Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web-Enabled Network (CROWN) Data Discrepance Support (CDDS)

Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web-Enabled Network (CROWN) Data Discrepancy Support (CDDS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Introduction: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability of potential 8 (a) small businesses that can provide data discrepancy support to providers of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) services, to resolve discrepancies involving administrative, patient, and clinical measures data electronically submitted via a web-based application (known as CROWNWeb) by ESRD providers/facilities. History: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Program (http://www.cms.gov/center/esrd.asp) currently provides a User Help Desk to support the ESRD Network and Dialysis Facility community which submits patient and clinical data electronically to CMS via the CROWNWeb application. In February 2009, CMS introduced a phased implementation of CROWNWeb (http://projectcrownweb.org/crown/index.php) to provide a secure, web-based system that captures clinical and administrative data from Medicare-certified dialysis facilities across the United States. The CROWNWeb system will provide a single, central database, used by all ESRD Facilities, Networks, and CMS, as a repository for 100% of clinical data to support various program goals such as National Quality Improvement projects, Public Reporting, and Value Based Purchasing. CROWNWeb data will be important to the calculation of facility-specific scores and percentage payment reductions to implement the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) established under - 153(c) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008. Description of the Work: The existing CMS ESRD CROWN Help Desk requires an additional Tier-3 level service provider to resolve open help desk tickets and assist ESRD facilities, Networks, and organizations who submit data in batch on behalf of facilities to correct discrepancies in their CROWNWeb data submissions. Currently, there are two ways to enter data into CROWNWeb: (1) Single User Interface (web-based data entry one record at a time) or by (2) authorized Batch Submitting Organizations (BSOs) who upload files of many records. The batch submission process for ESRD facilities includes providing: patient demographic data, patient admit/discharge data, patient treatment data and patient clinical data. In the current phase of the CROWNWeb implementation there is a data discrepancy error rate of >20% for batch data transmission and a lower error rate associated with the Single User Interface data entry method. Discrepancies arise in the form of data inconsistencies, near matches, logic errors, missing or invalid data pertaining to patient events/treatments (admit, discharge, restart, transplant, transient, change in modality, etc), dates, facility or provider information, multiple patient accounts/IDs, and clinical data related to Form CMS-2728 or Form CMS-2746. The scope of services required of the Data Discrepancy Support provider may include: - Delivery of Tier-3 Help Desk support to resolve open tickets related to discrepancies in electronic data submission. Support would be performed during regular business hours using government-furnished IT infrastructure and existing help desk applications. - Service delivery metrics reporting including quarterly, monthly, and weekly metrics related to open tickets, incident classification, error category, and resolution/response time. Support will require establishment of service level agreements. Support may require decision analysis using existing Help Desk reporting tools. - Process and/or review standardization, management, and training documentation related to incident prevention, error types and resolution methods. Support will involve regular contributions to enhance the CROWN Help Desk knowledgebase, training documentation, and support the ESRD user community. - Continuous process improvement that promotes root cause analysis, and advances innovation/change proposals for improved accuracy and efficiency in electronic data submission. - Administrative, project management, and communications support. Contractor Requirements: The contractor shall have appropriate staff or an appropriate team (with Teaming partners) to respond to User Help Desk tickets and fulfill the above work responsibilities, including but not limited to: 1. Staff with a working knowledge and specialized understanding of ESRD clinical issues, CMS' ESRD Program, including the ESRD Networks and Dialysis Facilities, and the expertise and experience in analyzing CMS administrative data and other ESRD clinical data. 2. Staff with a working knowledge and understanding of nephrology and ability to research and resolve errors and discrepancies involving data from multiple sources and forms relating to patient and facility events/treatments. 3. Staff with understanding of database programming, validation rules, and logic checks to identify, analyze, and provide options to prevent recurring errors in electronic data submissions. Contractor's staff must also have the ability to generate dynamic ad-hoc reports to be provided to CMS upon request, as it pertains to the results of the data validation. Address your company's capabilities Please provide your experience, knowledge, and capability to provide the following (refer back to the points of work above): 1. Discuss your background and knowledge of ESRD clinical issues, CMS ESRD Program, and expertise and experience in analyzing CMS ESRD administrative and clinical data. 2. Discuss your knowledge and experience with the CMS regulations, policy, and instructions related to the ESRD administrative and clinical data collection. 3. Provide past experience and/or capability in delivery of User Help Desk support services for health care providers. 4. Provide your experience and/or your ability to identify and develop more efficient and effective methods to resolve and reduce the incidence of data discrepancies. 5. Provide your experience in analyzing health care data and clinical information, including information related to significant ESRD areas to support the data discrepancy effort: patient information; CPM values; Form CMS-2728, and Form CMS-2746, from multiple sources/entities. Interested parties having the capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements may submit capability statements via email to Georgette Vlangas (georgette.vlangas@cms.hhs.gov). CAPABILITY STATEMENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED ABOVE. Please address each in order listed above. Capability statements shall also include the following information: corporate structure (corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, professional corporation, etc.); and tax identification number. Capability Statements shall be limited to 15 pages and shall include any/all teaming arrangements. Please include the following Business Information -- a. DUNS: b. Company Name c. Company Address d. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this Sources Sought e. Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. f. Type of Company - 8(a) status, including any letters, certificates, or similar documentation indicating such status g. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements shall also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Responses must be submitted not later than June 18, 2010. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. This is not an invitation for bid, request for proposal or other solicitation and in no way obligates CMS to award a contract. The sole intent is to obtain capabilities for set-aside and procurement planning purposes. Contact information: Primary Point of Contact: Georgette Vlangas, Contract Specialist Alternate Point of Contact: Brian W. Hebbel, Contracting Officer