R -- QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RELATED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH FOR USAID ASSISTED COUNTRIES

Notice Date

December 7, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Agency for International Development, M/OP/G/PHN, Office of Procurement, Room 7.09-145, Washington, DC 20523-7101

ZIP Code

20523-7101

Solicitation Number

N/A

Point of Contact

Charity Benson, (202) 712-5078; Emmanuel E. Atsalinos, 202-712-1039

E-Mail Address

http://www.usaid.gov (cbenson@usaid.gov or matsalinos@usaid.gov)

Description

USAID is issuing a solicitation for technical services in international health care quality assurance (QA), including selected workforce issues related to quality of care. This contract will continue the general line of work developed under the current Quality Assurance Contract [HRN-C-00-96-90013]. In at least ten long-term assistance countries, the contractor will provide technical experts to support the institutionalization of a modern quality assurance program. Areas of work include policy development, program organization, development of core training courses, development of systems to monitor quality, development of clinical standards and guidelines, strategies for promoting compliance with guidelines, quality improvement (including rapid problem solving methods), standardized benchmarking methodologies for best practices, quality re-design of systems of care, documentation of quality assurance activities, performance-based incentive systems, community demand for quality, monitoring and evaluation of QA programs, and regulatory strategies for quality, including accreditation, certification, and licensing. In response to requests from USAID missions and other international organizations, the contractor will also provide short-term technical assistance in these areas. The contractor will also develop and conduct a program of operations research focused on adapting QA approaches to the needs of developing and middle income countries. This initiative will include studies that expand the empirical evidence base for accepted best practices in health workforce development, comprising of at least 15 of an expected 50 studies. Additional skill areas required to complete the statement of work include computer-based training, human performance technology (job aids development), analysis of cost-quality relationships, and familiarity with the health issues identified as a priority in USAID strategy documents. The anticipated cost of the 5 year contract period is approximately $48 million, of which $33 million is expected to be provided by USAID missions and bureaus for work in specified countries. Overall, 80% of contractor effort is expected to be devoted to QA activities and 20% to workforce development related to quality issues. Of the effort devoted to workforce issues, 75% is expected to consist of research and evaluation activities. A draft statement of work (DSOW) is available for comments and questions at http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/drafts/. Questions and comments must be received no later than 01/07/02 in writing to Charity Benson. The DSOW may also be Emailed or provided by hard copy (be prepared to state name, address, and draft SOW number (M/OP-02-2785) by contacting Charity Benson at 202-712-5078 or at cbenson@usaid.gov). As the recipient of this solicitation document, you are responsible for ensuring that you have received it from INTERNET in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. All offerors should be prepared to provide its past performance 15 days after the release of the solicitation on directly related or similar federal, state, and local government, and private contracts and subcontracts it has held within the past three years or the last ten such contracts performed, whichever is less. Also, include all contracts and subcontracts currently in progress, which are of similar scope, magnitude and complexity to that which is detailed in the RFP. (The information must be clear whether the work by the offeror was done as a prime contractor or subcontractor). Offerors who describe similar contracts and subcontracts shall provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the similarity of the contracts to the requirements of the RFP. The areas of past performance that USAID will focus the evaluation (may change after the solicitation is released) will include the following: (1) Technical assistance in the organization of quality assurance (QA) activities as an integral part of delivering health services, including policy support; (2) Development and testing of training materials related to QA strategies, methodologies, skills, and field applications; (3) Approaches to developing clinical standards and guidelines, monitoring and evaluating compliance with guidelines, and promoting increased levels of compliance; (4) Supporting quality improvement through well-defined methodologies applied by providers; (5) Facilitating re-design of clinical care and related support processes to increase quality and efficiency; (6) Documentation and evaluation of QA activities; (7) Support for standards-based QA strategies based on external regulatory bodies; (8) Operations research addressing the improvement of QA methods; (9) Computer-based training development and evaluation; (10) Systematic development of provider job aids.****

Web Link

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/announce/cbd (http://www.usaid.gov)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011211/RSOL011.HTM (W-341 SN5146O7)