36C25518Q0446-0001000.docx

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE

OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

BY

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 06-13-2018

NA

36C255 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 3450 S 4th Street Trafficway Leavenworth

KS

66048 36C255 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 3450 S 4th Street Trafficway Leavenworth

KS

66048 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25518Q0446 06-22-2018

X x x x 1(one) Assisted wheelchair, van or litter/stretcher vehicle services - Columbia VAMC

The purpose of this amendment is:

1. To answer all questions submitted (See continuation page for questions and answers).

2. When submitting solicitations , please send to janie.juszczak@va.gov

3. The due date for solicitation will be extended by one week to June 22, 2018 4:00 pm CST.

All other terms and condition remain the same.

Janie Juszczak Contracting Officer

1. Is there a limit on subcontracting? If so, what percent of work can be subcontracted? Yes, At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern: FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting

2. Are contractors required to have an oxygen tank in all vehicles? No.

3. Are contractors required to have a stretcher van license from the state of Missouri prior to performing litter services under this contract? Yes.

4. Are litter vans required to have a 2-person crew and an AED device on all vans, as per state of Missouri stretcher van requirements? Yes.

5. The Service Contract Act requires contractors and subcontractors performing service on prime contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality. Is this contract covered under the Service Contract Act? Yes.

6. In the past, some transportation contractors have classified and paid their drivers as a ‘Taxi Driver’ under the Service Contract Act. The Department of Labor has determined that ‘Shuttle Bus Driver’ is the correct classification for wheelchair service and ‘Ambulance Driver’ is the correct classification for litter service. In Boone County, Missouri, the Service Contract Act requires a prevailing wage rate of $16.94 per hour for ‘Shuttle Bus Driver’ and $19.90 per hour for ‘Ambulance Driver’. Is this contract covered under the Service Contract Act? Yes.

7. In additional to classifying drivers correctly and paying them the correct prevailing wage, contractors are also required to provide a Health and Welfare Benefit of $4.41 per hour for every hour worked under the Service Contract Act. Is this contract covered under the Service Contract Act? Yes.

8. The Service Contract Act requires contractors to provide ten (10) paid holidays, up to seven (7) sick days and up to four (4) weeks of paid vacation, depending on the driver’s tenure, in addition to the prevailing wage rate and Health and Welfare Benefit. Is this contract covered under the Service Contract Act? Yes.

9. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) requires contractors to pay overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees. Is this contract covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act? Yes.

10. The estimated quantities for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. The 2013 solicitation estimated 500 taxi trips. The current solicitation only estimates 250 taxi trips. Can you explain the reduction in estimated quantities over the past 5-years? Over the last 5-years, VA has sought to bolster Veterans access to care by putting in place more options through which Veterans can receive care in their own communities. The Veteran Choice Program being the most prolific of these options. Due to the increase in care in the community Columbia VAMC has seen a decline in those rural veterans seeking care with us that have transportation difficulties. A sizable portion of Columbia VAMC Veterans also qualify for the Choice Program due to the remote locations many reside in. Based upon these changes and facts, the need for regular taxi services has declined and most likely will continue to decline if VA continues to promote greater access to care in the community.

11. The estimated quantities for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. The 2013 solicitation estimated 3,600 wheelchair trips. The current solicitation only estimates 2,300 wheelchair trips. Can you explain the reduction in estimated quantities over the past 5-years? See answer to question 10., and in addition: Special Mode Transportation is the most difficult form of VA transportation to qualify for. In 2015 a new Supervisor took over Columbia VAMC beneficiary travel operations. That supervisor worked diligently to bring Columbia VAMC into strict compliance with the laws and regulations governing special mode transportation (wheel chair/stretcher van). Based upon rigid application of the law, special mode transportation declined each year for nearly 3 years. The implementation of a new consult process at Columbia VAMC to verify medical eligibility for special mode transportation now makes it impossible to request special mode without medical approval signed by a VA physician or other licensed VA clinician. This requirement means requests for wheelchair transport are more thoroughly reviewed/screened for appropriate eligibility which has led to a reduction in inappropriate transports.

12. The estimated quantities for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. The 2013 solicitation estimated 200 litter trips. The current solicitation only estimates 100 litter trips. Can you explain the reduction in estimated quantities over the past 5-years? See answer to question 11.

13. The actual quantities provided by the current contractor for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. In 2017, the current contractor only provided 23 taxi trips, but the current solicitation estimates 250 taxi trips in the next 12 months. Do you anticipate taxi trips increasing from 23 per year to 250 per year? We do not anticipate taxi trips increasing to 250 per year. However, VA transportation issues are often unpredictable as the client base we serve has extensive needs and quite often lack even the most basic resources such as transportation. We have also become the primary VA Cardiothoracic Center for the entire Midwest Region, meaning we have seen an increase in the number of patients coming to us for heart procedures from as far away as Oklahoma and Texas, but most often from the greater Kansas, Illinois, and Arkansas areas. Often these individuals have difficulty arranging transportation back home but do not always require medical attention in transit. We expect to see an increase in the utilization of taxi services to transport these individuals in a cost-efficient manner. Columbia, MO has also recently opened a large housing facility to help those Veterans in the region battling homelessness. Because of this we foresee and increase in the number of Veterans needing local transportation between the hospital and this new housing facility.

14. The actual quantities provided by the current contractor for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. In 2017, the current contractor only provided 1,147 wheelchair trips, but the current solicitation estimates 2,300 wheelchair trips in the next 12 months. Do you anticipate wheelchair trips increasing from 1,147 per year to 2,300 per year? Columbia VAMC has recently begun performing spine and neuro-spinal specialty surgeries. Because of this and the fact that we remain the Cardiothoracic Center for the region we are anticipating the possibility of an increase in the number of wheelchair trips necessary, but do not expect it to exceed 2,300.

15. The actual quantities provided by the current contractor for the Columbia VAMC have declined significantly over the past 5-years. In 2017, the current contractor only provided 47 litter trips, but the current solicitation estimates 100 litter trips in the next 12 months. Do you anticipate litter trips increasing from 47 per year to 100 per year? See answer to question 14. We expect litter trips to increase but not exceed 100 per year.

16. What year did the Columbia VAMC implement their VTS program? 2018.

17. Does VTS transport veterans that are eligible for special mode transportation? Yes. VTS has the capability to transport veterans who are wheelchair bound. VTS does not have the capability to transport litter patients or those requiring ambulance services.

18. Does the Columbia VAMC plan to phase out contractors for special mode transportation and solely rely upon VTS for special mode transportation in the future? No. Columbia VAMC’s needs for special mode transportation exceed the capabilities of VTS and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. While VTS will aide in offsetting Columbia VAMC’s reliance on contract transport we do not believe that it will be able to replace it.

19. The CLIN’s on pp. 6-20 provide either a 5% or 10% Unit Price For Fuel. Shouldn’t the contractor be able to indicate the percentage of their price that fuel accounts for? 10% is based upon past unit pricing. I see no problem with the contractor indicating the percentage of fuel in their final price as long as accountability measures are in place to determine no unfair price increases are forced upon the government due to the price of fuel fluctuating.

20. In 2010, this contract was awarded to an out of town provider that underbid the incumbent by 50%. The new contractor did not understand how the contract was supposed to be billed and the old contractor was brought back in a few years later. Are all contractors responsible for knowing how the contract should be billed? Yes. Contractors are responsible for communicating with the VA to determine the most appropriate and agreeable way in which to bill, and receive payment for services. Based upon statements from staff who worked with the previous out of town provider their issues were also extended to poor service as well as billing issues.