36C24922Q0100 Questions and Answers.docx

36C24922Q0100 Questions and Answers Q. Is travel to these CBOCS and their surrounding contract treatment facility considered as "unloaded miles"?

A. Yes.

Q. percentage of the daily total of trips outside the 30-mile limits are 100 miles or more?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. What percentage of each type of trip outside of the 30-mile limits of each pickup location are “unloaded” trips, to pick up a Veteran for local transport – that is, without a loaded return trip?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. What percentage of each type of trip outside of the city limits provides a "loaded" return trip back to Sioux Falls?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. Regarding Para 4. LOCAL MILEAGE LIMITS & RATE

- There are CBOC's that are more than 70 miles from Robley Rex VAMC which this contract calls for the contract to travel to which with the 30 miles would be over 100 death miles before a trip charge would apply and if the trip is less 30miles does that mean no mileage will be paid.

A. Reference section 4 in the PWS; Payment for mileage traveled beyond -30- mile local mileage limit (LML) of the point of pick-up (loaded run) is subject to the terms of this contract.

Q. Will pickups and drop-off be at the CBOCs only, if not what is the farthest distance the contractor will be required to travel after travelling and returning 130 dead miles (without reimbursement) to and from the farthest veterans' residences to non-VA medical facilities?

A. Pick-ups will include outside facilities in addition to CBOCS and Robley Rex VAMC; data not available for furthest distance.

Q. What percentage of the request to and from trip will be at non-VA treatment facility and with are the distance treatment facilities locations this contract will transport veterans to and from?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. If the distance travel from the farthest CBOC (75 miles) to a treatment facility less than 1 miles from the pickup point, is the PWS stating only trip charges and no miles will be paid?

A. In this scenario, trip charge and outside miles is applicable.

Q. What is the historical numbers and mileage distances of pickup and return trips to and from based on farthest distances and locations that will be required by this after picking up at each location?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. What is the farthest distance required by this contract after from the pickup to drop-off point the contract is expected to provide for this contract?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. For trips beyond the 30 miles, the solicitation provides for payment of a single Base Rate for every trip plus Milage Rate for any part of the one-way trip only if it is "loaded” –transporting a Veteran patient.

A. A base rate is paid only for a loaded trip (with a patient on board), Outside Mileage is paid for Outside Mileage (beyond the 30 mile radius) for a "loaded" trip.

Q. Do the same rules apply to return trips?

A. The same applies for any unloaded miles, whether pick up or return.

Q. Can the government provide data on how many loaded trips there are from Robley Rex VAMC, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY, to Grayson County CBOC, 619 West Main Street, Clarkson, KY 42726 and a return trip Grayson County CBOC, 619 West Main Street, Clarkson, KY 42726?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. The Solicitation also includes trips to Kentucky and Indiana. Will any trip involve unloaded trip mileage in excess of 100 to pick up a patient and with will be the minimum distance that that patience can be transported under this contract?

A. Yes, there is no minimum distance requirement.

Q. As essential medical personnel, which CLIN would the contractor use to be reimbursed for hazard transport of infectious patience, PPE, sanitization of vehicles, and implementing VA infection control protocol?

A. All of the above Included in trip rate.

Q. How many persons are required for the wheelchair services?

A. Two; reference PWS Section 17 C.

Q. If two are required, is one person classified as an attendant?

A. Two personnel are required, employee classification is at the discretion of the vendor.

Q. Which trips should we include the price for attendant?

A. Two personnel are required per vehicle, pricing should reflect two personnel per vehicle: reference PWS 17 C.

Q. How many of each type of trips will require attendants?

A. Reference PWS 17 C.

Q. How does a contractor account for the cost of an attendants or a second person if we do not know when that person will be required?

A. Reference PWS 17 C: all vehicles require two personnel.

Q. Will the vendor be required to transport patience on oxygen?

A. No

Q. If so, will contract personnel be designated to secure the cylinder and to stop during long distance trips to verify how much oxygen remained in the cylinder in order to reduce the veterans' risk of running low?

A. No answer required, see answer to question 13.

Q. How do we account for the cost of transporting veterans with each type of service who are on oxygen, regardless of who provides the oxygen?

A. No answer required, see answer to question 13.

Q. Waiting Time apply to time spent after dropping off a veteran that requires a driver to wait to provide a return ride for a veteran after a 4-hour dialysis treatment, 2-hour chemo treatment, surgeries, scheduled discharges where the patience not ready, pharmacy fill before and after the patience is picked up, etc. Is wait time applicable to only to all visits to CBOC’s and services which requires a driver to wait more than a quarter of an hour?

A. Reference PWS, Section 10.

Q. What is the different in wait time outside of the 30-mile limit and wait time in the 30-mile limit?

A. No difference in wait times. Reference PWS, section 10.

Q. Is wait time paid and approved for stops in route for latrine breaks that last more than 15 minutes, check oxygen supply, etc?

A. No stops shall be permitted outside of an emergency.

Q. What are instances where wait time is automatically approved and does not have to be requested?

A. See PWS, section 10.

Q. Does the 15 minutes described in Para 8 (E) apply to all in city and out of city return trips to include cases where the drop off points was fifteen or more minutes away from the pickup location at 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY or the outlining CBOCs?

A. Section 8 E penalty applies to all late pick-ups.

Q. Does the 15-minute response time take into consideration weather, traffic constructions, car accidents, breakdowns, and police/other emergency responses that cause delays?

A. Section 8 E penalty applies to all late pick-ups.

Q. Was there a previous incumbent for this contract? If so, what was the award amount and ID?

A. Yes, there was a previous incumbent; cannot provide award amount, not sure what is meant by ID.

Q. Reviewing the PWS, “ADA vehicles with lifts are required”. We utilize a fleet of vehicles outfitted with ADA accessible ramps; will this be accepted?

A. Yes as long as long as ramp is compliant with ADA (49 CFR § 38).

Q. Historically, on average how many trips were done on the weekend?

A. Specific data not available.

Q. Page 2(E) states that a personal care attendant shall be employed. Should we expect each member will need an attendant?

A. Personal care attendants (Section 6 E) may accompany a patient as a companion, not a contractor employee. Reference PWS 17 C: contractor shall furnish two personnel per vehicle.