2nd Clarifications and answers regarding RFQ 36C24826Q1110.pdf

1. What is the maximum allowable time between the VA’s initial service request and the courier’s arrival at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center Pharmacy?

A: Within 60 min – emergency and within 120 minutes - standards

2. How much advance notice is normally provided for routine, after-hours, weekend, and holiday requests?

A: Within 60 min – emergency and within 120 minutes - standards

Is the contractor required to maintain a driver physically near the Bay Pines facility at all times?

A: No

3. Please provide the actual number of courier requests completed during the most recent 12-month period – 25 jobs organized by destination if available. – not available

Of those requests, how many occurred after normal business hours: 24/7 hospital on weekends: 5 or on federal holidays: 1

4. Does each CLIN represent a one-way delivery from the Bay Pines Pharmacy, or must the contractor also return documentation, medications, supplies, or other items to the medical center? One delivery

Should each unit price include the courier’s complete round trip? One delivery, not round trip

5. Has the VA historically required multiple simultaneous courier requests? If so, what is the maximum number of concurrent requests the contractor should be prepared to support? No

6. Please provide the typical and maximum package quantity, dimensions, weight, and declared value associated with a courier request.

A: Small package of bottles of medication. Occasionally – pharmacy supply

7. Will shipments include controlled substances – no , refrigerated or frozen medications – no, biological specimens - no, or other items requiring specialized licensing - no, packaging – we will package, or chain-of-custody controls – pickup and delivery receipt?

8. Is maintaining the vehicle temperature between 65°F and 85°F sufficient - yes, or must the contractor provide calibrated temperature logs - no, data loggers – we will provide if needed, insulated containers - we will provide if needed , or shipment-specific temperature records - we will provide if needed?

9. What proof of delivery is required? For example, will the contractor be expected to provide recipient signatures, timestamps, photographs, chain-of-custody forms, electronic confirmation, or returned documentation - pickup and delivery receipt?

10. How will the contractor be compensated for attempted deliveries – call back to pharmacy if not available to delivery, cancellations after dispatch – per job, address changes - per job , redelivery requests - per job, extended waiting time - per job, or packages that must be returned to the Bay Pines Pharmacy – per job?

11. For the CLIN covering “various local hospitals, pharmacies, and patient residencies,” what geographic boundary or maximum service radius applies? How should a request outside that area be priced? Pinellas County area – 1 to 20 miles.

12. Are the estimated CLIN quantities guaranteed minimums, or will the contractor be paid only for courier requests actually ordered and completed? Per job

13. Please identify the applicable Department of Labor wage determination and labor classification for courier drivers, including the required health-and-welfare fringe-benefit rate. That is provided in section C.6 of the RFQ.

14. Please confirm the minimum automobile liability, commercial general liability, cargo, workers’ compensation, and property-damage insurance limits required for this contract. Contractor responsible for maintaining all state and federal compliances for operating a vehicle. This requirement has no specific requirements for such other than what is required by federal and state.

15. The technical submission instructions request a manufacturer’s authorization letter or seller’s distribution agreement. Since this acquisition is for courier services rather than equipment, please confirm that this requirement is not applicable. If applicable, this is a service request, not applicable.

16. Please also clarify what technical documentation the VA expects from courier-service offerors, such as a staffing plan, dispatch procedure, vehicle list, backup-coverage plan, quality-control plan, or temperature-control procedure. No plans required, contractor responsible for determining type of transportation required for delivery service.

17. The solicitation indicates that option-year pricing may be revised based on current prices, while also identifying the contemplated award as firm fixed price. Please confirm whether option-year unit prices will remain fixed as quoted at award or may be adjusted for changes in wages, fringe benefits, fuel, insurance, or other documented operating costs. Fixed price contract, option year pricing may be adjusted based upon market conditions as determined by the contractor. However, price increase on option years could trigger a recompete of the requirement.

18. Please confirm whether commercial medical-courier experience performed as an independent contractor or subcontractor will be accepted under the History evaluation factor. Also, how many recent experience examples or customer references should be submitted? Experience regarding same/similar service will be accepted.

19. Is this requirement currently being fulfilled under an existing contract? If so, please provide the incumbent contractor’s name, contract number, current total obligated value, and expiration date. 36C24822P0014