Suppliers waiting on pins and needles for the onset of competitive bidding now have a firm deadline for the program. CMS will begin accepting bids for durable medical equipment in nine metro areas starting Oct. 21, CMS's Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor announced on its Web site. The bid window will be open for 60 days, and CMS will announce the bid rates and begin contracting with suppliers in June of next year, according to the CBIC. The program will go into effect in January 2011. Take note: You'll find a few changes from the original Round One bid, CMS noted in a release. Puerto Rico will now be excluded from the bid areas, and negative pressure wound therapy items and Group 3 complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs will be excluded from the list of bid items. Otherwise, the bid areas and items remain the same. More bidding information, including the detailed timeline and entire slate of educational sessions and materials, is at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.