Terms: Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web-Enabled Network (CROWN) CROWN Data Discrepancy Support (CDDS) Synopsis: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to support the program entitled "Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web-Enabled Network Data Discrepancy Support (CDDS)". The Social Security Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-603) extended Medicare Coverage to all patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) who require dialysis or kidney transplantation in order to survive, regardless of their age. The Conditions for Coverage (CFC) for suppliers of ESRD services, updated and published in April 2008, mandate that all Dialysis Facilities submit administrative and clinical data electronically. In June 2012, CMS released the ESRD CROWN nationally. CROWN is a secure, web-based system that captures clinical and administrative data from Medicare-certified dialysis facilities across the United States and its territories. The CROWN system provides a single, central database, used by all ESRD Facilities, ESRD 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. CROWN 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. The ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) is the first Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program where providers will be paid based on the quality of care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries. The ESRD QIP will use clinical performance measures data submitted electronically to CMS via CROWN to support the mandate for payment reductions to providers of services and dialysis facilities, when scores for performance standards do not meet or exceed the QIP standards. The primary types of data collected for ESRD Programs include: Patient Data - Patient Demographics (name, birth date, identifiers) - Patient Events/Treatments (admit, discharge, restart, transplant, transient, change in modality, etc) - CMS Forms - CMS 2728 - Medical Eligibility - CMS 2746 - Death Notification - CMS 2744 - Annual Facility Survey - Clinical Performance Measures Provider Data - Facility Demographics (name, address, telephone number, ownership - Services and Certification Information (hours and shifts, personnel including facility administrator, facility medical director, etc.) The business functions of the CROWN Application are to: (1) enter and maintain ESRD dialysis facility and personnel data; (2) enter and maintain ESRD patient registry data, allowing verification of dialysis patients and associated data on demand; (3) print a blank or populated Form CMS-2728 or Form CMS-2746; (4) provide dialysis facility personnel reports, dialysis facility patient rosters, audit reports for CMS forms data, data updates, new data, and deleted data; (5) utilize a user management feature to assign roles and scopes; (6) utilize an electronic data exchange method to receive and process data submitted in batch from organizations; (7) incorporate Standard Information Management System (SIMS) legacy data; and (8) transform selected data from CROWN to the SIMS Central Repository to maintain the Renal Management Information System (REMIS) functionality and connectivity to the Enrollment Data Base (EDB), until the SIMS Central Repository is decommissioned. With national implementation of CROWN, the number of Dialysis Facilities that submit data to CMS electronically will continue to increase. The CDDS Contractor will support the ESRD user community which submits data electronically to CMS CROWN. Specifically, the CDDS Contractor will work with the ESRD QualityNet Help Desk by performing case work to resolve and close Tier 3 Help Desk Tickets that require specialized expertise to correct discrepancies with both ESRD facility and Network CROWN data submissions. It is anticipated that CMS will award one Firm Fixed Price contract. The period of performance will be one (1) base year plus four (4) one-year options. CMS intends to solicit this requirement under a HUBZone set aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this procurement is 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) with a size standard of $25.5 million. This announcement is not an RFP. CMS anticipates release of an RFP in May 2013. The solicitation will be available on the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov). Contract awards are anticipated by October 2013. It will be the offeror's responsibility to frequently check www.fbo.gov for any amendments or changes to the RFP and/or the issue and closing dates. Contractors must be free of conflicts of interest or prepare an Office of Conflicts of Interest (OCI) mitigation plan to address any actual, potential or apparent organizational conflicts of interest that could arise. All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail. Telephone questions will not be accepted. CMS is not obligated or committed to award any contract as a result of this notice. Hard copies or electronic copies will not be available. Questions related to this synopsis should be referred to Jeannine Bohlen at Jeannine.Bohlen@cms.hhs.gov. Contracting Office Address: 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244
