U.S. Department of Commerce, Acquisition Services, 14th & Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 6516, Washington, D.C. 20230

R -- WORKERS COMPENSATION CENTER DUE 080800 POC Howard G. Price 202/482-1966 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via, hprice@doc.gov. The U. S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is seeking information from the private sector regarding interest in providing commercial support for the Worker's Compensation Center (WCC). The centralized WCC supports a DOC employee population of approximately 35,000. The WCC works on approximately 3,220 claims each fiscal year (of which 720 are new and 500 are long term cases). A vendor supported WCC would be expected to provide the following tasks: (1) benefits counseling and advisory services for supervisors and employees; (2) review to determine each claim's merit under current law and regulation; (3) claims follow-up including questions, payments, or the need for additional claimant or medical information; (4) review to determine authorization of Continuation of Pay benefits; (5) providing guidance on "light duty" assignments; (6) responsibility for all aspects of case management including the processing of applicable forms; (7) follow-up on claims to verify and ensure payments are made; (8) processing leave buy-back claims; and, (9) processing death claims. The vendor may also be called upon to provide Worker's Compensation Program supervisory training, develop and distribute marketing materials, and/or service a 1-800 hotline for DOC employees. DOC maintains a Windows based -- Worker's Compensation Computer System and data base that provides detailed claims reporting information and tracks all claims. The system is updated with information from downloads submitted by the Department of Labor and the Department's payroll system run by the USDA's National Finance Center. The system's software and hardware is supported by a maintenance contract. A vendor supported WCC would work with the systems contractor to monitor system enhancements and data downloads, verify accuracy of information received, and provide system generated reports on claims activity and costs. In addition, the vendor supported WCC will utilize the Department of Labor's Agency Query System to provide payment and case information to clients. Interested respondents should provide the following information: (1) a brief corporate summary including whether or not the business is small, small-disadvantaged, or women-owned and a listing of any current negotiated GSA schedule, government contract or commercial pricing rates; (2) a summary relating previous experience providing support for a Federal Worker's Compensation Claims Center including information on the number of employees in the Agency and the number of claims handled per year; (3) the services and staff that would be proposed to support a DOC/WCC program; (4) the financing and pricing options (for both on-site and off-site work -- showing both an inclusion and possible exclusion of the 500 long-term claims) for proposed services for one year (2,080 hours) and 3 option years; (5) whether the vendor would be available to take on new work within the next 18 months; and, (6) whether the vendor will be able to assimilate interested existing WCC Federal staff. If vendors recommend use of an in- house automated claims processing and reporting system, the RFI submission should include price differences (and potential benefits) for the use of this system versus the Commerce system. This Request for Information does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Limit your submission to no more than 25 pages. The Government does not intend to award a contract(s) based solely on the submission to this Request of Information nor does it intend to pay for any costs incurred in response to this Request for Information. Interested vendors are encouraged to respond by mail to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Acquisition Services, Room 6514, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, Attention: Howard G. Price. Email responses may be made via e-mail to hprice@doc.gov. Responses shall be made not later than August 8, 2000. Posted 07/07/00 (W-SN472435). (0189)

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