills and accomplishments of its key personnel and a roster of expert advisors. It is a co-founder of the Campaign to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, a multi-cultural advocacy network. The Campaign works to achieve the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2010 for people of color and other vulnerable groups. SHIRE PROGRAMS Programs initiated, completed or currently underway include efforts to:  Provide technical assistance for community level planning to achieve Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives in selected communities under the auspices of a cooperative agreement with the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Develop a prevention and treatment diabetes initiative in partnership with faith institutions, federal agencies, and private sector corporations.  Form a partnership with the Distance Learning Project of the Howard University School of Divinity for reaching out to faith based institutions, using state-of-the-art communications technology.  Provide up-to-date information on managed care and its impact on the constituents of African American state, county, and municipal elected officials, with assistance from the Commonwealth Funds.  Develop and implement community outreach and education activities concerning the health effects of tobacco use and related issues.  Inform and educate African American Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries regarding managed care consumer choices and other rights, benefits, and protections.  Publish and disseminate resource documents for African Americans and other groups and individuals involved in health related issues.  Partner with the Office of Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Or cultural competency issues with respect to state public health anti-tobacco programs.  Support the Health People 2000 Progress Review for Black Americans through the provision of research, evaluation, and documentation and technical assistance services. How SHIRE Works  Educating for empowerment  Public/Private Partnerships  Demonstrating What Works  Multi-Cultural Alliances SHIRE has been identified as the offeror of this specific professional service. Under a grant from the Commonwealth Fund, SHIRE recently completed an overall assessment of federal policies, practices, and perceptions with respect to racial, ethnic, and primary language health data collection. In the course of preparing that report, SHIRE acquired substantial information regarding CMS data-related activities, and established contacts with many CMS personnel, who are engaged in those activities. SHIRE is also in communication with CMS-funded outside agencies that have in depth knowledge of CMS data systems, such as the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine, which can be of assistance in this review and assessment. The proposed effort will build on this prior work. SHIRE has the necessary experience and unique capability to carry out this project. All responsible sources may submit capability statements in consideration to the Agency at the above address.

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010731/SPMSC005.HTM (D-208 SN50T254)