Q -- TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM (TDP)

The Department of Defense, TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) has a requirement for dental services to all family members of Uniformed Service Active Duty, Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) members, and their eligible family members. The contractor will be required to have in place or to implement dental insurance operations on a worldwide basis. The contractor will be required to develop a CONUS dental network for the Continental United States (CONUS) service area which is comprised of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The contractor must also be able to accept non-network claims worldwide. This is a follow-on acquisition to the current TRICARE Dental Program contract performed by United Concordia Companies, Inc. (MDA906-00-D-0002). The total eligible population is approximately 3.6 million beneficiaries, of which approximately 1.7 million are enrolled. As a result of this solicitation, one contract is expected to be award. The period of performance will include a base period and five 1-year option periods. The base period for phase-in will begin on the date of contract award, currently scheduled to be on or about March 31, 2005, through January 31, 2006 (Phase-in Period). Option Periods will run February 1, 2006 through January 31, 2011. This solicitation is unrestricted and will result in a fixed-price requirements contract with an award fee. It is anticipated that the solicitation will be issued on or about August 30, 2004 and the date for receipt of proposals is anticipated to be sixty days thereafter. Copies of the solicitation will be available electronically on the TMA website at www.tricate.osd.mi/contracting/healthcare/solicitations. Paper copies will not be available. To access the solicitation, go to the above website. If you wish to receive information regarding the request for proposals during the solicitation process, you must register as a Potential Offeror at the website identified above. Questions regarding the solicitation may be submitted using the *E-Mail Questions to the Contracting Officer* option on the TRICARE website. MODIFICATION: -- ISSUANCE OF THE SOLICITATION IS NOW ANTICIPATED TO BE ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 10, 2004. AGAIN, PLEASE DIRECT QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NOTICE OR THE SOLICITATION THROUGH THE *E-MAIL QUESTIONS TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER* OPTION ON THE TRICARE WEBSITE AT www.tricare.osd.mil/contracting/healthcare/solicitations. DO NOT SEND QUESTIONS TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS INDICATED IN THE NOTICE.--