Wilmington RSO Questions.docx

Wilmington RSO/Physicist Questions

1. Nuclear medicine personnel. The Seed Task Order Statement of Work, Qualifications section, states that "Personnel credentialed in nuclear medicine shall additionally meet the following standards," listing a Master's Degree in Medical Physics, American Board of Radiology (ABR) Certification in Radiologic Physics, ABR Certification in Nuclear Medicine Physics, and the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (also Combined Synopsis, Statement of Work, Qualifications item 5). Pathway 1 of the same section requires certification in "one of the following" boards. Please confirm whether nuclear medicine personnel must hold every listed certification, or whether one nuclear medicine physics board certification (ABR or American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine), together with the Master's degree and experience requirements, satisfies the standard.

Answer: One nuclear medicine physics board certification (ABR or American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine), together with the master's degree and experience requirements, satisfies the standard.

2. Physicist assignment by modality. The Seed Task Order Statement of Work requires personnel to "individually meet" Joint Commission and ACR requirements "for their individually assigned modalities," while paragraph C states that "the 'Fully Qualified' competent physicist/Radiation Safety Officer shall perform all work under this task order." Please confirm that the contractor may assign more than one fully qualified physicist to the task order, each performing the modalities for which that individual is qualified, with credentials provided for each.

Answer: The contractor may assign more than one fully qualified physicist to the task order, each performing the modalities for which that individual is qualified, with credentials provided for each.

3. Dosimetry. The Seed Task Order Statement of Work scope includes "Dosimetry services for personnel and areas"; the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, item 6, requires the contractor to "provide centralized issue, collection, control and submission for processing dosimetry devices"; and Government Responsibilities, paragraph d, states that badges are returned "to the contractor promptly each month." The price schedule, CLINs 0001 through 0012, contains no dosimetry line item. Please confirm (a) whether the contractor furnishes the dosimetry badges and the processing service, (b) if so, the CLIN under which they should be priced, and (c) the approximate number of badged personnel and area monitors.

Answer: Dosimetry badges is not included in this solicitation. The RSO will review and track the dosimetry badges as stated in the SOW.

4. CLIN 0012. CLIN 0012 is described as "Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) Services per day," with an estimated quantity of 7 (unit JB). Please confirm that one unit equals one on-site day within the VA business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. stated in paragraph f, and describe the activities these days are expected to cover (for example, accreditation surveys, regulatory inspections or Radiation Safety Committee meetings), as distinct from the twelve monthly 8-hour Nuclear Medicine RSO visits under CLIN 0011.

Answer: One unit equals one on-site day within the VA business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the activities these days are expected to cover are for example, accreditation surveys, regulatory inspections, assisting with medical event or other situation which the facility requests to have on-site assistance.

5. CLIN 0009 offsite clinics. CLIN 0009, "Offsite Clinics X-Ray and Apron Inspection," has an estimated quantity of 10 (unit JB). Please confirm (a) that CLIN 0009 covers the Kent County VA Clinic (Dover, DE), the Sussex County VA Clinic (Georgetown, DE) and the Atlantic County VA Clinic (Linwood, NJ); (b) what one unit represents (one X-ray unit, one clinic visit or one apron); and (c) the number of X-ray units and aprons at each clinic. Because paragraph g.ii requires reports against "Delaware State and Federal requirements," please also confirm that New Jersey state requirements apply to the Linwood clinic.

Answer: Personnel performing nuclear medicine work will individually meet the qualifications, credentials and experience requirements.

6. Credential submission timing. Paragraph C of the Seed Task Order Statement of Work requires the contractor to "provide certification by the American Board of Radiology (ABR), credentials, and a CV of the physicist." Please confirm whether these documents are required with the quote, or are to be submitted to the Contracting Officer after award and before the start of performance.

Answer: Yes these are required but will not count towards the 10 page technical page limit.

7. Do CVs, certificates, licenses, the equipment list, and sample reports count toward the 10-page Technical limit, or may they be submitted as a separate attachment (e.g., Section II Part B)?

Answer: No, the certificates, licenses, equipment list, and sample reports will not count towards the 10-page technical limit. They can be submitted in a separate attachment.

8. The table of contents lists an SF 1449, but none is attached. Do we need one? I know sometimes a solicitation includes one and sometimes it does not.

Answer: There is no SF 1449 form as this is a combined synopsis.

9. Are the nuclear medicine qualifications (MS Medical Physics, ABR Radiologic Physics, ABR Nuclear Medicine Physics, ABSNM) required of each individual performing nuclear medicine work, or may the team collectively meet them?

Answer: One nuclear medicine physics board certification (ABR or American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine), together with the master's degree and experience requirements, satisfies the standard.

10. The seed task order asks for therapeutic physics credentials. Is therapeutic physics in scope at Wilmington, or is diagnostic and nuclear medicine physics sufficient?

Answer: There is no therapeutic physics requirement at the Wilmington VA Medical Center, but there will be at the other facilities.

11. The seed SOW lists dosimetry services for personnel and areas, but there is no dosimetry CLIN. Is the contractor to provide dosimetry badges? If so, under which CLIN and for how many wearers/areas?

Answer: Dosimetry badges is not included in this solicitation. The RSO will review and track the dosimetry badges as stated in the SOW.

12. Is travel to be included in the per-job unit prices, and is CLIN 0012 (RSO services per day) performed on-site?

Answer: You should price CLIN 0012 for the RSO to be on site.

13. Is only the seed task order pricing evaluated, or the optional Year 1-5 pricing as well?

Answer: The pricing for the task order is for one year. Each task order issued from the MATOC will not exceed a one year period of performance.

14. Equipment inventory by location: The seed task order price schedule lists equipment quantities (CLINs 0001–0012) with all line items delivered to the Wilmington VAMC main campus. Can the Government provide an equipment inventory broken out by location (Wilmington VAMC, Kent County VA Clinic – Dover, Sussex County VA Clinic – Georgetown, and Atlantic County VA Clinic – Linwood, NJ), including manufacturer, model, and modality for each unit? I have the number but need the manufacturer, and model number.

Answer: X-ray only in Georgetown, CT and Xray at the other CBOCS. All units at CBOCs are Phillips.

15. CLIN 0009 (Offsite Clinics X-Ray and Apron Inspection, qty 10): Please clarify how many of the 10 units are X-ray units versus aprons, and how they are distributed among the three CBOCs.

Answer: Kent County CBOC: 1 General X-ray unit and 1 CT unit Sussex County CBOC: 1 General X-ray unit Atlantic City CBOB: 1 General X-ray unit and 1 CT unit.

Each CBOC will have 5 lead aprons.

16. CLIN 0008 (Dental Equipment, qty 13): Please confirm the location(s) of the dental units and whether any are dental CBCT units, which carry separate acceptance and annual testing requirements in the SOW.

Answer: Dental is only located at the Wilmington VA Medical Center.

17. Mammography and PET: The SOW includes testing requirements for mammography and PET equipment, but no separate CLIN is listed. Does Wilmington VAMC currently have mammography or standalone PET equipment in scope? If so, how should these be priced?

Answer: There is no PET or Mammography at the Wilmington VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC); however, the other facilities will have Mammography and PET.

18. Unpriced SOW services: How should quoters price SOW services not tied to a specific CLIN (e.g., personnel/area dosimetry services, display monitor testing, shielding design evaluations, and physician training)? Should these be included within CLINs 0011 and 0012?

Answer: If there are additional quotes for services please include them in the Section IV Price with submission of quote.

19. Must all asbestos-exclusion wording be removed, or is an exclusion permissible if it does not void the general liability coverage applicable to the contracted radiation safety and medical physics scope?

Answer: All quoters must comply with the clause.