Questions 4.5.6.pdf

Questions to Solicitation 15BCTS24R00000001

1. Can you please provide us with the number of MAT clients currently being provided services by State, noting how many are currently being seen in-office by location?

Response: During Quarter 1 (January – March) of 2024, 1,482 Adults in Custody (AICs) of the Federal Bureau of Prisons received Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services while in community placement nationwide.

The following table lists the states where MAT services were provided to AICs while in community placement as well as the number of AICs who participated in MAT services in those states during Quarter 1.

Please Note: The number of AICs listed received treatment from either the contracted Community Treatment Services (CTS) provider or the CTS TeleMAT provider in that state.

Information on those currently being seen in-office by location is not available; however, most AICs being provided MAT services are seen via telehealth with in-office services conducted as needed or required.

State AICs Provided

MAT

Alabama 25 Alaska 15 Arizona 30 Arkansas 2 California 119 Colorado 1 Connecticut 9 Delaware 3 Florida 59 Georgia 27 Hawaii 1 Idaho 26 Illinois 18 Indiana 36 Iowa 20 Kansas 21 Kentucky 35 Louisiana 13 Maine 12 Maryland 34

Massachusetts 8 Michigan 29 Minnesota 7 Mississippi 15 Missouri 40 Montana 18 Nebraska 25 Nevada 17 New Hampshire 16 New Jersey 9 New Mexico 55 New York 31 North Carolina 41 North Dakota 20 Ohio 34 Oklahoma 23 Oregon 24 Pennsylvania 56 Rhode Island 4 San Juan, PR 44 South Carolina 26 South Dakota 29 Tennessee 106 Texas 131 Utah 31 Virginia 25 Washington 36 Washington, DC 7 West Virginia 45 Wisconsin 18 Wyoming 6 Total 1482

The above number are based on information currently available and are subject to change.

2. Can you please provide us with the zip codes of clients on FLM that are being supervised [by] USPO so we can prepare should in-office services become State required?

Response: During Quarter 1 (January – March) of 2024, there were three AICs on FLM receiving MAT services. The AICs resided in the following zip codes: 20001; 62201; and 83724.

3. It appears the date of 4/24/2024 contained in Section 4-Solicitation Provisions, pg. 28 is a typo. Can you please confirm that the submission due date is 4/29/2024 as stated on the 1449?

Response: Yes, the solicitation closing date is 04/29/2024 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

4. Can you please provide pricing evaluation criteria?

Response: Pricing will be evaluated in accordance with Section 2.1 of the solicitation which states, “The Government will award the contract to the proposal that offers the best value to the Government. Technical and Past Performance when combined (Non-Price), are significantly more important than Price.” An offerors overall price for the Base Period, Option Years, and Potential Six-Month Extension will be evaluated to determine the best value to the Government.

5. What are the requirements under this contract should the COVID telemedicine regulations not be extended beyond December of 2024 (current expiration)?

Response: The standards for providing MAT in Community Treatment Services must adhere to federal regulations, statutes, and guidelines, which govern medication-assisted treatment for treating opioid addiction. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is aware that future federal and state laws, and other policies, may affect the prescribing and dispensing of medications for opioid use disorders. Thus, the solicitation requests that the Offeror provide evidence of their ability to conduct in-person sessions for MAT services if the standard of care or current law or regulations require information or treatment that is only obtainable in person.

(SOW 4.1.12)

6. Will the EFMS system be accessible to the medical providers or only to the Vendor supplying services under this contract?

Response: The Electronic File Management System (EFMS) will be accessible to the Vendor supplying services under this contract. Utilization of the EFMS will be addressed further after award.

7. Who is responsible for ensuring the quality and privacy of the telehealth space provided to the AIC at the RRCs, as it is our understanding that there may be certain regulations under federal and/or state laws.

Response: Written policy and procedures for the residents’ use of telehealth within the RRC is the responsibility of the RRC contractor.

8. Previous responses to questions following the Sources Sought request stated counseling services would not be required under this contract. However, Section 1.2 of the PWS state the Scope of Work includes cognitive behavioral counseling. Section 3.1 also states MAT services are to be provided in combination with counseling. Can you please clarify whether any type of counseling is required under this contract?

Response: Counseling services are NOT required under this contract. The mention of counseling services is only to describe that MAT involves both the use of medications and counseling. However, this contract will not be providing any counseling services.

9. The solicitation requests licensing and registration documentation for all providers throughout the nation. When offering a vast network with thousands of providers this request becomes extremely cumbersome, unnecessary, and would take months to prepare. Could the documentation be submitted upon award as typically required in the Bureau’s medical contracts?

Response: The Offeror must list at least ONE primary key personnel who is currently and shall, upon contract award, be able to meet all requirements to provide MAT services, whether by telehealth or in person, in the states Offeror identified. This information is evaluated based on the degree to which the Offeror meets the solicitation requirements and provides a benefit to the Government.

Secondarily, in Factor 2a, Offeror can propose additional MAT practitioners for any state. Information in Factor 2a is evaluated as meeting the minimum requirements. In other words, it not necessary to identify every MAT practitioner in the Offeror’s network, but those the Offeror proposes to meet the minimum requirements for the technical proposal.

For the technical proposal, the Offeror must provide licensing and registration documentation for all MAT practitioners identified in Factor 1a and any additional MAT practitioners listed in Factor in 2a. After the contract has been awarded, the Offeror (Contractor) may submit additional MAT practitioners, as needed, to work under the contract.

Note: It is acceptable to name the same practitioner as primary key personnel in Factor 1a for more than one state if the individual meets all requirements to provide MAT in those additional states.

10. The Solicitation requires that the DEA numbers of providers be supplied with the quote, would the government guarantee that the DEA numbers will not be made public? Our providers have this concern.

Response: According to FAR 3.104-4 Disclosure, protection, and marking of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information:

No person or other entity may disclose contractor bid or proposal information or source selection information to any person other than a person authorized, in accordance with applicable agency regulations or procedures, by the agency head or the contracting officer to receive such information.

11. We are seeking clarity on whether we can bid on this contract solely offering telehealth appointments or if we should apply as a subcontractor specifically for the telehealth component. The contract requirement states, "If the standard of care or current law or regulations require information or treatment that is only obtainable in person, the contractor must provide in-person MAT services. The contractor must also have the ability to administer MAT medication."

We would like to better understand the extent of the in-person requirement outlined in the contract. Could you please provide clarification on whether there are specific scenarios or circumstances where in-person services are mandated by the standard of care or regulatory requirements? Additionally, if there are instances where in-person care is necessary, we are open to discussing potential collaboration with the facility to ensure compliance with these requirements.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to receiving guidance regarding our eligibility to bid on this contract. Should you require any further information or clarification from our end, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for considering our inquiry, and we eagerly anticipate your response.

Response: The solicitation and contract require a contractor who has the capability to provide in-person MAT services, if, for example, the COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications were not extended or the standards for prescribing by telehealth were to require an in-person session. It is difficult to predict how the practice of telehealth for the prescribing of controlled substances will change in the future. To best prepare for this uncertainty, the contract will require an Offeror who has the capability, as well as resources, to provide MAT services in this everchanging landscape.

During the performance of this contract, an instance where in-person services may be required is if the Adult in Custody does not consent to a telehealth session or when information or treatment can only be obtained or conducted in person, such as the administration of MAT medications, e.g., administering injectable buprenorphine.

12. As we finalize our application, we notice the SOW lists several codes for medication that are not in the Standard Form for unit/total pricing. Can you please advise on if we should include the medication cost in the Standard Form 1449? Otherwise, can you please provide us with the details of how the bureau would otherwise provide medication via existing contracts for our providers to administer?

Response: Medication costs for Adults in Custody are covered in the community by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ comprehensive medical contract.

Additionally, can you clarify the patient counts you anticipate under the contract by medication (methadone v. a form of buprenorphine)?

Response: The following table lists the type and frequency of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribed during Quarter 1 (January – March) of 2024 for Adults in Custody (AICs) of the Federal Bureau of Prisons receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services while in community placement nationwide.

Please Note: The MOUD listed was either prescribed by the contracted Community Treatment Services (CTS) provider or the CTS TeleMAT provider in that state.

States Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine- Injection

Buprenorphine/ Naloxone

Naltrexone/ oral

Naltrexone/ Injection

Alabama 7 18

Alaska 15

Arizona 1 29 1

Arkansas 1 1

California 1 1 117 1

Colorado 1

Connecticut 9

Delaware 3

Florida 1 58 1

Georgia 2 24 1

Hawaii 1

Idaho 1 1 23 1

Illinois 18

Indiana 36

Iowa 20

Kansas 21

Kentucky 1 1 33

Louisiana 1 11 1

Maine 12

Maryland 12 22

Massachusetts 7 1

Michigan 1 28

Minnesota 6 1

Mississippi 15

Missouri 4 36 1

Montana 1 2 15

Nebraska 23 2

Nevada 17

New Hampshire 13 2 1

New Jersey 8 1

New Mexico 1 54 1

New York 6 4 21 1

North Carolina 22 24

North Dakota 19

Ohio 5 1 27 1

Oklahoma 2 19 2

Oregon 1 23

Pennsylvania 56

Rhode Island 4

San Juan, PR 44

South Carolina 25 1

South Dakota 1 25 2 1

Tennessee 3 100 3

Texas 4 2 124 2

Utah 27 4

Virginia 25

Washington 36

Washington, DC 1 6

West Virginia 1 44

Wisconsin 18

Wyoming 6

TOTALS 121 23 1319 28 2

Please note: The deadline for questions in reference to the solicitation is Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. EST.