Responses to questions.docx

Responses to questions to Solicitation #10-250-SOL-00084-ebd-1R

1. What is the maximum budget for this task order?

Potential offerors are not provided the government’s budget, but are to provide their cost estimate based on the level of work proposed.

2. On Page 9, item 2 - Is the contractor responsible for software development resources to support the development of interoperability messaging interfaces?

Yes

3. Are there any detailed technical specifications relative to the technical infrastructure and software development tools that are required (database platform, database structure, software development platform and tools, 3rd party utilities) that will support enhancement of MFHP?

Details regarding the coding and reference instructions for the interfaces with the MFHP are found at the following site: http://gforge.nci.nih.gov/projects/fhh

4. Do you currently have an understanding of the transaction standards and transaction types that need to be supported to meet the interoperability requirements between MFHP and Google Health? Can you share these standards?

In order to make the products of the My Family Health Portrait tool interoperable in an EHR environment, developers of the tool have used existing standards including the HL7 Family History Model, LOINC, SNOMED-CT and HL7 Vocabulary. In addition, the tool includes an applicable subset of information from the minimum core dataset for family health history as developed pursuant to recommendations by the American Health Information Community. The transaction standards are found inhttp://gforge.nci.nih.gov/projects/fhh

5. Regarding the above, is it simply a matter of exchanging data using the My_Family_History.xml file structure currently generated by MFHP?

The transactions are to provide authentication and authorization to save in a particular account, and provide the file in the xml format. The technical capabilities also include the feasibility to retrieve and reindex information from the saved personal account to the My Family Health Portrait application so that the information that the user provides can be modified in the program application.

6. Has there been any dialogue between HHS and Google Health to evaluate Google Health’s level of commitment for participating in this project?

HHS has engaged in discussions with Google. An agreement between HHS and Google outlining the details that will support secured information exchange is in progress.

7. Is the interoperability currently supported with healthvault representative of the planned interoperability with Google Health?

Healthvault and Google Health have different platforms. Learning about the code and writing of new code based on the current MFHR code and integration with Google Health can be explored in phase one and two of the task order. This would also include all other aspect of handing of the exchange of information such as recognition, authorization and security protocols as described in the RFP.

8. Has MCHB worked with BPHC regarding rolling out this tool to health centers?

No, we have not. If the proposer wishes to incorporate BPHC input into their offer they should include that. Since they work in CHC’s we in HRSA would probably ask someone in BHPC to provide some input at some point in the future.

9. Can budgets/funds include compensation for health centers to participate?

Yes

10. Regarding Goal III, Task 1 #5 – the learning collaborative. Do you mean a meeting or a formal learning collaborative?

This is a one-time face-to-face meeting. The content and format of the meeting should facilitate interactive learning among participants and generate recommendations and ideas for national roll-out of family health history in HRSA-funded Health Centers, including how learning collaborative models might be used in a national roll-out.

11. Regarding Goal III, Task 1 #5 – will the contractor be responsible for travel expenses for all participants?

Yes

12. Regarding Goal I task 11 – what level of technical assistance is anticipated?

The contractor should provide training in the use of Does it Run in the Family and My Family Health Portrait tools and materials to Health Center projects staff, as well as provide technical oversight and consultation on all provider, patient and community health education and genetic counseling activities to ensure the accurate application of the state-of-the science and evidence-based practices are used in projects.

The purpose of this procurement is to have an entity with expertise in community health service delivery at HRSA funded Health Centers (Health Centers); patient health educations, and healthcare provider training test strategies to integrate two family health history tools in Health Centers – the HRSA/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)-funded customizable family health history tool Does in Run in the Family and the Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait.

13. How much of the work must be performed by the Prime Contractor who meets the NAICS code: 611710?

The prime contractor is expected to lead the execution of all tasks in Goal 1(Pilot-test integration of the HRSA-funded Does it Run in the Family . . .); Goal II-TASK ONE (Family Health History Provider Continuing Education); Goal III (Evaluation); and Goal IV (Final Report). A subcontractor or other member of the project team member may be secured for Goal II-TASK TWO (support secured information exchange through standardized interoperability, enabling consumer provided information . . .)

14. Can an organization be the prime that doesn't have that NAICS code but is still a small business?

Yes, this is not a set aside.

15. We have organized a team to deliver on the requirements requested. Does each entity need to send Past Performance letters (Attachment C) in order to evaluate the team or just the Prime Contractor? Is there a desired number of Past Performance Letters?

Yes, each entity should submit Past Performance letters that are related to the performance of work similar and relevant to the tasks in this RFP. Please see Section L.6.3.

16. How large a sample size do you envision for pilot testing?

The sample size should consist of at least 150 patient/community participants per Health Center site who should receive education on how to collect family health history and have participated in at least one educational activity (group or individual). Each Health Center project site health care team should participate in site-specific continuing education and training. At least 25 Health Center providers will participate in each project-sponsored continuing education training conducted at existing national, regional, or local professional conferences a year (excluding year 1 in which one (1) professional training activity is required)

17. If the referenced integration with Google Health is not possible in year 1, would HRSA find integration with another major PHR system acceptable?

Phase one and two of the task order must be completed with Google Health. If it is not possible to complete phase three based on the feasibility and technical assessment information, the task order can be reviewed. This vehicle is not designed for integration of other personal health record systems, although this goal is within scope of other components of the My Family Health Portrait Initiative.

18. The RFP says:

"This initiative is expected to integrate in a complementary fashion the HRSA/MCHB funded community centered family history tool, Does it Run in the Family (http://www.doesitruninthefamily.org/) and the Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait (http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/portrait/index.html) within HRSA-supported Health Centers." Request clarification concerning the context of "integrate" between "Does it run in the family?" and the Surgeon General's "My Family Health Portrait".

Does this refer to a technical integration between the two products or a more practice-oriented integration, (i.e., how they might be used in a Community Health Center environment with real people to educate and document a Family Health History)? Or both?

The integration of Does it Run in the Family and My Family Health Portrait refers to practice oriented integration (and not a technical integration) to test education and primary health care strategies using these two distinct stand alone educational and informational product in Health Center environments and the surrounding community. The integration of these products with health center patients will also assess strategies to integrate family health history in Health Center primary care practices and where indicated referral to follow-up services.

19. What ends are you seeking to serve by integrating the tools? Is there a desired end state?

We are seeking to assess the utility and feasibility of integrating family health history in HRSA-funded Health Centers. To test this, we are using two existing tools, Does it Run in the Family and My Family Health Portrait. The project should also glean whether additional tools and resources are needed to meet the specific health education and services needs in HRSA-funded Health Center settings. The desired end state is the findings and recommendations from testing these tools.

20. On page 34, the RFP discusses some parameters for laying out the grant proposal (L.4.7) Is this section layout how you would like the Table of Contents (along with tabbed corresponding sections) organized?

Yes.

21. Budget:

Under Section B.2 Compensation, no estimated costs are provided by HRSA for the base year or for total funds available and allotted to this contract. What amounts do you expect will be available (including direct and indirect costs)?

Potential offerors are not provided the government’s budget, but are to provide their cost estimate based on the level of work proposed.

22. A Business Plan to secure interoperability between My Family Health Portrait and Google Health is requested within 60 days of the EDOC. Since the implementation of the Business Plan will be in collaboration with the COTR, will you allow us to add the necessary funds to our original submitted budget to execute the business plan?

No, offerors should assume this cost in their original proposal.

23. Do printing costs by the government need to be budgeted?

Only the printing expense(s) that contractor must complete shall be budgeted.

24. There are many references to Phase Two in the RFP, but we are unclear about the number of additional Health Centers or DHHS regions to be served or other deliverables expected as part of Phase Two. Is this information to be determined with the COTR? We are uncertain how to estimate the labor hours and categories without more details about Phase Two.

For proposal purposes the offeror should assume 4 sites in 4 of the 10 HHS regions. Offerors should decide which regions they wish to work with; it is open. Different populations could include ethnic populations, as well as regional-urban, rural, large city, small city, specific county, specific zip code etc. Different types of health centers are listed below from the HRSA website and that also indicates types of persons served Types of Health Centers (ref. www.hrsa.gov )

1. Grant-Supported Federally Qualified Health Centers are public and private non-profit health care organizations that meet certain criteria under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs (respectively, Sections 1861(aa)(4) and 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act and receive funds under the Health Center Program (Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act).

0. Community Health Centers serve a variety of underserved populations and areas.

0. Migrant Health Centers serve migrant and seasonal agricultural workers

0. Healthcare for the Homeless Programs reach out to homeless individuals and families and provide primary care and substance abuse services.

0. Public Housing Primary Care Programs serve residents of public housing and are located in or adjacent to the communities they serve.

1. Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes are health centers that have been identified by HRSA and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as meeting the definition of “health center” under Section 330 of the PHS Act, although they do not receive grant funding under Section 330.

1. Outpatient health programs/facilities operated by tribal organizations (under the Indian Self-Determination Act, P.L. 96-638) or urban Indian organizations (under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, P.L. 94-437).

25. Goal III: Evaluation, TASK 1: General, Item number 5, requests the contractor conduct a project “learning collaborative” meeting in project year 3 that brings together Phase One and Phase Two Health Center project staffs and community and/or patient representatives to discuss lessons learned and improvements in future programming. Does the COTR prefer a face-to-face meeting or a web-based/ teleconference meeting?

The meeting should accommodate in-person participation as well as participation by persons off-site.

26. Resumes of personnel are requested in the RFP. Do you want biographical information in the HRSA Biosketch format as found at http://www.childrensnational.org/EMSC/ForGrantees/GrantsManagement/Grant-Writing-Resources.aspx? If not, is there limit on the number of pages or the format used for the resume?

There is no limit on the number of pages on resumes. Please refer to section L- Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors or Quoters; and also Section 6 – Personnel.

27. Where will the work for this contract be performed (city, state)?

During the first contract year, the work of this contract will take place at four different local HRSA-funded Health Centers that represent the diversity of demographic and geographic populations served by HRSA-funded Health Centers. The applicant should indicate proposed locations.