State Of Tennessee Health Facilities Commission

Buyer seeks a board certified neonatologist with clinical, accreditation and regulatory experience to provide consultation services. The consultant will assist in developing survey processes, guides, and tools to support the designation of neonatal intensive care units. This is part of a transition from Certificate of Need requirements to a licensure program with quality requirements effective December 1, 2025. Buyer needs expertise to review recommendations and develop a comprehensive verification program.

• 3/19/2025 - RFI Issued
• 3/27/2025 - Pre-Response Teleconference
• 4/7/2025 - Proposal Due Date

• Board certified neonatologist
• Clinical, accreditation and regulatory experience
• Experience with NICU state verification systems
• Experience developing NICU survey tools

• Review NICU Technical Advisory Group Recommendations for practicality and feasibility
• Develop list of site visit information required from NICU facilities
• Create verification survey guides and tools for different facility levels
• Design appropriate site visit agendas and scheduling timeframes
• Establish priority considerations for verification survey process
• Define appropriate survey team composition and roles
• Develop verification report templates for survey teams
• Provide feedback on state agency policies related to NICU verification
• Support implementation of quality assurance program evaluation procedures
• Guide development of medical record review criteria and processes
• Establish guidelines for staff credentialing review processes
• Create frameworks for evaluating call schedules and protocols
• Establish standards for reviewing facility policies and procedures
• Support development of operational performance improvement metrics
• Assist with implementation of designation, verification, and re-verification program
• Guide transition from certificate of need to licensure program
• Develop quality regulatory requirements for NICU licensure process
• Provide expertise on neonatal intensive care unit operations and standards
• Support evidence-based practice implementation in verification process
• Guide verification triggered by facility transitions or temporary closures