MODIFICATION
R -- Auditing Services for Pharmacy Benefits Management Program
- Notice Date
- 1/8/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Office of Personnel Management, Contracting, Facilities and Administrative Services Group, Contracting Division, 1900 E Street, N.W., Room 1342, Washington, DC, 20415-7710
- ZIP Code
- 20415-7710
- Solicitation Number
- OPM-RFP-04-00011HW
- Response Due
- 1/22/2004
- Archive Date
- 2/6/2004
- Point of Contact
- Henry Wong, Contract Specialist, Phone (202) 606-1598, Fax (202) 606-1464,
- E-Mail Address
-
hlwong@opm.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This modification to the original combined synopsis / solicitation provides answers to questions presented by prospective offerors regarding the requirements of this Request For Proposals (RFP), and makes administrative corrections to the earlier document. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -- Q: Has there been a previous contract, if so can you provide details of the winning bid? A: There is no previous contract for these services. Q: What format is the data in? A: The file format is a SAS dataset. Q: What medium will be data be supplied on? A: The data is stored on a Sun Microsystems server. The Government will consider handling data transfer in several ways, including (but not limited to) copying the data onto DVDs or downloading the data to the OPM mainframe and then copying it to mainframe cartridge tape. Q: Who is the original database manufacturer (Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft, etc)? A: As stated earlier, the file format for all files is a SAS dataset. Q:Will there be multiple databases? For example different data stored at BCBSA, Medco and Advance PCS? A: All data is stored on a Sun Microsystems server in our office in Washington DC. Q: How long is the record length? A: The record length is 568 bytes. Q: The RFP states that Medco/AdvancePCS were paid approximately $36 billion in 2002. Is the $36 billion number correct? A: The RFP that was posted previously incorrectly states that the two PBMs were paid $36 billion by OPM in 2002. $36 billion is incorrect. The correct amount paid is $3 billion. This distinct from the fact that OPM has paid carriers participating in the FEHBP approximately $6 billion for prescription drugs in 2002, but the $6 billion includes drug costs for ALL carriers, not just BCBS. Q: Do you currently have pharmacy claims data from both Medco and AdvancePCS? If so, what format is the data and what media (CD or tape)? If no, then will OPM assist in requesting data from the PBMs? A: Yes. The file format is a SAS dataset and is stored on a Sun Microsystems server in our office in Washington DC. Q: Will the Blue Cross and Blue Shield PBM agreement regarding rebates from manufacturers be made available to vendors? Do the agreements have any audit clauses in them? Will there be restrictions on OIG and its vendors for retrospective audits? Will audit rights be transferred to OIG and its vendors? A: The provider agreements between the BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA) and the two PBMs have been provided to the OIG. The OIG has also requested the contracts between the PBMs and the drug manufacturers. All data needed to perform the objectives outlined in the RFP will be provided to the vendor. The vendor will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. The contract between OPM and BCBSA includes an audit clause which permits OPM to audit certain costs associated with the PBM/BCBSA provider agreements. The RFP's objectives outline the costs OIG will be reviewing. There are no restrictions regarding retrospective audits. Q: Will OIG provide onsite office space (conference room) for audit training and vendor staff? A: Yes. Q: How many auditors will attend the training program and will it be limited to one site? A: Six to ten auditors will require training. The training will take place in our Washington DC office. Q: Does OIG require our auditors to accompany and assist OIG audit staff during onsite visits to Medco and AdvancePCS? If so, when are the anticipated onsite audit dates? A: We will determine if onsite training if necessary after we receive training in our DC office. We anticipate the onsite dates to be some time during the summer of this year. Q: The RFP states that analysis should match drug therapy with medical diagnosis. In our experience the pharmacy claims data does not contain diagnosis codes, so medical claims data would have to be cross referenced in order to accomplish this goal. Is this necessary for the project? If it requires access to medical claims data will OIG provide the required data? A: Yes. OIG will provide the medical claims data needed to complete the review. This type of review will not be performed on all of the drug claims. We will sample some of the high dollar and/or high utilized drugs to review. Q: The RFP states the vendor will begin work within 30 calendar days and complete the project within 90 calendar days. Considering it may take the PBMs time to send the claims data, can the completion date be contingent on receiving required data and documentation to complete the project? A: The OIG will provide the vendor with all of the required data needed to complete the project. Q: Is it possible to get a database schema (such as Names of Tables, Fields, Field Sizes, and Relationships between Tables) of what is stored and would be available for the data analysis? A: The data is not in a relational database format. There are three files for retail pharmacy data from Advance PCS (one for each year being reviewed). Each of these files contains about 50 million claim records. There is a single file for the mail order drug data from Medco that contains about 25 million claim records. All of the files are flat files. Each file contains 109 fields. We can provide a "field dictionary" that describes each of the fields in the files if necessary. Q: The solicitation states that the contractor will need to provide OIG remote access to claim data/analysis. We assume this means that OIG will need an account on our systems, or is providing OIG access to our pre-generated reports/spreadsheets (results) electronically adequate? A: The OIG must have access to the system. Pre-generated reports are not adequate. Q: Can you please send me SF 1449 information and any other forms that we need to complete. A: Government standard forms are available from various U.S. Government websites on the Internet. For example, the SF 1449 is one of many procurement that can be downloaded from the U. S. general Services Administration website address at http://contacts.gsa.gov/webforms.nsf/93185254719078c6852569ae006af804?OpenView&Start=2.44. ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTIONS -- In the BACKGROUND section of the original, change the sentence about payments made to the two PBMs in FY 2002 to read, "For contract year 2002, these two PBMs were paid approximately $3 billion for benefits to BlueCross BlueShield subscribers in the FEHBP." In the reference to the NOTICE OF TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDE, the correct Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) reference is "FAR 52.219-6". The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement remains 524298, All Other Insurance Related Activities, with a small business size standard of $6 million. The closing date for recipt of offers (proposals) is UNCHANGED by this modification to the previous notice / solicitation. Offers must be received by 3 PM, EST, January 22, 2004, at the Contracting Office at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW, Room 1342, Washington, DC. Please note that special safe mail handling procedures implemented by the U. S. Postal Service make timely physical delivery of mail to Federal facilities uncertain. For this reason, faxed proposals will be accepted (followed by hard copy with original signature) to 202-606-1464. Potential offerors are solely responsible for ensuring their offers are received at the designated place, and by the designated time, for receipt of offers.
- Place of Performance
- Address: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC
- Zip Code: 20415
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20415
- Record
- SN00500881-W 20040110/040108212504 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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