Ability Network Incorporated

This is a notification of an intent to award a sole source bridge contract to Ability Network Incorporated under NAICS code 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services by Indian Health Services for a period of six (6) months under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and in accordance with FAR 52.237-3 Continuity of Services. Due to the daily eligibility verification, electronic data interchange (EDI), and claims clearinghouse services at cost pricing for the Phoenix Area Office (Non-PIMC Facilities) and Phoenix Indian Medical Center. ABILITY is a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) approved vendor who provides secure Internet based connectivity to all current Fiscal Intermediaries and Carriers now referred to as MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractors), and also into the CMS Enterprise Data Centers (EDC's) for DDE/FISS access. ABILITY's Network's technology is a platform that allows its users to incrementally add other MAC trading partners as their Medicare data transport as EDI needs evolve. ABILITY also interfaces with the Indian Health Service Resource Patient Management System (RPMS), as a proprietary type system, and is the only vendor that has a Business Partner Interconnection Security Agreement in place with the agency for this type of service.

Furthermore, the time necessary for the process of risk acceptance or exemption from FedRAMP requirements of the vendor goes beyond the period of performance in the current contract. It is not cost effective or realistic to expect another contractor to perform during the brief interim period as no other known vendor is FedRAMP certified. Further, a change to another vendor would require an extensive amount of time and resources to ensure all providers, payers, and users are configured along with the technical/network connections needed for the requirement. This would cause a disruption in third party reimbursement, which covers staffing and operational costs at the health care facilities. A bridge contract will keep current services in place for eligibility, EDI, and claims clearinghouse services to remain at the current status quo.

If you can provide the services requested, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by the Agency and may be e-mailed to michele.lodge@ihs.gov referencing notice number PHX-SS-20-005 by 10AM, 25 March 2020. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract acquisition based upon responses to the 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. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be announced to the public in Federal Business Opportunities in accordance with the FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).