36C24521Q0068 0004.docx

Contract Opportunity Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

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* = Required Field Contract Opportunity Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation F103 Legionella Testing Posting of Questions & Answers 21201 36C24521Q0068 12-07-2020

11:00AM

EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA

N 561210 Department of Veterans Affairs

VAMC

10 N Greene St Baltimore MD 21201 Contracting Officer Robert Tyler Hallock robert.hallock@va.gov 304-263-0811 * 3222 Baltimore VA Medical Center 10 N. Greene St.

Baltimore MD 21201 Questions and Answers Solicitation 36C24521Q0068

1) Is this a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent and what is the current contract value?

New requirement since previous contract expired without extension or bridge allowed. Request was placed for a one-year contract (in lieu of B+4) due to time constraints.

2) RFQ SF 1449 Page 1, Box 20: States, Period of Performance: Date of Award – 11/30/2021.

a) Can the government clarify if this should show 2020?

Date of award is references the date the Contracting Officer signs this contract. It should be signed before Dec. 2020.

b) Is the period of performance for only one year?

My (original) request was for one-year contract to begin Oct 15th but these delays place it closer to November 30, 2020 START through November 29, 2021 end. Of course the times can be modified as the contract award is placed.

3) RFQ Page 5, Section B.2 Price/Cost Schedule: Total quantity shows 1,660.00. Only routine samples per quarter are shown in the CLIN. Can the government clarify that this total includes the 50 quarterly non routine samples?

The sample count for ROUTINE testing is approximately 35 @ Balto., 25 @ Loch Raven, and 175 @ Perry Point (taken over a two day period). The balance of the quarterly/yearly allowance is to cover any necessary re-testing that resulted from positive legionella indication or if new samples need be taken due to new construction. Any remaining samples not used are to be credited back to the VA.

4) RFQ Page 25 Section E.4 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items (Oct 2014) (a):

a) It calls for “Proof of Certifications” – Can the government clarify if they require Offerors to submit laboratory certifications with offer and submit water collector certification at award before period of performance start?

All certifications will be required before the time of award. The VA Legionella Water Sampling Certification will no longer be a requirement.

b) It calls for “Certificate of Insurance, Types & Amounts” – Can the government clarify if this refers to the Offerors insurance? If not, what insurance is required to be submitted?

This is referring to safety insurance for the contractor employees so that VA is not held liable for injury or damages by the contractor’s employee.

c) It calls for “Documented Evidence of Performance” – Can the government clarify if providing past performance information on similar contracts is acceptable as documented evidence of performance? If not, please provide clarification on what acceptable documented evidence of performance should be submitted for evaluation.

Documentation of similar testing should suffice. If any VA facilities have used the service, then that is better documentation.

5) Can the government provide history of positives at each location and type of Legionella detected?

This would be the purpose of the Elite Lab testing facility. Legionella positives can vary throughout the facility and to provide points of positive would not change the contract one way or another. Each quarter sampling should use a slightly different sample point within the patient areas being tested. One quarter might use rom 138, the next should be 142 or similar change. The same location should not be used quarter to quarter unless current conditions prevent use of the other rooms (occupied by a COVID positive patient for example. The serogroup or species should come from the Lab results.

6) How many samples are needed per ice machine? Does the VA sample pre-filter, post-filter, water dispenser and ice or some variant of that?

Typically, the ice machine sampling has been water dispensed from the ice machine (if equipped, not all have water tap), and a 1-liter bottle of the ice collected from ice dispenser chute – which is then tested at the lab for legionella.

7) Does the government require submission of sampling protocol with response or upon being awarded contract?

The sampling protocol (procedure) should be the same at all times for consistency of testing. The time water is run before sample taken, before temperature, pH & chlorine levels measured. This consistency drives the test results. Present protocol used is: 0 sec – FRO & pH, 30 sec – sample, & 2 min – temp.

8) Previously, how many days did it take to collect samples from Perry Point VAMC?

Baltimore & Loch Raven sampling were both performed on the same day. Perry Point usually followed a week or two afterward and would span two days. Each days samples were forwarded to lab on the day taken.

9) Does the VA require specific serotyping of samples positive for serotypes 2-15 and speciation for non-pneumophila Legionella?

We have been getting sample results for Serogroup 1, Serogroup 2-14, or SPP (Species) detections. We have not (historically) required a breakdown of individual groups further than that.

10) Can the VA clarify the current software being used by the VA to which all sampling data and documentation, delivered by vendor to the VA after each quarterly testing cycle and after each set of non-routine tests, shall be compatible?

I have been receiving a spreadsheet form pervious vendor and then manually transferring the results to the WSMT (CEOSH) website for submittal. There will be a sample spreadsheet provided.