HEALTH POLICY

Health Policy This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is to determine the availability of potential small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses) to provide contractual support in the three following broad areas of Health Policy research: (1) Health Financing Policy; (2) Health Care for Low Income Populations, and (3) Public Health Services. The information from this market research will help the Office of Health Policy plan its acquisition strategy. Health Policy is located in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). NAICS Code: 541618; Small Business Size Standard: $7.0 Million. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. ASPE/OFFICE OF HEALTH POLICY WILL NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. The Office of Health Policy (HP) provides cross-cutting analysis on health policy issues for the Secretary. HP carries out this mission by conducting policy, economic and budget analyses, reviewing regulations, assisting in the development and formulation of budgets and legislation, as well as conducting and coordinating research. HPs interests include not only Departmental programs but also the broad range of public and private sector activities that affect health care financing and service delivery. There are three broad areas of HP research for which contractual support is being sought: - Health Financing Policy: research and analysis of issues related to the Department's health financing programs, primarily Medicare; and policies affecting health care financing and costs. Current areas of interest include: Medicare financial status, Medicare prescription drug benefit, Medicare Advantage, comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness, quality in the Medicare program, and potential payment reforms. - Health Care for Low Income Populations: Research and analysis of issues related to expanding health coverage to the uninsured, Medicaid and SCHIP issues, private insurance issues, and delivery of services to vulnerable populations, with a special focus on safety net providers. - Public Health Services: Research and analysis of issues related to health promotion and disease prevention; health and health care disparities; alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services; workforce issues; and health and health care for Native Americans and Alaska Natives. RESPONSE INFORMATION Contractors must have a working knowledge of health policy including: Federal financing and public health programs and relevant data bases, legislation and policies; the private health insurance market; and current efforts addressing insurance coverage expansions, health care quality, and health information technology. While individual contractors may not be expected to have expert knowledge of every issue area noted above, responses must clearly convey a contractor's general knowledge of health policy and its ability to perform these tasks: - Analyze existing publicly available data sets - Analyze specialized data sets, including program administrative data - Conduct short-term policy studies - Develop evaluation designs and conduct evaluations - Perform primary data collection - Synthesize a body of research - Prepare written reports for a range of audiences - Conduct briefings for senior Departmental officials - Organize and manage travel logistics within the United States and - Coordinate meeting and conference planning for contract-related events Each response should include the following Business Information - DUNS - Company Name - Company Address - Company Point of Contact: Name, Phone Number, and E-mail Address - Does responder have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system - Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman-owned, service disabled, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Note: all companies or individuals seeking to contract with the Government must register on the CCR located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements should also include the above cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and should not be considered as a commitment by the government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information to this notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. Responses must be submitted not late than January 28, 2009. The maximum number of pages for submission is twenty (20). As previously stated, the government will not entertain questions regarding the results of this market research; however, general questions prior to submitting a timely response may be forwarded to: Contracting Officer: Marie L. Sunday; E-Mail: MSunday@psc.gov.