BALTIMORE—In conjunction with the ramp-up of the Round 1 rebid, CMS has scheduled a series of Special Open Door Forums as part of an intensive education campaign about the competitive bidding process.
  
According to CMS, the sessions are designed “to ensure that DMEPOS suppliers interested in bidding get all the information they need to submit a complete bid in a timely manner.”
 
The schedule includes:
Aug. 19 - How to Register to Access the Bidding System (2-3 p.m. EDT)
Sept. 2 - Learn the Rules to Submit a Bid Successfully (2-3 p.m. EDT)
Sept. 16 - What You Need to Know Before Submitting Your Bid (3:30-4:30 p.m. EDT)
Sept. 22 - Financial Documentation Plus Small Supplier Considerations (2-3 p.m. EDT)
Sept. 29 - How a Bid is Evaluated (2-3 p.m. EDT)
Oct. 7 - Bid Submission Process (2-3 p.m. EDT)
Oct. 14 - Open Call (3:30-5 p.m. EDT)
Nov. 4 - Open Call (2-3 p.m. EDT)

There will be time for questions and answers following each forum. A transcript and audio recording from each forum also will be posted on the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) Web site at
www.dmecompetitivebid.com.
 
Registration instructions for the Special Open Door Forums will be sent by email. (Sign up on the home page of the CBIC Web site to receive email updates.)
  
In a Round 1 timeline announced Aug. 3, CMS said registration for user IDs and passwords is currently set to begin Aug. 17. The target date to open the 60-day bid window is Oct. 21. Bidding will close Dec. 21.