AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program Task Orders for Evidence Reviews

Introduction:
This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice (SBSS). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small business; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

Project Description and Requirements:
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) conducts and supports a broad base of scientific research and promotion of improvements in clinical and health systems practices, including the prevention of diseases and other health conditions. AHRQ sponsors and conducts research that develops and presents evidence-based information on healthcare outcomes, quality, patient safety, cost, use and access. Included in AHRQ’s mandate is support of synthesis and dissemination of available scientific evidence, including dissemination research and analytic methods or systems for rating the strength of scientific evidence. AHRQ sponsors and conducts research on existing as well as innovating technologies, and conducts research on methods for measuring quality and strategies for improving quality. AHRQ also recognizes that a number of populations experience persistent disparities in health status, access to care, quality of care, and poor health outcomes.

AHRQ has a need for the development of systematic reviews for the AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program, which procures high-quality evidence reviews and is a leader in developing evidence synthesis research methods.

The reviews must be consistent with established processes and guidance described in the AHRQ EPC Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/collections/cer-methods-guide) and the Institute of Medicine Standards for Systematic Reviews (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13059/finding-what-works-in-health-care-standards-for-systematic-reviews). The methods and procedures are consistent with international guidance for reporting of systematic reviews (http://www.prisma-statement.org/),  and adapted for AHRQ.

Systematic reviews are developed for an end-user, which includes guideline development clinical group, Federal agency, healthcare provider, health system, payer, or research funder. The reviews vary in size, and often are large and complex, including 90-200+ studies. Reviews include public comment periods, peer review, and engagement of stakeholders. With funding from a variety of sources, each with a different program goal, the contractor will work with various partners and stakeholders to review a variety of health care delivery and clinical areas of focus.  Clinical areas may focus on traditional therapeutics as well as prevention, complementary, alternative, nutritional, and other emerging areas such as genomics and may span from preventative services to implementation of medical devices.

The service will be performed remotely. Each task order represents a single evidence review or reviews.

Anticipated period of performance:
The period of performance will vary for each topic and product purchased. Upcoming topics include:
1. Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer (One medium topic refinement and one medium systematic review; 59 weeks)
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Depression: A qualitative evidence synthesis (One medium topic refinement and one medium systematic review; 59 weeks)

Capability Information Sought:

Capabilities necessary to fulfill this requirement include:

• Experience and expertise in rigorous evidence synthesis
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement to improve usability and applicability of evidence reviews
• Statistical expertise
• Library science
• Project management
• Editorial expertise
• 508-compliance experience
• Content expertise in
  • Prostate cancer, particularly related to treatment of metastatic disease
  • Psychological treatments for depression, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy

NOTE:  AHRQ is seeking small businesses who can complete one or more of the topics included above. Respondents do not need to demonstrate capability/knowledge in all topic areas. 

The capability statement response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice should include the following information:

a) Staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training;
b) Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work;
c) Corporate experience and information on prior projects of similar size and complexity;
d) List any Government wide contracting vehicle for which the respondent has a contract (example, GSA schedule, etc). 

Information Submission Instructions:
Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement.

The cover page must include the following:

• UEI number
• Organization name
• Organization address
• Size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to NAICS code 541715.
• Technical point(s) of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone, and e-mail addresses.

All Capability Statements sent in response to this SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Alyssa Tornatore, Contract Specialist, Alyssa.Tornatore@ahrq.hhs.gov in MS Word, or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), no later than 12:00 PM on January 2, 2025. Responses should not exceed 15 single-sided pages (including  the cover page, all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above.