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This is a Request for Information (RFI) for Directed Medical Services (DMS) to support the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). The DOL is seeking to contract with a vendor capable of managing and providing a nationwide consortium of medical specialists to facilitate the timely adjudication of workers' compensation claims. Services include scheduling appointments, conducting case file reviews, and delivering medical reports. The objective is to determine causal relationships, assess impairment, evaluate therapy appropriateness, determine return-to-work feasibility, resolve medical conflicts, and obtain unbiased medical diagnoses. The contract period is one 12-month base period with four 4 12-month option periods, starting March 28, 2026. Interested parties are invited to participate in one-on-one sessions to discuss industry feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). Registration is open from March 26, 2026, through April 6, 2026. Sessions will be held between April 8, 2026, and April 13, 2026, via Microsoft Teams. Key areas of focus include physician qualifications, report timeliness, quality control, security, and data handling. Penalties for late delivery of reports are outlined, with specific liquidated damages for various deliverables. Tiered pricing is also described, offering an incentive for timely submissions.
The bid notice specifies various deadlines for different deliverables. For example, supplemental reports are due no more than 21 calendar days from the date of the request, with an additional 14 calendar days allowed for diagnostic testing or consultations. SEC/OP medical reports are due no more than 7 calendar days from the date of examination, or no more than 14 additional calendar days if diagnostic testing is necessary. IME medical reports are due no more than 14 calendar days from the date of examination, or no more than 14 additional calendar days if diagnostic testing is necessary. Case file review surgical reports are due no more than 7 calendar days from the date of referral. Case file review impairment rating reports or IME file reviews are due no more than 30 calendar days from the date of referral. Case file review other reports are due no more than 21 calendar days from the date of referral. The bid notice states, The contractor is required to deliver services under this contract, as demonstrated by submitting the associated billable work products, no later than the due dates set out throughout the PWS and technical exhibits.
The bid notice states, Payment for services under this contract is made through the FECA fund, as outlined in section 5. 5. 5, based on the approval of billable work products accompanied by associated billing/invoice. It also mentions tiered pricing where Tier 1 represents the base billable price and Tier 2 represents an incentive pricing of a 10% increase of the Tier 1 price for initial submissions. Tier 1 base price always applies in any situation where Tier 2 does not apply.
The bid notice specifies physician qualifications, stating, All physicians shall possess an M. D. degree, D. O. degree, DPM degree, or Psy. D. degree, as applicable. All physicians shall hold an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state in which they perform examinations or otherwise practice under this contract and have medical liability insurance. All physicians shall be board-certified in their respective specialties by one of the medical specialty boards such as the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association or the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS formerly known as the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS)). It also requires physicians to be engaged in active medical practice with no less than 120 hours of direct patient care over the previous twelve months, and prohibits the use of retired physicians or those who only provide disability type examinations.
The bid notice details liquidated damages for late submission of billable work products. For example, a late SEC/OP medical report is subject to **** per every 10 calendar day period after the report is due, charged only at the end of the 10-day period, until a conforming report is submitted. Max: **** after 30 calendar days. Similar penalties are outlined for other report types.
