36C24419Q0225-0003002.docx

Questions and Answers (Answers in red):

If there is an incumbent company for this solicitation, can you please provide their name? FORS MARSH GROUP & VISTRA

What was the response rate to past BFS mail surveys? 40%

What was the response rate to past BFS web surveys? 4-5%

How did the VA determine that 60% of the NOK population will require a follow-up letter? BASED ON RESPONSE RATES FROM LAST 10 YEARS

Does the VA require a specific response rate for the data to be considered acceptable? YES AT LEAST 40% FOR TOTAL QUARTER

Is the link to the web surveys delivered by any means other than letters? NO

What are the security requirement for the web survey? Does it require FedRAMP authorization or a VA Authorization to Operate (ATO)? FEDRAMP CERTIFICATION MIGHT BE NEEDED IN ADDITION TO THE SECURITY ITEMS OUTLINED IN THE SOLICITATION

Through what channel is the data reported from the contractor to the VA? A SECURE WEBSITE WHERE INFORMATION CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND UPLOADED

Page 13 mentions a “slightly modified” BFS for home-based primary care programs, and the pricing template suggests a difference between HBPC and in-patient surveys. Will this modified survey need to be distributed in 2019 or future years, and if so, will it also be gender-specific and produced in both English and Spanish? YES, DISTRIBUTED IN 2019 AND FUTURE YEARS. YES, IT IS ALSO GENDER SPECIFIC AND PRODUCED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

Will the government provide a revised mailing database that removes the names of NOKs who have completed the mail or online survey, or will the offeror be responsible for cleaning the reminder mailing database? THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE

Are there specifications for the magnet size and shape? YES, A TEMPLATE WILL BE PROVIDED FOR REPLICATION

Can the govt provide samples of the VSSC and VISN quarterly reports? The size and detail of the reports play an important role in determining cost. QUARTERLY REPORTS CONSIST OF AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT INCLUDES ALL DEATHS, OUTCOMES AND SURVEY DATA (QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE FOR RETURNED SURVEYS) FOR THE QUARTER. SIZE ~700KB

Page 15 (Results Reporting) says VSSC Reports are Quarterly. Table 2-1 says VSSC Reports are Semi-annual. Is the report quarterly or semi-annually? QUARTERLY

Will the govt provide all of the needed letterhead stock? NO. TEMPLATE WILL BE PROVIDED AND MUST BE REPLICATED FOR PRINTING

Does the govt provide the magnets? NO. TEMPLATE WILL BE PROVIDED AND MUST BE REPLICATED FOR PRINTING

What percentage of the sample requires Spanish? 3%

Is the response rate for Inpatient 50% and for Home Based 37%? NO, ESTIMATED RESPONSE RATE FOR BOTH INPATIENT AND HBPC IS 40% OR BETTER BY END OF EACH QUARTER

How soon after the first mailing does the second mailing occur? 30 DAYS

What percentage of returns contain a comment? 80% OF TOTAL RETURNS OR MORE TYPICALLY

What percentage of mailings are Postal non-deliverables? 13% / QUARTER OR 4%/MONTH

Does a cycle close or are returns continually processed and reported? RETURNS ARE CONTINUALLY PROCESSED AND REPORTED. WE HAVE INTERNAL CYCLE DEADLINES (QUARTERLY)

How much white mail should be anticipated? VERY LITTLE (ABOUT 5-10 PIECES/MONTH)