Iowa Health Information Network (Health Information Exchange)

The Iowa Department of Management, on behalf of the Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking a comprehensive Health Information Exchange (HIE) infrastructure and services through Request for Proposal RFP-185-2515-2026. The procurement aims to establish a robust technology platform enabling secure, efficient, and interoperable health data exchange across Iowa, covering public health, care coordination, human services, and clinical practice. Key deliverables include core HIE functionality with specialized applications such as longitudinal patient record exchange, bed availability dashboards, electronic lab reporting, syndromic surveillance, public health registry reporting, admission/discharge/transfer notifications, direct secure messaging, and bidirectional data sharing using FHIR standards. The evaluation will be based on a total of 1100 points, with 700 points allocated to the technical proposal, 100 points for presentation/demonstration, and 300 points for the cost proposal. Critical procurement dates include a targeted small business website posting on September 23, 2025, state solicitation on September 25, 2025, proposal questions due on October 2 and October 15, 2025, and final proposals due on October 29, 2025. The anticipated contract award date is December 22, 2025, with an initial contract term from February 2, 2026, to February 1, 2027, and potential for seven additional one-year renewals.

The procurement does not explicitly specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the Subcontractor Disclosure Form suggests openness to subcontractor participation. Respondents must be registered to do business in Iowa and capable of meeting comprehensive technical and operational requirements. The contract includes a mandatory 1% administrative fee on all sales, payable quarterly to the Iowa Department of Management. While no incumbent vendor is directly mentioned, the RFP indicates the need for a sophisticated HIE platform that can integrate with existing healthcare data systems and meet stringent security and data protection standards. The cost proposal template covers a 10-year contract period, with detailed cost requirements across 15 task areas, including implementation, maintenance and operations, and transition costs. Although no specific budget range is provided, the comprehensive nature of the RFP suggests a significant investment in health information technology infrastructure, with expectations for robust, scalable solutions that can effectively manage and exchange health data across multiple sectors and stakeholders in Iowa.