DOH Issues Survey to Fiscal Intermediaries
The Department of Health (DOH) published a survey last week for all fiscal intermediaries (FIs) that participated in the Request for Offers (RFO) No. 20039 issued in 2019 to serve the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
As members may know, this new survey and supplemental award process were established in this year’s State Budget process following the February awards for the RFO that left FIs concerned about the arbitrary nature of contracts awarded and transparency of the award process. A limited number of FIs were granted awards to serve the program, and many reputable, longstanding FI providers were denied authorization.
The survey is open to all qualified offerors, including those that received an initial award in February 2021. Non-awarded qualified offerors will not be considered for an award if the survey is not submitted by July 30th.
The survey process will ascertain FI information regarding not-for-profit status; county location; history of continuous operation; intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) experience; experience serving racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; and minority or women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) status. The supplemental award process will consider additional awards in the following categories: FI serving a county-based population of 500,000 or greater and counties 200,000 to 500,000 in population; certification to serve the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) population; experience serving racial, ethnic, and religious minorities and new Americans; and status as an M/WBE.
DOH considers this survey and the resulting additional awards as a continuation of RFO No. 20039. It has stated that it will not proceed with the original authorized contracts until this supplemental process is complete. In addition, the transition policy issued to facilitate FI closures and transitions of personal assistants and consumers to new FIs is also on hold.
DOH hosted a webinar on June 21st to provide an overview of the survey and allow for questions related directly to the survey. An additional session will be held on June 23rd and will resemble the June 21st session, with no new information presented. Click here to register for the June 23rd webinar.
Questions related to this survey process may be submitted no later than June 25th to OHIPContracts@health.ny.gov. DOH says that it will not answer any questions related to the original RFO, the initial award process, contracting, or any other area. Individuals will be directed back to previously posted materials for answers on non-survey issues.
A final survey will be issued on June 30th after Q&A webinars and documents are issued. The anticipated contract start date for all awards is on or after Nov. 1, 2021.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342