Maintenance and Oversight Support of the CMS Data Element Library

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the program entitled "Maintenance and Oversight Support of the CMS Data Element Library and the CMS Assessment Library Data Council" This program requires services to maintain and update CMS's publically available assessment data element Library, the CMS Data Element Library and to support the Library's oversight council, and the CMS Assessment Library Data Council. Ongoing support will be provided to CMS's electronically available, public facing data element Library to ensure that it is maintained with CMS's selected (up-to-date) data elements, directly supported as part of the maintenance process. All activities directed to maintenance activities include updating all relational mappings and procuring updated HIT Standards. The Contractor will ensure that the Library serves the public and CMS's purposes, and will comply with the requirements necessary for CMS to host the Library electronically in CMS's systems environment. Overall, the Contractor will support the Library as it continues in its evolution to support interoperable information exchange. Technical Considerations The prospective Contractor shall consider their experiences and findings under similar contracts in determining its approach and response to this sources sought notice. The Contractor shall have the ability to demonstrate knowledge of all current system processes and work flows, such as CMS's current submission system (the Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) Assessment Submission; Processing System (ASAP)) and the submission specifications used for the submission of the CMS LTPAC assessment instruments; and; the Contractor shall possess expert-level knowledge related to the current flow of the PAC environment's electronically submitted assessment data for purposes of payment, quality reporting, regulatory compliance. Overall, the prospective Contractor shall provide ongoing maintenance of the database, such as its content and the described relational mappings, within CMS's electronically available public facing data element library. Such support includes updates to the Library as it continues in its evolution to support interoperable information exchange. Thus, in order to perform curator functions of the Library, as its data administrator, the prospective contractor shall also possess working knowledge of the CMS/CCSQ QNet environment and relational database technology in which the Library is to be housed. Therefore, In order to respond to this notice, contractors must be able to perform all of the following capabilities (demonstrate their experience and/or an ability to provide): 1. Technical Capability to update the library's database to provide relational mapping updates to the Library database as the data elements contained within it are added, modified or deleted to include, but not limited to: a. LTPAC assessment data element relationships; b. Associated HIT standards relational mappings; c. Mappings to electronic clinical documents 2. Knowledge of the current submission system (the Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) Assessment Submission and Processing System (ASAP)) and the submission specifications used for the submission of the CMS LTPAC assessment instruments; 3. Knowledge pertaining to HIT and vocabulary standards and Consolidated CDA (C-CDA). Demonstrate expert-level knowledge related to the current flow of the PAC environment's electronically submitted assessment data for purposes of payment, quality reporting, regulatory compliance, and so forth, to inform CMS of opportunities for alignment with those healthcare provider environments that are required to participate in HIE and EHR use, such as with eligible hospitals; 4. Demonstrate understanding of the LTPAC assessment reporting process, and its associated complexities and dependencies. The Contractor shall provide recommendations, strategies and solutions to CMS on how it can maximize or expand upon the current functions of the Library to support LTPAC cross-usage of both HIT transmission and the LTPAC current transmission system, through the QIES ASAP; 5. The Contractor must possess knowledge/resources pertaining to: o Strategy and solutions related to EHR-generated LTPAC clinical quality measures (CQMs) to include in Meaningful Use Stage3 (MU3); o Representation in Standards Development Organizations; o Capacity to identify and update mappings within the Library to updated C-CDA and future interoperability standards as needed; and, o Engagement with resources such as those provided by Regenstrief so as to enable the procurement of standards, and so forth; 6. Practical understanding of the CMS XLC requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs)). 7. Technical skill so as to ensure adherence/collaboration with the technical support contractor (in accordance with the CMS XLC requirements and CMS IT processes and SOPs) in activities related to the Library's technical maintenance and upkeep. Although the Library will have been implemented, the prospective Contractor is expected to be familiar with the XLC and Technical Reference Architecture (TRA) and be able to provide functional support as needed by CMS or its IT contractors for operations and maintenance activities as CMS or its IT contractors implement enhancements, apply periodic updates, or perform related activities pertaining to the Library application. The technical architecture processes are defined by the HCQIS Information Systems Group (ISG) and the Office of Information Services and CMS TRA and supplements. CMS TRA and Supplements can be found at the CMS Intranet site using the following link or can be provided on request: http://cmsnet.cms.hhs.gov/ois/it-standards-policies/tra-supplements/index.html 8. The prospective Contractor shall possess the skills necessary to comply with the Rehabilitation Act, Section 508 Accessibility Standards for all products and materials and products produced as part of executing this task. Transition At the onset of the contract award, the potential winning bidder will accommodate transition activities from the incumbent Contractor, if applicable, within an agreed upon time period established by CMS. Responses must be submitted not later than the due date and time listed as part of this notice. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for submission is 10 pages. This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Notice. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Submission Instructions: If your organization has the potential capacity to perform the services described herein, please provide the following information: 1. Organization information including name, point of contact, address, website address, telephone number, size, DUNs, and type of ownership; 2. Based upon the NAICS code specified herein, indicate whether your firm is classified as a large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a) concern, women-owned small business, HUBZone small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business and whether the firm is U.S. or foreign owned; 3. Tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with clear documentation supporting claims of organizational capability and staff qualifications and expertise. If subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, the documentation shall address the administrative, management, and communication structure of such arrangements in appropriate detail; 4. Please briefly discuss any potential conflicts that may preclude your company from performing any such work under this requirement; 5. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address; 6. Name of Subcontractor(s), if any; and, 7. Ability to meet all FISMA security requirements.