Att_I_-_Pre-proposal_Network_Form - HSAG.docx

This is a Pre-Proposal Network Opportunities Form submitted by Health Services Advisory Group, Inc. (HSAG) in response to RFP 26-87847 issued by the State of Indiana Department of Administration on behalf of the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning. The RFP seeks an External Quality Review Organization (EQRO) to evaluate quality, timeliness, and access to healthcare services across Indiana's four Medicaid managed care programs: Hoosier Healthwise, Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Care Connect, and Indiana PathWays for Aging Program. The scope includes mandatory EQR activities—performance measure validation, performance improvement project validation, MCO compliance reviews, and network adequacy validation—plus seven optional EQR activities. Key deliverables include MCO-specific and summary report cards, findings reports with recommendations, data workbooks, quarterly reports, monthly activity/status reports, and an annual technical report due to FSSA by March 1 and to CMS by April 30. The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for July 30, 2026, in Indianapolis (in-person and virtual), with written questions due August 5, 2026, and responses posted by August 12. Proposals are due August 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET, with evaluation beginning September 1, potential oral presentations on September 7, and award recommendation targeted for September 22. The contract term is four years from execution with two optional one-year renewal periods available for a potential six-year total.

The cost proposal is scored on a 30-point scale using a normalization formula favoring the lowest cost, with all costs captured in a four-year bid amount including position titles and hourly billable rates. The contractor must be NCQA-certified for HEDIS and CAHPS activities and employ NCQA-certified HEDIS Compliance Auditors. Evaluation criteria total 90 points maximum (91 with bonus): 50 points for management assessment and quality and 30 points for cost. An Indiana Veteran Owned Small Business (IVOSB) subcontractor goal of 3 percent of total bid amount is scored up to 6 points, and an additional 5 points are available for Indiana businesses qualifying under the Buy Indiana Initiative. The contractor must demonstrate experience serving dual-eligible and Managed Long-Term Services and Supports populations and comply with HIPAA under a Business Associate Agreement, Indiana IT security policies, and data residency requirements in U.S. data centers with encryption, role-based access, and SOC 2 audits. Liquidated damages of $1,000 per day apply for late or incomplete deliverables with a 10 percent payment withhold pending quarterly performance verification. All respondents must complete the Indiana Economic Impact Form and cannot have had a state contract terminated for failure to perform within the last two calendar years.