AHRQ MarketScan Commercial Data Files and Analytic Support (MarketScan Data)

Pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1)(i), the Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source is reasonably available. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) intends to sole source to:

International Business Machines Corp

100 Phoenix Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2635

This is a new order to purchase MarketScan data and acquire technical assistance to meet the needs of the Government. 

International Business Machines (IBM) is the sole developer and distributor of the copyrighted MarketScan database.  MarketScan has over 20 billion claims for 350 payers across the country is propriety data that only IBM collects, licenses, and sells. There is no other longitudinal large national data set sold on the market that has over 20 billion private sector medical claims for that many payers for a panel of years 2005 to present.

MarketScan data files has been used for supporting major AHRQ programs since 2005. More specifically, it has been utilized for MEPS benchmarking purposes. MarketScan files will have a crucial role in MEPS benchmarking and there is no other claims data set on the market  with plan benefit data (such as copay structure, formulary structure, etc.), coordination of benefits data for Medicare enrollees among employers, deductibles discernable from copays, FIPS county linkages, MSA market linkages, in and out of network indicators, and paid as network variables.

AHRQ also needs such a large privately-insured insurance claims database to address important policy issues on the transacted prices and quality of episodes of care tracked over time. This data set is also required to address requests from Congress. There is no other source for such a comprehensive national commercial claims data.

The period of performance is 12 Months, with 4, 12-month option periods.

The notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government as to whether or not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties regarding this sole source action may contact the contract specialist, David Goodno, david.goodno@ahrq.hhs.gov no later than the time and date specified in this posting.