36C24519Q0568-0002000.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 ADM

INISTRATIVE 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 d ate 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 3

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) 09-24-2019 101-19-4-9539-0008 None Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 5 Contracting Office (90C) 1 Med Center DR Clarksburg WV 26301-4199 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 5 Contracting Office (90C) 1 Med Center DR Clarksburg WV 26301-4199 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24519Q0568 09-24-2019

X X X

9/26/2019 @ 1300 EDT

X The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions and extend the end date to 9/26/2019 @1300. Quotes are due by this date and time.

See continuation page(s) for details.

CONTINUATION PAGE

1. Are we still eligible for this work even though we use a different NAICS code? Yes, as long as I can tell your company meets the NAICS Size Standard listed in the RFQ.

2. Will an award be made after submissions are received from this RFQ, or will there be another step such as an RFP? If so, will more detail be provided on the scope of work during that step? No, Responses to the RFQ is due on 9/26/19 @ 1300 EDT.

3. Should the contractor include operational pass-through costs associated with convening the panels (e.g., meeting space, food, honoraria) in the quote? Build your cost according to the CLINS Structure in the RFQ. If the Government needs additional information on cost, we may request it.

4. For the purposes of validating logic and data abstraction, do the sites that would implement these measures use the same health IT/data systems? If not, approximately how many different systems are used across the sites? This solicitation does not require logic or data abstraction.

5. Does “40 radiation oncology services” refer to specific health care services provided or different sites of care? Veterans Health Administration has 40 in-house Radiation Oncology “Centers” which we call “Services”

6. Is the intent that ASTRO be the only source for conducting the SME panels, or would it be acceptable for other organizations such as ACR or other qualified organizations to convene these SME panels? VHA would need to evaluate any proposed source for the panels. Using ASTRO will help as we routinely re-examine QM’s. Setting up to review with multiple organizations is not optimal.

7. What are the overall success criteria for the initiative? Criteria for overall success will be the creation for each specified disease site of a comprehensive set of quality metrics acceptable to the VHA National Radiation Oncology Program Director for use within the VA Radiation Oncology Quality Surveillance Program.

Each QM should relate to a specific event within the radiation oncology care pathway, such as the initial consult, diagnostic work-up, treatment planning, etc. Dose-volume constraints should be identified for each separate treatment modality such as IMRT, SBRT, brachytherapy, etc.

8. Are there specific partners that we will be expected to work with? (ASTRO or others) ASTRO, who will assist with the fielding of blue-ribbon panels (BRP) of disease site experts, is the only partner identified. Contractor may, however, choose to partner with any organization able to provide panels of recognized disease site expert radiation oncologists.

9. Is the contractor expected to develop CPMs through the expert panels or does the contractor work with the expert panels to select and validate existing standards for adoption by the VA? Contractor will work with experts to define quality measures based upon available evidence and/or the consensus opinions of the BRP.

10. For task 4.1, please clarify if ASTRO will organize/convene the SME panels for Breast, Head & Neck, and Central Nervous System sites or if the contractor is to work with ASTRO is convene and organize. Contractor will work with ASTRO, or other organization to convene the BRP.

11. What role does VA anticipate for ASTRO across the entirety of the effort? ASTRO will partner with the contractor to provide a list of experts.

12. What is the role of the COR in approving/modifying the CPMs before dissemination? COR will verify that each QM has been completely defined and is accompanied by a decision tree validating both the metric and the patient population to which the QM applies.

13. With respect to the use of the term “Define” for CPMs and as used in tasks 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4: To what extent does it refer to the development of new materials? To what extent does it refer to the refinement of existing materials? COR will verify that each QM has been completely defined and is accompanied by a decision tree validating both the metric and the patient population to which the QM applies.

14. Is there a page count limit and font size requirement for the capability statement? Unless specified in the RFQ, No. Can font sizes for tables and graphs be at least 9 font or greater? As long as it is clear and legible, the size of font is up to you.

15. Please clarify if the contractor is to support the development of quality metrics and operational processes to close any identified performance gaps. Contractor is only to create QM.

16. Is the contractor expected to complete site visits at all sites performing radiation oncology or visit only specific pilot sites? Contractor is only to create QM.