ClaimsCore Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

This Statement of Objectives (SOO) outlines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) plan to re-platform its legacy "Shared Systems" for Medicare Fee-for-Service claims processing. The "ClaimsCore" program aims to replace systems like MCS, FISS, DME, and CWF with a flexible, interoperable Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. The primary objective is to improve administrative efficiency, enhance beneficiary experience, and enable greater policy agility.

• System Replacement: Replace outdated systems with a near real-time platform while ensuring uninterrupted Medicare operations.
• Beneficiary Transparency: Provide faster claims status, improved visibility into responsibility, and quicker explanations of benefits.
• Provider Burden Reduction: Increase transparency, consistency, and automation to improve revenue certainty for providers.
• Payment Integrity: Enhance fraud, waste, and abuse detection and prevention through real-time risk scoring and pre-payment edits.
• Policy Agility: Enable faster implementation and testing of new payment models and policies.
• Operational Efficiency: Improve data access, reporting, and analytics for better decision-making.
• Modernization: Retire legacy COBOL mainframe systems, reduce obsolescence risk, and improve system scalability and availability.

The ClaimsCore program will focus on replacing the core claims processing systems. It will involve integrating with existing MAC tools and systems rather than replacing them, except in exceptional circumstances. The scope includes supporting the end-to-end claim lifecycle, from intake and eligibility checks to payment determination, remittance, reporting, and audits.

The procurement will utilize a challenge-based acquisition process with multiple phases, including a Proof of Concept (POC) to assess vendor solutions against defined metrics before potential production implementation. CMS is seeking a SaaS-based COTS platform with associated configuration and integration services.

• System Performance: Near real-time adjudication, 99.9% uptime, horizontal scalability.
• Architecture & Standards: Alignment with CMS enterprise architecture and standards.
• SaaS Deployment: Options for fully managed SaaS or vendor-managed SaaS within CMS infrastructure.
• Security & Privacy: Compliance with FISMA Moderate, FedRAMP requirements, and all applicable HHS/CMS security and privacy policies.
• Interoperability: Support for HIPAA X12 and comprehensive APIs (REST/FHIR).
• Data Rights: CMS retains ownership and unlimited rights in all CMS data handled or produced.

The procurement process includes RFP acquisition, a Proof of Concept phase (ending Nov 4, 2026), Production Implementation, and a potential follow-on contract.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document provides "Instructions to Offerors" for Solicitation # 75FCMC26R0022, related to "ClaimsCore Instructions." It outlines the terms and conditions for submitting proposals and does not commit the Government to any payment for preparation or submission, nor does it guarantee a future contract. Procurement is subject to future availability of funds.

• Format: Responses should be viewable in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat, formatted for letter-sized pages (8-1/2 x 11"), single-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Landscape layout is acceptable for certain pages. Pages must be numbered consecutively. "Front matter" (e.g., cover letter, table of contents) does not count towards page limitations. Font size should be 12-point, with 9-point acceptable for tables, graphics, headers, and footers. Tables should be text-searchable, not images.

• Electronic Submissions: For email submissions, keep attachment size below 25MB.

• Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTAs): If proposed, CTAs must be identified, and proposals must be consistent regarding CTA arrangements. The prime contractor will be identified in the FPDS-NG record, and payment will be made only to the prime contractor.

• Subcontracting Plan: If required, submit with Phase 2 proposals per FAR 19.704 and FAR Clause 52.219-9.

• Written Questions: Submit via email no later than 11:00 am ET on 03/06/2026. Questions received after this date may not be answered. A specific format for questions is provided.

• Proposal Submission:

  • Phase One: Submit via email to Lauren Holsey (Lauren.Holsey@cms.hhs.gov) and cc Candace Straker (Candace.Straker@cms.hhs.gov) by 03/01/2026, 11:00 am ET. Include Unique Entity ID (UEI) and SAM EIN.
  • Phase Two: Submit via email to Lauren Holsey.

• Late Submissions: Late responses will not be considered. The entire response will be considered late if any portion is late.

• Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated using a tradeoff process to determine Best Value. Non-price factors (Corporate Experience, PWS & QASP, Past Performance) are combined and are significantly more important than cost or price. Conflict of Interest (COI) and 508 VPAT submissions will be evaluated for compliance but not for best value.

• Two-Phase Procurement: Proposals are evaluated in phases to minimize costs and evaluation time. An advisory down-select will occur between phases.

• Not explicitly detailed in this document, but subcontracting plans are mentioned.

• The Government may award without discussions. Offerors should submit their best terms initially.

• The PWS must not exceed 20 pages (excluding QASP), and the QASP must not exceed 5 pages.

• Section 508 accessibility standards and requirements for Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR) and Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT) are detailed.

• Business Ethics, Conflicts of Interest (COI), and Compliance must be addressed.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to Solicitation 75FCMC26R0022 serves multiple purposes:

• Provides responses to RFP questions.

• Issues an Amended Solicitation.

• Provides an amended Attachment 1 - ClaimsCore SOO.

• Provides an amended Attachment 3 - ClaimsCore Instructions to Offerors.

• Renames and provides an amended Attachment 6 - Beneficiary Quantities Claims and Unit Pricing.

• Special Contract Requirements: The "True Up Clause" has been modified. This clause details the annual prospective adjustment of firm fixed prices for CLINs 0004, 0006, 0008, 0010, 0012, and 0014 based on changes in beneficiary quantities or claim volumes. It outlines the reporting requirements for the contractor (90 days prior to the end of the current performance period) and the process for the Contracting Officer to unilaterally adjust prices for the subsequent option period. CLIN 0002 is excluded from this adjustment.

• Attachments: The following attachments have been added or amended:

  • Amendment 1 - Attachment 1 ClaimsCore SOO
  • Amendment 1 - Attachment 3 ClaimsCore Instructions to Offerors
  • Amendment 1 - Attachment 6 Beneficiary Quantities Claims and Unit Pricing
  • ClaimsCore Consolidated Q&A

• The amendment provides an amended solicitation and related attachments, which may impact proposal preparation.

• The "True Up Clause" modification affects how pricing for specific CLINs will be adjusted in future option periods.

• The clause 52.217-5 RFO, "Evaluation of Options," has been removed.

• The clause 52.204-15 RFO, "Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts," is noted.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by potential offerors and the government's responses regarding the ClaimsCore solicitation.

• Proof of Concept (PoC) Data & Scope: The PoC will use historical production data, not de-identified sets. Approximately 100 million claims are expected for the test data set, covering Parts A, B, and DME. Synchronization between the new solution and legacy systems is not required during the PoC, only in production.
• Integration & Data: Offerors should expect to receive most data from S3 buckets as flat files. APIs are generally not expected for the PoC. Integration with Tier 1 systems is required, with specific details to be provided at onboarding. Data quality for historical data is believed to exist in accessible formats, but access to VSAM files can be provided if needed.
• Timeline & Deadlines: The PoC is scheduled from May 5, 2026, to November 4, 2026. Phase 2 proposals will be due two weeks after the Phase 1 down-select notification.
• Contract Type & Pricing: The government has determined that a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract type remains appropriate and will not change services CLINS to Time & Materials (T&M). Pricing may be based on a Per Member Per Month (PMPM) basis or claim volume, with flexibility for offerors.
• Small Business Subcontracting Plan: Submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be required with the Phase 2 proposal.
• Security: A full Authority to Operate (ATO) is not required for the PoC; vendors must demonstrate an ATO-ready security posture. Production deployment will require full CMS security and compliance.
• Business Logic: While CMS will provide extracted business logic, offerors are ultimately responsible for its discovery and implementation to achieve parity with legacy systems. The legal source of truth is published policy, regulation, and guidance.

Several clauses were removed or amended based on vendor questions, including the removal of FAR 52.204-15 and updates to instructions regarding subcontractor pricing and small business subcontracting plans. The solicitation has been updated to clarify requirements and address ambiguities.

Amendment / Modification

This document, "Amendment 1 - Attachment 3 ClaimsCore Instructions to Offerors RL.docx", appears to be an attachment related to a solicitation, specifically providing "Instructions to Offerors". It details the requirements for proposal preparation and submission, including formatting, page limitations, font size, and electronic submission guidelines. It also outlines the submission process for written questions, including deadlines and formatting. The amendment specifies the two-phase evaluation process, detailing the factors for Phase 1 (Corporate Experience) and Phase 2 (PWS & QASP, Past Performance, Price, Section 508, Business Ethics, COI, and Compliance). It provides detailed instructions on how to prepare and what to include in each proposal volume, including specific requirements for Corporate Experience, PWS/QASP, Past Performance, Price, Section 508 compliance (VPAT/ACR), and Business Ethics/COI. It also specifies submission deadlines for questions and proposals.

• Instructions for proposal preparation and submission (formatting, page limits, font size).

• Process for submitting written questions.

• Two-phase evaluation process and criteria for each phase.

• Requirements for Corporate Experience, PWS/QASP, Past Performance, Price, Section 508, and COI volumes.

• Clarifies proposal submission requirements and evaluation factors.

• Sets deadlines for questions (03/06/2026) and proposal submission (03/01/2026 for Phase One).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This attachment (Attachment 6) establishes the estimated beneficiary quantities and fixed unit prices for calculating firm-fixed prices for specific CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers) that are subject to an annual prospective price adjustment, referred to as the "True-Up." Offerors can propose pricing using either Beneficiary-Based (Per Member/Per Month - PMPM) Pricing or Claims Volume-Based (Per Claim) Pricing.

• Applicable CLINs: CLINs 0004, 0006, 0008, 0010, 0012, and 0014 are subject to adjustment. CLINs 0002 is excluded.
• Unit Pricing Assumptions: Prices are firm-fixed monthly PMPM for software services as defined in the PWS. Beneficiary and claims counts are based on unique monthly counts processed through the contractor's system.
• Pricing Methodologies:
  • Beneficiary-Based (PMPM): Calculated Annual CLIN Price = Estimated Average Monthly Beneficiaries × Unit Price × 12 Months.
  • Claims Volume-Based (Per Claim): Annual CLIN Price = Estimated Average Monthly Claims Volume × Unit Price per Claim × 12 Months.
• Estimated Quantities and Prices: Tables provide estimated average monthly beneficiaries and claims volumes for specific performance periods (e.g., 11/05/2027 – 11/04/2028 for CLIN 0004). Unit prices (TBD) and calculated annual prices are to be determined.
• Annual True-Up Submission: Contractors must submit an updated version of this attachment in MS Excel format within 90 days before the current performance period ends. This submission should include actual beneficiary counts, revised projected quantities, and recalculated prospective CLIN prices, supported by a basis of estimate and historical trends.

This document is critical for bidders as it outlines the pricing structure and assumptions for a significant portion of the contract. It details how prices for specific CLINs will be calculated and adjusted annually. Bidders must understand these pricing methodologies (PMPM or Per Claim) and the estimated volumes to formulate their proposals accurately. The "TBD" values for unit prices indicate areas where offerors will need to provide their pricing, and the submission requirements for the annual True-Up process are also key considerations for ongoing contract management.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This attachment establishes the estimated beneficiary quantities, estimated claims volume, and fixed unit prices for CLINs subject to an annual prospective price adjustment ("True-Up"). It provides the basis for calculating firm-fixed prices for these CLINs.

• Pricing Methodologies: Offerors can propose pricing based on either Beneficiary-Based (Per Member Per Month - PMPM) or Claims Volume-Based (Per Claim).
• Applicable CLINs: The quantities and prices apply to CLINs 0004, 0006, 0008, 0010, 0012, and 0014. CLIN 0002 is excluded.
• Unit Pricing Assumptions: Unit prices are firm-fixed monthly prices per unique beneficiary (PMPM) or per claim processed, applied to software services as defined in the PWS. Counts are based on monthly processed beneficiaries and claims.
• Estimated Quantities and Prices: Tables provide estimated average monthly beneficiaries and unit prices (PMPM) and estimated monthly claims volume and unit prices (Per Claim) for various performance periods. For CLIN 0004, the estimated monthly beneficiaries are 33,564,990 and the estimated monthly claims volume is 95.3M. Unit prices and calculated annual prices for CLIN 0004 are TBD, and for other CLINs are listed as XXXX.
• True-Up Submission Requirements: The Contractor must submit an updated version of this attachment in MS Excel format annually, no later than 90 days before the end of the performance period. This submission should include actual beneficiary/claim counts for the current period and revised projections for future periods, along with supporting documentation.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the basis of pricing for the Medicare Claims Processing Software. It outlines the expected volumes and the pricing structure (PMPM or Per Claim) that will be used for calculating contract costs. Bidders need to use this information to develop their proposals and understand how future price adjustments will be calculated based on actual volumes. The TBD and XXXX values indicate areas where specific pricing needs to be proposed or will be determined.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document provides instructions to offerors for Solicitation #75FCMC26R0022, related to "Claims Core". It outlines the requirements for preparing and submitting proposals.

• Proposals must be in a format viewable by Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat.

• Digital submissions must be letter-sized (8-1/2 x 11"), single-spaced, with one-inch margins. Landscape layout is acceptable for certain pages.

• Responses should use a 12-point font size, with a minimum of nine-point font for tables, graphics, etc.

• Tables should be formatted for text searchability, avoiding images of tables.

• Electronic mail attachments should be kept below 25MB.

• Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTAs) must be clearly indicated, with the prime contractor identified as the entity receiving payment.

• The procurement is subject to future availability of funds.

• The Government estimates up to four (4) awards will be made.

• Written questions are due by 11:00 am ET on 03/06/2026. Questions should be submitted via email and reference specific RFP sections.

• Phase One proposals are due by 03/13/2026, 11:00 am ET, submitted via email to Lauren Holsey.

• Phase Two proposal documentation is also submitted via email to Lauren Holsey.

• Proposals will be evaluated using a tradeoff process to determine Best Value.

• Evaluation factors (in descending order of importance) include: Corporate Experience (Mission Focused), Performance Work Statement (PWS) & Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), and Past Performance. Conflict of Interest (COI) and Section 508 VPAT submissions will be evaluated for compliance.

• The evaluation process is two-phased.

• Phase 1 focuses on Corporate Experience (Mission Focused).

• Phase 2 focuses on PWS & QASP, Past Performance, Price, Section 508, and Business Ethics/COI/Compliance.

• The Government may award without discussions.

• Not explicitly stated in this document.

• This solicitation does not commit the Government to pay for proposal preparation or submission costs.

• Offerors are advised to submit their best terms from a technical and price standpoint in their initial submission.

• The PWS must not exceed 20 pages (excluding QASP), and the QASP must not exceed 5 pages.

• Section 508 compliance requires submission of an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) / Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).

• Business Ethics, Conflicts of Interest (COI), and Compliance require submission of a "Contractor/Offeror Conflict of Interest" attachment.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, FAR 52.212-5, outlines the Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders for Commercial Products and Commercial Services. It specifies which FAR clauses are incorporated by reference into a contract.

• Paragraph (a): Lists mandatory FAR clauses for acquisitions of commercial products and services, including prohibitions on certain agreements, contracting for specific technologies (e.g., Kaspersky Lab, telecommunications equipment), and clauses related to protests and applicable law.
• Paragraph (b): Lists FAR clauses that the Contracting Officer may select for incorporation, covering areas such as subcontractor sales restrictions, contractor business ethics, whistleblower rights, reporting requirements, supply chain security, small business concerns (HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.), labor standards, and foreign purchases.
• Paragraph (c): Lists FAR clauses applicable to commercial services, including Service Contract Labor Standards, minimum wages, and paid sick leave.
• Paragraph (d): Addresses Comptroller General examination of records.
• Paragraph (e): Details which FAR clauses are required to be flowed down to subcontractors for commercial products and services, and which may be included optionally.

This document is crucial for bidders as it defines the mandatory and optional contract clauses that will govern the performance of the contract. Understanding these clauses is essential for assessing compliance requirements, potential risks, and overall feasibility of bidding on the opportunity. Bidders should pay close attention to the clauses marked with an 'x' or explicitly stated as incorporated, as these will directly impact their contractual obligations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This attachment establishes the estimated beneficiary quantities and fixed unit prices for specific CLINs. These figures are used to calculate firm-fixed prices that are subject to an annual prospective price adjustment, known as a "True-Up," as detailed in the Special Contract Requirements Section.

• Applicable CLINs: CLINs 0004, 0006, 0008, 0010, 0012, and 0014 are subject to prospective adjustment. CLIN 0002 is excluded.
• Unit Pricing Assumptions: Prices are firm-fixed monthly rates per unique beneficiary (PMPM) and apply to software services as defined in the PWS. Beneficiary counts are based on monthly processed unique beneficiaries.
• Estimated Quantities and Prices: A table provides estimated average monthly and annual beneficiaries, unit prices (PMPM), and calculated annual CLIN prices for CLINs 0004 through 0014, with periods of performance extending from 11/05/2027 to 11/04/2033. For CLIN 0004, the estimated average monthly beneficiaries are 33,564,990, and the estimated annual beneficiaries are 827,055,202, with Unit Price and Calculated Annual CLIN Price listed as TBD.
• True-Up Submission Requirements: Contractors must submit an updated version of this attachment in MS Excel format no later than 90 days before the end of the current performance period. This submission should include actual average monthly unique beneficiary counts, revised projected quantities for option periods, and recalculated prospective CLIN prices.

This document is crucial for bidders as it outlines the pricing structure and estimated volumes for key CLINs. Understanding these quantities and the True-Up mechanism is essential for developing accurate proposals and understanding potential price adjustments throughout the contract period. The TBD status for CLIN 0004's price indicates a key area for clarification or negotiation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation, "ClaimsCore," seeks to replatform the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims adjudication environment. The goal is to replace four legacy COBOL-based systems with a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS), configurable, interoperable claims processing platform. This platform aims to achieve sub-second adjudication, improve real-time fraud prevention, and ensure transparent interoperability through HIPAA X12 and FHIR/REST APIs. The program supports CMS strategic goals for cost deflation, transparency, and policy agility, consolidating separate systems (Part A, Part B, DME) into a unified solution.

• Replatforming of legacy COBOL-based FFS claims adjudication systems.

• Acquisition of a COTS, configurable, interoperable claims processing platform.

• Support for sub-second adjudication, real-time fraud prevention, and interoperability via HIPAA X12 and FHIR/REST APIs.

• Development and implementation of an Information System Security Plan.

• Compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

• Adherence to HIPAA Business Associate requirements for Protected Health Information (PHI).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

• Period of Performance: Base period from May 2026 to November 2026, with seven option periods extending through November 2033.

• Proposal submission instructions are detailed in Attachment 3, "ClaimsCore Instructions to Offerors."

• Evaluation criteria are also detailed in Attachment 3.

• Offer Due Date: March 13, 2026, 11:00 AM EST.

• The acquisition is listed as "UNRESTRICTED."

• North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) code: 541512 (Size Standard: $30 Million).

• Key Government Points of Contact: Candace Straker (Contracting Officer) and Lauren Holsey (Contract Specialist).

• The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5 by reference, with addenda.

• Attachment 1 provides the Statement of Objectives (SOO).

• Attachment 6 details Beneficiary Quantities and Unit Pricing, relevant to the "True Up Clause" for CLINs 0004, 0006, 0008, 0010, 0012, and 0014.

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

The ClaimsCore program aims to re-platform Medicare Fee for Service claims processing by replacing legacy "Shared Systems" (MCS, FISS, DME) and the Common Working File (CWF) with a flexible, interoperable Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. The goal is to reduce administrative burden, improve the beneficiary experience, and enable near real-time adjudication and claims status.

• Replace Legacy Systems: Modernize core claims processing systems while maintaining uninterrupted operations.
• Enhance Transparency & Timeliness: Provide near real-time adjudication and claims status for beneficiaries and providers.
• Reduce Provider Burden: Increase transparency, automation, and revenue certainty for providers.
• Improve Payment Integrity: Enhance fraud, waste, and abuse detection and prevention.
• Increase Policy Agility: Enable faster implementation and testing of new payment models.
• Strengthen Security & Resilience: Achieve high availability (99.9% uptime) and robust security posture.

The project involves procuring a SaaS COTS platform and associated configuration and integration services. Key areas include:

• Proof of Concept (POC) Phase: Contractors will demonstrate their solutions in parallel with legacy systems, focusing on adjudication, integration with Tier 1 systems, user interfaces, configuration flexibility, and security compliance.

• Production Implementation: Incremental rollout across Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) jurisdictions.

• Integration: Connecting with numerous external systems (e.g., PECOS, HIGLAS, HETS) and data sources.

• Data Migration: Migrating decades of data from legacy systems.

• System Performance: Near real-time adjudication, 99.9% uptime, horizontal scalability.

• Architecture & Standards: Alignment with CMS enterprise architecture and standards.

• Deployment Models: SaaS hosted in vendor-owned or CMS cloud infrastructure.

• Security: Compliance with FISMA Moderate, FedRAMP requirements, and comprehensive cybersecurity controls.

• Data Rights: CMS retains ownership and unlimited rights to CMS data.

A challenge-based acquisition process with multiple phases: RFP, Proof of Concept (POC), and Production Implementation. Down-selection will occur after the POC phase.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment J.2, a template for submitting Contractor/Offeror Conflict of Interest (COI) information. It is required in accordance with Solicitation/Contract Section H.1 and must be included with proposal submissions or during contract performance. A response is required even if no conflict exists.

• Organizational Structure: Requires high-level and internal organization charts, along with a narrative explanation of structure and ownership.
• Actual, Potential, and/or Apparent COIs and Financial Interests/Relationships: Requires disclosure of current/active and known future non-foreign contracts that may pose a COI, including details on the customer, contract number, period of performance, total value, type of COI (Actual, Potential, Apparent), and type of conflict (Unequal Access, Biased Ground Rules, Impaired Objectivity). It also requires disclosure of financial interests/relationships that cause COIs.
• COI Oversight Process: Description of how the contractor identifies and resolves organizational and personal COIs.
• Conflict of Interest Mitigation: A proposed mitigation plan for identified conflicts, including description, rationale, strategy, timelines, and monitoring plan.
• Personal Conflicts of Interest (PCI): Requires analysis of PCI Financial Disclosures for governing body members, principals, and key personnel. Specific financial details are not to be disclosed to the Government, but mitigation plans for identified PCIs must be provided.
• Subcontractors: Prime contractors/offerors must analyze their subcontractors' COI submissions, ensuring conflict-free performance and providing an analysis of mitigation strategies.

Bidders must complete and submit this template (or a comparable format) as part of their proposal to demonstrate compliance with conflict of interest requirements. Failure to provide the required information, even if no conflict exists, may impact proposal evaluation. The template guides bidders on the specific organizational and financial disclosures needed to address potential conflicts.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire intended for use by references of offerors responding to Solicitation RFP-CMS-75FCMC26R0022– ClaimsCore. It is designed to gather feedback on the offeror's performance to aid the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in their evaluation process.

• Cover Letter: Provides context for the reference, explains the purpose of the questionnaire, and instructs the reference on how to complete and return it to CMS.
• Questionnaire Sections: Structured around agency goals: Customer Service, Financial Management, Operational Excellence, and Innovations.
• Rating Scale: A numerical scale from 0 (Unsatisfactory) to 4 (Exceptional), with a "Not Applicable" option.
• Justification: References are required to justify each rating with specific comments.
• Submission Instructions: Details on how to submit the completed questionnaire via email (preferred) or mail to CMS.

Bidders should ensure their identified references understand the importance of this questionnaire and complete it accurately and promptly. The feedback provided by references directly impacts the evaluation of the bidder's past performance, a significant factor in the source selection process for this RFP.