INTRODUCTION
Pierce Transit is seeking a Medical Review Officer for the Agency’s federally mandated drug testing program in accordance with 49 CFR Part 40.

THE AGENCY
Pierce Transit is a Washington State municipal corporation organized under RCW 36-57A, Public Transportation Benefit Areas with 933 budgeted employees, approximately 670 of whom are safety sensitive, and has a responsibility for providing public transit services in Tacoma and specified areas throughout Pierce and King Counties. The Agency’s administrative offices are located at 3701 96th Street SW, P.O. Box 99070, Lakewood, WA 98499-0070.

SCOPE OF WORK
The following information is provided to assist the consultant in understanding the scope of services needed by Pierce Transit. Selected individuals will be asked to submit detailed plans that incorporate the information outlined below.

The Medical Review Officer (MRO) shall be a licensed physician, M.D. or D.O., who is knowledgeable about the following:

• Controlled substances abuse disorders, including knowledge of alternative medical explanations for laboratory confirmed drug test results.
• Issues relating to adulterated and substituted specimens as well as the possible medical causes of specimens having an invalid result.
• 49 CFR Part 40, DOT MRO Guidelines, and applicable FTA regulations.

The primary responsibilities of the MRO are to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the drug testing process and to review and interpret non-negative test results obtained through Pierce Transit’s drug testing program. Since a non-negative test result does not automatically identify an employee/applicant as an illegal drug user, the MRO must assess and determine whether alternate medical explanations could account for the non-negative test result. An eligible physician under this requirement may not be an employee of the testing laboratory unless a clear separation of function can be established. The MRO would review and be familiar with job descriptions of the safety sensitive positions subject to drug testing at Pierce Transit.

The following is a listing of the MRO’s specific responsibilities as required by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) SAMHSA Guidelines and Department of Transportation Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing as detailed in 49 CFR Part 40.

• Receive all drug test results from the Pierce Transit contracted NIDA certified laboratory.
• Request, if needed, a quantitative description of test results.
• Receive and review a certified copy of the original “Chain of Custody” document to determine if there are any fatal or correctable errors that may require cancellation of a test.
• Review and interpret confirmed positive, drug test results.
• Inform and conduct a medical interview, either by telephone or face to face, with the individual with a confirmed positive, adulterated, substituted, or invalid test result.
• Review the individual’s relevant medical history, or any other relevant biomedical factors.
• Consult with laboratory officials or other drug abuse experts, as necessary.
• Reject urinalysis results that do not comply with the mandatory guidelines.
• Determine whether a result is consistent with legal drug use; report to Pierce Transit substance use that may compromise safety.
• Prior to verifying a positive test result for opiates, follow steps outlined in 49 CFR Part 40.
• Notify individual with a verified positive result that the individual has seventy-two (72) hours in which to request a test of the split specimen at another SAMHSA certified laboratory.
• Forward results of verified positive tests to the Pierce Transit Designated Employer Representative (DER) named in the contract; be available for consultation with the DER and/or VP, Human Resources & Labor Relations.
• May be called on to testify in court or other grievance proceedings regarding verified positive findings.
• Shall have the capability of providing “RUSH” service if required by Pierce Transit.
• Shall turn over records to any new MRO at the end of the contract.
• Shall comply with all MRO requirements as specified in the DOT Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs, 49 CFR Part 40.

QUALIFICATIONS
The successful administrator shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

• Licensed M.D. or D.O. by an applicable government authority.
• Demonstrated experience with drug abuse disorders and knowledge in the pharmacology and toxicology of legally prescribed and illegal drugs.
• Thorough knowledge, expertise in applicable state and federal rules, laws, and regulations.
• Successful completion of qualification training as outlined in 49 CFR §121 ( c ) and of an exam administered by a nationally recognized MRO certification board or subspecialty board for medical practitioners in the field of medical review of DOT-mandated drug tests.
• Completion of at least 12 professional development hours during each three year period following certification.
• Described services that have been provided to at least one (1) employer comparable in size to Pierce Transit.
• Qualified/trained support personnel.
• If MRO is not located in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area, identify licensed local representation.

EQUAL EMPLOYEMENT OPPORTUNITY
Firms must comply with Pierce Transit’s requirements for Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity.

CONTENT OF PROPOSAL
Proposal shall not exceed ten (10) pages (in addition to the required forms attached).

• Five (5) copies of the proposal shall be submitted and contain the following information:
• Summarize the qualifications of your firm, proposed subcontractors, if any, and key personnel who will be assigned to this contract, including resumes, licenses, continuing education and the role of individuals in the performance of this contract.
• Provide a description of similar projects, including any public clients and identify individuals whom Pierce Transit may contact as a reference (dates of contracts, location, employee group size, and phone number).
• Describe physician’s training and experience in substance abuse disorders and the interpretation and evaluation of an individual’s positive test results together with the individual’s medical history and other biomedical information.
• Identify major issues of concern in the administration of this program.
• Describe how interaction with employee will be handled.
• Hours of availability and the schedule for review and interpretation of test results..
• Provide a detailed fee schedule for services including but not necessarily limited to MRO’s fees, support personnel fees, back-up physician fees, per diem charges if called on to testify. Fees are to cover the three (3) base years of the contract plus the two (2) optional contract years.
• Complete the attached forms.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals and firms interviewed will be evaluated based on the following criteria, which are listed in order of importance:

• Past experience of physician and ability to perform work of a similar nature including necessary clerical support, electronic data transmission capability.
• Timeframe for review/analysis of positive tests.
• Location of MRO’s offices or local representation.
• Availability of back-up physician.
• Cost.
• Evidence of continuing education.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
Five copies of the proposal shall be submitted to Jeff Forslund, Purchasing Coordinator, Pierce Transit, 3701 96th Street SW, P.O. Box 99070, Lakewood, Washington, 98499-0070 not later than 4 p.m. January 16, 2005. Proposals received after the time and place so stated shall not be accepted. All proposals will be reviewed in accordance with the selection criteria, with selected firms to be interviewed by a screening committee. Upon review of the Medical Review Officer Proposals and the interview process, the firm with the proposal that most closely represents the needs of the Agency for a Medical Review Officer will be recommended to the Board of Commissioners of Pierce Transit as the preferred firm. The Board of Commissioners of Pierce Transit will provide authorization to negotiate a contract with the recommended firm. If a successful firm cannot be readily determined, Pierce Transit may request “Best and Final Offers” from firms in a competitive range. Best and Final Offers will be reviewed and scored by the evaluation committee. Contract award will be made to the firm whose proposal is in the best interest of Pierce Transit.

Pierce Transit will not be liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and/or presentation of proposals during the selection process. Pierce Transit through this solicitation, makes no commitments nor by virtue of this solicitation agrees to enter into a contract with any firm so representing themselves. Pierce Transit also reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, cancel this solicitation and take any other measure deemed appropriate that is consistent with the best interest of Pierce Transit.

AWARD OF CONTRACT
Proposals shall remain valid for a period of 90 calendar days from due date or date of Best and Final Offers, whichever is later. Within this time Pierce Transit will act either to award the contract or to reject proposals. The acceptance of a proposal will be evidenced by a notice of award of contract in writing delivered by mail, fax or email to the proposer whose proposal is in the best interest of Pierce Transit.

TENTATIVE SELECTION SCHEDULE
The selection committee will review all proposals by November 21, 2005. Qualified firms may be interviewed during the week of November 28, 2005. An award of contract will be made as soon thereafter as practical with the effective date of the contract being January 1, 2006.

TERM OF CONTRACT
The contract resulting from this request for proposals shall be for a three (3) year period with an option to renew the contract for two (2) additional one (1) year periods upon mutual agreement by both parties.