T3107 Bid Amendment 2 100919.docx

PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor State of New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DIVISION OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

PROCUREMENT BUREAU

33 WEST STATE STREET

P. O. BOX 230

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08625-0230

ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

State Treasurer

SHEILA Y. OLIVER

Lt. Governor

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

0October 9, 2019

To: All Interested Vendors {Bidders}

Re: Bid Solicitation # 20DPP00444 T3107 Chapter 32 Arbitration-DOBI

Original Revised Quote Submission Due Date: October 17, 2019 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Second Round of Vendor {Bidder} Electronic Questions Due Date: November 13, 2019 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Revised Quote Submission Due Date: January 8, 2020 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Bid Amendment #2

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #2 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

· This Bid Amendment includes answers to questions, revisions to the Bid Solicitation, re-opens the Vendor {Bidder} Electronic Question period and revises the Quote submission due date.

· Please note that for all additions, deletions, clarifications and modifications to the Bid Solicitation, please refer to the Revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819”.

· Please note that “T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819” includes the following additions and revisions:

· Section 2.3 Blanket P.O. Specific Definitions/Acronyms;

· Section 3.12 Project Management Plan;

· Section 3.13 Security Plan;

· Section 4.4.3.3 Blanket P.O. Schedule and Plans;

· Section 4.4.3.3.1 Mobilization Plan;

· Section 4.4.3.5 Additional Plans;

· Section 4.4.5.2 State Supplied Price Sheet Instructions;

· Section 4.4.5.3 Use of “No Bid” Versus “No Charge” on the State-Supplied Price Sheet;

· Section 5.9 Security and Confidentiality;

· Section 5.9.2 Data Security Standards;

· Section 5.9.4 Security Plan;

· Section 5.18 Accessibility Compliance; and

· Section 5.20 Electronic Payments.

It is the sole responsibility of the Vendor {Bidder} to be knowledgeable of all of the additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation and/or the New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions relative to this Bid Solicitation as set forth in all Bid Amendments.

All other instructions, terms, and conditions of the Bid Solicitation shall remain the same.

Bid Solicitation #20DPP00444 T3107 Chapter 32 Arbitration-DOBI

Answers to Questions

Where applicable, each question references the appropriate Bid Solicitation section.

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

If the Arbitrators or the Medical Directors are employees of the Vendor {Contractor} then they are not considered “Subcontractors”. However, if the Vendor {Contractor} engages a Subcontractor to provide these services, the Vendor {Bidder} must submit a Subcontractor Utilization Form. Please refer to the following Bid Solicitation Section for additional information:

· Section 2.3 Blanket P.O. Specific Definitions/Acronyms; and

· Section 4.4.1.3 Subcontractor Utilization Plan.

Additional information may also be found in Section 5.8 of the State’s Standard Terms and Conditions.

The Vendor {Contractor} should use its expertise in health care pricing to identify carrier payments that are so low as to constitute bad faith.

An example of a non-cooperative or noncompliant party would be a party that does not respond to the Vendor’s {Contractor’s} request for information or documentation or that refuses to provide a copy of its filing to the other party or that otherwise fails to cooperate or comply with arbitration requirements.

An example of unfair or abusive practice would be the submission of false information, altered documentation, etc.

The responsibility of computing the interest lies with Carrier, not the Vendor {Contractor}.

No, the Medical Director is not required to be in active practice.

The continuing education requirements are based on the professional license of the Arbitrator.

2) Is it expected that case filings will remain in this range during the term of the new contract?

1) During the period of January 1, to August 5, 2019, a total of 1,884 requests for C. 32 arbitration have been filed. However, none of the requests have been from persons covered by self-funded plans that did not opt in.

2) The State cannot predict how many arbitration requests will be submitted in the future. The State shall not be bound by any minimum or maximum number of arbitration requests.

The Vendor {Contractor} is not expected to operate a call center; however, a means to allow parties to the arbitration a way of contacting the Vendor {Contractor} should be provided. Please refer to Section 3.2 of the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819”.

New Jersey Registration Certification and Confirmation is separate for NJSTART enrollment.

A Vendor {Bidder} wishing to submit its Quote electronically through NJSTART, must be enrolled in NJSTART. Vendors {Bidders} may refer to the “Vendor Registration” and “Submit a Quote” QRGs for additional instructions detailing how to enroll in NJSTART and submit a NJSTART electronic Quote. Procedural inquiries concerning the use of NJSTART may be directed to njstart@treas.nj.gov and/or (609) 341-3500.

This Bid Solicitation has been set-aside with Sub-contracting goals for New Jersey Small Business Enterprises and/or Disabled Veterans’ Business. If the Vendor {Bidder} intends to Sub-contract it must make every attempt to locate eligible small businesses and/or Disabled Veteran Business. Please refer to Section 4.4.1.5 of the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819”. If a Vendor {Bidder} does not intend to subcontract, then the small business and/or Disabled Veterans’ Business Subcontracting requirement does not apply.

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Yes. Prior to Quote Opening Deadline, a Vendor {Bidder} should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a quote is deemed non-responsive because a Vendor {Bidder} fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. to review a submitted Quote a Vendor {Bidder} should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

As stated in Bid Solicitation Section 1.3.1.1, Exceptions to the State of NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): "Questions regarding the SSTC and proposed exceptions to mandatory requirements, including the Special and Standard Terms and Conditions in Sections 5 and 9 of this Bid Solicitation must be posed during this Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Vendor's {Bidder's} suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested changes." Additionally, as stated in Section 4.1, General: "Quotes including Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms and conditions may be accepted, but Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation, as defined in Section 2.0 of this Bid Solicitation, or that diminish the State's rights under any Blanket P.O. resulting from the Bid Solicitation, may render a Quote non-responsive."

The Vendor {Bidder} must submit a Firm-Fixed Price for each Arbitration Type (Initial Review and Completed Review). Please refer to Section 4.4.5.2 and 4.4.5.3 of the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819” for additional clarification.

The following documents are included as attachments to this Bid Amendment:

1. T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation Checklist 091819; and

2. T3107 Revised Bid Solicitation 091819.

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