Inactive 8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)

This is a SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availabil... This is a SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified small 8(a) disadvantaged businesses capable of providing conference planning, execution, and post-conference services for the annual Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Conference. The information from this market research will assist the Government in determining the availability and capability of all qualified 8(a) small businesses to fulfill a potential requirement, and to identify an appropriate acquisition method. An organization that is not considered an 8(a) disadvantaged business as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov should not submit a response to this notice. Background The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Quality Conference brings together national healthcare leadership from across CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), quality improvement experts, and other key public and private stakeholder organizations to foster collaboration and discussion of novel directions for health care quality improvement from local, state, and national perspectives. For more than 20 years this free conference has provided CMS a platform and an opportunity to align various Quality Networks with the CMS Vision, transfer knowledge on quality improvement efforts, and provide information on other agency initiatives pursuant to CMS’ quality strategy. The conference provides the CMS Administrator with a broad-sweeping opportunity to communicate the CMS vision nationwide. Over the years the Quality Conference has evolved in size, scope, location, and even platform. Prior to 2001, a small in-person training conference was held in Des Moines, Iowa to train Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Information Technology staff on program applications. The conference eventually moved into the Baltimore, Maryland area. After the move, the conference scope expanded by gradually including the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks, partners and colleagues from the Partnership for Patients, the Hospital Quality Improvement Innovation Networks (HQICs) and their supporting contractors, the Office of Minority Health (OMH), and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The conference also added a track for Medicaid adult and child grantee training. As a result, engagement nearly doubled in size to 3,300 attendees in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 the conference was moved to an all-virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and accommodated almost 5,000 virtual attendees; the 2022 conference will also be held virtually and is expected to accommodate the same number of attendees. Whether it is held virtually or in-person, the conference structure has remained relatively similar in recent years. The conference has included opening and closing plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and listening sessions, all the while providing opportunity for discussion and questions and answers (Q&As). The conference offers opportunities for networking, as well as a “Gallery Walk” for organizations to present posters. An opportunity to earn Continuing Education credits is also offered in the form of “Master Classes”.