Questions and Answers - 36C24126Q0174.docx
DOCX document 19 KB Posted
- Attached to
- VISN1 Lab/Pathology/Pharmacy Courier Service
- Solicitation number
- 36C24126Q0174
About this file
This file is a Questions and Answers document for solicitation 36C24126Q0174, addressing clarifications on courier service requirements and contract specifications for the VA's Laboratory/Pharmacy Courier Service throughout VISN1 medical centers.
The Q&A document clarifies several operational requirements for the courier service contract, confirming that multiple existing routes will continue under the new contract, including Monday-Friday service from Fitchburg to Worcester, Greenfield CBOC to CWM Lab, Saturday service from New Bedford CBOC to VAMC Providence RI, and weekday service from VA Manchester, NH to VA White River Junction, VT. The document addresses cooler specifications (regular coolers with ice packs are acceptable if they maintain required temperatures), real-time tracking requirements for refrigerated items, and clarifies that vendors must provide coolers with empty coolers left at all locations for filling. The document confirms no Economic Price Adjustment or Fuel Adjustment clauses will be included, no ice pack reimbursement will be provided, and no designated parking zones are available. For items over 75 lbs, a separate CLIN will be provided for pricing. The document also clarifies that for subcontracting limitations, only certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database shall be considered "similarly situated" independent contractors. The solicitation is set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses with a response deadline of June 15, 2026, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time, and the contract period runs from October 16, 2026, through October 15, 2031.
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment - Coolers 060226.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment A - Price Breakdown by location May2026v2.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| S02 Attachment C - 36C24126Q0174 Line Items Schedule v2.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment C - 36C24126Q0174 Line Items Schedule v1.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment A - Price Breakdown by Locationv1.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan and Monthly Report.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment B -VA Contacts.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| S02 36C24126Q0174 v1- GTG.docx | DOCX document | |
| P09 PWS Courier Services 0511- Final rev1.docx | DOCX document |
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Questions and Answers 36C24126Q0174
The following questions have been posed by potential contractors:
NOTE: A revised CLIN Schedule is included.
Q. The solicitation documents do not appear to include the current Monday through Friday 12:45 PM Fitchburg pickup delivering to Worcester at approximately 1:45 PM. Could you please confirm whether this service is still anticipated under the new contract?
A. Yes, this will continue to be a required run.
Q. Under the current contract, CLIN 014 is identified as a Monday through Friday route from Greenfield with pickup at 2:00 PM and delivery to CWM Lab at approximately 2:30 PM. The solicitation references Baystate. Could you please clarify the correct route requirement for this CLIN under the new contract?
A. The correct route is Greenfield CBOC. No run is required for Baystate.
Q. Within the Boston On-Call tabs, there are routed line items for each location with an estimated quantity of 1. Could you please clarify whether these represent specific scheduled trips, annual estimated usage amounts, or placeholder quantities?
A. These are to separate out a STAT vs a Routine/As Needed run. It is anticipated that these will be STAT runs which is why they have the larger quantities. The routine line is there to separate out pricing for when an as needed call is made and requested to be STAT or routine.
Q. Under the current contract, CLIN 0039 was added for Saturday courier service from New Bedford CBOC with pickup at 12:00 PM and delivery to VAMC Providence RI no later than 1:30 PM. Could you please confirm whether this Saturday service will also be required under the new contract? If so, will it be incorporated into the solicitation pricing schedule?
A. Yes, this will continue to be a required run.
Q. Under the current contract, CLIN 0035 was added for a scheduled Monday through Friday courier route from VA Manchester, NH to VA White River Junction, VT with pickup at VA Manchester Laboratory at 8:30 AM and delivery to VA White River Junction Laboratory no later than 11:30 AM. Could you please confirm whether this route will also be required under the new contract? If so, will it be incorporated into the solicitation pricing schedule?
A. Yes, this will continue to be a required run.
Q. Do you require that the coolers be electric or will regular coolers with Ice packs be sufficient for this contract?
A. Regular coolers are sufficient as long as they maintain the required temperatures.
Q. Will we be reimbursed for the actual cost of ice packs or dry ice monthly as these items may vary in usage demand?
A. No
Q. Will there be an Economic Price Adjustment clause or Fuel Adjustment Clause to address the unstable fuel prices?
A. No
Q. Is there a specific brand of cooler that the government requires be used?
A. No, they must be able to maintain required temperatures
Q. Is there a requirement for real time tracking of the specimens?
A. Yes – Tracking must be available for all refrigerated items transported
Q. Will there be a staffing list of current drivers ready on contract award for the new contractor to consider keeping on?
A. There is no standing list of current drivers available Q. Is there a designated parking zone for the couriers to load and unload without incurring traffic citations?
A. Couriers must follow the parking restrictions at each location. There is no designated parking.
Q. Please provide estimated cubic feet, tote/cooler counts, or maximum daily load expectations by pricing schedule tab/area to assist with accurately sizing vehicles and preparing pricing?
A. Vehicle size should be enough to carry the items listed in the PWS. As needs vary from day to day that would be hard to estimate.
Q. The solicitation includes pickups from the CBOCs, such as the Mansfield Quest PSC (135D Storrs Rd, Mansfield Center, CT) pickup at 11:00 AM with delivery to West Haven VA at 2:00 PM, but it does not appear to include transportation of empty coolers and/or supplies from the VA to the CBOC prior to the scheduled pickup. Could you please clarify whether these empty cooler/supply transfers will be required for Boston and CT? If so, will separate CLINs be established for these services by location?
A. The vendor is providing the coolers. There should be an empty cooler left for Lab/Pharmacy to fill at all times. Yes, there will be supplies to pick up at the main hospital location in the example given for Mansfield – the last stop is the hospital and supplies are usually waiting in the mailroom for delivery the next day.
Q. The current Monday through Friday Fitchburg workflow has historically included approximately 30 minutes of wait time at the location. Could you please clarify whether this will also be required under the new contract, and if so, whether this should be included within the pricing for the route?
A. Historically, there has not been a 30 minute wait time. This should not be included with the pricing for the route.
Q. The solicitation documents do not appear to include the current Monday through Friday 12:45 PM Fitchburg pickup delivering to Worcester at approximately 1:45 PM. Could you please confirm whether this service is still anticipated under the new contract?
A. Yes, this will continue to be a required run.
Q. Under the current contract, CLIN 014 is identified as a Monday through Friday route from Greenfield with pickup at 2:00 PM and delivery to CWM Lab at approximately 2:30 PM. The solicitation references Baystate. Could you please clarify the correct route requirement for this CLIN under the new contract?
A. The correct route is Greenfield CBOC. No run is required for Baystate. See updated CLIN schedule attached
Q. What is the current temperature monitoring device being used?
A. We do not have that information
Q. How much dry ice is used weekly or monthly?
A. Once or twice monthly.
Q. How should we price the items over 75 lbs? Does the government weigh the item? Will there be a separate line item for this?
A. A separate CLIN is provided to be added to the regular priced CLIN. This is not expected to be a frequent occurrence.
Q. Will all items to be transported have labels indicating total weight?
A. No
Q. Could you clarify the similarly situated independent contractor designation?
A. For the purpose of limitations on subcontracting, only certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database (including independent contractors) shall be considered eligible and/or ‘‘similarly situated’’ (i.e., a firm that has the same small business program status as the prime contractor).
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .