(Dec 17, 2004)

NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., has awarded a contract to Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), Inc., McLean, Va., to operate existing safety reporting systems that benefit both NASA and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients.

The cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued at approximately $26 million. Under terms of an interagency agreement, the VA asked NASA to help collect and analyze data about potential deficiencies in the operational performance of its Patient Safety Reporting System. NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is used as a model.

Although aviation safety and patient safety may seem to have nothing in common, NASA's data collection and analysis methods lend themselves to improvements in the VA's patient safety system. Both use voluntarily reported errors and "close calls" information. The information is used in aviation for the benefit of the public. In VA health care facilities, it is used to improve the health care of our nation's veterans and, ultimately the public.

BAH will provide support for ASRS including support of the VA's Patient Safety Reporting System. Under the terms of the contract, the requirements will be stated in performance-based contract task orders. The period of performance is expected to be five years -- a two-year base period, followed by three one-year options.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov