Updated February 25, 2021
This is a notification of an intent to award a sole source bridge contract to Ability Network Incorporated under NAICS code 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services by Indian Health Services for a period of six (6) months for 1 March 2021 through 31 August 2021, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and in accordance with FAR 52.237-3 Continuity of Services. Due to the daily eligibility verification, electronic data interchange (EDI), and claims clearinghouse services at cost pricing for the Phoenix Area Office (Non-PIMC Facilities) and Phoenix Indian Medical Center. ABILITY ONE is a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) approved vendor who provides secure Internet based connectivity to all current Fiscal Intermediaries and Carriers now referred to as MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractors), and also into the CMS Enterprise Data Centers (EDC’s) for DDE/FISS access. ABILITY’s Network’s technology is a platform that allows its users to incrementally add other MAC trading partners as their Medicare data transport as EDI needs evolve. ABILITY also interfaces with the Indian Health Service Resource Patient Management System (RPMS), as a proprietary type system, and is the only vendor that has a Business Partner Interconnection Security Agreement in place with the agency for this type of service.
Posted February 27, 2020
Solicitation: PHX-SS-20-005
“This is a notification of an intent to award a sole source bridge contract to Ability Network Incorporated under NAICS code 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services by Indian Health Services for a period of six (6) months under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and in accordance with FAR 52.237-3 Continuity of Services.”
“ABILITY is a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) approved vendor who provides secure Internet based connectivity to all current Fiscal Intermediaries and Carriers now referred to as MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractors), and also into the CMS Enterprise Data Centers (EDC’s) for DDE/FISS access. ABILITY’s Network’s technology is a platform that allows its users to incrementally add other MAC trading partners as their Medicare data transport as EDI needs evolve. ABILITY also interfaces with the Indian Health Service Resource Patient Management System (RPMS), as a proprietary type system, and is the only vendor that has a Business Partner Interconnection Security Agreement in place with the agency for this type of service.”
“Furthermore, the time necessary for the process of risk acceptance or exemption from FedRAMP requirements of the vendor goes beyond the period of performance in the current contract. It is not cost effective or realistic to expect another contractor to perform during the brief interim period as no other known vendor is FedRAMP certified. Further, a change to another vendor would require an extensive amount of time and resources to ensure all providers, payers, and users are configured along with the technical/network connections needed for the requirement. This would cause a disruption in third party reimbursement, which covers staffing and operational costs at the health care facilities. A bridge contract will keep current services in place for eligibility, EDI, and claims clearinghouse services to remain at the current status quo.”
