Evidence-based Practice Centers V (EPC V)

The Evidence-based Practice Centers V (EPC V) is a multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle managed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) designed to support systematic evidence reviews and technical assessments in healthcare. The primary purpose of this contract vehicle is to develop and deliver high-quality, comprehensive evidence reports that can be directly applied by clinicians, patients, policy-makers, and healthcare payers to improve medical decision-making and clinical practices. These evidence reports and technology assessments serve as scientific foundations for developing clinical practice guidelines, clinical pathways, performance measures, and other clinical quality improvement tools.

The task orders under this IDIQ consistently focus on specific medical research topics, ranging from treatments for specific conditions to systematic reviews supporting the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Contract values typically range from $200,000 to $3,540,215, with performance periods generally spanning 6-24 months. Frequent prime contractors include academic and research institutions such as Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, Brown University, The Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, Oregon Health & Science University, and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. None of the task orders utilized small business set-asides, and most were awarded as firm fixed-price contracts. The primary funding agency is the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, with task orders predominantly performed by non-profit research organizations and academic medical centers located across the United States.