15BFA024R00000009-Questions and Answers.pdf

Healthcare Delivery Services

15BFA024R00000009

1. Can we obtain the demographics of the current reentrants, such as age, gender, health conditions, etc.?

➢ Demographics can be found on www.bop.gov for each facility. The top DRG’s and prescriptions has already been provided with this solicitation. No further demographics is available.

2. Will our company be providing the electronic medical records system in order to keep track of the reentrants' medical information, or is there a system that the BOP already uses?

➢ Your company would be responsible for requesting medical records from the providers and forwarding to the BOP electronically.

3. Will the company that is granted the contract get a list of current providers for continuity of care for the current reentrants, such as primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacies, etc.?

➢ No, the current network is made up of thousands of providers nationwide and is too large to compile. The BOP does not have a master list of these providers. The incumbent contractor controls this list.

4. Can we get a list of the current medication costs that the BOP pays, as it was redacted on the information that was provided in the emergency listing for Naphcare's approval?

➢ The attachment with the top 100 prescriptions and DRG’s has been provided. We cannot provide what the BOP is currently paying. You can find the award notice for the incumbent contract on sam.gov.

5. We would also like to know what the current turnover rate for reentrants to be released is, or how long, on average, will we need to provide medical services for the reentrants?

➢ Services are currently provided for a date range of months to up to 20 years.

6. Can you please provide the previous claim reports for the last 2 years?

➢ An attachment is provided with the solicitation with the top DRG's and prescriptions. Individual claim reports are not available.

7. Can you please provide me with information on what the medical, dental, and vision plans/services look like at this time? Do these individuals have medical insurance? Do they see local contracted providers? Do the individuals who are veterans go to the VA? Do some individuals utilize

Medicare/Medicaid?

➢ The AIC's use a medical network established by the current comprehensive medical contractor.

This network is not based on insurance. AIC's on home confinement can sign up for medicare and medicaid but are not required to by the BOP.

8. Attachment 6, Schedule of Services—

a. Please provide the incumbent rates.

➢ Public information concerning the incumbent is available at www.sam.gov.

9. 1.0 Scope, PWS: p. 1 http://www.bop.gov/

a. Please confirm that compassionate release patients are not housed in the Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs)?

➢ Compassionate release AIC’s are not released to RRC’s.

b. Please provide AIC census data to include gender, date of birth and zip code.

➢ Some Information are available https://www.bop.gov.

c. Please provide confirmation that dependents are not to be covered by offerors under this RFP.

➢ Only AIC’s are covered under this RFP.

d. Please clarify whether care would be the responsibility of the Bureau or Workers Compensation/the Employers Insurance, should an AIC be injured on the job.

➢ Workers Compensation is available and approved, the AIC would fall under that insurance.

10. 1.0.1, Attachments/Links, PWS: p. 1

a. Please provide a list of all RRC Facilities in an unlocked excel format, to include the Facility name, address and telephone number. This is needed to map a directory of network providers and pharmacies within 200-miles of the RRC locations.

➢ A link to this information is available in the PWS.

https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.js p

11. Attachment 6, Schedule of Services & Attachment 7, Evaluation Criteria—Based on available data from Sam.gov it appears the Bureau is paying 190% of the fully loaded Medicare rate for hospital inpatient facility services to the incumbent under the current contract. The Pricing Sheet available in the RFP requests a fully loaded rate. However, the requirements in Attachment 7, appear to request a benchmark Medicare rate.

a. Please confirm whether the rates under the incumbent contract are fully loaded or a benchmark Medicare rate?

➢ The public pricing information is available on www.sam.gov.

b. Please advise if the RFP requirement is to provide a fully loaded or Benchmark Medicare rate?

➢ The offeror can offer a discount or premium to the Medicare rate.

c. Please confirm this requirement will be the standard for all bidders.

➢ All proposals will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria in the solicitation.

https://www.bop.gov/ https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp

12. 2.0.7, Objective #7, PWS, p. 20— This provision states “Contractor shall provide a method of identification for AICs to present to the pharmacy for their prescriptions. This identification shall include sufficient information to identify the AIC as the patient.”

a. Please advise how that Contractor shall provide a method of identification for AIC’s that do not have a government issued Identification?

➢ The BOP does not provide direction on what method of identification to use.

Please refer to Objective 3 in the PWS.

13. 2.0.4, Prompt Payment Terms, PWS: p 17— This item states “In accordance with FAR 12.213, the Contractor shall implement commercial practices for health care payers in the surrounding community for prompt payment of all health care providers performing services under this contract. Such prompt payment terms shall be a material part of all subcontracts/agreements awarded by the Contractor. The Contract shall ensure that all health care providers acknowledge the following notice upon award of a subcontract/agreement for performance under this contract”.

a. To ensure offeror compliance with the prompt payment requirement to healthcare providers, please confirm the RFP payment terms.

➢ The payments are made in accordance with the Prompt Payment Guidelines as detailed in the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

14. 6.0, AICs Who Release from BOP Custody, PWS: p 23— This item states “Offerors are advised that the BOP retains responsibility only for AICs in the custody of the BOP. The BOP’s responsibilities including fiscal responsibilities, end with the individual’s release from custody. Once released from custody, the former AIC will become personally liable for any further medical treatment received”.

a. Please clarify how and when the Contractor will be notified of the release of an AIC from

BOP Custody as timely notification would prevent unauthorized use of medical benefits post-release.

➢ Pre-certification for medical care goes through the BOP. The pre-certification would be forwarded from the BOP to the contractor. Please refer to Objective 2 in the PWS.

15. 1.0.4 Medical Care Levels, PWS: p. 5 — This item states “AICs in the community will be classified in one of the BOP’s defined medical care levels. Medical care levels are administrative classifications which are based on a four-level scale. Care Level I represents the healthiest while Care Level IV represents individuals with serious health issues. Criteria for categorizing a AIC in the care level categories are included in Attachment 002. The RRMB AIC population ranges in care level. The contractor will be responsible to provide medical services within all care levels.”

a. Please confirm whether the AIC population is mainly, considered Care Level I & II patients?

➢ As stated in the PWS, RRMB AIC population ranges in care level from I to care level IV.

b. Please provide a breakout of all enrollees by care level in this program over the last 2 years.

➢ Care levels are not tracked after the AIC’s release from an institution to RRMB.

16. 2.0.4, Claims and Invoice Submittal, PWS: p 13

a. Please provide 2 full years of detailed paid claims data in an unlocked excel format from the Bureau’s or the incumbent’s system (to include high claimants) in a detailed claims- paid report.

➢ The information requested is not public information.

17. Attachment 3, BOP Claims Data—

a. Please confirm whether the Medication List provided in Attachment 2 is fully comprehensive or a limited list

➢ Attachment 2 does not contain a Medication List. Attachment 3 contains the top prescriptions filled by AIC’s. Attachment 3 will be updated.

18. 1.0.1, Attachment/Links

a. Please provide the BOP’s Pharmacy Exclusion list applicable to this program if such a list exists.

➢ The PWS contains a link to the BOP’s Formulary List.

b. Please advise the applicable approval process when a provider prescribes a medication not on the BOP formulary.

➢ The awarded contractor will have responsibility to ensure their providers comply with the BOP formulary. Exceptions will be approved by the BOP on a case by case basis through the BOP approval process.

19. Is there a Stop Loss policy currently in place? If so at what levels?

➢ This information is not released by the contractor to the BOP.

20. Attachment 9, Special Contract Conditions, Performance, p. 1— This item states “The periods of performance of the resulting contract shall be as follows: Base Year: Effective Date of Award (EDOA) through 12 months from EDOA. Option Year 1. Option Year 2. Option to Extend Services as authorized by FAR 52.217-8”. In addition, the Commodity or Services Schedule identifies the period of performance for Option Period 2 as concluding at 36 months (See Section 1, p. 5).

a. Please confirm the contract term is for a period of one (1) base year plus + four (4), twelve-month option periods.

➢ Attachment 9 of the solicitation will be amended to reflect a base year plus (2) twelve-month option periods.

21. Reference 52.237-7(e), pg. 15 of 63— This provision requires, in part, the Contractor’s insurance policies contain an endorsement “to the effect that any cancellation or material change adversely affecting the Government's interest shall not be effective until 30 days after the insurer or the Contractor gives written notice to the Contracting Officer.” Some insurers and insurance brokers are unable to provide the quested endorsement.

a. Consider modifying this provision to allow the Contractor to provide the Contracting

Officer with thirty (30) day written notice of policy cancellation or material change by adding the following sentence: “In lieu of forgoing endorsement, the Contractor agrees to provide the Contracting Officer thirty (30) day written notice of policy cancellation or a material change affecting the Government’s interest and to provide evidence of the substitute policy conforming to this provision to the Contracting Office within thirty (30) days of the foregoing notice.”

➢ The solicitation provision remains unchanged.

22. Attachment 6, Schedule of Services – Please provide the patient utilization count for calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, by RRC/RRMB locality:

a. Pricing Category 1 – Inpatient, per category listed, Number of Days admitted.

b. Pricing Category 2 – Outpatient, per category listed, Number of Appointments incurred.

i. Please provide a listing of DME’s by type and quantity.

ii. Please provide Dialysis category by type, hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis.

c. Pricing Category 3 and 4 – Pharmaceuticals, per unit.

d. Pricing Category 5 – Dental and Optometry Services, per Number of Appointments incurred.

e. Pricing Category 6 – Out of Network, per specialty type or Provider name, Number of

Appointments incurred.

f. Pricing Category 7 – Medical Supplies, by type and unit.

g. Pricing Category 8 and 9 – Prescription Eyeglasses, per unit.

h. Pricing Category 10 – Extended Stay Per Diem, per Number of Days admitted.

i. Pricing Category 11 – Billing services, number of claims processed.

➢ Attachment 6 of the solicitation will be amended to provide estimated quantities for the pricing categories that are tracked.

23. Attachment 6, Schedule of Services – Please provide the annual spend in billed charges and/or Medicare fee schedule rates for calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, by RRC/RRMB locality:

a. Pricing Category 1 – Inpatient

b. Pricing Category 2 – Outpatient

c. Pricing Category 3 and 4 – Pharmaceuticals

d. Pricing Category 5 – Dental and Optometry Services

e. Pricing Category 6 – Out of Network

f. Pricing Category 7 – Medical Supplies

g. Pricing Category 8 and 9 – Prescription Eyeglasses

h. Pricing Category 10 – Extended Stay Per Diem

i. Pricing Category 11 – Billing services

➢ The BOP does not track overall costs for pricing categories.

24. Attachment 004, Section: Contractor Background Clearances –

a. Please advise of the cost for the specified background clearance of Contractor personnel and which party is responsible for bearing such costs.

➢ Please refer to DOJ-03 clause.

b. Please advise how long each background clearance remains acceptable under the

DOJ/BOP background clearance requirements (e.g. Is this an annual or a one-time requirement)?

➢ The DOJ/background is good for five years.

25. Please provide the ADP per RRC facility, for calendar years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

➢ The BOP tracks total beds available for each RRC facility. This information is available via a link in the PWS.

26. Please identify any new RRC facilities the BOP intends to establish during the performance period of this contract.

➢ The BOP has an estimated 40 solicitations for RRC/DRC.

27. Please provide the designated Care Level for each RRC facility.

➢ RRC facilities do not have designated care levels.

28. Section 2.0.8, Objective #8: Payor Only, pg. 20 – Please confirm the claims paid via IGA contracts will be paid to Provider and reimbursed to Contractor within the Pricing Schedule of Services of the contract.

a. Please advise if the IGA referral authorizations process and interface through the R3M system?

➢ The IGA facilities do not have access to R3M. These authorizations are completed using a paper process or are entered retrospectively by the BOP.

29. Attachment 7, Section 3.0 Factor 3: Price, pg. 5 – Please provide the Independent Government

Estimate (IGE) amounts and IGE rates for each category, that will be utilized for this pricing evaluation.

➢ This information is not designated for public release.

30. SF 1449 Block 8 establishes 3/15/2024 14:00 ET as the due date for submission of proposals.

Please modify this date as appropriate to provide prospective offers with no less than 14 calendar days after BOP publishes responses to all timely bidders’ questions for submission of proposals.

➢ SF 1449 will be amended to extend the proposal's due date until March 29, 2024.

Multiple Questions Involving Solicitation Attachments 5, 7, and 8

31. Objective #2 requires a comprehensive and diverse provider network within a 200-mile radius of each RRC. Is there a mileage restriction applicable to an AIC housed in an RRC location and a mileage restriction applicable to AICs on home confinement? Are there specific travel restrictions for AICs housed in the RRCs?

➢ The PWS states services should be available in all areas within 200 miles of the RRC location the AIC is assigned to. The AIC’s on home confinements mileage radius will be based off of their assigned RRC. Please refer to Objective 2.0.2 – Network Access.

32. Attachment #7 states the BOP will only evaluate the appropriate size of a network of diverse providers and does not state how or if proximity and specialties will be evaluated. Please further address the evaluation criteria as it relates to a provider network.

➢ The offeror must provide demonstrated approach to providing an appropriate mix of resources to deliver quality medical care to the AICs in the community while mitigating the Government’s cost and security risks, as measured by the following subfactors:

• Sub-Factor 1 – Communication Plan

• Sub-Factor 2 – Network Providers

• Sub-Factor 3 – Manage Care Approach

• Sub-Factor 4 – Pharmacy Benefits Management

• Sub-Factor 5 – Enhancements

33. Please provide specific details regarding the format the BOP requires for the listing of providers/facilities. What data elements are required and how will those elements be evaluated? Is diversity of specialties more important that mile radius?

➢ The listing should be in an unlocked excel format. Some relevant information would be the name of the provider and the distance from the RRC. More information is provided in Attachment 8 – Submission of Proposals, Subfactor 2.

Solicitation Attachment 4, IT Requirements

34. It is our understanding that DJAR-PGD-15-03 Security of Department Information and Systems is no longer current for BOP contracts. Rather, DOJ-02 Contractor Privacy Requirements, DOJ-03 Personnel Security Requirements for Contractor Employees and DOJ-05 Security of Department Information and Systems are. Please clarify if DJAR-PGD-15-3 is applicable or if only the DOJ clauses are.

➢ DJAR-PGD-15-03 is an old clause and subsequently designated as DOJ-05.

35. How will the BOP evaluate proposals where no ATO has been applied for or where the ATO is in the process of being approved?

➢ ATO is not part of the evaluation criteria but will be addressed after the award.

Solicitation Attachment 5, Performance Work Statement (PWS)

36. Section 1.0.3, Background, Page 5. Can the BOP provide the process for notifying the contractor when an AIC is enrolled in Medicare or has private insurance and the contractor will be the secondary payor?

➢ The request submitted by BOP personnel to the contractor would have a description that states “payor only” and would have the bill/invoice attached.

37. Section 1.0.3, Background, Page 5. The online listing of RRCs appears to be missing many RRCs and includes some that are no longer in service. May we have an updated list?

➢ The online listing of the RRC's nationwide contracts will be updated.

38. Section 1.0.4, Medical Care Levels, Page 5. Can the BOP provide historical data regarding the number of AICs in each Care Level that were assigned to an RRC or home confinement during the past two (2) fiscal years?

➢ The BOP does not have this information available.

39. Section 2.0.2, Objective #2, Pages 6 and 9. The objective references the services included in

Attachment 001. If the BOP requires an offeror to provide the services listed in Attachment 001, what pricing category is an offeror to use for the following services?

• Autopsy Services

• Medically Necessary Non-Emergency Transportation

• Organ Transplants

• Hearing Aids

➢ Attachment 5 will be amended.

40. Section 2.0.2. Objective 2, page 11. What is the expected call volume to the 24/7 Nurse Line?

What is the process for the RRC to ensure the AIC’s access the Nurse Line appropriately and that recommended treatment is sought?

➢ As this is a new requirement for the BOP, we are unsure of the call volume. The requirement is to provide a nurse line 24/7, 365 days a year in accordance with the PWS.

41. Section 2.0.4, Objective 4, Page 15. To clarify, will the contract require the contractor to invoice the lesser amount of a medical provider’s billed charge amount or the amount per the contract terms for an episode of care?

➢ Attachment 5 will be amended to reflect the invoice submittal procedures in accordance with Attachment 6 - Schedule of Items.

42. Section 2.0.8, Objective #8, Page 20. Are the medical services provided prior to the initiation of this contract included in scenario 1(a) with reimbursement based on the terms of Pricing Category 11?

➢ The applicable reimbursement rate will be based on the date the BOP submits the payor only invoice to the contractor.

Solicitation Attachment 6, Schedule of Services

43. Can the BOP please provide the estimated quantities for each category of service?

➢ An amendment will be issued to add an attachment titled “Estimated Quantities.” In the solicitation, you can also refer to Attachment 3 – BOP Claims Data.

44. Should there be a separate Schedule of Services for each performance period and the six-month extension?

➢ The six-month extension is in CLIN 4.

45. Will the BOP consider adding a pricing line item for the required nurse line? Either at a monthly cost or cost per call.

➢ No, a separate pricing line will not be added.

46. The BOP is requesting Medicare based pricing for Pricing Categories 1 and 2. Please provide the applicable Medicare fee schedule for each listed service in Pricing Categories 1 and 2 since Medicare has a separate fee schedule for each of those services.

➢ Fee schedules will be based on the Medicare rates in the geographical location of where the services were performed with a discount or premium, as noted in the Schedule of Services.

47. Please clarify if the Medicare methodology is based on the CBSA and/or Payment Locality for the location of the provider.

➢ Yes, the Medicare methodology is based on the CBSA and/or Payment Locality for the location of the provider.

48. Regarding Pricing Category 11, the BOP is only requesting a price per claim processed. Please explain how the contractor will invoice the BOP for the medical care rendered to an IGA AIC while making a good faith effort to negotiate the best possible rate as required on page 20 of the PWS. How will good faith efforts to negotiate be evaluated?

➢ This will be part of contract administration and will be discussed in the kick-off meeting with the winning offeror. The price per claim will be the only evaluation criteria in Pricing Category 11.

49. Please clarify that the Optometry services in Pricing Category 5 is for services not covered by

Medicare.

➢ Yes, this is for services that are not covered by Medicare.

50. Regarding Pricing Category 6, it appears there should be two (2) lines for Out of Network Services, i.e. one based on a proposed Medicare rate and/or one based on actual billed charges.

➢ Out of Network (OON) ___ Discount or + ____ Premium Medicare

Out of Network (OON) ___ Actual Billed Charges by Medical Provider

Attachment 6 will be amended to add the additional line.

51. It is recommended that all services that are priced based on a provider’s actual billed charges (or negotiated lesser amount) be combined into one (1) pricing category. (dental, optometry, supplies). Please explain how pricing for this category will be evaluated, since billed charges varies across all providers.

➢ The BOP will not combine these pricing categories into one pricing category.

Evaluation will not be based on actual charges. The evaluation is based on the discount or premium percentage.

52. Can the BOP provide a sample computation for each service covered by Medicare Part A to show how the benchmark Medicare rate will be established?

➢ The BOP is not able to provide these computations. Each computation will be different based on the zip code of services and the discount or premium to Medicare Part A. More information can be found under Attachment 7 – Evaluation Criteria.

Solicitation Attachment 7, Evaluation Criteria

53. Section 1.0, Technical, Pages 3-4. What is the ranking and order of importance for:

a. The 5 technical sub-factors

b. The 7 past performance sub-factors

c. The 11 pricing categories

➢ Attachment 7 of the solicitation will be amended to reflect “The technical criteria and past performance will receive equal consideration. Offerors will be notified that should the proposals be considered approximately the same or equal under the non-price factors, price could be paramount in the selection decision. “

54. Section 3.0 Factor 3, Price, Page 7. What estimated quantities is the BOP referring to that will be used to determine the lowest price for Price Categories 8-11?

➢ An amendment will be issued to add an attachment for the estimated quantities.

55. Section 3.0 Factor 3, Price, Non-Medicare Payment Methodology, Page 8. Outpatient Dialysis is included in the paragraph explaining Non-Medicare Payment Methodology. Should Outpatient Dialysis services be removed from Pricing Category 2 in the Schedule of Services and included separately as a price per treatment?

➢ Outpatient Dialysis will be removed from the evaluation criteria. We will be amending the solicitation..

56. Risk Assessment, Page 8. What factors will the BOP use in the conduct of a proposal risk assessment?

➢ Proposal risk considers if any aspect of the proposed Technical solution could pose potential adverse impacts on price, schedule or performance of the effort.

A separate proposal risk assessment and rating may be applied to all evaluation criteria.

Solicitation Attachment 8, Submission and Evaluation of Proposals

57. Instructions for Preparation of Technical Proposal, Sub-Factor 2 – Network Providers, Page 2 of

5. Is the BOP requiring the accreditation status of every proposed facility to include hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, rehabilitation facilities, psychiatric facilities, long-term care facilities, and skilled nursing facilities?

➢ Attachment 8 will be amended to remove the requirement of accreditation.

58. Instructions for Preparation of Technical Proposal, Sub-Factor 4 – Pharmacy Benefit

Management, Page 3 of 5. The PWS requires a network of pharmacies in close proximity to an RRC. Attachment 8 to the solicitation requires a pharmacy management plan to include a list of all network providers/facilities within a 200-mile radius of each RRC location. Please clarify how the list of all network providers/facilities is to be submitted. How will the pharmacy network be evaluated?

➢ The list of all network providers/facilities shall be submitted in an unlocked excel format. The excel listing should be sorted by RRC location with the network providers/facilities listed under or next to the RRC location. Any other information submitted is at the discretion of the offeror. We will be amending the solicitation.

59. Instructions for Preparation of Business Proposal, Page 4 of 5. In order to submit a completed subcontracting plan, can the BOP provide the estimated value of the contract?

➢ The subcontracting plan will be removed from the solicitation, but at the of the source selection, if applicable, the apparent awardee will be requested to complete the subcontracting plan. We will be amending the solicitation.

Solicitation Attachment 9, Special Contract Conditions

60. Type of Contract, Page 1 of 4. Was the following sentence included in error? “The resulting contract will include four 12-month option periods for renewal at the unilateral discretion of the Government.”

➢ We will be amending the solicitation to reflect “The resulting contract will include two 12-month option periods for renewal at the unilateral discretion of the Government.”