36C25621Q0182 Sources Sought Notice.pdf

Contract Opportunity Sources Sought Notice

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE

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CONTRACTING OFFICE'S

ZIP-CODE

SOLICITATION NUMBER

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE

ARCHIVE DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS

SET-ASIDE

NAICS CODE

CONTRACTING OFFICE

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(POC Information Automatically Filled from User Profile Unless Entered)

DESCRIPTION See Attachment

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

* = Required Field Contract Opportunity Sources Sought Notice

R499

Sources Sought_Pharmacy Emergency and Interim Patient Medications

77030

36C25621Q0182

12-30-2020 9AM CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

N

522310

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 16 Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe BLVD Houston TX 77030 4298

Jeneice McClinton jeneice.mcclinton@va.gov

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe Blvd. Bldg. 100 Houston Texas

77030

USA

https://beta.sam.gov

Contract Opportunities

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST

FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL, OR BID.

This Sources Sought/Market Survey Notice is being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16 in support of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) located in Houston, Texas to seek Contractors with the capability of providing emergency and interim patient medications service for the list of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in accordance with the draft Statement of Work. The government is requesting responses from Contractors with the capability to provide these services for the MEDVAMC located at 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas. The applicable North American Industry Classification code for this procurement is 522310 and the business size standard is $8 Million.

Sources Sought Notice

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL, OR BID.

This Sources Sought/Market Survey Notice is being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16 in support of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) located in Houston, Texas to seek Contractors with the capability of providing emergency and interim patient medications service for the list of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in accordance with the draft Statement of Work. The government is requesting responses from Contractors with the capability to provide these services for the MEDVAMC located at 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas. The applicable North American Industry Classification code for this procurement is 522310 and the business size standard is $8 Million.

I. OVERVIEW

Description / Scope / Objective.

The Contractor shall provide emergency and interim patient medications service meeting the requirements and objectives in accordance with the draft Statement of Work (SOW).

NAICS: 522310 – Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers

SIZE STANDARDS: $8M

Title: Emergency and Interim Patient Medications Service

Period of performance: The period of performance shall be a base period of 12 months with four (4), additional 12-month option periods to be exercised at the government’s discretion.

If this is a service your business can provide, please respond to this Sources Sought Notice by 9:00am Central Time on December 30, 2020.

II. VETERANS FIRST CONTRACTING PROGRAM: The Department of Veterans Affairs is dedicated to the Veterans First Contracting Program and encourages any certified Service- Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) capable of furnishing the required services to respond. In accordance with Veterans Affair Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) sections 819.7005 and 819.7006, if a sufficient number of eligible SDVOSB or VOSB firms are identified during market research the acquisition will be set-aside for SDVOSB or VOSB participation.

III. INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM INDUSTRY:

Please submit your response (capability statement) in accordance with the following:

Responses Requested: The MEDVAMC requires the following questions answered in this RFI:

Answers that are not provided shall be considered non-responsive to the Request for Information and Contractor shall not be considered as part of the market research. Please provide evidence of your company’s capability in order to be determined capable to provide this service. Evidence can be submitted through resumes and certificates of training.

1. Does your company possess the capability to provide the government required services per the draft Statement of Work?

2. Is your company a small business, SDBs, HUBZone, SDVOSB, VOSB or 8A concern?

Contractor shall provide communication in capability statement. Contractor shall provide proof of qualifications.

3. Has the Contractor provided similar services? The Contractor shall provide in their capability statement a list of active contracts for commercial, federal, state, and local governments. The listed contracts shall provide communication on the government requirement illustrating the capability for comparison. Contractors shall provide evidence of technical experience performing as the prime contractor to include:

(a) dollar value,

(b) contract number,

(c) period of performance (year and month),

(d) point of contact (POC) name and title,

(e) POC phone number,

(f) POC email address,

(g) description of the work; and

(h) servicing agency.

4. Is your company available under any Government Wide Agency Contract (GWAC), General Services Administration Schedules (GSA), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), and/or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)? If so, please list the contract number and a brief summary of the products and services provided.

5.What services or products are sub-contracted? Please provide a breakdown of what your company sub-contracts. Please provide percentages of the work you will be providing as self-performed and sub-contracted.

6. Provide a short summary of your potential approach to this type of contract and meeting the specific requirements per the draft Statement of Work and your experience managing similar contracts with similar requirements for the VA.

7. Provide an informal cost/price total estimate.

Opportunity: The MEDVAMC, is seeking information from potential Contractors on their ability to provide this service. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.

Small Business Concerns are encouraged to provide responses to this RFI in order to assist the MEDVAMC in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry. The Contractor shall provide answers to all questions requested and shall possess the capability to provide all requirements and objectives per the DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK.

Instructions and Response Guidelines: Sources sought responses are due by December 30, 2020 at 9:00am (CST); size is limited to 8.5 x 11 inches, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins in Microsoft Word format via email to Jeneice.McClinton@va.gov . All questions shall be submitted by December 22, 2020 at 12:00 pm (CST) via email to Jeneice.McClinton@va.gov .

The government reserves the right to not answer questions received from this sources sought.

Telephone requests or inquires will not be accepted. For responses, please list the subject line as 36C25621Q0182 emergency and interim patient medications. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. There is no page limitation on subparagraphs 5(a) - 5(f).

Please provide the information you deem relevant in order to respond to the specific inquiries of the sources sought. Information provided will be used solely by MEDVAMC as "market research" and will not be released outside of the MEDVAMC Purchasing and Contract Team.

This sources sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), mailto:Jeneice.McClinton@va.gov or Request for Quotation (RFQ), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into a contract, nor will the government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. All information contained in this sources sought is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the government.

In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. If a solicitation is released, it is will be synopsized in the Contract Opportunities (FBO) www.beta.SAM.gov website or GSA. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this sources sought, or future solicitations.

Contact Information:

Contract Specialist, Jeneice McClinton Email address: Jeneice.McClinton@va.gov

Your responses to this notice are appreciated.

http://www.beta.sam.gov/

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. The Contractor shall provide emergency and interim patient medications for 8 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) listed in paragraph 2 below in support of the Michael E.

DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) located in Houston, Texas. The Contractor shall set up agreements with pharmacies located close to the clinics. This program allows emergent prescriptions written by VA providers at Community Based Outpatient Clinics to be filled at local pharmacies.

2. Locations: The site of the pharmacy must be in a reasonable proximity (within 5 miles) of the CBOCs. The following is a list of the clinics, and their location:

MEDVAMC CBOCs:

• Conroe VA Outpatient Clinic

690 S Loop 336 W.

Conroe, Texas 77304 County: Montgomery

• Galveston VA Outpatient Clinic

3828 Avenue N Galveston, Texas 77550 County: Galveston

• Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic

9300 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite 206 Texas City, Texas 77591 County: Galveston

• Lake Jackson VA Outpatient Clinic

208 S. Oak Drive, Suite 700 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 County: Brazoria

• Richmond VA Outpatient Clinic

22001 SW Freeway, Suite 200 Richmond, Texas 77469 County: Fort Bend

• Katy VA Outpatient Clinic

750 Westgreen Blvd.

Katy, Texas 77450 County: Harris

• Tomball VA Outpatient Clinic

1200 W. Main Street Tomball, Texas 77375 County: Harris

• Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic 3420 Veteran Circle Beaumont, Texas 77707 County: Jefferson

3. General Requirements for MEDVAMC

3.1 Hours of Service: The Contractor at a minimum will provide pharmaceutical services from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The CBOCs usual hours of operation are from 8:00a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

3.2 Prescriptions filled shall be in written form provided by an approved CBOC VA physician(s). The MEDVAMC shall provide the vendor with a list of VA-approved providers and their signatures. Dispensing pharmacies must be able to accept the written prescriptions on VA Form 10-2577F, Security Prescription Form. Should the state in which the dispensing pharmacy operate require other than the VA Form 10- 2577F, Security Prescription Form, it shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to provide the VA Medical Center, Chief of Pharmacy, with the regulation/requirement ordering addresses, and ordering information needed to provide the CBOC with the proper security form.

3.3 The intent of this contract is for emergency medications only. It is expected that the drugs shall be generic medications. Generic drugs shall be dispensed, if in the professional judgment of the pharmacist the substitute product is available, safe, effective, and to the greatest extent possible, contains the same chemical ingredients of the same strength, quantity and dosage of the brand name. All generic products used shall be in compliance with Federal and State requirements. Brand name drugs ONLY if no generic form of the drug exists in the marketplace.

3.4 Medications which typically should be started immediately or should not have an interruption in therapy are antibiotics, acute care pain medications, insulin (especially in the Type 1 patient with diabetes mellitus), medications that require monitoring levels (e.g., valproic acid), and medications that may have a ‘rebound’ detrimental effect (e.g., paroxetine, clonidine, or beta-blockers [metoprolol & atenolol]). These are primarily the medications that will be considered ‘emergency’ and days’ supply will be limited to a maximum of 10 days (or up to a 14-day antibiotic course). A Formulary will be developed by the vendor, approved by the Medical Center and shared with each CBOC.

This Formulary will be shared with each CBOC once approved each Medical Center’s formulary list may be different, and each list shall be approved by the requisite Medical Center.

3.5 This contract is not meant to be utilized for routine (refill) medications or new (non-emergent) medications.

3.6 All Controlled II Class Drugs (e.g., methadone, oxycodone, morphine) shall be processed by the Medical Center pharmacy.

3.7 VA beneficiaries will pick up their prescriptions at the dispensing pharmacy. No prescriptions are to be mailed or delivered.

3.8 The Contractor shall assure that all persons, whether they be personnel, agents, sub-contractors, or anyone acting for or on behalf of the Contractor, are properly licensed at all times under applicable state law and/or regulations and may be subject to privileging and or background checks by the VA.

3.9 The Contractor shall provide Pharmacy Management Services to include traditional prescription screening, dispensing and counseling services (by a registered and licensed pharmacist) to eligible Veterans presenting authorized prescriptions from providers at the applicable CBOC.

3.10 Printed drug information shall be provided to each patient to supplement verbal instructions. These services shall require a medication history and check for allergies, interactions and duplications.

3.11 Pharmacies authorized to fill prescriptions under the Contractor’s plan must agree to the following conditions:

a. The Contractor and its contract pharmacies shall keep all information concerning VA beneficiaries confidential and shall not release or disclose information to any person, except as authorized in writing and according to all applicable laws. The Privacy Act of 1974, public Law 93-579 applies to this contract.

b. Representatives of the VA are authorized to visit the premises of any pharmacy filling VA prescriptions under the contractor’s plan during business hours for the purpose of auditing and evaluation, which may include the inspection of clinical records. VA representative shall be given access during regular business hours, and upon reasonable notice, to such books, records, invoices, and prescription files as deemed necessary to verify claim information, prescription volume, and the usual and customary charges to the general public for covered prescriptions.

c. Contract pharmacies shall maintain a log of VA prescriptions filled and have the patient sign next to each prescription number for each prescription received. A copy of the log shall be maintained at the contract pharmacy and be readily accessible for random VA inspection.

d. All adverse drug events reported to the Contractor’s pharmacies by beneficiaries of the VA will be reported to COR. Adverse drug events include dispensing errors, drug allergies, and adverse drug reactions.

e. Pharmaceutical care provided to beneficiaries under this contract shall meet all standards applicable to the current Joint Commission accreditation manual for Ambulatory Care/Pharmaceutical Services.

3.12 The MEDVAMC Contracting Officer Representative (COR) shall provide contractor, via phone, all existing and/or new VA physicians’ state license number, federal and/or State drug license number, and National Provider Identifier (NPI). The Contractor shall immediately notify its contract pharmacies of the physician information so as to avoid delay in patient services. Notification of physician information may occur on either the day the VA physician fills-in at the CBOC or prior to CBOC duty as time allows.

3.13 Medical supplies, injectable and prosthetic items are not included in this contract except for emergency supply of insulin vials and syringes.

4. Insurance: The Contractor shall be responsible for:

A. Worker compensation and employer's liability: The Contractor shall comply with applicable Federal and State Worker Compensation and occupational disease statutes.

B. General Liability: The Contractor shall have Bodily Injury Liability Insurance coverage written on the comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence.

C. Property Damage Liability: The Contractor shall have Property Damage Liability insurance coverage of at least $500,000.

5. Environment of Care:

The Contractor shall maintain a clean and safe environment at all times.

6. Contracting with Parties Listed on the OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities:

In accordance with HIPAA and the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1977, the Office of Inspector General has established a list of parties and entities excluded from Federal health care programs. Specifically, the listed parties and entities may not receive Federal payments due to fraud and/or abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The list of excluded individuals/entities can be found on the OIG web site at www.hhs.gov/oig At the signing of the contract, the Contractor is affirming that OIG site has been reviewed and that none of the Contractor’s personnel are on this list.

7. Invoices/Payments:

http://www.hhs.gov/oig

7.1 The monthly summary invoice shall include a subtotal of each clinic with the number of scripts written at that clinic and the overall costs. There shall also be an attached spreadsheet that reflects: Patient’s name, last 4 of social security number, medication, days fill, total medication dispensed and cost for each of the clinics.

7.2 Payment for services rendered by the Contractor under the terms of this contract will be made monthly upon receipt of a properly executed invoice.

Invoice to be submitted within ten (10) workdays following the end of a month in which the Contractor rendered services. VA will verify services performed and certify invoice for payment within thirty (30) days following date of receipt. Any identified discrepancy(s) in billings shall be cause for extending provisions of this paragraph until such time as the discrepancy or other identified problem with the billing invoice has been resolved.

7.3 The Contractor shall send a copy of each invoice, via encrypted email, to (1) the COR for validation, and (2) the Contracting Officer for funds management.

7.4 The Contractor shall accept payment for services rendered under this contract as payment in full and will not bill the Veteran or their third-party insurer for any services covered under this contract. Contractor shall not under any circumstances charge VA beneficiaries or their insurance companies for services rendered by the contractor even if VA does not pay for those services. This provision shall survive the termination or ending of the contract.

8. The government reserves the right to fill any prescription covered under this contract through the use of its own resources and/or staff.

END OF STATEMENT OF WORK