SEER-Medicare linked database

This is an 8(a) Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified 8(a) sources; and (2) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered an 8(a) under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. Background: CMS is seeking to identify companies with demonstrated capabilities for potential award of a contract for programming support for the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database. The SEER program is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which contracts with 14 cancer registries to report uniform data on all incident cancer cases in their reporting areas. The program covers about 25% of the U.S. population. Since 1991 CMS and NCI have matched SEER data to Medicare enrollment files. For cancer patients who are Medicare beneficiaries, their Medicare claims have been extracted on an individual basis to create a database for the study of cancer care among Medicare beneficiaries. The linked database provides a large population-based source of information for cancer related epidemiologic and health services research. The project requires the matching of SEER identifiers to a master file of Medicare enrollment records to determine which persons appearing in the SEER data are entitled to Medicare. For persons found to be Medicare-entitled, their Medicare claims and enrollment data are extracted and appended to their SEER record. Currently, there are more than 6 million records in the SEER program, approximately 3.3 million of which have been matched to Medicare enrollment records. In addition to SEER cases, a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries residing in SEER areas is made part of the database. Cancer-free individuals serve as a comparison group for various analyses. Since 1999, CMS has contracted for programming services for the update and maintenance of the SEER-Medicare linked database, with funding support from NCI. The contractor has received identifiers from the SEER registries; linked these identifiers to Medicare enrollment records; extracted Medicare claims for matched cases; and provided other programming support to CMS and NCI for studies of cancer care in the elderly and disabled populations. The statement of work for the proposed procurement follows on previous statements of work for the provision of programming services for SEER-Medicare. The next update of the SEER-Medicare linkage will begin within 4-8 weeks after the time of contract award and will include SEER cases diagnosed in 2006-2007. It is anticipated that additional updates will occur every two years. For existing linked cases, the contractor will extract additional Medicare administrative records as they become available, usually annually. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this effort is to provide programming support for the SEER-Medicare linked database. The primary tasks will involve the linkage and maintenance of the SEER-Medicare linked database. Other tasks will include extraction of Medicare claims data for Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) sample members, and construction of analytic files and other programming support for joint CMS- NCI studies of cancer care. Currently, programming support for SEER-Medicare is provided under a CMS contract with CHD Research Associates/Fu Associates. Project Requirements CMS requests responses from 8(a) firms to demonstrate the experience and/or the ability to provide experience or knowledge of the following: 1. Medicare Enrollment Data 2. Medicare Claims Data 3. Hospital Cost Reports, Provider of Service Files, Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) data, Unique Physician Identification Number (UPIN) directory files and Medicaid data 4. SEER Records 5. Linking Medicare Data to other data bases and/or cross-referencing Health Insurance Claim (HIC) numbers and Beneficiary Identification Code (BIC) equating 6. Work with large databases and the ability to divide such databases into small samples 7. Current or past access to the CMS Data Center for the purpose of extracting files 8. Handling and protecting sensitive CMS Privacy-protected data 9. Encrypted data files using programs such as Programming Language One (PL/1) and/or CMS file Anticipated Period of Performance: It is also anticipated that the award will be issued as a base and four (4) one-year options with a total of 5 years. Capability Statement /Information Sought CMS also requests responses from 8(a) firms to the following business information: a. DUNS: b. Company Name c. Company Address d. Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) As validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). (Must be registered in the CCR located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp). e. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this Sources Sought f. Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. g. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address h. Point of Contact, Phone and Email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses. Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements should also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Information Submission Instructions: 1. E-mail responses addressing the above specific requests to the following two addresses: antoinette.coleman@cms.hhs.gov and evelyn.dixon@cms.hhs.gov. All responses are due by 12:00 PM local time Baltimore, MD June 1, 2009. Please be advised that email transmitted files over 5 megabytes are not delivered during standard working hours, are only released from the CMS server after 5:00 PM EST, and may affect the timeliness of your response. 2. In this regard please limit your electronic document to the following Page Size, Font Type and Size, Spacing and Page Numbering - Preference for Microsoft Word (or PDF) document with page size 8.5 by 11 inches. Font shall be Times New Roman Size 12 with no less than single spacing between lines. The maximum number of pages for submission is 10 pages. Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and is no to be construed as a commitment by the Government. On behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, we thank you for your interest.