Suppliers who plan to bid under CMS’s Round 2028 DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program need a separate $50,000 surety bond for each Competitive Bidding Area (CBA) named in their bid. Bidders under the Nationwide Remote Item Delivery (RID) model instead need a single $100,000 bond, regardless of how many RID competitions they enter.
Registration for Round 2028 hasn’t opened yet, and CMS is still finalizing several parts of the process. Even so, contacting American Surety Bonds Agency now means you’ll already have a surety specialist in your corner once the bid window opens.
Also Known As
The DMEPOS Bid Bond goes by a few different names. You may also see it called:
- DME Bid Bond
- DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Bond
- Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) Surety Bond
These all describe the same $50,000-per-CBA bond required to submit a bid under CMS’s Competitive Bidding Program.
DMEPOS Bid Bond Details
| Bond Name | DMEPOS Bid Bond (also called a DME Bid Bond) |
| Bond Type | Federal Compliance / Competitive Bidding Bond |
| Bond Amount | $50,000 per Competitive Bidding Area (CBA) named in your bid ($100,000 total if bidding under the Nationwide Remote Item Delivery model, regardless of how many RID competitions entered) |
| Who Needs It? | Suppliers submitting a bid under CMS’s Round 2028 DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program |
| Obligee | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) |
| Bond Term | To be confirmed once CMS finalizes Round 2028 bid rules |
| Governing Program | CMS DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, Round 2028 |
What Is a DMEPOS Bid Bond?
CMS requires this bond before it will accept a supplier’s bid under the Competitive Bidding Program. In effect, it guarantees that a winning bidder will actually sign the resulting contract and meet its licensure and accreditation requirements on time.
If a winning bidder fails to sign that contract, or doesn’t meet those requirements in time, CMS can draw on the bid bond to cover its resulting costs.
Unlike the standard DMEPOS Bond, which protects Medicare on an ongoing basis once you’re enrolled, this bond exists specifically for the bidding process itself.
Who Needs a DMEPOS Bid Bond?
You need this bond if you plan to submit a bid for at least one of the seven product categories included in Round 2028:
- Continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps
- Urological supplies
- Ostomy supplies
- Hydrophilic urinary catheters
- Off-the-shelf back braces
- Off-the-shelf knee braces
- Off-the-shelf upper extremity braces
Each Competitive Bidding Area named in your bid needs its own $50,000 bond, so bidding in multiple regions means carrying multiple bonds, unless you’re bidding under the Nationwide Remote Item Delivery model, which requires a single $100,000 bond regardless of how many RID competitions you enter.
What’s Changing for Round 2028
CMS has consolidated all bidding-related systems onto Connexion, its DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program secure portal. Suppliers previously split their work between Connexion and a separate system called DBidS; going forward, both bid submissions and supporting documentation happen in Connexion alone.
Two other changes affect how much winning suppliers get paid. First, payment amounts are now based on the 75th percentile of winning bids in an area, rather than the highest winning bid. Second, those amounts are adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index.
Beyond pricing, CMS is expanding its Nationwide Remote Item Delivery option to all seven product categories above, and adding a new exemption for federally recognized tribal entities.
CMS has also raised the bid bond itself: suppliers bidding under the Nationwide Remote Item Delivery model now need a single $100,000 bond regardless of how many RID competitions they enter, while all other competitions keep the existing $50,000-per-CBA requirement.
Round 2028 Timeline
Here’s where things currently stand, based on CMS’s own published timeline:
| Supplier Awareness Program | Began June 4, 2026 |
| Bidder Registration & Bid Window | Opens Late Fall 2026 |
| Contract Awards & Payment Amounts Announced | Late Summer/Early Fall 2027 |
| Round 2028 Effective Date | No later than January 1, 2028 |
CMS describes these as target dates, so they may still shift. Since bidder registration and the bid window haven’t opened as of this writing, no supplier has missed their chance to participate.
How to Get Your DMEPOS Bid Bond
We don’t have an application available for this specific bond today, since Round 2028 registration hasn’t opened and CMS hasn’t released its final bid rules.
Contact American Surety Bonds Agency now, and we’ll reach out as soon as the bidding window opens so you’re ready to apply.
Why Choose American Surety Bonds Agency?
American Surety Bonds Agency has been helping businesses meet their surety bond requirements for decades. Whether you’re applying for your first license or renewing an existing one, our experienced team is here to help make the bonding process simple and efficient.
When you choose American Surety Bonds Agency, you’ll receive:
- Experienced surety bond professionals
- Competitive rates from leading surety companies
- Fast underwriting and responsive customer service
- A secure online application process
- Assistance throughout the bonding process
Above all, our goal is to make the bonding process straightforward, so you can move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Is the DMEPOS Bid Bond the same as my DMEPOS Bond? | No. Your standard DMEPOS Bond covers your Medicare enrollment on an ongoing basis. The bid bond is a separate, bid-specific bond tied to CMS’s Competitive Bidding Program, and one doesn’t substitute for the other. |
| How much does this bond cost? | We don’t have a published rate yet, since Round 2028 registration hasn’t opened and CMS hasn’t finalized every requirement. Contact us now, and we’ll follow up with pricing as soon as it’s available. |
| Can I apply for this bond online right now? | Not yet. Registration for Round 2028 opens later this year, so there’s no application to complete today. Reach out to American Surety Bonds Agency, and we’ll contact you as soon as one is available. |
| What happens if I don’t submit a bid bond with my bid? | CMS will not accept a bid that isn’t accompanied by the required bid bond for each Competitive Bidding Area named in it. |
| Do I need a separate bond for each region I bid in? | Yes, unless you’re bidding under the Nationwide Remote Item Delivery model. Standard competitions need a separate $50,000 bond per Competitive Bidding Area, while RID bidders need just one $100,000 bond total, no matter how many regions they enter. |
| Which product categories does Round 2028 cover? | Continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, urological supplies, ostomy supplies, hydrophilic urinary catheters, and three types of off-the-shelf orthotic braces: back, knee, and upper extremity. |
Other Related Bonds
Need Your Standard DMEPOS Bond?
This bid bond is separate from the $50,000 DMEPOS Bond required for your ongoing Medicare enrollment. If you don’t already have that bond in place, start there first.
Does Your State Require an Additional Bond?
Some states require their own Medicaid Provider Bond on top of your federal requirements. Check our guide to see whether Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, or Texas apply to you.
View State Medicaid Provider Bond Requirements
Looking for the DME Bond Hub?
See an overview of every DME-related bond American Surety Bonds Agency offers, all in one place.
Ready to Get Started?
Speak with one of our surety specialists today to get ready for Round 2028.
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