Single Source Procurement: Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

Pursuant to New York State Finance Law § 163.10(b), The New York State Department of Health is presenting the following summary of relevant circumstances, and material and substantial reasons why a competitive procurement was not feasible.

The New York State Department of Health, Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management has made a determination to issue a Single Source contract C029685 with Research Foundation of SUNY Buffalo for the continuation of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC). This proposed contract will be for a Three year period, commencing on July 1, 2014 and going through to and including June 30, 2017.

The New York State AHEC is located at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and serves as the headquarters for the New York State AHEC system. SUNY at Buffalo is considered the primary place of performance for this contract. The Research Foundation of SUNY serves as the fiscal and contract agent for SUNY at Buffalo and all other campuses within the SUNY system. SUNY at Buffalo serves as the awardee institution for New York State AHEC and the sole recipient of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) AHEC funding in New York State. There is no other organization in the state that is eligible to receive this award.

The New York State AHEC system was created 15 years ago under a grant awarded to the Research Foundation of SUNY on behalf of University at Buffalo from the Federal HRSA AHEC system, and with matching funds from New York State Department of Health. Under these grants, health education centers were created to serve specific regions of the state. There are 9 such centers located throughout the state. Each center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporate entity that reports directly to the AHEC headquarters at the University at Buffalo. All federal and state agency grants and contracts for projects at the University at Buffalo are awarded to, and administered by, the Research Foundation of SUNY which serves as the fiscal agent for all SUNY campuses. The funding supports headquarter operations at the University at Buffalo and operations at each of the AHEC regional centers. Each center is responsible for AHEC system objectives in underserved areas as well as other related programs based upon local health professional shortage needs.

Procurement / Program Name Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Contractor Name(s) Research Foundation of SUNY Buffalo
Contract Period 7/01/2014 – 6/30/2017
Contract Number(s) C029685