Intent to Sole Source to HIMMS Analytics

On behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), the Program Support Center intends to award a sole source simplified acquisition to HIMMS Analytics, LLC. The purpose of this requirement is to purchase the following products: (1) HIMMS Analytics Database license; and (2) Meaningful Use Data in four quarterly deliveries. This information will complement other ONC data collection efforts such as national surveys of hospital and ambulatory care physician adoption, information reported by grantees, and information collected by contractors tasked with evaluating key grant programs. Together, these data will help ONC monitor the effectiveness of federal programs and grants relating to health information technology, inform key policy decisions, and examine the relationship between the use of health IT and care quality improvements and cost savings. The sole-source contractor is the only known source that collects and analyzes certain specific mission-critical healthcare information related to IT and provides updates on a continuous delivery model via the web. This requirement will provide on-going direct measurement of health information technology (health IT) adoption among the census of non-federal acute care hospitals in the fifty states and the District of Columbia and on-going direct measurement of health IT adoption among a representative sample of hospital-affiliated ambulatory physician practices. These data must be available on an ongoing basis, already collected by the Contractor, and not constitute a new information collection as defined under the Paperwork Reduction Act (P.L. 96-511). There is no provision for the creation or initiation of a new data collection effort. The proposed requirement is for services the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The Government intends to acquire the services as a commercial item using simplified acquisition procedures. HHS anticipates the award of a firm fixed-price contract. Parties that believe they are capable of meeting these requirements must submit a statement, with supporting documentation, of their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the point of contact identified below not later than 2:00 p.m. EST/EDT on September 23, 2011. Specifications The HIMMS Analytics Database License represents, as best as possible, a census of non-federal acute care hospitals and their health IT adoption from a representative sample of hospital-affiliated ambulatory practices and their IT adoption. After conducting extensive market research, the HIMSS Analytics Database is the only entity that the Government is aware of that collects and analyzes certain specific mission-critical healthcare information related to IT and provides updates in a continuous delivery model via the web. The HIMSS Analytics Database contains: - Data from over 5,300 hospitals. - Healthcare provider software, hardware and infrastructure portfolios. - Market share data for over 130 software applications and technologies. - Contact information for 190,000+ IT and "C-Suite" decision makers within acute, sub-acute, ambulatory and home-health organizations. - Market segmentation and sizing statistics for evaluations across the U.S. - Healthcare provider software and hardware purchasing plan information. - Identification of hospitals with major capital building projects. - Geo-mapping feature. Need for Project/Supplies/Services The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 states that the National Coordinator shall perform duties in a manner consistent with the development of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure that allows for the electronic use and exchange of information and that: 1) Ensures that each patient's health information is secure and protected, in accordance with applicable law; 2) Improves health care quality, reduces medical errors, reduces health disparities, and advances the delivery of patient-centered medical care; 3) Reduces health care costs, resulting from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate care, duplicative care and incomplete information; 4) Provides appropriate information to help guide medical decisions at the time and place of care; 5) Ensures the inclusion of meaningful public input in such development of such infrastructure; 6) Improves the coordination of care and information among hospitals, laboratories, physician offices, and other entities through an effective infrastructure for the secure and authorized exchange of health care information; 7) Improves public health activities and facilitates the early identification and rapid response to public health threats and emergencies, including bio-terror events and infectious disease outbreaks; 8) Facilitates health and clinical research and health care quality; 9) Promotes early detection, prevention and management of chronic diseases; 10) Promotes a more effective marketplace, greater competition, greater systems analysis, increased consumer choice, and improved outcomes in healthcare services; and 11) Improves efforts to reduce health disparities. The HITECH Act also includes consideration for other areas including "the appropriate uses of a nationwide health information infrastructure including for the purposes of: 1) The collection of quality data and public reporting; 2) Biosurveillance and public health; 3) Medical and clinical research; and 4) Drug safety. The HITECH Act also requires these meaningful use criteria to become more stringent over time. In 2015, providers are expected to have adopted and be actively utilizing an electronic health record (EHR) in compliance with "meaningful use" or they will be subject to financial penalties under Medicare. The information exchange requirements for the meaningful use EHR incentives, as specified in the regulation, will inform a strategic framework for this program. Any goals, objectives, and corresponding measures of meaningful use that require HIE over time will be the reference point for the developers and users. The data contained in the HIMMS Analytics Database are an important resource that will facilitate ONC's mission. Interested concerns capable of providing compatible products to the ones identified in this notice may submit a capability statement outlining their products and the contents of those products. No solicitation is available. Information received will be evaluated for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Following evaluation of capability statements, a determination by the Government not to compete this requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received within ten calendar days from the date of this synopsis, the Contracting Officer shall proceed with award to HIMMS Analytics, LLC. Responses must be received by 2:00 PM EST/EDT on September 23, 2011. Point of Contact: Patrick D. Purtill, Contracts Specialist, Phone (301) 443-3535. Email your statement of capabilities and qualifications to Patrick Purtill at patrick.purtill@psc.hhs.gov.