The recent notice by CMS detailing a planned Spring RFP recompete of this high-profile contract to provide testing support for the Fee-for-Service (FFS) ecosystem is not the only reason why incumbents Sparksoft and Skyward IT Solutions are mainstays near the top of the list of the most viewed companies at CMS (and primary targets for many  to get to know at today’s CMS industry day), but if the number of firms who have inquired about potential teaming partners is any indication, it does helps explain some of the recent surge in interest.

The latest word out of CMS is that an RFP for a new 5-year contract is expected out in March of 2024. A focus of this effort is to provide ongoing systems testing for the FFS ecosystem, which consists of the Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS), Multi-Carrier System (MCS), Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Common Working File (CWF), as well as the Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC)/Medicare Secondary Payer Systems Contractor (MSPSC) Coordination of Benefits Agreement (COBA) systems process, and the Medicare Payment System Modernization (MPSM) initiative. 

Sparksoft and Skyward came together and formed a CTA to win the latest iteration of this in 2020, a 4-year contract valued at $42M. (Contract Details and Spend to Date for 75FCMC20F0057 can be found here). That contract was competed full and open using GSA MAS.  

An RFP for the next generation of this contract is expected out as early as March and it is once again expected to go out on GSA MAS. According to CMS, the decision on whether this goes out as a small business set-aside action is still TBD. What we do know is that firms have been connecting with the agency, and presumably with HHS/CMS  Small Business specialist and advocate Anita Allen, to try to influence the acquisition strategy.  More information will be shared as it is made public.   

Key Points of Contact (Current and Past) 

Related CMS News / Data    

Do you cover CMS closely? Track all of the latest news on the NEW OrangeSlices Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Intel Segment Page . 

Partnering     

Looking for an IT and consulting firm to partner with at CMS? Click Here  You can filter the list by several key indicators, including socio-economic status, NAICS, Contract vehicle, etc.   

Firms drawing the most attention:    

Below is a list of more than three dozen large and small companies we have noted as drawing the most views by Government and industry leaders on the OrangeSlices AI consultant directory over the 2nd half of 2023 and that bring direct past performance and/or related relationships in support of CMS.     

** An Elev8 GovCon Honoree, noted for a corporate culture that demonstrates excellence, making the company a beacon for talent, for partners, and for clients.             

We cannot and will not speculate here as to the reasons for the increased interest, but whether it is a company evaluating them as a potential partner; a federal acquisition leader doing their due diligence; or a consultant weighing their next job move, this group of companies has been receiving increased interest.     

 

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