IMPACT STUDY ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) IN THE SNAP PROGRAM

Solicitation Number: AG-3198-S-12-0012 Notice Type: Sources Sought STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). A solicitation is not being issued at this time and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government intends to determine through this Sources Sought Notice if there are two (2) or more small businesses that are responsible and capable of carrying out the requisition. The Office of Research and Analysis (ORA) in the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking a contractor to examine the impact of ACA implementation on SNAP participation. ACA will change how States administer human service programs by expanding Medicaid eligibility and streamlining the enrollment process. Newly eligible people entering the system seeking health insurance may impact the number of SNAP applications, especially in States with joint administration or combined applications for Medicaid and SNAP. FNS seeks a contractor to develop case studies of several states to examine how implementation of ACA affects the coordination of Medicaid and SNAP, describe the process for directing Medicaid applicants to SNAP, and determine how it impacts the number of SNAP applications. The contractor shall assess the effectiveness of different administrative models, report lessons learned, and discuss opportunities for better coordination of the two programs. The study seeks to determine the impact on SNAP of implementation of ACA. Several key areas are anticipated to impact SNAP. For each of the Objectives, the contractor will collect data at three (3) points - before, concurrent with, and after ACA implementation. OBJECTIVE 1: Describe the coordination of the SNAP and Medicaid enrollment processes in the State. 1. Are SNAP and Medicaid co-administered in the same office/department/division in the State? 2. Do the same case workers or eligibility workers handle applicants for SNAP and Medicaid? 3. Does the State have a combined application for both SNAP and Medicaid? 4. Did the State have a combined application before the implementation of ACA? 5. Did ACA lead to the development of a combined application? 6. If the State does not have a combined application, are there plans to develop a combined application in the future? 7. Are programs other than SNAP or Medicaid included on the combined application? 8. Is there combined application for each application method (e.g. paper, online, phone)? If not, please describe the differences in the online versus paper versus phone applications? OBJECTIVE 2: Describe the process for directing Medicaid applicants to SNAP. 1. What process, if any, is in place for making Medicaid applicants aware of SNAP? a. Is there a combined application? b. Do case workers or eligibility workers ask about interest in both programs? Does the process vary by eligibility workers? c. If there is not a combined application, do the paper, phone, and online applications direct Medicaid applicants to SNAP? 2. Does the process change with the implementation of ACA? 3. If applications for SNAP and Medicaid are separate, does the Medicaid application mention other programs for which the individual may be eligible? 4. Does the SNAP application direct individuals to Medicaid? 5. How are case workers or eligibility workers trained to help individuals apply for both SNAP and Medicaid? Has this changed since the implementation of ACA? OBJECTIVE 3: Determine the impact of ACA implementation on the number of SNAP applications. 1. Relative to States that do not have a joint application, have States with combined applications for SNAP and Medicaid seen higher growth in SNAP since the implementation of ACA? 2. Does ACA change the number of SNAP applications that are submitted on paper, online or over the phone? 3. For States that have seen growth in SNAP applicants since implementation of ACA, describe the process for directing Medicaid applicants to SNAP. The study will use case studies and document review of human services offices and health offices in local offices in up to nine states. The anticipated data sources are: - ADMINISTRATIVE DATA. States track enrollments by head-of-household. The case file also includes all members in the SNAP unit, defined as all the people who purchase and prepare meals together. The contractor will be responsible for collecting and preparing the data from the states for analysis, with guidance from ORA. Because collecting data from all 50 states would be cost prohibitive, the contractor and ORA will together determine the appropriate number of states, likely portions of nine states. - CASE STUDIES OF LOCAL OFFICES. Case studies will include interviews with staff and document review to gather information on state and local policies and practices regarding SNAP and ACA/Medicaid. There will be up to three visits to each site so that the contractor can conduct data prior to, concurrent with, and about one year after the January 2014 ACA implementation date. CAPABILITY STATEMENT INFORMATION Interested parties are to: - Address their knowledge and experience within the last three (3) years as it relates to the objectives listed above and how they will provide each of the following points (A) through (N). - Reference specific examples of how your firm has addressed the points listed below, and - Demonstrate your ability and experience with: (A) Detailed understanding of SNAP, including regulations, federal policies, and state waivers. (B) Detailed understanding of the ACA and its provisions for Medicaid. (C) Coordinating with states to collect administrative data. (D) Conducting quantitative analysis on administrative-type data, including developing sampling protocols appropriate to meet the government objectives listed above, and using appropriate analysis methods to meet objectives like those listed above. (E) Conducting qualitative interviews in multiple sites with over 50 respondents, including recruiting and training staff to conduct the interviews, using appropriate sampling methodologies, developing interview protocols, recruiting participants, and recording, coding, analyzing, and reporting on qualitative data. (F) Conducting process-evaluation-style site visits, including recruiting sites, obtaining buy-in from affected parties, and using appropriate qualitative data collection techniques. (G) Conducting policy analyses, including locating appropriate policy information. (H) Using multiple sources of data, including administrative data, qualitative data, and policy analysis to address research objectives such as those described above. (I) Ensuring Personally-Identifiable Information is secured and protected. (J) Writing technical reports. (K) Writing reports of technical information put into language appropriate to non-technical audiences. (L) Providing briefings of technical data appropriate for non-technical audiences. (M) Writing policy briefs appropriate for the USDA website and public communication. (N) Managing projects of a similar size and scope, including meeting government objectives, ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables, and coordinating with the government funding agency. ? Interested parties may submit capability statements that demonstrate their ability to perform all elements of the requirements as described in this notice. In addition, your response must include a description of your past experience on at least three (3) similar projects consistent in scope, size and complexity with this requirement which you performed in the past three years; and description of staff experience and skills. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. Responses will not be returned. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of offeror submission of responses, or the Government's use of such information. The information obtained from responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP. No questions will be entertained or comment responded to by the Government. Offerors capable of providing these services should submit the information requested above via e-mail to Christina Carter-Kurant at Christina.carter-kurant@fns.usda.gov no later than 2PM Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, March 26, 2012. Please limit the length of the packages to 20 pages. Packages over 20 pages will not be evaluated.