AMD 001-Questions and Responses 36C25626Q1337.pdf

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER3. 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 CODECODE

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)

1 5

0001 09-22-2026 520-27-2-123-0004 None

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 16 5075 Westheimer Road, Suite 750

Houston TX 77056-5643

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 16 5075 Westheimer Road, Suite 750

Houston TX 77056-5643

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25626Q1337

X

X X

** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to: 09-25-2026 10:00 CDT x 1

RE#1: Extend notice date RE#2: Question and Responses

Notice date is now extended to 09-25-2026, 10:00 am (cst) Questions and Responses is now posted for notice 36C25626Q1337.

Anthony Marion Contracting Officer

VA-VHA-2021-8BF5EFDA

Questions and Responses 36C25626Q1337

VA HPC Waterline Testing (Biloxi, Pensacola, Panama City Beach)

Question 1. Acceptable Methods: Is 9215C an acceptable variant under this requirement, so that qualified offerors accredited to 9215C are not inadvertently excluded.

Response: Yes, 9215C is an acceptable and highly regarded variant under the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.

Question 2. Certification by Place of Performance: contractor holds current Florida DEP/DOH NELAP accreditation (ID E871141) covering contractor can the Government confirm that FL DOH/NELAP and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation are acceptable across all three sites. Should Mississippi-specific (MSDH) certification be required for the Biloxi facility, be required for the Biloxi facility, contractor can obtain it;

however, state certification carries an application and review lead time that contractor recommends the Government account for in the solicitation schedule and performance start date.

Response: Florida DOH/NELAP and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation are acceptable for VA facility trend monitoring across all three sites. If results are submitted to Mississippi regulators, the contractor must hold MSDH certification or MSDH-recognized reciprocity for the Biloxi site.

Question 3. Sample Transit, Hold Times, and Reporting Turnaround: Can the government confirm whether the hold-time clock runs from collection or from laboratory receipt, and notes that expedited Next Day Early logistics carry an additional cost the Government should anticipate in its pricing expectations.

Response: The hold-time runs from collection. For SWTR compliance, HPC must initiate ≤8 hours post-collection; for routine HPC, initiation ≤24 hours is typical. Chain-of-custody and preservation must follow SM 9020/9060. Contractor should anticipate expedited logistics when necessary.

Question 4. Can the government identify expected routine sample counts per site and per event so offerors can price surge capacity accurately.

Response: Per quarter estimated totals: Biloxi estimated 35 samples; Pensacola estimated 46; Panama City Beach estimated 20. Conduct all sampling within the same month of each quarter.

Annual estimated totals: Biloxi 140 (35×4), Pensacola 184 (46×4), Panama City Beach 80 (20×4).

Question 5. Being based in Mississippi with Mississippi certification, would we be required to provide services to the FL locations?

Response: Yes. Services are required at all three locations. If results are for Florida regulatory submission, Florida DOH/NELAP or recognized NELAP AB credentials must be held; if for VA internal trending, NELAP/ISO 17025 is sufficient.

Question 6. Is the contractor responsible for all sample collection? If not, is the contractor responsible for providing carrier services between the facilities?

Response: VA staff will collect samples. The contractor is responsible for receipt/custody, chain-of-custody, and preservation for test completion per SM 9020/9060. If contractor personnel enter VA facilities (e.g., pickup), PIV badging and VA security/privacy controls apply FAR 52.204-9; VAAR 852.204-71.

Question 7. Approximate samples per week/month?

Response: Number of samples are by quarterly testing “MS location would have estimated 35 sample counts, Pensacola Fl would have estimated 46 sample counts, and Panama City Fl would have estimated 20 sample counts per the 3 events per quarter for testing” all completed in the same month in the quarter.

Question 8. Can the Government provide the anticipated sampling frequency and estimated number of HPC samples per sampling event for each location — Biloxi, MS; Pensacola, FL; and Panama City Beach, FL — along with the anticipated annual sample volume?

Response: MS location would have estimated 35 sample counts, Pensacola Fl would have estimated 46 sample counts, and Panama City Fl would have estimated 20 sample counts per the 3 events per quarter for testing” all completed in the same month in the quarter annual totals will be MS- estimated 140 samples, Pensacola Fl – estimated 184 samples, Panama City would be estimated 80 samples per year.

Question 9. May a small business prime satisfy the requirement that the contractor hold current state certification through one or more accredited first tier laboratory partners if the prime remains fully responsible and provides each partner's current certificate and scope?

Response: If Solicitation is set aside for small business, Yes the Government may consider the past performance and qualifications of subcontractors performing major or critical aspects; primes remain responsible for contract performance. Each partner’s current certificates and scopes will need to be submitted with technical quote. Also ensure compliance with set‑aside and limitations on subcontracting under FAR Subpart 19.5.

Question 10. May separate accredited laboratories cover Mississippi and Florida, or must one laboratory hold both state scopes?

Response: Permissible. contractor may designate separate accredited laboratories for Mississippi and Florida, provided the prime ensures unified QA/QC, custody, and reporting. NELAP reciprocity supports acceptance across states; Mississippi explicitly allows reciprocal certification for out‑of‑state labs.

Question 11. Does the minimum of five credentialed key personnel apply to the combined prime and laboratory team? What credentials are required?

Response: Unless otherwise specified in the PWS, the minimum of five credentialed key personnel may be satisfied by the combined prime lab team (e.g., Program Manager, QA Manager, Laboratory Technical Director, Senior Microbiologist, Logistics Lead). Credentials should reflect ISO/IEC 17025 competence requirements and method authorizations (SM 9215 signatory authority).

Question 12. What are the exact facilities, addresses, buildings, access windows, sampling point counts, routine frequencies, estimated annual samples, and expected peak daily surge volume?

Response: Addresses: Biloxi 400 Veterans Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39531‑2410; Pensacola 790 Veterans Way, Pensacola, FL 32507‑1000; Panama City Beach 2600 Veterans Way, Panama City Beach, FL 32408‑7186. Building/room numbers and access windows will be coordinated post‑award in accordance with facility security.

Question 13. Which Standard Methods 9215 variant, medium, incubation temperature, and duration should preserve the existing trend baseline?

Response: Samples incubate at 35’C degrees Celsius, with 48 +/- hours.

Question 14. What holding time applies by site and method, and does the 48 hour reporting clock begin at collection or laboratory receipt?

Response: Hold time begins at collection. For SWTR samples, initiate analysis/incubation ≤8h; for routine HPC, initiate ≤24h. The ‘48 h’ clock refers to incubation time (method-specific). Offerors must propose logistics that meet these clocks

Question 15. Will reports contain personally identifiable information or protected health information, and what Veterans Affairs security, badging, training, encryption, or portal controls will apply?

Response: Reports are at facility level and contain no PII/PHI. If PII/PHI handling or VA system access occurs, comply with VAAR 852.204‑71, VA 6500 series (including 6500.6), FAR 52.204‑9, and VHA Directive 1605.01.

Question 16. What anticipated base period, options, start date, and price structure should respondents use for nonbinding planning rates?

Response: Anticipated 12‑month base with four 12‑month options; firm‑fixed unit prices per sample/event and surge/expedite CLINs. The Government will evaluate offers by adding the total price for all options to the base price (per FAR 52.212‑2(b)). Estimated target award: Nov 1, 2026.

Question 17. Is an open market total small business set aside under consideration if a small prime presents qualified accredited small laboratory partners?

Response: If there is a reasonable expectation of two or more capable small offerors (rule of two), the acquisition will be set aside for small business.

Question 18. May contractor identify and rely on the authorized healthcare water microbiology experience of its first tier laboratory partners while clearly distinguishing that experience from contractor corporate past performance?

Response: Yes. The Government may evaluate first-tier laboratory partners’ relevant experience/past performance for major/critical aspects, with roles clearly distinguished from the prime.

Question 19. Do certificates and scope pages count toward the 10 page capability statement limit, or may respondents attach them outside that limit?

Response: Required accreditation certificates and scopes are excluded from the 10‑page limit and may be submitted as attachments.

See attached document: Questions and Responses.