36C24421R0034 0002.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 NUMBERED 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 amendment, 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)

MSO-2021-COM-0033

00244 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4

00244 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24421R0034 09-12-2022

X X X

December 13, 2022 at 12:00pm EST The purpose of this amendment is as follows:

1. To update the Performance Work Statement and DOL Wage Determinations as shown on following page, as a result of questions received in response to the subject RFP.

2. To extend the due date for proposals as shown in Box 11 above.

3. To provide answers to technical questions as shown beginning on Page 3 of this amendment.

Kevin Balser Contracting Officer

1. Performance Work Statement is updated as follows:

a. PWS 2.2 and PWS 2.3.1 – References to “board-certified” shall be replaced with “board-certified or board-eligible”.

b. PWS 6.1.2 – “…120 days from contract award to commencement of medical care…” has been revised to read “…180 days from contract award to commencement of medical care…”.

c. PWS 4.11.1.1 and PWS 4.11.2.6.7 – References to “CAT 6” or “Category 6” wiring shall be replaced with “CAT 6A”.

d. PWS 4.11.2.6.7 – Reference to “Leviton” (brand name only) is revised to read “Leviton (or comparable)”.

2. The DOL Wage Determinations (Attachments 5 – 9) are replaced with the following:

D.5 DOL SCA WD 2015-4235 Rev 21, dated 06/27/2022 – Armstrong and Butler Counties D.6 DOL SCA WD 2015-4247 Rev 19, dated 06/27/2022 – Clarion County D.7 DOL DBA WD PA20220074 Mod 9, dated 10/28/2022 – Armstrong County D.8 DOL DBA WD PA20220079 Mod 9, dated 10/28/2022 – Butler County D.9 DOL DBA WD PA20220046 Mod 10, dated 10/28/2022 – Clarion County

3. The due date for proposals is extended until Tuesday December 13, 2022 at 12:00pm EST.

4. Technical Questions and Answers are provided on the following pages.

RFP 36C24421R0034 A00002

Technical Questions and Answers CBOC Services in Armstrong, Clarion, and Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania

1. Question: I am having issues opening some of the documents. These four below will not open?

D.6+SCA+WD+2015-4247+R17+03152022+Clarion+County D.7+DBA+WD+PA20220074+M3+02252022+Armstrong+County D.8+DBA+WD+PA20220079+M3+02252022+Butler+County D.9+DBA+WD+PA20220046+M4+04012022+Clarion+County Answer:

Attachments #5 – 9 have been updated with the following DOL Wage Determinations:

D.5 DOL SCA WD 2015-4235 Rev 21, dated 06/27/2022 – Armstrong and Butler Counties D.6 DOL SCA WD 2015-4247 Rev19, dated 06/27/2022 – Clarion County D.7 DOL DBA WD PA20220074 M9, dated 10/28/2022 – Armstrong County D.8 DOL DBA WD PA20220079 M9, dated 10/28/2022 – Butler County D.9 DOL DBA WD PA20220046 M10, dated 10/28/2022 – Clarion County

2. Question: Please clarify exactly how many PC-MHI social workers will be required by the contractor and how many will be provided by the VAMC in order to meet the 0.67 FTE per pact ratio?

Reference: 2.4.5 DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC 5: PRIMARY CARE MENTAL HEALTH INTEGRATION (PC-MHI): FTE Ratio Performance Standard - 0.67 FTE per PACT. PC-MHI staff provide services in collaboration with PCPs for mild to moderate MH needs…….Contracted Licensed Clinical Social Work staff, in conjunction with VA-staffed mental health prescribers, shall be selected to meet the PC-MHI FTE ratio performance standard and PC-MHI service requirements.

Answer: Contractor shall provide 0.67 FTE PC-MHI Licensed Clinical Social Worker per PACT. The VA-staffed prescriber is not included within the 0.67 FTE per PACT ratio.

3. Question: Is the LCSW listed here the same staff member as listed in 2.4.3 DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC 3: LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER (this position provides general/medical social work services): FTE Ratio Performance Standard: 1 FTE per 2 PACTs? Or is this an additional Clinical Social Worker?

Reference: 2.4.5 Required: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (this position provides mental health services as part of the PC-MHI team): Qualifications: Required and provided by Contractor. Social Workers providing services under this contract must have a master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)

Answer: The LCSW required in PWS 2.4.3 is separate from the LCSW required in 2.4.5.

4. Question: Please clarify, it states that a Licensed Clinical Social worker is required (which would be an LCSW) … but under qualifications it states that they must have an MSW…

Which is required? An LCSW or LMSW?

Reference: 2.4.5 Required: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (this position provides mental health services as part of the PC-MHI team): Qualifications: Required and provided by Contractor. Social Workers providing services under this contract must have a master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)

Answer: A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (the position) must possess a Masters’ degree in Social Work (the degree).

5. Question: Please clarify exactly how many mental health staff will be required by the contractor and how many will be provided by the VAMC in order to meet the 7.72 total FTE per 1000 Veteran staffing requirement.

Reference: 2.7 GENERAL AND SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH STAFFING: The following specialty staffing shall be provided by the Contractor. 2.7.1 MH staffing FTE ratio performance standard is 7.72 total FTE per 1000 Veterans seen in outpatient MH. This FTE ratio is met through a combination of contractor-provided LCSW and VA-provided interdisciplinary Mental Health staff from Butler Health Care Services

Answer: In accordance with PWS 2.7.1, “It is estimated that 6.5-9% of enrolled Veterans will require General or Specialized Mental Health services appropriately delivered by the contractor LCSW.” Contractor shall provide adequate staffing to ensure performance of required services.

6. Question: Please clarify if the contractor-provided PCMHI staff members are included in this 7.72 per 1000 Veterans ratio.

Reference: 2.7 GENERAL AND SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH STAFFING: The following specialty staffing shall be provided by the Contractor. 2.7.1 MH staffing FTE ratio performance standard is 7.72 total FTE per 1000 Veterans seen in outpatient MH. This FTE ratio is met through a combination of contractor-provided LCSW and VA-provided interdisciplinary Mental Health staff from Butler Health Care Services

Answer: “This FTE ratio is met through a combination of contractor-provided LCSW and VA-provided interdisciplinary Mental Health staff from Butler Health Care Services.” The solicitation is clear on its face.

7. Question: Which is required? An LCSW or LMSW?

Reference: 2.7.1 Required: Mental Health Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Qualifications: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license in the state in which the Outpatient Site of Care (i.e. CBOC) is located; otherwise qualifications as per VA HANDBOOK 5005 PART II APPENDIX G39. Social Workers providing services under this contract must have a Masters’ degree in Social Work (MSW) from a school accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #4.

8. Question: Given this is an out-patient setting will ACLS be mandatory or just BLS?

Reference: 2.12 TRAINING (ACLS/BLS/VA MANDATORY):

Answer: Per PWS 2.12, in accordance with current VHA policy, ACLS certification is not anticipated to be required in the CBOC setting.

9. Question: Will the VAMC also provide the test strips for INR, A1C and Glucose meter?

Reference: 4.6.4.4.1 Mandated POC testing includes: For conditions requiring chronic anticoagulation with warfarin, Contractor shall perform POC INR (International Normalized Ratio) testing to allow for real-time adjustment of warfarin dosing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the INR meter. For patients with diabetes, Contractor shall perform Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C) testing. Several VA Mission Critical performance targets are based on HbA1C levels in diabetics, including yearly monitoring of HbA1C levels. VA will provide the POC HbA1c machine. For patients exhibiting appropriate symptoms, Contract shall perform Stat glucose testing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the glucose meter. For Women Veterans Health Clinic, Contractor shall perform AFFIRM (is sent to the Butler VA HCS for testing. Once collected, this test is only good for 72 hours. It must be shipped to the Butler VA HCS laboratory w/ this limitation in mind & with the limitation that the Butler VA HCS laboratory is only open Monday through Friday from 6 am to 9 pm.), and onsite stat urine pregnancy testing

Answer: Yes, VA will provide the test strips for INR, A1C, and Glucose meter.

10. Question: Will the VAMC provide the AFFIRM testing kit?

Reference: 4.6.4.4.1 Mandated POC testing includes: For conditions requiring chronic anticoagulation with warfarin, Contractor shall perform POC INR (International Normalized Ratio) testing to allow for real-time adjustment of warfarin dosing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the INR meter. For patients with diabetes, Contractor shall perform Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C) testing. Several VA Mission Critical performance targets are based on HbA1C levels in diabetics, including yearly monitoring of HbA1C levels. VA will provide the POC HbA1c machine. For patients exhibiting appropriate symptoms, Contract shall perform Stat glucose testing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the glucose meter. For Women Veterans Health Clinic, Contractor shall perform AFFIRM (is sent to the Butler VA HCS for testing. Once collected, this test is only good for 72 hours. It must be shipped to the Butler VA HCS laboratory w/ this limitation in mind & with the limitation that the Butler VA HCS laboratory is only open Monday through Friday from 6 am to 9 pm.), and onsite stat urine pregnancy testing

Answer: No, Contractor is responsible for costs associated with testing unless otherwise specified within the PWS.

11. Question: Will the VAMC provide the urine pregnancy testing kit?

Reference: 4.6.4.4.1 Mandated POC testing includes: For conditions requiring chronic anticoagulation with warfarin, Contractor shall perform POC INR (International Normalized Ratio) testing to allow for real-time adjustment of warfarin dosing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the INR meter. For patients with diabetes, Contractor shall perform Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C) testing. Several VA Mission Critical performance targets are based on HbA1C levels in diabetics, including yearly monitoring of HbA1C levels. VA will provide the POC HbA1c machine. For patients exhibiting appropriate symptoms, Contract shall perform Stat glucose testing. The Butler VA HCS Laboratory will provide the glucose meter. For Women Veterans Health Clinic, Contractor shall perform AFFIRM (is sent to the Butler VA HCS for testing. Once collected, this test is only good for 72 hours. It must be shipped to the Butler VA HCS laboratory w/ this limitation in mind & with the limitation that the Butler VA HCS laboratory is only open Monday through Friday from 6 am to 9 pm.), and onsite stat urine pregnancy testing

Answer: No, Contractor is responsible for costs associated with testing unless otherwise specified within the PWS.

12. Question: Is the women’s health exam room counted in the 2.5 rooms per PACT or in addition to this number?

Reference: 4.9.1.1 PACT Patient Care Room: minimum size of 125SF; the PACT Space Module uses a minimum of 2.5 patient care rooms per each PACT team.

Answer: Yes, Women’s Health Exam room is counted in the 2.5 rooms per PACT.

13. Question: Please confirm the VA wants three draw stations per lab. We would suggest two since the clinics are smaller.

Answer: In accordance with PWS 4.9.1.16, “Contractor to provide adequate space for the laboratory blood draw and processing. CBOC should have a minimum of three (3) draw stations.” Solicitation is clear on its face.

14. Question: Can the women’s health room count as a regular exam room as well or is it separate from the 2.5:1 ratio of exam rooms to PACT teams?

Reference: Page 92

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #12.

15. Question: Who is responsible for providing the phone system—the VA or the contractor.

Answer: VA is responsible for providing the phone system within the CBOC. Contractor is responsible for on-call phones, pages, and/or phone numbers for critical results.

16. Question: Please explain why the VA does not believe the CBOCs will grow over the course of the contract?

Answer: VA Veteran population projections were retrieved from VHA Support Service Center (VSSC) and are based on an analysis of market-specific data collected from historical enrollment numbers.

17. Question: Does the current CBOCs meet the government’s space requirements, and if not, will the locations be “grandfathered in” and available for rebid “as-is”?

Answer: Current clinics do not meet space requirements defined within this RFP; and all sites will need to be built to meet current PACT SPACE GUIDELINES as defined in PWS 4.9.

18. Question: Please confirm the new CBOC must be designed with the On/Stage-Off/Stage concept as laid out in the PACT Design Guide.

Answer: Clinics must be designed as laid out in PACT Design Guide, in accordance with PWS 4.9.

19. Question: Please provide the number of billable enrollees on the most current invoice.

Answer: As of July’s billable invoice:

20. Question: Please list all VA staff that will be onsite at the clinic and the approximate number of days per week they will be there.

Answer: Contractor is required to provide space for VA personnel in accordance with PWS 4.9.1.13 and 4.9.1.14.

21. Question: Will the new Contractor inherit the patients’ last vesting visit and be allowed to bill for one year from the date upon contract award?

Answer: Yes, the new Contractor will inherit the existing billable roster, including the last vesting visit for each patient, and may bill for Veterans as long as they remain active on the billable roster.

22. Question: How many Mission Act referrals for Primary Care were made in the past 12 months at each clinic.

Answer: It is unclear what is meant by Mission Act referral.

23. Question: Are board-eligible physicians acceptable?

Answer: Yes. Language in PWS 2.2 and 2.3.1 has been revised accordingly.

24. Question: Regarding Section 2.4.5, PCMHI staffing – Is the contractor responsible for providing 0.67 PCMHI Social Workers per PACT at each clinic?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #2.

25. Question: Section 2.7.1 states “MH staffing FTE ratio performance standard is 7.72 total FTE per 1000 Veterans seen in outpatient MH. This FTE ratio is met through a combination of contractor-provided LCSW and VA-provided interdisciplinary Mental Health staff from Butler Health Care Services.” Please clarify the required staffing ratio for the Contractor-provided LCSW portion of the total mental health staff. Is the Contractor required to provide 7.72 FTE Mental Health LCSW per 1000 MH patients?

Answer: Per PWS 2.7.1 “It is estimated that 6.5-9% of enrolled Veterans will require General or Specialized Mental Health services appropriately delivered by the contractor LCSW.” The solicitation is clear on its face.

26. Question: Who is responsible for courier services – VA or contractor?

Answer: Per PWS 4.6.4.3 “Contractor is responsible for…3) Paying any costs of all lab work, except for lab work sent to the VA or emergency lab work sent to another site which has been authorized by the VA Communications Center and paying any costs associated with transportation of specimens to the VA and for arranging such transportation in a proper secure method…” The solicitation is clear on its face.

27. Question: Will the VA provide the lab specimen tubes?

Answer: Per PWS 4.6.4.3 “Contractor is responsible for…5) Ensuring the proper collection, collection supplies, and other preservation of specimens and providing appropriate specimen collection containers that are compatible with the instrumentation and methodology used by the VA laboratory.” The solicitation is clear on its face.

28. Question: What is the current size of the vested primary care patient roster for each clinic? How many are women veterans?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #19. In addition:

Armstrong = 59 female veterans

29. Question: What is the current size of the vested mental health patient roster for each clinic? How many are women veterans?

Answer: There are no vested mental health patients, as mental health services are currently being provided by the VA.

30. Question: Does the Women’s Health Exam Room required by paragraph 4.9.1.3 for each clinic count as one of the PACT Patient Care Rooms required by paragraph 4.9.1.1?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #12.

31. Question: Regarding Paragraph 4.6.2.4.7, would the VA be willing to provide Well Women’s Health Services Supplies, including Thin Prep Pap Test, Pap Smear Collection Kits, Cytobrushes, as well as the IFOBT kits?

Answer: No, Contractor is responsible for costs associated with testing unless otherwise specified within the PWS.

32. Question: Paragraph 4.6.3.3.1 states, “The contractor shall provide space as detailed in space requirements, support staffing, and ancillary support to allow for the provision of clinical pharmacy services.” Is the contractor required to provided dedicated support staff for the CPS, or can the PACT support staffing also be used for CPS support?

Answer: Dedicated support staff for the CPS is not a not a defined position as delineated in the PWS.

33. Question: Paragraph 6.1.2 states, “The Contractor shall have 120 days from contract award to commencement of the provision of medical care to local Veterans.” In consideration of the supply chain disruptions that have continuously occurred over the past years and the complexities of building out three (3) clinics at once, we respectfully request 180 days to meet all Solicitation requirements.

Answer: PWS Paragraph 6.1.2 has been revised to reflect “…180 days from contract award to commencement of medical care…”.

34. Question: Will the Contractor inherit the current billable roster for both primary care and mental health for each clinic?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #21.

35. Question: On page 171, it states that transcripts are required for Nurse Practitioners. Is it acceptable to submit transcripts after award, as transcripts can take weeks to obtain?

Answer: Transcripts may be submitted after award, if required. Per Solicitation Factor 1, Para C, Sub Fac 3, Section 2 (Page 171), Graduation Certificate is required, along with license and CV. These items shall be submitted with proposal.

36. Question: Are hallways required to be six feet wide?

Answer: Per PWS 4.9, “Accessibility design standards are defined in the VA Barrier Free Design Standard at: http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/etc/dsBarrFree.pdf”

37. Question: Are patient doorways required to be 42 inches wide?

Answer: Per PWS 4.9, “Accessibility design standards are defined in the VA Barrier Free Design Standard at: http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/etc/dsBarrFree.pdf”

38. Question: Do the current clinic locations meet the space requirements of this solicitation?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #17.

39. Question: Who is responsible for telephones and the telephone system – VA or Contractor?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #15.

40. Question: Is the contractor responsible for providing Telepharmacy services in additions to onsite CPS services?

Answer: Contractor shall perform telepharmacy services as defined in PWS 4.6.7.5, in addition to onsite CPS services.

41. Question: Is onstage off- stage required for all clinics?

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #18.

42. Question: Can offeror “only” submit an email copy of the proposal, or can the government remove the hard copy requirement for proposal submission?

Answer: Per RFP E.1.1, Para C, “All proposals MUST BE SENT VIA BOTH MAIL AND ELECTRONIC MAIL (EMAIL)”. Solicitation is clear on its face.

43. Question: Can Graduation certificates from an accredited NP or PA program be provided at contract award due to the time associated with obtaining these documents?

Answer: A copy of the certificate(s) is acceptable for the proposal.

44. Question: Can offers include the total cost of construction/ the clinical buildouts in the base year of the contract?

Answer: Per RFP E.1.4 Evaluation Factors for Award, Factor 3. Price (page 175), “The Contracting Officer will determine prices to be or not to be fair and reasonable…The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all ten (10) years for this requirement.”

45. Question: Given the requirement to provide three CBOCs, would the VA consider 180 days from contract award to commencement of the provision of medical care to veterans?

Reference: 6.1.2 The Contractor shall have 120 days from contract award to commencement of the provision of medical care to local Veterans. (Page 116)

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #33.

46. Question: Are there any email size restrictions when submitting the electronic copy of the Proposal via email to Bethany Diaz?

Reference: Proposal Instructions to Offerors Submission (Page 166)

Answer: No.

47. Question: Does the VA prefer Volume 1 include all sub factors in one PDF file or should it be in separate PDF files for each sub factor?

Reference: Proposal Instructions to Offerors Submission (Page 169)

Answer: Per RFP E.1.1, Para C, Volume 3: Price, “Volumes 1-3 shall be uploaded on the same disc, but shall be separate PDF files for each volume, sub factors may also be separate PDF files.” Solicitation is clear on its face.

48. Question: Will the Government please confirm if VA will provide the phone circuit and physical phones?

Reference: 4.9 PACT space standards are found in the PACT Space Module Design (Page 92)

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #15.

49. Question: Will the Government please confirm if CAT 6 wiring is preferred and not CAT 6A?

Reference: 4.11.1.1 The installation and maintenance of the network infrastructure within the facility including, but not limited to, cabling (minimum Category 6) (Page 101)

Answer: PWS 4.11.1.1 and PWS 4.11.2.6.7 have been updated to reflect CAT 6A, in lieu of CAT 6.

50. Question: Will the government please confirm the power requirements and if two 20-amp dedicated receptacles are acceptable?

Reference: Four (4) L6-20 receptacles located near racks and four (4) L6-20 receptacles on rear wall for telecommunication equipment. Two (2) L6-30 receptacles in the closet (Page 103)

Answer: Per PWS 4.11.2.5, provide receptacles as required. Solicitation is clear on its face.

51. Question: Will the government please confirm if shelves are required?

Reference: 4.11.2.6.6 Racks - both racks will have 2 shelves on the bottom installed to hold IT computers (Page 104)

Answer: Shelves are no longer required. PWS 4.11.2.6 is now revised to read as follows:

4.11.2.6 Racks:

4.11.2.6.1 Two standard 19” wide data/relay racks; one to support network equipment, one to support patch panels

4.11.2.6.2 Height from 40-48 RU and a depth no less than 21”

4.11.2.6.3 Secured and grounded to the floor

4.11.2.6.4 Placed such that at there is at least 3 feet in the front of and behind the rack

4.11.2.6.5 Either aluminum or steel construction and the holes should be standard 10-32 tapped

4.11.2.6.6 Infrastructure installer should install Leviton (or comparable) CAT 6A patch panels and connectors in the rack

52. Question: Will the government please confirm if a comparable brand to Leviton will suffice.

Reference: 4.11.2.6.7 Infrastructure installer should install Leviton CAT6 patch panels and connectors in the rack. (Page 104)

Answer: PWS 4.11.6.2.6 (reference answer to Question #51 above) has been revised to say “Leviton (or comparable)”.

53. Question: Is it the government’s preference to have a clinic administrator at each site?

Reference: 2.3 PRIMARY CARE TEAMLET STAFFING (MANDATORY FOR ALL SITES): All primary care teamlet staffing shall be provided by Contractor. (Page 19)

Answer: Clinic administrator is not a defined position as delineated in the PWS.

54. Question: How many MH staff will the government be providing for each site given that some of the VA MH staff work remote, and how many offices will the contractor be required to provide for each site?

Reference: 2.7 GENERAL AND SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH STAFFING: The following specialty staffing shall be provided by the Contractor 2.7.1 MH staffing FTE ratio performance standard is 7.72 total FTE per 1000 Veterans seen in outpatient MH. This FTE ratio is met through a combination of contractor-provided LCSW and VA-provided interdisciplinary Mental Health staff from Butler Health Care Services (Page 25)

Answer: Per PWS 4.9.1.13, “VA Mental Health CRNP/Psychiatrist: Minimum size of 125 SF, requirement 1 per CBOC. VA will provide/staff the Mental Health CRNP/Psychiatrist, contractor to provide space and furniture for the staff member to work out of.” Solicitation is clear on its face.

55. Question: Please clarify this requirement. Does Government want the submission to be redacted of all corporate identifying information? Are corporate logos in the headers of each page acceptable? What is the purpose of this requirement?

Reference: E.1.1 Proposal Instructions to Offerors Submission, page 169, “PLEASE INDICATE THE NAME OF BUSINESS ON THE FIRST PAGE ONLY OF EVERY VOLUME IN THE PROPOSAL. DO NOT PLACE BUSINESS NAME ON EVERY PAGE OF THE PROPOSAL.”

Answer: The solicitation is clear on its face.

56. Question: Will Government accept CVs and licenses for the Physicians/NPs/PAs with board certifications and graduate certifications submitted upon award?

Reference: E.1.3 Non-Price Proposal/C. Sub-factor 3. Management, Expertise, and Staffing/ point I / bullets 1 through 3.

Answer: Please see answer above to Question #43.

57. Question: Both point I and point II ask for the staff contingency plan. Is this duplicative? If not, can Government explain the difference of the information requested?

Reference: E.1.3 Non-Price Proposal/ D. Sub-factor 4. Transition/Start-Up Plan/ Retention / point I and point II.

Answer: E.1.3 Non-Price Proposal/ D. Sub-factor 4. Transition/Start-Up Plan/ Retention / Point 1 requires, “…contingency plan for handling any provider turnover…” and Point II requires, “…contingency plans for covering clinics due to scheduled or unscheduled leave…”. Solicitation is clear on its face.

End of Document