R -- Measures Endorsement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to negotiate and award a contract to the National Quality Forum (NQF) pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. CMS intends to procure the unique services of NQF to provide CMS with access to its member organizations that include recognized medical experts to offer differing perspectives and public and private purchasers to provide feedback for the endorsement of quality measures. NQF is the only recognized voluntary consensus standards for health care quality measure organization as defined by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTA) Public Law 104-113 and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119. As defined in the NTTAA all NQF endorsement products address a consensus driven process to include: due process, openness and balance of broad based input. The effort will be for one year with two one-year option periods. This notice is a notice of intent to negotiate and award a contract with NQF and should not be considered a request for proposals. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement that will be considered by the agency. The statement must demonstrate that the organization(s) and/or firm(s) has/have capability to perform the required work. All capability statements must be submitted via email to Yolanda Charon at: Yolanda.Charon@cms.hhs.gov on or before February 27, 2006. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. CMS will not reimburse costs for submission of capability information. The NAICS code for this action is 541710. See FedBizOpps Numbered Note 22.