Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207-0696

B -- SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DISABILITY PROCESS REDESIGN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TASK ORDER CONTRACT POC Wayne McDonald Tel: 410-966-1323 The Social Security Administration (SSA) is contemplating and considering the feasibility of soliciting for one or more task-order type contracts to provide expert services in performingtasks associated with the development of a new disability decision methodology for the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs. The potential contractors would be required to perform tasks associated with the process of developing appropriate disability adjudication criteria for use inthe new methodology. This process involves conducting research into currently existing methods, adaptation or development of appropriate methods (including testing protocols or instrumentation where necessary), the evaluation of the new methods (including testing for validity and reliability), and assessing the impact on the disability programs. As the development and testing of this new methodology is expected to be a multi-step, iterative, process with each step building upon prior steps, SSA is seeking to assure continuity and consistency of approach. Since the research, development, and testing process isnot a defined, or static, process, but rather a sequential process that evolves as interim steps are completed, a flexible process of defining and undertaking the work must be created. SSA believes that securing outside expertise to support this effort is best accomplished under a task order contract arrangement, where tasks are conceived and undertaken as the research process unfolds. Sequential projects can then be quickly conceived, specified, and undertaken without the need to go through the lengthy procurement process, producing the necessary research in a timely fashion. SSA is seeking to identify qualified potential sources which could provide the expert services required to assist SSA in the research,development, and testing of the many parameters of the redesign methodology.In the September 1994 Plan for a New Disability Claim Process and the November 1994 follow-up report, Disability Process Redesign: Next Steps in Implementation, SSA presented a conceptual framework for a new, functionally ased disability decision methodology. The redesigned disability methodology, as conceived, substitutes anew 4 step disability decision methodology based upon an assessment of functioning in relation to baseline requirements of work for theearlier 5 step method based first upon medical findings followed by an assessment of residual functional capacity. The complete development of the new methodology, and appropriate criteria for decisionmaking, would have to be based on long-term research,consultation, development, and refinement. SSA has identified several areas which will, or may, be the focus of research efforts, including the following: (1) Standardized tools for assessing an individual's functional capacity; (2) Occupational classification systems, and work-related functions that describe a ''baseline'' of occupational demands for substantial gainful work activity; (3) Techniques for screening disability applicants to identify individuals who are either clearly disabled or are clearly not disabled individuals without the need for a functional evaluation; and (4) The effects of age, education, and work experience on the ability to work.SSA has already begun to plan and undertake research pertinent to (1) and (2) above. Work has already begun to evaluate functional assessment literature, and identify existing instrumentation, andtesting procedures. Work is expected to begin on issues of baseline functional requirements of work and systems of classifying occupations. Both research projects will be synthesized into the research, development and testing projects to be undertaken under task order contract(s). Additionally, SSA has planned, and is preparing to field, a disability examination study that will, among other goals, permit an evaluation of the impact of the new methodology on the disability decisions that would be rendered not only to applicants, but for the general population of disabled individuals.This announcement seeks to identify potential offerors who would have the capabilities required to undertake a task-order contract to perform additional research, development, and evaluation tasks as required to complete the specification and testing of the new disability methodology. SSA has identified two major areas that will be part of the research process: (A) Functional Assessment and Baseline work requirements which is Step four of the proposed new sequential evaluation process; nd, (B) Medical and other issues in assessing disability which are Steps two and three of the proposed new sequential evaluation process including identifiable impairments, index of disabling conditions, etc. Within areas (A) and (B) above, SSA has identified a number of critical task in which a contractor could be asked to provide support: (i) Provide routine consultation to SSA staff on the pertinent subject areas listed above (e.g., assessing functioning,medical aspects of disability, etc.); (ii) Develop and recommend appropriate methods to assess disability under the new process,including the specification of standards at each step in theprocess (standards include definition, instrumentation, any objective tests or procedures, testing protocol, and other required measurements); (iii) Design of tests of validity and reliability of the instrumentation, tests, and measures selected, and evaluation of the programmatic impact of the new methodology; (iv) Carry out laboratory testing of the validity and reliability of the criteria developed by SSA; and, (v) Arrange public forums to provide input into SSA's proposed processes by experts in the appropriate fields,disability advocates, and the general public. Additionally, within the areas (A) and (B) above, SSA has also identified a number of critical knowledge disciplines which a contractor would be asked to provide: (vi) Functional Assessment and the effect of functioning on the ability to work; (vii) Medical aspects of disability (physical and mental), functioning, and the ability to work; (viii) Occupational classification systems,occupational requirements (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.); (ix) Statistics, biostatistics, psychometrics and other quantitative behavioral fields providing structured methods to address measurement, indices, experimental design, and tests of validity and reliability; (x) Social Security's disability decisionmaking process; and, (xi) Disability assessment and decision making inother disability programs in the U.S. and in other countries. It is anticipated that these efforts will require expertise from diverse backgrounds and training. Any eventual offeror must have such diverse resources and expertise available within the offerors' staff, or must be able to obtain access to such expertise from other sources on an as needed basis. Obtaining such expertise may be accomplished either on a pre-arranged consultant bass or through a pre-arranged subcontract arrangement. SSA is contemplating the development of a single solicitation/request for proposal (RFP) encompassing both areas (A) and (B) enumerated above, rather than developing two separate RFPs (one for each area) and then having to coordinate the separate efforts. SSA is seeking vendors capable of providing the above cited services and is inviting them to submit complete information and capability statements citing specific experience relevant to this requirement. In addition, pertinent company background information consisting of at least 3 references where similar services as described herein have recently and/or are currently being performed shall be provided. Reference information shall include the name,address, and telephone number of a point of contact who is knowledgeable of the nature of the services being performed. Capability statement responses may be predicated upon and reflect a team association which would demonstrate the teams' capability in both areas (A) and (B) above. However, no offeror with strong background and resources in either individual area should be discouraged from providing a capabilities statement, and an offeror may identify itself as being capable of the work associated with a single area of research, i.e., either item A or B as described above. Interested parties must respond in writing within 30 calendar days from the date of this publication . No contract award will be made on the basis of responses received to this announcement. However,this information will be used in SSA's assessment of capable sources. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of the source data received, but sources deemed qualified will be solicited, if and when request for proposals are issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited or received. The information respondents provide shall pertain to the synopsis only: cross-referencing to material previously submitted is not recommended. No cost or pricing data is required or requested. To assist all interested parties in preparing their responses, SSA has assembled material containing background information as well as pertinent material directly related to the proposed requirement, but because of its voluminous nature, it cannot be icluded in this announcement. This material (The September 1994 Plan for a New Disability Claim Process and the November 1994 follow-up report, Disability Process Redesign: Next Steps in Implementation) is available for download in electronic form via INTERNET by following these instructions: WWW.SSA.GOV (enter);after the SSA Online Home page appears, Go to Benefit Information (click here); Go to Disability Listing, Other Publications (click here); Menu appears, select number 6. Plan for a New Disability Process Redesign and number 7. Disability Process Redesign. Failure to either retrieve these documents from the Internet or to request a hard copy to review the materials and/or to complete said review within the timeframes specified above shall not constitute reasonable grounds for extension of the synopsis closing date. Therefore, it is incumbent upon interested parties to complete their review of the materials as timely as possible. (0284)

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