36C25218Q0243-000.docx

FedBizOpps Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

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* = Required Field FedBizOpps Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Rev. March 2010 V FHCC Ambulance BPA 60064 36C25218Q0243 12-11-2017 N 621910 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) Green Bay Road Bldg 1, Rm 313 North Chicago, IL 60064 Paul M. Seivert

(224) 610-3679 paul.seivert@va.gov James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064

USA

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

General Information

Contracting Office Address Great Lakes Acquisition Center – Southern Tier 3001 Green Bay Road Bldg 1, Rm 313 North Chicago, IL 60064 Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued.

This solicitation is a request for quotes (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-96, effective November 6, 2017.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 621910, with a small business size standard of $15.0 million.

This acquisition is completely set aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Only quotes received from certified SDVOSBs registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Vendor Information Pages (https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov/) will be considered.

The Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) is seeking to purchase ambulance services to support the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) by establishing a single Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). Orders placed under this BPA will not be competed further. This BPA shall last no longer than one (1) year, and shall not exceed more than $500,000.00 in total value.

All interested companies shall provide quotations for the following:

Schedule Quoters shall complete the following schedule with their quoted unit prices, and their estimated total prices by multiplying their unit prices with the applicable estimated quantities. The estimated quantities represent the estimate requirement for one year of services and do not represent an actual requirement.

*Legend:

BLS: Basic Life Support ALS: Advanced Life Support MISC: Miscellaneous The services required under this agreement are described in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Ordering officers will be authorized to place orders against this contract. The Contracting Officer will furnish the Contractor with the names of individuals authorized as ordering officers, by separate memorandum upon issuance of the contract. When ordering officers are added after award, the Contracting Officer will furnish the Contractor with the names of individuals authorized as ordering officers, by memorandum upon ordering officer appointment. Ordering officers are responsible for issuing and administering orders placed under this contract. Ordering officers have no authority to modify any term of this basic contract. Any deviation from the terms of the basic contract must be approved in writing by the Contracting Officer responsible for this contract. The Contractor shall accept orders against this contract only from the Contracting Officer and/or authorized ordering officers. Fulfilling orders from persons other than the Contracting Officer or ordering officer may result in loss or delay in payment for supplies/services provided under such orders.

The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases actually made under the BPA.

The dollar limitation for each individual purchase under the BPA shall be $25,000.00.

The ordering period of performance shall not exceed one year from the date of issuance of the BPA.

Award shall be made to the quoter whose quotation offers the best value to the government, considering past performance, and price. The government will evaluate information based on the following evaluation criteria: (1) past performance, and (2) price.

The past performance evaluation will consist of a review of past performance information available to the Government (e.g. information retrieved from the Past Performance Information Retrieval System). Quoters need not provide any past performance information. Any past performance information submitted by quoters may not be considered in this evaluation.

The price evaluation will consider the reasonableness of the prices quoted.

The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html.

The full text of VAAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/.

The following solicitation provisions apply to this acquisition:

1. FAR 52.212-1, “Instructions to Offerors–Commercial Items” (Jan 2017)

2. FAR 52.212-3, “Offerors Representations and Certifications–Commercial Items” (Nov 2017)

Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://www.sam.gov in accordance with FAR 52.212-3, “Offerors Representations and Certifications–Commercial Items.”

The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition:

· FAR 52.212-4, “Contract Terms and Conditions–Commercial Items” (Jan 2017)

· FAR 52.212-5, “Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders” (Nov 2017) The following subparagraphs of FAR 52.212-5 are applicable:

· Subparagraphs (b)(1), (4), (6), (8), (16), (22), (25), (27), (28), (29), (30), (31), (32), (33)(i), and (34)

· Subparagraph (c)(2), (3), (8), and (9) Other applicable clauses/provisions:

· FAR 52.203-17, “Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights” (Apr 2014)

· FAR 52.203-99, “Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements” (DEVIATION) (Feb 2015)

· FAR 52.204-4, “Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Recycled Paper” (May 2011)

· FAR 52.204-9, “Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel” (Jan 2011)

· FAR 52.204-18, “Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance” (Jul 2016)

· FAR 52.224-1, “Privacy Act Notification” (Apr 1984)

· FAR 52.224-2, “Privacy Act” (Apr 1984)

· FAR 52.228-5, “Insurance – Work on a Government Installation” (Jan 1997)

· FAR 52.232-40, “Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors” (Dec 2013)

· FAR 52.237-2, “Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment and Vegetation” (Apr 1984)

· VAAR 852.203-70, “Commercial Advertising” (Jan 2008)

· VAAR 852.203-71, “Display of Department of Veterans Affairs Hotline Poster” (Dec 1992)

· VAAR 852.219-10, “VA Notice of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside” (DEVIATION) (Jul 2016)

· VAAR 852.228-71, “Indemnification and Insurance” (Jan 2008)

· VAAR 852.232-72, “Electronic Submission of Payment Requests” (Nov 2012)

· VAAR 852.233-70, “Protest Content/Alternative Dispute Resolution” (Jan 2008)

· VAAR 852.233-71, “Alternate Protest Procedure” (Jan 1998)

· VAAR 852.237-70, “Contractor Responsibilities” (Apr 1984)

· VAAR 852.270-1, “Representatives of Contracting Officers” (Jan 2008)

· VAAR 852.271-70, “Nondiscrimination in Services Provided to Beneficiaries” (Jan 2008)

SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with FAR 28.307-2 and FAR 52.228-5, the following minimum coverage shall apply to this contract:

(a) Workers' compensation and employers liability: Contractors are required to comply with applicable Federal and State workers' compensation and occupational disease statutes. If occupational diseases are not compensable under those statutes, they shall be covered under the employer's liability section of the insurance policy, except when contract operations are so commingled with a Contractor's commercial operations that it would not be practical to require this coverage. Employer's liability coverage of at least $100,000 is required, except in States with exclusive or monopolistic funds that do not permit workers' compensation to be written by private carriers.

(b) General Liability: $500,000.00 per occurrences.

(c) Automobile liability: $200,000.00 per person; $500,000.00 per occurrence and $20,000.00 property damage.

(d) The successful bidder must present to the Contracting Officer, prior to award, evidence of general liability insurance without any exclusionary clauses for asbestos that would void the general liability coverage.

All quotes shall be emailed to paul.seivert@va.gov.

This is an open-market combined synopsis/solicitation for services as defined herein. The government intends to award a single Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) as a result of this combined synopsis/solicitation that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition."

OR

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:"

Quoter shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s).

Submission shall be received not later than 9:00am CST, December 11, 2017 at paul.seivert@va.gov. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f). Emailed offers shall be accepted and are preferred.

Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Contracting Officer.

Point of Contact Contracting Officer: Paul M. Seivert, (224) 610-3679, paul.seivert@va.gov

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

1.0 PURPOSE:

The CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL, requires contracted Ambulance Transportation Services. This includes both the West Campus and the East Campus located on Naval Station Great Lakes. Contractor shall provide all vehicles, personnel, and equipment required to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulance Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7), including weekends and holidays, to beneficiaries of Lovell FHCC in accordance with the terms, schedule and referenced materials of this agreement.

2.0 BACKGROUND

Lovell FHCC is the product of the integration of the former North Chicago VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the former Naval Station Great Lakes Healthcare Center; whose properties abut each other. FHCC is comprised of a West Campus, where the main hospital, a Community Living Center, six (6) Greenhouse Homes, and many clinics are located; and an East Campus located on the Naval Station Great Lakes where there are several medical and dental clinics for treating active duty recruits. Lovell FHCC employs and treats both Veterans and Active Duty Sailors and their families.

The Contractor shall provide the following Ambulance Services on an as-needed basis:

4.1 BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS):

Basic Life Support (BLS) Services is defined as a basic level of pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical services that includes airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control of shock and bleeding and splinting of fractures, as outlined in the Basic Life Support national curriculum of the United States Dept. of Transportation and any modifications to that curriculum specified in rules adopted by the Department.

4.1a Staffing:

For BLS services, each ambulance shall be staffed by Emergency Medical Technicians with a current Illinois EMT-B license or as required by local, state, or regional Government, or public entity by which the ambulance services are governed.

4.2 ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS):

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Services is defined as an advanced level of pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical services that includes BLS, electrocardiography, cardiac defibrillation, cardiac monitoring, IV therapy, administration of drugs and solutions, use of adjunctive medical devices, trauma care, and other authorized techniques and procedures.

4.2a Staffing:

For ALS service, each ambulance shall be staffed by Advanced Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics with a current Illinois EMT-P license or as required by local, state, or regional Government, or public entity by which the ambulance services are governed.

4.2b Typical situations when Lovell FHCC would require ALS Services:

· Patients with IVs

· Patients requiring cardiac monitoring

4.3 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL:

Contractor employees shall be courteous and conduct themselves in a business-like manner at all times while providing services under this agreement.

4.3a Paramedics and EMTs Paramedics, EMTs and other medical personnel (as applicable), shall at all times meet the qualifications specified in this agreement, as well as all applicable federal, state and local Government laws, regulations, and standards. They shall be certified, licensed, or otherwise officially recognized by local, state, or regional Government or public entity by which the emergency service is governed.

4.3b Non-Emergency Attendants/Drivers

i. Attendants/drivers shall be capable of administering oxygen and have successfully completed the Standards and Advanced First Aid Courses of the American Red Cross or US Bureau of Mines or equivalent. Proof in the form of a current certificate for the successful completion of such training must be provided upon request.

ii. All ambulance drivers shall have a valid driver’s license in accordance with state requirements for their place of operation and the services they perform.

4.3c Driver Conduct The following acts are not permissible by drivers which provide services under this agreement or while on Lovell FHCC premises:

i. Use of intoxicating liquors, narcotics, or controlled substances of any kind (excluding Dr.’s prescriptions which do not impair driving ability), while on duty or reporting for duty.

ii. Gambling in any form.

iii. Smoking and other uses of tobacco while on duty.

iv. Carrying of pistols, firearms, or concealed weapons.

v. Resorting to physical violence to settle a dispute with a fellow employee(s), customer(s), or the general public while on duty.

vi. Spitting, or any other unsanitary, or offensive practice or behavior while on FHCC premises

vii. Use of loud, indecent, or profane language and/or making threatening or obscene gestures towards customers or other employees.

viii. Stopping for personal business, including use of a restroom, while a patient is in the vehicle.

ix. The driver shall not leave the vehicle with the key in the ignition at any time.

x. Engaging a customer in a verbal confrontation in an attempt to settle a disagreement. Should a disagreement arise, the driver is to contact his dispatcher/supervisor via the radio system.

xi. Soliciting or accepting tips from customers, companions or others at any time.

4.3d Certification/Licensing Requirements Prior to performing any services under this agreement, the Contractor shall provide evidence of required training, certifications, licensing, and any other qualifications of any personnel performing services under this agreement. If the Contractor wishes to add or replace personnel, it shall provide the above requirements to the COR for approval.

4.3e Tuberculosis (TB) Exposure Control Policy

i. Prior to performance any services under this agreement, he Contractor shall provide Lovell FHCC their policy on TB exposure and control, to include TB decontamination.

ii. The Contractor shall have its personnel tested for TB and provide each of these test results to the COR.

Contractor shall be required to transport patient luggage, medical records, medication, and comfort items from pickup points to destination at no additional cost to the Government. Luggage to be transported is restricted to a suitcase or travel case type bag when patients are transported to Lovell FHCC.

An order is defined as one incidence of a request for service (BLS or ALS service). But for exceptions approved by authorized FHCC ordering employees, no more than one patient will be transported per order.

Response Options

Service Level

For trips in which the Contractor is notified of a cancellation before the vehicle is dispatched, there will be no charge to the Government.

9.2 NO-SHOWS

A “no-show” is defined as an order that is cancelled after the Contractor has dispatched a vehicle and the vehicle is enroute or has arrived at the pick-up location, and there is no longer a need for this patient transport. The Contractor may request one-way reimbursement for no-shows, which are based on the base rate for the service (BLS, ALS), and one-way mileage (BLS, ALS) accrued enroute to the pick-up location at time of cancellation. Mileage for no-show cancellations shall be confirmed by the Contractor and reported to the COR or designee as soon as possible from the time of cancellation.

9.3 ADDITIONAL CHARGES

There will be no additional charge for time spent at the site (during, or after the normal hours of coverage) awaiting the arrival of additional Contractor staff and/or delivery of parts.

With the exception of “no shows” defined in 9.2, the Contractor shall invoice for loaded (patient onboard) services and mileage only. Contractor shall submit an electronic invoice by the tenth day of each month for services that occurred the preceding month. Electronic invoices shall be submitted to the VAFSC (see pg. 4); invoices shall not include patient information. Also, a copy of the invoice along with secondary documentation shall be sent to Beneficiary Travel and must include the following information:

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VA BENEFICIARIES, THIRD PARTY INSURANCES, MEDICARE OR MEDICAID TO BE BILLED FOR SERVICES PERFORMED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WHICH ARE AUTHORIZED BY CAPT JAMES A. LOVELL FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CENTER.

12.0 CONTRACTOR’S QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM:

Contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality Control Program (QCP) to ensure the requirements of this agreement are provided as specified. The QCP shall address processes and procedures to ensure services are performed in accordance with all state and local standards and codes. Contractor’s QCP shall include the following at a minimum:

The Authorization and Accreditation (A&A) requirements of VHA Handbook 6500.6 do not apply to this requirement, therefore, a Security Accreditation Package is not required. No A&A or MOU/ISA is required. Sensitive information exposure as part of this agreement involves applicable security controls within the facility as part of the Lovell FHCC/VA Information Security.

If there are any questions related to privacy, please have a member of your staff, or yourself, contact the VA Privacy Service at (202)461-6309. If there are any questions related to the Information Security, contact the Office of Cyber Security at (304)262-7733.

Where the agreement does not require Joint Commission accreditation or other regulatory requirements regarding worker competency, the Contractor must perform the required work in accordance with Joint Commission standards. The Contractor is required to develop and maintain the following for each Contractor employee working on this agreement:

Contractor will provide current copies of these records to the COR at time of agreement award and upon completion of the agreement or upon request, for each Contractor employee working on the contract.

To ensure that the individuals providing services under the agreement have not engaged in fraud or abuse regarding Sections 1128 and 1128A of the Social Security Act regarding federal health care programs, the Contractor is required to check the Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS/OIG), List of Excluded Individuals/Entities on the OIG Website (www.hhs.gov/oig) for each person providing services on this agreement. Further, Contractor is required to certify all persons listed in Contractor’s proposal have been compared to the OIG list and are NOT listed. During performance of the agreement, Contractor is prohibited from using any individual or business listed on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities.

John Decker (224)610-4247 john.decker2@va.gov

Contractor shall have a plan in place for handling patient complaints, including methods for monitoring, correcting, and reporting. Contractor shall report any corrective action taken to the COR within 48 hours of incident. COR will track internal complaints as well as from the Contractor. Contractor shall maintain less than five (5) complaints per quarter.

i. Minor complaints – (i.e., complaints about timeliness, customer service, or vehicle cleanliness. Isolated incidents of minor complaints will be addressed by the COR at the task order level. The COR will be notified of the complaint and the Contractor will work with the COR to ensure the complaint is addressed or resolved.

ii. Minor complaints will be documented if the COR determines there is a pattern of minor complaints or if there is an alarming increase in frequency of minor complaints. If so, the severity level of the complaints would be designated as a major complaint.

iii. Major complaints – (i.e., concerns regarding Contractor’s driving abilities (e.g., driving recklessly or while under the influence), lack of safe vehicle conditions, or emotional or physical abuse by driver/passenger. All of these complaints shall be documented. COR will determine the validity of the complaint, then notify the Contractor. Major complaints left unresolved will be deemed subpar performance and will be sent to the CO.

When performance is deemed unacceptable, the COR will inform the Contractor’s on-site representative, or one of the Contractor’s managers. Disputes should be referred to the COR. The COR will notify the Contracting Officer of subpar performance. If any services do not conform to agreement requirements, the Government may:

i. Require the Contractor to take action necessary to ensure future performance conforms with agreement requirements.

ii. By separate agreement or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service 23.3d Performance Matrix - Ambulance Service

END OF PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

FHCC CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Failure to comply with the contractor personnel security requirements may result in termination of the contract for default.

All contractor employees who require access to the Department of Veterans Affairs' OR Department of Defense computer systems at FHCC or have access to FHCC sensitive information shall be the subject of a background investigation. The FHCC obtains the Background Investigation through the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Process (e-QIP). Upon receiving a request for the investigation from the Contracting Officer, the contractor’s employee will be initiated into e-QIP for the Background Investigation followed by an e-mail with instructions to log into e-QIP. A contractor’s employee shall not commence working at the FHCC under contract until the Contracting Officer receives notification from the FHCC Office of Security and Law Enforcement that the contract employee’s application was received complete. A favorable adjudication from the FHCC Office of Security and Law Enforcement must be received in order for a contractor employee to continue contract performance. This requirement is applicable to all subcontractor personnel.

1. Position Sensitivity - The position sensitivity has been designated as Low Risk. The positions under this contract are designated as Non-Critical Sensitive (NCS).

2. Background Investigation - The level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access at FHCC is Access National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (ANACI).

3. Contractor Responsibilities

a. The contractor shall bear the expense of obtaining background investigations. If the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducts the investigation, the contractor shall reimburse the FHCC within 30 days. If timely payment is not made within 30 days from date of bill for collection, then the FHCC shall deduct the cost incurred from the contractors 1st month’s invoice(s) for services rendered.

b. It is imperative for the contractor to provide, at the request of the FHCC, a listing of contractor personnel performing services under the contract in order for the background investigation process to commence. This list will include name (first, middle, last) social security number; date of birth; city, state, and country of birth.

c. The contractor or their employees shall submit a complete background investigation packet through the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Process (e-QIP). Additional guidance and information will be provided through e-mail from the FHCC Office of Security and Law Enforcement.

The following required forms must be submitted through the e-QIP system to the FHCC Office of Security and Law Enforcement before contract performance begins:

(i) e-QIP Signature Pages (two) (print, sign and submit)

(ii) Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment

(iii) Electronic Fingerprint Form (FD 258) or electronic fingerprints

Fingerprinting is required with the background investigation. Fingerprinting can be done at the local FHCC Facility. The Electronic Fingerprint Verification Form must be submitted with the above required forms.

d. The Contractor shall inform the contract employee that when filling out the application, that there should be no gaps in employment history. Any gaps in employment history may result in OPM rejecting the documentation for investigation and delay contract performance.

e. The contractor, when notified of an unfavorable determination by the Government, shall withdraw the employee from consideration from working under the contract, and at the request of the FHCC, submit another employee for consideration.

f. The contractor may utilize a private investigating agency if such agency possesses an OPM and Defense Security Service certification. A Cage Code number must be provided to the FHCC Office of Security and Law Enforcement. VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement will verify the information and advise the contracting officer whether contractor’s access to the computer systems can be authorized.

g. All contractor employees and subcontractors are required to complete VA’s Privacy training annually. All Contractor employees and subcontractors requiring access to VA computer network are required to complete Cyber Security training courses annually either on-line or hard copy. Documented proof must be provided to the Contracting Officer.

h. The contractor will notify the COTR immediately when their employee(s) no longer require access to FHCC computer systems.

4. Government Responsibilities

a. The contracting officer will request the contractor employee’s background investigation by the Office of Security and Law Enforcement.

b. The Office of Security and Law Enforcement will notify the contractor with instructions for the contractor's employees, coordinate the background investigations, and notify the contracting officer and contractor of the results of the investigations.

c. The FHCC will pay for requested investigations in advance. A bill for collection will be sent to the contractor to reimburse the FHCC.