Inactive

BACKGROUND: The SEER-CAHPS data resource links the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry data with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Se... BACKGROUND: The SEER-CAHPS data resource links the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry data with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) patient experience surveys and Medicare claims. This unique, publicly accessible data resource offers investigators an opportunity to examine outcomes and care delivery research questions for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, and in comparison to those without a diagnosis of cancer. The SEER program includes contracts with cancer registries to report uniform data on all incident cancer cases in their defined geographic areas. The program covers about 30% of the U.S. population. In order to improve NCI’s understanding of the relationships between patient experiences with care, health care utilization, health care costs, and health-related quality of life for elderly cancer patients and survivors, the NCI has been enhancing SEER data with data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including the Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys and Medicare claims. Medicare CAHPS surveys collect data from Medicare beneficiaries on the aspects of patient experiences of their care (see ma-pdpcahps.org for information on Medicare CAHPS surveys). PURPOSE: To support ongoing efforts for the SEER-CAHPS initiative through scientific, programmatic, and analytical support. SCOPE: The Contractor shall provide scientific, programming, and analytic support (described in detail below) for external use of the data resource, NCI-directed SEER-CAHPS studies, publications, and presentations, and support of the data resource. In addition, the Contractor shall support dissemination of guidance and training materials on methodological considerations and updates in the linkage. The SEER-CAHPS linkage is updated on a biennial basis, and NCI is scheduled to complete the next linkage in FY2021. Throughout the duration of the contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for knowing current CMS and NCI privacy and confidentiality regulations related to access to and use of these data and comply with all requirements. The Contractor shall put in place Data Use Agreements and any other data security documents with NCI required for access to the data. All data collection procedures and data storage shall also comply with all HIPAA requirements of the Federal Government. TASKS: Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall be required to furnish all the necessary services, materials and qualified personnel, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the requirement. Tasks 1-4 below are to be completed concurrently in the Base Period and all Option Periods. Task 5 is to be completed only in Option Period 4. Task 1. Meet with NCI to discuss ways to enhance and support the SEER-CAHPS data resource The Contractor shall participate in a meeting with NCI within a month of the award and exercise of an Option Period to be provided with relevant background information and updates about the linkage. This meeting will include discussions of priorities for the upcoming year and the contractor will present ways to enhance the resource. Task 2. Provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, programming, and analytical assistance to support extramural investigators using the publicly accessible SEER-CAHPS data resource. Provide summary statistics and evaluate the quality of the data; Provide supporting documentation for analytic files (enhancing data dictionary, data user guide, other documentation explaining the data files); Respond to requests from researchers regarding questions about file construction, data content, or use of SEER data; conform to all privacy and confidentiality regulations regarding the data, as required of CMS and NIH/NCI (expected volume to be an average of 3 inquiries per month); Conform with all of NCI’s data release policies and procedures; Meet approximately monthly, by conference call, with NIH/NCI to discuss external data requests and queries, and promotion of the data resource; Prepare meeting agendas, minutes, and other relevant documents for regular calls with NIH/NCI; In consultation with NIH/NCI, review external data use applications and draft manuscripts to ensure research feasibility and compliance with confidentiality policies (expected number 10 per Option Period); Prepare guidance documents and training videos to assist users of the SEER-CAHPS data; Utilize scientific expertise to perform tasks to enhance the data source, including guidance on using and translating ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes and handling claims data; Agree to abide by the terms of the licenses/agreements for cancer registry data that NIH/NCI has procured which will be matched with the CAHPS survey data and then de-identified for subsequent research investigation by extramural investigators. Task 3. Provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, programming and analytical support for NCI-directed studies and presentations that demonstrate the use of the SEER-CAHPS data resource. After award of the contract and exercise of each Option Period, the contractor shall provide a list of potential research topics that will be discussed with and prioritized by the COR to determine the two NCI-directed analytical studies and presentations to be supported by the SEER-CAHPS data resource. These studies and presentations shall involve both the SEER-CAHPS survey and Medicare claims data. The Contractor shall provide scientific expertise in collaboration with the NCI team; The Contractor shall provide a draft proposal of the NCI-directed study, to be reviewed by NCI, CMS, and a SEER PI per SEER-CAHPS protocol; The COR will facilitate NCI and CMS review of the research proposal, which will adhere to standard processes for proposal review; Meet monthly and more often as needed to discuss progress on ongoing and proposed NCI-directed studies; The Contractor shall provide a feasibility report to determine the feasibility of using SEER-CAHPS data for each of the NCI-directed analytical studies. The Contractor shall provide a draft report on the attributes and quality of the variables, sample sizes, years of available data for variables (if appropriate), and types of appropriate statistical models to use with these data. The draft report shall be submitted to the COR within two months after receiving proposals for the studies. If revisions are needed, the COR will send back a revised report within 2 weeks of receipt of the draft report. The Contractor shall then provide a final report 2 weeks after receiving comments on the draft report. Once the COR accepts the report, the Contractor shall analyze the data for the two studies according to the approved report. Analyzing the data shall include constructing new variable or composite scales, programming of analytical files for analysis, statistical assistance on power analyses, univariate and multivariate analyses, graphical representations of analyses. The Contractor shall prepare manuscripts, presentations, and posters of NCI-directed analytic studies in collaboration with NCI SEER-CAHPS staff. All manuscripts and presentations shall adhere to NCI and CMS processes for review of internal projects (2 manuscripts and 2 presentations per Option Period). Task 4. Create file containing constructed variables derived from claims and enrollment data. In collaboration with the NCI team, the Contractor shall propose potential derived variables that can enhance the SEER-CAHPS data resource. The COR will prioritize and select variables to be created. The Contractor shall then create up to 20 derived variables per Option Year, including performing data analyses, programming analytic files, and preparing documentation and guidance for users of the data. Examples of constructed variables include number of aggregate hospital days of care and outpatient visits. Contract Periods: Option Contract Close Out: Contract Close Out the Contractor shall establish a Transition-Out Plan, for the transfer of contractual activities and products to a successor contract in conjunction with the COR. The Transition-Out Plan shall be completed 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of the Contract. On or before the Contract expiration date, the Contractor shall turn over to the Government all Contract materials including but not limited to files, data, databases, programming code, documentation, graphics and final papers not already delivered to the COR. The Contractor shall provide a final Task Order report, including status of all projects started and completed from the inception of the task order. In the Final Contract report, the Contractor shall ensure that all software, procedures, and documentation developed by the Contractor is complete, accurate, and up-to-date, as needed to understand their content, operation, and maintenance. The Contractor shall comply with the HHS Rules of Behavior For Use of Technology Resources and Information found at http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/20080001.003.html. Transition-Out to Successor Contractor: The Contractor shall provide continuity of service during the transition period. The Contractor shall provide any other assistance deemed reasonable by NCI that may be required for the smooth transition of Task Order responsibility. The Contractor shall provide to the Successor Contractor, all Contract materials, including but not limited to, files, data, databases, programming code, documentation, graphics and final papers. In addition, the Contractor shall: a. Deliver the up-to-date systems documentation to the COR for purposes of transfer to a Successor and familiarization of the Successor with systems operations. This shall occur three (3) weeks prior to the end of the Contract. b. Support knowledge exchange activities. The Contractor shall be available to answer questions, provide identifications and passwords for non-personal account access, provide access to all software and documentation, and brief the COR and Successor on the status of work not completed. c. Provide briefings and other familiarization to the COR. The COR will act as a third party in all meetings and communications between the incumbent and successor for hand-off of information. 6.0 TYPE OF ORDER This shall be issued as a severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. 7.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The base period of performance shall be for twelve (12) months from with four 12-month option periods, as follows: Base Period: August 29, 2020 through August 28, 2021 Option Period One: August 29, 2021 through August 28, 2022 Option Period Two: August 29, 2022 through August 28, 2023 Option Period Three: August 29, 2023 through August 28, 2024 Option Period Four: August 29, 2024 through August 28, 2025 8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All services will shall be performed at contractor’s facilities.