36C24221Q0452 0001.docx

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7.

ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF

PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

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:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(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 offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE

OF YOUR

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, 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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERE

D CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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 by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendmen t, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA

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.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF

CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

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

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

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF

SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 561-21-3-482-0019 None Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 2 2875 Union Road Suite 3500 Cheektowaga NY 14227 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 2 2875 Union Road Suite 3500 Cheektowaga NY 14227 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24221Q0452 02-08-2021

X X X

561-3610160-482-829800 010041086 X The purpose of this Amendment 0001 is to post the response to vendor questions included herewith commencing on Page 2. Responses to questions are in red font.

This will now end and close the question period for prospective offerors to this solicitation .

Offers are due Monday, March 8, 2021 by 3:00pm EST.

Cheryl Brimmer Contracting Officer Vendor Questions - RFQ 36C24221Q0452

1. Based on previous statements, can stretchers now ride in wheelchair vans under the new contract? Please refer to NJ DOH EMS regulation for stretcher transport requirements.

2. Are there any trips that would be considered Cancelled on Scene? No, refer to Statement of Work “Contractor Responsibility” Item G.

1) Is there an allowance for Cancelled on Scene?

2) What would the procedure be for Cancelled on Scene?

3) How would payment be determined for a cancelled on scene?

4) How would we bill for a cancelled on scene?

3. Wait time – Is wait time reimbursed when accommodations are not made by the VA during a round trip transport where the crew has to wait with the patient and what would be the procedures for reimbursement if this is allowable? No, wait-time is associated with time lost waiting at either end of a trip due to causes beyond the Contractor's control at time of pickup or delivery.

4. The RFQ states that the service area is NJ. What happens if a patient comes from out of state, would that be considered out of scope and would we be allowed to negotiate a rate for out of state trips? The contract covers transports originating in the State of NJ. If Veteran is transported out of the State of NJ, any return transport of the Veteran patient back to NJ must follow NJ DOH EMS regulation.

a) Who would we contact to negotiate the rate?

b) How would payment be determined?

c) Who would be the point of contact for out of service area calls?

d) Is there a form of payment through Tungsten; via check, debit card, etc.?

e) How soon would we receive payment?

f) How would we bill a trip for an out of scope call?

(Sub-questions a-f are not relative to RFQ 36C24221Q0452)

5. Pandemic contractor responsibility – we do not see a clause for the Pandemic, COVID, Sanitization, will there be allowances made for time delays due to that? No

6. Will there be cost-sharing for PPE? No

7. Do we have to show you how we are paying our employees within 30 days based on the current prevailing wages? Please refer to “NOTE” provided in the Statement of Work regarding FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standard also included in Section C of the RFQ.

8. Option years: if the wage determination is increased in an option year can we renegotiate the cost schedule? At commencement of an Option year, contractors can request a price adjustment based on any change in Federal wage determination for base rate and health & welfare.

9. What about day and night shift differentials based on prevailing wages? Please refer to U.S. Department of Labor.

10. For SCTU transports are the nurses required to have ACLS and PALS certifications? Please refer to NJ DOH EMS regulation for required certification of nurses for SCTU transports.

11. We noticed there is no stipulation on timeframe for payment, what is the timeframe for payment? Please refer to Section B.1 in the RFQ that specifies invoices are to be submitted monthly in arrears. The VA is required to pay legitimate and confirmed invoices for services ordered from the contract within 30 days. Please also refer to the Prompt Payment Act.

a) Can we bill bi-weekly? No

b) If payment is beyond the terms of payment are we allowed to charge interest No, the Government accrues interest within the payment system when payment certification is beyond 30 days.

c) What interest rate would we be allowed to charge? None. The Government accrues interest on the invoice if not paid within 30 days; the current rate through June 2021 is .0875

12. Are tolls applicable while a crew is in transit to pick up a patient? No, tolls can only be charged one-way when the Veteran is in the vehicle.

13. Through the wage determination how would: Please refer to U.S. Department of Labor.

a) Federal holidays apply to part-time and/or per-diem employees?

b) Vacation time apply to part-time and/or per-diem employees?

14. For the 11 federal holidays, we are required to pay holiday pay as well as time and a half to those employees for the hours that they work on the holiday. Since we are required to increase our costs to pay our employees that work on the federal holiday 2 ½ times their rate of pay, may we increase our rates for the federal holidays as we will have an increase in payroll costs on those dates of service? Please refer to U.S. Department of Labor.

A) The wage determination does not stipulate how many hours are to be paid on the holiday for holiday pay, would the payment be based on 8 hours of holiday pay for a full-time employee?

B) Also, the wage determination does not stipulate how many hours a vacation day is, would the payment be 8 hours for a vacation day for a full-time employee?

C) For part-time and per-diem employees who do not work full-time hours, how would we determine the amount of hours they would be entitled to for holiday and vacation pay?

D) Is there a pro-rated formula to determine the amount of hours they would be entitled to?

15. On page 12, other requirements, # 5, as we are an ambulance company, are we required to stop, to call 911 for assistance, and notify the dispatcher during a medical emergency? Please refer to NJ DOH EMS regulation.

16. When are receipts for tolls required to be submitted? As part of the detailed backup documentation required to be included with the monthly invoice.

17. If the VA schedules a veteran for transport and the veteran cancels their trip or refuses service for that specific time and the trip gets rescheduled for later that day and again the patient either cancels or refuses service, would we be allowed to bill twice for cancelled on scene? There is no provision for any canceled transport. There is no provision in the Statement of Work for any canceled transport; refer to Statement of Work “Contractor Responsibility” Item G.

18. What would be considered a trip that is out of scope? Service outside the “scope” of the Statement of Work requirements and performance area.

19. Who is allowed to request information? No response; vague.

20. How late should we expect trips to be manifested to us for the following day’s work? A schedule shall be provided (1) one day prior to patient transport per the Statement of Work.

21. Are we allowed to contact veterans to confirm appointments? Yes, to confirm transport.

22. We noticed there is nothing stipulated as to the date and time questions are allowed to be submitted and that the questions would be accepted in relation to the RFQ. There is no set time at this point, however, generally one week prior to offer due date and time in order that all prospective offeror can receive the same information.

23. Will the VA be issuing Vendor Identification? No response; vague.

24. Upon arriving at the VA are transport drivers required to take the patients to their appointments or will the VA ambassadors do that? Please refer to “Patient Pickup and Delivery” Item A.2. and D in the Statement of Work.

25. Is a representative of the company required to be a travel coordinator at the VA and if so, This is not a requirement of the Statement of Work.

A) What hours would they be required to be at the VA?

B) What days of the week would they be required to be at the VA?

C) What would be the reimbursement rate?

D) How would we bill for this service?

26. What or who is the Veterans Transportation Service? Not relative to RFQ 36C24221Q0452.

27. Who is the Mobility Manager? Fred Fenner Are they allowed to order services? Please refer to “Orders for Service” in the Statement of Work.

28. You reserve the right to substitute beneficiaries prior to the vehicle being dispatched but what are the parameters of the substitution? Please refer to “Patient Pickup and Delivery” Item A.3 in the Statement of Work.

29. If a call is cancelled en-route, is there a line item for reimbursement for this scenario? No

30. What is a dry run? Not relative to RFQ 36C24221Q0452

31. How is it possible to verify that any damaged or lost wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or personal belongings were damaged or lost while in the custody of the transport company?

Please refer to “Patient Pickup and Delivery” Item C in the Statement of Work.

A) Are you just going to assume that is where the items went missing and automatically, without an investigation, accuse the transport company of damaging or losing the items and expect the transport company to replace the items? Reports will be obtained from contractor personnel, the Veteran, and any other individual with knowledge of the situation prior to making a determination.

32. The threshold for mileage is a 15 mile radius, is there a cap on mileage reimbursement after the initial 15 mile radius? Please refer to Line Item 0002 in the Price Schedule.

33. The use of a ferry is prohibited, why would there be a need to use a ferry? No response required.

34. Who or what is the MAS-Travel Section? Department of Veterans Affairs Mobility Assistance Services for eligible Veteran patients.