Healthcare IT vendors should line up for $50M AHRQ contracts
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will seek bids next month for $50 million in multiple task-order contracts for healthcare IT projects, including program management, technical assistance, marketing and web development.

The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts will support AHRQ’s National Resource Center for Health IT, according to the Government Health IT. The Center, created in 2004 as part of AHRQ’s healthcare IT mission, has invested more than $260 million in grants and contracts related to healthcare IT in 41 states.

In its synopsis, the AHRQ said it expects to award multiple contracts in four domain areas: health IT program management and planning; healthcare IT technical assistance and content development; healthcare IT dissemination and marketing; and health IT web portal management and design.

Government Health IT reported that bidders can submit proposals for one domain or multiple domains. The AHRQ expects to award about three to six contracts per domain. The multiple award contracts will have a base period of one-year and four-year options.

The task orders are expected to total $25 million over the five-year period, “with the potential of $50 million if the program expands and gains federal partners,” according to the AHRQ.

The AHRQ said it plans to award contracts to a mix of large and small businesses and intends to reserve some awards in some of the domains for small firms. The AHRQ expects to award master contracts by the end of May and issue individual task orders by August.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department posted a synopsis of the procurement Dec. 18 at www.FedBizOpps.gov. The notice suggests that a request for proposals will be issued by early January. The RFP and related documents will only be available via www.FedBizOpps.gov or www.ahrq.gov.
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