SAM #RFI_12112026ONC

HHS ONC RFI for TEFCA operational, technical, and network-administration support

HHS ONC is seeking industry input to plan future operational and technical support for TEFCA. - Notice and purpose: This is a Request for Information (RFI) for market research and acquisition planning, not a solicitation; responses will not result in an award. - Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). - Potential services: - Develop and maintain the TEFCA Common Agreement, standard operating procedures, and technical documents; facilitate caucuses and workgroups; manage public comments and document changes. - Administer TEFCA as the Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE): review QHIN applications, make designation decisions, onboard and monitor Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), and support network operations. - Manage cybersecurity, incident response, infrastructure, directories, and interoperability testing; investigate potential noncompliance, interpret requirements, and support disputes and remediation. - Planning assumptions: About 11 designated QHINs; 1–2 application reviews, 15–20 major document updates, two investigations, and two formal disputes annually. Meetings include QHIN caucuses every two weeks, participant/subparticipant caucuses monthly, and Governing Council meetings quarterly. - Requested industry input: Capabilities, staffing, acquisition structure, risks, efficiencies, and separate annual rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) costs by work area, including labor and infrastructure. Provide estimates across a five-year planning horizon, a separate one-time price for a 30-business-day phase-in, and sensitivity analysis for the three largest cost drivers. - Infrastructure details: Separately identify hosting, security assessments, penetration testing, and tooling costs for the directory, public key infrastructure, testing platform, application portal, and website. The directory currently contains about 24,500 organizations and more than 100,000 sites. Assume contractor-provided work sites, no Government-furnished laptops, and use of the Government’s authority to operate (ATO). - Timing and contract structure: Responses are due December 11, 2026, at noon EST. Planning assumptions describe a 12-month base period plus four 12-month option years, but no period of performance is specified for a future contract. The current RCE contract may run through August 2028 if all options are exercised. - Commercial details: No specific vendors, OEMs, products, part numbers, or product quantities are named. The Government retains ownership and unlimited rights to deliverables.

Description

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to identify interested and capable organizations and obtain industry feedback regarding operational and technical support for the administration of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA).

The contemplated services encompass three functional areas:

Governing Documents and Caucus Facilitation: Develop, revise, and maintain the Common Agreement, standard operating procedures, and technical documents; facilitate stakeholder caucuses and workgroups; and administer public feedback and change management processes. Onboarding, Operations, and Implementation: Support Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) application review, onboarding, designation, compliance monitoring, and network operations; manage cybersecurity and incident response; and develop, operate, maintain, and update supporting infrastructure and interoperability testing capabilities. Investigations and Dispute Resolution: Investigate potential noncompliance, interpret TEFCA requirements, recommend remediation, and support dispute resolution processes.

Organizations may respond regarding one or more functional areas or combinations of functions. ONC welcomes recommendations concerning an integrated or separate acquisition approach, alternative contract vehicles and classifications, commercial capabilities, staffing, contract types, performance risks, and opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Respondents should provide capability information and annual rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates, including assumptions and principal cost drivers, in accordance with the attached RFI and Planning Assumptions. The preliminary classifications are NAICS 541519, PSC DD01, and GSA Multiple Award Schedule SINs 54151HEAL and 541611. Possession of both identified SINs is not required to respond.

Responses are due December 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, by email to Donna.Sykes@hhs.gov. Use the subject line “RFI - Operational and Technical Support for TEFCA.” Clearly mark proprietary information.

The Government will not provide individual acknowledgments of receipt or respond to follow-up inquiries requesting confirmation of receipt, the status of this RFI, or future acquisition plans. Please do not submit inquiries of this nature. If the Government proceeds with a solicitation, it will be issued through the applicable GSA platform or SAM.gov, as appropriate. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring those platforms for future notices and opportunities.

Review all three attachments for the complete requirements and response instructions: the RFI, Draft Statement of Work, and Planning Assumptions.

This RFI is solely for information and planning purposes and is not a solicitation. Responses are voluntary, are information only, and are not offers that can be accepted to form a binding contract. The Government will not award a contract based on this RFI or pay for responses. Responding is not a prerequisite to participating in any future solicitation.  

View original listing