Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Building, Room 13A-19, Rockville, MD 20857

D -- TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PRACTITIONER DATA BANK SOL 240-BHPr-MS01 DUE 030295 POC Contact Point, Mike Suess, (301)443-2730 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of the telecommunications industry. In addition, HRSA is requesting limited price estimates in order to establish a fair market price. All information submitted is for information purposes only and will not be disclosed to any parties outside of HRSA. The applicable SIC code is 7379. This market survey is in support of the HRSA's National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The operation and telecommunications service is currently being provided by two separate contractors. The NPDB is a repository of data on practitioners who have had a malpractice payment or an adverse action filed against them. Health care entities engaged in credentialling and privileging of practitioners are required to interact with the NPDB. In accordance with the law enacted by the Health Care Improvement Act of 1986, as amended, these health care entities are required to query the NPDB as part of the credentitalling and privileging of practitioners. Since September 1992, the NPDB has allowed entities to query the NPDB electronically. Instead of using paper Request for Information Disclosure Form, entities have the option of using a software product called QPRAC. QPRAC is distributed to all eligible entities. As part of QPRAC, entities have been able to communicate their queries to NPDB using a contractor-provided secure store-and-forward capability service. This contractor has granted a license to the Government to incorporate their file transfer package seamlessly into the QPRAC software. In July 1994, the NPDB expanded the telecommunications service to include electronic response. The majority of the query activity is now being handled electronically. One of the major goals of the NPDB is to have a 100% electronic system. There are now 7,000 entities that have QPRAC and the accounts unique to the contractor. By the end of 1995, the system will have to be flexible enough to allow 12,000 entities the capability to interact with the NPDB electronically. For the successful implementation of electronic interaction, the NPDB requires the following: (1) contractor provided software that can be imbedded seamlessly into the Government-provided package that is limited exclusively to file transfers to and from a secure store-and-forward facility; (2) data communication speeds that include, but are not limited to 1200, 2400, 9600, and 14400 bps; (3) electronic return receipt for users; (4) capability to establish and update users on an ad hoc basis with a time delay not to exceed one hour; (5) return undeliverable electronic mail to the sender; (6) hold unopened e-mail for a period of time that can be established by a settable parameter for any time between 5 and 60 days; (7) return unopened mail after the established holding time; (8) ability to provide a 24 hour per day service; (9) provide service by which 95% of our users can connect incurring no more than the cost of a local call; (10) ensure that users on average will not experience a busy signal more frequently that 1 call out of 100; (11) security to all Government data held in its store-and-forward service, there shall be at least three levels of log-on access; (12) service to ensure that computer viruses cannot be passed to or through the Government's file transfers; (13) a separate area to be used for the Government or its designated contractors' testing change to its querying and reporting software. Information submitted in response to this market survey should include a brief capability statement and, based on the information provided, a domestic public dail-in hourly rate and the estimated costs for software development or alterations. These services and rates should be based on the following: (1) 12,000 users; (2) 100,000 requests for information per year; (3) 100,000 responses per year; (4) 100,000 return receipts; (5) 25,000 reports per year; (6) 25,000 verifications of reports per year; (7) 1500 hours of connect time per month; (8) 1000 entities will be 7 days late retrieving messages every month; (9) average request for information is 5000 characters; (10) average response is 15,000 characters. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this annoucement. A brief capability statement (3-4 pages) and price information. The rate or price information does not require supporting documentation. All information will be held in strict confidence and will be forwarded only to a limited number of HRSA and NPDB personnel. Responses are requested on or before March 2, 1995. Responses may be faxed to (301) 443-6038 or mailed. (0044)

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