36C10A18R0043-A00001000.docx

Solicitation 36C10A18R0043 Amendment A00001

The purpose of this amendment is to post the questions and answers, and update the Performance Work Statement. See attachments.

X See continuation pages.

Kari L. Cozzens

X X

07-13-2017

VA118A-17-R-0135

To all Offerors/Bidders Austin TX 78744 1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 600 Technology Acquisition Center - Austin Office of Acquisition Operations Department of Veterans Affairs Y Austin TX 78744 1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 600 Technology Acquisition Center - Austin Office of Acquisition Operations Department of Veterans Affairs December , 2017 A00001 (Signature of Contracting Officer) (Signature of person authorized to sign)

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

ONE

CHECK

(X)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(If required) such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(Specify type of modification and authority) (If other than Item 6) (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Type or print) (Type or print) Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 30

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16C. DATE

SIGNED

Contractor

BY

D. OTHER

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

prior to the opening hour and date specified.

by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

15C. DATE

SIGNED

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO.

IN ITEM 10A.

is not, is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

(REV. 11/2016)

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

is not extended.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the is extended, E. IMPORTANT:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

CODE

FACILITY CODE

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

BPA NO.

10B. DATED

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

OF PAGES

PAGE

9B. DATED

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

6. ISSUED BY

CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

7. ADMINISTERED BY

CODE

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CONTINUATION PAGES

A. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) is amended, specifically as follows, see attached tracked changes version of 36C10A18R0043 Attachment 1 PWS:

1. Section 5.4 subparagraph (e) currently reads:

Implement appropriate transportation dispatch to get patients from the ER to the clinics (clinics provide transportation; this step ensures that ER staff know how to draw on this service)

Is amended to now read:

Provide appropriate transportation to get patients from a clinic or ED to the SUD treatment location; and ensure that ED and clinic staff know how to draw on this service

2. All references to the PWS are updated to reflect the version dated December 22, 2017. See attached tracked changes version of solicitation 36C10A18R0043.

B. The following are questions and the Government responses:

1. Question: Please let me know whether only disabled Veterans can bid for the (above) RFP? We are a disadvantaged minority small company, and so I was wondering if we are eligible to bid.

Answer:

In accordance with Request for Proposal (RFP) Section C.9, Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 852.219-10, Offers are solicited only from verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. Offers received from concerns that are not verified service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns shall not be considered. Any award resulting from this solicitation shall be made to a verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. A service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern agrees that in the performance of the contract, the concern will comply with the limitation on subcontracting requirements in 13 CFR §125.6. A joint venture may be considered a service-disabled veteran owned small business concern if the joint venture complies with the requirements in 13 CFR 125.15, provided that any reference therein to SDVO SBC is to be construed to apply to a VA verified SDVOSB as appropriate.

2. Question: Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services or if this is a new requirement. If there is an incumbent, could you please provide the contract number?

There is not an incumbent. It is noted that Loyola Recovery Foundation provided a previous demonstration for similar services under a grant arrangement between 2011 and 2014; a contract number and other details are not available. It is further noted that the requirements for solicitation 36C10A18R0043 have been refined from the previous demonstration performed.

3. Question: Does the government anticipate providing Government Furnished Equipment for this contract?

Government Furnished Equipment is identified in section 6.5 of the Performance Work Statement.

4. Question: Is the prospective Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to be in VHA [Veterans Health Administration] or OI&T [Office of Information and Technology]?

The COR will be in VHA.

5. Question: With regard to CLIN 4000 – Option to Extend Services: this is listed in the solicitation. However there is no reference in the PWS or in the pricing template. Would the Government please clarify this discrepancy?

CLIN 4000 – Option to Extend Services is associated with contract clause C.4 Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. In accordance with this clause, the Government may extend the term of the contract for services being provided at the time the option is exercised for a period of up to six months. The purpose of CLIN 4000 is to identify the price of this option. The price exhibit supports this priced CLIN in columns O through Q.

6. Question: With regard to the “Price Exhibit.xls” file, did the Government intend to include what appears to be an Independent Government Cost Estimate Template? Will a new price exhibit file be provided?

The Price Exhibit.xls file is not an Independent Government Cost Estimate Template. All known references to another type or name of file have been removed.

7. Question: Are offerors permitted to propose an invoicing schedule that ties to the specific deliverables listed in the RFP for the proposed solution rather than a straight line approach?

In accordance with Section B.1 paragraph 3 Invoices. Invoices shall be submitted in arrears monthly upon receipt of a proper invoice. The monthly invoices shall be submitted in accordance with the unit prices established in Section B.3 Supplies or Services and Price/Cost.

Offerors are permitted to propose an alternative invoicing schedule in accordance with addendum to 52.212-1 Section E.1 paragraph 2. c. iv. Volume IV – Solicitation, Offer, and Award Documents and Certifications/Representations, which states the volume shall include any proposed terms and conditions and/or assumptions upon which the proposal is predicated. However, offerors are advised that the same section also states that any Offeror-imposed terms and conditions and/or assumptions which deviate from the Government’s material terms and conditions established by the Solicitation, may render the Offeror’s proposal Unacceptable, and thus ineligible for award.

8. Question: Does the Government have a preferred template to be used for the implementation materials including: the Program Implementation and Site Support document referred to in the RFP, Lessons Learned document and Performance Metrics and Schedule?

Government templates are not available for these documents. Content is the most important element. A Contractor format is acceptable.

9. Question: In Section 5.4; does “up to 1000 patients” mean “a total of 1000 patients” can be served in the pilot OR that a census of up to 1000 patients can be served and maintained in the pilot?

A total of 1,000 patients will be spread over the course of the period of performance (PoP) and option years. It is not required that the contractor maintain a census of 1,000 patients in the program throughout the PoP.

10. Question: What are the patient transportation requirements for successful operations in San Diego to-and-from Contracted SUD Clinic, and who exactly is specifically responsible for providing those services?

The contractor shall provide appropriate transportation to get patients from a clinic or Emergency Department to the SUD treatment location; and ensure that Emergency Department and clinic staff know how to draw on this service

The PWS has been amended as follows:

Section 5.4 currently reads:

a. Implement appropriate transportation dispatch to get patients from the ER to the clinics (clinics provide transportation; this step ensures that ER staff know how to draw on this service)

Section 5.4 is amended to now read:

a. Provide appropriate transportation to get patients from a clinic or ED to the SUD treatment location; and ensure that ED and clinic staff know how to draw on this service

11. Question: If the Contractor possesses a Training Course and Standard Operating Procedures based on the Loyola Recovery Foundation clinical approach to SUD treatment for use in a fast-start for the project, is the cost of the Training Course and SOP an allowable ODC?

The price for training courses and standard operating procedures appear to be allowable. Offerors are reminded that the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price contract as a result of this solicitation.

12. Question: We seek clarification of the extent of services to be provided under the PWS for Case Management. Currently, the section reads:

“As part of the proof of concept, the Contractor shall provide case management services to provide one-stop, integrated service support, which includes an in-person, web-based and mobile toolkit for implementation, utilization, data reporting, patient engagement, retention, and monitoring. The Contractor shall provide case management services to act as a navigator for the Veterans throughout the SUD proof of concept process. The Contractor shall ensure warm handoff of patients from VAMC to community care facilities throughout the treatment and post-care process until the patient is handed back to VA. The Contractor shall provide follow-up for all patients through outpatient care and continue to follow-up with all patients when they have completed their care. Follow-up with patients shall continue at two weeks, 30 days, and 90 days after completion of care. The Contractor shall report back to the referring source to provide a disposition of the patient they referred to care. The Contractor shall follow up with the original referring provider with any information obtained during the patient follow-ups.”

This implies that medical services would be delivered under this contract. But the PWS also says that medical services will be provided under a Third Party Payer arrangement. Is a correct understanding of the PWS that the Contractor will create the infrastructure for case management (policy, process, technology) but not the actual case management which would be provided under a separate contract by the Clinic through the Third Party Payer?

Both the infrastructure and the provision of case management will occur in the PoP and option years to determine the feasibility and advisability of providing these services enterprise-wide. Medical services will be provided by VA or Third Party Payer arrangement.

13. Question: Can the proposal response date be extended to Jan 15th

No

14. Question: Regarding PWS 5.3.1.9 RELEASE TO OPEN SOURCE – We are committed to supporting open source EHR-based solutions and have experience to releasing through Open Source Electronic Health Record Alliance (OSEHRA). Is the intent for this task to be for the software developed to be released through OSHERA or other open source licensing mechanism

Yes, contract shall release the open source software through a mechanism such as OSEHRA or GitHub. Typically VA uses OSEHRA for release.

15. Question: Regarding Solicitation document Section E.9 (VOLUME II – PAST PERFORMANCE FACTOR.) – Can government please confirm that past performances from major subcontractors are allowed and will be considered in evaluation?

Yes, in accordance with Section E.9 paragraph 2. c. ii. Volume II, offerors shall submit a list of all prime and/or major subcontracts that are relevant to the effort and performed within the previous three years.

See attached document: S06 36C10A18R0043 A00001 RFP.

See attached document: S06 36C10A18R0043 A00001 Attach 1 PWS.