Q. If the Application to Participate period is closed, how do I apply to become a part of the Vendor Marketplace?
EHR vendors and technology service consultants interested in participating the Vendor Marketplace and working with us on this exciting new project should begin the process by completing a Vendor Information Form (VIF). We will notify you directly as well as post the information here when the next Vendor Marketplace Application to Participate period opens.
Q. Can you please suggest how we can save the attached .pdf file once we have inserted our responses?
If you do not have AdobePro, you will need to download a PDF editing program. We recommend using an open source program such as FoxIt (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/index.php), which is free. However, the submit button becomes invisible with this program; therefore you will need to hover about an inch below the last filename field and click when her cursor becomes a pointing hand. This will allow you to save as a PDF and the data is also saved in its current form and can be edited at any time.
Q. Can we have an extension to the deadline for completion of the ATP?
At this time REC is not granting any extensions.
Q. Please describe in more detail how services vendors and providers will meet one another and how the “sales” interaction will take place?
Once the Application process is complete and Vendors have been evaluated, Vendors that have met REC requirements will be invited to participate in the Vendor Marketplace. After contracts have been executed between RIQI and individual Vendors, Vendors will be deemed “Marketplace Vendors”.
Providers will be introduced to Vendors via the Vendor Marketplace. Providers that join the REC will use REC provided tools to choose the products and/or services they are in need of, which they will select from vendors’ profiles. Once the provider makes their product and or service needs selection, their process manager will be notified who will issue an RFQ on their behalf. The process manager will pre-populate the RFQ with the provider’s information. Along with general information, it will include details from the provider’s self-assessment form to help the vendor better understand the provider’s current state and needs. Vendors in turn will respond to the provider’s RFQ. Providers will make their product and or service selection decision based on the Vendor’s responses to the RFQ.
Vendors will also be asked to participate in REC sponsored Vendor Fairs where they will have the chance to meet and interact with Providers.
Q. The terminology “…vendors will be selected based on a… history of providing products and services to Rhode Island providers”, implies that if a vendor does not have such a history it would be at a disadvantage. Is this true?
Having a history of servicing RI providers is factored into the Vendor evaluations; however RI experience is not a requirement.
Q. What are the payment terms for services vendors?
REC requires Vendors to offer discounted pricing to its members but does not require or have specific payment terms.
Q. I am having problems opening the link to the ATP.
The ATP may take a small amount of time to download depending on your connection speed. Please be patient.
Q. Are consultative services to advise providers how to achieve Meaningful Use by optimization of their EHR a separate service line that can be bid on?
Yes, Vendors that advise Providers on how to achieve Meaningful Use through optimizing their current EHR’s would complete the section “Meaningful Use Support Services”.
Q. Is Meaningful Use strategy solely a vendor-task to evaluate a system or product’s capability to support the Meaningful Use measures?
No. Meaningful Use strategy is to define that the services and/or products offered by the vendor will adhere to Meaningful Use standards and help the Provider achieve Meaningful Use.
Q. The question states, “Is your staff certified by EHR vendors to train on their systems?” Please define”certified”
Many vendors offer certification on their products – Has your staff been certified to train by any EHR Vendors? If so, which vendors?
Q. For what purpose would the REC use shared tools or dashboards and would you make these public?
The REC is looking to establish best practices with REC Provider Members and share tools with them. They may be public as shared resources for the benefit of Provider Members under mutually agreed conditions between the vendor and REC. Proprietary information would not be publicly disclosed.
Q. The application asks for a "timeframe from contract signing to start of project. Is a range of weeks acceptable or due to require a definitive number?
A range is acceptable.
Q. Please provide your definition of a "relevant buisness affiliation."
A business affiliation is defined as: Affiliation may be found where an individual, concern, or entity exercises control indirectly through a third party. This would include affiliated companies and/or subcontractors.
Q. Is each service a standalone service, or is there overlap?
We have divided products and services into discreet products and/or services for the purposes of evaluation. We recognize that the vast majority of these products and/or services will be used in conjunction with others in order for a successful EHR implementation.
Q. Please provide a description of the 18 services listed.
These are common products or services that are typically offered by vendors in the EHR Marketplace. We did not create standard definitions for each service. You as a vendor may want to include a detailed definition for the service offerings you apply to offer.
Q. Will RIQI make these materials public?
Submitted applications and their supporting documents will not be made public however, information such as but not limited to demographic data and pricing will be provided to Provider Members in order to assist with their vendor selection process if the Vendor is admitted to the Vendor Marketplace and the Vendor agrees to participate
Q. How will the data, materials and documentation submitted in response to the Application be used?
The ATP and all supporting documentation will be reviewed by RIQI and will be used to evaluate vendors for participation in the Vendor Marketplace.
Q. Regarding the Application becoming RIQI property, please clarify "becomes RIQI property."
The Application and any supporting documentation will not be returned to the vendor and will not be provided to any third party in its submitted form.
Q. Must we answer your pricing question since our prices vary practice to practice?
Your answer is not required, though averages or ranges are acceptable. Pricing will be required to be provided to RIQI if the vendor is accepted into the Vendor Marketplace and they choose to sign to participate and sign the Vendor Agreement.
Q. Will price ranges be accepted or must there be a flat rate?
Price ranges or averages are acceptable.
Q. Will pricing be publically posted?
Pricing will be provided to REC Provider Members only to assist them in the vendor selection process.
Q. How do vendors meet providers?
Providers and vendors meet in the Vendor Marketplace where providers choose the products and/or services they are in need of, then select from resulting vendors’ comparative profiles
Q. What is the application process?
The vendor "Application to Participate" will be completed shortly and sent out to every vendor responding to the recent RFI. Once we receive the completed “Application to Participate”, we will review all responses against our evaluation criteria and best practices specifications.
Q. When will we know if we’ve been selected?
It is our intention to open the Vendor Marketplace to Providers in June. Selected vendors will be notified before that time.
Q. How long is the Application process?
We expect to complete the Application process in approximately 4 weeks including:
- Distribution of application, response time, "blackout" time
Q. Will there be a standardized pricing structure?
We are currently examining several Group Purchasing options and scenarios and the parameters have not yet been finalized