BALTIMORE--In a notice sent late Friday, CMS reminded providers participating in the first round of competitive bidding that all bids are due by 9 p.m. on Sept. 25.

"We urge all bidders to review carefully all information submitted in the Competitive Bid Submission System and all required hard copy documentation to be sure it is accurate and complete," the notice said.

In a separate notice sent earlier in the day, CMS said bidders can now find out if their hard copy documents have been received. "Effective immediately, bidders can visit their individual CBSS home pages to check the status of the receipt of their hard copy documents," the agency said. The notice pointed out, however, that while the CBSS page will note if the package has been received, "it will not indicate whether the hard copy document package is necessarily accurate, complete or meets CMS criteria."

Providers who have already sent hard copy documentation but believe some data was left out may send the missing documents to the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor, the agency said, but all documents must be postmarked by the bid submission deadline.

CMS also said all bidders must certify their bids in the CBSS before the close of the bidding period.

To read both notices in full, go to the CBIC Web site at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.