Today, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on ways to strengthen and improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) through the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP).
The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 established the OPTN to coordinate and improve the effectiveness of the nation’s organ procurement, distribution and transplantation systems and to increase the availability of, and access to, donor organs for patients with end-stage organ failure. The law specifies that the OPTN be operated under federal contract. In the coming months, HRSA will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the next OPTN contract.
The RFI will support HRSA’s efforts to increase accountability in OPTN operations, modernize performance of the OPTN IT system and related tools, and improve engagement with donors and patients. It specifically focuses on opportunities to strengthen equity, access, and transparency in the organ donation, allocation, procurement, and transplantation process in the contract arrangement that results from the forthcoming RFP.
"HRSA is committed to making organ procurement and transplantation more equitable, accessible, and transparent,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “The Request for Information released today is an important step in advancing these goals and we look forward to receiving robust feedback on ways to increase organ donation, improve patient and donor engagement, strengthen accountability throughout the system, and best leverage modern technology to support this life-saving work.”
In addition to seeking feedback on the governance, finance, IT, data collection, policy, and operational components of the OPTN contract more broadly, this RFI specifically solicits feedback on ways to incorporate the findings and recommendations of the February 2022 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report titled Realizing the Promise of Equity in the Organ Transplantation System, as well as the lessons learned from HRSA’s 2019 market research, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Digital Service, on ways the OPTN IT system should leverage modern IT architecture.
Interested parties may access information regarding the RFI here: https://sam.gov/opp/df25032b76b1467eabae79a2ba222ead/view. The RFI is open for a 30-day period beginning April 8, 2022. Responses to the RFI are due to HRSA by May 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. ET.
To learn more about HRSA’s organ transplantation activities, please visit www.organdonor.gov.