R -- U.S.-Mexico Border Centers of Excellence Consortium

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration(HRSA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, The University of Texas at San Antonio(UTHSCSA). The purpose of this effort is two-fold; the first task is to identify and develop a Resource Guidebook of Model Programs along the U.S. Mexican border that have increased the number of disadvantaged and minority students into health professions and improved women, infant, and child health , oral health, environmental and public health. The Model Programs will be featured at the United States-Mexico Border Centers of Excellence Consortium(Consortium) Forum. The second task is to provide exposure activities to medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral and mental health students and faculty on border primary health care, environmental, and public health concerns through various mechanisms, including clinical rotations, internships and border health training. The (UTHSCA) developed the U.S.-Mexico Border Center of Excellence Consortium through an initial one-year contract. It is ranked among the top five in graduating Mexican-American students and has more Hispanic faculty than any other medical school. No other institution or organizations have developed the necessary linkages and programs with border health organizations, institutions of higher education, and health professions schools enrolling significant number of Hispanic students. The UTHSCA is the only organization that has the network, contacts and infrastructure to accomplish the proposed activities of the project in the required time frame. The UTHSCA is uniquely qualified to develop the partnership and collaboration with various agencies and programs along the border because they conducted the first and second phases of the U.S.-Mexican Border Center of Excellence Consortium. I addition, the UTHSCA developed the theoretical framework and strategic plan of the Consortium . The UTHSCA possesses proprietary health professions data that is required in the final report and product. The UTHSCA also has the necessary expertise and knowledge of the data required to produce the outcomes of this project. Any other organization would have to duplicate this data at a substantial cost to the Government to perform this requirement. This justification for other than Full and Open Competition is processed under the authority in 41 U.S.C. 253(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1.This is not a solicitation. It is anticipated that a one (1) year contract with a base year and four(4) option years will result from these negotiations. See Note 22