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

Q -- THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PAYMENT PROGRAM SOL SSA-RFP-96-2583 DUE 031596 POC Wayne McDonald Tel: (410) 966-1323 Vocational Rehabilitation Payment Program--The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to issue a solicitation to acquire Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services for SSA Disability Beneficiaries and Disabled or Blind Supplemental Security Income Recipients not served by State VR agencies. On March 15, 1994 SSA published final regulations in the Federal Register relative to the Agency's plans for expanding the number of providers (i.e., ''alternate participants'') who can offer VR services. These regulations will allow the Agency to refer beneficiaries not being served by the State VR agencies to other providers/alternate participants in the public and private sectors, and to pay the cost of providing these services for successful cases. Disability beneficiaries and disabled and blind supplemental security income recipients who are not served by the State VR agencies will be available for re-referral to alternate participants in the Spring of 1996. The Agency's final VR regulations authorized SSA to enter into negotiated contracts with qualified alternate participants. Accordingly, on or about April 1, 1996, SSA plans to issue a formal solicitation/request for proposals (RFP) for its ''Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Payment Program.'' The Agency anticipates that, from this single RFP, multiple requirements/fixed-price task order contracts will be awarded to those individuals and/or entities which qualify under the provisions of the RFP and SSA's VR regulations. Pursuant to and consistent with these VR regulations (title 20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 404 and 416, Subparts V thereof) and with Federal acquisition policies, any and all such contracts shall be subject to title 48 CFR, Federal Acquisition Regulation, (FAR) coverage. The RFP will explain the VR payment program's requirements and alternate participants' responsibilities. Furthermore, the RFP will include specific instructions for submitting a formal proposal in order to be considered/qualified to become an alternate participant in SSA's VR payment program. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ISSUES/ITEMS/AREAS WHICH THE RFP WILL ADDRESS: 1) Purpose of the program; 2) Basic qualifications of an alternate participant. Any public or private agency, organization, institution or individual (that is, any entity whether operating on a ''for-profit'' or ''not- for-profit'' basis), except for participating State VR agencies, may qualify as an alternate participant. ANY SUCH ENTITY OR INDIVIDUAL SEEKING/PROPOSING TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATE PARTICIPANT UNDER THE PROGRAM WILL BE REQUIRED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO: (a) Submit written proof that they are appropriately licensed, certified, accredited or registered to provide VR services in the State or States in which they provide such services; or provide documentation of accreditation or certification by a nationally recognized accrediting organization; (b) Submit a plan for providing VR services (similar to State plans) which meets the requirements of title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This plan will govern the provisions of VR services to individuals and will provide that such services meet certain minimum standards including, but not limited to: (i) That services are provided under an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) or similar document for each beneficiary served but only if the services could reasonably be expected to assist or motivate the individual in returning to or continuing in substantial gainful activity (SGA); (ii) All medical and related health services furnished will be prescribed by, or provided under the formal supervision of, persons licensed to prescribe or supervise the provision of these services in the State in which these services are provided; (iii) Only qualified personnel and rehabilitation facilities will be used to furnish VR services; and (iv) Protection of client rights. Subcontractors would also be required to meet these standards. Additional details/guidance relative to the foregoing, particularly relating to the protection of a client's right to privacy, to be informed of potential risk, and appeal rights will be provided in/by the solicitation/RFP. (c) Submit a cost-containment plan with its proposal. This cost-containment plan will be consistent with the VR regulations and with appropriate FAR Part 31 coverage pertaining to cost principles; will be negotiated and agreed-upon by the parties; and will then be incorporated as part of any resultant contract with an alternate participant. 3) SSA referrals to an alternate participant; 4) Requirements for reimbursement; 5) VR services claim documentation requirements; 6) Similar/comparable benefits; 7) Appeals/disputes; 8) Privacy and confidentiality of beneficiary information; and 9) Duration of contract will be for 5 years with the possibility of renewals for an additional 5 years. As previously mentioned, pursuant to and consistent with the VR regulations under 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416 (Subparts V thereof), and the FAR regulations under 48 CFR, prior to the negotiation of any resultant contract, any entity or individual seeking/proposing to be considered as an alternate participant -shall be required to furnish to SSA a proposal response to the RFP. Said proposal response is currently envisioned as including, but necessarily limited to: a certified copy of appropriate licenses, certifications, accreditations, and/or registrations; a plan for providing VR services; a cost- containment plan; and any other documents that may be requested in/required by the RFP. Any and all entities and/or individuals which consider that they may be qualified to participate in this program, and which would desire to be considered as an alternate participant under same, are invited to respond, in writing, to this notice. Only written responses will be accepted (note that facsimile responses/ requests may be submitted, but shall be later confirmed via a ''hard copy'' submission). YOU MUST RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE FORTHCOMING SOLICITATION/RFP. These instructions supersede any previously received communications concerning the participation in this program. All such responses/requests shall specifically refer to/cite RFP number SSA-RFP-96-2583 and shall be submitted so as to be received at SSA by not later than March 15, 1996. The solicitation/RFP will also be available for download in electronic form on the SSA Acquisition Data and Information Exchange (SADIE) Bulletin Board System. Dial (410) 966-4889 within the Baltimore, Md. area, or 1-800-SSA-SELL for access. Set your modem to eight (8) data bits, no parity, one (1) stop bit (8-N-1), full duplex, and VT-100 or ANSI terminal emulation. Further instructions are available online. For technical assistance, call the Sysop at (410) 965-8086. No cost or pricing data is requested. This is not a request for proposal, only an announcement of the potential issuance of a request for proposal; and the Government does not intend to pay for any information submitted/received (0043)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0042 19960213\Q-0001.SOL)