R -- Community-Based Enrollment Campaign in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and Extra Help Applications

THIS IS AN INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE. IT IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) intends to negotiate with National Association for Area Agencies on Aging (N4A), 1730 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20035 for Community-Based Enrollment Campaign in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and Extra Help Applications. The basis for restricting competition is the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-1 because only one source is available to provide the service in a manner that will satisfy agency requirements. The period of performance is estimated to be 12 months from date of award with no option periods. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain services to provide community-based organizations (CBOs) support to assist people with limited incomes and resources and on Medicare to apply for the subsidy available through the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and to enroll in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). Specifically, the Agency will be procuring an agreement for a nine-month period with The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) to mobilize a Medicare grassroots effort through their membership of 655 area agencies on aging and 238 Native American Tribes and their local provider networks to assist people with Medicare apply for the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) and utilize preventive benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries. If the Government does not provide flexible, user friendly, optimal access to applications and enrollment for persons with LIS: (1) it will not meet the legislative intent nor mandate under PL 108-173 and (2) persons with LIS will not have access to the help they need with prescription drug costs subsidy. As learned through the initial Part D Enrollment period, people with limited incomes have gone to their local CBO to obtain assistance for federal and state programs. The CBOs located within the n4a national infrastructure will enhance the ability of CMS and SSA to meet their Congressional mandate of enrolling people with LISR and in the prescription drug coverage. These agencies are the local, trusted source of information for older people and their caregivers. Through the N4A mobilization of their network, the work of the community-based organizations as they are approached by the LIA population and their caregivers will be consistent with the CMS, SSA and congressional messages. The Government knows only of one capable source, The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A).The N4A has an existing, nationwide infrastructure that allows the organization to reach Medicare beneficiaries at the grassroots level efficiently through its membership of 655 area agencies on aging and 238 Native American Tribes. Through their area plans and their planning and service areas, area agencies on aging reach the entire geographic area of the country. The N4A shall collaborate with a broad-based network of national and local partners that were created during the successful initial MMA open-enrollment period to meet the goals of the current contract. The following tasks shall be performed: 1) Screening for persons with low income and limited resources and completing and submitting applications for extra help with their prescription drug costs, potential eligibility for Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and inform beneficiaries of the appropriate combination of federal and state programs for which they may apply to maximize coverage. 2) Linking to the SSA web site to assist persons with LIS applications and provide e-forms and/or on-line enrollment. 3) Screen and facilitate application for other key federal and state benefits for which people with Medicare may be eligible. 4) Providing consistent messages on the Medicare preventive health services. Any source capable of performing the work should submit a statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the Government's requirement as articulated above. Any other potential source will need to demonstrate and address in their capability statement: 1) Direct relationship with the established nationwide infrastructure of area agencies on aging and their service provider contractors; 2) Direct relationship with the Title VI Native American Aging Programs; 3) Experience and proven success in partnering with other national organizations and their local programs; 4) Established communications tools such as list serves and web programs to provide instant communications across the nation to area agencies on aging; 5) In-depth knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid and the Low-income subsidy; 6) Experience in helping area agencies on aging and their service provider contractors improve their capacity to better serve and represent older persons and persons with disabilities through information, education, training, and technical assistance; 7) Experience in facilitating cooperative relationships among the aging services provider network, other public agencies, and private sector organizations to develop an accessible and comprehensive long term care system; and 8) Capacity to quickly identify and provide support to local community organizations to provide one-on-one personalized assistance to hard to reach Medicare beneficiaries from low-density rural areas to high density urban areas and minority and limited English speaking populations. Any capability statement would have to successfully demonstrate that the source possesses ALL of the above capabilities to be considered a likely alternate source. Capability statements should be submitted by 10 a.m. Eastern Time on May 21, 2007 to the point of contact listed in this announcement. A determination by the Government to compete or not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.