Notice of intent for sole source procurement of COVID-19 Modeling, Cost Assessments, and Health Utility Analyses

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to solicit and negotiate a modification for new work to purchase order no. 75D30122P15319 on a sole source basis with the Regents of the University of Michigan, 3003 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.

This notice is provided in accordance with FAR 5.203(a).

The purpose of this modification is to acquire research services to:
 

(1) Develop mathematical models to estimate the population burden of COVID-19 in the US population level to estimate the annual healthcare utilization (i.e., outpatient visits, hospitalizations), total cases, total costs, deaths, and quality-adjusted life years lost due to COVID-19.

(2) Determine the potential cost-effectiveness of an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster against COVID-19-associated hospitalization, post-COVID conditions following COVID-19 hospitalization, and COVID-19-associated death in persons ages ≥5 years.

(3) The contractor will deliver a written report and present findings to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to inform decision making on the cost effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

The authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR Subpart 13.5, 41 U.S.C. 1901.

The University of Michigan is the only source that can produce the required deliverable items by the agency's deadline. The contractor must be ready to present findings to the ACIP starting in July 2023. The University of Michigan is already presenting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine analyses and recommendations under purchase order no. 75D30122P15319, so it is economical for the same contractor to present COVID-19 vaccination findings simultaneously. It is also beneficial to the Government to have analyses for both RSV and COVID-19 vaccinations conducted using the same, consistent modeling framework and with the same dataset.

The University of Michigan has previous peer-reviewed experience modeling transmission and cost-effectiveness of respiratory diseases, with a pre-existing model specifically related to COVID-19. No other vendor is known to possess the expertise, data, and coding to accomplish this work now.

The University of Michigan has fielded surveys for COVID-19-specific health utilities surveys for adults, children, and caregivers of children. This data is owned by the University of Michigan and will be a necessary input into the cost-effectiveness models under this requirement.

The University of Michigan is the only vendor known to have access to the necessary inputs into the cost-effectiveness model with the necessary modeling experience.

All responsible sources my submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation to Joshua Houston, Contracting Officer, at pkf5@cdc.gov, which shall be considered by the agency. The deadline for submissions is May 11, 2023, at 4:30pm Eastern time.

The Government will review any/all information submitted to determine if other responsible sources exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response to this announcement will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.