DME RFR Responses to Bidder Questions042417.docx

RFR for a Preferred Supplier for the Provision of DME Incontinence Products (Issued March 31, 2017) COMMBUYS BID Number: Bid BD-17-1039-EHS01-EHS01-14628 RFR Document Number: 17CBEHSDMEINCONTINENCEPRODUCTSRFR Responses to Bidder Questions April 24, 2017

1. Will MassHealth accept claims and reimburse for incontinence products shipped through any suppliers not chosen as the Preferred Supplier from participating MassHealth Durable Medical Equipment providers?

RESPONSE: It will not be mandatory that MassHealth DME providers purchase covered products from the preferred supplier. However, EOHHS will incentivize the use of the preferred supplier by:

A. Reimbursing for all covered products claims submitted by MassHealth DME providers at a rate based on the price agreed to with designated preferred supplier.

B. Mandating that all covered products dispensed by MassHealth DME providers (including those obtained from other suppliers) meet the same quality standards that the preferred supplier is required to meet.

EOHHS intends to update its regulations and/or issue guidance to implement the above policies.

2. Will potential preferred suppliers be excluded from bidding if they have an interest that will potentially conflict with the performance of services required under this RFR, such as also acting as a MassHealth DME provider?

RESPONSE: As a part of the business response, bidders are required disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and propose how they would mitigate or eliminate those conflicts if they are awarded the contract. See Section III.C.4 of the RFR. MassHealth will evaluate potential conflicts of interest and proposed remediation strategies on a case-by-case basis.

3. Does EOHHS have a current supplier for the covered products described in the RFR?

RESPONSE: Currently, the MassHealth DME provider network makes independent arrangements to provide members with incontinence products, including the covered products described in the RFR. MassHealth does not currently prescribe the suppliers used by its DME provider network, or the brands of covered products dispensed.

4. Will the preferred supplier be limited to national brands or can it offer private label products as well?

RESPONSE: The RFR does not require the use of any particular brand, but does define minimum quality standards for most of the covered products. See Section I.C.9 of the RFR and Section 3.10 of the Model Contract (i.e., RFR Attachment 5).

5. What will EOHHS’s role be in the relationship between the preferred supplier and the MassHealth DME providers?

RESPONSE: The Model Contract requires the preferred supplier to make any business arrangements (including payment arrangements) with interested MassHealth DME providers that the preferred supplier deems necessary. See Sections 3.12 and 3.13 of the Model Contract.

6. Do the minimum product specifications (Section I.C.9. on page 5 of the RFR) apply to all covered products?

RESPONSE: The Minimum product specifications in Section I.C.9 of the RFR and Section 3.10 of the Model Contract apply to all Covered Products listed in Attachment A of the Model Contract, with the exception of the following:

· T4540

· T4541

· T4542 MassHealth will post an amendment to the RFR and Model Contract reflecting this clarification.

7. Section III.D.10 of the RFR states that test results must be submitted. Can you give additional detail as to the State’s expectations? Do the test results need to be dated within a certain timeframe?

RESPONSE: The required testing of covered products need not be completed solely for purposes of responding to this RFR, so long as the bidder’s programmatic response includes at least copies of previously completed test results for each of the covered products. However, per Section 3.10 of the Model Contract, EOHHS may require the contracted preferred supplier to submit updated test results to EOHHS upon request.

8. What is the process for updating the list of covered products, if necessary, during the term of the agreement?

RESPONSE: Please see Section 6.7 of the Model Contract.

9. Please confirm that samples required to be provided by the preferred supplier to MassHealth DME providers can be sent in small quantity packs. Please confirm that MassHealth DME providers should not expect unreasonable quantities of samples.

RESPONSE: Confirmed.

10. The RFR does not appear to define a weighting between cost and quality features of a bid. How does EOHHS intend to quantify this during the evaluation process?

RESPONSE: All bids will be evaluated pursuant to Section IV.D of the RFR.

11. What is the relationship between the fee schedule for MassHealth providers and the anticipated preferred supplier pricing?

RESPONSE: EOHHS intends to update its fee schedule to reflect rates based on the contracted price for the covered products from the preferred supplier.

12. Is there a specific measurement requirement for sizing of covered products?

RESPONSE: The preferred supplier will be required to offer products in a full range of sizes. EOHHS expects the Preferred Supplier to reference specific sizing designations set forth by the National Association for Incontinence, available at https://www.nafc.org.

13. Regarding the RFR requirement that DME providers be allowed to place orders 24/7 (RFR Section I.C.3), will the preferred supplier be required to make all of the following methods (e.g., online, via fax,) available 24/7?

RESPONSE: Yes; however, live customer service is only required during business hours. See Section I.C.3 of the RFR and Section 3.4 of the Model Contract.

14. Must the bidder’s planned supplier diversity initiatives relate specifically to the function of distributing incontinence supplies to providers, or may they extend to other unrelated functions?

RESPONSE: The SDP requirements need not relate to functions under this contract. Additional resources regarding SDP requirements can be found in Section V.U of the RFR and http://www.mass.gov/anf/budget-taxes-and-procurement/procurement-info-and-res/procurement-prog-and-serv/sdo/sdp/.

15. Will the preferred supplier be required to ship all orders from a Massachusetts warehouse or distribution center? Can a bidder utilize out-of-state warehouses? Is pricing that is to be submitted with bid for direct shipment to the provider only?

RESPONSE: The preferred supplier will not be required to ship from a distribution center or warehouse located in Massachusetts. However, per Section I.C.1 of the RFR, the preferred supplier must have inventory or arrangements adequate to ensure all deliveries to participating MassHealth DME providers are shipped within 24 hours of receipt and received within 3 business days.

Additionally, per Section III.A.3 of the RFR, the preferred supplier must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of EOHHS that it has an operating distribution infrastructure within Massachusetts or shall establish a satisfactory distribution infrastructure within Massachusetts not later than 60 days after the effective date of an agreement entered pursuant to this RFR.

16. In the event that a particular version of a covered product becomes discontinued or obsolete, what is the procedure for updating pricing and the item under the preferred supplier agreement?

RESPONSE: Pursuant to Section I.C.7 of the RFR and Section 3.8 of the Model Contract, the preferred supplier must offer at least two versions of each covered product that satisfy the minimum quality standards described in the RFR. In the event that a particular version of a covered product becomes discontinued or obsolete, the preferred supplier will be required to replace the product with a product of equal quality, subject to the approval of EOHHS.

17. Are manufacturers allowed to bid or is this RFR only for distributors?

RESPONSE: Please see the Bidder Qualifications section of the RFR (Section III.A).

RFR for a Preferred Supplier of DME Incontinence Products 1 Responses to Bidder Questions