250413J - Sources Sought Notice.pdf

Sources Sought Notice (SSN) 250413J Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Product Development

SSN 250413J - Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Product Development

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT

COMMIT THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)

TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability of small businesses on the GSA MAS Category 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) that have the capability to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), Provider Communications Group (PCG), Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) program in their development and implementation of a comprehensive content and education strategy for health care professionals through the creation and maintenance of educational products across multiple formats including webpages, fact sheets, booklets, web-based training (WBT) courses, video scripts, and HTML educational tools.

The information obtained through this market research will help CMS determine the appropriate acquisition strategy, including whether a set-aside is possible. Interested contractors must submit a capability statement to demonstrate their ability to perform the requirements stated in Section C below.

A. General Background

CMS administers the Medicare Program. CMS PCG, in conjunction with its network of contractors, ensures that health care professionals get information about Medicare policies and operations, including accessible information about Medicare, to educate providers on benefits, coverage, billing, value-based purchasing, and quality of care.

CMS established the MLN to serve as a resource for provider information and education.

Under this project, it is anticipated the following activities will be performed:

• Develop and maintain educational content for the MLN, including webpages, fact sheets, booklets, WBT courses, video scripts, and HTML educational tools to address Medicare provider information needs, ensuring adherence to the National Provider Communication Standards

• Facilitate development and maintenance of a content management system to track MLN product statuses and manage editorial reviews

• Design and update MLN Templates and MLN Branding documents to reflect the current National Provider Communication Standards and ensure consistency in educational product formats https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/resources-training https://www.cms.gov/files/document/national-provider-communication-standards.pdf https://www.cms.gov/files/document/national-provider-communication-standards.pdf https://www.cms.gov/mln-templates https://www.cms.gov/mln-templates https://www.cms.gov/files/document/national-provider-communication-standards.pdf

• Conduct pilot testing of WBT courses to evaluate functionality, content accuracy, and user experience

• Deliver monthly status and cost reports, including updates on staffing, deliverables, and budget performance

• Support Office of Inspector General (OIG) reporting activities by developing educational materials and providing status updates for related recommendations

B. Project Requirements

This project is a CMS mission-critical requirement and supports one of the primary goals of the Agency – ensuring that Medicare providers have access to accurate, timely, and effective educational resources. The project aims to enhance provider understanding of Medicare policies and procedures, thereby improving the quality of care while ensuring compliance with CMS regulations. High-quality educational tools and content are critical to empowering providers, which, in turn, can help reduce administrative burdens and healthcare costs.

In particular, the requirements in the Statement of Work (SOW), including the development of fact sheets, booklets, WBT courses, and other educational content, as well as content management, branding, and regulatory compliance, are critical capabilities that the contractor must possess to achieve CMS’ goals.

C. Capability Statement Requirements

In response to this Notice, CMS is seeking capability statements. Capability statements are NOT proposals and do not address price/cost. Industry is merely asked to provide information, which may demonstrate that they have expertise and capacity to meet the requirements of this work as a prime contractor, with subcontractors, as they deem necessary.

CMS requests that the respondent specifically address the requirements listed below.

Respondents should provide enough information for CMS to make an informed determination of their capability to perform the work as identified below. Please remember that the potential offeror or prime contractor must be able to perform at least 50% of the labor associated with this effort. Please provide a list of contract numbers that your organization has had (if applicable) and your role on the contract (prime contractor or subcontractor). If you were a subcontractor on a particular contract, please clarify the work that you did on that contract.

Please describe your capabilities and detailed experience performing similar activities as those described below. Responses should clearly demonstrate your understanding and ability to perform the following capability requirements:

1. Knowledge of Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) Policies: Demonstrate your comprehensive understanding of Medicare FFS policies, regulations, and payment systems. Provide examples of how this expertise has been applied to the development of educational content, policy updates, or stakeholder communication strategies.

2. Expertise in Consumer-Friendly Content Development: Describe and provide examples of your experience in translating complex technical policy documents based on change requests/transmittals, federal regulations, and federal statutes, into plain language, consumer-friendly content.

3. Development and Maintenance of Educational Content: Demonstrate your ability to develop, update, and maintain a wide range of 508-compliant educational materials, including webpages, fact sheets, booklets, WBT courses, video scripts, and HTML educational tools, while adhering to client standards and federal regulations.

4. Development of Web-Ready 508-Complaint Files: Provide details of your experience delivering 508-compliant, web-ready files.

5. Content Review and Quality Assurance: Describe your approach to maintaining high-quality standards and performing quality assurance checks.

6. Content Management and Tracking: Describe your experience implementing and managing content management systems to track the status of products, including maintaining an inventory, ensuring version control, and providing updates within specified timeframes.

7. Data Management and Security: Outline your expertise in managing large volumes of sensitive data, including personally identifiable information, and ensuring secure storage.

8. Template and Branding Maintenance: Explain your capabilities in updating and maintaining educational content templates and branding toolkits, ensuring consistency with client guidelines and implementation of stakeholder feedback.

9. Strategic Planning and Reporting: Describe your ability to conduct strategic planning, develop comprehensive work plans, and provide detailed monthly status and cost reports, including narrative descriptions of project expenditures and progress.

10. Flexibility in Meeting High-Priority Assignments: Demonstrate your ability to respond to high-priority or emergency assignments with short turnaround times while maintaining quality and compliance standards.

Responses should provide specific examples of similar work performed, methodologies used, and measurable outcomes that demonstrate your ability to successfully fulfill these requirements.

D. Instructions for Submitting Responses to CMS

The following specific information is requested: (a) company descriptive literature; (b) specific related corporate experience; (c) experience with the type of capability expectations mentioned above; (d) references, to include points of contact, email addresses, and phone numbers; and (e) Business information outlined below.

a. SAM UEI

b. Company Name

c. Company Address

d. Company Point of Contact with Phone and Email addresses

e. Point of Contact, Phone and Email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses

f. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this Sources Sought Notice

g. Type of Company (e.g., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.)

as validated via the System for Award management at www.sam.gov.

Registration via System for Award management (www.sam.gov) is a requirement for qualifying as a prime contractor with CMS.

All transmitted information marked proprietary shall be treated as such. Therefore, businesses should identify any proprietary information in their responses. Proprietary materials will neither be distributed, nor discussed with, any other organization.

Information submitted in response to this will be used at the discretion of the Government. Further, the information submitted will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.

Please note: Respondents should be aware that this SSN is for market research purposes only and any responses thereto, or lack thereof, will not constitute a commitment by CMS to treat any potential offeror more or less favorably in the anticipated forthcoming solicitation and/or ultimate award. Please be advised that CMS will not respond directly to organizations submitting information in response to this SSN.

TEAMING ARRANGEMENTS

All teaming arrangements should also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged.

RESPONSE DUE DATE

Responses are limited to no more than twelve (12) pages for the entire capability statement. Responses must be submitted electronically not later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Submit responses to the Contracting Officer per the contact information below. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contracting Officer:

Amberly Kovalick Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Acquisitions and Grants Management Medicare Support Contracts Group Division of Medicare and Marketplace Contracts 7500 Security Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21244

Phone: (410) 786-8137 Email: Amberly.Kovalick@cms.hhs.gov

Contract Specialist:

Claire English Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Acquisitions and Grants Management Medicare Support Contracts Group Division of Medicare and Marketplace Contracts 7500 Security Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21244

Phone: 667-290-9475 Email: claire.english@cms.hhs.gov mailto:Amberly.Kovalick@cms.hhs.gov mailto:claire.english@cms.hhs.gov