Amendment 3-SOLICITATION-CHANGES 05042022.pdf

This Amendment is to make changes to certain sections of the Performance Work Statement for RFP 36C25020R0042 – VISN 10 Cardiac Telemetry Services

Questions and Answers: All questions regarding this Amendment shall be submitted electronically to Michelle.Ford2@va.gov and Alexander.Daniel@va.gov within 2 calendar days of Amendment issuance.

Answers to submitted questions will be provided via amendment and posted to Contract Opportunities (beta.SAM.gov), 3 calendar days before proposal due date in block 11 of the SF30 above.

The Current Performance Work Statement for Cardiac Telemetry Reads as follows:

Paragraph 2.3 (a) – Equipment that is assigned to patients shall require continuous monitoring twenty-four (24) hours a day.

Paragraph 2.3 (e) – Cardiac Capability of event transmissions being sent via wireless/cell phone technology. If a patient does not have a wireless connection, then a cell phone will be provided by the Contractor. The cell phone will be used as a transmitter to transmit cardiac events in real time to the Contractor’s support team. Contractor shall provide multiple cell phone carriers to increase likelihood of adequate cellular coverage for all VA facilities and catchment areas within the scope of this contract.

Paragraph 2.3 (o) – In the event of a life-threatening arrhythmia and/or event, according to the American Heart Association guidelines, the contractor shall first call the affected patient to ensure actuality of the triggered event. If the event is, in fact, of life-threatening nature the contractor shall call 911 and dispatch emergency services to ensure the patient receives adequate treatment.

Paragraph 2.3 (s) – The contractor shall provide a detailed monthly report for all Veteran patients receiving full services to the facility COR (Contracting Officer Representative) at the end of the current billing period. Full services are defined as patients that have been identified by a VA provider as requiring monitoring services, have been assigned a monitor that has been returned to the contractor for interpretation, the interpretation has been reported back to the appropriate medical center, and the interpretation report is determined to be without technical error. The Inventory Report shall include, at minimum, the established monthly stock level of applicable devices, the number used within the reporting period, the name of the VA Medical Facility, the date range (i.e., May 1, 20xx – May 31, 20xx).

Paragraph 2.4 (e) – Customizable Monitors

Paragraph 2.4 (f) – Two-part service: Event/arrhythmia monitoring for up to thirty (30) days with Holter capabilities and 24-hour or 48-hour holters depending on patient need.

Paragraph 2.4 (j) – Holter monitors must provide at least two (2) continuous diagnostic channels, ECG for up to forty-eight (48) hours, set 2-channel pacemaker annotation, and the ability to correlate symptoms and activity with ECG changes.

Paragraph 2.5 (a) – Contractor shall provide comprehensive training to each of the VISN 10 Medical Centers. This training shall be conducted at each facility, in person, upon the first ordering period of the contract, and during each option year (if exercised), as required by the sites. Each site may require multiple training sessions for numerous staff.

Paragraph 3.1 (a) – All vendor-owned monitors at each location will be kept at OEM specs. Contractor shall clean, disinfect, and decontaminate according to accreditation standards and manufacturer’s mailto:Michelle.Ford2@va.gov mailto:Alexander.Daniel@va.go instructions, each time before it is sent to patients. Unclean equipment should be stored in an area separate from cleaned equipment to prevent cross contamination.

The NEW Performance Work Statement for Cardiac Telemetry shall read as follows:

Paragraph 2.3 (a) – Cardiac Event Monitors shall provide continuous monitoring/recording 24 hours per day, 7 days per week as prescribed by the VA Physician for up to 30 days.

Paragraph 2.3 (e) – Capability of event transmissions being sent via wireless/cell phone technology. If a patient does not have a wireless connection, then a cell phone shall be provided by the Contractor. The cell phone will be used as a transmitter to transmit cardiac events in real time to the Contractor’s support team. For Veterans who do not have wireless coverage, such as, Veterans in rural areas, the Contractor shall have the ability to provide multiple cell phone carriers to increase likelihood of adequate cellular coverage for all VA facilities and catchment areas within the scope of this contract. If contractor cannot provide cell coverage, they shall provide a solution for continuous monitoring so that veterans do not have to wait until they are in range of a cell tower. This information shall be in real time without interruption to the process.

Paragraph 2.3 (o) – The Contractor shall call the patient depending on pre-determined rhythms or triggers decided by the facility (VAMC-specific notification criteria); The Contractor shall verbally assess the patient and ask if they are in need of emergency services/EMS. If so, then the Contractor shall call 911 –only if the patient says they need it. If the Contractor cannot contact the patient, then the Contractor shall call the facility according to VAMC-specific notification criteria, which will include an “after-hours” phone number.

Paragraph 2.3 (s) – The contractor shall provide a detailed monthly report for all Veteran patients receiving full services to the facility COR (Contracting Officer Representative) at the end of the current billing period. Full services are defined as patients that have been identified by a VA provider as requiring monitoring services, have been assigned a monitor that has been returned to the contractor for interpretation, the interpretation has been reported back to the appropriate medical center, and the interpretation report is determined to be without technical error. The Inventory Report shall include, at minimum, the established monthly stock level of applicable devices, the number used within the reporting period, the name of the VA Medical Facility, the date range (i.e., May 1, 20xx – May 31, 20xx).

This process allows the VA COR to reconcile billing at the end of each month before an invoice is paid.

Sums due to the contractor shall be paid upon receipt of a properly prepared, timely submitted invoices.

The contractor shall accept payment for services rendered under this contract as payment in full and shall not bill the veteran or his/her third-party insurer for any services covered under this contract. If in the event the Contractor fails to provide the services in this contract or is overpaid for services, payments will be adjusted on next invoice to compensate the Government for the difference.

Paragraph 2.4 (e) – d. Event Auto Trigger Technology.

a. Customizable monitors.

i. Physician should be able to customize the rate at which it triggers an event.

Paragraph 2.4 (f) – Two-part service: An all-inclusive Event/arrhythmia monitoring device for up to 30 days with Holter capabilities and 24/48-hour Holter’s.

Paragraph 2.4 (j) – Holter monitors shall provide at least one (1) continuous diagnostic channel and the ability to correlate symptoms and activity with ECG changes.

Paragraph 2.5 (a) – Contractor shall provide comprehensive training to each of the VISN 10 Medical Centers. This training shall be conducted at each facility, in person, during the first ordering period of the contract, and during each option year (if exercised), as required by the sites. Each site may require multiple training sessions for numerous staff. Training shall be required regardless of what type of device is being provided by vendor.

Paragraph 3.1 (a) – All vendor-owned monitors at each location will be kept at OEM specs. Contractor shall clean, disinfect, and decontaminate according to accreditation standards and manufacturer’s instructions, each time before it is sent to patients. Unclean equipment should be stored in an area separate from cleaned equipment to prevent cross contamination. Each facility listed within this contract shall be responsible for these standards if devices are at their location. The vendor shall be responsible for these standards while devices are at their location.