SPECIAL NOTICE
R -- Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC)
- Notice Date
- 12/20/2012
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541720
— Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, 7500 Security Blvd., C2-21-15, Baltimore, Maryland, 21244-1850
- ZIP Code
- 21244-1850
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-CMS-RFI-13-463
- Point of Contact
- Charles Littleton, , Scott D. Yeager,
- E-Mail Address
-
charles.littleton@cms.hhs.gov, scott.yeager@cms.hhs.gov
(charles.littleton@cms.hhs.gov, scott.yeager@cms.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing this Request for Information as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the contract entitled "Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC)." The purpose of the ResDAC is to assist the CMS to increase the number of researchers skilled in accessing and using CMS data for studies which may improve the Medicare and Medicaid programs and add value to current CMS activities. This contract will require: 1. expertise in advanced research and statistical methodology sufficient to assist all levels of researchers (from students to internationally reknown experts) who may or may not be familiar with the data available at CMS and its use; 2. nationally recognized CMS data experts who describe the data, comment on its applicability to the proposed research, and help researchers with the process of gaining an approved Data Use Agreement; 3. detailed comprehensive, expert knowledge of CMS's data release policies and procedures; and, 4. the ability to provide CMS with detailed, integrated, synergistic, comprehensive, and enterprise-wide recommendations on how to improve the current data request process. Technical Expertise w/ CMS Data - In the course of operating its programs, CMS maintains and utilizes a vast array of data. These data provide information on eligibility/enrollment, Medicare and Medicaid providers, claims and utilization, program regulations, and clinical assessment information that support program oversight, research and evaluation purposes. CMS data are not always easy to use, even for researchers experienced with administrative databases. Furthermore, researchers are not always aware of what data are available, when updates take place, the applicability of specific data elements, the implications of CMS program changes on data consistency, and techniques for linking CMS data with data from other sources. In the ensuing years, it has become more difficult for even frequent users of CMS data to use the current files being released. For these reasons, CMS requires the expertise and services of highly qualified personnel. ResDAC's technical staff are expected to have knowledge and expertise with CMS data and must also be knowledgeable in conducting complex health services research using CMS data. This intellectual capital will be used in educating researchers (including CMS staff and contractors), critiquing research, and understanding the appropriate level of specificity needed when preparing data requests. The nature of these tasks will require multi-disciplinary skills including but not limited to; epidemiology, health economics, public health, statistics and biostatistics, health care, health services research and research design methodology. The technical staff should be expert researchers and be well renowned in these fields. The contractors must demonstrate how they are distinguished in their fields (i.e. they have been invited to speak at national health conferences, have published papers, etc.) and have in-depth technical expertise on CMS data, including all other attributes surrounding the data (i.e. release cycles, data anomalies, data sources, etc.) Technical Expertise w/ CMS Data Release Policies and Procedures - ResDAC will provide assistance to researchers in understanding the Medicare/Medicaid data acquisition process and how to obtain an approved Data Use Agreement. CMS research support involves collaboration with outside researchers. Researchers in the health services arena are affiliated with other government agencies and commissions (both Federal and State), the academic community (schools of medicine, public health, public policy, and economics), non-profit organizations, private consultants (for-profit health research organizations), other private sector health services providers (hospitals and Medicare Advantage plans), and the Qualified Entities (QEs) in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) program. The contractor will need to have in-depth knowledge of CMS' data release policies as they apply to each of these differing organizations and fully understand the statutory authority for data release allowable to each type of organization. Listed below are subject areas relating to the CMS data release policies and procedures that the contractor is required to have expertise and knowledge of:  Laws and regulations governing privacy and data security. The ResDAC contractor shall educate and train CMS staff, contractors, and researchers on how to apply the CMS minimum data necessary policies and other requirements in the following, where applicable: • Privacy Act of 1974 • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule • HIPAA Security Rule • Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) • Office Management and Budget Circular A-130  CMS' data release procedures. • Role of the CMS Privacy Board / Data Governance Board / Part D Workgroup • Policies/criteria for releasing identifiable data to Federal /State agencies, academic researchers, for-profit organizations, other private sector organizations, and QEs • Policies for releasing limited data sets  CMS' statutory authority for data release of specific files. • CMS fee-for-service claims: o Inpatient hospital o Outpatient hospital o Physician o Skilled nurse facility o Home health o Durable medical equipment o Hospice • CMS eligibility data • CMS assessment data: o Minimum Dataset (MDS), Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF)-Patient Assessment Instrument (PAI) • Part D drug eligibility data • Part D drug event data • CMS surveys -- MCBS, Health Outcomes Survey (HOS),Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) The contractor will need to assists CMS staff in implementing the current privacy and data security regulations and will need to provide CMS with recommendations on how to improve the current structure surrounding data release. Additionally, the contractor should have in-depth knowledge of the practices and procedures utilized by university-based Institutional Review Boards (IRB). The contractor will need to be able to make recommendations on how the CMS Privacy Board and the Part D workgroup can be improved and provide CMS with recommendation on what changes need to be made to the current policies and procedures relating to data release. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. CMS will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; and 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Submission Instructions: If your organization has the potential capacity to perform the services described, please provide the following information: 1. Organization information including name, point of contact, address, website address, telephone number, size and type of ownership. 2. Tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with clear documentation supporting claims of organizational capability and staff qualifications and expertise. If subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, the documentation shall address the administrative, management, and communication structure of such arrangements in appropriate detail. 3. Interested firms shall have strong knowledge, educational background, and documented expertise related to ALL CMS data and the policies and procedures that relate to data release. 4. Please briefly discuss any potential conflicts that may preclude your company from performing any such work under this requirement.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/HCFA/AGG/HHS-CMS-RFI-13-463/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: CMS, Baltimore, Maryland, 21244, United States
- Zip Code: 21244
- Zip Code: 21244
- Record
- SN02953878-W 20121222/121220235717-84a372297ca0a5fd725be56eb7c62399 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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