Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, Attn: Joseph Tanzi, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 21207-0696

R -- MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SSA'S EXPANDED VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION REFERRAL AND PAYMENT PROGRAM REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROVIDERS SOL SSA-RFP-97-2635 DUE 062796 POC Joseph Tanzi Tel: (410) 965-9470 MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SSA'S EXPANDED VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION REFERRAL AND PAYMENT PROGRAM REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROVIDERS--The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue a solicitation to acquire management and referral services related to the implementation of the March 1994 regulatory changes in SSA's vocational rehabilitation (VR) Referral and Payment Program. These regulatory changes gave SSA the authority to refer Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries and blind or disabled supplemental security income (SSI) recipients to an Alternate Participant contractor if a State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency has not accepted the SSA-referred individual for services. Alternate Participants are any approved public or private VR service provider other than the designated State VR agency that have been awarded a contract by SSA. Alternate Participants are contracted under a separate acquisition to provide more opportunities for beneficiaries/recipients to receive the services they need to find employment and reduce or eliminate benefit dependency. Accordingly, SSA plans to issue Solicitation No. SSA-RFP-97-2635 for the acquisition of outside management support services under a demonstration contract with the goal of expanding the base of service providers and determining the best method of managing the referral and payment process for alternate participants. The proposed contract will be for a period of one year plus 2 one- year options that may be exercised unilaterally by SSA. Management support services for the VR referral and payment program will be required throughout the United States. The proposed contractor will act on the Agency's behalf as a manager of the VR referral and payment program between SSA's beneficiaries/recipients and the Alternate Participant contractors. During the period of the demonstration contract, the proposed contractor would be required to: Market the VR Payment Program to potential Alternate Participant contractors who are ready to provide services and assist them in entering into contractual arrangements with SSA; Conduct orientation/training for new Alternate Participant contractors; Implement and manage a secure, automated system that will include the database developed by SSA to re-refer beneficiaries not accepted by the State VR agencies to appropriate Alternate Participant contractors for consideration; Add additional beneficiaries and Alternate Participants to the data base; Establish and staff an 800 telephone number to disseminate information about SSA's VR payment program and SSA's work incentive provisions; Develop and implement procedures to monitor and review Alternate Participant claims for determination and payment by SSA; Develop and maintain a computerized data management information system to collect and provide program data to SSA along with fiscal and administrative reports for management information; and, Develop and conduct customer surveys to monitor Alternate Participant contractors and beneficiary satisfaction and develop procedures to address issues involving dissatisfaction. The solicitation is scheduled for release on or about July 1, 1996 with proposals due 45 days after the solicitation issuance date. All requests for the solicitation must be in writing (Fax No. 410-966-5982). Proposals from all responsible sources will be considered. (0159)

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