R -- CONSULTING SERVICES FOR REVIEW OF ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION DEEMING APPLICATIONS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to award on a sole source basis, under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13 (Dollar Threshold of $100,000) a firm-fixed price purchase order to Molly Crawshaw, 13 Talana Cirlce, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909-7412 for ?Consulting Services to assist CMS with ?Review of Accrediting Organization Deeming Applications.? Under the authority of FAR 6.301-1 10 U.S.C. 2304 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirement. The Center for Medicaid and State Operations is responsible for reviewing deeming authority applications from accrediting organizations, and determining whether CMS will approve or deny such applications. Section 1865(b)(1) of the Social Security Act provides that, if a provider entity demonstrates through accreditation by an approved national accrediting organization that all applicable Medicare conditions are met or exceeded, CMS will deem those provider entities as having met the requirements. If an accrediting organization is recognized by the Secretary as having standards for accreditation that meet or exceed Medicare requirements, a provider entity accredited by the national accrediting body?s approved program may be deemed to meet the Medicare conditions. A national accreditation organization applying for approval of deeming authority under part 488, subpart A must provide us with reasonable assurance that the accreditation organization requires the accredited provider entities to meet requirements that are at least as stringent as the Medicare conditions. The regulations concerning approval and re-approval of accrediting organizations are set forth at section ?488.4 and ?488.8(d)(3). The regulations at section 488.8(d)(3) require accreditation organizations to reapply for continued approval of deeming authority every six years or sooner as we determine. The purpose of this acquisition is to secure the advice and services of a recognized and respected expert in the field of hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAHs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). This individual will provide technical consultation, conduct comprehensive reviews of accrediting organization deeming applications, participate in corporate site visits and survey observations, provide written summaries of review findings, and participate in teleconferences with the project officer and other deeming application review team meetings. Specifically, this individual will be expected to:? Review, analyze and provide written comments on documents related to accrediting organization applications and re-applications for deeming authority. ? Participate in teleconferences with the project officer and other review team meetings. ? Conduct corporate site visits and survey observations in collaboration with Central Office personnel. ? Develop correspondence communicating review team findings to the accrediting organization. ? Develop final notice for publication regarding decision to approve or deny application. Ms. Molly Crawshaw holds unique qualifications for this job. She has extensive experience in survey and certification activities of hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers. She has served in a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibility over the past 23 years in the CMS Dallas Regional Office, Division of Survey and Certification. She possesses detailed knowledge of the operations and certification responsibilities of State Survey Agencies, and the Medicare regulations and survey processes for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers. She possesses in depth working knowledge of regulations, the State Operations Manual, and provider/supplier certification and enforcement issues. Ms. Crawshaw has worked with central and regional Offices, State Survey Agencies, and accrediting organizations to bring a number of high profile provider and supplier termination cases to successful conclusion. While on detail to central office, Ms. Crawshaw supervised and conducted a review on the Joint Commission's first deeming application for psychiatric hospitals. Ms. Crawshaw possesses a unique combination of education, talents, and work experience, that make her uniquely qualified to do this job. Her consultation is critical to reaching our goal of completing the comprehensive review of accrediting organization's initial and renewal applications for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers within the 210 day statutory timeframe. Ms. Crawshaw's expertise and extensive experience is an invaluable asset to our work. All responsible sources may submit capability statements in consideration to the Agency at the above address and must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) System. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Program Officer shall make the determination of what would constitute equivalent expertise. The anticipated award date is January 2, 2008 through September 30, 2008. NAICS CODE is 541990.