Industry Question and Answer Document.docx

Question and Answer Document

FCE36011

25 August 2010

Vendor Question 1: Section 3.4.4 – How will the contractor receive the encrypted TIFF images from the FSC and transmit the encrypted files back?

Government Response: Secure FTP server (FIPS-140-2 Compliant) or AS2 (FIPS -140-2 Compliant)

Vendor Question 2: Section 3.5.1 cites the due date for Deliverable 3 as the start date of award, and Section 9 lists a Start-Up Services line item: Will a transition or start-up period be allowed, or are the Deliverable 3 services expected to be provided immediately upon award?

Government Response: There will be a transition period of between 4 to 6 weeks.

a. If a transition/start-up period is allowed, how long will that period be?

Government Response: Between 4 to 6 weeks.

b. If an incumbent contractor is involved, will the outgoing incumbent participate in the transition/start-up with the new contractor?

Government Response: There will be no need for the two contractors to work together.

c. If an incumbent contractor is involved, does the outgoing incumbent have a documented transition-out plan approved by FSC?

Government Response: NA

Vendor Question 3: Sections 6.1.2.3 and 6.1.3 – Will contractor personnel be granted interim access until the appropriate background investigations and clearances are satisfactorily processed?

Government Response: The background investigation needs to be initiated once contract is awarded. An initial local background check will be done to ensure there is nothing wrong with the individual, ie no felonies.

Vendor Question 4: Are current images already in TIFF Format?

Government Response: Yes

Vendor Question 5: Are the images available in other formats such as PDF?

Government Response: No

Vendor Question 6: Per 3.4.1, the HCCH will receive electronic medical claims from providers --- How many direct provider submitters are represented?

Government Response: Approximately 150

Vendor Question 7: How many B2B (business to business) submitters?

Government Response: Approximately 150 (i.e. Clearinghouse/Practice Management Vendors) Vendor Question 8: Per 3.4.1, the HCCH will receive electronic medical claims from providers

a. Is the FSC receiving paper and converting to TIFFs or does the FSC anticipate an outside vendor submitting a converted paper claim to TIFF on behalf of FSC?

Government Response: FSC receives paper and convert to TIFF.

b. If so, will the vendor be using an outside applications for generating TIFFs, X12, and other data; a user-driven system with web interface and human interaction; or some combination of the two?

Government Response: NA Vendor Question 9: Per 3.4.6, the HCCH will send acknowledgements for X12 envelopes and transactions

a. Will these acknowledgements be sent from the HCCH directly to the FSC then to the submitters, or directly to the submitters?

Government Response: This could include both.

b. Will they be in a 997 format?

Government Response: Yes

c. Will vendor be required to archive acknowledgments for submitter?

Government Response: Yes Vendor Question 10: Per 3.4.6, the HCCH will send acknowledgements for X12 envelopes and transactions --- Is the FSC a peer to the other submitters in this process (just another receiver of ACKs), or a super user/administrator with knowledge and access to all ACKs generated? Government Response: Super user/Administrator Vendor Question 11: Per 3.6.2.1; 3.6.2.2; 3.6.2.3 --- Will the vendor be required to record and provide web portal for provider/submitter to review this information for audit purposes? Government Response: Yes Vendor Question 12: Per 3.6.3; 3.6.4; 3.6.5; 3.6.6; 3.6.7; 3.6.8 --- How many Payer IDs are represented? Government Response: Two Payer ID represented.

Vendor Question 13: Per 3.6.3; 3.6.4; 3.6.5; 3.6.6; 3.6.7; 3.6.8 --- Will vendor be receiving 1 daily batch containing multiple payer IDs? Or multiple files with corresponding payer IDs? Government Response: There could be multiple batches for corresponding payer IDs on a daily basis. The volume fluctuates based on provider submittals.

Vendor Question 14: Per 3.6.3; 3.6.4; 3.6.5; 3.6.6; 3.6.7; 3.6.8 --- Will vendor need to provide provider web portal with supporting reporting requirements for daily, weekly, and monthly volume/activity transaction reports? Government Response: Yes Vendor Question 15: Per 3.6.9

a. Will vendor need to provide web portal with corresponding reporting capability to FSC for this data request?

Government Response: Yes, with adhoc query capabilities.

b. Or will a monthly file suffice?

Government Response: For billing purposes we would like a monthly summary as well.

Vendor Question 16:

a. Is there an existing user interface, web app, or similar method for providers or submitters to send or receive data?

Government Response: VA does not have a website available for this type of use.

b. What is the preferred method of data transmission? FTP, SFTP, etc?

Government Response: SFTP (FIPS 140-2 Compliant) Vendor Question 17:

a. Do the providers or submitters use any existing FSC interfaces, making the new HCCH and internal FSC resource not publicly accessible?

Government Response: No, the only interface is via SFTP

b. If so, will they continue to use such interfaces after the HCCH is implemented?

Government Response: NA Vendor Question 18: Data Archive --- What are the expected data retention periods and archival methods (online, compressed, offline tape, etc.) expected for the HCCH data? Government Response: HCCH should keep the data for one year. Archival method needs to be secured and in the event there is an inquiry the response should be within 24 hours.

Vendor Question 19: Data Archive

a. How does the FSC expect to access HCCH archive data, should an archive be required?

Government Response: FSC will not require access to the archived data. The vendor would be required to provide requested information

b. At the HCCH via web interface, via mirrored copies at FSC facilities on FSC servers, other?

Government Response: FSC will not require access to the archived data. The vendor would be required to provide requested information.

Vendor Question 20: Data Archive --- Is a Continuity of Operations (COOP) implementation required for the HCCH system? Government Response: Yes, cannot be off shored.

Vendor Question 21: Is there currently a contract (outside Vendor) in place for this service or is it currently in-house?

Government Response: Yes, the incumbent for the current task is Claimsnet Inc.

Vendor Question 22: Can we find current pricing structure on the FedBizOpps web-site?

Government Response: No that information is not available on FedBizOpps.

Vendor Question 23: Are we allowed to view the past winning proposal for this service, if there was one in place?

Government Response: No, that information can not be disclosed through our office.