After entering my bid data into the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS), I decided to change my business type from a single-location supplier to a multiple-location supplier (or from a multiple-location supplier to a single-location supplier). However, when I changed the business type, I lost all the Form B information previously entered. Why did this happen? Can I get this missing Form B information back?
Your organization's Form Bs are linked to your location(s). When you modify Form A to change your business type, this impacts your locations and the Form Bs associated with those locations. Unfortunately, there is no way for us to restore or retrieve the information once it has been deleted. You must create the Form B(s) again and re-enter the information that was lost.
| 10/09/2012 |
I clicked "Enter" and all of the information I just entered was lost. Why did this happen? Will I be able to retrieve my information?
The DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) screens have four tools to help you navigate through the application: NEXT, BACK, SAVE, and PRINT. To ensure the correct submission of your information, you must use these four navigation tools or available hyperlinks in the application. If you click Enter, your screen will reset and your information will be lost. Make sure that you click the appropriate button, such as Save, Back, or Next. Also, do not use the back (<--) or forward (-->) arrow buttons on the Internet browser toolbar to move from one page to another, and do not use keyboard navigation (hot keys/access keys) to move within the DBidS application. Once your information is lost, it cannot be retrieved.
| 10/09/2012 |
I registered in IACS during the last round of bidding (Round 1 Rebid or Round 2/National Mail-Order). Why can't I access DBidS with my user ID and password from that round?
The user IDs that Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services (IACS) created for previous rounds are now inactive. If you plan to bid in the Round 1 Recompete, your organization's authorized official will need to register again. All other supplier employees who need to access the bidding system also need to register specifically for the Round 1 Recompete.
| 10/09/2012 |
I am an end user (EU) entering bid data on behalf of my organization. Why am I not able to access Form A?
The Form A: Business Organization Information page requests general information about the organization, and the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) requires that this section be completed by an authorized official (AO) or backup authorized official (BAO). After your AO or BAO completes the Business Organization Information section, a pop-up box containing your organization's bidder number will appear and you will be able to access Form A to enter information into the Location Specific Information screen. Please note that only one user at a time may enter data in Form A. If someone in your organization is in Form A and you try to use it, you will get a message saying that Form A is locked. Once the other user leaves Form A, you should be able to access it without receiving the error message.
Also, as an EU, you will not be able to approve Form A or certify Form B - these tasks must be completed by your organization’s AO or BAO.
| 10/09/2012 |
I've completed Form A. Why am I not able to access Form B?
The DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) will not allow you to proceed to Form B if you have not completed and approved Form A. Form A must be completed and approved by your authorized official (AO) or backup authorized official (BAO) before Form B can be created or accessed. If the AO or BAO has not approved Form A, the Form A Status page will display Pending Approval. The AO or BAO may access the Form A Approval page by selecting the Pending Approval link on the status page. Remember that if you modify any information in Form A after it has been approved, the AO or BAO will need to re-approve Form A.
| 10/09/2012 |
Our company has been entering information into Form B, but I just got a message saying that DBidS is locked. What do I need to do?
Multiple users may be in Form B at the same time, but only as long as each user is entering information for a different product category/competitive bidding area. If you try to enter information into the same Form B that another user is in, you will receive a message that the form is locked by another user. Once the other user exits Form B, you should be able to access it without receiving the error message.
Also, please note that only one user can access a specific Form A at any one time. If someone in your organization is in Form A and you try to use it, you will get a message saying that Form A is locked. Once the other user leaves Form A, you should be able to access it without receiving the error message.
| 10/09/2012 |
I got a warning message saying "You will be logged out of DBidS for inactivity. Please save your data." Why did the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) log me out when I clicked the "Save" or "Next" button?
Timing out after a period of inactivity is a common security tool that is often used in very secure computer applications. The DBidS application times out after 15 minutes of inactivity. To remain active in the application, you must click Save every 10 minutes. Simply typing information into the system is not recognized as activity in the DBidS system. The system recognizes activity when you click Save or Next. After ten minutes of inactivity, you will receive a warning message, and if you do not click OK within five minutes and click Save, you will be logged out of the application. Any data entered on the screen after you last clicked Save will be lost. If the DBidS application times out, you must close all browser windows and open a new browser to log back in to DBidS.
| 10/09/2012 |
Is the information I enter into the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) secure?
When you log in to the DBidS, you are on a secure server. All the information that you enter is encrypted to provide the highest possible security.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will protect the confidentiality of bidders’ proprietary financial and bidding information to the extent provided by law and will follow the procedure stated in 45 CFR §5.65. CMS will not share information about any bidder's proposal with other bidders. However, an independent evaluator may be granted access to bidders' or networks’ bidding information as permitted by law. Any reports that are created to evaluate the program will be reported in an anonymous or aggregate format. Bidding information may be reviewed as required by law by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as permitted by law. CMS will request that any reports created by the GAO and DHHS/OIG to evaluate the program report bidding information in an anonymous or aggregate form.
Contractor staff with access to bidding information is required to sign a statement agreeing to maintain the confidentiality of each bidder's information.
| 10/09/2012 |
Is there a particular Internet browser or other software application that I need to use to successfully access and navigate within the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS)?
DBidS works best in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or greater. If you are using an alternate browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari, you may have difficulty navigating the bidding system. In addition, you must have JavaScript enabled on your computer, and any pop-up blockers should be disabled. The application is best viewed with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768.
| 10/09/2012 |
I am receiving an error message when I try to enter a special character into the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding System (DBidS). Are there special characters that the DBidS does not accept?
DBidS accepts most special characters. If using special characters, please use the international keyboard or Alt Control keys to enter information. If you need instructions on using the international keyboard or Alt Control instructions, please refer to the Quick Step by Step User Guide to Submitting a Bid in DBidS on the this website.
| 10/09/2012 |
When will the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) reflect the receipt of my required hardcopy documents on the Status screen?
The Documentation Status section will display Yes within 48 hours after your documents are received by the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC). If your document package is received after the bid window closes, DBidS will not acknowledge receipt of the document(s) and the indicator will remain NO. An indication that your hardcopy document package was received does not mean that the documents in the package are accurate, complete, or otherwise meet the requirements of the Request for Bids.
| 10/09/2012 |
When I (authorized official [AO] or backup authorized official [BAO]) try to approve Form A or certify Form B, I get an error message saying that my user name is incorrect. I am using the same user name that I used to log in to the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS). Why am I getting this error message?
When you are approving Form A or certifying Form B, you must enter your DBidS login user name in capital letters. This means that all of the letters in your user name must be capitalized, or uppercase. If you attempt to use lowercase letters, or a mix of uppercase and lowercase, DBidS will not accept the data and will not allow you to continue.
| 10/09/2012 |
I am entering manufacturer/model data in Form B, but DBidS seems to be missing some of the HCPCS codes in this product category. Why is this?
While you are required to bid on all Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes in a product category, the DMEPOS Bidding System (DBidS) requires you to enter manufacturer/model information for only the top 80 percent of the HCPCS codes in the product category. Therefore, you will not see all of the HCPCS codes included in the product category listed. Also, you cannot add more HCPCS codes to this section of DBidS.
| 10/09/2012 |