Questions and Answers Attachment to Amendment 36C24124Q0302.pdf

Questions and answers to solicitation 36C24124Q0302

Statement of Work:

• In the description section, it states: "Any items that do not have an established HCPCS Code but are considered commercial prosthetic item(s) intended for this HCPCS series will be incorporated into the resulting contract(s) and rates for these items negotiated by way of a bilateral modification taking into consideration the General Counsel guidance under VAOPGCADV 12-2010 and the sliding scale within."

o Would you provide clarity on the bilateral modification? As prices are negotiated and incorporated by bilateral modification would the prices established for those items for the remain in place for the duration of the contract and, if so, would they be reviewed annually for economic price adjustment consistent with HCPCS pricing? Is the VA open to negotiating commonly used NOC devices upon award to reduce the administrative burden per case?

o Could you provide clarity on what the “sliding scale within” means for the negotiation of

NOC codes?

o The RFQ references guidance ‘under VAOPGCADV 12-2010’ that VISN 1 intends to follow in negotiating bilateral modifications for NOC items with contractors. We have been unable to locate a copy of VAOPGCADV 12-2010 to review the guidance and sliding scale it contains, as referenced in the revised RFQ. Could you please make available a copy of VAOPGCADV 12-2010 or let us know where a copy is posted that offerors can review?

• The paragraph referenced in this question has been removed from the SOW, which is reflected in the revised version of the SOW attached to this amendment. The VA has no intention of agreeing as part of the solicitation to a future process of bilaterally modifying a BPA to stipulate an agreed-upon price for a NOC item after successfully negotiating a price for a call under the BPA for such item. The VA may be amenable to handling this request on a case-by-case basis as a matter of contract administration after the BPAs are awarded.

VA Central Office (VACO) Coding Guidance Council:

• We are seeking a copy of this guidance to understand our responsibilities better.

Any tools developed by the VA Coding Guidance Council are internal resources only and will not be shared with offerors or BPA holders after award.

o Could you provide the guidance document or information on where it can be accessed?

Please refer to VHA Directive 1045(1), which is attached to this amendment.

Questions and answers to solicitation 36C24124Q0302 o The RFQ mentions, "As of March 2024, the VACO Coding Guidance Council has established IGCEs (Independent Government Cost Estimates) for the C-Brace, the MyoPro2, and for generic orthotics repairs." Both the C-Brace and MyoPro2 have established CMS/PDAC coding. Could you clarify how the VA is considering these devices?

This sentence has been revised in the statement of work, which is attached to this amendment, and reads as follows:

“As of March 2024, the VACO Coding Guidance Council has an established IGCE (independent Government Cost Estimates) for the Generic Orthotics Repairs.”

o What guidance has been established for orthotic repairs?

Please refer to VHA Directive 1045(1), which is attached to this amendment.