R -- Health Benefits Package

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to issue a solicitation to procure the services of one or more contractors interested in designing and recommending the best health benefit plan(s) for various SSA demonstration projects. SSA is conducting demonstrations to address broad needs of beneficiaries with disabilities and to assess potential innovations to help those who want to work to do so. The purpose of the Health Benefits Packages project is to support and enhance other SSA demonstration projects by designing health benefits plans for SSA disability applicants and beneficiaries so that chronic conditions and health can improve and increase the possibility of work. The demonstration projects are intended to provide SSA with data to establish or demonstrate the feasibility of new methods or new types of services regarding SSA disability programs. The Health Benefits Packages project will consist of providing assistance to SSA demonstration contractors to provide health benefits as needed. The Health Benefits Packages contractor(s) will provide expert services associated with Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, Medicaid, the private health insurance sector, and related programs. These services will include performing tasks pertaining to the short-term provision of health benefits by SSA demonstration contractors. The particular focus of medical benefits will be improving the health of beneficiaries with disabilities, such that it increases their likelihood of returning to work. SSA anticipates awarding one or more cost reimbursement type, indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery contracts, each with a base year and four (4) 1-year options, if exercised. The acquisition will be conducted using Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541990 with a size standard of $6 million. Potential contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award of any contract. This is an unrestricted requirement and proposals from all responsible sources will be considered by the Agency. Solicitation number SSA-RFP-06-1013 is scheduled for release on/about October 12, 2005 with responses due 30 calendar days after date of issuance unless otherwise extended. The solicitation and any amendments and/or related documents will be available to interested parties through electronic media for downloading via the internet at the Federal Procurement website at www.fedbizopps.gov. Requests for hard copies will not be honored. Potential offerors shall be responsible for monitoring the internet site for release of the solicitation, amendments (if any), and responses to any questions submitted in accordance with the solicitation provision. Interested parties must respond to the solicitation in order to be considered for award of any resultant contract. All questions must be submitted in writing via email to noreen.pleines@ssa.gov. No phone calls please. Additional information is provided in the attachment to this notice. The - Interested Vendors Module (IVL) in FedBizOpps will/has been enabled for this solicitation. Vendors are encouraged to register their interest in this solicitation. The use of IVL will: 1) provide you with automatic notice of solicitation amendments; 2) provide your contact information to the contract specialist; and 3) enable the contract specialist to publish a listing of the interested vendors through FedBizOpps to facilitate vendor collaboration for subcontracting opportunities, etc. No other listing of interested vendors will be created or be available for release.