Q -- Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) for the State of North Dakota

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 State of North Dakota. 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 RFP is anticipated to be released on the Federal Business Opportunities website on September 12, 2005. Presolicitation information can be found at http://www.2.eps.gov/servlet/Solicitation/R/HHS/HCFA/AGG/CMS05QIO1CGS. Telephone or facsimile requests for the RFP will not be honored.