36C24219Q1060-003.docx

Quality Assurance Plan Courier Services

Contract Number:

Contract Description:

The contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the deliverables described in this statement of work (SOW), except as may otherwise be specified. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service of the VA New Jersey Health Care System requires the services of a courier to pick up and deliver patient specimens, blood and blood products, and laboratory products on an on-call basis to and from the East Orange, NJ laboratory. This service is needed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The contractor is responsible for the safe transportation of all items to their destination. The contractor shall ensure that all drivers are trained and have received instruction in the safe transport of infectious/diagnostic specimens as required by federal, state and local law. Period of performance shall be October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 with four (4) additional option years available.

Contractor’s name:

1. PURPOSE

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) provides a systematic method to evaluate performance for the stated contract. This QASP explains the following:

· What will be monitored.

· How monitoring will take place.

· Who will conduct the monitoring.

· How monitoring efforts and results will be documented.

This QASP does not detail how the contractor accomplishes the work. Rather, the QASP is created with the premise that the contractor is responsible for management and quality control actions to meet the terms of the contract. It is the Government’s responsibility to be objective, fair, and consistent in evaluating performance.

This QASP is a “living document” and the Government may review and revise it on a regular basis. However, the Government shall coordinate changes with the contractor. Copies of the original QASP and revisions shall be provided to the contractor and Government officials implementing surveillance activities.

2. GOVERNMENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following personnel shall oversee and coordinate surveillance activities.

a. Contracting Officer (CO) - The CO shall ensure performance of all necessary actions for effective contracting, ensure compliance with the contract terms, and shall safeguard the interests of the United States in the contractual relationship. The CO shall also assure that the contractor receives impartial, fair, and equitable treatment under this contract. The CO is ultimately responsible for the final determination of the adequacy of the contractor’s performance.

Assigned Administrative CO: Janice Brooks Campbell

Organization or Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs, - VISN 2

b. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) - The COR is responsible for technical administration of the contract and shall assure proper Government surveillance of the contractor’s performance. The COR shall keep a quality assurance file. The COR is not empowered to make any contractual commitments or to authorize any contractual changes on the Government’s behalf.

Assigned COR:

c. Other Key Government Personnel -

4. Performance Standards

Performance standards define desired services. The Government performs surveillance to determine if the contractor exceeds, meets or does not meet these standards.

The performance requirements are contained in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Government shall use these standards to determine contractor performance and shall compare contractor performance to the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL).

The Incentive for all is Favorable contractor performance evaluation. The Disincentives are Unfavorable contractor performance evaluations.

Ensure the safety and integrity of specimens

Emergency Response Time is within the required timeframes

Driver Education and Training

5. INCENTIVES

The Government shall use past performance and/or non-payment as incentives. Incentives shall be based on exceeding, meeting, or not meeting performance standards.

6. METHODS OF QA SURVEILLANCE

Various methods exist to monitor performance. The COR shall use the surveillance methods listed below in the administration of this QASP.

a. DIRECT OBSERVATION. (Can be performed periodically or through 100% surveillance.)

1, 4, and 5

b. PERIODIC INSPECTION. (Evaluates outcomes on a periodic basis. Inspections may be scheduled [Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, or annually] or unscheduled, as required.)

1, 2, and 3

c. VALIDATED USER/CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. (Relies on the patient to identify deficiencies. Complaints are then investigated and validated.)

5 and 4

7. RATINGS

Metrics and methods are designed to determine if performance exceeds, meets, or does not meet a given standard and acceptable quality level. A rating scale shall be used to determine a positive, neutral, or negative outcome. The following ratings shall be used:

a. ACCEPTABLE AND NOT ACCEPTABLE

8. DOCUMENTING PERFORMANCE

a. ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE

The Government shall document positive performance. Any report may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action.

b. UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE

When unacceptable performance occurs, the COR shall inform the contractor. This will normally be in writing unless circumstances necessitate verbal communication. In any case the COR shall document the discussion and place it in the COR file.

When the COR determines formal written communication is required, the COR shall prepare a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) and present it to the contractor's program manager.

The contractor shall acknowledge receipt of the CDR in writing. The CDR will specify if the contractor is required to prepare a corrective action plan to document how the contractor shall correct the unacceptable performance and avoid a recurrence. The CDR will also state how long after receipt the contractor has to present this corrective action plan to the COR. The Government shall review the contractor's corrective action plan to determine acceptability.

Any CDRs may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action deemed necessary by the CO.

9. FREQUENCY OF MEASUREMENT

a. Frequency of Measurement.

During contract performance, the COR will periodically analyze whether the negotiated frequency of surveillance is appropriate for the work being performed.

b. Frequency of Performance Assessment Meetings.

The COR shall meet with the contractor <state how often performance assessment will be conducted> to assess performance and shall provide a written assessment.

Signature – Contractor Program Manager

Signature – Contracting Officer’s Representative