Description
Issue of Solicitation Notice The Department of Defense (DoD), TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) issued a solicitation (RFP) on December 21, 2009 for a follow-on contract for the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), currently performed by United Concordia Companies, Inc. (H94002-05-D-0001). The TDP provides for a voluntary, premium based indemnity dental insurance coverage plan that is available to specified categories of individuals who are qualified for these benefits by virtue of their relationship to one of the seven Uniformed Services (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the Commissioned Corps of the USPHS (U.S. Public Health Service) and NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration)). The RFP identifies those TDP dental insurance benefits and administrative services required by the Government. These required administrative services include, but are not limited to, underwriting, marketing, eligibility verification and enrollment, premium collection, provider credentialing, development and maintenance of a preferred provider network in specified geographic areas, claim adjudication and payment, customer services, and the processing of appeals and grievances. The RFP includes four changes to the current TDP program benefits. The benefit changes are: 1) coverage of 1-3 surface posterior resin fillings (white fillings), 2) increasing the current annual maximum from $1,200 to $1,300, 3) increasing the current lifetime orthodontic maximum from $1,500 to $1,750, and 4) the initiation of dental accident coverage with a yearly maximum of $1,200. The period of performance under this contract is anticipated to be six years. Date of award is estimated to be July 19, 2010. The contract will be comprised of an anticipated twelve month transition/phase-in period (August 1, 2010 - July 31, 2011), followed by five one-year option periods (August 1 through July 31) for the performance of TDP dental services. During the evaluation process of this procurement, all option periods will be evaluated for purposes of determining a fair and reasonable price. All interested sources capable of performing this service will be considered. The Government contemplates award of a fixed-price contract resulting from this solicitation. The date specified for receipt of proposals is February 12, 2010 and offers must be valid for 180 days from the submittal date. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15 will be used for this acquisition. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered for award. The requirement is unrestricted. In accordance with FAR 5.102 (a) (1), the solicitation will be made available electronically on the TMA contracting website. To obtain a copy of the TDP Request for Proposal (RFP), RFP H94002-10-R-0001; go to the TMA solicitation website http://www.tricare.osd.mil/contracting/healthcare/solicitations/ and scroll down to Dental Services and click on H94002-10-R-0001. Paper copies of the solicitation will not be provided by the Government. To access the solicitation, go to the above website. If you wish to receive information regarding the request for proposal during the solicitation process, you may register as a potential offeror on the TMA website. Questions regarding this procurement must be submitted, no later than January 8, 2010, using the *E-Mail Questions to the Contracting Officer* option on the TRICARE website. Questions regarding this notice should be directed to the Contracting Officer in writing or via email no later than January 8, 2010. Telephone inquires will not be accepted. TMA does not currently intend to hold a pre-proposal conference; however, should TMA decide to hold one, those potential offerors who have registered on the TMA website will be notified.