The Request for Information below was posted by the Social Security Administration.
Purpose of RFI
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information on behalf of the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA is investigating new ways for people to file applications for SSA Retirement and Disability benefits. Among the options being considered is a process to collect bulk data from third parties who wish to assist claimants filing for SSA and/or other types of benefits. The goal of this RFI is to solicit input from potential third party providers to determine the need for and feasibility of SSA building a web service or other electronic means to obtain claims data in bulk from them.
The RFI results will enable SSA to project potential volumes, data quality, and other factors for a Cost Benefit Analysis of the concept. Ultimately, we will attempt to determine whether we can maximize the use of third party data to streamline the claims submittal process for both third parties and SSA, while ensuring there is sufficient data to constitute a claim for benefits upon which SSA can act.
Nothing in this document shall be construed as obligating the Government to issue a solicitation. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED BASED ON RESPONSES TO THIS RFI.
Background
SSA currently has some limited processes in place to allow third party professionals to assist claimants in filing electronic disability reports (the i3368PRO) and submitting medical evidence (Electronic Records Express) in support of their claims for disability benefits, but these must be accessed one claim at a time.
Basic Functionality
SSA is interested in expanding the relationship with third parties by allowing the submission of claims-related data to SSA in bulk. SSA would like to leverage the data that third parties may already have in their records, without requiring the labor-intensive process of keying information into a web interface one claim at a time.
Integration
There is a need for an automated way to get large volumes of data from the third party’s electronic data store into SSA’s legacy systems, to enable us to process claims to completion, while still maintaining the integrity of the data.
Long Term Vision
The long term vision for this project is to eventually collect data for Title II and Title XVI initial claims and appeals, including required disability reports, available medical evidence and any other relevant data a third party may have. The premise is that the data, once uploaded to SSA, would be funneled to the appropriate SSA legacy systems for processing.
Contents of the Response
Respondents should address the following questions and are invited to provide any additional comments relevant to the subject of bulk data transfer. Responding to as many questions as possible will allow us to perform a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of this concept. Please identify by Heading / Number each question to which you are responding.
Data Description
1 Elements - What kind of data elements related to Social Security claims do you have in your records? (List all individual elements, if possible, otherwise describe nature of data – i.e. identification, contact, disability/medical, income/resources, work history, etc.)
2 Currency - How current is the data you maintain? How often is it updated?
3 Volumes – For how many individuals do you have Social Security claims-related data?
4 How many individuals do you expect to assist with filing a claim for SSA benefits this year? Do you expect this number to grow, shrink, or remain relatively unchanged in the next 3 years; next 5 years?
5 Access - Can the data be changed/modified once collected and if so, by whom?
Intake Process
6 Do you collect evidence or copies of evidence, such as birth certificates? How is the evidence stored? What is the source of the evidence?
7 How do you verify the identity of the person providing the data/evidence?
8 How do you record an individual’s agreement with the information in your records?
9 If you update the data or otherwise change it, do you obtain the subject’s agreement with the changed data?
10 If yes, how do you document these agreements?
11 Are these agreements stored?
12 How do you collect client data? (e.g. in-person interview, telephone contact, form self-completion, etc.)
13 Methods –
·1 If data collected in interview:
a) What is the format of the interview?
b) Are questions asked in standard ways? (Provide questions)
·1 If data collected by self-completion of forms:
c) Is there any review for accuracy, completeness, consistency?
d) Is there any verification of data through other sources? Provide copies of any forms used.
14 Do you record the method of collection if more than one method is used?
15 Do you require consent from individuals to share personal data?
16 How do you document consent and maintain this documentation?
Utilization
17 Do you collect data for any other purposes?
18 Do you exchange data with any other government (federal, state, local) agencies? Which agencies?
19 If you exchange bulk data with other agencies, what is the process?
20 Do you use any commercial software to collect data or transfer data to other agencies?
21 If you already submit claims for Social Security benefits or supporting information for claims, how many do you submit per year?
22 What methods do you use, or have you used, to provide data to SSA in the past? If you produce SSA forms, which forms do you produce (e.g. SSA-1, SSA-16, SSA-8000, SSA-3368, SSA-3441, SSA-827, SSA-821, SSA-1696, etc.)?
23 Do you currently have any processes or interfaces with any Social Security field offices in place (formal or informal)? If so, describe in full, including how you exchange or transfer information to SSA; provide the name, office address and phone number of your current SSA contacts.
24 Do you have a preferred method of providing bulk electronic claims-related data (i.e on more than one individual at a time) to SSA?
25 If there was information, needed by Social Security to file a claim for benefits that you do not already have, would you be willing to collect it?
26 Please provide any further information you consider relevant to the subject of bulk electronic data submission to SSA.
Technical Issues
27 What is the format of the data you store?
28 How is your data stored?
29 Who has access to the data you collect?
30 Describe your data security systems and procedures (physical and logical)
Submission of Responses to the RFI
We encourage those third parties who respond to provide SSA with as much information as possible about the kind and amount of data they can provide, and how they envision the data transmission process. We appreciate your efforts on this important initiative.
Send any questions and your responses by 10/31/2006 by email to the following mailbox: 3PBulkData@ssa.gov
Please include a name and phone number of whom to contact in the event there are questions regarding your submission.
Note: This is not a Request for Proposals. A contract will not be awarded based on submissions.
