Accessible Medical Equipment and Furniture: Providing Access to Healthcare for People with Mobility Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) will seek proposals for research and data support for a limited study on the use of accessible medical equipment and furniture in healthcare systems. The findings in this report will primarily serve to assist policymakers and federal agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice with information needed to make policy decisions designed to improve health outcomes for people with mobility disabilities. The report will also inform healthcare providers on responsibilities under federal laws, and inform people with mobility disabilities of federal laws, policies and healthcare initiatives that impact their ability to access healthcare.

The report will identify and examine healthcare settings or systems (i.e., hospitals, preferred provider organizations or networks owned by hospitals, and physician groups) that widely utilize accessible medical equipment and seek information on both its qualitative and quantitative impacts on the healthcare settings and the patients. It will also examine two healthcare systems/hospitals that have recently created initiatives aimed at increasing accessible medical equipment in their provider’s offices. The report will also seek information on any savings that have been achieved by states that have enacted safe patient handling laws.   

The estimated contract period is 7 months. NCD will distribute its Accessible Medical Equipment Report Notice of Funding Opportunity on April 17, 2019.  NCD expects interested parties to submit their responses by May 21, 2019.  Copies of the Notice of Funding Opportunity will be available on grants.gov and ncd.gov and may be requested by mail on or after April 17, 2019. 

This pre-solicitation notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Notice of Funding Opportunity. This pre-solicitation notice does not commit the Government to contract for any work or services whatsoever. Further, the National Council on Disability is not at this time seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the United States (U.S) Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this pre-solicitation notice. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S Government to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor grants.gov and ncd.gov sites for additional information.

For more information, contact Ana Torres-Davis, Attorney-Advisor at atorresdavis@ncd.gov, 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850, Washington, D.C. 20004, 202-272-2004.