The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is taking steps as part of its Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative. Recent action includes:

• Releasing a contract solicitation to break up the OPTN contract and create an independent OPTN Board of Directors, including supporting a special election to seat a new Board of Directors within six months of contract award;
• Issuing a multi-vendor contract solicitation to support broad competition;
• Beginning the transition to a modernized OPTN IT matching system that leverages industry-leading IT standards and practices;
• Taking action to address “pre-waitlist” inequities in the organ waitlist process and reduce variations in referrals to transplant and organ procurement practices. HRSA is directing the current OPTN vendor to standardize and update data reporting.