NIH RFQ: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Electronic Data Capture Software Support and Installations

Updated July 24, 2020

Solicitation: 75N91020Q00101

The overall scope of this requirement is to support and maintain the current electronic pathology reporting infrastructure, including maintaining continuity of electronic pathology reporting licenses for the facilities listed in Exhibit 1 “SEER ePath Sites” and to install and maintain new license installations as required by the NCI to support the SEER program.

This requirement is not related to the Request for Information HHS-NIH-NCI-RFI-PCPSB-SRP-MB titled “Tools and Solutions for Improving the Acquisition of Electronic Pathology and Radiology Reports for National Cancer Surveillance” that is specifically focused on identifying sources with innovative technologies that may improve the acquisition of electronic pathology and radiology reporting in the future. A separate solicitation for this requirement may be posted at a later date.

The Contractor shall:

4.2.1 Provide installation of the ePath application and related software in laboratories and/or registries selected under the direction of the NCI COR in consultation with SEER registries representatives

4.2.1.1 Use a system set up where the reportability assessment application will call an artifact knowledge file stored on an external server. This will facilitate updates to the reportability list without having to go through the facility or lab IT security.

4.2.1.2 Use the “cloud” configuration whenever possible for new installations

4.2.2 Provide renewal of all existing site licenses previously purchased by the National Cancer Institute and installed within SEER Program registries.

4.2.3 EPath software Maintenance and Version Upgrade Services (SMVU). These services shall include:

4.2.3.1 Updating previously installed pathology laboratories to the latest version of TransMed 2 or equivalent software at least twice per year…

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Posted June 15, 2020

Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NCI-SBSS-PCPSB-0101-MB

“The overall scope of this requirement is to support and maintain the current electronic pathology reporting infrastructure, including maintaining continuity of electronic pathology reporting licenses for the facilities listed and to install and maintain new license installations as required by the NCI to support the SEER program.”

Referred to as “Electronic Pathology” or ePath, the software to accomplish such automation requires the following capabilities:

• Pre-existing pathology reports, consisting of both text-based and coded portions of the overall report, must be searched to select the potential cancer cases. Text-based portions of the report are parsed, and the potential cancer cases selected through comparisons to an appropriate dictionary of reportable terminology. Coded portions of the report are selected using a rules-based process. No standard report format exists for pathology laboratories to follow, so the software must also be flexible enough to accommodate a variety of report formats.
• Selected cases are then transmitted from the pathology laboratory to the registry. This must include complete tracking and an audit trail. The transmission system must be secure and conform to all HIPAA requirements.
• Once received, the information must be easily incorporated into the registry’s data management operation.

“The Contractor(s) shall perform the following tasks:

1. OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND CONFIGURATION CHANGES
   1. Provide IT services for system maintenance and include the following:
   2. Maintenance of the existing SEER ePath network;
   3. Changes to ePath implementations resulting from changes to servers, networks, laboratory and EMR systems as appropriate;
   4. Resolving transmission problems;
   5. Maintaining functionality as clients upgrade their systems (including alterations to reporting styles);
   6. Convert existing stand-alone ePath sites to a system set up where the reportability assessment application will call an artifact knowledge file stored on an external server. This will facilitate updates to the reportability list without having to go through the facility or lab IT security.
   7. Convert existing e-path installations to the “cloud” configuration, whenever possible.”
2. E-PATH INSTALLATIONS
   1. Provide installation of the ePath application and related software in laboratories and/or registries selected under the direction of the NCI.
   2. Use a system set up where the reportability assessment application will call an artifact knowledge file stored on an external server. This will facilitate updates to the reportability list without having to go through the facility or lab IT security.
   3. Use the “cloud” configuration whenever possible for new installations
   4. Provide renewal of all existing site licenses previously purchased by the National Cancer Institute and installed within SEER Program registries.
   5. EPath Software Maintenance and Version Upgrade Services (SMVU).”

Read more here.