Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) Cooperative Agreement

 

The purpose of this program is to support efforts to advance the establishment of an interoperable health system that (1) empowers individuals to use their electronic health information to the fullest extent (2) enables providers and communities to deliver smarter, safer, and more efficient care, and (3) promotes innovation at all levels. The Draft Trusted Exchange Framework, released on January 5, 2018, advances the goals of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) to advance nationwide interoperability by creating a common set of principles, terms, and conditions that facilitate trust between health information networks (HINs). The Draft Trusted Exchange Framework contains two parts: Part APrinciples for Trusted Exchange and Part BMinimum Required Terms and Conditions for Trusted Exchange. Part A provides guard rails and general principles that HINs and Qualified HINs should follow to engender trust amongst Participants and End Users. Part B provides specific minimum required terms and conditions to be included into a single Common Agreement by a RCE. ONC will review comments received on Part A and Part B to develop a final Trusted Exchange Framework that the RCE would assist in implementing. Part B of the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework is not intended to be an all-encompassing participation agreement, but rather includes provisions to address identified areas of variation across existing network agreements. This funding opportunity announcement seeks to identify a single RCE that will in collaboration with ONC incorporate the final Part B requirements into a single Common Agreement to which Qualified HINs and their Participants may voluntarily agree to adhere. Development of a single, all-encompassing agreement that is nationwide in scope will significantly reduce the need for one-off or point-to-point interfaces, which are costly, complex to create and maintain, and an inefficient use of provider and health IT developer resources.

Active 93.347 Office of The Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services B - Project Grants Not applicable. 21st Century CURES Act, Division A, Part Title IV - Delivery, Section 4003 - Interoperability
HR 6157 - Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, Public Law 115-245, Division B, Title II. Any entity applying for a cooperative agreement must satisfy the following criteria: 1. Be a United States-based not-for-profit entity; 2. Has an existing (or previous) agreement (or single collective set of existing policies) which the applicant determines, oversees, or administers that defines the business, operational, technical, or other conditions or requirements for enabling or facilitating access, exchange, or use of electronic health information between or among two or more unaffiliated individuals or entities. 3. Currently operates or has previously operated across two (2) or more state jurisdictions and can demonstrate governance over data sharing across these jurisdictions; 4. Demonstrates, through letters of support, previous or current participation and membership in a public-private collaborative across two or more state jurisdictions and from multiple types of stakeholders. Such stakeholders can include, but are not limited to, healthcare systems, payers, purchasers, care providers (i.e. long-term and post-acute care, behavioral health, community-based and safety net providers, and emergency medical services), key partners and stakeholders, health IT developers; health information networks, and/or other multi-stakeholder collaboratives that enable widespread health information exchange to occur; 5. Demonstrates the presence of a current (or previous) board or commission with broad stakeholder representation, that has governing authority over the entity, and the ability to modify as needed immediately upon award; 6. Has a mission statement or similar principal organizational goal indicating their commitment to the advancement of health care interoperability; and 7. Demonstrates a commitment to transparent, fair, and nondiscriminatory data exchange by participants through existing organizational policies and governing structure. a. The existing organizational policies must include policies that prevent conflicts of interest. b. The applicant must not be majority controlled by any single entity. c. If awarded, the applicant may never be affiliated with a QHIN and must make an attestation specifically to this requirement. Not applicable. Non-profit applicants must submit proof of non-profit status. Any of the following constitutes acceptable proof of such status: o A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate. o A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals. o A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The final award decision will be made by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology taking into consideration several factors such as the results of the objective review process, results of the pre-award risk assessment, compliance with programmatic and grants management requirements; the reasonableness of the estimated costs, available funding, geographical dispersion, program priorities; and the likelihood that the proposed project will result in the benefits expected. All applicants will receive a summary of the objective review panel's assessment of the application's strengths, weaknesses, and score. The recipients' Authorized Representatives will receive the NGA electronically from ONC. The recipient accepts the award by drawing down funds. By accepting an ONC award, the recipient assumes legal, financial, administrative, and programmatic responsibility for administering the award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, as well as applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Executive Orders governing HHS assistance awards, all of which are to be incorporated into the award by reference. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension or termination of the awards and/or ONC's recovery of award funds. July 1, 2018 to August 1, 2018 From 30 to 60 days. From 60 to 90 days. The awarding agency may issue a 30-day rework period should the majority of the FOA applicants fail to submit the required objectives as described in the FOA SOW. There will be no appeals process for this program. From 90 to 120 days. Renewals may be available if the applicant is able to successfully show progress towards achieving specified goals. Proposals will be reviewed by a review panel comprised of no less than one (1) federal employee and subject matter experts (non-federal employees). Each proposal will receive a score based on strength and merit of their proposals based on the merit review criteria of: ? Understanding of Project Purpose ? Organizational Capacity & Technical Capability & Project Management Acumen ? Proposed Approach and Work Plan ? Collaborator Involvement and Partnerships ? Evaluation ? Budget & Financials A detailed list of merit review criteria in these areas are detailed in the funding opportunity announcement. This cooperative agreement program will fund a single award with a three (3) year period of performance. The award amount is a minimum of $500,000. ONC reserves the right to make adjustments made in later years based on the scope of work for each year, the REC’s performance to plan, and appropriated funding available. ONC intends to select a single RCE, through a competitive process, to operationalize the Common Agreement component of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) The RCE will work closely with ONC to develop a single, all-encompassing Common Agreement that incorporates the Minimum Required Terms and Conditions outlined in Part B of the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework, as well as additional provisions, as long as such provisions do not conflict with the Trusted Exchange Framework. ONC will have the right to review any additional provisions before they are added. The RCE will act as a governance body to maintain, oversee, and enforce the Common Agreement, while ONC will update and maintain the Trusted Exchange Framework. ONC and the RCE will maintain over time the Trusted Exchange Framework and the Common Agreement, respectively. In order to meet the goals of the Cures Act, to build on existing work done by the industry, and to scale interoperability nationwide, ONC believes that an external entity would be an effective implementer of the TEFCA on behalf of ONC and as per ONC direction. We are seeking an existing, industry-based organization that is external to ONC to operationalize the Common Agreement component of the TEFCA We expect that the entity applying to be the RCE would have active participation by diverse stakeholders from across the country, including providers, payers, federal agencies, health information networks, and others. Not applicable. Not applicable. Recipients generally must retain financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records that are required by the terms of a grant, or may reasonably be considered pertinent to a grant, for a period of three years from the date the final FFR is submitted. For awards where the FFR is submitted at the end of the competitive segment, the three-year retention period will be calculated from the date the final FFR, for the entire competitive segment, is submitted. 45 CFR Part 75.361 provides exceptions and qualifications to the three-year retention requirement. For example, if any litigation, claim, financial management review, or audit is started before the expiration of the three-year period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. This section also specifies the retention period for other types of grant-related records, including indirect cost proposals and property records. See 45 CFR 75.335 for record retention and access requirements for contracts under grants. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Assistance will be available through the period of performance (September 2018 - September 2021), as well as 90 days after the period of performance for reconciliation and closeout. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly. None/Not specified. Carmel Halloun
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20201 USA
carmel.halloun@hhs.gov
Phone: 202-720-2919

Kimberly Tavernia
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20201 USA
kimberly.tavernia@hhs.gov
Phone: 202-570-3807 https://www.healthit.gov 75-0130-0-1-551 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 FY 20 FY 21 FY 19$900,000.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17 - (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 FY 20$1,077,000.00; FY 21 FY 19 - (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 FY 20 FY 21 est $942,000.00; - (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$2,182,000.00; FY 23 FY 24 - a total of $5,101,000 was obligated from 08/29/2019 through 08/28/2023 A total of $5,101,000 has been obligated for FY 19 through FY 22 for this award to the Sequoia Project. ? 45 CFR, Part 75--Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements For HHS Awards http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=06a0b0411d1520fae5e2799030e64ebf&node=pt45.1.75&rgn=div5 ? HHS Grants Policy Statement https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf Not applicable.