RECOVERY HITECH Audit Support Services.

This notice is for information purposes only. This opportunity is available only to The Signature Consulting Services, LLC. CMS intends to issue a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Contract (HHSM-500-2011-00003C) on a sole source basis under authority of FAR 19.8 "Contracting with The Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program). The requirements of the SOW are unique and the work is severable. The expertise required in terms of breadth of subject, as well as the depth of subject required limits consideration to only a few contractors who can qualify. By the nature of the activity, operational auditing to access and document readiness and gaps, specific labor requirements can only be estimated in terms of types of labor and quantities of hours, as specific issues to be found are unknown at this time. The ARRA specifies that CMS shall commence making payments effective January 1, 2011, or as soon as CMS systems are capable. The audit process will need be started soon after the first payments are made. An audit support contractor is needed at this time to assist CMS in developing the audit procedures and processes. There are uncertainties involved in contract performance, audit support strategy, that do not permit costs to be estimated with sufficient accuracy (e.g. historical data) to use any type of fixed-price contract. IAW FAR 16.301-2 the successful contractor will have an adequate accounting system for determine applicable costs, and government surveillance during the performance will provide reasonable assurance that efficient methods and sufficient cost controls are being used. In order to meet the aforementioned CMS needs and requirements, CMS intends to award a five year contract (1 year base period with four option years) to an audit support contractor to assist CMS in developing an effective audit process. The dollar magnitude of this contract effort is estimated to exceed $500,000. As required under the HITECH Act, CMS must begin making incentive payments in FY2011 to Eligible Professionals and hospitals for a period of five years. CMS intends to use the audit support contractor to develop an audit process to ensure that payments are accurate throughout the life of the HITECH program. See sources sought notice for 8(a) small businesses, which was posted on 5/15/2010, CMS-2011-8A-0005, for details of notice.