Enhancing the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®) Standard to meet U.S. Interoperability Needs

This single source cooperative agreement to Regenstrief, is being made in order to expedite improvements and bridge gaps between Health Level 7 International's (HL7®) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®). Additionally, the cooperative a

This is a single source award for Regenstrief Institute. Regenstrief Institute (Regenstrief) is a non-profit medical research organization, associated with Indiana University, and is the exclusive standards development organization (SDO) with the ability, authority, and intellectual property rights to develop and maintain the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®), an open source common terminology for laboratory and clinical observations. As the field of medicine continues to evolve, there is an ongoing need for Regenstrief to provide new codes in a timely manner. As such, it is important that the LOINC terminology standard remains up-to-date and able to support new data exchange standards, interoperability design patterns, and data policy, including the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI).

The Regenstrief Institute is the only entity to apply for this award.

Under this cooperative agreement, Regenstrief is expected to enhance the tools made available to LOINC implementers in an efficient manner without loss of semantics using industry preferred technical approaches, and improve their current infrastructure to reduce the burden on LOINC developers and improve implementer usability.

Restrictions are same as indicated in the section above.

Assistance will be available during the period of performance (September 2018-September 2023), as well as 90 days after the close of the period of performance for reconciliation and close out.

Proposals will be reviewed by a review panel comprised of no less than one (1) federal employee and subject matter experts (non-federal employees). The proposal will receive a score based on strength and merit of their proposals based on the merit review criteria of Understanding the Requirements, Technical Approach, Staffing Qualifications, Innovation, Development of Solutions, and Reasonableness of Budget Narrative. A detailed list of merit review criteria in these areas are outlined in the funding opportunity announcement.

The recipients' Authorized Representatives will receive the NGA electronically from ONC. The recipient accepts the award by drawing down funds. By accepting an ONC award, the recipient assumes legal, financial, administrative, and programmatic responsibility for administering the award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, as well as applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Executive Orders governing HHS assistance awards, all of which are to be incorporated into the award by reference. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension or termination of the awards and/or ONC's recovery of award funds.

Renewals may be available if the applicant is able to successfully show progress towards achieving specified goals.

The awarding agency may issue a 30-day rework period should the NOFO applicant fail to submit the required objectives as described in the NOFO SOW. There will be no appeals process for this program.