S06 Final Amendment 36C25624Q0502 0002 Answer Final Solicitation Questions.pdf

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation SUBJECT* Medical Waste Collection and Disposal Services (including sharp containers), Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, 400 Veterans Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39531

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 39531

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25624Q0502

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 03-15-2024 1300 EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK,

USA

ARCHIVE 99 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE SDVOSB

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* S205

NAICS CODE* 562112

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Network Contracting Office 16 400 Veterans Avenue BLDG 5, Rm 1A102 Biloxi MS 39531

POINT OF CONTACT*

Cory Laborde/ Contract Specialist Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 16 Alexandria VA Health Care System 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System VARIOUS LOCATIONS / See Performance Work

Statement 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi MS

POSTAL CODE 39531

COUNTRY USA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL https://www.va.gov/

URL DESCRIPTION VA

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS cory.laborde@va.gov EMAIL DESCRIPTION CS e-mail address

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this amendment is the following:

1). Provide responses to (final) contractor questions about this solicitation.

2). Confirm that the acceptance period for contractor questions about this solicitation has ended.

All other terms and conditions of this solicitation remain the same unless changed/ updated through/with subsequent amendments to this solicitation.

FINAL Contractor Questions and Responses Solicitation 36C25624Q0502

Medical Waste Collection and Disposal Services (including sharp containers)

Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Various Locations

PWS

Ref

Contractor Question Government Response

Pg 21 of 74, Description and Scope of Services

Per the PWS, “Reusable sharps containers shall be exchanged by an employee of the primary contracting company…”. Please confirm if contractor is to exchange reusable sharps (containers) See note 1 at their point of use?

Note 1 It is assumed by the government that reusable sharps refers to reusable sharps containers. The furnishing of new sharp items (such as needles, syringes, and lancets) is not part of this acquisition.

The contractor (i.e. primary contracting company) is responsible for picking up (used, ready for proper disposal) sharp containers. With respect to the furnishing of replacement sharp containers, Section 3, page 21 of the Performance Work Statement states the following “The Contractor shall provide a supply of clean/sterilized reusable sharps containers to be kept on site to be used in the event that a container does become full prior to the contactor’s scheduled exchange visit and an Environmental Management Service (EMS) staff member will then replace full container with a new empty one. Exact storage location to be determined by EMS.” As “scheduled exchange visit’ is mentioned in the PWS, the contractor must be prepared to furnish “ready for use”, empty sharp containers to replace sharp containers that are full of waste that needs to be disposed of taking into the account the containers that are already being stored on site at the facility.

Pg 21 of 74, Description and Scope of Services

If contractor is to perform ‘technician’ services, please clarify at which locations contractor would exchange reusable sharps (containers) See note 1 at their point of use.

Note 1 It is assumed by the government that reusable sharps refers to reusable sharps containers. The furnishing of new sharp items (such as needles, syringes, and lancets) is not part of this acquisition.

Services required by technicians and other staff who will be supporting this contract apply to all locations. The exchange of reusable sharps containers are required at all locations. Section 3, page 21 of the PWS states the following:

“The unit exchange frequency may vary from area to area. The exchange frequency will be based on patient care volume in or at each location. The estimated frequency is at least weekly”.

It is noted that the Biloxi site will require the full attention of the contractor.

Facility personnel provide most of the support needed for the smaller, satellite locations. For example: If a new bracket is to be installed at the Mobile location the contractor would provide the bracket and then local facility personnel on site would complete the installation.

Biloxi, the largest location, is different and requires full service and full support from the contractor (because facility engineers are not able to provide assistance).

Pg 21 of 74, Description and Scope of Services

If contractor is to perform ‘technician’ services, please clarify the scope of the technician’s duties.

The full scope of duties required for technicians and other staff who will be supporting this contract are described in the Performance Work Statement

(PWS).

Pg 21 of 74, Description and Scope of Services

Under the current contract, does the contractor provide a technician(s) to exchange reusable sharps at their point of use?

The government cannot provide information about the composition of staff currently used by the incumbent contractor for the current contract.

Pg 21 of 74, Description and Scope of Services

If the current contractor does provide a technician(s), based on the current number of locations serviced and the change out frequency how many technicians are required?

The government cannot provide information about the composition of staff currently being used by the incumbent contractor for the current contract. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) and solicitation does not require a minimum staffing level, nor does it specify a specific composition of staff that is required for this acquisition. It is the responsibility of the contractor to determine an adequate staffing level to ensure successful execution of services during the active performance periods of the contract.

S05 Final Contractor Questions and Responses Solicitation 36C25624Q0502