Consulting Assistance to Support State of Vermont Application to the...

Agency:	State of Vermont
State:	Vermont
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	A - Research and development
Posted:	Oct 6, 2023
Due:	Nov 1, 2023
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Agency of Human Services - Central Office

Waterbury State Office Complex

280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2110

802-585-5125 phone

https://humanservices.vermont.gov/

SEALED BID

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Consulting Assistance to Support State of Vermont

Application to the States Advancing All-Payer Health

Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model

ISSUE DATE

QUESTIONS DUE

RFP RESPONSES DUE BY

October 6, 2023

October 12. 2023 – 4:30 PM (EST)

November 1, 2023 – 4:30 PM (EST)

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES, AND ADDENDUMS ASSOCIATED

WITH THIS RFP WILL BE POSTED AT:

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php

THE STATE WILL MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO CONTACT INTERESTED PARTIES WITH UPDATED

INFORMATION. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH BIDDER TO PERIODICALLY CHECK THE

ABOVE WEBPAGEFOR ANY AND ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES AND ADDENDUMS

ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RFP.

STATE CONTACT:

TELEPHONE:

E-MAIL:

Diane Irish, Agency Contracting Office Director

(802) 585-5125

AHS.Contracts@vermont.gov

1. OVERVIEW:

1.1.1.SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), the Vermont Agency of

Human Services is seeking to establish a contract with a vendor to provide consulting assistance in the

development of a response to a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) from the Centers for Medicare

and Medicaid Services (CMS), strategic planning and document preparation related to ongoing

discussions with CMS related to the NOFO submission, and stakeholder engagement. Consulting

assistance will include:

A. Development of a work plan and provision of ongoing project management to meet timelines

and requirements indicated in the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and

Development (AHEAD) Model NOFO (not yet released);

B. Drafting a response to the CMS NOFO for the AHEAD Model that meets the requirements

indicated in the NOFO, is in alignment with State of Vermont goals and priorities, and incorporates

information obtained through the stakeholder engagement process.

C. Stakeholder engagement planning and implementation on topics related to the AHEAD Model

and NOFO. Engagement will be through online meetings and will typically occur on a weekly basis,

however some time periods throughout the engagement may require more frequent meetings.

D. Providing strategic direction and document preparation to support State’s ongoing discussions

with CMS related to the NOFO submission and development of a state-federal agreement as a

result of a successful application, if applicable.

The successful bidder will assist the State in meeting the following goals:

1. Analyze the AHEAD model opportunity to determine if it aligns with and furthers the State of

Vermont’s health care reform goals;

2. Develop a detailed work plan and project management strategy;

3. Develop a successful response to the CMS NOFO that is informed by learnings from previous

stakeholder engagements and a short-term intensive engagement process in early 2024;

4. Negotiate a Cooperative Agreement budget that supports implementation planning and

transformation activities.

The State of Vermont is currently in Performance Year (PY) 6 of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care

Organization (ACO) Model Agreement, a state-federal partnership with CMS that includes signatories from

the Agency of Human Services (AHS), Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), and the Governor of Vermont.

The goal of the model is to shift payments from a fee-for-service system that rewards the delivery of high-

volume high-cost services, to a payment system based on value, high quality care and good health

outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, please see: https://gmcboard.vermont.gov/payment-

reform/APM.

CMS is seeking to align single state demonstrations such those currently operating in states like Vermont,

Maryland, and Pennsylvania into multi-state initiatives. The AHEAD model affords eligible states an

opportunity to continue partnering with the federal government to align Medicare and Medicaid payments

with commercial payments through hospital global budgets, increase investment in primary care and care

delivery transformation, and advance health equity. For more information, please see:

https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/ahead.

The State of Vermont is exploring opportunities to continue advancing multi-payer value-based health care

reforms following the end of the Vermont All-Payer ACO Model Agreement. The AHS and GMCB have

engaged Vermont stakeholders in identifying current health system challenges and opportunities for a

future agreement with CMS. For more information, please see Health Care Reform Workgroup, subgroup,

and technical advisory group meeting materials here: https://humanservices.vermont.gov/our-work/reports

and here: https://gmcboard.vermont.gov/global-budget-technical-advisory.

The State’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver (1115 Waiver) enables

alternative payment models under the Medicaid program and has supported efforts like the Blueprint for

Health, a multi-payer advanced primary care model that includes support for patient-centered medical

homes, Community Health Teams, integration of mental and substance use disorder screening and

services, and screening for and addressing social determinants of health. The 1115 Waiver supports

additional payment and care delivery reforms across many Medicaid providers and services. For more

information, please see: https://blueprintforhealth.vermont.gov/ and

https://humanservices.vermont.gov/about-us/medicaid-administration/global-commitment-health-1115-

waiver.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD AND PROPOSED BUDGET: Contracts arising from this RFP will be for a period of

seven months with an option to renew for up to two additional twelve-month periods. The State anticipates

the start date for such contract(s) will be 12/1/2023. The proposed budget for the full duration of this work

is a maximum of $475,000. Competitive bids are encouraged and will be considered/scored accordingly.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this RFP are to be addressed in writing to

the State Contact listed on the front page of this RFP. Actual or attempted contact with any other individual

from the State concerning this RFP is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.

1.4. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of this RFP or

wishing to comment on any requirement of the RFP must submit specific questions in writing no later than

the deadline for questions indicated on the first page of this RFP. Any questions must be e-mailed to the

point of contact on the front page of this RFP. Questions or comments not raised in writing on or before the

last day of the question period are thereafter waived. At the close of the question period a copy of all

questions or comments and the State's responses will be posted on the State’s web site

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php . Every effort will be made to post this information as soon as

possible after the question period ends, contingent on the number and complexity of the questions.

1.5. CHANGES TO THIS RFP: Any modifications to this RFP will be made in writing by the State through the

issuance of an Addendum to this RFP and posted online at http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php .

Modifications from any other source are not to be considered.

1.6. SOURCE OF FUNDS: Funding for this solicitation is federal in nature (Medicaid).

Compliance with socioeconomic affirmative steps under 2 C.F.R. § 200.321

1. Notice of this RFP will be posted on the Vermont Business Assistance Network

website: https://www.vermontbidsystem.com.

2. Notice of this RFP will be made to the Vermont APEX Accelerator [formerly the

Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)].

If a bidder requires assistance in preparing their proposal, registering with SAM.gov or needs guidance

on socioeconomic certifications, the bidder may contact the Agency of Commerce & Community

Development (ACCD), Department of Economic Development (DED), APEX Accelerator. The Vermont

APEX Accelerator [formerly the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)] specializes in

helping small businesses navigate the documentation associated with State and Federal

procurement. There is no cost to the Contractor for assistance provided by APEX Accelerator. Their

website is: https://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/programs/ptac

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED OUTCOMES:

2.1. Desired Services: The qualified Bidder that becomes a Contractor shall:

2.1.1.Develop a workplan and provide ongoing project management support.

A. The workplan must be approved by AHS within two weeks of executing a contract with the Bidder

that becomes a Contractor and include:

(i.) A list of decisions and deliverables that are needed to respond to the NOFO;

(ii.) The order and dates by which the decisions and deliverables need to be completed;

(iii.) The stakeholder inputs that are needed to finalize the decision;

(iv.) The external and internal stakeholder meeting schedule;

(v.) Milestones for finalizing key decisions, completing draft materials and internal approvals;

and

(vi.) The project management status meeting schedule.

B. Project management must include:

(i.) Identifying a single point of contact for the project;

(ii.) Maintaining a decision log and issues log (including documentation of decisions made

and issue resolutions);

(iii.) Managing both draft and final deliverables, including version control;

(iv.) Using the State's SharePoint site, or another agreed upon site, for collaboration and

storage of all project documents, including all source documents utilized or reviewed for

research purposes cataloged using an agreed upon naming convention; and

(v.) Providing weekly status reports of the project.

2.1.2.Draft a response to the CMS NOFO for the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches

and Development (AHEAD) Model that meets the requirements indicated in the NOFO (not yet

released).

A. The response must be developed in close collaboration with AHS and other State of Vermont

partners (e.g., GMCB, the Blueprint for Health, Vermont Department of Health, Vermont

Department of Financial Regulation) and be in alignment with State of Vermont goals and

priorities.

B. The response must be informed by the stakeholder engagement process described in Section

2.1.3.

C. The final draft must incorporate feedback and edits from AHS and GMCB during the initial draft

review period.

D. The response must meet the content and format requirements of the NOFO which will be

determined by CMS and are likely to include the state’s approach to:

(i.) Establishing hospital global budgets;

(ii.) Primary care transformation, including integrating mental health and substance use

disorder services;

(iii.) Advancing health equity;

(iv.) Establishing statewide accountability targets;

(v.) Recruiting hospital and primary care providers for model participation;

(vi.) Aligning with Medicaid and commercial payers; and

(vii.) Use of Cooperative Agreement funding.

2.1.3. Support stakeholder engagement and State of Vermont decision-making about program design

decisions that are needed to respond to the NOFO.

A. Develop meeting materials including meeting goals, agendas, and PowerPoint presentations on

topics such as those included in Section 2.1.2.D. Meeting materials must be accessible and

appropriate for the target audience.

B. Present meeting materials to stakeholders and facilitate meeting discussions to achieve meeting

goals.

C. Support AHS, in collaboration with GMCB, in making design decisions that consider

recommendations made during stakeholder meetings.

2.1.4. If CMS responds with questions or invites the State of Vermont to enter into an agreement based on

the response to the NOFO, provide strategic direction and document preparation related to the NOFO

response and Cooperative Agreement budget request. Tasks and deliverables include:

A. Drafting responses to CMS questions;

B. Providing policy and legal analysis related to the terms of the Cooperative Agreement;

C. Attending meetings between AHS and CMS; and

D. Assisting the State of Vermont in negotiating the terms of the Cooperative Agreement.

2.2. Desired Deliverables: The contractor must submit identified deliverables for acceptance using a standard

form. The AHS will respond within five business days with the requirements for revision or signed

acceptance. The qualified Bidder that becomes a Contractor shall complete the following:

A. Workplan: Submit a written plan that includes a timeline of activities for completion of the draft and

final NOFO submission. The plan shall include the facilitation of regularly scheduled status meetings,

maintenance of a decision and an issues log (including documentation of decisions made and issue

resolutions), and detailed timelines for key decisions that are needed to respond to the NOFO,

milestones, and contract deliverables.

B. Weekly status reports: Submit written (or in a format pre-approved by the State) updates regarding

the project plan status.

C. Draft NOFO response: Submit a written NOFO response that meets State goals and applicable federal

requirements. Written NOFO response must address the items in Section 2.1.2.

D. Final NOFO response: Submit a written NOFO that meets State goals and applicable federal

requirements. Written NOFO response must address the items in Section 2.1.2 and feedback received

from AHS.

Task/Deliverable Schedule for Consulting Assistance*

Anticipated Dates of

Completion

Contract Start

12/1/23

Weekly status reports

12/8/23 – 7/1/24

Kickoff Meeting

TBD

Workplan

12/15/23

Draft NOFO Response

1/31/24

Final NOFO Response

2/26/24

* Dates and deliverables will be finalized in the contract. This chart is intended only to provide

an estimate of anticipated dates/deliverables.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1. PRICING: Bidders must price the terms of this solicitation at their best pricing. Any and all costs that Bidder

wishes the State to consider must be submitted for consideration. Pricing is to be primarily deliverables

based.

3.1.1.Pricing Duration. Prices and/or rates shall remain firm for the initial term of the contract. The pricing policy

submitted by Bidder must (i) be clearly structured, accountable, and auditable and (ii) cover the full

spectrum of materials and/or services required.

3.1.2.Cooperative Agreements. Bidders that have been awarded similar contracts through a competitive

bidding process with another state and/or cooperative are welcome to submit the pricing in response

to this solicitation.

3.1.3.Retainage. In the discretion of the State, a contract resulting from this RFP may provide that the State

withhold a percentage of the total amount payable for some or all deliverables, such retainage to be

payable upon satisfactory completion and State acceptance in accordance with the terms and

conditions of the contract.

This is the opportunity summary page. You are currently viewing an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation. For more information, please visit the Publication URL Web page.

TITLE	QUESTIONS DUE	ANSWERS POSTED	DUE DATE	NO POSTING AFTER
Consulting Assistance to Support State of Vermont Application to the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model	10/12/2023 04:30PM		11/01/2023 04:30PM

Consulting Assistance to Support State of Vermont Application to the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model

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