JA-NCI-75N91021Q00090_Redacted.pdf

cancer cases and their treatment information SEER is interested in obtaining other sources of data such as claims data from oncology practices. Oncology practice claims have proven to be a rich source of information on detailed systemic therapy, including agents, doses administration dates etc.

Beginning in 2015, the NCI SEER Program began supporting the procurement of oncology practice claims data for six (6) SEER central cancer registries (see related contracts listed below), from Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC. Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC provides healthcare information systems to a national community of oncology practices. In addition to obtaining cancer treatment information for cases recently diagnosed, SEER is interested in evaluating the long history of claims to assess longitudinal treatment as well as progression and/or cancer recurrence. To do this, it is crucial to have a very long series of longitudinal claims on the same cancer patient. The SEER Program has already obtained claims and continue to do so for a substantial number of SEER cancer patients for the years 2013-2017 for Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico and Utah from oncology practices and oncologists referenced here as providers, and more recently obtained data for years 2018-2020 from oncology practices in Iowa and New York. The current Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC providers have already provided consent to Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC to send claims to the respective central cancer registries to fulfill their obligation in reporting cancer cases.

These claims are currently being used by SEER registries to ascertain new cancer cases more rapidly as the claims are received weekly, to capture systemic therapy and to ascertain follow-up information in terms of vital status of cancer patients. The SEER Program is interested in continuing to support the transmission of claims data for current providers, as well as to support the expansion of this capability, for additional providers within the SEER regions, or new states/areas covered by cancer registration that the Program identifies as important to obtain claims data information.

This project is critical in order for SEER to continue being relevant and advance cancer surveillance and research.

Related Contracts:

HHSN261201300015I Emory University HHSN261201300013I University of Kentucky HHSN261201300016I Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center HHSN261201300010I University of New Mexico HHSN261201300021I Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey HHSN261201300017I University of Utah

Prior Contracts:

HHSN261201800649P Unlimited Technology Systems (onboard of Iowa). J&A attached for reference.

75N91019P00646 Unlimited Technology Systems (onboard of New York) J&A attached for reference.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR subpart

13.5 in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901. No other requirement and/or type of service will satisfy the agency need.

5. Demonstration that the proposed Contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC 5905 E Galbraith Rd. Ste 8000 Cincinnati, OH, 45249

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s).

The SEER program is interested in evaluating the long history of claims data to assess longitudinal treatment as well as progression and/or cancer recurrence. To do this, it is crucial to have a very long series of longitudinal claims data for the same cancer patient. The SEER program is currently obtaining claims data from oncologist providers as shown in the following table:

SEER Area Number of Oncology Providers Georgia 83 Utah 33 Louisiana 22 New Mexico 49 Iowa 60 New York 201 Total 448

The above providers process their oncology claims using Unlimited Technology Systems. Unlimited Technology Systems is the only provider with the specific oncology provider network that has access to the current subset of claims data for the same cancer patients. Obtaining this claims data for the same cancer patients is necessary to maintain the consistency of the longitudinal claims data that are reported to the SEER registries. Award of this contract to any other provider would result in access to a different network of oncology providers. This would compromise the consistency of longitudinal claims data by providing this data for a different group of cancer patients. Thus, it is reasonable for the NCI to conclude that its needs for this unique subset of provider claims data for the same cancer patients can only be satisfied by Unlimited Technology Systems.

Further, Unlimited Technology Systems has expended effort under related NCI contracts working with their network of providers to obtain consent to send this claims data to the respective SEER registries. In addition to obtaining consent, Unlimited Technology Systems expended effort under related NCI contracts working to establish the technical infrastructure required to transmit the data between the providers and SEER registries. Subsequently, it is likely that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and result in

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FBO notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. A pre-solicitation notice was posted on beta.SAM.gov on 06/01/2021, with a response date of 06/11/2021, 3:30PM ET. No responses were received in response to the pre-solicitation notice. The HHS Small Business Office approved the market research conducted, stated in section 8 below, on 06/22/2021.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The NCI Contracting Officer will consider the independent government estimate and previous purchase order prices as a determining factor for reasonableness. An award will be made only if, during negotiations, it is shown that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

The COR, in conjunction with Subject Matter Experts, via extensive experience and knowledge of the market, has determined that the Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC is still the only source capable of performing the requirements needed to provide these services. The NCI staff has stayed abreast of published literature in the area of healthcare technology, as well as through internet searches and exchanges at meetings with the cancer surveillance community. The COR has a clear understanding of resources available for this requirement, and to her knowledge, no other vendor has the unique expertise and capabilities to perform the required work. Furthermore, no vendors were found capable to provide required services during prior year contract establishment. As stated above, the Incumbent has established the expertise, resources, and infrastructure necessary to provide these requirements.

As stated above, a pre-solicitation was posted on beta.SAM.gov. No responses were received in response to the pre-solicitation notice.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Not applicable.

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No responses were received in response to the pre-solicitation notice.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services.

Based on the acquisition history presented for this ongoing Programmatic requirement, it is anticipated that a subsequent acquisition likely will be needed.

Currently, Unlimited Technology Systems, LLC is the only available Vendor as stated above. Also, any future procurements will continue to be supported by sources sought notices and/or presolicitation notices posted on the federal-wide point of entry for contracting opportunities, and the NCI will continue to review any responses received. For this procurement, such a notice did not result in any responses from interested organizations.