B. Combined Syp_Sol AHRQ326007.pdf

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly prohibited in accordance with FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular: FAC 2023-04 (Published in the Federal Register June 2, 2023).

In accordance with FAR Part 13, competitive quotes are being requested under RFQ Number: AHRQ326077. The proposed audience for this requirement is journals that publish articles on improving patient safety and quality.

The Product Service Code and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this acquisition is:

PSC – 7630: Newspapers and Periodicals

NAICS – 513120: Periodical Publishers

Please Note: For the purposes of this solicitation proposal, quote and response have the same meaning.

Project Title: Journal Supplement or Issue for Preventing Errors in Emergency Care

Date Issued: April 29 2024

Request for Quote Number: AHRQ326077

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) To be completed at time of award Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857

Period of Performance:

Contract Type:

Estimated Number of Awards:

Written Questions Due Date:

Proposal Due Date and Time:

15 Months

A Firm Fixed Price order is contemplated.

May 6, 2024; 2:00PM, ET Submit electronically by e-mail to:

Jacqueline.vitale@ahrq.hhs.gov, and Reference Request for Quote Number and Project Title

May 20, 2024; 2:00PM, ET

Please Note: All questions will be processed on a non-attribution basis and should only come from the IDIQ holder.

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Information and Quote Delivery

The offeror must email one electronic file (e.g., PDF) of the complete quote, as detailed above to:

jacqueline.vitale@ahrq.hhs.gov. In the e-mail's subject line, identify the name of the offeror and project title. AHRQ prefers that offerors submit all elements of a quote in a single e-mail.

Please provide the following information along with your business quote:

Official Company name:

Unique Entity Identifier:

All electronic files must also be received by the Government as specified above under Quote Due Date and Time.

mailto:jacqueline.vitale@ahrq.hhs.gov

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Note: No funding or expenditures are authorized under this purchase order 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.

Firm Fixed Price:

If the Government exercises its option(s) pursuant to the option article of the contract:

Period Services Period of Performance

Firm Fixed Price

Base Non-severable 15 months $

1. PURCHASE ORDER PRICING AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

A. Purpose

The purpose of this statement of work is to develop and release a special peer reviewed journal supplement or issue solely dedicated to the topic of better understanding and/or preventing errors in emergency care.

B. Introduction/Background

AHRQ’s Mission AHRQ’s mission is “to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable and affordable, and to work with HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.” The research funded, conducted, and disseminated by AHRQ provides information that helps people make better decisions about health care.

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Program AHRQ’s Patient Safety Program focuses on improving the safety of healthcare delivery and preventing, mitigating, and decreasing the number of medical errors, patient safety risks and hazards, and quality gaps associated with healthcare that harm patients. Over the years, AHRQ has developed many difference resources to help healthcare organizations engage in patient safety improvement activities. AHRQ has tools/guides that are for different healthcare settings and on different topics, such as promoting the safe use of medications, measuring patient safety culture, improving teamwork and communication, preventing falls and pressure ulcers and engaging patients and families in their care, to name a few.

AHRQ’s Work in Diagnostic Safety

Since the 2015 release of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report entitled Improving Diagnosis in Healthcare, funding research to improve diagnostic safety and quality has been an Agency priority. As part of this work, in December 2022 AHRQ posted a systematic review that focused on diagnostic error in emergency care. This systematic review generated considerable attention among the academic emergency care community. What has emerged from the report and resulting discussion among the researchers and providers working in emergency care is a lack of research studies assessing harm occurring in this setting.

The proposed call for papers will consider papers on all types of error; including diagnosis, treatment, as well as errors within processes and systems. Specifically, the special issue will focus on all aspects of errors relevant to emergency care, ranging from the definition of errors, cognitive processing, diagnostic hypothesis generation, treatment and also communication with patients and other providers. The Contractor shall also plan to peer review both invited and uninvited commentaries for possible publication in this special issue.

This issue aligns with AHRQ’s mission to “make healthcare safer and to make sure that the evidence is understood and used” and the goal of disseminating research and opinions involving potential errors in emergency care.

Objectives/Overview of Tasks

The purpose of this contract is to invite manuscripts focused on diagnostic errors in emergency care that will undergo the journal-specific review and quality assurance process and ultimately publish a

2. STATEMENT OF WORK

https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/index.html https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/diagnostic-error-in-health-care

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly total of 12-15 full-length manuscripts recommended by the journal review process. The special issue will be open access. The period of performance is fifteen (15) months.

The project assumes that the Contractor has the following capabilities in place:

1) An online and print publishing platform

2) A manuscript submission process and portal

3) An editorial review process

4) Production and layout processes

5) Printing and distribution processes

6) Possession of all required personnel and technological tools and other resources for capabilities 1 through 5.

C. Statement of Work

Overview:

The Contractor and its subcontractor(s), if any, shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, materials, equipment, and facilities needed to perform the specific requirements below.

Under this task order, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks:

Task 1. Publication of Manuscripts Task 2: Administrative Support for Task 1

Specific Tasks/Requirements

Task 1.1 Call for Manuscripts from the Emergency Medicine and Diagnostic Error Community The Contractor shall prepare and send out a “Call for Paper “announcement. The following is example language for the announcement. A draft “Call for Paper” shall be sent to the COR within three (3) weeks of award.

CALL FOR PAPERS

The TBA journal will publish a special issue dedicated to the science of errors in emergency care.

This special issue will publish original reports that focus on all aspects of errors relevant to emergency care, ranging from the definition of errors, cognitive processing, diagnostic hypothesis generation, treatment and also communication with patients and other providers. We hope to focus particularly on diagnostic error. A team of three specially designated editors will be looking for work that elucidates the why behind errors and how to prevent them, but also for data that illuminate group-based inequities in errors. At the time of upload, authors can choose desire to submit to the “Special Issue on Errors” at <<insert URL>> The deadline for submission is <<Date>>, with plans to publish the <<date>>.

Please email any questions to <<Editor-In-Chief, Journal>>

Within a month of award, the Contractor shall share the call for papers with the emergency care research community. The Contractor shall advertise the special issue by multiple means, including all-member emails to the relevant society associated with the journal, and ancillary advertisements in associated circulars and Newsletter. The Contractor shall also announce the issue via associated podcasts and social media.

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

The Contractor shall work with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to determine: (1) Submission guidelines, (2) Peer review guidelines, and (3) Ad hoc peer reviewers (as needed).

Within one (1) month of the award, the Contractor shall finalize the submission guidelines for the authors and send to the COR.

Within two (2) months of the award, the Contractor shall develop the peer review guidelines for the reviewers and make a final list of the decision editors and designated peer reviewers for the review process and send to the COR. Two to three emergency physicians with expertise in the area of errors shall be selected as the decision editors.

Task 1.1 Deliverables:

• Draft and final description of call for papers

• Draft and final submission guidelines

• Draft and final peer review guidelines

• Draft and final names of decision editors and designated peer reviewers

Task 1.2 Manuscript Submission and Initial Screening All submissions shall be handled through the journal’s submission web-based portal. Authors shall see a special edition submission category dedicated to this issue. The journal shall have existing infrastructure to manage manuscripts, including appropriate labelling, assignment to decision editors, invitations for peer review, and handing the revision process. Following the submission of the manuscripts through the Contractor’s online submission system, the Contractor shall send to the authors an automated acknowledgement of the manuscript receipt.

Within three (3) months of award, the Contractor’s assigned journal management and editorial team shall conduct an initial review to ensure each manuscript adheres to the submission guidelines. The Contractor shall send to the COR a list of papers accepted for review from the initial screen and those that are rejected and the reason for the rejection.

After COR approval, the Contractor shall notify authors of rejected papers along with the reason for the rejection.

Task 1.2 Deliverables

• Draft and final list of accepted papers for review

• Draft and final list of rejected papers with documented reasons for rejection

Task 1.3 Peer Review Assignment and Review Within 3.5 months of award, the Contractor shall assign the manuscripts that will pass the initial screening to appropriate decision editors/peer reviewers based on expertise. The Contractor shall provide the reviewers clear instructions and evaluation criteria. In general, all manuscripts shall be screened by the Editor-In-Chief, who will then assign the manuscripts to a dedicated decision editor(s).

The Contractor shall promptly manage a peer review process that may include specific reviewer tasks, such as: assess the manuscript, provide constructive feedback, and recommend acceptance, This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly revision, or rejection. The Contractor shall provide the COR with the list of all the manuscripts for review and names of reviewers for each manuscript.

Within six (6) months of award, the Contractor shall complete the peer review process. The Contractor shall provide the COR with the list of manuscripts that completed the peer review process and the status of the review. After COR approval, the Contractor shall notify authors of rejected papers with the reason for the rejection.

Task 1.3 Deliverables

• A list containing the manuscripts and assigned reviewers

• A list of manuscripts that completed the peer review process, and status of each paper

(accepted, accepted with revisions, rejected)

Task 1.4 Manuscript Revision The Contractor shall manage the revision and resubmission of the manuscripts promptly. The Contractor assigned editor(s) shall manage the revision process and communicate with authors as needed. Within eight (8) months of award the Contractor shall collect all revised manuscripts, review them and communicate with the authors on the status of the revision. The Contractor shall provide the COR a list of manuscripts with revision status.

Task 1.4 Deliverables

• A list of manuscripts with revision status

Task 1.5 Editorial Decision The Contractor’s assigned editor(s) shall evaluate the revised manuscripts and make a final decision on acceptance or rejection. Within eight (8) months and one (1) week of the award, the Contractor shall provide the COR with a list of all reviewed manuscripts and final decisions.

Following COR approval, the Contractor shall provide the authors with detailed decision letters with feedback.

Task 1.5 Deliverable

• A list containing the manuscripts and final decision status

Task 1.6 Copyediting Within ten (10) months of award, the Contractor shall complete the copyediting of the manuscripts and notify the COR. The accepted manuscripts shall undergo copyediting by the Contractor, or its vendors, for style, grammar, and formatting. The Contractor shall have the authors review copyedited proofs before final approval.

Task 1.6 Deliverables

• Email with status on copyediting

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Task 1.7 Production and Layout Within eleven (11) months of award, the Contractor shall complete all tasks associated with production and layout. The Contractor shall have the editor(s) and authors review proofs for accuracy. The Contractor shall conduct quality checks on all aspects of the content. The Contractor shall obtain all approvals (copyright, conflict of interest, and any institutional approval).

Once complete, the Contractor shall notify the COR.

Task 1.7 Deliverable

• Notification to the COR that production and layout are complete.

Task 1.8 Publication Within twelve (12) months of award, the Contractor shall publish all manuscripts in a special issue of the journal. The Contractor shall publish online and in print (100 copies). The special supplement shall be open access. The Contractor shall notify all authors upon publication.

The Contractor shall provide electronic and print versions of the manuscripts to the COR by mail and email.

Task 1.8 Deliverables

• Electronic and print versions of all manuscripts published

Task 1.9 Uninvited Commentaries It is expected that within a few weeks of being unembargoed, this special issue will generate several uninvited commentaries. Accordingly, the Contractor shall have in place a plan to handle this correspondence, including initial decision, inviting authors of the source articles to respond, and then publishing in a subsequent issue. Within fourteen (14) months of award, the Contractor shall review all uninvited commentaries and determine which to publish and send the list to the COR.

Within fifteen (15) months of award, the Contractor shall publish all uninvited commentaries that were selected for publication.

Task 1.9 Deliverables

• List of uninvited commentaries and decision about publishing

• Publication of uninvited commentaries

Task 2. Administrative Support Tasks

Task 2.1 Project Kickoff Meeting Within five (5) business days of award, the Contractor shall conduct a 90-minute kickoff meeting to:

(1) discuss the overall project objectives, preliminary project plan, specific elements of work to be performed, and timeline; (2) delineate roles and responsibilities; and (3) establish communication protocols.

The meeting shall be virtual and attended by the AHRQ COR and other select AHRQ staff.

The Contractor shall prepare a draft agenda and supporting documents for the meeting and send for the COR’s approval. The Contractor shall submit a revised agenda and documents based on the COR’s comments before the meeting takes place.

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

The Contractor shall provide a summary report of the meeting’s discussion/minutes to the COR and all meeting participants.

Task 2.1 Deliverables

• Draft/final kickoff agenda and meeting materials

• Meeting summary

Task 2.2 Bi-weekly Huddle The Contractor shall schedule a 30-minute bi-weekly huddle to discuss project progress, issues, and resolution. The Contractor shall submit a meeting agenda to the COR at least two (2) business days before the meeting takes place. The Contractor shall send meeting minutes within three (3) business days after the meeting take place.

Task 2.2 Deliverables

• Meeting agenda

• Meeting minutes

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

The items specified for delivery below are subject to the review and approval of the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) before final acceptance. The deliverable schedule may not be changed without an authorized modification completed by an AHRQ Contracting Officer. Days mean calendar days.

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

Task Deliverable Format Due Date Intended Audience

Section 508 Standards

Task 1: Publication of Manuscript

1.1 Call for

Manuscripts

Draft call for manuscripts to be sent to the emergency care community

Final call for manuscripts

Electronic Draft due within three (3) weeks after contract award/

Final due within three (3) business days of receiving COR feedback.

COR

COR, public

N/A

•302 Functional Performance Criteria •602 Support Documentation •603 Support Services •All WCAG A & AA Success Criteria

Draft submission guidelines

Final submission guidelines

Electronic Draft submission guidelines due one (1) month after contract award.

Final due within three (3) business days of receiving COR feedback.

COR N/A

Draft peer review guidelines

Final peer review guidelines

Electronic Draft due within two (2) months of award

Final due within three (3) business days after receiving COR feedback

3. DELIVERY SCHEDULE

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Section 508 Standards

Draft decision editor list and peer reviewers

Final decision editor list and peer reviewers

Electronic Draft due within two (2) months of award

Final due within three (3) business days after receiving COR feedback

COR N/A

1.2 Manuscript

Submission and Initial Screening

Draft list of accepted papers for review, and rejected papers with documented reasons for rejection

Final list of accepted and rejected papers.

Electronic

Drafts due within three (3) months of award.

Final due within three (3) business days after receiving COR feedback.

COR N/A

1.3 Peer

Review Assignment and Process

A list containing the manuscript and assigned reviewers

Manuscripts that completed the peer review process

Electronic Within 3.5 months of award

Within six (6) months of award

1.4 Manuscript

Revision

A list of manuscripts with revision status

Electronic Within eight (8) months of award

COR N/A

1.5 Final

Editorial Decision

A list of manuscripts and final decision status

Electronic

Within eight (8) months and one

(1) week of award

COR N/A

1.6 Copyediting and proofing

Status on copyediting

Electronic Within ten (10) months of award

COR N/A

1.7 Production

and Layout

Confirmation that production

Electronic Within eleven (11)

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Section 508 Standards and layout are complete.

1.8 Publication Electronic and

print version of all manuscripts published

Electronic and Print

Within twelve (12)

Public •302 Functional Performance Criteria •602 Support Documentation •603 Support Services •All WCAG A & AA Success Criteria

1.9 Uninvited

commentaries

List of uninvited commentaries and decision about publishing

Publication of uninvited commentaries

Electronic Within fourteen

(14) months of award

Within fifteen (15)

Public

N/A

For publication •302 Functional Performance Criteria •602 Support Documentation •603 Support Services •All WCAG A & AA Success Criteria

Section 508 Standards

Task 2. Administrative Support Tasks

2.1 Project

Kick-off Meeting

Kickoff Meeting Agenda

Kickoff Meeting Summary

Electronic At least two (2) business days prior to Kickoff Meeting Within three (3) business days after the meeting takes place

COR

2.2 Bi-weekly

Huddle

Meeting agenda

Meeting summary

Electronic At least two (2) business days prior to the huddle

Within the three (3) business days after the meeting takes place

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

Revised Section 508 Standards apply to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) procured, maintained, or used by the Federal Government. The standards were issued under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which requires access to ICT by people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. This requirement extends to both federal employees and members of the public.

Examples of ICT include (but are not limited to) computers, telecommunications equipment, software, websites, and electronic documents. Accessibility is the law and provides for inclusion.

Instructions regarding 508 can be found in this contract in Sections 5 and 6 “Information & Communication Technology Accessibility” and “AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines” at https://www.ahrq.gov/policy/electronic/about/policyix.html. Web sites, web tools, and/or web services (any functionality) that are new, redesigned, modified, or added cannot go-live until formal approval has been received from AHRQ’s Office of Communications. The Agency will not accept contract deliverables that fail to meet these standards and guidelines and will require the contractor to perform any tasks needed to revise deliverables to comply with 508 requirements before acceptance.

Electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria. Official HHS Accessibility Checklists for various formats are available at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html. Electronic deliverables should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist or an updated Accessibility Conformance Report.

As part of the proposal submission, use the latest Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT

2.4 Rev 508) located at https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat.

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

4.1 Contracting Officer Representative

The Contracting Officer Representative is responsible for: monitoring the contractor’s technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the contracting officer changes in requirements; interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; performing technical evaluation as required; performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and, assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

To Be Completed at Award

4.2 Contracting Officer

A Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as an agent of the government under this contract. Only a Contracting Officer has authority to: direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; modify or extend the period of performance; change the delivery schedule; authorize reimbursement to the contractor of any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; or, otherwise change any terms and conditions of the contract.

4.3 Key Personnel

Pursuant to the Key Personnel clause incorporated in Section 5 of this purchase order, the following individual(s) is/are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder:

To be determined

The clause above contains a requirement for review and approval by the Contracting Officer of written requests for a change of Key Personnel reasonably in advance of diverting any of these individuals from this contract. Receipt of written request at least 30 days prior to a proposed change is considered reasonable.

4.4 INVOICE REQUIREMENTS

Invoices are required to be submitted electronically in accordance with HHSAR 352.232-71.

The directions below must be followed to meet the requirements of a "proper" payment request pursuant to FAR 32.905(b) and must be in accordance with the General Provisions clause 52.232- 25 Prompt Payment (JAN 2017).

a. INVOICE CONTENT REQUIREMENTS

(1) The Contractor shall furnish the following MINIMUM information in support of costs invoiced:

NOTE: Fixed Price Invoices shall be billed in accordance with the payment schedule.

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

a. Contractor Information – include organization name and address as it appears on the contract (or task order/BPA call as applicable). Include the TIN number

b. Contract Information – include the contract number and if applicable, the task order or BPA call number

c. Invoice Information – include the invoice number, which shall be a unique number specific to each invoice. Letters and numbers may be used. An invoice number may only be used one time regardless of the number of contracts or orders held by an organization. Duplicate invoice numbers are not allowed and will result in invoices being returned unpaid.

d. Task Number/Description/Milestone – (if applicable) identify the task number, milestone and/or description being billed

e. Current amount invoiced – by contract item/task and total dollar amount of this invoice

f. Cumulative amount invoiced – by contract item/task and total dollar amount

g. If FAR clause 52.219-14, “Limitations on Subcontracting” is included in the contract, provide calculations that demonstrate compliance with the limitation. At a minimum, provide current and cumulative amounts for prime and subcontractors, and the percentage of the total for each.

INCOMPLETE INVOICES / VOUCHERS THAT ARE SUBMITTED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED

INFORMATION WILL BE RETURNED UNPAID.

4.5 Payment Schedule

TBD

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

5. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Release and Use and Copyright of Data First Produced From Work Performed Under This Contract

(a) Release and Use – Data first produced in the performance of the Contract. As permitted in FAR 52.227-17, the provisions of this Section shall apply to any release or use of data first produced in the performance of the Contract and any analysis, tools, methodologies, or recorded product based on such data.

(b) Release and Use – Requirements related to confidentiality and quality. To ensure public trust in the confidentiality protections afforded participants in Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-supported research, AHRQ requires and monitors compliance by its contractors with section 934(c) of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c)), which states in part that

No information, if the establishment or person supplying the information or described in it is identifiable, obtained in the course of activities undertaken or supported under this title, may be used for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was supplied unless such establishment or person has consented...to its use for such other purpose. Such information may not be published or released in other form if the person who supplied the information or who is described in it is identifiable unless such person has consented...to its publication or release in other form.

In addition to this requirement, section 933(b)(1) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 299c-2(b)(1)) requires AHRQ to assure that statistics and analyses developed with Agency support are of high quality, comprehensive, timely, and adequately analyzed. Accordingly --

(1) prior to the release or use of data based upon work performed under this Contract, the Contractor agrees to consult with the Contracting Officer’s Representative and Contract Officers regarding the proposed release or use. The Contractor will in good faith consider, discuss, and respond to any comments or suggested modifications that are provided by AHRQ within two months of receiving the proposed release or use.

The purpose of such consultation is to assure that:

(A) identifiable information is being used exclusively for the purpose(s) for which it was supplied or appropriate consents have been obtained;

(B) the confidentiality promised to individuals and establishments supplying identifiable information or described in it is not violated; and

(C) the quality of statistical and analytical work meets the statutory standards cited above.

(2) The Contractor must satisfy conditions (1)(A) and (1)(B). At the conclusion of any consultation required by paragraph (b)(1) above, if AHRQ and the Contractor cannot agree that a proposed use or release satisfies condition (1)(C) above:

(A) the research professional at the Contractor responsible for the quality of the Contract work will, in advance of any release or use of such data, certify in a letter to the Contracting Officer what differences of opinion cannot be resolved regarding the statutory standards referenced in condition (1)(C) and the basis for Contractor assertions that these standards have been met; and

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

(B) the Contractor must print prominently on the release or other product, or on any portion that is released, or state prior to any oral presentation or release of such material, the following disclaimer:

THIS PRESENTATION/ PUBLICATION/OR OTHER PRODUCT IS DERIVED FROM WORK

SUPPORTED UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE

RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ) CONTRACT# . HOWEVER, THIS PRESENTATION/

PUBLICATION/OR OTHER PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE AGENCY.

(c) Required Statement Regarding Protected Information. On all written material or other recorded products, or preceding any presentation or other oral disclosure, release or use of material based on identifiable information obtained in the course of work performed under this contract, the Contractor shall make the following statement:

IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON WHICH THIS REPORT, PRESENTATION, OR OTHER

FORM OF DISCLOSURE IS BASED IS PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW, SECTION 934(c) OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, 42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c). NO IDENTIFIABLE

INFORMATION ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES SUPPLYING THE

INFORMATION OR DESCRIBED IN IT MAY BE KNOWINGLY USED EXCEPT IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR PRIOR CONSENT. ANY CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFIABLE

INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT OR PRESENTATION THAT IS KNOWINGLY

DISCLOSED IS DISCLOSED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS

PROVIDED.

(d) Copyright – Data first produced in the performance of the Contract. Subject to the terms of this Section regarding release and use of data, AHRQ, through its Contracting Officer, will grant permission under FAR 52.227-17(c)(1)(i) to the Contractor to establish claim to copyright subsisting in scientific and technical articles based on or containing data first produced in the performance of this contract that are submitted for publication in academic, technical or professional journals, symposia proceedings or similar works. When claim to copyright is made, the Contractor shall affix the applicable copyright notice of 17 U.S.C. 401 or 402 and acknowledgment of Government sponsorship (including contract number) to the data when such data are delivered to the Government, as well as when the data are published or deposited for registration as a published work in the U.S.

Copyright Office. In such circumstances, the Contractor hereby agrees to grant to AHRQ, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for all such data to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of AHRQ. A description of this license will be incorporated into the copyright notices required above.

(e) Subcontracts. Whenever data, analyses, or other recorded products are to be developed by a subcontractor under this Contract, the Contractor must include the terms of this clause in the subcontract, without substantive alteration, with a provision that the subcontractor may not further assign to another party any of its obligations to the Contractor. No clause may be included to diminish the Government’s stated requirements or rights regarding release or use of products or materials based on data derived from work performed under this contract.

5.2 Lack of Compliance with Requirements for Release or Use

Failure to submit materials for statutorily mandated confidentiality and statistical and analytic quality reviews as required by Section 5.1 of this purchase order will be viewed as a material violation and breach of the terms of this contract, as the requirements of this provision are necessary for AHRQ to carry out its statutory obligations and responsibilities. Records of the Contractor's performance, This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly including the Contractor's performance pertaining to this purchase order, will be maintained in AHRQ's Contracts Management Office and will be considered as an element of past performance which is part of all subsequent competitive purchase order quote reviews.

5.3 AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines

All publications and communications resulting from this contract shall comply with the AHRQ publications and communications guidelines. Products will be reviewed to ensure compliance with these guidelines. Deliverables that are non-compliant are not acceptable.

The AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/. This will assist the contractor in this effort by coordinating the work with AHRQ Office of Communications (OC).

The Contractor must provide a written request for copyright assertion to the Contracting Officer. See Clause on Release and Use and Copyright of Data First Produced From Work Performed Under This Contract. Any manuscript or paper must include attribution/disclaimer statement substantially the same as the following:

This project was funded under Contract No. 75Q80120PXXXXXX from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The authors of this document are responsible for its content. The content does not necessarily represent the official views of or imply endorsement by AHRQ or HHS.

5.4 Award Announcement

Prior to making any announcement regarding this award or any award, the contractor shall contact AHRQ’s Media Relations Office at newsroom@ahrq.hhs.gov. All press announcements will be coordinated with AHRQ and the Department of Health and Human Services.

5.5 Public Access to AHRQ Funded Scientific Publications

Contractors shall review the document titled ‘AHRQ Announces new Policy for Public Access to AHRQ-Funded Scientific Publications’ which is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-008.html and comply with the policy. For all research arising from AHRQ support, this policy requires that AHRQ-funded authors submit an electronic version of the author’s final peer-reviewed accepted manuscript to the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central (PMC) to be made publicly available within 12 months of the publisher’s date of publication.

http://www.ahrq.gov/research/publications/pubcomguide/ mailto:newsroom@ahrq.hhs.gov http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-008.html http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-008.html

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

6. PURCHASE ORDER CLAUSES

This order incorporates the following clauses 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.

NOTE: The clause listing below contains contractual information pertinent to this RFQ and is not an exact representation of the contract document that will be awarded as a result of this RFQ. The purchase order price and other contractual provisions pertinent to the offeror (i.e., those relating to specific cost authorizations unique to the Offeror's quote and requiring Contracting Officer Prior Approval) will be included in the resultant purchase order.

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

FAR

CLAUSE NO.

TITLE DATE

52.203-3 Gratuities Apr 1984 52.203-12 Limitations on Payments to Influence Certain Federal

Transactions June 2020

52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirements to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights

June 2020

52.204-4 Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Recycled Paper May 2011 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial

Products and Commercial Services Feb 2024

52.227-1 Authorization and Consent June 2020 52.227-2 Notice and Assistance Regarding Patent and Copyright

Infringement June 2020

52.227-17 Rights in Data – Special Works Dec 2007 52.232-1 Payments Apr 1984 52.232-17 Interest May 2014 52.243-1 Changes – Fixed-Price Aug 1987 52.243-7 Notification of Changes Jan 2017 52.244-2 Subcontracts June 2020 52.253-1 Computer Generated Forms Jan 1991

HHSAR REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 3) CLAUSES

HHSAR

CLAUSE NO.

TITLE DATE

352.203-70 Anti-Lobbying Dec 2015 352.208-70 Printing and Duplication Dec 2015 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity

Investigations Dec 2015

352.227-70 Publications and Publicity Dec 2015 352.231-70 Salary Rate Limitation Dec 2015 352.237-75 Key Personnel Dec 2015 352.237-73 Non-Discrimination in Service Delivery Dec 2015 352.239-79 Information and Communication Technology Accesssibility

(Deviation) Feb 2024

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

ADDITIONAL FAR CLAUSES INCLUDED IN FULL TEXT

Any contract awarded from this solicitation will contain the following:

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. (Feb 2024)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services:

(1) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

(2) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab Covered Entities (Dec 2023) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).

(3) 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (Nov 2021) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232).

(4) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015).

(5) 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Mar 2023) (31 U.S.C. 3903 and 10 U.S.C. 3801).

(6) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(7) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Oct 2004) (Public Laws 108-77 and 108-78 ( 19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services:

__ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Jun 2020), with Alternate I (Nov 2021) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 4655).

__ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Nov 2021) (41 U.S.C. 3509)).

__ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Jun 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

_X_ (4) 52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (NOV 2023) ( 41 U.S.C. 4712); this clause does not apply to contracts of DoD, NASA, the Coast Guard, or applicable elements of the intelligence community—see FAR 3.900(a).

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-19#FAR_52_203_19 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-23#FAR_52_204_23 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-25#FAR_52_204_25 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.209-10#FAR_52_209_10 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.232-40#FAR_52_232_40 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3903 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3903 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/3801 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.233-3#FAR_52_233_3 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.233-4#FAR_52_233_4 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-6#FAR_52_203_6 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/4655 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-13#FAR_52_203_13 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-15#FAR_52_203_15 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-17#FAR_52_203_17 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/41/4712 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/3.900#FAR_3_900

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

_X_ (5) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) (Pub. L. 109-282) ( 31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (6) [Reserved].

__ (7) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

__ (8) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

_X_ (9) 52.204-27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (Jun 2023) (Section 102 of Division R of Pub. L. 117-328).

__ (10) 52.204-28, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Federal Supply Schedules, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, and Multi-Agency Contracts. (DEC 2023) ( Pub.

L. 115–390, title II).

__ (11) (i) 52.204-30, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Prohibition. (DEC 2023) ( Pub. L. 115–390, title II).

__(ii) Alternate I (DEC 2023) of 52.204–30.

_X_ (12) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Nov 2021) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (13) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Oct 2018) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

__ (14) [Reserved].

__ (15) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Oct 2022) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (16) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Oct 2022) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (17) [Reserved]

__ (18)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2020) of 52.219-6.

__ (19)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2020) of 52.219-7.

__ (20) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Feb 2024) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-10#FAR_52_204_10 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section6101&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-14#FAR_52_204_14 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-15#FAR_52_204_15 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-27#FAR_52_204_27 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-28#FAR_52_204_28 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/390 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/390 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-30#FAR_52_204_30 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/390 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.209-6#FAR_52_209_6 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section6101&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.209-9#FAR_52_209_9 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-3#FAR_52_219_3 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section637a&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-4#FAR_52_219_4 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-6#FAR_52_219_6 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-6#FAR_52_219_6 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-7#FAR_52_219_7 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-7#FAR_52_219_7 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-8#FAR_52_219_8 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3

This document contains Procurement Sensitive and Source Selection Information; disclosure is strictly

__ (21)(i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Sep 2023) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (iv) Alternate III (Jun 2020) of 52.219-9.

__ (v) Alternate IV (Sep 2023) of 52.219-9.

__ (22)(i) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Mar 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2020) of 52.219-13.

__ (23) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Oct 2022) (15 U.S.C. 637s).

__ (24) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan (Sep 2021) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

__ (25) 52.219-27, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole-Source Award to, Service-Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Concerns Eligible Under the SDVOSB Program (Feb 2024) (15 U.S.C. 657f).

__ (26)(i) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Feb 2024)(15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2020) of 52.219-28.

__ (27) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole-Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Oct 2022) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

__ (28) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole-Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Oct 2022) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

__ (29) 52.219-32, Orders Issued Directly Under Small Business Reserves (Mar 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

__ (30) 52.219-33, Nonmanufacturer Rule (Sep 2021) (15U.S.C. 637(a)(17)).

_X_ (31) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (Jun 2003) (E.O.11755).

__ (32) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Feb 2024).

_X_ (33) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

_X_ (34)(i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O.11246).

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9#FAR_52_219_9 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9#FAR_52_219_9 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9#FAR_52_219_9 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9#FAR_52_219_9 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9#FAR_52_219_9 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-13#FAR_52_219_13 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-13#FAR_52_219_13 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-14#FAR_52_219_14 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-16#FAR_52_219_16 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-27#FAR_52_219_27 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-28#FAR_52_219_28 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-28#FAR_52_219_28 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-29#FAR_52_219_29 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-30#FAR_52_219_30 http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-32#FAR_52_219_32 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title15/html/USCODE-2018-title15-chap14A-sec644.htm https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-33#FAR_52_219_33 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title15/html/USCODE-2018-title15-chap14A-sec637.htm https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-3#FAR_52_222_3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-19#FAR_52_222_19…