On going development, maintenance and enhancements to support the Quality Management and Review System (QMARS)

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERIVICES (CMS) TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE posted for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and will be used to assist the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in determining the availability of eligible Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, HUB Zone, women-owned small business, and 8(a) with the technical capability necessary to successfully perform the requirements described herein. The requirement is to provide technical expertise and support for specific and evolving programmatic needs for Case Review Management Systems utilizing the Pega Rules Process Commander (PRPC) COTS product. CMS is interested in responses to this notice from eligible small business sources. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE ACQUISITION STRATEGY TO OBTAIN CONTRACTOR SUPPORT SERVICES TO PERFORM THE SAME OR SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS TO THOSE DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE. THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) MAY OR MAY NOT ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SHALL BE THE SUBMISSION OF A CAPABILITY STATEMENT; ACCORDINGLY, CMS WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. THE CONTRACT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COST PLUS AWARD FEE (CFAF). DETAILED INFORMATION IS PROVIDED VIA THE DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK WHICH IS POSTED ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Background: Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) is responsible for oversight, management, and direction of the Medicare Case Review Program administered by QIOs. The purpose of case reviews is to support the mission of the Medicare Beneficiary and Family Centered Care (BFCC) Program to improve the quality of care for Medicare Beneficiaries and facilitate the provision of the right care for every person every time. CCSQ seeks to ensure that the beneficiary complaint processes are efficient, functional, secure, and well documented in the provision of high-quality service in support of beneficiaries and providers. In an effort to efficiently monitor and manage QIO Medicare Case Review activities, while establishing consistency and simplifying processes, CCSQ has created Quality Management and Review System (QMARS), a National Standardized System to capture, track, manage and analyze the activities associated with all Case Review types associated with the BFCC Program. The QMARS utilizes technologies that meet current CMS IT standards and security practices. The application currently exists in the Healthcare Quality Information Systems (HCQIS), Warrenton Data Center and will be operationally supported by the HCQIS Infrastructure contractor. To efficiently monitor and manage CCSQ Quality activities, CCSQ envisions a future need to develop applications on the Pega Rules Process Commander (PRPC) platform, including but not limited to a National Standardized System to capture, track, manage and analyze the activities associated with monitoring quality care activities associated with the Quality Improvement Networks (QIN), and Survey and Certificates (SCA) Programs, including but not limited to future Physician Quality Reporting Standards (PQRS) data validation, and tracking nursing home complaints. The System would utilize technologies that meet current CMS IT standards and security practices. The purpose of this SSN is to identify qualified Application development organizations that are interested in and capable of performing the requirement of Case Review Management System. The SSN is to identify qualified contractors for IT services with a technically proficient vendor with competitive pricing. The services requested include design, development, enhancement, maintenance, and operations to support the case review management system on the PRPC platform and maintenance enhancement support services for integration with other CMS applications. Scope of Work: The QMARS is a replacement for the current CRIS and CRMIS systems, which will allow QIOs to perform and report on Quality of Care Complaints. It will allow the tracking and monitoring of Helpline/Intake activities. QMARS includes new functionality and features that will both enhance and extend beyond traditional case review activities. The new system will allow users to perform case review activities based on a streamlined and intuitive workflow-driven data entry and output processing environment. In addition, QMARS will provide expanded data analytics, alert notifications and other standardized reporting features that will allow QIO and CMS users to more easily monitor case review performance measures at both the state and national levels. QMARS will also provide new functionalities that promote automated correspondence exchange, secured file transfer, document viewing, and online management of case review documentation. The QMARS application is being developed using a COTS product and implemented on virtualized servers across the 3-zone environment. It is a web-enabled application written in Java using the HCQIS Agile XLC and Pega_BPM implementation methodology. The QMARS application includes quality of care review (i.e. Beneficiary Intake, Immediate Advocacy, Beneficiary Complaint, Beneficiary Complaint Reviews, and General Quality of Care Reviews) associated with Medicare beneficiary complaints as outlined in Chapter 5 of the QIO Manual. The QMARS Production 1.0 is planned to be released in October 2014. This version will be released to the entire QIO user community for their work in the 11th SoW with an estimated number of 800 users. The purpose of this SSN is to also identify capable sources that can perform as an Application Developer responsible for services for QMARS ongoing development, maintenance and enhancement to support any additional integrations (including, but not limited to Axway, Secure file Transport and Snowbound, Virtual Viewer document viewing software). This support shall align with CMS' Expedited Life Cycle XLC (or Agile XLC, as appropriate) process and include updates to the system on a regular basis. The services requested will be to utilize the PRPC platform and maintenance enhancement support services for integration with other CMS applications. Project management, business requirements, administrative support, database administration, V&V and performance testing, and Tier 1 and 2 Help Desk support are provided by existing HCQIS contractors. It is expected that this contractor shall work with those contractors in its development of the QMARS application. The development, maintenance and enhancement activities shall include, but not be limited to: 1) Systems analysis 2) Design 3) Integration between the QMARS subsystems 4) Testing of unit, system/string, security, performance, regression testing 5) Quality Assurance 6) Maintenance of existing system documentation 7) Tier 3 Help Desk support for the QMARS application 1. Performance related activities to ensure that QMARS can support the increasing customer base predicted in the QIO 11th SoW, as the work begins, currently, estimated at 800 users. The system shall be able to accommodate the user base, document views, uploads and downloads, and work flows without performance issues. 2. Performance reviews and updates to all systems. 3. Any new CMS integrations as specified by legislation or program needs. Response Requirements: Each firm must demonstrate in their qualification statement that they are knowledgeable and experienced on the PRPC COTS product. The firms shall exhibit a thorough understanding of CMS QIO business issues related to case review and CMS IT technical standards in order to provide high quality services to CMS. Firms responding to the SSN are requested to provide to CMS all appropriate documentation (i.e. a detailed capability statement and documentation demonstrating the ability to perform similar requirements). In addition, the capability statement: - Provide proof of being PEGA Certified or developers with PEGA's (PRPC) current certifications; - Identify knowledge and experience with web based Java development in a 3-tier environment, Oracle and SQL Server database management, and System Development Life Cycle; - Identify knowledge and experience with the following COTS products: PegaBPM and PRPC methodology, Java, JVM, J2EE, Snowbound Viewer, and Axway Secured Transport Systems; - Identify knowledge and experience on agile project management methodologies including the use of the PegaBPM and PRPC methodology; - Identify knowledge and experience with Federal Information Systems Security Standards; - Identify knowledge and experience with application lifecycle management software; preferably, Serena's ALM suite (Dimensions RM & CM; Business Manager, and Release Manager); - Identify experience with working on a multi-contractor project. Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration Level 3 (or equal) is a requirement under the resultant contract. Firms responding to the SSN are requested to provide CMS all appropriate documentation (i.e. a detailed capability statement and/or relevant past performance history documentation with the firm's ability to perform similar requirements) to operate complex federal programs that require the coordination with multiple contractors. The capability statement shall: 1. Identify appropriate levels and types of expertise in a manner that demonstrates understanding of the PRPC; RESOURCES: The firms shall demonstrate to CMS the qualification and experience of Key Personnel. At a minimum, ensure that Key Personnel meet the specific technical experience requirement including: - Lead Applications Developer with applications development experience using PegaSystems, Pega_BPM and PRPC applications and experience leading the technical aspects of applications development projects through the full System Development Life Cycle. - Senior Project Manager with progressive experience managing complex applications development projects for the Federal Government; Sr. Architect with progressive experience designing, implementing, and supporting complex, integrated applications, preferably using PegaSystems development methodologies and software. If this results in a contract award, the awardee must be Capability Maturity Model Infrastructure (CMMI) Level 3 certified or equivalent. Each response shall also include the following business information. 1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and fax number, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. 2. Point of Contact, phone number and email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the response. 3. Business size and status; must be identified as, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HubZone, a certified 8(a), and/or Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB). 4. Note: Respondents must clearly demonstrate their firm's capability to meet the requirements of FAR 52.219-14 - Limitation of Subcontracting. 5. DUNS number, Cage Code, Tax Identification Number, and company structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies must also be registered in System for Award Management at (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/) to be considered as potential sources. 6. Identification of the available contract vehicles; such as GSA Federal Supply Schedules (schedule/contract number and appropriate Special Item Numbers) or other GWAC vehicles by agency and contract number. 7. Documentation showing an audit of the contractor's accounting system certifying that the system is acceptable to conduct cost-type contract work (if such an audit has been done). Teaming Arrangements: Firms seeking to respond to this notice as a team or to rely on subcontractors to perform any portion of the work must include the above-requested information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team or each proposed subcontractor. Responses must clearly indicate the nature of the teaming arrangement (i.e. Joint Venture, Mentor/Prot'g, or Subcontractor) The contractor and any subcontractors must not have any relationships or arrangements through business operations or its employees that could be considered as possibly lessening the company's objectivity concerning any aspect of the proposed tasks. If such relationships or arrangements exist, contractors or subcontractors shall be required, during the procurement process (if one occurs), to identify potential conflicts of interest and discuss how the conflicts will be addressed and mitigated. This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes 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 announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. All information submitted in response to this announcement must arrive on or before the closing date. All capability statements can be submitted via e-mail to the point of contact listed below. Responses must be submitted not later than November 4, 2014. Responses shall not exceed 20 pages. Capability statements will be reviewed and assessed to determine whether any eligible Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business, and 8(a) contractors have the ability to perform the work requirements detailed in this notice. The government will not be responding to vendors in relation to information received and vendors are advised to not share proprietary information in response to this capability statement. Vendors are advised that the issuance of this notice does not obligate the government to cover any costs for submission in response to this announcement. Documentation should be sent to: Herman.Harris@cms.hhs.gov and cc: Tonya.Anderson@cms.hhs.gov