Q -- Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) for the States of Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for competitions resulting in awards of separate contracts for Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), formerly known as Peer Review Organizations (PROs) for the States of Colorado, Nevada and Oregon. In order to be eligible to receive a QIO contract, an offeror must be deemed a responsible entity in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 9.1 and must meet the definition of a utilization and quality control peer review organization as set forth in Section 1152 of the Social Security Act (the Act). To be eligible for a QIO contract, an organization must satisfactorily demonstrate physician-sponsorship or physician-access as defined in Sections 1152 and 1153 of the Act at the time its proposal is submitted. In addition, an organization must not be a health care facility, health care facility association, a health care facility affiliate or payor organization; and must have a consumer representative on its governing board. QIOs are responsible for review of certain health care services furnished under Title XVIII of the Act in addition to working to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Each QIO is responsible for meeting all requirements as defined in the RFP and resultant contract. The period of performance will be for three (3) years. The anticipated release of the RFP is on or about March 1, 2005. Presolicitation information can be found at http://www2.eps.gov/servlet/Solicitation/R/HHS/HCFA/AGG/CMS05QIO1CGS The solicitation will be uploaded to Federal Business Opportunities at http://www.fedbizopps.gov for all interested parties on or about March 1, 2005. Telephone and facsimile requests will not be honored.