Sources_Sought_Solicitation_Army_PH_Accreditation.docx

Subject: Accreditation of army preventive medicine departments

1.0. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained.

1.1. SUBJECT:U.S. Army Public Health Center (APHC) is conducting market research to assess commercial availability of performing the accreditation and certification to serve as a formal declaration that programs and personnel within the Department of Defense (DoD) MHS have met standardized guidelines and requirements relative to quality, safety, and uniform processes. Currently accreditation and certification programs exist in the MHS for health care delivery services, such as primary care, laboratory and blood banks, radiology, medical and surgical subspecialties, and advanced medical and dental education but are lacking for public health.

1.2. Background: The MEDCOM is seeking qualified sources to provide accreditation of 28 select Army PM Departments in their role as installation public health departments using psychometrically tested and validated performance standards and a recognized accreditation process. This accreditation of all 28 departments will be conducted in a phased approach not to exceed four Army PM Departments per year.

Ensuring high-quality services is an imperative of MEDCOM as it strives to become a high-reliability organization (HRO). Direct care component hospitals and clinics in the Military Health System (MHS) are accredited or certified by external agencies, but there is no similar program for Army public health services – a clear gap in MEDCOM’s current quality and HRO efforts. Measures of quality and performance for these services are distinctly different from those in clinical health care settings. Since 2011, voluntary national public health department accreditation has become a rapidly expanding initiative in the public health field. The MEDCOM Deputy Chief of Staff, Public Health directed public health accreditation of Army PM Departments by an externally validated/third-party using nationally recognized performance standards and processes. The goal of the Army public health accreditation is to drive performance improvement and demonstrate that Army PM Departments meet standardized requirements in executing their responsibilities for installation-level public health services.

1.3. Response Instructions:

Respondents should address the following in their capabilities statement:

1.3.1. The accrediting body selected for this contract must provide accreditation of 28 select Army PM Departments, through the assessment of their public health activities and capacities at the installation level utilizing performance standards that are psychometrically tested and validated and a process to measure the department’s performance against these standards.

2.0. General Requirements:

a. Place of Performance. All work shall be performed at the accrediting organization or the 28 Army PM Departments identified in Appendix A.

b. Period of Performance. Base year will be from date of award of contract for one 12 month base period and 4 one year option periods.

3.0. Performance Requirements

3.1. Objective 1–Provide a set of public health department performance/accreditation standards that are adjusted to accommodate public health activities and services provided at the installation level by Army PM Departments.

The accrediting body will have developed public health department performance standards that are psychometrically tested and validated, are based on known and widely accepted public health principles or framework, and that the contractor can then adapt for optimal fit and use by Army PM Departments.

3.1.1. Key Task 1 – Provide a set of public health department performance standards that are psychometrically tested and validated, are based on known and widely accepted public health principles or framework , and can be adapted for optimal fit and use by Army PM Departments upon proposal submission.

3.1.2 Key Task 2- Adapt the established public health department performance standards to appropriately reflect and optimally fit Army PM Department public health activities, services, and practices.

3.1.3. Key Task 3 – Update the Army-adapted public health department performance standards as appropriate to maintain currency with global, national and evidence-based public health practices and programs.

3.1.4. Deliverable for Objective 1 Tasks: Contractor shall electronically deliver the Army adapted public health department performance standards to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) within 60 days of contract award.

3.1.5. Performance Standard Objective 1: On-time electronic delivery of Army-adapted public health department performance standards.

3.1.6. AQL Objective 1: Delivery of Army-adapted public health department performance standards with no more than 5-business day delay.

3.2. Objective 2 – Assess and accredit select Army Installation PM Departments through a defined process that measures whether or not the department meets the set of provided public health department performance standards.

Accrediting organization services will include, but not be limited to: instituting and documenting an accreditation procedure and process; providing advice and expertise on appropriate evidence and interpretation of the Army-adapted public health department performance standards; conducting on-line and on-site assessments/reviews of departmental activities measured against the Army-adapted public health department performance standards; providing written reports of each site assessment/review based on Army-adapted standards and established accreditation process to the applicant PM Departments; providing accreditation decisions and recommendations for PM department improvements; establishing reporting requirements for accredited PM departments; and determining reaccreditation standards, process, and frequency.

3.2.1. Key Task 1 – Perform assessment and accreditation review of select Army Installation PM Departments using a process to measure department performance against the Army-adapted public health department performance standards based on submitted evidence of practices and on-site review of PM Department. The accreditation assessment/review will be conducted in accordance with the accrediting body's documented procedures and will emphasize/support/align with continuous process/quality improvement. Review of selected PM Departments will occur in a phased approach with no more than 4 PM departments applying for accreditation per contract year.

3.2.2. Key Task 2 – Provide written documentation of the accreditation application process, requirements and procedures, accreditation decision and reaccreditation for Army PM Departments. This should include but is not limited to the process that will be used to systematically review evidence of the public health services and practices of Army PM Departments in meeting the set of Army-adapted performance standards, conducting on-line and on-site accreditation assessments/reviews; providing written reports of each site assessment/review, providing accreditation decisions and recommendations for PM department improvements, establishing reporting requirements for accredited departments, and determining reaccreditation requirements and frequency. It should specify how it will be determined whether or not a PM department has met the adapted public health department performance standards.

3.2.3. Key Task 3 – Establish or modify an infrastructure to process Army PM Department accreditation applications that includes a system for accepting and reviewing supporting evidence from Army PM Departments worldwide, minimizes paperwork and exchange of hard copy materials, and takes into consideration military security regulations and requirements.

3.2.4. Key Task 4 – Manage all accreditation activities for Army PM Departments from initial accreditation application through any requirements for periodic reporting by accredited PM Departments and the reaccreditation process.

3.2.5. Key Task 5 – Use objective accreditation assessors/reviewers who have direct preventive medicine/public health department work experience, including some who have military (ideally Army) public health experience or worked with military PM Departments.

3.2.6. Key Task 6 – Provide documentation of the method for determining accreditation designation and notification of findings and recommendations to Army PM Department accreditation applicants that includes provision of a written report of the site visit assessment/review to each Army PM Department and that describes the departments’ strengths and areas for improvement as identified through assessment/review.

3.2.7. Key Task 7 – Provide for the public recognition (i.e., accreditation certificate) of Army PM Departments that meet the Army-adapted performance standards and achieve accreditation status.

3.2.8. Key Task 8 – Identify and provide any reporting requirements for accredited Army PM Departments to maintain their accreditation status.

3.2.9. Key Task 9 – Establish a reaccreditation process and update the Army-adapted public health department performance standards, as needed, for Army PM Departments with identified requirements and frequency.

3.2.10. Deliverable for Objective 2 Tasks: Contractor shall assess, accredit, assure maintenance of accreditation status, and reaccredit, as appropriate, select Army PM departments using its documented process in a manner that provides for public recognition of accreditation to the accredited PM departments by end of contract award.

3.2.11. Performance Standard Objective 2: No delay in issuing accreditation or reaccreditation decisions to select Army PM departments.

3.2.12. AQL Objective 2: No more than a 30 day delay in issuing accreditation or reaccreditation decisions to select PM departments according to PM Departments’ accreditation schedule.

3.3. Objective 3 – Provide guidance, training and technical assistance on the Army-adapted public health department performance standards and accreditation process to Army PM Departments and designated personnel at U.S. Army Regional Health Commands, and the U.S. Army Public Health Center (APHC).

3.3.1. Key Task 1 – Provide written guidance, distance learning, and in-person training describing the application process, accreditation requirements, accreditation decision, and reaccreditation process for Army PM Departments.

3.3.2. Key Task 2 – Provide distance learning and in-person training and assistance to Army PM Department applicants throughout the accreditation preparation, application process, and reaccreditation process, as appropriate.

3.3.3. Key Task 3 –Provide distance learning and assistance and maintain communications and updates with the APHC project lead and other identified Army personnel.

3.3.4. Key Task 4 – Support accredited Army PM Departments throughout the length of accreditation (i.e. how long accreditation is "good for") by providing subject matter expertise as appropriate on the performance standards, accreditation process, applicable updates, and reaccreditation.

3.3.5. Deliverable for Objective 3 Tasks: Contractor shall provide the plan for provision of guidance, training and technical assistance for all parties within 45 days of contract award.

3.3.6. Performance Standard Objective 3: No delay in delivery of training plan.

3.3.7. AQL Objective 3: No more than a 5-business day delay in submission of the training plan.

3.4. Objective 4 – Develop and provide a fee schedule to conduct the Army PM Department accreditation and the reaccreditation process.

The fee schedule should include application and any regular fees for maintenance of accreditation status, training of key PM department personnel, accreditation related manuals/documents, travel and other administrative costs to conduct an on-site assessment/review, infrastructure support for receipt and review of evidence from each applicant department, training and technical assistance, and reaccreditation requirements for each Army PM Department.

3.4.1. Deliverable for Objective 4 Tasks: Contractor shall provide a fee schedule that will be used to determine the cost of each Accreditation at each PM department location within 90 days of contract award.

4.0. DELIVERABLES

4.1. DELIVERABLES: Contract Deliverables (Del) are outlined in the following table.

Appendix A

Army Medical Treatment Facilities with Preventive Medicine Departments Considered for Public Health Accreditation

If any of these Army PM Departments at any location seek and receive a public health accreditation this will be considered by the contractor in their initial accreditation or reaccreditation processes.

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION: Any and all questions related to this RFI shall be directed to nathaniel.a.reus.civ@mail.mil. All information regarding Capabilities Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI shall be submitted via email to nathaniel.a.reus.civ@mail.mil no later than 3:00 pm E.S.T. on 2 May 2018.