U.S. Office Of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 1342, Washington, DC 20415

R -- ANALYSIS OF LARGE EMPLOYER PRACTICES, EXPERIENCES, AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE BENEFITS DESIGN, PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION AND EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PARITY PROGRAMS SOL Unassigned DUE 120999 POC Ray Hesson 202-606-1045 WEB: OPM Procurement Home Page, http://www.opm.gov/procure. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer's e-mail, rdhesson@opm.gov. R -- Analysis of large employer practices, experiences and best practices in the benefits design, planning, administration and evaluation of mental health and substance abuse parity programs The U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to solicit proposals for award of a purchase order to perform an analysis of large employer practices on implementing mental health and substance abuse parity in their health benefit plans. A report shall be prepared summarizing the results of the analysis. The report should include employer experiences and best practices in the benefits design, planning, administration and evaluation of mental health and substance abuse parity programs, as well as recommendations and advice. The information will be used to assist the agency in developing reasonable rules and standards applicable to carriers participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Additionally, the report information will aid OPM in developing policy on mental health and substance abuse parity for participating FEHB carriers, and will include as a minimum, information on standards development, transition planning, quality assessment and performance management, and employee education and communications. The overall goal of the project is: 1) to provide OPM with a broad base of large employer practices in implementing of mental health and substance abuse parity, and 2) to benefit from the experience and lessons learned of other large employers in implementing of mental health and substance abuse parity. This contract will be awarded on a firm fixed price basis using simplified acquisition procedures and will result in the award of a firm fixed price purchase order and is to be completed no later than February 18, 2000. The proposals will be due on December 9, 1999. BACKGROUND On June 7, 1999, President Clinton, in his address at the White House Conference on Mental Health, directed the OPM to achieve parity for mental health and substance abuse coverage in the FEHB Program by 2001. OPM has been moving toward mental health and substance abuse parity over the past few years. It has already eliminated lifetime and annual maximums in the FEHB Program. Beginning in 1999, pharmacotherapy, medical visits and testing to monitor drug treatment for mental conditions have been covered as pharmaceutical disease management. Additionally, OPM has not accepted proposed reductions in the value of mental health benefits from its carriers. In moving toward full mental health and substance abuse parity for 2001, OPM will require parity for a carrier's "network" benefit. OPM will establish outcomes that must be achieved by carriers, but will not mandate how carriers must achieve those outcomes. While OPM has developed some preliminary policy for health plans to follow in implementing mental health and substance abuse parity in 2001, additional information is needed to assist the agency in developing definitive policy guidance. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Services will be performed at the contractor's facility. TRAVEL The contractor's cost for travel, lodging, meals, and all other expenses incurred by contractor personnel in performing work under this contract are included in the firm fixed price for this procurement and are not separately reimbursable. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES Deliverable 1: Two meetings of employers that have implemented mental health and substance abuse parity and other interested parties. The objectives for the meetings include identification of best practices, issues and resolutions related to the areas described in the statement of work. The meetings will be organized and facilitated by the contractor by the end of January. Deliverable 2: A draft and final report. The draft report to be submitted by February 11 for OPM review. The final report to be submitted five days after OPM's approval of the draft. PAYMENT The contractor will be paid in 2 payments, based on the contract price. The payments will be made via wire transfer to the contractor's account. Payments will be made after completion of the two deliverables noted in this request. EVALUATION CRITERIA The Government will consider the organization submitting the proposal, its stature in the healthcare community (particularly in regard to mental health and substance abuse), and its recent experience in dealing with these issues. The government will also consider the organization's established relationships with employers and others in the community including Federal agencies that have program responsibility for mental health and substance abuse issues. In addition, the Government will review resumes and may interview proposed project staff. The Government will assess their experience and expertise in the area of facilitating the decision-making process, job experience, and abilities in light of the tasks to be performed, especially the project leader The Government will review the contractor's proposed plan for accomplishing the specific tasks. Key evaluation elements are proposed project time lines, project plan, completeness, and technical approach. The Government will consider the contractor's proposed firm fixed price and reserves the right to select the contractor that represents the best value to the Government. The contractor should be able to attend meetings with the Government on short notice and should be able to quickly convene and facilitate meetings between Government officials and others in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to discuss issues relevant to the Statement of Work. OPM intends to fax copies of the solicitation to companies responding to this notice. Potential offerors should provide their e-mail address and/or their fax number to facilitate receiving further information. Submit inquiries to U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20415-7710 attn: Ray Hesson, e-mail rdhesson@opm.gov or fax requests to 202-606-1464. Posted 11/26/99 (W-SN403754). (0330)

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