CHIPRA RFP 11102010.doc

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

Request for Proposal

SECTION A - SOLICITATION FORM No. AHRQ-11-10001

Date Issued: November 10, 2010 Date Questions Due: November 16, 2010 12:00 PM EST Date Notice of Intent Due: November 30, 2010 Date Proposals Due: December 10, 2010 10:00 AM EST You are invited to submit a proposal to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for Request for Proposal (RFP) No. AHRQ-11-10001, entitled “Coordinating and Technical Assistance Center for the Pediatric Quality Measures Program.” Your proposal must be developed and submitted in accordance with the requirements and instructions of this RFP.

A performance base cost reimbursement contract is contemplated for a period of one year, with three one-year options.

The contractor selected for this requirement will be instrumental in creating new measures and in preparing measures for endorsement. Therefore, organizations that review and endorse measures have been identified as having a significant Organizational Conflict of Interest (reference FAR subpart 9.5). Please see RFP section L.15 for more information and guidance.

The Government anticipates awarding 1 contract from this one solicitation.

Offerors shall submit the following:

A.

Technical Proposal (See Section L.9) (Original and 12 copies)

B.

Past Performance Information (See Section L.10) (Original and 5 copies)

C.

Business Proposal (See Section L.12) (Original and 5 copies) D.

Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Plan (See Section L.11) (Original and 2 Copies Your technical proposal must be concisely written and should be limited to 30 typewritten pages (double-spaced), exclusive of personnel qualifications (i.e., resume, etc., see Section L.9 for additional details). This limitation is for administrative purposes only and exceeding the limitation shall not, of itself, be considered a basis for rejection of your proposal.

Your proposal must provide the full name of your company, the address, including county, Tax Identification Number (TIN), DUN and Bradstreet No., and if different, the address to which payment should be mailed.

YOUR ATTENTION IS CALLED TO THE LATE PROPOSAL PROVISIONS PROVIDED IN SECTION L.3 OF THIS RFP. YOUR ATTENTION IS ALSO DIRECTED TO THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN SECTION L.9 OF THE SOLICITATION.

If you intend to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, please inform the Contract Specialist of your intent by completing the Proposal Intent Response Form (Attachment 3 to this solicitation) and send it to the Contract Specialist no later than November 30, 2010. You may send it to the address below or fax it to 301-427-1740, Attention: Nicola L. Carmichael, Contract Specialist.

Questions regarding this solicitation shall be received in this office no later than November 16, 2010 (See Section L.6). All questions shall be submitted electronically by e-mail to Nicola L. Carmichael, Contract Specialist at the following email address: Nicola.Carmichael@ahrq.hhs.gov. Subject line shall read: Proposal Questions RFP No. AHRQ-11-10001.

Answers to questions will be provided in the form of an Amendment to this solicitation and will be posted on AHRQ’s web page: www.ahrq.gov under “Funding Opportunities,” “Contract Solicitations” and Federal Business Opportunities web page: www.fedbizopps.gov. It is your responsibility to monitor the web sites where the RFP will be posted to learn about any amendments to the solicitation.

Discussions with any other individual outside the Division of Contracts Management may result in rejection of the potential offeror’s proposal.

The proposal shall be signed by an authorized official to bind your organization and must be received in our Contracts Office no later than 10:00 AM EST, on December 10, 2010. Your proposal must be mailed to the following address:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Division of Contracts Management

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Hand carried proposals may be dropped off at the above location. However, please allow ample time as proposals cannot be accepted until they have gone through security. We will not be held responsible for any delays that may be incurred getting your proposal through security.

NOTE:

The U.S. Postal Service’s “Express Mail” does not deliver to our Rockville, Maryland address. Packages delivered via this service will be held at a local post office for pick-up. The Government will not be responsible for picking up any mail at a local post office. If a proposal is not received at the place, date, and time specified herein, it will be considered a “late proposal.”

The RFP does not commit the Government to pay any cost for the preparation and submission of a proposal. It is also brought to your attention that the Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with the proposed acquisition.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2001-16, all contractors must be registered in the central contractor registration (CCR) database in order to conduct business with the government [See Section I - FAR clause 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration Apr 2008]. As stated in paragraph (h) of this clause, additional information can be obtained at http://www.ccr.gov or by calling 1-888-227-2423, or 269-961-5757.

Requests for any information concerning this RFP should be referred to Nicola L. Carmichael,

(301) 427-1705 or e-mail: Nicola.Carmichael@ahrq.hhs.gov. Please note e-mail requests should state subject as RFP AHRQ 11-10001.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Pages Section A Solicitation 1-4

Table of Contents

Section B Supplies or Services & Prices/Costs 5-7

Section C Description/Specification/Work Statement 8-22

Section D Packaging and Marking 22

Section E Inspection and Acceptance 22-23

Section F Deliveries or Performance 23-26 Section G Contract Administration Data 26-29

Section H Special Contract Requirements 30-46

PART II

Section I Contract Clauses 47-50

PART III

Section J List of Attachments 50

PART IV

Section K Representations and Instructions 51-62

Section L Instructions, Conditions & Notices to Offerors 63-82

Section M Evaluation Factors for Award 82-84

Attachments

1. Past Performance Questionnaire and Contractor Performance Form

2. SF LLL-A, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

3. Proposal Intent Response Form

4. Small Business Subcontracting Plan

5. CHIPRA Relationship Chart

6. Performance Requirements Summary

SECTION B-SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

“Coordinating and Technical Assistance Center for the Pediatric Quality Measures Program”. See Section C for a complete description

B. 2

ESTIMATED COST

a. The estimated cost (exclusive of fees) for performance of the work under this contract, including direct and indirect costs is $ (TO BE NEGOTIATED) b.

The fixed fee for this contract is $ (TO BE NEGOTIATED). The fixed fee shall be paid in installments based on the percentage of completion of work, as determined by the Contracting Officer. Payment shall be subject to the withholding provisions of the Clause ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT and FIXED FEE incorporated herein.

c.

The maximum amount of award fee that may be earned for this contract is $ (TO BE NEGOTIATED). Award fee earned shall be based upon an evaluation and determination by the Government as to the Contractor’s level of performance in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) The Contractor’s performance shall be evaluated annually and completion of the contract. The award periods and maximum amounts for each are listed in Section H, Special Contract Requirements, H.11 Performance Evaluation and Award Fee.

(2) The criteria set forth in the Performance Requirements Summary, Attachment 6, shall be used to evaluate the Contractor’s performance.

(3) The Contractor further agrees that the final determination as to the amount of Award Fee earned will be made by the Contracting Officer, taking into consideration an analysis and evaluation of the Contractor’s performance made by the Evaluation Group described in Section H.11, and shall not be subject to the “Disputes” clause of this contract. The Contractor shall be advised in writing of the decision setting forth reasons why the Award Fee was earned or why it was not earned, in order that the Contractor may improve its performance during the next twelve (12) month period, if the latter is applicable.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this contract, the fee for performing this contract shall not exceed the statutory limitations prescribed in the first sentence of Section 304(b) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act (41 USC 254 (b)) for services other than research, development or experimental work.

(5) Authorization to claim and be reimbursed for award fee under this contract will be accomplished by a unilateral modification. Upon receipt of the modification the Contractor may submit a public voucher for payment of the total award fee earned for the period evaluated. Payment of the award fee shall be subject to the withholding provision of the clause entitled “Fixed Fee.”

d.

The Government’s maximum obligation, represented by the sum of the estimated cost plus the fixed fee and award fee obtainable for the contract period is as follows:

(TO BE NEGOTIATED)

PERIOD OF

PERFORMANCE

AWARD FEE

TOTAL ESTIMATED

Base Year

Option Period 1

Option Period 2

Option Period 3

Total e.

Total funds currently available for payment and allotted to this contract are $(TO BE NEGOTIATED) of which $ (TO BE NEGOTIATED) represents the estimated cost, and of which $(TO BE NEGOTIATED) represents the fixed fee and $(TO BE NEGOTIATED) represents the award fee pool.

f.

The Contracting Officer may allot additional funds to the contract without the concurrence of the Contractor. For further provisions on funding, see the LIMITATION OF COST/LIMITATION OF FUNDS and the ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT (AND FIXED FEE) clauses incorporated herein.

B.3

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO DIRECT COSTS

a.

Items Unallowable Unless Otherwise Provided Notwithstanding the clauses, ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT, and FIXED FEE, incorporated into this contract, unless authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer, the costs of the following items or activities shall be unallowable as direct costs:

(1) Acquisition, by purchase or lease, of any interest in real property;

(2) Rearrangement or alteration of facilities;

(3) Purchase or lease of any item of general purpose-office furniture or office equipment regardless of dollar value. (General purpose equipment is defined as any items of personal property which are usable for purposes other than research, such as office equipment and furnishings, pocket calculators, etc.);

(4) Accountable Government property (defined as both real and personal property with an acquisition cost of $1,000 or more, with a life expectancy of more than two years) and "sensitive items" (defined and listed in the Contractor's Guide for Control of Government Property, 1990, regardless of acquisition value;

(5) Travel to attend general scientific meetings;

(6) Foreign Travel;

(7) Any costs incurred prior to the contract's effective date;

(8) Rental of meeting rooms not otherwise expressly paid for by the contract;

(9) Any formal subcontract arrangements not otherwise expressly provided for in the contract

(10) Consultant fees in excess of $1000/day

(11) Information Technology hardware or software; and

(12) Food and Beverages.

b. This contract is subject to the provisions of Public Law (P.L.) 99-234 which amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to provide that contractor costs for travel, including lodging, other subsistence, and incidental expenses, shall be allowable only to the extent that they do not exceed the amount allowed for Federal employees. The Contractor, therefore, shall invoice and be reimbursed for all travel costs in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 31.205-46

SECTION C- DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

A. Background

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act

The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA; Public Law 111-03) extended the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP ) through 2013. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) maintains CHIP through 2019, with full funding through 2015. In addition to reauthorizing CHIP, CHIPRA included explicit language aimed at improving children’s health care quality and outcomes through the development and enhancement of children’s health care quality measures. These measures shall not only be used for CHIP enrollees but for children enrolled in Medicaid and, eventually, for children enrolled in other public and private health care coverage programs (Section 401 of Title IV). Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ratified in April 2009, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formalized a collaborative effort related to selected child health quality provisions of Title IV of CHIPRA. AHRQ provides expertise in health care quality measure development, including testing and technical implementation of quality measures, which will help CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services achieve the aims of CHIPRA.

Working collaboratively with CMS and the CHIPRA Federal Quality Workgroup, AHRQ has leadership responsibility for two major CHIPRA initiatives, namely:

1) The identification of an initial core set of children’s health care quality measures for voluntary use by Medicaid and CHIP programs, as well as the health plans and health care providers that engage with the State programs; and

2) A national Pediatric Quality Measures Program, to be established by January 1, 2011, which will develop and identify improved core sets of measures for voluntary use by state Medicaid and CHIP programs, other public programs, and private health care coverage programs. The improved core sets are to be made publicly available initially by January 1, 2013, and annually thereafter.

The first initiative has been completed.

The Pediatric Quality Measures Program (PQMP) was authorized to consist of grants and contracts. AHRQ has issued funding opportunity announcement HS11-001 seeking applications for Centers of Excellence (COEs) in children’s health care quality measurement. This Request for Proposals (RFP) represents the second part of the PQMP. The contract awarded through this RFP establishes the CHIPRA Coordinating and Technical Assistance Center (CCTAC). In addition, CMS awarded quality demonstration grants to ten states, three of which will be developing and testing new measures related to children’s health.

B. Purpose

The CCTAC will help AHRQ coordinate the work of the COEs, provide technical assistance to the COEs and to the subset of three CMS-funded quality demonstration grantee states, and use the products of the COEs/grantee states to identify and post improved core sets of children’s health care quality measures by January 1, 2013, January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014.

Throughout this document, the term “Grantee States” shall refer only to the subset of 3 quality demonstration grantee states identified and funded by CMS to participate in the specified PQMP activities. The term “CMS Technical Assistance Contractor” shall refer to CMS’ own contractor serving the CMS quality demonstration grantees, which is a separate program from the PQMP. The term PQMP refers primarily to the combined efforts of the COEs, the 3 Grantee States, and the CCTAC, as directed by AHRQ. Figure 1 illustrates the relationships among the entities. Table 1 provides a summary timeline for CHIPRA-related activities.

This SOW describes the functions and responsibilities of the Contractor that shall serve as the CCTAC.

This contract establishes the CHIPRA Coordinating and Technical Assistance Center (CCTAC) to assist AHRQ in fulfilling the requirements for children’s health care quality measure improvement and development as specified in CHIPRA and in an MOU and Intra-agency Agreement with CMS.

In general, the work of the Contractor under this RFP will be responsive to priorities set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as informed by a transparent process for multi-stakeholder engagement as required by CHIPRA.

The PQMP will help enhance existing criteria for measure development to be responsive to the criteria specified in the CHIPRA legislation.

CHIPRA requires measures that cover at least the following domains of quality: duration of enrollment and coverage for 12 months; services to promote healthy birth and to prevent premature birth; preventive services for children; treatment and management services to ameliorate the consequences of chronic and acute illness; family experiences of care; most integrated health care settings, and availability of services. The CCTAC shall have expertise in these areas of measure development as well as in cross-cutting areas such addressing racial/ethnic health care disparities and developing measures that are understandable to patients and families.

Specifically, the goals of the CCTAC are as follows:

1. Assure coordination of efforts across the COEs/Grantee states;

2. Assure timely flow of information between the COEs/Grantee states and AHRQ about PQMP activities and developments

3. Provide technical assistance to the COEs/Grantee states;

4. Further develop measure criteria, including requirements for documentation, and use the measure criteria to identify measures that are valid, feasible, and important for improving children’s health care quality and outcomes;

5. Develop and implement a transparent process to recommend improved core sets of measures by January 1, 2013, January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014.

C. Specific Requirements The requirements of the base and subsequent option years are as follows:

Table A

Task 1

Subtask 1.1 Project orientation meeting

Subtask 1.2 Submit final project plan

Task 2.—Provide summary report of kick-off meeting

Year 1 meeting Subtask 4.1 Identify a draft list of proposed experts year 2 meeting Subtask 4.1 Identify a draft list of proposed experts year 3 meeting Subtask 4.1 Identify a draft list of proposed experts year 4 meeting

Subtask 6.2 Submit revised plan for providing technical assistance

Task 8

*Note: Shaded=Non-Severable task All Project tasks will be performed at the direction of AHRQ.

TASK 1 – Perform Project Management

Subtask 1.1 – Participate in project orientation meeting

Within 2 weeks of the effective date of contract award (EDCA), at the direction of the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), the Contractor shall meet with relevant staff at AHRQ headquarters. The objectives of this meeting are to review the purpose and scope of the contract and to clarify major deliverables. Key government and contractor staff shall be introduced and communication channels shall be discussed. The Contractor shall coordinate scheduling of the meeting, prepare an agenda, provide a summary of the meeting, and arrange follow up discussions by phone or by email as necessary to clarify key points.

Subtask 1.2 – Submit a final project plan The Contractor shall submit an updated project plan in both written form and in Microsoft Office Project 2007. This plan shall comprise the plan submitted with the proposal, modified as necessary based on the kick off meeting. The project plan shall include a timeline (i.e., Gantt chart) showing major milestones for the CCTAC (e.g., events, activities, and deliverables) and for the quality measurement activities under CHIPRA. The project plan shall also include preliminary plans for providing technical assistance (Task 6.1), for enhancing existing measure criteria and requirements for documents (Task 7.1) and for assessing measures being developed by the PQMP (task 8.1).

Subtask 1.3 – Convene semimonthly (i.e., every two weeks) conferences with the COTR

The Contractor shall convene semimonthly (i.e., every two weeks) conferences between the Contractor, the COTR, and other AHRQ and CMS staff, as necessary. For each web conference, the Contractor shall prepare an agenda, provide a summary, and arrange follow up discussions by phone or email as necessary to clarify key points. The conferences shall begin within 1 month of EDCA. The schedule for conferences shall be subject to change per the CO or the COTR.

Subtask 1.4 – Submit monthly expense reports and budget information

The Contractor shall submit monthly reports to AHRQ that contain details about expenses and budget information over the previous month and over the duration of the contract. The Contractor shall submit the first report within 4 weeks of EDCA.

TASK 2 – Participate in kick-off meeting between AHRQ, CMS, the CCTAC, the COEs, and the Grantee states

AHRQ plans to have a kick-off meeting of AHRQ, CMS, the CCTAC, the COEs, and the Grantee states in April 2011. The purposes of the meeting are to outline a common vision for the PQMP, to ensure a common understanding of the quality provisions contained within CHIPRA, to determine the most effective method for applying a team-based approach so that the PQMP can fulfill the CHIPRA provisions, to determine initial technical assistance needs of the COEs/Grantee states, and to establish close rapport among the COE/Grantee state PIs. The meeting shall occur at AHRQ over the course of 2 days. The contractor shall send all key personnel and any other relevant personnel to participate in this kick off meeting.

Subtask 2.1 – Provide a summary report of kick-off meeting

The Contractor shall submit a summary report of the kick-off meeting within 2 weeks of the conclusion of the kick-off meeting.

TASK 3 – Assess COE/Grantee states progress toward improving and developing measures using criteria to be developed and provide summary reports

Subtask 3.1 – Convene monthly web conferences between the COEs/Grantee states, AHRQ, and CMS The contractor shall arrange and facilitate monthly web conferences between the PIs for each of the COEs/Grantee states and relevant staff from AHRQ and CMS. The purpose of the monthly web conferences is to discuss COEs/Grantee states’ progress, budget, and to identify challenges to measure improvement and development in the context of CHIPRA. The contractor shall arrange the first web conference to occur within 2 months of EDCA. The CMS Technical Assistance Contractor shall be invited to participate on the monthly web conferences as an officio participant (i.e., as a listener only). The contractor shall develop an agenda for each web conference and distribute the agenda no later than one week prior to each web conference. The contractor shall distribute a summary of each web conference, including key action items, within one week following each web conference. The schedule for web conferences shall be subject to change per the CO or the COTR.

Subtask 3.2 – Submit quarterly reports summarizing and synthesizing the work of the COEs/Grantee states toward improving and developing measures using criteria to be developed

A primary goal of the CCTAC is to assist AHRQ in ensuring that the COEs/Grantee states’ activities meet the requirements for measure development as specified in CHIPRA. The contractor shall submit quarterly reports to AHRQ that provide syntheses of COEs/Grantee states’ progress and challenges encountered, as well as requests for technical assistance, responses to those requests and any needs for additional guidance from AHRQ. Because the COEs/Grantee states shall likely be working on different measures at different stages of development, the quarterly reports shall provide context for how each of the COEs/Grantee states is contributing to the overall PQMP. Quarterly reports shall describe progress since the last report as well as overall progress since the creation of the PQMP. The Contractor shall begin submitting quarterly reports to AHRQ within 4 months of EDCA. To avoid duplication of effort, AHRQ intends to have the COEs/Grantees provide quarterly reports on progress and challenges using the AHRQ Research and Reporting System (ARRS) and to enable the Contractor to have access to these reports. Thus, the Contractor need not seek this information independently from the COEs. However, the quarterly reports shall not only summarize and synthesize the grantees’ reports but include additional observations about the progress of the PQMP toward its goals.

Subtask 3.3 – Submit yearly summary reports

The Contractor shall submit yearly summary reports, in place of the usual quarterly report, in the final month of each calendar year of the contract period. The yearly summary report shall describe barriers encountered and lessons learned over the preceding year and shall describe future opportunities related to the experiences of the COEs/Grantee states and the CCTAC (e.g., process for recommending improved core sets of measures).

TASK 4 – Convene annual expert meetings and provide recommendations based on expert input

The purpose of the expert meetings is to allow individual stakeholders to learn about progress made by the PQMP and to provide individual input into PQMP activities. The experts will not provide advice as a group. Key roles for the experts are to provide individual comments on the validity, feasibility, importance and understandability of measures nominated for improved core sets of children’s health care quality measures. (See Task 8). The experts shall include but not be limited to representatives from Medicaid and CHIP programs, private insurance companies, managed care plans, patients and families, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), measure developers, and health care providers, and the COEs and the Grantee States. The experts shall have diverse knowledge of health care disparities (e.g., racial/ethnic disparities). Experts in quality measurement and in the application of health information technology (health IT) to quality measurement shall be invited to participate. The experts shall meet in person at the AHRQ annual conference. To ensure the broadest stakeholder input possible, a different set of experts shall be invited to participate each year. In year 1, the contractor shall cover travel expenses for the CHIPRA COE awardees.

Subtask 4.1 – Identify a list of proposed experts

The Contractor shall submit to AHRQ a list of proposed experts no later than 6 months prior to each AHRQ annual conference. The list shall include names, affiliations, and biographical sketches. Final decisions regarding invitees to participate in the expert meetings shall rest with AHRQ. (See also Proposal Requirements Section I.B.2).

Subtask 4.2 – Provide logistics support for inviting experts to the annual meeting, for tracking responses, and for keeping the list updated for invitations to annual meetings.

Using the Contractor’s logistics, AHRQ shall invite the proposed experts no later than 4 months prior to each annual meeting. The Contractor shall track the invitees’ responses, and if necessary, shall make adjustments to the list of experts as directed by AHRQ.

Subtask 4.3 – Convene annual in-person, public meetings of the experts, the COEs/Grantee states, AHRQ, and CMS.

The Contractor shall arrange for annual in-person meetings to include the invited experts, AHRQ, CMS, and the principal investigators of the COEs/Grantee states. The Contractor shall prepare a Federal Register Notice about each in-person meeting. The meetings shall be open to the public. The meetings shall occur at the annual AHRQ conference. The Contractor shall coordinate each in-person meeting with AHRQ. The Contractor shall make all travel and hotel arrangements for the experts and handle all logistics questions from the experts and the experts’ representatives. The Contractor shall also prepare background materials for the annual meetings in close consultation with AHRQ and the COEs/Grantee states, including an agenda for each annual meeting for approval by AHRQ.

Subtask 4.4 – Conduct analysis and prepare recommendations based on input received during the annual in-person, public meetings of the experts, the COEs/Grantee states, AHRQ, and CMS.

Based on the proceedings of each annual meeting, the Contractor shall submit a report to AHRQ, including the Contractor’s analysis and recommendations intended to further guide the PQMP, within 1 month of each expert meeting.

TASK 5 – Create a web-based environment to facilitate the exchange of ideas across the PQMP

The purpose of the web-based environment is to facilitate the exchange of ideas across the PQMP, including the COEs/Grantee states and the CCTAC. Because each of the COEs/Grantee states is likely to possess different areas of expertise in regards to quality measurement, an active exchange of barriers encountered and lessons learned will be important to the success of the PQMP. The web-based environment shall be more than just a listserv;

The web-based environment shall include the following:

· Feature a dynamic, fully-tested, on-line tool that shall enable contribution to the web-based environment’s content and shall facilitate active participation from the COEs/Grantee states and the public, as appropriate.

· Feature areas only available to the CCTAC, the COEs/Grantee states, AHRQ, and CMS for open and honest discussion (forum list) and for sharing documents, files, resource collections and other forms of technical assistance in a collaborative community as a restricted access extranet.

· Feature a public-facing website for access by the experts described in Task 4 and by the general public that describes PQMP activities and findings to-date.

· Support a web inquiry and Frequently Asked Questions page that interfaces with the AHRQ customer relationship management system at: https://info.ahrq.gov.

· Support broadcast mailing lists related to these Web resources that interface with the AHRQ GovDelivery system at: https://subscriptions.ahrq.gov.

· Shall be directly accessible through the www.ahrq.gov website as a third-level domain, and clearly identify AHRQ as the owner of the site.

· Shall conform to technical standards, functional performance criteria, and documentation requirements for communications and information technology under section 508 of the amended Rehabilitation Act available at: http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm

· Be coordinated with AHRQ’s Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer and Office of the Director IT for Web inventory data, metrics reporting, requests for updates and/or documentation, and integration with the AHRQ domain.

The Contractor shall be responsible for creating the content for and maintaining the web-based environment throughout the contract period.

Bidders are encouraged to consider using one of HHS’s or AHRQ's existing enterprise licenses for the web environment(s). HHS currently uses Percussion as a web content management system. For the collaborative, password-protected site for AHRQ, CMS, the COEs and the Grantee States, AHRQ’s WebExOffice license is appropriate and a secure extranet workspace can be deployed in this environment. Alternatively, an open source web environment such as Drupal may be proposed, providing a single platform for both public-facing websites and collaborative, password-protected work.

Any web environment or solution proposed in support of this project shall address requirements associated with federal information resources, including enterprise architecture, accessibility, privacy, security, usability, and social media use. Web resources developed and maintained shall adhere to the AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines at: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/pubcomguide/pcguide2.htm.

Proposed IT hardware, software, peripherals, and licensing fees for software-as-a-service applications shall be centrally approved and authorized for procurement through AHRQ's Office of the Director IT. Enterprise licensing agreements are between the Agency and the vendor, and therefore, contractors cannot sign agreements on behalf of AHRQ. All information systems shall be reviewed and approved for operation prior to launch. IT infrastructure shall be considered government owned, contractor operated. A product accessibility template shall be completed for any solution proposed as part of the market analysis and due diligence process: http://www.hhs.gov/od/vendors/index.html. Potential offerors can find vetted sources at: http://www.apps.gov. Additional guidance is available from HHS at: http://newmedia.hhs.gov/resources/index.html.

The Contractor shall be responsible for creating the content for and maintaining the web-based environment throughout the contract period.

Subtask 5.1 – Implement the web-based environment(s) The Contractor shall complete the implementation of the web-based environment(s) within 4 months EDCA. By this time, the COEs/Grantee states and the CCTAC should be contributing to the web-based environment’s content.

Subtask 5.2 – Provide ongoing maintenance of the web-based environment(s) The Contractor shall provide ongoing maintenance of the web-based environment(s) from the time the website is active until the end of the contract period.

TASK 6 – Provide technical assistance to the COEs/Grantee states

As the COEs/Grantee states proceed with measure development, AHRQ expects that questions surrounding appropriate measure criteria and other measure-related topics shall arise. As discussed in the background section, current measure criteria are not uniform across organizations that develop or endorse measures. Areas in which the COEs/Grantee states will likely require technical assistance include: 1) re-specifying current measure criteria to conform to AHRQ-specified or CHIPRA-specified criteria, 2) incorporating the public priority-setting process into their ongoing research, and 3) meeting documentation requirements set forth by AHRQ. There may be additional needs. For all needs, COEs/Grantee states may be able to assist each other and the PQMP as a whole; the Contractor shall facilitate such cross-COE/Grantee state sharing.

Subtask 6.1 – Submit a plan for providing technical assistance

Based on the needs assessment performed during the kick-off meeting, the Contractor shall submit to AHRQ and to the COEs/Grantee states a plan to address technical assistance needs. This plan shall augment the preliminary plan as provided in original proposal. The Contractor shall also propose mechanisms for determining ongoing technical assistance needs and for providing ongoing technical assistance throughout the contract period. The mechanisms for gathering technical assistance needs shall be systematic and transparent. The Contractor shall track the types and amount of technical assistance requested and received. The Contractor shall submit this plan within 5 months EDCA.

Subtask 6.2 – Submit a revised plan for providing technical assistance

Based on comments from AHRQ and the COEs/Grantee states, the Contractor shall submit a revised plan for providing ongoing technical assistance within 6 months EDCA.

Subtask 6.3 – Provide ongoing technical assistance

The Contractor shall implement the AHRQ -approved plan for providing ongoing technical assistance to the COEs/Grantee states within 7 months of EDCA. The plan shall be subject to revision after 1 year after EDCA.

TASK 7 –Further develop measure criteria and requirements for documentation

Subtask 7.1 – Submit a plan to enhance existing measure criteria and requirements for documentation

The Contractor shall provide a final plan for enhancing measure criteria and for developing documentation to show how criteria are being met. The measure criteria shall address the validity, feasibility, and understandability of children’s health care quality measures. CMS plans to submit measures from the improved core sets for endorsement by the National Quality Forum (NQF). The measure criteria developed by the CCTAC shall build on NQF criteria to meet the CHIPRA requirements. The plan shall respond to needs identified in the following sources: the CHIPRA legislation; the background paper for the federal register notice soliciting public comment on the initial core set ; public comments received on the initial core set of measures ; and recommendations from the expert meeting held at AHRQ in February 2010.

The plan shall include recommendations for measure development criteria work that could be done by the CCTAC in collaboration with the COEs/Grantee states (i.e., within existing resources) and by other entities. The Contractor shall submit the plan to AHRQ and the COEs/Grantee states for review within 2 months of EDCA.

Subtask 7.2 – Submit a revised plan to enhance existing measure criteria and requirements for documentation

Based on comments from the COEs/Grantee states and AHRQ, the Contractor shall submit a revised plan to enhance existing measure criteria and requirements for documentation within 4 months of EDCA.

Subtask 7.3 – Implement the plan to enhance existing measure criteria and requirements for documentation

The Contractor shall implement the AHRQ-approved plan for enhancing measure criteria and requirements for documentation within 6 months of EDCA.

Subtask 7.4 -- Report progress on the plan for enhancing measure criteria The Contractor shall report progress made by the COEs/Grantees states and the CCTAC on measure criteria development and documentation work. These reports shall be incorporated into the quarterly reports described in Subtask 3.2.

TASK 8– Identify and prepare drafts for public posting of improved core sets of measures

A major provision of CHIPRA is to identify an improved core set of measures for children’s health care quality based on the experience of the PQMP and a public priority-setting process. CHIPRA requires that the improved core set of measures be publicly posted annually beginning January 1, 2013. The Contractor shall identify, based on input from the COEs, grantee States, and individual expert meetings, improved core sets of measures, along with a draft public notice no later than 2 months following the annual public meetings to be held September 2012, 2013, and 2014

Subtask 8.1 – Submit a final plan for assessing measures being developed by the PQMP

The Contractor shall assess the measures being developed by the COEs/Grantee States according to a process similar to the modified Delphi process used by the AHRQ National Advisory Council on Healthcare Research and Quality (NAC) Subcommittee on Children's Healthcare Quality Measures for Medicaid and CHIP (SNAC) to develop the initial core set of measures. Key dimensions for assessment shall include the validity, feasibility, importance, and understandability of each of the measures. Key participants of the assessment process shall include the COEs/Grantee States, the CCTAC, AHRQ, CMS, the experts from the expert meeting described in Task 4, and the public. The plan shall be sensitive to key dates for publicly posting improved core sets of measures as mentioned above. Key elements of the plan shall include but not be limited to:

· Public calls for measures and incorporation of the public’s input towards developing the improved core sets of measures

· Preparation of materials about the measures and about the modified Delphi process for the experts described in Task 4 and other participants

· Engagement of the experts described in Task 4 to participate in the modified Delphi process and to recommend improved core sets of measures

· Public meetings of experts (see Subtask 4.3)

· Provision of recommendations for improved core sets of measures

· Preparation of draft federal register notices in advance of the public meetings and in advance of publicly posting improved core sets of measures

The Contractor shall submit the plan to AHRQ within 4 months of EDCA.

Subtask 8.2 – Submit a revised plan for assessing measures being developed by the PQMP

Based on comments received from AHRQ and the COEs/Grantee States, the Contractor will submit a revised plan for assessing measures being developed by the PQMP within 6 months of EDCA.

Subtask 8.3 – Implement and undertake the activities in the AHRQ-approved plan for assessing measures developed by the PQMP

The Contractor shall implement and undertake the activities in the AHRQ-approved plan within 8 months of EDCA.

Subtask 8.4 – Conduct public calls for measures

The Contractor shall conduct public calls for measures to supplement ongoing work of the CCTAC and COEs/Grantee states in order to increase the pool of measures to be considered for recommendation in the improved core sets of measures. Members of the public shall be encouraged to use the enhanced criteria for validity, feasibility, importance, and understandability developed through the work of the PQMP. Special effort shall be made to reach out to measure holders with measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum, awardees under the CMS Quality Demonstration Grants, the National Committee on Quality Assurance, the AHRQ Quality Indicators program, CAHPS®, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the CHIPRA Federal Quality Workgroup, entities with child- and perinatal-relevant measure development and endorsement activities (e.g., the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association PCPI, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, the American Academy of Family Physicians), and other key organizations to be identified. The Contractor shall conduct the initial public call for measures within 12 months of EDCA in order to meet the January 2013 CHIPRA deadline, and at appropriate times for the January 2014 and December 2014 CHIPRA deadlines.

Subtask 8.5 – Prepare public notices containing: recommendations for improved core measure sets based on the expert meetings described in Task 4; the rationale for such recommendations; and the methods used to arrive at the recommendations.

In order to meet the January 2013, January 2014, December 2014 CHIPRA deadlines, AHRQ requires a series of reports from the Contractor, formatted as public notices.

Subtask 8.5.a Prepare draft public notices within one month after the public expert meetings described in Task 4. AHRQ shall arrange for review of the drafts.

Subtask 8.5.b Submit final revised draft public notices based on AHRQ, the experts from the expert meetings, COEs, and other comments solicited by AHRQ one month after submission of the draft referred to in Subtask 8.5.a.

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

The contractor shall mark each delivery/deliverable with the Contractor’s Name; Contract number; Item number; and quantity indicating partial, full or final shipment. Note as appropriate on the face page of each deliverable, or on the binding, (1) one volume only, or (2) volume 1 of 2

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The contracting officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided.

For the purpose of this SECTION the Government Project Officer is the authorized technical representative of the contracting officer.

c.

Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, Maryland 20850

E.2

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates the following clause by reference, with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make its full text available.

FAR Clause No.

Title and Date

52.246-5

Inspection of Services-Cost Reimbursement (April 1984)

SECTION F - PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE

F.1

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates the following clause by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) (48 CFR CHAPTER 1) CLAUSES

FAR Clause No.

Title and Date

52.242-15

Stop Work Order (AUG 1989)

Alternate I (APRIL 1984)

F.2

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Government anticipates the period of performance shall be one year, with three one-year options.

F.3

DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

The items specified for delivery below are subject to the review and approval of the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) before final acceptance. The contractor shall be required to make revisions deemed necessary by the COTR. The deliverable schedule may not be changed without the agreement of the COTR and an authorized modification completed by the AHRQ Contract Officer (CO). Delivery dates reflect calendar time unless otherwise specified. The Contracting Officer shall receive one copy of each progress report and final report/ final deliverable.

The contractor shall submit the following items electronically to the COTR: