36C25622Q0062 0001.pdf

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

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)

11-05-2021

36C256

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

36C256

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

To all Offerors/Bidders 36C25622Q0062

11-01-2021 X x x

See CONTINUATION Page

X 1

The purpoose of this amendment is to provide answers to questions submitted and extend the Offers due date.

Offers due date is extended to 11-10-2021 1:00 PM CST

See continuation page for questions and answers for this solicitation.

Frank Mendoza Contracting Officer

VA-VHA-2021-60E358EC

Questions and Answers

Q1 Are vendors required to submit proposed key personnel (candidates) with the response?

A1 Only 10 CVs are required to be submitted with the Offer. Offerors may submit up to 30 CVs.

Q2 Is the vendor required to pay for 10 or 11 federal holidays considering the executive order for Juneteenth?

A2 Offerors are required to comply with the minimum requirements of the Service Contract Act and locally applicable Labor Standards Laws. For this requirement, invoicing is limited to number of hours provided, it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure compliance with applicable labor laws and regulations.

Q3 Is the government seeking FTEs or PRN/Registry nursing services to be used on an as-needed basis scheduled a single shift at a time? Does the vendor fill specific holes in the schedule or provide full time nurses that will be scheduled by the VA Nurse Managers?

A3 Full time (40 hours), potential up to 48 hours nurses that will be scheduled with the Option to work additional 8 hours per week with approval of the Nurse Manager.

Q4 The RFQ states “MEDVAMC does not guarantee a set contract or number of hours for any agency personnel” but also mentions “Contract nurse(s) performing services on this contract may not provide nursing services or pickup additional shifts at other health care systems/medical centers located within the Houston”. Is the VA asking the contract RN to not work anywhere else but they may not even get hours at the VAMC?

A4 This reference is removed from the PWS, RNs are allowed to work elsewhere.

Q5 Can you verify the insurance requirements as Property Damage Coverage is not common for medical staffing requirements? Is Medical Malpractice Insurance required?

A5 These are currently the insurance requirements: Offerors shall include the below factored into their pricing quotations. An executed certificate if insurance will be required for the awardee after award listing the resulting contract.

• Worker’s Compensation and Employers Liability $100,000 per person

• General Liability $500,000 per occurrence

• Bodily Injury $500,000 per occurrence

• Property Damage $100,000

During contract administration, the insurance requirements may be revised.

Q6 Is the training listed in section 9. “MEDVAMC CONDUCTED TRAINING REQUIREMENTS” to be completed prior to the contract RNs arrival or after they start the assignment?

A6 Prior to onboarding.

Q7 Will the government consider only scheduling contract RNs for 12 hours shifts?

A7 12 and 8 hour shifts as long as the 36 minimum hour weekly requirement is met.

Providers are required to at least work 36 hours.

Q8 Will the VA include the EPA clauses to allow for pricing adjustments due to drastic market conditions in terms of RN demand/pay

A8 No EPA clauses are considered at this time, Offerors are required to properly assess the market for the next 120 days to ensure performance success. Price realism MAY be conducted in accordance with the instructions in the solicitation if the pricing quotation is considered too low that represents a performance risk.

Q9 Is this a bridge contract to allow for a longer duration contract in the future? If yes, when will the future contract be issued?

A9 This is not a bridge contract, but a supplemental contract to add to the registered nurse staff already in place.

Q10 Who is the incumbent contractor and what is the contract number.

A10 There is no incumbent contractor, this is a supplemental temporary staffing contract.

Q11 How many incumbent employees are on the contract.

A11 There are no incumbent providers. This contract will add additional providers to the already assigned registered nurses to the MEDVAMC.

Q12 What are the requirements for getting employees approved through VETPro?

What is the timeline to get approval for an employee through VETPro?

A12 The timeline is up to two weeks, proposed providers information will include complete CVs, employment history including current supervisors contact information, and pass an initial background check.

Q13 The RFP has no requirement to provide build up for the fully burden rate. How will the Government do a feasibility analysis without the build up for the fully burden rate?

A13 This is not a cost reimbursable contract where cost elements of the proposed hourly rate are required for analysis. The proposed hourly rate is the fully burden rate and is inclusive of travel and per diem based on current traveling registered nurse market prices regardless of whether providers are local or out of the area.

Offerors are not required to submit information on their price quotations to justify the hourly rates. However, prices that are considered too low and represent a performance risk will be assessed for Price Realism.

Q14 Since the requirement is for up to 30 RNs and two hours before a shift the work assignment can be canceled, how many of the 17,000 hours will be guaranteed each week on the awarded contract?

A14 See answer A3 and A7

Q15 8.1.4 Will the government please clarify the contract’s position on allowing locally employed RNs from also working scheduled or PRN shifts at the VA?

A15 See A4

Q16 Please confirm contract workers will be required to conform to the FAR Council Memorandum on Issuance of Agency Deviations to Implement EO 14042 (issued September 30 2021)?

A16 For purposes of providing an Offer for this requirement, Contractors will be required to comply with FAR 52.223-99.

Q17 Will the government please consider extending the proposal due date?

A17 Offers due date is extended, due date is now 11-10-2021 1:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Q18 Do you have historical data regarding percentages of time the facility provides shift schedules in advance

A18 Schedules are completed one month in advance

Q19 Percentages of time the scheduled shifts or locations vary?

A19 No specific data, however the nurses may be pulled to meet facility needs. They may also be placed in the float pool (not assigned to one specific unit.

Q20 Percentages of time the VA might give only a last minute notice (not meeting the 2

hr. advance notice)?

A20 Zero

Q21 Percentages (and types) of overtime the nurses might expect?

A21 Zero

(End of Amendment)