CCSQ-393-2024-0235 Statement of Work NQF Membership Dues FY24.docx

May 22, 2024

Statement of Work for Acquiring National Quality Forum Membership Status for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

BACKGROUND:

This Statement of Work is intended to issue a Sole Source Purchase Order to acquire Membership Status with the National Quality Forum (NQF) for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

OBJECTIVE:

This required service will enable CMS to use NQF to obtain consensus-based endorsement on publicly reported quality measures. CMS currently uses NQF endorsed quality measures for Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) initiatives and many of its quality reporting, public reporting, and value-based purchasing programs.

REQUIREMENTS:

NQF is required to function as a voluntary consensus standards entity for health care quality measures organizations as defined by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA). It is required to obtain multi-stakeholder input on implementing a national strategy for health care quality measurement and reporting for CMS. It will use its consensus-based endorsement process to perform a comprehensive call for measures, a review of scientific and statistical evidence, and a forum for in-depth study of existing tools for comparing the performance of health care providers in various settings for performance measures developed by CMS, other HHS agencies, and other public or private entities. It will implement a process that enables CMS to pursue consensus-based endorsement on publicly reported quality measures. It will also be involved in all of CMS’ implementation requirements related to measurement. In addition, it will also align its work with the work and mission under The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, Title XIII of Division A and Title IV of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the following sections of the Social Security Act: 1886(b)(3)(B)(vii), 1833(t)(17), and 1883(i)(2)(D). Its processes will allow CMS to promote faster, more efficient access to the nationally endorsed and implemented quality measures.

SERVICE DELIVERY:

Will implement the measure endorsement/maintenance process and the Measure Applications Partnership process in timely manner, produce reports that are technically sound and meet established guidelines for grammar, spelling, format, etc., communicate effectively with CMS and other stakeholders in the measurement community in the performance of assigned duties; perform work with a high degree of independence and professionalism; consider priorities in the planning and performing of assigned duties, support CMS’ efforts and participate in the accomplishment of overall CMS objectives and contributes to the accomplishment of organizational objectives/Agency mission.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Base Year - 09/12/2024 - 09/11/2025 Option Year 1 - 09/12/2025 - 09/11/2026 Option Year 2 - 09/12/2026 - 09/11/2027 Option Year 3 - 09/12/2027 - 09/11/2028 Option Year 4 - 09/12/2028 - 09/11/2029