SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- 1 for 2 Benefit Offset Demonstration Project
- Notice Date
- 3/23/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21207-5279
- ZIP Code
- 21207-5279
- Solicitation Number
- SSA-RFP-04-1041
- Point of Contact
- Christine Nagengast, Contract Specialist, Phone 410965-9515, Fax 410966-9310,
- E-Mail Address
-
christine.nagengast@ssa.gov
- Description
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to procure the services of a contractor to design, implement, evaluate and manage a multi-site demonstration project testing alternate methods of treating work activity in the Title II disability program. Section 301 of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 amended the Social Security Act by adding Section 234. Section 234 directs the Commissioner of SSA to carry out experiments and demonstration projects to determine the relative advantages and disadvantages of 1) various alternative methods of treating work activity of individuals receiving Title II benefits based on disability, including such methods as a reduction in benefits based on earnings, designed to encourage these beneficiaries to return to work; 2) altering other limitations and conditions, such as lengthening the trial work period, or altering the 24-month waiting period for Medicare; and 3) implementing a sliding scale benefit offset. In this demonstration project, SSA is planning for the contractor to test a range of employment support interventions in combination with a $1 reduction in benefits for every $2 in earnings, with the goal of enabling more beneficiaries to return to work and maximize their employment, earnings, and independence. The employment support interventions would be consistent with, but not limited to, the treatments cited in Section 234. The benefit offset would eliminate the ?cash cliff,? a critical financial barrier often cited as one of the primary reasons for the high rate of unemployment and underemployment among disability beneficiaries. Unlike current Title II policy, the benefit offset would allow beneficiaries to face a more gradual reduction in their benefits should they earn above a specified amount of monthly income. Beneficiaries would also maintain ongoing eligibility for health care benefits and other supports linked to Title II eligibility. SSA has determined that one contractor will be responsible for the design, implementation, evaluation and management of the program. SSA anticipates awarding a cost reimbursement contract for the contract design with a period of performance not to exceed two years. After the design is completed, the agency anticipates awarding the subsequent phases of the demonstration (for the implementation, data collection and evaluation and management of the project) to the same contractor on a sole source basis. The total period of performance for the entire demonstration is dependent upon the result of each phase but anticipated to take no less than five years. The NAICS code is 541690, with a size standard of $6.0 million. SSA will issue the solicitation as full and open competition and anticipates release of solicitation number SSA-RFP-04-1041 on or about April 7, 2004 with proposals due 45 calendar days thereafter. The solicitation will be available for downloading from the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov. SSA will not mail hard copies of the solicitation document, honor telephone requests, or maintain a bidders list. All responsible sources may submit a proposal that shall be considered by the agency. Potential offerors are responsible for accessing the Federal Business Opportunities website to check the status of this requirement and to keep current with any amendments issued. Potential offerors shall submit all questions by e-mail to Christine.Nagengast@SSA.gov
- Record
- SN00552676-W 20040325/040323212423 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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