Physician Quality Programs Management and Implementation (PQPMI)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the management and implementation of multiple physician quality programs, including the "Physician Quality Reporting System Management Support," and other programs that rely on and/or leverage quality data collected under these programs or the reporting infrastructure of these programs. Additionally, four other program initiatives that intersect with PQRS and directly impact physicians include the physician value-based payment modifier under the physician fee schedule, Medicare shared savings program, Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive program, and the physician compare website. CMS intends to obtain support services for the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) to include overall program management, development and implementation of a strategic plan, support on policy decision documents, clinical and other analysis of program data, development of tools and educational materials and products for use by program stakeholders, reporting requirements, and data collections methods. Additionally, the Contractor for this effort will support the Quality Measurement and Health Assessment Group (QMHAG), specifically the Division of Ambulatory Care (DAC), to carry out tasks related to the management and implementation of multiple physician quality programs. DAC also regularly communicates and cooperates with several other internal and external entities, and the Contractor will be expected to work with other components within CMS as well as external stakeholders. This project will also support the administration of the Quality Improvement Organizations Program (QIO). The Social Security Act, as set forth in Part B of Title XI - Section 1862(g), established the Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review Organization Program, now known as the Quality Improvement Organizations Program. The statutory mission of the QIO Program is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. As such, this project will assist the Physician Quality Reporting System and eRx Incentive Program on operational items. As part of the harmonization process within CMS, the Contractor shall be familiar with the Lean Single Piece Flow (SPF) system in conjunction with scrum/agile when retooling and updating measures. Single Piece Flow refers to the Lean concept of moving one work piece (a measure or small group of measures) at a time through the development cycle rather than process an entire batch of measures before moving it to the next operation. Scrum/agile refers to a Lean methodology that is an iterative and incremental development framework for managing software projects and product or application development. This procurement is a competitive 8(a) set-aside, under NAICS code 541618, "Other Management Consulting Services," with a size standard of $14 million. The SBA has assigned number 0373/13/302170/01 for tracking purposes of this contract requirement. It is anticipated that CMS will award a one (1) year cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with four (4) option years. This synopsis is in reference to the pending solicitation, RFP-CMS-2013-8a-0032, "PQRS Management Support." This announcement is not a request for proposal (RFP). The Solicitation package will be available on or about 15 calendar days after this notice, and the due date of receipt proposals will be at least 30 calendar days from the RFP issue date. The solicitation will be available on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. Contract award is anticipated on or before September 15, 2013. It will be the offeror's responsibility to frequently check the FedbizOpps site where the solicitation is to be posted for any amendments/changes to the RFP issue, and closing date. Questions related to this synopsis should be referred to Michael Crow, at michael.crow@cms.hhs.gov. Contractors must be free of conflicts of interest and/or prepare an 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. The Government is not obligated to, nor committed to, award any contract as a result of this notice. Hard copies or CD ROMs will not be available. Telephone and fax requests will not be honored. Source selection procedures will be used with the intent to award a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to the responsible Offeror whose proposal, conforming to the Request for Proposal (RFP), is the most advantageous and offers the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered.