Survey of Retail Prices, Payment and Utilization Rates; and, Performance Rankings

June 15, 2010 Solicitation Number: 101714 Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis: Introduction: This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is to determine the availability of potential small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) that can provide: Survey of Retail Prices, Payment and Utilization Rates; and, Performance Rankings The information from this market research will help the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan its acquisition strategy. Please be sure to indicate if you have a GSA schedule contract, a contract on GSA 8(a) STARS, or a contract on GSA VETS GWAC. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICE (CMS) DOES NOT INTEND TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. CMS WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. BACKGROUND In the past, IMS Government Solutions, a large business performed the subject effort for the Government. Section 1927(f) of the Social Security Act, as revised by Section 6001 of The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 addresses drug payment under the Medicaid program and establishes the requirement for: (1) a monthly national survey of retail community pharmacy prices of covered outpatient drugs, (2) the reporting by the States of certain payment and utilization rates, and (3) the requirement for the Secretary to comparatively rank, for the 50 most widely prescribed drugs, State drug payment rates compared to the national retail survey prices. The purpose of this project is to contract for the performance of a monthly nationwide survey of retail community pharmacy prescription drug prices and the generation of a publicly available pricing database. This database will afford State Medicaid agencies an array of covered outpatient drug prices from ingredient costs net of discounts and rebates paid by retail community pharmacies to those prices available to the consumer. The State agency can use this information to compare its own pricing methodologies and payments to those derived from this survey. Additionally, the contractor will obtain from the State Medicaid Agencies information on their prescription drug payment and utilization rates and the Contractor will prepare a comparative report ranking the performance of States' reimbursement prices to the retail prices collected in the survey. Response Information: In order to respond to this notice, contractors must be able to indicate experience and/or the ability to provide all of the number points below. Give enough detail so your response clearly indicates that you can provide the following: (1) Surveying and determining on a representative nationwide basis, retail prices for ingredient costs of prescription drugs; (2) Working with retail community pharmacies, commercial payers, and State in obtaining and disseminating such price information; and (3) Collecting and reporting such price information on at least a monthly basis. Please include the following in your response: Business Information a. DUNS b. Company Name c. Company Address d. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this Sources Sought e. Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so please identify the agency that approved the system. f. Type of Company (e.g., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). All offerors must register on the CCR located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp g. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address 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. Responses must be submitted not later than June 25, 2010. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for submission is 30 pages. This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any cost associated with providing information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, 7500 Security Blvd. C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD, 21244-1850, UNITED STATES Place of Performance: To Be Determined Primary Point of Contact: David Barbato, Contract Specialist david.barbato@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410- 786-5145 Fax: 410-786-9088 Secondary Point of Contact: Desiree Wheeler Contracting Officer desiree.wheeler@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410-786-2404 Fax: 410-786-9088 Point of Contact(s): David Barbato, Contract Specialist, Phone 410- 786-5145, Fax 410-786-9088, Email david.barbato@cms.hhs.gov - Desiree Wheeler, Contracting Officer, Phone 410-786-2404, Fax 410-786-9088, Email desiree.wheeler@cms.hhs.gov