36C25024Q0034.docx

36C25024Q0034 Radiation Oncology Physicians – Fort Wayne, IN.

The VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, in Fort Wayne, Indiana has a need for on-site Radiation Oncology Services to include new patient visits, patient follow-up visits, peer reviews and tumor board conferences to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northern Indiana Health Care System, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The contractor shall be in the same geographical location or within 60 miles of the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and shall be able to provide off-site radiation oncology treatment services at the contractor’s facility.

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) does not have an on-site Radiation Oncology department; therefore, patients shall be referred to the contractor’s facility for treatment through the Non-VA Care program (NVC). The NVC Program will receive & review the RO physicians’ referral for off-site treatment based on National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP’s) Vetted Approval Non-VA RO Practices & Nationally Recognized appropriateness criteria. The Contractor shall provide American Board of Radiology (ABR) Board-Certified physicians in Radiation Oncology and contractor’s physician(s) shall maintain certification throughout the administration of the contract.

The Proposed NAICS Code is 621111, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists). The procurement will be solicited utilizing procedures in FAR part 12 and FAR 13. This procurement will be for (resulting contract) five (5), one (1) year ordering periods.

All questions shall be submitted in writing AFTER the solicitation is posted to SAM.gov via email to Michelle.Ford2@va.gov . No Phone calls or Facsimiles shall be accepted.

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1. REQUISITION NO.

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NO.

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NO. (No Collect Calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME

9. ISSUED BY

CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

UNRESTRICTED OR

SET ASIDE:

% FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

8(A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ

IFB

RFP

15. DELIVER TO

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY

CODE

17a. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

UEI:

EFT:

PHONE:

FAX:

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

ITEM NO.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

QUANTITY

UNIT

UNIT PRICE

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only) 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _______________

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________________________ OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DATED ________________________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

SET FORTH HEREIN IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER) 30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR PRINT) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

(REV. NOV 2021)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

36C25024Q0034 12-13-2023 Michelle C. Ford/Contracting Officer 734-222-7151 01-12-2023

1PM

EST

36C250 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 10 P.O Box 492 Ann Arbor MI 48106 X 621111 $16 Million N/A X 36C610 Department of Veterans Affairs VA Northern Indiana Health Care System 2121 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne IN 46805 36C250 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 10 P.O Box 492 Ann Arbor MI 48106

Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Management System PO Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971 877-353-9791 512-460-5540 X Onsite Radiation Oncology Services to eligible beneficiaries of the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System (VANIHCS), in Fort Wayne, IN.

Please see the Schedule of Services on page 7 and the Performance Work Statement on page 12.

This acquisition will be conducted using the procedures in FAR Part 12, and FAR 13.

The resultant contract will be a Firm Fixed Price,Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), with five(5), one (1) year ordering periods.

$0.00 X X 1(one) Michelle C. Ford Contracting Officer Table of Contents

SECTION B - CONTINUATION OF SF 1449 BLOCKS

B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION: All contract administration matters will be handled by the following individuals:

a. CONTRACTOR’S NAME/ADDRESS/CITY/STATE/ZIP (Please print or type):

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): _____________________________

b. GOVERNMENT: Michelle C. Ford, Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office (NCO) 10

Phone: 734-222-7151 Michelle.Ford2@va.gov

2. CONTRACTOR REMITTANCE ADDRESS: All payments by the Government to the contractor will be made in accordance with: 52.23233, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer – System for Award Management

3. INVOICES: Invoices shall be submitted in arrears: Monthly

4. GOVERNMENT INVOICE ADDRESS: All invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests. Invoicing shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Financial Services Center (VAFSC). The latest information shall be used for invoicing and payments and may change during the period of performance of this acquisition. Current Invoicing information is located at: https://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp.

All invoices shall include the following items listed in 6.2.2. of the Performance Work Statement (PWS):

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS: The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the Solicitation numbered and dated as follows:

6. SECURE FAX: In accordance with VA Handbook 6500, the following statement is required on all fax cover sheets; if it is determined the ordering process will include a fax: “This fax is intended only for the use of the person or office to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or protected by law. All others are hereby notified that the receipt of this fax does not waive any applicable privilege or exemption for disclosure and that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this fax in error, please notify this office immediately at the telephone number listed above.”

7. POST-AWARD ORIENTATION: The Contracting Officer will schedule a post award orientation for contract orientation purposes as required by VAAM Part M842.5.

8. MANDATORY WRITTEN DISCLOSURES:

Mandatory written disclosures required by FAR clause 52.203-13 to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (OIG) must be made electronically through the VA OIG Hotline at http://www.va.gov/oig/contacts/hotline.asp and clicking on "FAR clause 52.203-13 Reporting." If you experience difficulty accessing the website, call the Hotline at 1-800-488-8244 for further instructions.

36C25024Q0034 Radiation Oncology Physicians – Fort Wayne, IN.

B.2 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel to provide services necessary to perform onsite Board-Certified Radiation Oncology Physician Services to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) (hereinafter referred to as VAMC). The contractor’s physicians’ care shall cover the range of Radiation Oncology services as would be provided at a VA Radiation Oncology Center, and the standards of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized national practice standards.

All VHA Radiation Oncology Services are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body contracted through the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP). As such any Contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must adhere to all the policies and procedures; practice standards, guidelines, patient care operations; patient safety; quality assurance and quality management of radiotherapy planning, equipment, and delivery; and continuous quality improvement initiatives promulgated by the American College of Radiology, American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Association for Physicist in Medicine.

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) does not have an on-site Radiation Oncology department; therefore, patients shall be referred to the contractor’s facility for treatment through the Non-VA Care program (NVC). The NVC Program will receive & review the RO physicians’ referral for off-site treatment based on NROP’s Vetted Approval Non-VA RO Practices & Nationally Recognized appropriateness criteria.

Place of Performance: VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System (VANIHCS), 2121 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46805

Pricing Instructions:

The quantities stated in this price schedule represent the Government’s best estimate, based on historical usage and projected need. Please note that they are only estimates, and are not a guarantee of future quantities. The contract minimum of any resultant IDIQ contract will be ten

(10) outpatient visits. If no services are utilized, the outpatient visit minimum will be paid at a one-hour, hourly rate. The maximum Office/Outpatient Visits of the contract, inclusive of the ordering periods, shall not exceed 1,990. Individual task orders will be funded annually. The Contracting Officer is the only authorized individual that can place annual task orders against this contract for the estimated amount of services for the specific timeframe, and the task orders will be issued to the contractor.

The Contractor shall propose a minimum of 2 (two) key personnel to be credentialed and be available for scheduling to meet the requirements of the contract.

ALL PRICES ARE FIRM FIXED PRICED.

Period of Performance: Ordering Period 1: March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025

Qty.

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

Name:____________________

Title:______________________

Name:____________________

Title:______________________

Name:____________________

Title:______________________

Name:____________________

Title:______________________

Period of Performance: Ordering Period 2: March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026

Qty.

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Period of Performance: Ordering Period 3: March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027

Qty.

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Period of Performance: Ordering Period 4: March 1, 2027, to February 29, 2028

Qty.

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Period of Performance: Ordering Period 5: March 1, 2028, to February 29, 2029

Qty.

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

Name:____________________ Title:______________________ Name:____________________ Title:______________________

AGGREGATE TOTAL FOR ALL ORDERING PERIODS: $________________________

B.3 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

ONSITE PHYSICIAN, THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL PHYSICISTS, MEDICAL DOSIMETRISTS AND/OR THERAPEUTIC RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS SUPPORT SERVICES

1. GENERAL

1.1. SERVICES REQUIRED: The VA Radiation Oncology Services are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body contracted through NROP. As such any Contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must adhere to Guidelines & Technical Standards for Radiation Oncology promulgated by the American College of Radiology, American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Association for Physicist in Medicine: A contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must provide evidence the radiation oncology practice meets or exceeds the established clinical practice guidelines and standards.

1.2. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: VANIHCS 2121 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805

1.3. Authority: Title 38 USC 8153, Health Care Resources (HCR) sharing Authority, utilizing the procedures in FAR 12 in combination with FAR 13

1.4. Policy/Directives/Handbooks. The contractor shall be subject to the following policies, including any subsequent updates during the period of performance. The policies listed below can be accessed electronically at the following: VA Publications VHA Publications

1.4.1. VA Directive 1663: Health Care Resources (HCR) Contracting – Buying Title 38 U.S.C. 8153

1.4.2. VHA Directive 1003.04: VHA Patient Advocacy

1.4.3. VHA Directive 1065: Productivity and Staffing Guidance for Specialty Provider Group Practice

1.4.4. VHA Directive 1088(1): Communicating Test Results to Providers and Patients

1.4.5. VHA Directive 1100.18: Reporting and Responding to State Licensing Boards

1.4.6. VHA Directive 1100.20: Credentialing of Health Care Providers

1.4.7. VHA Directive 1100.21: Privileging

1.4.8. VHA Directive 1192.01: Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program for VHA Health Care Personnel

1.4.9. VHA Directive 1220(1): Facility Procedure Complexity Designation Requirements to Perform Invasive Procedures in Any Clinical Setting

1.4.10. VHA Directive 1605.01: Privacy and Release of Information

1.4.11. VHA Directive 1907.01: VHA Health Information Management and Health Records

1.4.12. VHA Handbook 1100.17: National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Reports

1.4.13. VHA Directive 1156 Accreditation of VHA Radiation Oncology Services/Sections

1.4.14. VHA Directive 1414 Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

1.4.15. Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended: http://www.justice.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm

1.4.16. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for management and use of radioactive materials for medical use and radiation safety requirements, to include (but not limited to) 10 CFR Parts 19, 20, 30, 33, 35, and 71:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html

1.5. ACRONYMS/DEFINITIONS:

1.5.3. AAPM: American Association of Physics in Medicine

1.5.4. ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

1.5.5. ABR: American Board of Radiology

1.5.6. ACR: American College of Radiology

1.5.7. ACO: Administrative Contracting Officer

1.5.8. ALARA: As Low as Reasonably Achievable (least & lowest radiation exposure possible)

1.5.9. AOA: American Osteopathic Association

1.5.10. ARRT(T): American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (T) in Radiation Therapy

1.5.11. ASTRO/APEx: American Society for Radiation Oncology/Accreditation Program for Excellence ® (https://www.astro.org/Daily-Practice/Accreditation)

1.5.12. BAA: Business Associate Agreement

1.5.13. CAMPEP: Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (http://www.campep.org/default.asp)

1.5.14. CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1.5.15. CEU: Certified Education Unit

1.5.16. Clinical Privileging: Clinical Privileging is the process by which a practitioner, licensed for independent practice; e.g., without supervision, direction, required sponsor, preceptor, mandatory collaboration, etc.; is permitted by law and the facility to practice independently, to provide specific medical or other patient care services within the scope of the individual’s license, based upon the individual’s clinical competence as determined by peer references, professional experience, health status, education, training and licensure. Clinical privileges must be facility-specific and provider-specific, and within available resources.

1.5.17. CMD: Certified Medical Dosimetrist

1.5.18. CME: Continuing Medical Education

1.5.19. CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

1.5.20. CO: Contracting Officer

1.5.21. COR: Contracting Officer’s Representative

1.5.22. COS: Chief of Staff

1.5.23. CPARS: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

1.5.24. CPRS: Computerized Patient Recordkeeping System- electronic health record system used by the VA.

1.5.25. Credentialing: Credentialing is the process of obtaining, verifying, and assessing the qualifications of a health care provider to provide care or services in or for the VA health care system. Credentials are documented evidence of licensure, education, training, experience, or other qualifications.

1.5.26. DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency

1.5.27. EHR: Electronic Health Record – electronic health record system used by the VA.

1.5.28. FSMB: Federation of State Medical Boards

1.5.29. FTE: Full Time Equivalent VA’s standard definition is for full time working the equivalent of 80 hours every two weeks, 2080 hours per year. However, providers may propose using their standard FTE definition.

1.5.30. HHS: Department of Health and Human Services

1.5.31. HICPAC: Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee- a federal advisory committee made up of 14 external infection control experts who provide advice and guidance to the CDC and the Secretary of HHS regarding the practice of health care infection control, strategies for surveillance and prevention and control of health care associated infections in United States health care facilities.

1.5.32. HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

1.5.33. IGRT: Image Guided Radiation

Therapy is the process of frequent two and three-dimensional imaging, during a course of radiation treatment, used to direct radiation therapy utilizing the imaging coordinates of the actual radiation treatment plan.

1.5.34. IMRT: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy is the process of delivering highly conformal radiotherapy to the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal tissues by varying radiation intensity across treatment portals.

1.5.35. IROC: Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core

1.5.36. ISO: Information Security Officer

1.5.37. Key Personnel: The individuals specified in this contract who are essential to work performance.

1.5.38. MU: Monitor Unit is a measure of machine output of a linear accelerator in radiation therapy.

1.5.39. NHPP: National Health Physics Program- NHPP provides regulatory oversight for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission master materials license issued to VHA to include permitting for use of materials, on-site inspections, and investigations of allegations, medical events, and incidents. In addition, we provide oversight for machine sources of ionizing radiation used for radiation therapy. Finally, we provide assistance and technical information for uses of ionizing radiation for healthcare diagnosis and treatment and non-human biomedical research. (http://www.patientcare.va.gov/NHPP.asp)

1.5.40. NPI: National Provider Identifier. NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPPA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers)

1.5.41. NROP: National Radiation Oncology Program

1.5.42. NRSC: National Radiation Safety Committee

1.5.43. POP: Period of Performance

1.5.44. PPD: Purified Protein Derivative

1.5.45. PWS: Performance Work Statement

1.5.46. QASP: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

1.5.47. QMP: Quality Management Program

1.5.48. SPE: Senior Procurement Executive

1.5.49. SRS: Stereotactic Radio Surgery: a minimally invasive form of surgical intervention which makes use of a three-dimensional coordinated system to locate small targets inside the body and to perform on them some action such as ablation, biopsy, lesion, injection, stimulation, implantation, radiosurgery (SRS) etc.

1.5.50. SBRT: Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

1.5.51. TJC: The Joint Commission

1.5.52. TLD: Thermoluminescent Dosimeter- a device that measures radiation dose.

1.5.53. TMP: Therapeutic Medical Physicist

1.5.54. TRT: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Interchangeable Names: Radiologic Therapy Technologist, Radiation Therapist)

1.5.55. VA: Department of Veterans Affairs

1.5.56. VetPro: Is VHA’s mandatory credentialing software platform to document the credentialing of VHA health care providers. This system facilitates completion of a uniform, accurate, and complete credentials file.

1.5.57. VHA: Veterans Health Administration

1.5.58. VISN: Veterans Integrated Services Network

1.5.59. VistA: Veterans Information Systems Technology Architecture

2. QUALIFICATIONS:

2.1. License: Contract physician(s) assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia.

All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contract physician(s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action, or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this contract.

2.2. Board Certification: All contract physician(s) shall be board certified. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance.

2.2.1. Radiation Oncology Physician: The Contractor shall provide American Board of Radiology (ABR) certified physicians in the area of Radiation Oncology and contract physicians shall maintain certification throughout the period of performance. In the event that Contractor’s Radiation Oncology Physician(s) is/are not directly employed by the treating facility, documentation must be provided to ensure adequate certification.

2.2.2. Medical Physicists must be Board Certified in Medical Physics or Therapeutic Medical Physics by the ABR and maintain licensure with the Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists, if applicable. Certification must be maintained throughout the contract POP. In the event that Contractor’s medical physicist(s) is/are not directly employed by the treating facility, documentation must be provided to ensure adequate certification.

2.2.3. Medical Dosimetrists must be Certified Medical Dosimetrists (CMD) certified by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board. In the event that the Contractor’s Dosimetrist(s) is/are not directly employed by the treating facility, documentation must be provided to ensure adequate certification.

2.3. Credentialing and Privileging: Credentialing and privileging is to be done in accordance with the provisions of VHA Handbook 1100.20 and VHA Directive 1100.21 referenced above. The Contractor is responsible to ensure that proposed physician(s) possesses the requisite credentials enabling the granting of privileges. No services shall be provided by any contract physician(s) prior to obtaining approval by the Facility Professional Standards Board, Medical Executive Board and Medical Center Director.

2.3.1. Credentialing of Health Care Professionals other than physicians. In accordance with VHA Directive 1100.20, all health care professionals who claim licensure, certification, or registration, as applicable to the position (this applies to all who are appointed or utilized on a full-time, part-time, intermittent, consultant, without compensation, on-station fee-basis, on-station contract, or on-station sharing agreement basis) and who are not currently privileged in accordance with VHA Directive 1100.21, must be credentialed in accordance with this directive. NOTE: The credentialing requirements are found in Attachment A of this Directive.

2.3.2. If a contract physician(s) and/or other contract provider(s) are not credentialed and privileged or have credentials/privileges suspended or revoked, the Contractor shall furnish an acceptable substitute without any additional cost to the government.

2.3.3. Technical Proficiency: Contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government’s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor’s physicians and other contract provider (s) shall have knowledge of professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to serve radiation oncology patient population. Contractor’s physician and other contract provider (s) shall demonstrate knowledge of growth and development, and pathophysiology of disease processes specific radiation oncology patient population. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations (referenced herein) that govern medical staff behavior.

2.4. Continuing CME/CEU Requirements: Contractor shall provide the COR copies of current CMEs as required or requested by the VAMC. Contractors registered or certified by national/medical associations shall continue to meet the minimum standards for CME to remain current. CME hours shall be reported to the credential’s office for tracking. These documents are required for initial and renewal privileging. Failure to provide shall result in loss of privileges.

2.5. Training (BLS (Physicians & radiation therapy technologists only), EHR and VA MANDATORY): Contractor shall meet all VA educational requirements and mandatory course requirements defined herein; all training must be completed by the contractor’s physician(s) as required by the VA. Other training may become required. VA will communicate any changes to the training requirement to the contractor.

Web course

2.6. STANDARD INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES (PPD, IMMUNIZATIONS, ETC.): Contractor shall provide proof of the following for physicians within five (5) calendar days after contract award and prior to the first duty shift to the COR and Contracting Officer. Tests shall be current within the past year.

2.6.1. TUBERCULOSIS TESTING: Contractor shall provide proof of a negative Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for all Contractor’s physician(s) upon hire in accordance with CDC guidance. (This is applicable to all health care workers). A negative chest radiographic report for active tuberculosis shall be provided in cases of positive TST or IGRA results.

2.6.2. MEASLES, MUMPS, & RUBELLA TESTING: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.6.3. VARICELLA: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.6.4. ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS: Contractors shall provide proof of 1 dose of Tdap vaccination for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.6.5. INFLUENZA: Contractors shall provide proof that all Contractor physicians have received the annual Influenza vaccine unless it is contraindicated. If the Contractor physician has a medical contraindication to the vaccine, they shall be required to wear a mask during the Influenza season. {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.6.6. COVID-19: Contractors shall comply with VHA Supplemental Contract Requirements for Combatting COVID-19 {This is applicable to all health care workers}. See Attachment in Section D

2.6.7. OSHA REGULATION CONCERNING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS: Contractor shall provide evidence of completing and passing generic self-study blood-borne pathogen training for all Contractor’s physician(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}; provide their own Hepatitis B vaccination series and hepatitis B surface antigen test results following the hepatitis B vaccination series; maintain an exposure determination and control plan; maintain required records; and ensure that proper follow-up evaluation is provided following an exposure incident.

2.6.8. The facility shall notify the Contractor of any significant communicable disease exposures as appropriate. Contractor shall adhere to current CDC/HICPAC Guideline for Infection Control in health care personnel (as published in American Journal for Infection Control- AJIC 1998; 26:289-354 http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/InfectControl98.pdf) for disease control. Contractor shall provide follow up documentation of clearance to return to the workplace prior to their return.

2.7. National Provider Identifier (NPI): NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPAA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers). The Contractor shall have or obtain appropriate NPI and if pertinent the Taxonomy Code confirmation notice issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) be provided to the Contracting Officer with the proposal.

2.8. DEA: Contractor shall provide copy of current DEA certificate.

2.9. Conflict of Interest: The Contractor and all contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) are responsible for identifying and communicating to the CO and COR conflicts of interest at the time of proposal and during the entirety of contract performance. At the time of proposal, the Contractor shall provide a statement which describes, in a concise manner, all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or currently planned interest (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) or actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest relating to the services to be provided. The Contractor shall also provide statements containing the same information for any identified consultants or subcontractors who shall provide services. The Contractor must also provide relevant facts that show how it’s organizational and/or management system or other actions would avoid or mitigate any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest. These statements shall be in response to the VAAR provision 852.209-70 Organizational Conflicts of Interest - and fully outlined in response to the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document.

2.10. Citizenship related Requirements:

2.10.1. The Contractor certifies that the Contractor shall comply with any and all legal provisions contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, As Amended; its related laws and regulations that are enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor as these may relate to non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the Contractor while providing services to Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals.

2.10.2. While performing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Contractor shall not knowingly employ, contract, or subcontract with an illegal alien; foreign national non-immigrant who is in violation their status, as a result of their failure to maintain or comply with the terms and conditions of their admission into the United States. Additionally, the Contractor is required to comply with all “E-Verify” requirements consistent with “Executive Order 12989” and any related pertinent Amendments, as well as applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations.

2.10.3. If the Contractor fails to comply with any requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs or its Agency regulations, the Department of Veterans Affairs may, at its discretion, require that the foreign national who failed to maintain their legal status in the United States or otherwise failed to comply with the requirements of the laws administered by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor, shall be prohibited from working at the Contractor’s place of business that services Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals; or other place where the Contractor provides services to veterans who have been referred by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and shall form the basis for termination of this contract for breach.

2.10.4. This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

2.10.5. The Contractor agrees to obtain a similar certification from its subcontractors. The certification shall be made as part of the offerors response to the RFP using the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document.

2.11. Annual Office of Inspector General (OIG) Statement: In accordance with HIPAA and the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1977, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has established a list of parties and entities excluded from Federal health care programs. Specifically, the listed parties and entities may not receive Federal Health Care program payments due to fraud and/or abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

2.11.1. Therefore, Contractor shall review the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities on the HHS OIG web site at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/index.asp to ensure that the proposed contract physician(s) is not listed. Contractor should note that any excluded individual or entity that submits a claim for reimbursement to a Federal health care program, or causes such a claim to be submitted, may be subject to a Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) for each item or service furnished during a period that the person was excluded and may also be subject to treble damages for the amount claimed for each item or service. CMP’s may also be imposed against the Contractor that employ or enter into contracts with excluded individuals to provide items or services to Federal program beneficiaries.

2.11.2. By submitting their proposal, the Contractor certifies that the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities has been reviewed and that the Contractors are and/or firm is not listed as of the date the offer/bid was signed.

2.12. Clinical/Professional Direction: The qualifications of Contractor personnel are subject to review by VA Medical Center COS or his/her clinical designee and approval by the Medical Center Director as provided in VHA Directive 1100.20 and VHA Directive 1100.21. Clinical/Professional direction of all clinical personnel covered by this contract will be provided by the facility COS and/or the Chief of the Service or his designee. A clinical COR may be appointed, however, only the CO is authorized to consider any contract modification request and/or make changes to the contract during the administration of the resultant contract.

2.13. Non-Personal Healthcare Services: The parties agree that the Contractor and all contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) shall not be considered VA employees for any purpose.

2.14. Inherent Government Functions: Contractor and Contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) shall not perform inherently governmental functions. This includes, but is not limited to, determination of agency policy, determination of Federal program priorities for budget requests, direction and control of government employees (outside a clinical context), selection or non-selection of individuals for Federal Government employment including the interviewing of individuals for employment, approval of position descriptions and performance standards for Federal employees, approving any contractual documents, approval of Federal licensing actions and inspections, and/or determination of budget policy, guidance, and strategy.

2.15. No Employee Status: The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting Contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) furnishing services. To carry out this responsibility, the Contractor shall provide or certify that the following is provided for all their staff providing services under the resultant contract:

2.15.1. Workers’ compensation

2.15.2. Professional liability insurance

2.15.3. Health examinations

2.15.4. Income tax withholding, and

2.15.5. Social security payments.

2.16. Tort Liability: The Federal Tort Claims Act does not cover Contractor or contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s). When a Contractor or contract physician(s) and/or other contract provider (s) has been identified as a provider in a tort claim, the Contractor shall be responsible for notifying their legal counsel and/or insurance carrier. Any settlement or judgment arising from a Contractor’s (or contract physician(s) or other contract provider (s)) action or non-action shall be the responsibility of the Contractor and/or insurance carrier.

2.17. Key Personnel:

Contractor shall provide the number of qualified staff as is necessary to perform the services required under this contract, at the staffing level determined to be professionally acceptable by the Facility Chief of Staff and in accordance with National Radiation Oncology practice staffing guidelines.

2.17.1. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is defined by VA as a minimum of 80 hours every two weeks and does not include holidays. The VA FTE for on-site Radiation Oncology physician(s) will be 384 hours/52 weeks =7.4 weeks which is equivalent to 0.175 FTE.

2.17.2. The minimum number of Board-Certified Radiation Oncology physicians required to be on site on a daily basis is 1 as defined in paragraph Hours of Operation in this section.

2.17.3. The Therapeutic Medical Physicist is not required to be on site.

2.17.4. The Certified Medical Dosimetrists is not required to be on site.

2.17.5. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing coverage to the VA during periods of vacancies of the Contractor’s personnel due to sick leave, personal leave, vacations, and additional coverage as required. In the event a scheduled physician is unable to complete an assigned shift, the contractor shall provide replacement physician coverage within 2 hours and notify the Contracting Office Representative (COR) at the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System (VANIHCS) immediately of the schedule change.

2.18. Emergency Substitutions: During the first ninety (90) calendar days of performance, the Contractor shall make NO substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the CO, in writing, within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required below. After 90 days, the Contractor shall submit the information required below to the CO at least 15 calendar days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

2.18.1. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the CO. Proposed substitutes shall have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The CO will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on the proposed substitutes. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

2.18.2. For temporary substitutions where the key person shall not be reporting to work for three (3) consecutive workdays or more, the Contractor shall provide a qualified replacement for the key person. The substitute shall have comparable qualifications to the key person. Any period exceeding two weeks will require the procedure as stated above.

2.18.3. The Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any Contractor personnel at any time after performance begins, if personal or professional conduct jeopardizes patient care or interferes with the regular and ordinary operation of the facility. Breaches of conduct include intoxication or debilitation resulting from drug use, theft, patient abuse, dereliction, or negligence in performing directed tasks, or other conduct resulting in formal complaints by patient or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. Should the VA COS or designee show documented clinical problems or continual unprofessional behavior/actions with any contract physician(s), s/he may request, without cause, immediate replacement of said contract physician(s).

2.18.4. The CO and COR shall deal with issues raised concerning Contract physician(s) conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the CO.

2.19. Contingency Plan: Continuity of care and uninterrupted operations of a Radiation Oncology Program are essential components of this contract and will be primary factors in Contractor’s assignment of staff and frequency of substitutions. The Contractor shall have a contingency plan in place to be utilized if the contract physician(s) and other contract provider (s) leaves Contractor’s employment or is unable to continue performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

3. VA HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULING:

3.1. VA Business Hours: Normal work hours will be Monday through Friday at 8:00am to 4:30pm, excluding evenings, nights, weekends, and Federal Holidays.

3.2. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30p, excluding federal holidays.

3.2.1. Patients must be seen by a contract physician(s) on-site at Facility in a timely manner in accordance with VA Rules and Regulations on clinic wait times and consult completion.