[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38181-38182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13918]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Opportunity To Co-Sponsor Two AHRQ Research Conferences

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity to co-sponsor AHRQ conferences.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ announces the opportunity for non-Federal public and 
private-sector entities to co-sponsor two AHRQ research conferences in 
the DC area: One in the fall of 2017 and one in the fall of 2019. 
Potential co-sponsors must have a demonstrated interest and experience 
in health services research, implementation, and evaluation. Potential 
co-sponsors must also be capable of managing the day-to-day operations 
associated with the conference and be willing to participate 
substantively in the co-sponsored activity.

DATES: To receive consideration for this opportunity, a proposal to 
participate as a co-sponsor must be received by AHRQ by 5 p.m. EDT no 
later than 30 days after the date of publication at the address listed 
below. Requests will meet the deadline if they are either (1) received 
or (2) postmarked on or before the deadline. Privately metered 
postmarks will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. Proposals 
received after the established deadline will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Requests for co-sponsorship should be sent to Ms. Jaime 
Zimmerman, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Mail Stop 06E37A, Rockville, MD 20857. Requests may also be 
emailed to [email protected]. Emails should be received no 
later than 30 days after publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Jaime Zimmerman, Agency 
for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop 
06E37A, Rockville, MD 20857; (301) 427-1456; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description

    AHRQ was originally created as the Agency for Health Care Policy 
and Research on December 19, 1989, under the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1989, as a Public Health Service Agency in the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The agency was 
reauthorized on December 6, 1999, by the Healthcare Research and

[[Page 38182]]

Quality Act of 1999 and re-named the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality.
    AHRQ's mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, 
higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work 
within HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is 
understood and used.
    Three areas in which AHRQ makes a difference:
     AHRQ invests in research and evidence to understand how to 
make health care safer and improve quality.
     AHRQ creates materials to teach and train health care 
systems and professionals how to catalyze improvements in care.
     AHRQ generates measures and data used to track and improve 
performance and to evaluate the progress of the U.S. health system.
    The purpose of the conference, consistent with AHRQ's mission, is 
to bring together grantees, contractors, and others who produce AHRQ-
supported research and products with stakeholders who can use them to 
achieve measurable improvements in the health care that patients 
receive. The conference provides additional opportunities to ensure 
that AHRQ-supported research delivers anticipated results. More 
specifically, the conference's goal is to share best practices based on 
AHRQ-supported research, and to demonstrate how these research findings 
and best practices provide solutions for the challenges facing today's 
health care system. The conference also offers time for interaction 
among grantees, contractors, and users who can implement research-based 
solutions to improve care.
    The co-sponsors will assist with conference and agenda development, 
strategic messaging, coordination, financial management, and meeting 
logistics in conjunction with AHRQ staff. The co-sponsors can charge 
registration fees to recover their share of the event's costs; however, 
registration fees may not be set at an amount higher than necessary to 
recover related conference expenses.

Eligibility for Co-Sponsorship

    To be eligible, a potential co-sponsor shall: (1) Have a 
demonstrated understanding, commitment, and experience in conducting 
and/or sponsoring health services research, especially as it relates to 
one or more of AHRQ's priority areas; (2) be knowledgeable about 
strategies for disseminating and implementing research findings, 
products, and tools and fostering changes in practice and health care 
policy; (3) have a track record in using a variety of methods for 
evaluating research impact; (4) participate substantively in the co-
sponsored activity, not just provide funding or logistical support; and 
(5) have an organizational mission that is consistent with AHRQ and 
HHS.
    The selected co-sponsoring organization shall furnish the necessary 
personnel, materials, services, and facilities to administer its 
responsibility for the conference. These duties will be outlined in a 
cosponsorship agreement with AHRQ that will set forth the details of 
the cosponsored activity, including the requirements that any fees 
collected by the co-sponsor shall be limited to the amount necessary to 
cover the co-sponsor's related conference expenses.

Co-Sponsorship Proposal

    Each co-sponsorship proposal shall contain a description of: (1) 
The entity or organization's background and history, (2) its ability to 
satisfy the co-sponsorship criteria detailed above, and (3) its 
proposed involvement in the co-sponsored activity.

Evaluation Criteria

    After engaging in exploratory discussions with potential co-
sponsors that respond to this notice, representatives of AHRQ will 
select the co-sponsor or co-sponsors using the following evaluation 
criteria:
    (1) Qualifications and capability to fulfill co-sponsorship 
responsibilities;
    (2) Creativity related to enhancing the conference, including 
options for interactive sessions and ideas for improving the event 
based on the 2015 conference offerings;
    (3) Potential for reaching and generating attendees from among key 
stakeholders, including Federal, State and local policymakers, health 
care providers, consumers and patients, purchasers and payers, and 
other health officials and underserved/special populations;
    (4) Experience administering conferences;
    (5) Past or current work specific to health services research;
    (6) Personnel names, professional qualifications, and specific 
expertise with conference planning;
    (7) Availability and description of facilities needed to 
participate in and support the conference planning process, including 
office space, information technology, and telecommunication resources;
    (8) Description of financial management expertise, including 
demonstration of experience in developing a budget and collecting and 
managing monies from organizations and individuals; and
    (9) Proposed plan for managing a conference with AHRQ.

Sharon B. Arnold,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-13918 Filed 6-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P