S06-Amendment 002 Questions and Responses with Solicitation Amendments_01.pdf

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)

1 7

NONE

36C247

Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 7 Network Contracting Activity 501 Greene Street Hatcher Building - Suite 2 Augusta GA 30901

36C247

Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 7 Network Contracting Activity 501 Greene Street Hatcher Building - Suite 2 Augusta GA 30901

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24721R0067

09-02-2021

X

X

September 08, 2021, 4:30 PM EST

X 001

Amendment VISN 7 Eyeglasses and Optician Service

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions from interested vendors and to amend the solicitation and Statement of work.

1. Questions and responses are incorporated herein.

2. Solicitation amended to remove the requirement for submission of the limitation of subcontracting explanation for the optician services requirement of the contract.

Laurinda Millage Contracting Officer

CONTINUATION PAGE Page 2 of 7

3. Solicitation amended to remove SOW paragraph 4.1.8.3 All upgrades shall be made available to the Veteran at no more than the price of the corresponding LIN(s) in the resultant contract.

4. Solicitation amended to add language to confirm that soft cases are permissible to SOW paragraph 1.4.1. if requested by the veteran.

5. Solicitation amended to add “Veterans that are visiting locations where there are contractor employed opticians will continue to have the option of purchasing upgrades in person” to SOW paragraph 4.1.8.

6. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Questions and Responses:

1. Since the frame requirements are very specific on this solicitation, will the VA provide offerors with the current frame list?

Response: The VA will not provide the current listing of frames.

2. The bid requirements list spring hinges as necessary for all Titanium frame requirements.

Please confirm whether flex hinges for memory metal titanium styles will serve as an adequate replacement for spring hinges, as both are flexible to fit the patient’s face. This exact clarification was made and accepted in both the VISN 2 Upstate and VISN 2 Downstate proposals, which utilized the same frame requirements breakdown.

Response: Yes, that is acceptable

3. The Safety Frames section indicates all frames in that category must have removable side shields. However, the last group in the safety frames category, "Wrap/Goggle Sport Spec Style," are not available with removable side shields. Please clarify.

Response: In accordance with SOW section 4.1.2.4.2 removable side shields are not required.

4. Alternatively, confirm that the frames intended by "Wrap/Goggle Sport Spec Style," are not required to have removable side shields. This exact clarification was made and accepted in both the VISN 2 Upstate and VISN 2 Downstate proposals, which utilized the same frame requirements breakdown.

Response: In accordance with SOW section 4.1.2.4.2 removable side shields are not required.

36C24721R0067 Amendment 001

5. Please confirm the government is requesting exactly 85 frames for evaluation, and that any additional frames submitted beyond that quantity will not be evaluated. This exact clarification was made and accepted in both the VISN 2 Upstate and VISN 2 Downstate proposals, which utilized the same frame requirements breakdown and technical acceptability standards for the frame sample kit.

Response: Correct, refer to SOW paragraph 4.1.9

6. Please confirm that the contractor will invoice the VA for all worked hours, for each optician, at the contract rate.

Response: Yes. An invoice is required for worked hours by opticians.

7. The required performance measures should not require perfect performance from the contractor, particularly for billing accuracy, page 97. Please adjust this metric to meet customary VA requirements.

Response: The performance requirement summary acceptable quality levels will not be changed.

8. The method of calculation on the Performance Measures table, starting on page 96, is highly susceptible to normal variance, as the denominator in the calculation uses the sample size, rather than the entire population of orders. In order to ensure the calculation is not inadvertently unfair to either the contractor of the VA, the denominator should be the entire population of orders for the period. Will VA adjust the calculation of the performance measures to eliminate this issue?

Response: The denominator (D) will remain unchanged.

9. Do the current optical shop staff in the VISN meet the requirements or work statement paragraph 2.6.3? Or is this a new requirement?

Response: Training is compliant at 100% in accordance with SOW 2.6.3.

10. Please confirm all Government required training will be conducted during normal business hours.

Response: All required training can be conducted during normal business hours with the exception of Basic Life Support (BLS) Training which must be performed outside of normal business hours at contractor expense. This is a new requirement.

11. Please confirm if all orders must be shipped with hard cases. Or can Veterans elect a soft case, if they prefer?

Response: Soft case is acceptable.

12. How many on site contractor staff are currently working in the VISN?

Response: SOW paragraph 4.2.2 details the FTE requirement and locations.

13. Please confirm that ABO certification is not required where it is not also a requirement for state licensing. ABO is not a commercial requirement.

Response: ABO certification is required for this Contract

14. Are all current contractor staff in compliance with licensing and ABO requirements?

Response: Training is compliant at 100% in accordance with the Performance Requirement Summary.

15. Work statement paragraph 4.1.11 mentions “VA Opticians.” How many VISN locations will have VA opticians? Please list them by location name as well. Are there locations where VA opticians work with contractor opticians?

Response: SOW paragraph 4.2.2 details the FTE requirement and locations.

16. Are there locations in the VISN with only VA staff that the contractor will be required to supply frames, displays and repair kits?

Response: Refer to SOW paragraph 2.19 for locations that do not require contractor staffing.

17. Reference work statement paragraph 4.6.2. Please confirm the Eye Clinic will not interfere with the Contractor's ability to perform contractual duties, in accordance with the contract and company policy.

Response: Paragraph 4.6.2 does not interfere with the contractors ability to perform in accordance with the contract and company policy.

18. Please confirm price schedule items 0001-0022 require pricing for a complete pair of eyeglasses as the unit of measure is ea.

Response: Confirmed. Pricing is for a complete pair of eyeglasses.

19. Price schedule items 0045 and 0059 appear to be essentially the same as it relates to

CR39 and Poly photochromic. As item 0059 says “Brand name or equal to Transitions Signature” it might create confusion for offerors, or possibly for the successful offeror, during performance. Please clarify.

Response: CLIN 45 is for a generic photochromic while CLIN 59 is for brand Transitions

20. Are all current contracted opticians acceptable to VA?

Response: Offerors are responsible for providing staffing that complies with the Statement of Work.

21. Are optician resume’s/certifications/licenses required with bid submission or after award?

Response: Post award in accordance with SOW paragraph 2.19.2.

22. Will VA consider changing the vacation coverage period to two days, to match the coverage requirement for illness.

Response: SOW paragraph 2.19.4 will remain unchanged as vacation coverage can be anticipated.

23. Do the progressive lens characteristics mentioned under “Premium Progressive Lenses” on page 73 apply only to item 0063 in the price schedule?

Response: Yes, section 4.1.1.5 on pg. 73 applies to CLIN 63, Premium Progressive Lenses

24. Is there a dollar limit on contractor responsibility on patient owned frames if they are lost, or an upper limit to the value of patient owned frames that must be accepted?

Response: Not dollar limit will be established. In accordance with paragraph 4.1.2.5 replacement of lost frames shall be completed by providing frames.

25. Please confirm that work statement paragraph 4.1.6 on page 77 complies with HIPAA. Other methods of order identification are available, including using the order number.

Response: Order number is an acceptable alternative

26. What is the current yearly sales volume (by location in dollars) of patient-paid upgrades and second pairs? Please break down by orders taken over the 800 number

vs. orders sold in the optical shops (if any).

Response: This information is not available as it is not a contract requirement.

27. Please remove work statement paragraph 4.1.8.3 on page 79. Retail transactions are authorized by any potential VCS contract for the applicable location and are a private transaction between the contractor and the VA. As the transaction is conducted as a commercial transaction between the Veteran and the Contractor it is fair that current commercial pricing applies.

Response: Amended 0001 per customer request. Remove paragraph 4.1.8.3.

28. Please confirm that remakes due to VA errors will be paid for by VA.

Response: Confirmed, remakes due to VA errors will be paid for by VA.

29. Which VA locations currently authorize Canteen retail sales?

Response: In accordance with SOW paragraph 4.2.10 this contract is not linked in any way to VCS retail sales agreements.

30. Will opticians be allowed to offer (sell) veteran-paid upgrades and second pairs to patients in the optical shop or does all of this have to be done by phone?

Response: See SOW paragraph 4.1.8.2.

31. Section 1.4.1 states that eyeglasses should be shipped inside a hard case. Please confirm that a soft case is acceptable. Eyeglasses are currently shipped within a soft case in VISN 7.

Response: Soft case is acceptable when requested by the veteran. See amended solicitation paragraph 1.4.1.

32. Please confirm that section 4.1.8 only applies to locations within VISN 7 where the opticians are VA employees and that Veterans that are visiting locations where there are contractor employed opticians will continue to have the option of purchasing upgrades in person.

Response: Veterans that are visiting locations where there are contractor employed opticians will continue to have the option of purchasing upgrades in person.

33. Section 6.1.2.3 states that the Eyeglass Satisfaction Survey should be pre-addressed with an address in Wappingers Falls, NY which we suspect is incorrect. Please specify an address within VISN 7 to which the survey cards should be returned or if

VA would like them returned to the contractor to collect and then report the results back to designated VA personnel in VISN 7.

Response: VA would like them returned to the contractor to collect and then report the results back to designated VA personnel in VISN 7 with a copy of the surveys accessible to the VA VISN 7 designated personnel. Solicitation amended to remove address “Wapingers, Fall, NY”.

34. Can VA please confirm whether the Service Contract Act applies to the is solicitation?

Response: The service contract act does not apply to this solicitation