Building an Agenda to reduce the number of children in poverty by half in 10 years

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) within the Department of Health and Human Services intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with The National Academies of Sciences under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 for the project entitled, " Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in Ten Years " under FAR Part 15 procedures. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is assisting in carrying out the intent of the appropriation language. In support of this activity, the project will consist of the Contractor convening a Planning Roundtable followed by forming a Consensus Committee. The Committee will summarize the societal costs of child poverty; the Committee will identify effective strategies for reducing child poverty and produce non-partisan recommendations for reducing the number of child living in poverty by half in ten years. In so doing, the Committee will present a final written report to ASPE to include: An executive summary, answers to the study questions, and an integrated set of actionable recommendations with the goal of reducing the number of children in poverty by half in ten years. The proposed contractor, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) at The National Academies of Sciences has extensive experience convening expert committees from a variety of fields to provide objective, credible, and scientific recommendations addressing extremely complex health policy issues, such as the topic of this proposed study. The IOM's selection of experts draws on nationally known experts in the field, with specific consideration of the overall balance of viewpoints on the committee. The Board on Behavioral, Cognitive and Sensory Sciences at the IOM has deep experience in conducting studies concerning the organization, financing, effectiveness, workforce, and delivery of health care, as well as vast experience in performing the activities required to successfully complete the proposed ASPE project. Staff members have a wide range of experience, expertise and skills. The National Academies were created by the federal government to be advisers on scientific and technological matters. The core services of the National Academies involve collecting, analyzing, and sharing information and knowledge. The independence of the institution, combined with its unique ability to convene national experts, allows it to be responsive to a host of requests. The scope of work is available and attached. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency, electronically to Vincent Stephens at Vincent.Stephens@psc.hhs.gov. Responses are due by August 17, 2016 by 12:00 pm EST. Responses will not be accepted after the due date. If no capability statements or proposals are received which specifically demonstrate the ability to perform the requirements above, the Government shall proceed with negotiating a Cost plus no fee order with The National Academies of Sciences.