Questions and Responses.pdf

Question and Responses

36C25623Q0367

Question #1: The requirement of minipoles is specific to one particular infusion pump vendor, therefore making this a de facto sole source solicitation without the appropriate J&A. As this is a full and open solicitation, will the government please remove the requirement of minipoles from both CLIN 0001AA and the Statement of Work?

Response #1: Yes, the requirement for minipoles is removed and revised to 300 intravenous infusion (IV) poles in a separate CLIN (Contract Line Item).

Question #2: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Automated secondary delivery-Pump can detect a clamped secondary and alert clinician. Our solution provides the ability for concurrent primary pumps through the use of a short set configuration. Does the VA accept that with the utilization of a short set, no secondary infusion set up would be needed? Will the VA revise this requirement to allow for a configurable notification that will remind a clinician to validate that the secondary clamp is open prior to starting the infusion?

Response #2: Government requires a system configuration that is name brand or equal to the

Plum 360 that can detect a clamped secondary.

Question #3: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Automated secondary delivery - Primary bag height does not need to be changed to facilitate secondary delivery. Our market research indicates that while there are differences in height requirements in relation to the pump to maintain accuracy, other manufacturers have warnings and cautions regarding maintaining accuracy. Will the VA remove this requirement?

Response #3: No, The Name brand or equal product of the offeror shall communicate the manufacturer warnings and cautions in regard to maintaining accuracy with its pump.

Question #4: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Air trap - Pump will trap air and accumulate before alarm thereby reducing alarm frequency. According to our market research, different manufacturers have different air in line alarm configurations and ways to notify the clinicians.

Will the VA revise this salient characteristic to allow for other methods of air in line detection and notifications?

Response #4: Yes, Name brand or equal product of offeror shall communicate the manufacturer method of air in line detection and notifications.

Question #5: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Syringe delivery- large volume pump has ability to infuse syringes to patient without the need of special tubing. Our market research indicates that all infusion pump manufacturers require a syringe adapter set when delivering via a large volume pump. Will the VA remove this requirement?

Response #5: SOW revised to read Syringe adapter set for delivery of a large volume pump.

Question #6: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Bag height independence - pump does not need to have the bags at a certain height in relation to the pump to maintain accuracy. Our market research indicates that all manufacturers have warnings and cautions in reference to height requirements for the pumps to maintain accuracy. Will the VA remove this requirement?

Response #6: No, Name brand or equal product of offeror shall communicate the manufacturer method for warnings and cautions in reference to height requirements for the pumps to maintain accuracy.

Question #7: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Concurrent functionality - pump can run 2 medications, at 2 different rates, through 1 pump. According to our market research, the requirement of concurrent functionality is specific to one particular infusion pump vendor, therefore making this a de facto sole source solicitation without the appropriate J&A. As this is a full and open solicitation, will the government please remove the requirement of concurrent functionality?

Response #7: No, This a Name Brand or equal requirement.

Question #8: Reference: Salient Characteristics: Infusion devices shall have approved

Enterprise Risk Assessment for connectivity to the Local Area network. As the approval of an

Enterprise Risk Assessment is a VA action, can this requirement be modified to require partnering with the VA to obtain approval?

Response #8: Yes. Approved Enterprise Risk Assessment (ERA) for connectivity to the Local

Area network preferred. Contractor without an ERA after award, will work with the Contracting

Officer Representative (COR) to obtain approval.

Question #9: What does “full credit" constitute in terms of dollar value in proposal evaluation.

The question below is in reference to:

852.215-70 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business

Evaluation Factors.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factors

(OCT 2019)

(a) In an effort to achieve socioeconomic small business goals, VA shall evaluate offerors based on their service-disabled veteran-owned or veteran-owned small business status and their proposed use of eligible service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) as subcontractors.

(b) Eligible service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses offerors will receive full credit, and offerors qualifying as veteran-owned small businesses will receive partial credit for the Service-

Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Status evaluation factor. To receive credit, an offeror must be registered and verified in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database.

(c) Non-Veteran offerors proposing to use SDVOSBs or VOSBs as subcontractors will receive some consideration under this evaluation factor. Offerors must state in their proposals the names of the SDVOSBs and VOSBs with whom they intend to subcontract and provide a brief description of the proposed subcontracts and the approximate dollar values of the proposed subcontracts. In addition, the proposed subcontractors must be registered and verified in the VIP database.

(d) Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(g), any business concern that is determined by VA to have willfully and intentionally misrepresented a company's SDVOSB/VOSB status is subject to debarment for a period of not less than five years. This includes the debarment of all principals in the business.

Response #9: Clause 852.215-70 communicates full credit is received for being a service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses after being verified in the Vendor Information Pages

(VIP) database. Verification is now through Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert).

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