1202SC25Q2900 A0002 Attachment 2 QA.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- 1202SC25Q2900
- Issued by
-
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
About this file
This document is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) attachment for Solicitation 1202SC25Q2900, Amendment A0002, regarding Mental Health Professionals and Clinician Services for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) with the USDA Forest Service. The Q&A covers a range of topics including clinician qualifications, service delivery methods, travel reimbursement, and contract expectations. Key details include that services will be provided on a national basis with flexible delivery (onsite or virtual), depending on specific incident needs, with an average of 38 critical response incidents and 50 training sessions per year.
The document provides specific guidance on clinician requirements, such as state licensure, ICISF certification, and supervision requirements for master's level clinicians. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to Federal Travel Regulations, with contractors making their own travel arrangements and submitting itemized invoices. The solicitation is a small business set-aside with a national Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), and current incumbents include 16 existing contract numbers. Service frequency is variable and depends on agency and incident needs, with increased activity during wildfire season, and the government emphasizes flexibility in service delivery and incident response.
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Questions & Answers Solicitation1202SC25Q2900, Amendment A0002 Mental Health Professionals, CISM IPO, Logistics Contracting Branch
The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to industry submitted questions. No additional questions will be answered unless deemed in the best interest of the Government by the Contracting Officer.
1. What boxes on the SF1449 need to be filled out?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet (pg 31) in block 1; SF1449 blocks 17a, 30a, 30b, 30c and all amendments need to be signed and acknowledged as well SF30 blocks 15a, 15b, and 15c.
2. Are there specific credentialing or certification requirements for mental health professionals providing these services, beyond state licensure?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (Pg 6-7)
3. Could you specify how the performance of CISM providers will be measured or evaluated during the contract term?
ANSWER: See Attachment 1-QASP
4. Are there specific expectations regarding response times following a critical incident?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet Scope of Work (Pg 6); usually 48-72 hours unless otherwise advised at time services are ordered
5. Will travel expenses or per diem be reimbursed separately from the contracted fees?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Travel Expenses (Pg 9-10)
6. Is there an estimated number or frequency of incidents expected annually or monthly?
ANSWER: There is no way to estimate frequency of incidents; frequency picks up more during active wildfire season
7. Are there any expectations for logistical coordination provided by the contractor, or will the USDA Forest Service coordinate deployments internally?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (h) (Pg 7)
8. Could you specify if there are particular forms or reporting documentation required after service delivery?
ANSWER: Not at this time, should any specific forms that may be required will be shared at time of need
9. Can you clarify how credentialing documentation should be submitted—should it be provided within our proposal or separately?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under 52.212-2 Evaluation (Pg 33-35); proof of required certifications is requested
10. Will there be specific training requirements or briefings for providers prior to service delivery?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (Pg 6-7); clinicians will get more relevant information when requesting incident requests services
11. Could you specify the evaluation criteria or weighting for the proposal components?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under 52.212-2 Evaluation (Pg 33-35)
12. Is there any opportunity for tele clinician services? Or is it all onsite?
ANSWER: Yes, onsite or tele will be based on the specific needs of the requesting incident
13. Is there any requirement on whether the clinicians are masters or clinical level?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (Pg 6-7); masters must be directly supervised by licensed awardee
14. Could you kindly confirm whether professionals holding an LSSP, or equivalent state-level credentials, will be considered eligible to submit proposals under this opportunity?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (Pg 6-7)
15. Can provide on whether independent licensure outside of a school setting is required for participation?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet under Qualifications (Pg 6-7); outside of professional licensure, ICISF certifications are required
16. Do we need to provide proof of ICISF certification?
ANSWER: Yes; See Continuation Sheet under 52.212-2 Evaluation- Technical Part Instructions (Pg 33-35)
17. Is the Clinician expected to work on need basis / part time?
ANSWER: Work will be requested by orders as incidents happen. Payment will be made for work performed based on request orders of specific incidents on need basis
18. Can the Govt. please clarify what is the Prep time?
ANSWER: If providing training or instruction and require prep time for that instruction, that may be billable. Clinicians may or may not charge for that prep time, but price quote shall represent maximum price government will pay.
19. Can the Govt. confirm the NTE amount for Travel?
ANSWER: NTE is Not To Exceed; see Continuation Sheet under Travel Expenses (Pg 9-10)
20. How often is Travel required?
ANSWER: Travel will be required as needed by the given incident; specific travel requirements will be shared with clinicians at time order request is issued
21. How many trips are required in a week/ month?
ANSWER: There is no way to estimate frequency of trips; frequency picks up more during active wildfire season
22. Is the past performance questionnaire sent out to references?
ANSWER: The past performance questionnaire is required for quote acceptability. The contractor is responsible for sending the form to a respondent to fill out and turning it in as part of the quote.
23. Who is expected to fill out the Experience Questionnaire, the contractor?
ANSWER: Yes, the contractor
24. Can my current BPA be listed as experience?
ANSWER: Yes, you can list your current BPA if you are an incumbent. If you have other experience with other agencies, it is encouraged to provide that experience as well.
25. Could you please provide more detailed information about the potential locations across US where services might be required?
ANSWER: More detailed location information will be provided by the given incident when order request is submitted; this is a national BPA, so services could be needed anywhere in the US (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
26. Do you allow online support on platforms like zoom or similar?
ANSWER: Yes, onsite or online will be based on the specific needs of the requesting incident
27. Do you allow the support to be provide via phone?
ANSWER: No; only in person or video calls
28. Do you allow support to be provided partially online i.e. post event?
ANSWER: Possibly, it will be based on the specific needs of the requesting incident
29. Does the support must be done fully in person each time? If not, when (in what cases) will the support be allowed to be provided online / phone?
ANSWER: Onsite or virtual it will be based on the specific needs of the requesting incident
30. The weekend/holiday rates may be higher than weekdays. How can we reflect that in the response?
ANSWER: We cannot predetermine when services will be needed; quote should account for possibility of getting a call order over with expected need by date/time that may fall on a weekend or holiday day.
31. In the SOW page 1, it is stated that “The contractor must make and pay for their commercial airline reservations, hotel rooms, meals, and rental cars” – how should we understand it? Meaning: contractor makes flight, hotel, car rental reservation by himself AND it will be fully reimbursed for each person’s flight, hotel, car rental after submission of the hotel, flight, car rental invoices?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet – Travel Expenses (Pg 9-10); travel will be paid in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations for localities where the work is performed (per diem rate).
32. If the travel reimbursement will be done by the government, will it be done at cost or per the government daily rate i.e. maximum per diem rates?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet – Travel Expenses (Pg 9-10); reimbursement will be for actual allowable and reasonable travel costs incurred.
33. On page 5, of the SOW, it is stated that: “All travel plans and estimates shall be approved, by the technical point of contact, prior to commencement of travel… Travel expenses must be authorized in advance to be allowable.”, if the required health experts must be on site within 48-72 hours – how does the approval process look like and how quickly can it be done, if the request comes over the weekend / holiday meaning that the government office is closed and the person responsible for approval may not be available?
ANSWER: Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative and requesting officials are available and reachable as they will be handling these urgent incidents.
34. On page 5, of the SOW, it is stated that: “The contractor shall be reimbursed for actual allowable and reasonable travel costs incurred during performance of this effort in accordance with the FTR currently effective on the date of travel. The contractor shall complete a Trip Report for each individual authorized to travel and provide a detailed invoice including dates of travel and receipts for related expenses such as airfare, baggage, parking, rental car, hotel rooms and local transportation”. Is the provided list of travel-related items that will be reimbursed? For example, health experts will need to drive to locations by car potentially incurring road tolls. Road tolls are not listed, will they be reimbursed?
ANSWER: See Continuation Sheet – Travel Expenses (Pg 9-10); travel will be paid in arrears based on itemized invoices and in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations for localities where the work is performed. Road tolls are reimbursable per 41 CFR 301-B.
35. Who is(are) the incumbent(s)?
ANSWER: There are 16; 12024B20A0003, 12024B20A0004, 12024B20A0005, 12024B20A0006, 12024B20A0007, 12024B20A0008, 1202SC22T2902, 1202SC22T2903, 1202SC22T2912, 1202SC24T2900, 1202SC24T2901, 1202SC24T2902, 1202SC24T2903, 1202SC24T2904, 1202SC24T2905, 1202SC24T2906.
36. Approximately how many Clinicians across the country have supported this effort (average per year) so far? We would like to get an idea of volume of providers by location.
ANSWER: All clinicians’ awarded BPAs have supported incidents over the life of the current
BPA.
37. Will the government award multiple contracts to different Geographic Regions?
ANSWER: BPA awards will not be based by region, only national.
38. Approximately how many incidents of Critical Response on average have you utilized Clinician's for in the past few years?
ANSWER: Average for the current BPA is 38 per year; this number is depended on agency and incident needs of any given season.
39. How many workshops of training sessions have you previously conducted?
ANSWER: Average for the current BPA is 50 per year; this number is depended on agency and incident needs of any given season.
40. How many trainings do you want per year (approximately) and at how many sites across the nation? We are trying to understand the volume of trainings.
ANSWER: The need is depended on agency and incident needs of any given season.
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