Questions and Responses.pdf

Salem Nurse Call System Questions and Responses

Solicitation 36C24624R0005

1. Please confirm whether the nurse call system is intended to function in a standalone capacity, or is desired to integrate (expand) an approved campus nurse call. If the desire is to integrate/expand, please detail the currently approved systems on campus.

The nurse call is designed as a separate, standalone system. There is an existing Jeron Provider 790 system in the facility in areas outside the scope of this project. The new nurse call system may function as an extension of that system rather than being a completely standalone system, if desired.

2. Are nurse call reports required to be available from within the VA network on VA workstations?

Yes

3. Is the system required to comply with VA Handbook 6500 -- Risk Management Framework for VA

Information Systems to achieve network access?

Yes, any system connected to the VA network is required to comply with VA Handbook 6500 – Risk Management Framework for VA Information Systems

4. Will VAAR 852.239-70 apply to this work? Is the contractor required to submit an Information System Security Plan, including Security Accreditation for any IT component such as system servers, reporting services, voice gateways for Vocera dialback, etc residing upon the VA network?

Yes, compliance with VAAR 852.239-70 is required, including Security Accreditation for IT components residing on the VA network.

5. If an existing system is to be expanded, must the contractor upgrade any obsolete or end of life components of the existing system that the proposed work requires to perform functions required by the specs? Example: existing report/application servers no longer running on supported operating systems, unsupported software versions, etc.

Expansion of the existing Jeron Provider 790 system is not required.

6. Section 27 52 23 requires that the contractor's maintenance personnel shall have the ability to contact the Contractor and OEM for emergency maintenance, logistic assistance, remote diagnostic testing, and assistance in resolving technical problems at any time. Please confirm that the OEM must regularly provide 24x7 technical support.

Contractor shall comply with requirements of specification section 27 52 23 regarding technical support.

7. Is the Section 27 52 23 system installer required to maintain a physical location within a certain mile radius of the Salem VAMC to ensure prompt service?

Contractor must comply with the response time listed in the specification.

8. Please confirm whether the contractor's maintenance personnel are to be direct technically trained employees of the OEM's representative? Is the use of non-certified personnel, not employed by the OEM representative, to meet required warranty response times permitted?

The contractor’s maintenance personnel must be OEM certified on the OEM system product line they are planning to install in this facility.

9. Must the nurse call systems in these areas integrate to the VA's current Vocera deployment? Please confirm that the system shall push alarm data to Vocera, and allow for dial back into the room from a Vocera pendant. Who shall bear any Vocera integration / professional services costs? Is the VA already licensed for usage of Vocera in the primary care clinics, or shall this functionality be restricted only to clinical units? If licensing is required, who will obtain?

Scope of work did not require Vocera integration.

10. Are any personal wireless communicators to be provided with this project? (Ref: 27 52 23 2.4.4) In the past all Vocera devices have been VA provided, but the system must integrate to Vocera.

No personal wireless communicators are to be provided with this project.

11. Please confirm whether a complete conduit system is required, or if the contractor may elect for open cabling within the existing areas supported by j-hooks on 2' centers as previously utilized in the 2014 nurse call installation.

A complete conduit system is not required. Cable tray and j-hooks may be utilized to device locations.

Conduit to be provided from device location to above accessible ceiling and where required to maintain fire ratings of walls.

12. Is a clinical workflow solution for room / patient status optimization desired in the primary care areas of this project? Many nurse call systems offer touchscreen staff terminals that allow staff to signal the room status (room clean, patient in room, ready for doctor, cleaning needed, etc) that replace traditional metal flags in the hallway by providing staff whiteboards, statistics and reports to clinic leadership.

Clinical workflow/status stations are only required in the Women’s Clinic as indicated on EY-300. All other clinics do not contain a clinical workflow solution.

13. Please clarify bids may be submitted by email in lieu of hand delivery - One day prior to bid date by 5:00 pm.

This is correct. Email Proposals to Shirley.Gregory@va.gov and cc Patrick.Stultz@va.gov

14. Can existing surface-mounted wire molding and backboxes be re-used?

No.

15. In our experience, it is customary to install a dome light outside the bathroom door inside the patient room. The current drawings do not align with this standard practice. Is this an oversight?

Dome lights are not required for restrooms located within patient rooms. The light outside the patient room will indicate if a call is placed in the restroom or in the patient room.

16. In showers/bathrooms can the old box be blanked out or does it need to be tiled?

Tiled.

17. Please confirm existing nurse call servers are in Building 143 room 6017 in ICU 2.

The existing NC server is in room 143-1D106.

18. The Scope of Work mentions: "Existing junction boxes and conduit will be reused for new devices as practicable." In several instances, can we infer that the existing backboxes can also be reused?

No. see question 14.

19. In some rooms, Women’s Clinic Exam room 1M, for example, the location of the existing nurse call equipment does not match the location of the new nurse call in the drawings. Which location should be correct?

The locations shown on the new work plans are correct for the new devices.

20. What are the normal operating hours of the Building 5 Women’s Clinic, Building 143 Primary Care Clinics and 2H, 2J, and 3H specialty clinics, and Building 143 Primary Care Clinic 3J?

7:00 am to 4:30 pm.

21. During the site visit, it was noted staff had Vocera badges, is the new nurse call system required to integrate into the existing Vocera system?

mailto:Shirley.Gregory@va.gov mailto:Patrick.Stultz@va.gov

See response to #9.

22. The specifications indicate: "Weather/Waterproof Equipment: Listed and labeled by an OSHA certified NRTL (i.e. UL) for duty outdoors or in damp locations." Can the VA confirm if this aligns with an IP68 requirement?

An IP68 rating would meet the intent of the requirement.

23. What is the manufacturer and model of the PA and MATV system?

Integration with the PA system is not required. Integration MATV headend is not required. Integration locally with the MATV.

24. How many zones are currently configured in the PA and MATV systems?

Integration with the PA system is not required. Integration MATV headend is not required. Integration

25. Where are the head ends/Servers for the PA and MATV systems located?

Integration with the PA system is not required. Integration MATV headend is not required. Integration

26. Can the existing Code Blue Annunciation Stations in the Telephone Operators Room and Police Control Center be re-used?

No

27. The specifications frequently reference connections to other VA systems such as HL7, wireless communication devices (Vocera), and others. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology typically mandates that nurse call systems be Technical Reference Model (TRM) approved before establishing connections to these systems. Is TRM approval mandatory for the new nurse call system to fulfill integration and connection requirements?

Yes, TRM approval is required to connect to the VA network.

28. Most VA Medical centers require these systems to be FDA 510k certified. Is FDA 510k certification required for the nurse call system referenced as a Critical Care and Life Safety system?

No. A UL 1069 listed nurse call system is required.

29. The specifications designate the nurse call system as a Critical Care and Life Safety system. Many VA

Medical centers need these systems to function in a highly available configuration to reduce downtime.

Is this a mandatory requirement?

No.

30. Does the nurse call system need to support full duplex audio?

Yes.