Justification - American Hospital Assoication 2026.doc

This is a justification document supporting a sole source acquisition notice for the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center's membership fees with the American Hospital Association (AHA). The document establishes the rationale for awarding membership dues to AHA without full and open competition, citing that AHA is the sole national organization representing hospitals, health care networks, and patient communities. With approximately 5,000 hospitals and 40,000 individuals as members, AHA provides critical advocacy, representation in national health policy development, legislative and regulatory debates, and judicial matters affecting the health care sector. The organization delivers essential education for health care leaders and serves as a primary information source on health care issues and trends.

The NIH Clinical Center's membership in AHA provides access to resources, insights, and perspectives necessary to address the evolving challenges within the hospital field. The acquisition is justified under 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, which authorize sole source procurement when only one responsible source exists and no other supply or service will satisfy agency requirements. The related Notice of Intent (NOI-CC-26-000923) permits responsible sources to submit capability statements by email by 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The solicitation was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health, Office of Logistics and Acquisitions.