Subject: USH Wins Key AHRQ ACTION III IDIQ
From: JKnott-EVP <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:01:10 +0000

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce another global priority bid win.

USH Wins Key indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for Accelerating Changes and Transformation in Organizations and Networks III (ACTION III) through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

AHRQ has awarded Abt a five-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) task order contract to support the agency’s practice-based translational research.  Abt has been a prime contractor of the ACTION IDIQs since the program’s inception 14 years ago.  ACTION represents one of AHRQ’s most successful efforts to foster public-private collaboration and incorporate best practices into the front lines of health care delivery.  ACTION III Task Orders will be local to national in scope and will encompass research based on one or more of AHRQ’s four priorities: 1) improve the quality of health care and care delivery; 2) make health care safer; 3) increase accessibility to heath care; and 4) improve health care affordability, efficiency, and cost transparency. Total maximum value of task order awards over the five-year span of ACTION III will be $175M.

The U.S. health care sector is in a period of rapid change. Bundled payment and Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives will incentivize care coordination and efficiencies across the care continuum. The aging baby boom and the millions of Americans newly-insured under the Affordable Care Act will strain the health care delivery system. New tools and approaches will be needed to meet the challenge of increasing efficiency without jeopardizing quality, safety, access, or affordability.  Task Order topics for ACTION III may include:  reduction of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) and other threats to patient safety; improvements in the structure, organization and processes of care (including workforce design and care coordination); how changes in insurance coverage, new models of care and developments resulting from health care reform affect care delivery and efficiency; use and impacts of health information technology; quality and accessibility of care; affordability, especially for priority populations; and effectiveness of system design and change strategies.

Abt assembled a team to align with AHRQ’s goals for the ACTION program and will focus on high quality care across the continuum. Our team includes several large integrated delivery and safety net health systems and the largest provider of post-acute care services in the U.S.: Partners HealthCare, Geisinger Health System, Cook County Health and Hospital System/Division of Nursing, Montefiore Health System, Kindred Healthcare, and the Joint Commission, ECRI Institute, Brown University Center for Long Term Care Quality and Innovation; and small businesses Atlas Research, Crosby Marketing Communications, and Kairos Consulting Worldwide.

According to Andrea Hassol, Principal Investigator, and Terry Moore, vice president and leader of the U.S. Health Division’s Health Policy (HPOL) practice, “This contract vehicle will allow HPOL to continue our longstanding work with AHRQ ACTION Task Orders and to engage in ACA-mandated reforms.” Terry also noted that “The IDIQ furthers HPOL’s accelerate market plan which includes expanding Abt’s footprint at AHRQ.”

Congratulations to the entire proposal team including technical lead, Andrea Hassol; contributors/writers Donna Hurd, Sarah Shoemaker, Melanie Wasserman, Ruth Kiros, Johnothan Smileye, and  Laura Goodman; and Business Volume Manager/FCA Ofelia Dockery. Sue Camaione served as the GBDU proposal manager.

Best Regards,

Jay

Jay L. Knott | Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer | Abt Associates

O: 301-347-5896| F: 301-828-9739 | www.abtassociates.com

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