36C77619Q0184-001.docx

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Office: The Office of Community Care (OCC), Revenue Operations (RO)

Subject: The above Agency and Office is conducting market research for the purse of identifying potentially capable providers of services represented by this notice:

Response Date /Time: 20 August 2019 / 10:00 A.M. EST

Original Proposed Set-Aside:

Classification Code: 70 – General Purpose ADPE, Software, Supplies

NAICS Code: 541519 – Other Computer Related Services

Synopsis: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This is a Request for Information (RFI) Sources Sought Notice issued in accordance with FAR 15.201(e) to conduct market research. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) – or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supplies or services whatsoever. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions become Government property and will NOT be returned.

NAICS Code: The VA has identified the appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541519, Other Computer Related Services, size standard 150 Employees for this requirement and RFI.

Requirement: Interested contractors shall provide the information requested along with a capability statement that meets the requirements outlined in Attachment 1: DRAFT – Performance Work Statement. The objective of this sources sought is to assist in our market research for potential suppliers to purchase Monthly Pharmacy Rates Database.

Objective: The objective is for RO-PRS Payer Relations and Services (PRS) to identify potential suppliers capable of providing a comprehensive drug price data that must include Average Wholesale price (AWP). The Pharmacy Database (Electronic Drug File) Software is to assist with the continued development of agreements with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other pharmacy agreements with third party payers (TPPs) to enforce compliance with federal regulation by comparing reimbursement rates established for commercial retail pharmacies with reimbursement rates established for VA. (See Attachment 1 for more information). The database software will provide nationwide data which will allow VA to determine if the rates pharmacy benefit managers or other third-party payers meet federal payment requirements.

Scope. Database should provide the industry’s most comprehensive drug price data, including:

· Average Wholesale Price (AWP)

· Wholesale Acquisition Price (WAC)

· Direct Price (DP)

· Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal Upper Limit (CMS FUL)

· Average Average-Wholesale Price (AAWP)

· Generic Equivalent Average Price (GEAP)

· Average WAC (AWAC)

· Generic Equivalent WAC (GEWAC)

· State Medicaid

RFI Responses: This RFI will ask questions in order to utilize the responses to determine a businesses’ technical ability and relativity to the government’s specific requirement and scope of work spelled out in the attached “draft” SOW. In response to this RFI, please provide answers to the following questions:

1. Does your company sell Pharmaceutical Database Software which will allow the VA to determine if the rates pharmacy benefit managers or other third-party payers meet federal payment requirements?

2. Is your company able to provide the items identified in the SOW?

Additional Questions: In addition to the above questions where responses are utilized to determine a businesses’ technical ability and relativity, the following questions are asked in order to utilize the responses to identify any potential small businesses with an emphasis on SDVOSBs and VOSBs within the open market place as encouraged by the VA. In response to this RFI, please provide answers to the following questions:

1. Who is your Company Point of Contact?

2. What is your Company’s Socio-Economic Status? Please include:

a. Size: Large or Small?

b. If you are Small: Associated Economic Categories such as SDVSOB, VOSB, WOSB, etc.?

c. Are you registered at www.SAM.gov ?

d. Are you verified as a SDVOSB or VOSB at www.Vetbiz.gov ?

e. What NAICS codes are associated with your business?

Response Date and Time: Please respond to this Sources Sought not later than 20 August 2019 at 10:00a.m. EST via email to John.Schiffhauer@va.gov.

The VHA, PCAC intends on awarding this contract pursuant to the authority of FAR 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items. It is anticipated that a single award, firm-fixed-price contract will be awarded in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 12 and 13.5.

DISCLAIMER: Responsible sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting a capability statement in accordance with the procedures state herein (see Attachment 1). This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the allotted due date after the date of publication of this synopsis, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 -DRAFT - PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

TITLE OF PROJECT: Pharmacy Database Software

1) Purpose The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Community Care (OCC), Revenue Operations (RO), Consolidated Patient Account Centers (CPAC), and Payer Relations and Services (PRS) is seeking Pharmacy Database (Electronic Drug File) Software to assist with the continued development of agreements with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other pharmacy agreements with third party payers (TPPs) to enforce compliance with federal regulation by comparing reimbursement rates established for commercial retail pharmacies with reimbursement rates established for VA.

2) Background 38 USC 1729 authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to seek reimbursement from third party payers for the cost of non-service-connected medical care furnished to insured Veterans. The money collected from TPPs help to offset the cost of delivering world-class health care services to our nation's Veterans, and is revenue anticipated in the President's budget.

The Veterans Health Administration Consolidated Patient Accounts Centers has developed a plan to address opportunities for improving revenue cycle business functions, identify new strategies to increase revenue and assist the field facilities in maximizing their revenue stream. Within this effort, CPAC will determine whether and how a PBMs meet federal payment requirements using contractor services to (1) review and document PBMs agreements, (2) provide data analysis and draft recommendations for CPAC to determine if PBMs agreements and rate proposals meet federal payment requirements, and (3) provide additional data analyses related to special projects within Payer Relations Office business objectives.

PRS is assuming management and development of outpatient pharmacy agreements with pharmacy benefit managers and other types of third-party payers and requires assistance in determining if agreements and rate proposals from PBMs and other third-party payers for outpatient pharmacy services meet federal payment requirements.

3) Performance Objectives The database software will provide data which will allow VA to determine if the rates pharmacy benefit managers or other third-party payers meet federal payment requirements.

4) Scope of Work Database should provide the industry’s most comprehensive drug price data, including:

· Average Wholesale Price (AWP)

· Wholesale Acquisition Price (WAC)

· Direct Price (DP)

· Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal Upper Limit (CMS FUL)

· Average Average-Wholesale Price (AAWP)

· Generic Equivalent Average Price (GEAP)

· Average WAC (AWAC)

· Generic Equivalent WAC (GEWAC)

· State Medicaid

5) Mandatory Tasks and Deliverables The database should be updated monthly with the most current electronic drug files and pricing. This will be downloaded and installed by VA staff via secure website. The Contractor shall provide the update within the contract performance period. If for any reason, any update cannot be delivered on time, the contractor shall provide a written explanation three days prior to the due date to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). This written transmittal shall include a firm commitment of when the file (per agreed upon file type) shall be updated. This transmittal to the COR shall cite reasons for the delay, and the impact on the overall project. The COR will review collaboratively with the program office facts and issue a response in accordance with the contract terms and conditions.

5.1 Schedules for Mandatory Deliverables.

Electronic file updates will be made available on a secure site for upload by VA on a monthly cycle.

Deliverables Table

Service Standards Customer Account Requests Completed Within 4 Business Hours of Receipt

· Web delivery set-up

· FTP delivery set-up

· Replacement product

· Evaluation data

· User name and password assistance

· W-9 documents

· Product-related questions where the Customer Support Representative

· has immediate access to the information needed

· Subscribe to newsletter

Customer Account Requests Completed Within 16 Business Hours of Receipt

· Invoice reprints

· Account/invoice research (breakdown of fees and other charges)

· Renewal letter copy request

· User fee survey copy request (metrics)

· Vendor registration (online)

· Order entry – general questions/changes

· Order entry – license agreements, amendments, metric updates, account changes

· Subscription modifications

6. Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be from the date of award for a base period of 12 Months plus 4 option periods.

There are ten (10) Federal holidays set by law (U.S.C. Title 5 Section 6103):

Under current definitions, four are set by date:

If any of the above falls on a Saturday, then Friday shall be observed as a holiday.

Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday shall be observed as a holiday.

The other six are set by a day of the week and month:

7) Place of Performance The Contractor shall support this effort at approved Contractor facilities or as directed by the COR and mutually agreed to by Contractor.

8) Travel - None

9) Type of Contract A Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Task Order/Contract will be issued for this effort.

10) Changes to the PWS Any changes to this PWS shall be authorized and approved only through written correspondence from the Contracting Officer. A copy of each change will be kept in a project folder along with all other products of the project. Costs incurred by the contractor through the actions of parties other than the Contracting Officer shall be borne by the contractor.

11) Government and Contractor Responsibilities

a. The PRS shall provide the contractor with copies of documents that the VA is required to provide.

b. The contractor shall request other VA documentation deemed pertinent to the work accomplishment directly from the COR. The contractor is expected to use common knowledge and resourcefulness in securing all other reference materials, standard industry publications, and related materials that are pertinent to the work.

c. The contractor shall maintain frequent communications with the PRS and the COR to conduct work in progress reviews.

12) Formal Acceptance or Rejection of Deliverables The VA shall have 15 business days to review each document and provide feedback and comments. The contractor shall have five business days to incorporate comments. A final review shall be conducted with the COR. Delivery of the post-final review document with incorporated comments from the final review meeting shall constitute acceptance by the VA with COR's written approval.

13) Quality Standards for Deliverables

14) PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS

14.1 GENERAL

Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security.

14.2 ACCESS TO VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEM

a. A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order.

b. All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program. The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures.

c. Contract personnel who require access to national security programs must have a valid security clearance. National Industrial Security Program (NISP) was established by Executive Order 12829 to ensure that cleared U.S. defense industry contract personnel safeguard the classified information in their possession while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not have a Memorandum of Agreement with Defense Security Service (DSS). Verification of a Security Clearance must be processed through the Special Security Officer located in the Planning and National Security Service within the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness.

d. Custom software development and outsourced operations must be located in the U.S. to the maximum extent possible. If such services are proposed to be performed abroad and are not disallowed by other VA policy or mandate, the contractor/subcontractor must state where all non-U.S. services are provided and detail a security plan, deemed to be acceptable by V.A., specifically to address mitigation of the resulting problems of communication, control, data protection, and so forth. Location within the U.S may be an evaluation factor.

END OF STATEMENT OF WORK

DISCLAIMER: The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. This RFI will be the basis for collecting information on products available. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purpose only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in this RFI that is marked “proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Again, responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.