Statement of Work: Overview and Background: In consultation with and at the direction of the project officer, and with input from designated AHRQ program staff and AHRQ partners, the contractor shall develop, refine, and produce a set of analyses and geo-political descriptions using current policy relevant databases that may be used as input into Departmental, Agency, and Congressional discussions of disparities in health care and healthcare financing and as input into related Agency activities, including briefing material for early Town Hall meetings of the Director of the Agency. The contractor’s time, expertise, and deliverables shall serve as inputs into Agency healthcare disparities reporting activities, into Agency efforts to transfer knowledge to policymaking at Federal-State-and local-levels and, where appropriate, into related Congressional discussions. Relationship to research priorities: Reports and services delivered by the contractor shall directly address both Departmental priorities on understanding healthcare disparities and AHRQ priorities with respect to specific populations listed in the Agency’s current authorizing legislation. In particular, the contractor’s analyses and reporting shall focus on geographic-levels appropriate to ‘inner-city’, ‘rural’ populations, and on issues appropriate to populations of ‘elderly’ and ‘individuals needing chronic care.’ Value to AHRQ and others: The contractor’s demonstrated experience with aggregating data to various specific geographical areas using databases provides opportunities for timely input into AHRQ’s disparities reporting and related efforts; contractor must possess a demonstrated ability to interact and communicate research findings to national decision makers, including the U.S. Congress and its staff, shall also provide value to those involved in national decision making processes affecting healthcare quality and financing. The contractors interaction with these decision makers and State-level policy groups shall also provide timely targeted descriptive analyses of geographic disparities and opportunities for direct dissemination of other AHRQ-generated research findings. Specific priority populations: minorities, inner-city, low income, elderly, individuals needing chronic care Strategic goal area: Efficiency Activity Code(s): New Knowledge Portfolio: Cost, organization, and socio-economics HHS Departmental coding theme: Health Disparities Deliverables: 1 - The contractor shall provide an environmental scan of current Congressional, State, and AHRQ activities related to the overall objectives of the project as described in “Overview and background,” to include an assessment of available and relevant data at AHRQ and other potential data needs. Scan shall include a recommendation for relevant future analyses and activities by the contractor and potential data acquisition by the Agency. The project officer will provide recommendations on format. Deliverable number one (1) is due 90 days from award of contract. 2 - The contractor shall provide consultation to the project officer and reflecting earlier environmental scan and feedback from Agency program staff. A report of data development activities and current testing of data tools, and a draft prototype of analyses and information germane to preparation of Town Meetings, due 270 days from award of contract. 3 - The contractor shall provide a draft final report to be developed with the project officer, capturing current and recommended project activities and analyses, descriptions of data tool development, and potential Town Hall briefing protocols. Deliverable due 365 days from award of contract. 4 - The contractor shall provide a final report, refined from draft final report and reflecting suggestions and other input from the project officer and designated Agency program staff. Deliverable number four (4) due on or before the end of the period of performance. Period of performance: Date of award through 18 1/4 months. SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING: Sole source justification for Mr. Jeffrey Copper, is justified on the bases (1) of unique expertise required under the scope of work, as indicated in “Overview and Background,” and (2) of issues of timeliness in accomplishing such scope. The unique expertise of proposed contractor includes (1) demonstrated and extensive familiarity with current healthcare disparity policy issues of interest to State policy groups and the U.S. Congress and its staff, including particular issues of geographic disparities and the State and Congressional policies related to alleviating such disparities, (2) Specific demonstrated recent interaction with such groups, and (3) demonstrated experience with aggregating data to various specific geographical areas using databases such as Census Data, NCHS Vital Statistics database, Area Resource File, Physician Supply Schedule, Medicare Beneficiary File, and Skilled Nursing File, and other data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and using appropriate ESRI mapping software; (3) demonstrated ability to interact and communicate research findings to national decision makers, including the U.S. Congress and State-level health policy leaders, and local decision lawmakers. Issues of timeliness concern immediate input into early development of AHRQ’s 2006 Health Disparities Reports and concomitant early development of Town Hall meetings. THE PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION FOR SERVICES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SOLICIT AND NEGOTIATE WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 6.302. INTERESTED PERSONS MAY IDENTIFY THEIR INTEREST AND CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENT OR SUBMIT PROPOSALS WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO COMPETE THIS PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT RALEIGH TANNER, CONTRACT SPECIALIST, ROOM 311-B, HUMPHREY BUILDING, 200 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S. W., WASHINGTON, D. C. 20201-0004, OR (202) 205-0625 OR FAX (202) 690-6630. E-mail address:
[email protected]