Pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), the Contracting Officer may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source is reasonably available. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), intends to issue a sole source to: National Academy of Sciences 2101 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20418 The purpose of this contract is to convene a series of virtual meetings with a panel of individuals with broad range of expertise and perspectives to gather input on the future of dissemination and implementation efforts in the recovering US health system to inform AHRQ’s strategic planning and future investments of the PCORTF. These expert panel meetings will provide an opportunity for expert stakeholders to engage with presentations and discussions about AHRQ’s PCORTF goals, strategic plans, and current and past investments to offer informed feedback and input for AHRQ’s consideration. The expert panel meetings will consider AHRQ’s PCORTF strategic plan in the context of the current and future healthcare environment, AHRQ’s PCORTF authorization, its competencies and expertise in health system research and improvement in care delivery, and in relation to PCORTF-related priorities and efforts funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is the only organization that can do this work because they are a federally chartered non-profit corporation that provides, “on request of the United States Government, can investigate, examine, experiment, and report on any subject of science and art.” NAS is a nonpartisan, independent, evidence-based scientific advisory that has a history of bringing together diverse stakeholders for this purpose and has access to the highest-level experts as volunteer members. NASEM has been previously involved with engaging stakeholders and experts for other PCORTF strategic planning efforts by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. NASEM has well established peer review processes and procedures in place for publicly posting the final independent work. The period of performance is 8 months. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government as to whether or not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties regarding this sole source action may contact the contract specialist, Kori Best,
[email protected] no later than the time and date specified in the posting.