PSNet_RFP_09-18-2018.pdf

AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet) AHRQ-19-10002 Request for Proposal v. 9/5/18; FAC 100 Page 1 of 95

Request for Proposal No. AHRQ-19-10002

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION FORM

Date Issued: 09/18/18 Date Questions Due: 09/25/18 Please Note: All questions and inquires will be processed on a non-attribution basis.

Date Notice of Intent Due: 10/11/18 Date Proposals Due: 10/25/18 11:00 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-19-10002 entitled “AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet)”. Your proposal must be developed and submitted in accordance with the requirements and instructions of this RFP.

Please Note: This RFP is a total small business set aside. See FAR 52.219-6 and 52.219-14, herein.

Solicitation Information: Please review the table of contents and refer to the appropriate section of this RFP for requirements, proposal instructions and evaluation information. The Government intends to award this contract without negotiations, so it is imperative that all questions are addressed during the solicitation phase, and that all proposals submitted include the required information and accept the terms and conditions as stated. Failure to comply with proposal instructions or submit required information may result in the removal of a proposal from consideration for award. Please review Section L carefully.

Proposal Intent: If you intend to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, please inform the Contracting Officer of your intent by completing the Proposal Intent Response Form (See section L.10 and Attachment A) and send it to the Contracting Officer no later than 10/11/18. You may mail it to the address below; fax it to 301-427-1740, Attention: David Goodno, Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer or email it to david.goodno@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Questions: All Questions regarding this solicitation shall be received in this office no later than the date shown above. All questions shall be submitted electronically by e-mail to David Goodno, Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer, at the following email address: david.goodno@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Subject line shall read: Proposal Questions RFP No. AHRQ-19-10002: (PSNet). Answers to questions and all solicitation amendments will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities web page: www.fbo.gov. It is your responsibility to monitor the web site.

mailto:david.goodno@ahrq.hhs.gov http://www.fbo.gov/

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Additional Information:

a. A cost plus fixed fee contract is contemplated for a period of one year, with four one-year options.

b. The Government anticipates awarding one contract from this solicitation on or about 03/25/19.

c. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must state that they are valid for a period of at least 120 days (reference FAR clause 52.215-1 in Section L of this document.)

d. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541990 with a size standard of $15M.

Proposal Submission: The proposal shall be signed by an authorized official to bind your organization and must be received by the due date specified above. The proposal must be submitted to the following address:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)* Division of Contracts Management* 5600 Fishers Lane* Mail Stop 06N34B* Rockville, Maryland 20857* Attn: David Goodno, (301) 427-1782*

*All boxes must be clearly labeled with this information.

Please read this section carefully. Some mail and package delivery procedures have changed due to security controls. All mail and packages are screened at a local offsite facility before being delivered to 5600 Fishers Lane.

The U.S. Postal Service’s “Express Mail” does not deliver to our Rockville, Maryland address.

Please do not use this means of delivery for proposal submission.

Proposals delivered by commercial package delivery company (example: Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc.):

Submit and label as instructed above. These companies are familiar with the delivery procedures at 5600 Fishers Lane.

Hand carried or hand carry courier service: The 5600 Fishers Lane building security does not allow packages to be delivered directly to the building. Hand carried or courier delivered proposals should be labeled as instructed above, however they must be delivered directly to the offsite screening facility at 12225 Wilkins Avenue Rockville MD 20852. The operating hours at the Wilkins Avenue facility are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. Please note that anyone who arrives at the Fishers Lane location with a delivery will be directed to the screening facility, however this will cause delay. Packages will be accepted and date/time stamped at the screening facility. Please allow ample time as proposals cannot be date/time stamped until they have gone through security.

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System for Award Management: In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database in order to conduct business with the government [See Section I - FAR clause 52.204-7 System for Award Management]. Access the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov.

Reminder: The Procurement Integrity Act prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of, inquiry about, or acceptance of procurement information. Communications with any other individual outside the AHRQ contracting office may result in rejection of an offeror’s proposal. All requests for any information concerning this RFP should be referred to David Goodno, (301) 427-1782 or e-mail: david.goodno@ahrq.hhs.gov. Please note e-mail requests should state subject as RFP AHRQ-19-10002: (PSNet).

http://www.sam.gov/

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Table of Contents

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION FORM

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III- LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – SOLICITATION LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV– REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

SECTION M- EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

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SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

“AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet)”. See Section C for a complete description.

B.2 ESTIMATED COST AND FIXED FEE

a. The Estimated Cost (exclusive of fees) for performance of the work under the base period of this contract, including direct and indirect costs is $ To Be Determined (TBD).

b. The Fixed Fee for the base period of this contract is $TBD. 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 total contract value, represented by the sum of the estimated cost plus the fixed fee for the base period is $TBD.

Period of Performance Services Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total

Base Period:

Task 1 Develop Web Platform Non-severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

Base Period:

All other tasks Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

B.3 OPTION COSTS

If the Government exercises its option(s) pursuant to the option article in Section H of this contract, the Government’s total contract amount represented by the sum of the estimated cost and fixed fee, will be revised as follows:

Period of Performance Services Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Option Period 1 Severable $ $ $ Option Period 2 Severable $ $ $ Option Period 3 Severable $ $ $ Option Period 4 Severable $ $ $

The base period and each option are separate and distinct from one another for accumulation of costs and billing purposes.

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OPTION TASKS

SOW Task Services Estimated Cost

Fixed Fee

Total

8.1 Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

8.2 – OY1 Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

8.2 – OY2 Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

8.2 – OY3 Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

8.2 – OY4 Severable $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

All option tasks shall be accomplished in their entirety within the given contract year.

B.4 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;

(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;

(11) Information Technology hardware or software;

(12) Food and Beverages; and

Note: Food and Beverages are unallowable costs. Contracting Officer Authorization for Food and Beverages will be only made as specifically authorized by statute, which is extremely rare. The contractor shall not provide food or beverages of any type. The contractor shall not accept food or beverages, even if included in, or provided ‘free’ as part of a meeting/conference ‘package’.

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b. Travel Costs

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.

The following applies to Educational Institutions: The Contractor shall invoice and be reimbursed for all travel costs in accordance with OMB Circular A-21 - "Cost Principles for Educational Institutions."

No funding or expenditures will be authorized under this contract for travel or meeting expenses of any person that is not an employee of the contractor or approved subcontractor in accordance with the terms of the contract. See 31 USC § 1345 for appropriations restrictions.

B.5 CONTRACTING OFFICER AUTHORIZATION

Other provisions of this contract notwithstanding, approval of the following items within the limits set forth is hereby granted without further authorization from the Contracting Officer.

To Be Determined

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SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the Statement of Work as follows:

Statement of Work

Unless otherwise noted under a specific task, this Statement of Work applies to the base period and all options (if exercised).

A. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

Translating the application of health services research in patient safety and quality improvement requires many multi-disciplinary partners and resources to achieve wide-spread dissemination and usage. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) continues to support advancements in this area. In 2013, AHRQ published a revised mission statement, which “…is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.”1 The mission affirms the Agency’s focus on making health care safer. In order to achieve improvements in patient safety, and overall quality, the Agency is building on earlier successful investments to support research and resource translation, implementation, dissemination, spread, and usage for the public.

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Program focuses on preventing, mitigating, and decreasing the number of medical errors, patient safety risks and hazards, and quality gaps associated with health care and their harmful impact on patients. This mission is accomplished by funding health services research in the following activities: Patient Safety Threats and Medical Errors, Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), and Healthcare- Associated Infections (HAIs). AHRQ-funded patient safety projects draw from disciplines such as clinical science, human and work systems factors, and epidemiology, and approaches to accelerate adoption and implementation of safe practices that have successfully improved care. Projects within the program seek to inform multiple stakeholders including health care organizations, providers, policymakers, researchers, patients and others.

In 2004, AHRQ established two patient safety resources – (1) Patient Safety Network (PSNet) and (2) Web Morbidity and Mortality (WebM&M). In 2015 AHRQ combined PSNet and WebM&M into one website to streamline the user’s experience; the website is now called PSNet. PSNet is a national, web-based resource featuring carefully selected, annotated resources on patient safety for multiple audiences, including health care providers, policymakers, patients, and educators. The current PSNet offers weekly updates of patient safety literature, news, tools, and meetings and a vast set of carefully annotated links to important research and other information on patient safety. PSNet provides powerful searching and browsing capability, as well as the ability for diverse users to customize the resource to their interests, and is supported by a robust patient safety taxonomy and web architecture.

PSNet includes WebM&M, which is a national, web-based learning program for health care providers.

WebM&M relies on user-submitted reports of near misses, medical errors, and patient harm/injury associated with or that are the direct result of health care delivery. WebM&M content includes user-submitted cases of medical errors, expert commentaries, and perspectives on patient safety.

This public resource enables increased access for many stakeholders to learn more about AHRQ’s research programs and investments, as well as other related activities within the public and private sector.

These existing resources shall continue to evolve and provide increased support for many groups to learn more, apply their knowledge and use this information to further the Agency’s aims.

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B. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the project are to:

(1) Develop the web platform that will house PSNet.

(2) Provide a library of carefully selected, annotated resources on patient safety for multiple audiences, including health care providers, policymakers, patients, and educators;

(3) Serve as a coordinating and national link to the latest news on patient safety and essential, relevant domestic and international, public and private sector patient safety resources and information;

(4) Maintain, monitor, and enhance a national, web-based learning program for health care providers that relies on user-submitted reports of near misses, medical errors, and patient harm/injury associated with or that are the direct result of health care delivery;

(5) Advance learning about patient safety by providing annotated links to patient safety information and downloadable material based on monthly WebM&M cases and offering continuing education credits, as appropriate, for selected categories of health care professionals and trainees; and,

(6) Develop and maintain appropriate partnerships to enhance and expand the content availability of PSNet

(7) Develop and support a new aspect of PSNet which would feature patient safety innovations

C. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the Statement of Work as follows:

D. STATEMENT OF WORK

Unless otherwise noted under a specific task, this Statement of Work applies to the base period and all option periods (if exercised).

All specified meetings shall not be held on Federal holidays, nor shall deliverables be required for submission on a Federal holiday.

TASK 1: DEVELOP WEB PLATFORM THAT HOUSES PSNET (Base Period Only)

The contractor shall develop a new website to host PSNet that meets the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-16-21 “Federal Source Code Policy: Achieving Efficiency, Transparency, and Innovation through Reusable and Open Source Software”. The website must also be hosted at an AHRQ facility or by a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) compliant cloud service provider (CSP) and shall adhere to the requirements of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014.

The website shall have the same functionality as the current website (https://psnet.ahrq.gov/) to the extent possible given the new Federal and HHS source Code policies. For example, the website shall organize the content by major categories such as Primers, Perspectives, Web M&M, etc. The website shall have a search function so that users can search on any topic to find relevant content and all content shall be tagged with key words to facilitate easy searching. Individuals accessing the website shall be able to customize the content that shows up on the website given their preferences for certain topics. Individuals accessing content that provides continuing education credits (CE), continuing medical education credits (CME) or continuing education units (CEU) shall be able to register to get the CE/CME/CEU and be able to track credits earned. Individuals shall be able to anonymously submit a case for consideration to be published and featured on Web M&M.

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/ https://psnet.ahrq.gov/

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The Contractor shall revise the draft web build out project plan they submitted with the proposal based on feedback from the COR provided at the kickoff meeting. The web build out project plan shall include, as appropriate, the parameters listed in AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines – appendix 2A (https://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/pcguide2apa.html).

The plan at a minimum shall include what technology will be used for the website and the rationale for using the suggested technology. The plan shall also include if any features or technology that are currently on PSNet that will not be migrated to the new site and the reason why.

The contractor shall submit the revised web-build out project plan for the AHRQ COR’s review. The final plan shall be submitted after receiving COR feedback (multiple rounds of revisions may take place if necessary.) Once the plan is approved, the contractor shall implement the plan and the website shall be fully operational 6-months after award of the contract. The Contractor shall consult with the COR regularly throughout the website development period to ensure that the final website will meet AHRQ’s needs.

Note: Once the contract is awarded, the contractor will receive any available source code and/or data files that were developed on behalf of AHRQ along with any installation or maintenance instructions (including an inventory of objects and modules that constitute the PSNet website). The contractor shall use this information to populate the new PSNet website.

Task 1 Deliverables:

• Revised web build out project plan.

• Final web build out project plan.

• Fully operational web platform.

TASK 2: CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND COORDINATION

(To begin after completion of Task 1) PSNet Publications and Resources: The Contractor shall provide a library of carefully selected and annotated links to patient safety literature, news, and other resources on PSNet. The library shall consist of three areas: 1.) PSNet Collection, 2.) PSNet Classics Selection and 3.) PSNet Weekly Updates.

Additional library components shall be recommended by the Contractor and reviewed by the COR for approval. The COR may also provide the Contractor additional materials to include on the website.

The Contractor shall provide content for WebM&M which is an online journal and forum on patient safety and health care quality. The Contractor shall provide expert analysis of adverse events reported anonymously by readers/users, interactive learning modules on patient safety, and perspective pieces.

Subtask 2.1 PSNet Collection The PSNet Collection shall consist of resources (e.g., literature, research, tools, and websites) relevant to the patient safety community. This selection shall include content previously housed on PSNet and have the capacity to increase its breadth based on AHRQ’s specifications and requirements. The project work plan (see Subtask 7.2) shall state how the Contractor will identify resources to include in the PSNet Collection resources (for example regularly searching the National Library of Medicine’s Medline database, various news vendors and content aggregators, and the Contractor’s content knowledge). Items shall be selected for inclusion according to the following criteria:

• Support a multidisciplinary, "systems" approach to minimizing errors in health care;

• Come from a wide range of disciplines and sources, including: clinical medicine, health care administration, information technology, engineering, biological and social sciences, equipment and facility design, policy, law, and lay press;

• Have been authored and/or sponsored by a credible source. The organization is an established entity and individuals have credentials that illustrate appropriate background;

• Are of interest to the patient safety community at large, both expert and novice; and,

• Are of value for gaining insight into and supporting patient safety.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/pcguide2apa.html

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All PSNet content shall be derived from, but not limited to: announcements, books, clinical guidelines, commentaries, conferences, fact sheets, legislation, professional journals, magazines, newspapers, press releases, regulations, technical reports, television, tools, tool kits, websites, and information from the COR.

The emphasis of PSNet shall be on news and resources within the United States. However, international sources/resources (e.g., Canada, United Kingdom, World Health Organization) shall be included as relevant and appropriate.

The Contractor shall work with the COR to determine which research areas and resources require augmentation. The Contractor shall research and recommend options for inclusion for additional research areas. The COR may provide the Contractor potential resources for inclusion in PSNet. The COR shall approve Collection resources prior to them being posted on the website.

The Contractor shall maintain an archival system for all content previously posted on PSNet so that users can easily find older content. The Contractor shall enable browse and search functions and maintain a content categorization scheme (i.e., taxonomy), so that readers/users can search for specific content according to search terms. The taxonomy shall be reviewed on a regular basis but no less than once a year to ensure it is aligned with the latest patient safety research. Readers/Users shall also have the capacity within PSNet to search on state and federal organization names (e.g., AHRQ, CDC, etc.) to identify all patient safety-related information, activities, programs, etc. related to those names.

The Contractor shall identify a minimum of 10-15 resources for the weekly update and distribute these resources on a weekly schedule (See Sub-task 2.3)

Subtask 2.1 Deliverables:

• Weekly Updates

Subtask 2.2. PSNet Classics Selection The PSNet Classics Selection shall be a subset of resources (e.g., review articles, empirical studies, reports, books) from the Collection that are of special relevance to the patient safety community. The purpose of the PSNet Classics Selection is to aid readers/users in navigating through the tremendous breadth of literature and other information. The following criteria shall be used in making selections for the PSNet Classics Selection:

• The selection should be drawn from the peer-reviewed literature or from other reputable sources;

• The selection should be regularly cited as a reference in other literature;

• Theoretical pieces should articulate foundational concepts that help readers understand the methods and philosophies of patient safety;

• Empirical studies should report results that materially advance the field of patient safety by creating new knowledge that influences the fundamental understanding of the field and/or results in significant changes in practice;

• Review articles or books should present particularly eloquent or unique discussions of an issue (or issues) pertaining to patient safety; and,

• Contributions by key figures (e.g., researchers, policymakers) in the patient safety field, if well executed, may be of particular impact, and thus are more likely to be included.

The PSNet Classics Collection on the PSNet website shall be updated at least every 3 months or as directed by the COR based on AHRQ’s need/requirements.

Subtask 2.2 Deliverables:

• PSNet Classics Collections updates

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Subtask 2.3. PSNet Weekly Updates

The PSNet Weekly Updates shall include weekly updates of newly published/released patient safety literature and research findings, conferences/meetings, educational and training resources, and tools.

For each resource identified to be included in the weekly the contractor shall develop a synopsis that helps PSNet users understand what the resource is and provides at a high level, any findings. The contractor shall submit to the COR all of the synopses before the weekly update is released. The synopsis shall be submitted in Microsoft word or another application that allows the synopsis to be easily edited. As part of the marketing/promotion plan (See Task 5), the Contractor shall state how they will promote the weekly inclusive of any social media. For example, under the current contract, the top 3 resources are very briefly described and sent out in an email from AHRQ that is overseen by the Contractor, and are the subject of tweets.

Subtask 2.3 Deliverables:

• The PSNet Weekly Updates on the PSNet website

Subtask 2.4. PSNet Patient Safety Primers In the base year of the contract, the Contractor shall develop 2-4 primers. In the option years, if exercised, the Contractor shall produce a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 Patient Safety Primers annually, during each contract year. This range does not include revisions and updates to previously developed primers.

Each primer shall define a key concept in patient safety, offer background on its epidemiology and context, and highlight relevant content from PSNet and WebM&M. The selection of Primers shall depend on the priorities identified by the COR, the Contractor, Federal staff informing this work, and the Technical Expert/Advisory Panel (See Sub-task 6.1).

The Contractor shall keep all primers current, inclusive of the most recent research. They shall be considered for updating as needed, but no less than on a semi-annual basis. The Contractor shall also identify and suggest for removal those primers that are no longer considered relevant.

The Contractor shall submit potential topics for primers, as well as primers to be removed from PSNet, to the COR for approval on an on-going basis during the Monthly Conference Calls and in the Monthly Progress Reports. (See Sub-tasks 7.3 and 7.4).

The Contractor shall update the primer topic list submitted with the proposal to include topics for all primers to be written in the base period.

Subtask 2.4 Deliverables:

• Draft topics for the PSNet Patient Safety primers

• 2-4 primers in the base year of the contract

• 4-8 primers in the option years of the contract, if exercised

Subtask 2.5. PSNet Annual Perspectives The Contractor shall develop up to 3 Annual Perspectives that address the most significant patient safety news that occurred, resources that became available, and emerging areas of interest in the previous calendar year. The Contractor shall edit the Perspective, but it may be authored by (or a combination of) the Contractor, COR, or expert in the field. Authors shall be comprised of a balance of representatives from different stakeholder groups including government, academia, patients, etc. The Contractor shall recommend options and receive approval from the COR regarding each Perspective’s content. Upon COR direction, the Annual Perspective may be featured at the beginning of the next calendar year if this provides the most optimal schedule for distribution.

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The Contractor shall receive input from the COR about potential changes in the schedule for distribution and whether an interim perspective for a specialized audience could be developed to coincide with other relevant milestones such as an Annual Meeting for a specialized group of providers or researchers. This schedule shall also depend on the priorities identified by the COR, the Contractor, Federal staff informing this work and the Advisory Panel (See Sub-task 6.1).

Subtask 2.5 Deliverables:

• Topics for the Annual Perspectives

• Draft Annual Perspectives

• Final Annual Perspectives

Subtask 2.6. PSNet Educational Training Database The Contractor shall maintain and enhance the Patient Safety Education Training database that is posted to the PSNet website and develop a forum for interested parties to submit candidate training and educational materials for this database. The Contractor shall outline a schedule for enhancements and criteria for inclusion shall be informed by the Contractor and approved and directed by the COR. The Contractor shall include this information as part of the monthly progress report (See Sub-task 7.4) that details these activities based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction. This information and progress shall also be detailed in an annual report based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction.

(See Sub-task 7.5.).

Subtask 2.6 Deliverables:

• PSNet Educational Training Database

• PSNet Educational Training Database Updates

Subtask 2.7. WebM&M Cases and Commentaries The Contractor shall maintain and enhance, as necessary, a system to solicit, screen, select, de-identify, edit, and post a minimum of two new cases per month that include confidential case reports (e.g., representing medicine, surgery, family practice, gynecology, nursing, obstetrics, pediatrics, pharmacology, psychiatry, radiology) that can be used for learning by users including, health care providers, administrators, systems, and consumers. Cases and Commentaries shall be reviewed and approved prior to the month for posting. The Contractor shall recommend enhancements activities to the COR for approval and shall participate in enhancement activities as directed by the COR. These recommendations shall be noted in the monthly meetings and progress report. (See Sub-tasks 7.3 and 7.4) and shall be pursued based on COR approval.

Collectively, Case reports and Commentaries shall include comments, reviews, and dialogue from multiple disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law, ethics, human factors, organizational development, etc. Cases shall emphasize systems and/or health care professional issues and solutions, as appropriate, with consideration given to consumer perspectives when relevant. Case information shall be collected in a standardized format. The standard format for WebM&M shall be revised and updated based on AHRQ’s direction.

At a minimum, each case shall include a description of the issue(s), a root cause analysis, and actions to prevent or remedy the adverse event or near miss. The Contractor shall maintain a sufficient number of backlogged cases (i.e., developed and ready for posting), so that the monthly publication schedule is continuously maintained without delay. Editorial staff shall provide input on the selection of case reports and this selection shall be driven by AHRQ’s requirements. A draft and final case report shall require approval from the AHRQ COR during the editorial process to ensure that it meets the program’s aims.

Subtask 2.7 Deliverables:

• Drafts of the first 3 WebM&M Cases and Commentaries

• Final WebM&M Cases and Commentaries.

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Subtask 2.8 Spotlight Cases and Commentaries The Contractor shall develop at least one Spotlight Case and Commentary for monthly posting. Each Spotlight Case and Commentary shall include a more detailed discussion of root causes and interventions with a focus on evidence-based interventions where possible. The Spotlight Cases and Commentaries shall be designed for use by residents, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, and others (including consumers as appropriate) interested in improving patient safety. The Contractor shall be responsible for structuring and operating a peer review process which shall require COR approval to ensure that the process meets AHRQ’s requirements. Draft and final spotlight cases and commentaries shall receive input and approval from the COR to ensure that the topic, content, and purpose meets the Agency’s programmatic aims. The Spotlight Case shall be distinct from the other WebM&M Cases that are prepared for posting and cannot be used to meet both requirements. The Contractor shall submit potential topics to the COR for approval on an on-going basis during the Monthly Conference Calls and in the Monthly Progress Reports. (See Sub-tasks 7.3 and 7.4).

Subtask 2.8 Deliverables:

• Drafts of the first Spotlight Case and Commentary

• Final Spotlight Case and Commentary

Subtask 2.9 WebM&M Continuing Education and Certification Each monthly Spotlight Case and Commentary shall be accompanied by a teaching lesson and accompanying continuing education (CE), continuing medical education (CME), continuing education units (CEU), and trainee certification options. The Contractor shall provide and maintain a system for allowing readers/users to register in order to obtain CE/CME/CEU credits and instructions for how readers/users can obtain CE/CME/CEU credits; this shall be refined and improved based on input from users and the project’s Technical Expert Panel (see Subtask 6). The Contractor shall outline options to improve and enhance this resource in the Marketing and Promotion Plan and Project Work Plan, following direction from the COR (See Sub-task 4.1). The Contractor shall obtain and maintain the necessary accreditation status in order to be able to provide continuing education to, at a minimum, physicians, nurses, , and physician assistants. The Contractor shall outline in the Work Plan the process for accrediting the content.

The Contractor shall include a brief summary of activities to date and recommendations for improvement in the monthly progress report based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction (See Sub-task 7.4).

This information and progress shall also be detailed in every contract year’s annual report (See Sub-task 7.5). The annual report shall describe the process, requirements, and lessons learned for developing, maintaining, and enhancing a Continuing Education and Certification program for the Contract.

Subtask 2.10 Perspectives on Safety The Contractor shall also maintain the WebM&M forum “Perspectives on Safety” as a venue to discuss issues, points of view, and controversies related to patient safety. At least two perspectives shall be prepared every month, unless otherwise directed by AHRQ or recommended by the Contractor for AHRQ approval. The Contractor shall develop content, write or solicit experts in the patient safety field to write content, and edit the perspectives for posting on WebM&M. The Contractor shall provide recommendations to AHRQ and AHRQ program staff shall have input to approve the subject matter for the draft, and the final posting.

Subtask 2.10 Deliverables:

• Drafts of the first set of Perspectives on Safety

• Monthly Cases

• Final Perspectives on Safety

Request for Proposal v. 9/5/18; FAC 100 Page 15 of 95

Subtask 2.11: PSNet Coordination for Publications and Resources In carrying out functions within PSNet and WebM&M, the Contractor shall, link to, coordinate with, and complement (but not duplicate) tools, products, and information held within other patient safety related federal government resources, including AHRQ’s existing and new resources, (e.g. the Patient Safety Organizations website) as well, other resources within the Federal government (e.g., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthcare-Associated Infections websites.) The Contractor shall identify and work with stakeholders in the public and private sector to augment all web resources (See Sub-task 4.C).

The Contractor shall recommend coordination activities to the COR for approval and shall participate in coordination activities as directed by the COR. This participation shall include, but is not limited coordinating/hosting meeting, preparing materials, meeting logistics, and leading/moderating future partnerships with entities that may inform the development of this work. The COR shall be invited to attend any such meetings.

The Contractor shall report on these activities during monthly meetings and within the monthly report based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction (See Sub-task 7.3 and 7.4). This information and progress shall also be detailed in the annual report (See Sub-task 7.5)

TASK 3: MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT

Subtask 3.1: Maintenance and Monitoring: Data Backup The Contractor shall provide system operation and maintenance for each release of PSNet in accordance with all the Federal and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requirements in laws, policies, and directives for information technology and Internet information management and the security of AHRQ information and systems, including compliance with AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/) as well as the Application and System Development Requirements. (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/pcguide2apa.html).

Contractors are not required to follow a specific development methodology; however, the contractor’s System Development Life Cycle must be capable of producing AHRQ-required system deliverables containing the required content as described further in the AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/).

The Contractor shall ensure that each release of PSNet conforms to AHRQ’s Publishing and Communications Guidelines and that all activities are integrated with AHRQ enterprise systems, such as GovDelivery. The PSNet website must be hosted in an HHS-approved cloud service. Only open source applications or applications that have been purchased or approved by HHS can be used. The PSNet website shall comply with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) (see Section H.9 Security and Privacy Requirements.) In the event that the Contractor hosts the websites using a Cloud Service Provider (CSP), the CSP must have gone through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) validation or demonstrate and document that the FedRAMP process must be on the CSP’s roadmap. (www.gsa.gov/portal/category/105279).

Maintenance of the system shall include system monitoring, security and privacy controls and monitoring, quality control (including content review), and configuration/change management protocols. The Contractor shall provide for system failures such that: any hardware, software, or database failure shall not result in a loss of more than 24 hours of the most current data; any software failure shall not result in more than 8 hours of downtime after notification of the situation; any hardware failure shall not result in more than 24 hours of downtime; and that any Internet connectivity failure shall not result in more than 48 hours downtime.

The Contractor shall test backup/restore processes at a minimum of once every month to insure that the process is viable and report the test results (whether pass or fail) to the COR during the Monthly Conference Call. A summary documenting this activity in the monthly progress report shall also be included (See Sub-task 7.4).

http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/ http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/pcguide2apa.html http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/ http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/105279

Request for Proposal v. 9/5/18; FAC 100 Page 16 of 95

The new PSNet website shall be delivered to AHRQ yearly, and also in full at the end of the contract, inclusive of all source code and/or data files that were developed on behalf of AHRQ along with any installation or maintenance instructions (including an inventory of objects and modules that constitute the PSNet website).

Subtask 3.1 Deliverables:

• Source code and/or data files

Subtask 3.2: Maintenance and Monitoring: Technical Assistance The Contractor shall maintain the capacity to respond to a minimum of 20 inquiries per month via e-mail or telephone voice mail for technical assistance regarding the website’s content, and development. The Contractor shall respond to requests within 1 business day of receiving an e-mail or telephone voice mail request for technical assistance. The Contractor shall provide technical assistance regarding website usage to all inquirers within 2 business days of receiving an e-mail or telephone voice mail request. The Contractor shall provide in the monthly progress report details of these activities based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction (See Sub-task 7.4). This information and progress shall be detailed in the project’s annual report based on AHRQ’s reporting requirements and direction (See Sub-task 7.5).The Contractor shall develop a list of recommendations to support improved technical assistance and develop and periodically refine a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for public usage and posting.

This shall occur at least once during each contract year, and more often as necessary based on questions received from the public. The Contractor may use questions, as appropriate, that are contained in the FAQs that resided on the old PSNet website.

Subtask 3.2 Deliverables:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Subtask 3.3- Contract Close Out In preparation for contract close-out, or upon the COR’s request, the Contractor shall provide AHRQ with a compilation of all data files, source code, documentation, and software for use by a subsequent Contractor to facilitate the transfer of all artifacts. For contract close out, the Contractor shall provide technical assistance to the new Contractor. From an end user’s perspective, the transition should be seamless and transparent. The COR shall be notified of any issues that might arise during the transition of project resources and materials. This information shall also be summarized as part of the contract’s final Annual Report (subtask 7.5).

Subtask 3.3 Deliverables:

• Project close out data files, source code, documentation and software

TASK 4: MARKETING AND PROMOTION PLAN

The Contractor shall work to increase the uptake and usage of PSNet by developing, implementing, and maintaining a formal plan to promote the availability and utility of PSNet to relevant audiences:

(1) Health care providers, including specialty care providers and providers working in non-hospital care settings;

(2) Health educators and others responsible for training students in the health professions or training practicing health professionals;

(3) Students in the health professions;

(4) Scientists, academic researchers, and other professionals (e.g., risk managers, infection prevention experts) working in patient safety and quality improvement;

(5) Patients and others working in patient-advocacy; and, Request for Proposal v. 9/5/18; FAC 100 Page 17 of 95

(6) Professionals, students, and educators from all sectors that influence health care, including industry/manufacturing, public and community health, regulatory, policy-making, risk management, and insurance/financing.

The Contractor shall develop a preliminary Marketing and Promotion Plan to be submitted with the proposal related to the objectives, benefits, and content of PSNet and on the options for promoting the availability and utility of the resource (e.g., engaging stakeholders in patient safety on a regular basis and/or making presentations at relevant scientific meetings and conferences). The goal of the plan is to increase the awareness, access, and utilization of both resources in a coordinated and sustained manner. The Contractor shall revise the preliminary Marketing and Promotion Plan submitted with the proposal based on additional information and feedback from the COR received after the project starts The revised plan shall also include how activities will be coordinated with AHRQ’s Office of Communications Division of Media Relations and Division of Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement. For example, the plan shall include the use of AHRQ outreach mechanisms, such as AHRQ News Now and the PSNet.gov delivery email list to promote PSNet.

The plan shall also emphasize leveraging the dissemination venues and resources of public and private sector stakeholders (e.g., identifying and establishing partnerships with relevant professional societies, state agencies, and patient advocacy organizations that would in turn disseminate the information on PSNet).

A succinct assessment of the pros/cons and appropriateness of various venues for promotion of PSNet shall also be addressed in the Promotion Plan. The plan shall also address any innovative approaches used in addition to the proposed dissemination activities to specifically encourage and increase the usage of PSNet.

The plan shall also include the proposed methods to increase exposure to and usage of PSNet through various means, including the use of social media and e-marketing with clinical and public health professional and student associations. The methods shall be appropriate to each specific audience. In the plan, the Contractor shall include activities to build and maintain partnerships with stakeholder organizations, including professional associations in medicine and other health-related fields, in order to enhance and expand content availability.

The Contractor shall continue to support current and build new partnerships in conjunction with and as approved by AHRQ. In the plan, the Contractor shall also propose methods of employing existing AHRQ networks or programs to increase exposure to PSNet (e.g., soliciting user-submitted cases of near misses via Patient Safety Organizations). The COR shall facilitate coordination with the appropriate AHRQ liaisons (e.g., AHRQ’s Office of Communication) to implement the Promotion Plan in an orderly, synchronized manner.

AHRQ will review and provide comments to the preliminary Marketing and Promotion plan that was included with the contractor’s proposal. The contractor shall make revisions based on the Governments comments and submit the revised Marketing and Promotion plan to the AHRQ COR for further review and approval.

(Multiple rounds of revisions may take place if necessary.)

Based upon comments from the COR, the Contractor shall revise the preliminary Marketing and Promotion Plan and submit a final Marketing and Promotion Plan within 3 months of the effective award date and within 15 calendar days after COR review and approval. The marketing plan shall be updated at six months based on assessment of uptake and usage should plan should also include suggestions on how to expand readership.

Upon approval from the COR, the Contractor shall submit a Final Marketing and Promotion plan that describes summative activities for the entire performance period. (Multiple rounds of revision may take place.) Once the plan is approved, the Contractor shall implement the plan. The Contractor shall provide a progress update in the monthly progress report regarding the Marketing and Promotion plan to determine progress and forecast upcoming activities (See Sub-task 5.D).

Request for Proposal v. 9/5/18; FAC 100 Page 18 of 95

Task 4 Deliverables:

• Preliminary Marketing and Promotion Plan

• Final Marketing and Promotion Plan

• Updated Marketing and Promotion Plan

TASK 5: Support for Evaluation Activities The Contractor shall provide support to an external evaluation team to evaluate the impact of the PSNet content. The focus of the evaluation shall include, but is not limited to customer service, the role and impact of PSNet content as a means to support knowledge acquisition, skills development, transfer of knowledge and…