Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding - COMMON OWNERSHIP AND COMMON CONTROL

If you are a supplier interested in bidding, prepare now – don’t wait.

REVIEW YOUR ENROLLMENT RECORD!

Commonly owned suppliers are those where one or more of them has an ownership interest totaling at least five percent in the other(s). The term "ownership interest" is defined as "the possession of equity in the capital, stock, or profits of another supplier."

Commonly controlled suppliers are those where one or more of a supplier's owners are also an officer, director, or partner of another supplier.

Commonly owned and/or commonly controlled suppliers are prohibited from competing against themselves when submitting bids in the same competitive bidding area (CBA) and product category combination (competition). Therefore, if you are a commonly owned and/or commonly controlled supplier when registration opens, you must register one time with one Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN), which is designated as your primary location in the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Bidding System, DBidS. When the bid window opens, you must submit one bid that includes all commonly owned and/or commonly controlled locations that would furnish the lead item and all non-lead items in the same competition. The legal business name (LBN) for your primary location will auto-populate in DBidS, on the Business Organization section of Form A. This LBN must be the same LBN on your bid surety bond(s). If awarded a contract, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will contract with the legal business entity identified by the LBN for the primary location.

Remember, commonly owned and/or commonly controlled supplier organizations that submit separate bids for the same competition will have their bids for the competition disqualified.

Steps to Take NOW:

• Review your current Medicare enrollment record on the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) for ownership interest and/or managing control information.
• Complete the appropriate sections of the CMS-855S enrollment application to update any information under your current Medicare supplier billing number, if applicable.

If you need assistance or clarification on the CMS-855S enrollment application, you may visit the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) website or call the NSC at 866-238-9652. Suppliers must maintain accurate information on their CMS-855S with the NSC and in PECOS.

As a reminder, the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) is the official information source for bidders and bidder education. CMS cautions bidders about potential inaccurate information concerning the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program posted on non-government websites. Bidders that rely on this information in the preparation or submission of their bids could be at risk of submitting a non-compliant bid.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the CBIC customer service center at 877-577-5331 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. prevailing Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.