National Institute of Mental Health, Contracts Management Branch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm. 9C-15, Rockville, MD, 20857-8030

R -- TEXAS PARITY DATA SOL NIMH-98-OD-0012 POC Contracting Officer, David Eskenazi or Patricia Gibbons, (301) 443-2696 The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate a one year cost-reimbursement contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas to measure the effects of mental health parity in a managed care environment using proprietary data from the State of Texas. The objectives will be 1) to study the cost and utilization to determine the impact of mental health parity and managed behavioral mental health on cost and utilization of mental health services; 2) to study medical and occupational cost-offset to determine the impact of increased mental health service use on reducing other health care costs and utilization; and 3) to study the impact of parity and managed behavioral health care on the quality and continuity of mental health treatment. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. See Note 22: the proposed contract action is for supplies or services which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302. Interested parties my identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within forty-five days (thirty days if award is issued under an existing basic ordering agreement) after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the government. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. (0078)

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