MIDS_TO_0003_Ques_and_Resp.xlsx
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- Measure and Instrument Development and Support (MIDS) Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- 75FCMC18R0019
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MIDS Kidney Disease Quality Measure Development, Maintenance, and Support Task Order 0003 Questions and Responses
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Sheet1 Measure and Instrument Development and Support (MIDS)
| Subject: Task Order 0003 | |||
| Question # | Document, Section, Page Number | Question/Comment | CMS Response |
| 1 | Attachment J-11A, Chapters 4 and 8 | Deliverables 4-14 require the contractor to deliver SAS Packs. Will these be required for all measures developed and maintained under this contract, or limited to a subset of measures (e.g. those in ESRD QIP and/or DFC)? | SAS Packs will be delivered for a subset of quality measures identified IAW COR direction. Generally, complex risk-adjusted outcome measures will require a SAS pack. Some measures, such as the SFR (NQF# 2977) are not outcome measures, but are sufficiently complex that a SAS Pack may be warranted. |
| 2 | Attachment J-11A, Chapters 4 and 8 | Deliverables 4-14 require the contractor to deliver SAS Packs. Should SAS Packs be limited to implementing measure numerator and denominator algorithms, or do SAS Packs need to include intermediate processing steps, such as the processing of raw CMS data into patient-year summary files? | SAS, or Code Packs, should be limited to the implementation of the measure calculation algorithm. Other efforts at CMS to address the processing of raw CMS data into patient-year summary files are being considered (and are referenced in the SoW), but will not be accomplished through the Code Pack. |
| 3 | J.11-A, Chapter 4, pages 5-8 | Please confirm that acute kidney injury measures would only pertain to screening, diagnosis, and treatment – not prevention. | Acute Kidney Injury Measures could potentially extend into prevention, depending on appropriateness to the setting and attribution. For example, a measure development project might determine that a prevention measure may be appropriately applied at the nephrologist level for the treatment of pre-renal failure CKD patients. |
| 4 | J.11-A, Chapter 4, pages 5-8 | Please confirm that acute kidney injury measures will only be applicable to dialysis facilities, clinicians, and clinician groups – not hospitals, nursing homes, or managed care plans, for example. | At present, the scope of the contract does not extend beyond dialysis facilities, clinicians, clinician groups, and integrated care organizations. |
| 5 | J.11-A, Chapter 4, pages 5-8 | Will interim or final Measure Packages (Deliverable #4-13 in the current RFP) be available for all quality measures (current or under development) noted in the RFP, with each including an Information Gathering Reports, Measure Information Form, Measure Justification Form, Expert Input Report, TEP Summary Evaluation, and Code Pack (if each item exists)? | Measure Packages will be developed for each quality measure developed or maintained under the SoW. Existing measure documentation and reports will be available to the contractor in the form of prior deliverables submitted to CMS. |
| 6 | TO 0003 SoW, Chapter 2, page 3 | The document indicates that the contractor will submit 2-3 abstracts. Is the deliverable only for abstracts or also for 2-3 eventual peer-reviewed manuscripts? | To clarify, the deliverable is the development of 2-3 manuscripts to be submitted for peer-reviewed publication. |
| 7 | TO 0003 SoW, IAW Section 4.1.1, page 5 | Indicates quality measures should be relevant to chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Prior texts focuses on ESRD and CKD. Are ESRD, CKD, and acute kidney injury all in scope | ESRD, CKD, and AKI are all in scope for the project. |
| 8 | Attachment J.11-A SOW TO 0003, Section 2.F, p. 4 | What is the estimated or average level of effort, in hours, for each ad hoc request? | Offeror's shall propose a level of effort for this and provide their reasoning for the proposed level of effort. |
| 9 | J11-A, SOW, pg 3, Sec. 2.A. 2-3 Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts; SOD pg. 1, Deliverable 2-6. | On page 3 of the SOW it states 2-3 peer-reviewed manuscripts, while in the SOD Deliverable# 2-6 states 2 to 3 abstracts each contract year. Is the deliverable the 2 to 3 abstracts, or the manuscripts submitted for peer review based on the 2-3 abstracts? | To clarify, the deliverable is the development of 2-3 manuscripts to be submitted for peer-reviewed publication. |
| 10 | J-11-A, section 2.A. page 4 | "The Contractor shall determine in consultation with the COR what specific elements of the MMS Blueprint applicable to the TO and described in the following Chapters are appropriate for the measure development cycle for each measure project. The required elements of the MMS Blueprint for each project shall be reflected in the Final Project" - The sentence is not clear, please clarify. | Not all elements of the measure development process should be used in the development of all quality measures. eCQMs, for example, may have additional steps that are not appropriate for a process measure based on CROWNWeb data. This sentence reflects that the Contractor and the COR will discuss and agree on what elements are appropriate for a given measure development project, and this will be reflected in the final product. |
| 11 | Attachment J.11-B SOD TO 0003, p. 1-2 and Attachment J.1 IDIQ SOW, Chapter 2.D.2, p. 9 | Deliverable 2-2, the Final PMP, is due within 15 calendar days after TO award. Deliverable 2-3 is due within the first 15 calendar days following TO award. However, Chapter 2.D.2 of the IDIQ SOW states that the contractor will work with CMS personnel to develop the PMP. Would CMS consider changing the Due Date for Deliverable 2-2 to be the earlier of "within 15 calendar days after TO award" or "within 5 calendar days after the Kick-Off Meeting"? | The request for the change to Deliverable 2-2 is reasonable, and CMS agrees to the change. |
| 12 | J.11.C4, Past Performance, page, 9 | For the non-CPARS/PPIRS references, please confirm that only the listed information is required and that no Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) are required. | Confirmed. |
| 13 | Attachment J.11-C, E.4, p. 7 | Can the Project Director role be split between: |
- one person with decades of experience in clinical care and research related to kidney disease in the Medicare and non-Medicare populations and
| - another person who has significant project experience related to kidney disease, dialysis, quality measures, and Medicare claims data and payment policy, but without 10 years of experience? | The Project Director role may be split as the offeror deems appropriate for the proposed technical approach and project management plan. CMS will assess the proposal in its totality, but in a situation where a split such as is described here, the proposal should make clear the rationale for the split and its appropriateness to the task order. | ||
| 14 | Attachment J.11-C, E.4 & E.8, p. 8 & 12 | Which, if any, of the following resumes are NOT included in the 35-page limit for the Appendix? |
-Key personnel (prime) -Essential/named personnel (prime) -Key personnel (subcontractor)
| -Essential/Named personnel (subcontractor)? | All resumes submitted must be included in the Appendix. The Appendix page limit has been expanded to 75 pages. | |||
| 15 | Attachment J.11-C, E.5, p. 8-9 | Is the number of contracts in the list format (described on pages 8-9) limited to six (6) for the prime Offerer and three (3) for each significant contractor, OR does this limit apply only to references? | The list is inclusive. | |
| 16 | J11-C, Instructions, Section E, p12 | The instructions for Task 0003 indicate the VPAT should be completed for all relevant sections. Which sections of the task are relevant to this requirement and for which specific products would the VPAT need to be completed? | Offeror shall determine how to complete the VPAT. | |
| 17 | Attachment J.11-C, F, p. 12 | Would CMS consider removing or extending the one hundred (100) pages limit for Volume II-Business Proposal to ensure that all administrative documentation requested in Section F (especially Subsections 3, 10-14) for both the contractor and subcontractors can be included? If not, would CMS consider allowing those documents to be included as attachments to Volume II-Business Proposal that are not counted toward the page limit? | The page restriction has been removed. | |
| 18 | Attachment J.11-C, TO 0003, Section F.3, Business Proposal Instructions - Subcontracts and Consultants - page 14 | Proposed subcontractors are required to submit a complete cost proposal in the same format as the offeror's cost proposal. Does this include all items (1-14) listed on pages 12-15, or only the budget and required supporting documentation? | All items. | |
| 19 | Attachment J.11-C, TO 0003, Section F.14, Business Proposal Instructions - page 15 | The solicitation requires the last three years indirect cost rate history for the prime and all proposed subcontractors. Please confirm that a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) will fulfill this requirement. | If the NICRA covers the last three years, yes. | |
| 20 | Attachment J.11-C, TO 0003, Section F.14, Business Proposal Instructions - page 12 | The solicitation requires the last three years indirect cost rate history for the prime and all proposed subcontractors. Can CMS please confirm that if a subcontractor does not have a current NICRA, a firm fixed price subcontract would be required, and negate the requirement for subcontractors to provide this information? | If the subcontractor does not have a current NICRA or an approved rate letter, the Prime Offeror may establish a firm fixed price subcontract arrangement with the subcontractor. The indirect cost requirement would no longer apply to the subcontractor. | |
| 21 | Attachment J.11-C, TO 0003, Section F.3, Business Proposal Instructions - Subcontracts and Consultants - page 13 | The solicitation requires submission of the subcontract agreement. Given that subcontracts are not executed until after award, would CMS allow a sample agreement and details regarding the proposed SOW, subcontract type, and subcontract price per subcontractor? | A sample agreement along with a letter of commitment is acceptable. | |
| 22 | Attachment J.11-C, TO 0003, Section F.6, Business Proposal Instructions - G&A/Indirect Costs - page 14 | The solicitation states "Offerors must also provide a detailed breakdown separately for the Prime Offeror and Subcontractors if the proposed prime or sub does not have a current indirect cost rate agreement." Can CMS please clarify the difference between this requirement and the separate detailed breakdown of indirect cost rate calculations already required? Kindly confirm that this is required only of the partner without the current NICRA, and not for all parties bid on the Task Order. | The breakdown is only required once. If a prime or subcontractor do not have a current NICRA, then they must provide a detailed breakdown for the Prime Offeror and Subcontractors separately. If a NICRA is in place, the Prime and/or subcontractor(s) must provide a copy of the most recent indirect cost rate agreement/approved rate letter and shall state the rate being used and how the cost is calculated. | |
| 23 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section F.3, p. 13 | Until MIDS IDIQ contracts and a Task Orders are awarded to a contractor, a subcontract agreement may not exist. Will CMS accept Teaming Agreement documents or excerpts from Teaming Agreements that would cover the requirements for the Subcontracts and Consultants section of the Business Proposal? | Teaming Agreement documents will be accepted but the information required in Section F.3 is still required. | |
| 24 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section F.6, p. 14 | If a Contractor has Overhead separate from G&A in their indirect rate structure/tier, should the Contractor include the Overhead rate and related calculations in the same section as the G&A rate and related calculations? | Offeror shall submit information that makes sense for their specific accounting structure. | |
| 25 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section F.7, p. 14 | Leave is a factor of our company's Fringe benefits indirect cost pool. In this case, does CMS want to see the Fringe rate and related costs/calculations, which would include Leave? | Yes. | |
| 26 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section F.14, p. 15 | If the contractor is awarded a Cost Type TO, is it required that subcontractors also invoice the prime as a Cost Type contractor, or may subcontractors have a T&M type contract? | The Prime must submit a cost plus fixed fee proposal but the Prime may have any pricing arrangement with a subcontractor the Prime deems appropriate. | |
| 27 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section F.14, p. 15 | Understanding a history of indirect labor rates is not something most companies are willing to share with teammates, will CMS accept sealed bids directly from subcontractors to provide the last three years' of indirect cost rate history? If yes, are their any special instructions or details CMS wants included with the sealed bid submissions to link them to their prime contractor/team counterparts? | Yes. If a subcontractor submits a proposal in a separate e-mail, the e-mail must clearly identify the prime Offeror. | |
| 28 | Attachment J.11-C TO 0003, Section E.6, Past Performance, p. 10 | Regarding the language: A joint venture having no past performance history itself may provide references based on the constituent companies. In addition, Offerors having no organizational past performance record may provide references for proposed “key personnel.” Does the statement "Offerors having no organizational past performance record may provide references for proposed “key personnel" suggest offerors, regardless of JV status, have the option to provide references for proposed "key personnel" in lieu of, or in addition to past performance contracts to show relevant experience in the past performance section? If the answer is yes, how will the key personnel experience be graded in comparison to past performance contracts (will it hold the same weight in terms of evaluation when compared to past performance contracts at a company level)? | ||
| This language has been removed. | ||||
| 29 | J11-C, Instructions, Section F, Business Proposal Instructions, pg 14-15 | Is Leave a required category in the SUMMARY ROLLUP OF ALL COSTS table if paid time off is already included under a separate category (i.e. Fringes) on the SUMMARY ROLLUP OF ALL COSTS table in our institution's cost rate agreement? | Offerors shall complete the Summary Rollup of All Costs as appropriate for their particular accounting structure. | |
| 30 | J11-C, Instructions, Section D, Proposal Submission, p 2 | Since proposal submission is electronic, will CMS confirm receipt of the proposal? If so, how and when will CMS confirm receipt? | The same day proposal is received, Offeror will receive an e-mail confirmation that the proposal has been received. | |
| 31 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.1, p. 12-13 | "Adequate documentation to support the rates proposed must accompany the cost proposal(s)." What does CMS deem "adequate documentation"? Does this include listing of offeror's current average labor rates? Does it include proof via indices for each proposed rate? If copies of indices are needed, are these included in the page count for this Business Proposal Volume? | Offeror shall determine what is adequate keeping in mind that the Government needs to be able to evaluate costs to determine reasonableness. | |
| 32 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.2, p. 13 | "Position titles and salaries should correlate with www.salary.com or other identified source." This does not seem to be applicable to fringe costs. Can CMS explain what is needed or remove this reference? | If that is not applicable, then do not submit. | |
| 33 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.2, p. 13 | "Please provide the fringe benefit calculations applicable to the TO on a separate excel spreadsheet for the prime and all subs that do not have a current indirect cost rate agreement." By separate spreadsheet, does CMS mean separate tab with the larger business proposal spreadsheet workbook? Or a separate Excel workbook? | Prime Offeror costs should be included on one spreadsheet and subcontractor cost breakdown should be included on a separate spreadsheet. | |
| 34 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.2, p. 13 | "Please provide the fringe benefit calculations applicable to the TO on a separate excel spreadsheet for the prime and all subs that do not have a current indirect cost rate agreement." By "fringe benefit calculations", does CMS mean "fringe rate multiplied by direct labor" to arrive at total fringe cost for TO 0001? Or does CMS mean show historical and/or other data and calculations used by offeror to arrive at fringe rate? | Both | |
| 35 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.2, p. 13 | "Please provide the fringe benefit calculations applicable to the TO on a separate excel spreadsheet for the prime and all subs that do not have a current indirect cost rate agreement. Provide a detailed breakdown separately for the Prime Offeror and Subcontractors as well as one overall summary table of items and cost." Please confirm that this level of detail is only needed if a current indirect cost agreement does not exist. | Confirmed. | |
| 36 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.6, p. 14 | "Please provide the G&A/Indirect Costs calculations applicable to the TO on a separate excel spreadsheet." By separate spreadsheet, does CMS mean separate tab with the larger business proposal spreadsheet workbook? Or a separate Excel workbook? | Prime Offeror costs should be included on one spreadsheet and subcontractor cost breakdown should be included on a separate spreadsheet. | |
| 37 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.6, p. 14 | "Please provide the G&A/Indirect Costs calculations applicable to the TO on a separate excel spreadsheet." By "G&/Indirect Costs calculations", does CMS mean "[rate] multiplied by [direct labor + fringe]" to arrive at total indirect cost for TO 0001? Or does CMS mean show historical and/or other data and calculations used by offeror to arrive at G&A/Indirect rates? | Both | |
| 38 | Attachment J.11-C, Section F.7, p. 14 | The explanation for "Leave" appears to be copied from the G&A/Indirect Costs above (F.6). Can CMS please provide the definition for Leave. | Offerors shall submit information as it pertains to their specific accounting structure. |
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