UPDATED Industry Q and A - 1 through 39.docx

UPDATED Questions and Answers – Numbers 1 through 39

Updates are highlighted in green

1. Section 4a – Regarding hemodynamic monitoring, direct interoperation with a hemodynamic monitoring system (e.g., Philips XPER or GE Healthcare MacLab as examples) is not a critical requirement for effective patient monitoring and HL-7 transmission into the EMR. Requesting this aspect be removed as it is overly restrictive and not clinically relevant Government’s response: Can be changed to preferred communication with Philips Xper

2. Section 8a – Regarding the telemetry transmitters, the requirements for telemetry monitor dimensions as well as resolution of the display are not fully required for effective telemetry monitoring. Different vendors design their solutions in different ways but achieve the very same functionality. Requesting to remove the measurement specifications as well as the hardware requirements as this will ensure fair competition Government’s response: Change to Preferred

3. Section 8b – Regarding the patient monitors themselves, different vendors design their solutions in different ways. Will you please expand/adjust the physical measurement specifications as well as the internal hardware requirements listed in the specification to allow for more fair competition? Such specific dimensions are not clinically relevant and are overly restrictive to 1 vendor Government’s response: Equipment measurements listed in the solicitation are approximations.

4. Section 8c – As indicated from the walkthrough from January 29th, FIPS-140-2 complaint wireless transmission for transport is not currently a part of the workflow at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center. Will you please remove this specification to ensure proper competition?

Government’s response: All wireless communication in the Facility must be FIPS-140-2 compliant.

5. Section 23 – As confirmed from the walkthrough, legacy Nihon Kohden monitors will be returned via trade-in. In order to present the trade-in value, please list the serial numbers for each bedside monitor involved in the project. Thank you!

Government’s response: This response corrects information communicated during the on-site visit. Trade-ins are not applicable to this procurement. All equipment that is uninstalled by the contractor and will no longer be used by the station will be turned over to the Government’s Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

6. Section 11e – Is it feasible to remove ADVO2 as a clinical requirement as it's not currently a part of the workflow at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center?

Government’s response: Yes it can be removed

7. For Emergency Department 1 North, please confirm no Central Station is required here. Currently ED has a central station, and one was requested by the Clinical Staff during the site visit. During the site visit the clinical staff asked for tele boxes. Kindly confirm this please.

Government’s response: Central station needed

8. Per Display Capability Requirements, (a) states 6 to 8 wave forms. During the site visit, the CNO stated all monitors need to be 8 waves. Please confirm and modify the SOW accordingly.

Government’s response: Capability of showing 8 waves

9. During the site visit, the CNO stated there is no need for SpO2 on the portable monitors. Please confirm this and modify accordingly.

Government’s response: Yes, Sp02 is needed on portable monitors not on telemetry transmitters.

10. The SOW requires 5 lead ECG. During the site visit, the CNO stated 6 lead ECG is desired. Please confirm and modify the SOW accordingly.

Government’s response: SOW says 3, 5 or 6. 6 lead is preferable.

11. During Site Visit we saw one central station plus one back-up in some areas. Staff stated only one Central Station is needed in the designated areas. Please confirm only one per area is required.

Government’s response: one per area.

12. We are requesting confirmation whether the wireless telemetry should be on the VA Network or Vendor network.

Government’s response: Telemetry should be on Vendors Network

13. The RFQ is asking for 8 hard wired monitors and 4 portable monitors. All monitors can be seen on one central station. Is this your desired solution?

Government’s response: Yes

14. For 3North please confirm whether you want one Central Station with CMU to have control and a second Central Station as stated in the RFQ Government’s response: Need to maintain two

15. For the Central Station for 6 West, 7 West and 8 West, please confirm the maximum number of patients to be monitored on each floor.

Government’s response: Single occupancy – 15 ; Double occupancy - 26

16. Please provide a list of all equipment for trade-in to include manufacturer, model# and serial # so we can determine the maximum allowable trade-in value. Government’s response: This response corrects information communicated during the on-site visit. Trade-ins are not applicable to this procurement. All equipment that is uninstalled by the contractor and will no longer be used, shall be turned over to station logistics.

17. The RFQ states that End-Tidal CO2 modules are required for all bedside locations. Can you kindly list all the departments needing these modules and the quantities?

Government’s response: 5 modules for 6 north, 5 modules for 3 North

18. For the 2-hour battery back-up monitors, please confirm a 15-inch display meets the requirement.

Government’s response: Approximately 15 inches

19. For Emergency Department 1 North, please confirm no Central Station is required here.

Government’s response: Central Station is required

20. For ICU 3 North, please clarify if you require 1 or 2 monitors per central monitoring station. Other areas require 2 monitors per station, so we want to be clear.

Government’s response: 2 Monitors

21. For Central Telemetry 7 West 49, kindly confirm your meaning of remote monitor v. Slave Monitor.

Government’s response Must have full capabilities just like Central Stations

22. For Specification (a), the tele spec appears to contradict Table 1 #5 - SO1. Can you please clarify/correct?

Government’s response: No SPO 2

23. For Specifications (b), does the VA desire the Monitor CPU hardware to be quoted?

Government’s response: No Hardware needed as long as Physiological and transport module in every room can send data to PICIS

24. Per CO2 Module Requirements, if EtCO2 is desired on all bedside monitors, please confirm if the VA desires capability and full functionality for every bed simultaneously.

Government’s response: 5 module on 6 north 5 module on 3 north, and every bedside have the capability.

25. Per Third Party Monitor Option requirements, Philips can provide an EEG module and a BIS module. Please confirm if the VA desires the Vendor to provide the bedside monitor module rather than an interface for an external third-party monitor. Per Solicitation Page 23, Question 17a, requirements states “ Monitor shall provide interface capability for up to four third party monitoring options such as cerebral oximeters, BIS, EEG, CCO, etc. “ Please confirm if the VA is requiring the monitors to have capability to support interfacing of up to four 3rd party devices and is NOT requiring the vendor to provide the hardware which enables the functionality.

Government’s response: Correct.

26. As an option, Philips can provide interface capability. Please provide the brand, model and quantity of any third-party devices VA wishes to interface. The original question is related to the subject matter of question #25 which is noted above. If VA is requiring the vendor to provide interface functionality, in addition to interface capability, please identify the make, model, and quantity of 3rd party devices for which functionality is desired.

Government’s response: Brand names - PICIS and CPRS.

27. Per Central Station Specifications, as a configuration option, any patient which is monitored on a PIC iX Surveillance Station can be monitored on an Overview Station. Functionality for read only capability or admit/discharge capability with the Overview Station is a configuration choice.

Government’s response: Needs admit discharge capability

28. The FCC requires hospitals to register all devices operating in the WMTS band. Please confirm if VA will handle the FCC registration and costs or does VA prefer the vendor to include registration and costs in their offer. Registration must occur before installation begins.

Government’s response: Vendor registration.

29. Per Warranty and Support, typically, warranty does not include routine patching of operating system PC and Server Hardware. Please confirm VA expectations related to patching. We can include 5 years of patching in an extended warranty.

Government’s response: Va will provide patching. Vendor will need to provide and install all software and firmware updates.

30. During Site Survey – Will the telemetry monitoring room also need a remote station to observe the 3 north ICU patients and 6 north stepdown patients?

Government’s response: Yes, we will need both of those areas monitored in the telemetry suite.

31. During Site Survey – Is there a need for EtCO2 modules or capabilities in ICU and Stepdown?

Government’s response: Yes, every bedside should have the capability and we will need 10 EtCO2 modules. 5 for ICU and 5 for Stepdown.

32. During Site Survey – Currently 3 north (ICU) and 6 north (Stepdown) both have 2 central monitoring stations, 1 is for clinical staff to observe and the second is redundant. Will those two areas still need the redundant 2nd monitor?

Government’s response: No, Only one complete central monitoring station is required at each of these areas.

33. During Site Survey – The Emergency department currently has 10 telemetry transmitters that can be monitored at the central station, will you require 10 in the future.

Government’s response: No, 5 telemetry transmitters for the emergency department is all that is needed.

34. During Site Survey – How many waveforms are needed at the bedsides in 3 north, 6 north and Emergency Department?

Government’s response: 7

35. During Site Survey – How many nurses will need to be trained on the new equipment?

Government’s response: Approximately 200

36. Government’s response to a question proposed during Site Survey – “The vendors had a question yesterday that we were not able to answer. They asked us to give them a count on how many current telemetry antennas we have, that will need to be removed in order to install the new system. There are approximately 150 antennas: approx. 30 on 8west and into the 8west elevator lobby; approx. 30 on 7west and into 7west elevator lobby; approx. 35 on 6west and into 6west elevator lobby and partially into 6 north; approx. 30 on 4east and into the 4east elevator lobby; approx. 20 in the Emergency & Fast Trak area, that will need to be deinstalled. All equipment that is deinstalled will be handed over to station logistics.”

37. Please provide the brand, model and quantity of any third-party devices VA wishes to interface – what device does the Government need to connect to the Monitoring system.

Government’s response: All of the SPO2 modules on the bedside monitor should be compatible with the Nellcor DS-100A disposable sensors.

38. Can the facility confirm that that they have the required fiber between the network closets and into the data center. We don't recall seeing it on the site visit and there is nothing in the SOW. If fiber is needed, can the Government add it to the SOW?

Government’s response: no existing fiber available

39. Please identify how many patients (beds) need to be viewed by the CMU and the total patient number to be viewed at the Central Stations for 6, 7 and 8 West.

Government’s response: Single occupancy – 15 ; Double occupancy - 26