SOURCES SOUGHT
Q -- Federal Monitoring and Oversight in Long Term Care Facilities
- Notice Date
- 5/10/2002
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration, Acquisition and Grants Group, 7500 Security Blvd. C2-21-15, Central Building, Baltimore, MD, 21244-1850
- ZIP Code
- 21244-1850
- Solicitation Number
- CMS-02-001-ybc
- Response Due
- 5/24/2002
- Archive Date
- 6/8/2002
- Point of Contact
- Yolanda Charon, Contract Specialist, Phone 410-786-7801, Fax 410-786-9922, - Tom Snyder, Contracting Officer, Phone 410-786-0185, Fax 410-786-9922,
- E-Mail Address
-
ycharon@cms.hhs.gov, TSynder@cms.hhs.gov
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking to strengthen Federal oversight and monitoring across the 16,800+ nursing homes that currently exist in the country while taking aggressive action steps to protect individuals who live in nursing homes through the use of comparative surveys, complaint investigations and special surveys of compliance. The potential contractor should have evidence to support his or her expertise, history and ability to engage and supervise a pool of highly skilled, qualified and trained professionals to conduct national certification and quality assurance reviews of long-term care facilities. In 1987, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act created the legislative basis for conducting Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS). Sections 1819(g)(3) and 1919(g)(3) of the Social Security Act require the Secretary to conduct Federal onsite surveys in at least five percent of a representative sample of skilled nursing facilities and in a representative sample of nursing homes in each State. CMS intends to assemble a national team of federal surveyors who shall be available on both a scheduled and as-needed basis to: (1) conduct federal Comparative surveys within two weeks to 30 days of a State survey to assess survey agency performance in the interpretation, application and enforcement of federal requirements and conduct follow-up visits (with CO/RO discretion) and (2) respond/react in a timely manner to crisis situations that endanger the health, safety or welfare of residents in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities. It is planned that the first six months of contract year one to be a start up period that includes hiring employees, training, establishing protocols and other programmatic activities. This contract will include the option to renew for four successive 12-month periods depending on the preliminary findings. When the contract is in full operation, it is anticipated that approximately 4 scheduled surveys shall run simultaneously per week for a total of approximately 170 surveys per year with possible incremental increases depending on the findings. It is also anticipated that approximately sixty percent (60%) of the facilities surveyed will require follow-up reviews to ensure compliance with plans of correction. Approximately 10 of the surveys shall be special investigations that include complaints, observational or monitoring reviews and shall be conducted during the course of the Contract year. It is also anticipated that the Contract survey Team shall be readily available to respond to approximately 5 crisis assignments during the course of operational the Contract year. The potential contractor will assist CMS in the development of training materials, policies, procedures and other materials needed by the FMS for Nursing Homes Team Leader. Some of the tasks the contractor selected will be expected to perform include: Ensuring the immediate availability of qualified trained health professionals required to conduct the federal survey process on a national basis (registered nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, dietitians, speech/occupational/physical therapists); Maintaining the skills and competencies of Team members to ensure consistent application of the Long Term Care requirements; Coordinating survey findings and post-survey reports and materials to CMS's Central and Regional Offices in a timely fashion; providing Regional Offices with all information necessary for enforcement action an serving as expert witness where necessary; Assuming the responsibility of the logistics of scheduling surveys, developing and analyzing data systems, scheduling teleconferences, arranging travel plans and other related activities; Providing a Quality Assurance system to ensure consistency and accuracy across surveyors and surveys conducted throughout the country; Developing training materials and policies and procedures and other materials as needed by the FMS for Nursing Homes Team Leader. Key Personnel Requirements The Project Manager must hold professional experience and education comparable to the masters level in health sciences, health policy or human services; have at least ten years of progressive management experience in a multi-tasked environment, have previous experience in working with or in a government regulatory environment, knowledge of the long term care survey and certification process, and currently engage, or be able to engage (through full or part-time employment or subcontract) within 45 days of the contract award, a pool of highly skilled, qualified and trained professionals in the field of long term care who are approved by CMS to conduct Federal comparative surveys and follow-up visits, complaint or special investigations or monitoring reviews and who can be deployed to crisis situations affecting the residents of long term care facilities. The potential must have a demonstrated history of and possess the knowledge, skills and abilities, to conduct these surveys, investigations, respond to crisis situations affecting residents of long term care facilities in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, guidelines, the State Operations' Manual (SOM) and protocols established by the Federal government for the conduct of such operations. This pool of qualified professionals shall consist of individuals who hold at least a bachelor's degree in the fields of nutrition, nursing, pharmacology, social work, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physical therapy or a closely related field. Each team is required to have at least one registered nurse and it is anticipated that each team will consist of four surveyors. The potential contractor shall conduct criminal background checks on all Contract personnel and shall provide CMS with assurances that personnel have no history of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of people in health care settings. Conflict of Interest The potential must assure that no conflict of interest exists with any of the contractor or subcontractors'/employees' public or private business enterprises or related activities. This synopsis is for information purposes only, does not constitute an RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information you provide will be evaluated to identify capable potential sources. Your response should be limited to 20 pages or less and must document your background, experience and capability to perform this effort. Your organization must respond by May 24, 2002. Respondents will be included on any mailing list for any RFP that may result from this notice. The Government will not pay for any information solicited. Organizations must specify a name and telephone number of a point of contact and indicate their size status under North American Industry Classification Code 923120, see FAR 19.102. Please state whether your organization is a large business, small business, or an 8(a) firm. Please be advised, that if an RFP is issued the Government reserves the right to award to a small business or an 8(a) set-aside organization depending upon the respondents. Interested prospective sources should submit appropriate documentation on their capability and qualifications to perform this effort to CMS, Attn: Yolanda Charon, Contract Specialist, C2-21-15, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244.
- Record
- SN00075041-W 20020512/020510213110 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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