R -- Creation, Maintenance, and Distribution of Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)

It is the intent of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), acting on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense, to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. under the authority of FAR 6.302. The required work entails the creation of new records, maintenance of existing records, and electronic distribution of Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC), a registered trademark of the Regenstrief Institute's database. LOINC is a coding system for laboratory tests and other clinical measures used in electronic transactions between independent computer systems. LOINC is distributed free via the Internet and is also included in NLM's Unified Medical Language System Metathesaurus (UMLS). The purpose of this contract is to ensure the continuance of LOINC as a freely available and openly developed source of standard identifiers, names, and codes for clinical observations, claims attachments sets, and individual questions being asked as part of claims attachments. The development of LOINC was initiated and is directed by the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. which leads the LOINC Committee of volunteers from academia, industry, and government who maintain the coding system. LOINC development has been partially supported by a private foundation, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, and the National Library of Medicine. LOINC has been selected for use by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Indian Health Service for mutual exchange of laboratory data as part of the Federal Health Information Exchange project, formerly known as the Government Computer-Based Patient Record (GCPR). LOINC has been specified as one of the standards for the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the standard coding system for segments of the HL7 clinical message standard. It will be proposed as a national standard for use in claims attachments under the Administration Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which will require additional expansion of its content. Because this coding system is unique and is a proprietary project of the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the LOINC Committee, NLM has determined the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. is the only source capable of providing the necessary services. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals, nor is a Request for Proposals available. However, all proposals received within forty-five days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. See Numbered Note 22.