HRSA's Latest Steps to Transform the Organ Transplant System to Better Serve Patients and Families
May 2024 Update
Today, after soliciting and reviewing public feedback following the release of draft requests for proposals in February 2024, HRSA is issuing final requests for proposals to support multiple contract awards. This is a key step in the OPTN Modernization Initiative to improve transparency, performance, governance, and efficiency of the US transplant system to benefit patients and their families. This action will increase competition ensuring patients and their families benefit from best-in-class vendors.
Issuing final requests for proposals is the latest milestone in HRSA’s OPTN Modernization Initiative. In recent months, HRSA has:
- Worked with Congress to secure an increase of $23 million in funding to advance the OPTN Modernization Initiative.
- Taken steps to establish a new, independent legal entity for the OPTN Board of Directors (PDF - 184 KB) to facilitate transparent, independent and accountable OPTN governance. This entity will be independent of the current OPTN contractor and future OPTN contractors.
- Launched the discovery and development phase of the transition to a modernized OPTN IT matching system that leverages industry-leading IT standards and practices.
- Taken action to address “pre-waitlist” inequities in the organ waitlist process and reduce variations in referrals to transplant and in organ procurement practices.
View the full contract solicitations, information on upcoming informational sessions, and important contract timelines at SAM.gov. To bring forward the best ideas to improve the system and help patients and families, HRSA encourages teaming partnerships. To access a list of vendors who registered for information sessions regarding these solicitations visit the Electronic Reading Room.
See final solicitations for OPTN Board of Directors Support IDIQ and OPTN Operations Transition IDIQ on SAM.gov
Previous updates
- February 2024: HRSA Takes Historic New Steps to Transform the Organ Transplant System to Better Serve Patients and Families
- December 2023: HRSA's approach to securing best-in-class expertise and an independent Board of Directors
- October 2023: OPTN Transition Contract Updates, Enhanced HRSA and CMS Collaboration, and HRSA Stakeholder Engagement
- September 2023: Enhanced HRSA and CMS Collaboration, HRSA Stakeholder Engagement, and Industry Day
- July 2023: Statement from HRSA Administrator on Passage of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act
- May 2023: The Path Forward
- March 2023: HRSA Announces Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization Initiative
Frequently asked questions
The modernization initiative will encompass all functions of the OPTN, inclusive of IT and non-IT related activities. As part of the initial phase of the OPTN Modernization Initiative, HRSA is announcing the following actions:
- Build Capacity for Modernization – HRSA is building its capacity to support a modernized OPTN and will be engaging a Program Management Support contractor to assist in the modernization in addition to more than doubling resources available to support the initiative in its FY 2024 President’s Budget request.
- Make Data Available for Critical Decision Making – To assist patients, clinicians, and researchers, HRSA is publishing organ donation and transplantation data to improve data transparency and decision-making. View the OPTN Data Dashboard.
- Engage Stakeholders – HRSA will engage a diverse group of stakeholders early and often to identify and prioritize pressing areas of need for patients and clinicians.
- Improve OPTN functionality – In the next Request for Proposal (RFP), move towards separating OPTN support functions, which may include Board governance, OPTN operations, and IT systems. This approach will diversify the field of potential contractors, encouraging improved functionality through greater competition and innovation.
HRSA endeavors to keep stakeholders and the public apprised of updates in a transparent fashion. HRSA will publish the latest updates on OPTN Modernization Initiative progress on this page.
In addition, to assist patients, clinicians, and researchers, HRSA is publishing organ donation and transplantation data to improve data transparency and decision-making. View the OPTN Data Dashboard.
For all media inquiries, please contact press@hrsa.gov.
Resources
Spanish
- Lea este en español: Actualización de agosto: Mayor colaboración entre la HRSA y los CMS, participación de las partes interesadas de la HRSA y Día de la industria
- Comunicado de prensa en español del 22 de marzo de 2023
- Marzo de 2023: La HRSA anuncia la iniciativa de modernización de la Red de Procuración y Trasplante de Órganos
- Mayo de 2023: El camino a seguir