Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Contracting Division, 1900 E St., NW, Room SB427, Washington, DC 20415

B -- CONSUMER SURVEYS FOR THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BENEFITS PROGRAM SOL OPM-RFP-96-05517KLM. POC Ken McMahill, Contract Specialist, 202-606-2494. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is seeking a contractor to conduct several consumer surveys relating to the Federal Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) over the next five years. The FEHBP is made up of over 380 health plans with approximately 4.1 million Federal enrollees (employees and retirees). An indefinite number of surveys will be conducted and may include mail surveys, telephone surveys and focus group interviews. OPM will provide the questions for some surveys, while others may require the contractor to develop the questionnaire. Some surveys may involve only a subset of the FEHB's 4.1 million universe and may not require data on a plan by plan basis. In some cases, survey results must be provided for publication and use by consumers. Other surveys may require only the statistical results, analyses of the statistical results and a report on conclusions. We expect to issue a multiple year contract in include an initial 18 month period with annual optional periods thereafter for a total of 5 years. The exercise of optional periods of performance, after the initial 18 month period expires, is at the sole discretion of the Government and is contingent upon the availability of future funds and upon the determination by the Contracting Officer that such renewals would be in the best interest of the Government. We will conduct a minimum of one survey during the initial term of the contract. The initial survey will be a mail-based survey and will involve the full 4.1 million FEHB population. A sufficiently representative sample of the enrollee population must be drawn to achieve statistically credible results on a plan by plan basis. For this initial survey, OPM will provide a list of questions to be included in the questionnaire. SIC code for this procurement is 8732 and the Solicitation will be issued on an unrestricted basis. It is anticipated that the Solicitation OPM-RFP-05517KLM will be released no sooner than 15 days after publications of this notice. This Solicitation will not be subject to provisions of Part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. Proposals are due on or about March 16, 1996. (030)

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