If CMS determines there will be 8 contracts and the bid price of the 8th supplier is the same for 9th and 10th, which of the three suppliers with the same bid price would be offered a contract? Since CMS only wants 8, how would the 8th be chosen?

In accordance with regulations at 42 CFR § 414.414(e)(3), the number of suppliers and networks calculated under paragraph (e)(1) with the lowest composite bids would be offered contracts. If there is a tie and multiple suppliers and networks have composite bids at the position in the array of composite bids that corresponds with the number calculated in (e)(1), CMS will offer contracts to all bidders at this position in the array of composite bids. In this example, all three suppliers with composite bids at the 8th position in the array would be offered contracts.