Attachments 36C25720R0099 Amendment 0001.pdf

Continuation Page and attachments:

The following changes are incorporated into 36C25720R0099 Amendment 0001:

1) Page 16 under PWS Section 1 General, add: “*Hourly rates are being requested for locations without an immediate need.”

2) Pages 26, 27, 52, 53: Key Personnel is being replaced with “Registered Nurse and/or Certified Nurse Assistant.”

3) Revised Price/Cost Schedule, see Attachment 3.

4) Page 52, Section 2.3 , remove clause 852.237-75 Key Personnel

5) Page 19, Section 2.1.3, remove: “Provide assignments which reflect optimum use of staff availability.”

6) Page 20, Section 2.1.3, remove: “Supervise other personnel and give feedback on their performance.”

7) Page 16, Section 2.1.3, add: See Attachment 1 Emergency Department Nurse Specifications.

8) Page 29, Section 7, remove: “The Contractor shall bear half of FSS Net Ceiling Rate to train and orient the Contractor employees for a period not to exceed 40 hours.”

9) Page 66-67, FACTOR 1: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY, revised: See Attachment 2

10) Revised VA Hours of Operation, see attached.

11) Questions and Answers: See Attachment 4

12) Solicitation extended from Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 23:59 CT. The Solicitation is now due Monday, September 14, 2020 at 10:00 CT.

Attachment 1

Specifications: Emergency Department Registered Nurse

• Assess the physiological and psychosocial health status of the patient.

• Formulates and implements a nursing plan of care based on health data provided by the patient.

• Plan of care that prescribes nursing actions to achieve patient goals and coordinates and organizes nursing activities.

• Coordinates patient care needs with team members, including other disciplines.

• Administer drugs and solutions as prescribed (competent with drug administrations and titrations per ACLS protocol)

• Physiologically monitors the patient throughout their stay.

• Adheres to universal protocol.

• Performs nursing actions that demonstrates accountability.

• Participates in patient and family teaching.

• Provides Hand-off documentation.

• Skills and documentation in the Critical Care: able to perform assigned task safely and correctly and document care in a timely and accurately manner.

• Collects lab specimens to include Blood Cultures per hospital policy.

• Inserts Foley catheters

• Inserts peripheral IV access adhering to aseptic technique.

• Performs 12 lead EKG

• Demonstrates safe and proper use of equipment to include the bladder scanner, mechanical ventilators, IV infusion pumps; Accu-check, Zoll defibrillator, crash cart and bedside, central monitor and Propac transport monitor.

• Maintains performance measures in the ER to include: EKG, Troponin, Pneumonia Protocol and turn-around time.

• Provide care for medically/surgically unstable patients.

• Additional duties may be assigned. Training will be provided if needed.

Attachment 2

FACTOR 1: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY:

a) Ability to treat patients. Each clinician should be able to demonstrate proficiency using nursing processes in providing care for patients

b) Describe contingency plan for equipment downtime. Clinicians will receive training on down time protocols that will need to be followed

c) Access, plan, implement and evaluate the delivery of client care consistent with accrediting/regulatory bodies, the VA. Clinicians must provide care consistent with VA regulating bodies (i.e The Joint Commission)

d) Identify ethical issues and take appropriate action. Clinicians will have ethical training as part of their orientation; if issues, arise protocol will have been established on steps to take

e) Manage assignments which reflect optimum use of staff availability. Clinicians will utilize available staff as needed based on unit protocols.

Attachment 3

B.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

The guaranteed minimum award for this contract is 41,600 hours. The maximum aggregate amount of orders that can be placed under this contract is 1,040,000 hours. The Government does not guarantee that it will place any orders under this contract in excess of the guaranteed minimum award amount.

ITEM INFORMATION

ITEM

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION OF

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

ESTIMATED

QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

8.00 HR ____________ _____________

Amarillo VA Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

POP END: 09/27/2021

(Hourly Rates are all Inclusive)

1.00 HR ____________ _____________

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

74,880 HR ____________ _____________

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

0004 1.00 HR ____________ _____________

Overtime: Registered Nurses

Central Texas Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Registered Nurses

0009 8.00 HR ____________ _____________

El Paso VA Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Registered Nurses

4,160 HR ____________ _____________

South Texas Veterans Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

0014 1.00 HR ____________ _____________

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

41,600 HR ____________ _____________

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Registered Nurses

Texas Valley Costal Bend Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

0019 8.00 HR ____________ _____________

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Registered Nurses

12,480 HR ____________ _____________

West Texas VA Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

8,320 HR ____________ _____________

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

0024 1.00 HR ____________ _____________

Overtime: Registered Nurses

VA North Texas Health Care System:

IV Certified Nursing Assistants

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Certified Nursing Assistants

52,000 HR ____________ _____________

IV Registered Nurses

POP START: 09/28/2020

Overtime: Registered Nurses

GRAND

TOTAL

NEW TOTAL

Attachment 4

Vendor Questions and Answers Solicitation: 36C25720R0099

- Question: How many CNA and RN candidate resumes should be included in the technical proposal.

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their proposal. Vendors will be required to provide demonstrations of the capability to provide the required CNA and RNs stated in the Performance Work Statement.

- Question: Since there are so many CNAs and RNs required for the services, will the VA change the requirement for submission of resumes to demonstration of the capabilities to provide CNAs and RNs? With the short turnaround time for proposal submission, the requirement to submit credentialed RNs and CNAs somewhat is too tasking/unpractical.

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: How many awards does the VA intend to make?

Answer: The VA intends to make a multiple award contract based off of the quotes received that are found to be the lowest price technically acceptable.

- Question: Will the VA consider changing the pricing format to make it specific to each location? For instance, the 12316 - Registered Nurse IV in Dallas is $45.78, whereas 12316 - Registered Nurse IV in Dallas in Potter is $42.91. This makes a big difference when the evaluation is LPTA.

Answer: The VA will change its pricing format to make it specific to each location.

Please see attached updated pricing schedule.

- Question: Page 18 reads: “ACLS certification (required)” for registered Nurses. Can you confirm is ACLS is needed for all RN specialties (long term care and dialysis)?

Answer: Yes, ACLS is needed for all RN specialties.

- Question: Specific to credentialing, will the VA utilize the guidance outlined in the March 17th, 2020 memorandum titled “Emergent Credentialing and Privileging to Address COVID-19 Needs (VIEWS #02571990)” from the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Organizational Excellence (10E)?

Answer: The process for Expedited Credentialing may be utilized as outlined in VHA Directive 2012-030, Credentialing of Health Care Professionals, dated October 11, 2012.

- Question: Page 29 Does the Vendor need a FSS 621-I schedule to respond?

Answer: The Vendor does not need to have an FSS 621-I schedule to respond.

- Question: Page 29 Can the VA elaborate on the unbillable orientations?

Answer: Orientation is part of the mandatory training that will take place at the facility.

The contractor is allowed to bill by invoice if the clinician is accepted and has begun orientation.

- Question: Page 29 Does this section state there’s 20 hours of unbillable orientation per nurse that the vendor must be responsible for?

Answer: Orientation is part of the mandatory training that will take place at the facility.

The contractor is allowed to bill by invoice if the clinician is accepted and has begun orientation.

- Question: Page 29 Will the VA consider allowing vendors to invoice the VA for orientation?

Answer: The Contractor shall bear all cost to train and orient the Contractor employees for a period not to exceed 40 hours.

- Question: Will the VA confirm the award criteria is LPTA (Lowest Priced technically Acceptable)?

Answer: The award criteria is LPTA (Lowest Price Technically acceptable)

- Question: Will ‘neutral’ ratings be offered or will the vendor need to be deemed

‘passing’ on all evaluation factors?

Answer: Neutral rating will be applicable for past performance.

- Question: Will trade-offs be considered or would the VA consider a best overall value award evaluation criteria be considered by the VA?

Answer: No trade offs will be conducted for evaluation of award.

- Question: Will the VA confirm if Factor 1 – Technical Capability is being evaluated as either acceptable or unacceptable (pass/fail)?

Answer: Factor one will be evaluated as either acceptable or unacceptable.

- Question: Wil the VA confirm if Factor 2 – Past Performance is being evaluated as either acceptable or unacceptable (pass/fail)?

Answer: Past performance may receive a neutral rating.

- Question: Will a neutral rating be offer for past performance?

Answer: Past performance may receive a neutral rating.

- Question: Can a vendor receive a neutral past performance rating and qualify for an award?

Answer: Yes, a vendor can still qualify for the award with a neutral past performance rating.

- Question: Does a vendor need to have 3 CPARS ratings to qualify?

Answer: No, a vendor does not need to have 3 CPARS rating to qualify.

- Question: Will ‘satisfactory’ ratings in CPARS qualify a vendor for an award for past performance purposes?

Answer: Yes, satisfactory rating in CPARS may qualify a vendor for an award for past performance purposes.

- Question: Will the government accept CPARS evaluations in lieu or completed past performance surveys?

Answer: Yes, the government will accept CPARS evaluations in lieu of completed past performance surveys.

- Question: Does a vendor need to submit 3 completed past performance survey to deemed

‘technically acceptable’ for past performance purposes?

Answer: No, a vendor does not need to have 3 completed past performance surveys to be deemed technically acceptable for past performance purposes.

- Question: Will any Center for Veteran Enterprises (CVE) certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) be deemed acceptable for Factor 3 – Socioeconomic Program Participation?

Answer: The technical offer shall identify the offeror’s status as an SDVOSB Registered in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database.

- Question: Is ACLS needed for dialysis and long-term care RNs?

Answer: Yes. ACLS is needed for dialysis and long-term care RNs

- Question: Will the VA remove ACLS as a submission requirement on page 68?

Answer: No, ACLS is required for all RNs as well as BLS.

- Question: Does the VA plan on a single award or multiple awards?

Answer: The VA intends to make a multiple award contract based off of the quotes received that are found to be the lowest price technically acceptable.

- Question: Will proposals be reviewed prior to the closing date of September 12th. 2020

(is this first come first serve)?

Answer: Proposals will not be reviewed prior to the closing date of September 14th.

- Question: Will the VA consider pricing for each labor category for each participating station as the cost of a nurse is different in Dallas than it is in Amarillo?

- Question: Do registered nurses require a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)?

Answer: No. An Associate Degree in Nursing is acceptable as long as the school is accredited.

- Question: Page 66 states that for each contract RN/CNA candidate, the following should be included: Resume including previous exp, 2 years in skilled area and 3 professional references', BLS, ACLS, Agency Comp Checklist. Given the fast turnaround on this procurement, will the Government consider reducing the number of required resumes to a fraction of those required for the Minimum Full Time Equivalent immediate needs list outlined on page 16?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Is the government stating that all RNs and CNAs are to be paid as RN IV and CNA IV based on the wage determination in the solicitation?

Answer: Yes, RNs and CNAs are to be paid as RN IV and CNA IV.

- Question: Is there a particular skills checklist the government is requiring to use?

Answer: No. There is no specific checklist.

- Question: Are shifts 12 hours with an 8 hour swing shift?

Answer: Yes it is.

- Question: Is there an incumbent providing these services currently?

Answer: No, this is a new requirement.

- Question: Will there be an extension on the bid due date?

Answer: Yes, extension to the solicitation closing date will now be September 14, 2020 at 10:00 am CST.

- Question: Is this a pricing bid? If not are you requiring only key personnel packets to be submitted or are you requiring all 95 Nurse packets to be submitted with the proposal?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Would you consider adding CLINS by County to reflect more accurate pricing on the price sheet?

- Question: Will the government please clarify what is meant by equipment downtime?

Answer: Electrical outages/equipment failures/malfunctions.

- Question: Will the government please clarify how many total candidate packets are required for proposal submission?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Will the government please clarify whether Offerors may submit (3) contract examples in the form of (survey, CPARS, etc.) or whether we may only send the Past Performance Survey attachments to clients for their submission to the government?

Answer: Contractor may submit (3) contract examples in the form of (survey, CPARS, etc.) or the attached past performance survey (Attachment D).

- Question: Will the government please clarify the meaning of NPI? (is it a National

Providers’ ID Number?)

Answer: NPI (National Providers’ ID Number)

- Question: How many RN resumes and supporting documents are required with the bid? Will we submit the minimum required at each location?

- Question: Is the contractor required to reimburse the customer for these investigations (why are they listing the cost)?

Answer: Background Investigations will be conducted at the governments expense.

- Question: If our subcontractors are not SDVOSB will this be a low mark for us in this factor?

Answer: This is a total SDVOSB set aside. Consent for subcontracts was not identified by the Contracting Officer in the solicitation.

- Question: What specialties are acceptable under the classification of Acute Care Nurse?

Answer: The subject matter expert will review all resumes submitted for Acute Care, there will need to be indications showing work experience with Medical Surgical unit.

- Question: What are the shift times for 1930-3200? And 1930-2800?

Answer: Please see attached revisions made to the VA hours of operations section on page 27-29.

- Question: Can the nurse be schedule (4) 12 hour shifts per week?

Answer: That will be decided by the Nurse Manager.

- Question: Are two or three professional references required from Supervisor level or mix of Supervisor and Peer clinical references

Answer: Professional references required from supervisor level.

- Question: Referencing Section 2.1.2 Agency Competency Checklist:

Comp Checklist is that a VA form or Company Agency form?

Answer: The checklist that is used by the Company Agency

- Question: Referencing Section General Pg 16: South Texas Veterans Health Care System: 20 RNs (Acute Care-4; Operating Room-1; Cardiac Cath Lab-2; LTC-3 (Kerrville Campus); Dialysis-2; Critical Care-8); 2 CNAs (Kerrville Campus):

Clarify the positions for Kerrville location?

Answer: 3 RNs and 2 CNAs

- Question: Referencing Section 2.3 Clarify Key Personnel?

Answer: VAAR 852.237-75 Key Personnel (OCT 2019) will be removed from the solicitation.

- Question: Can the RN’s and CNA’s be recruited from out of state?

Answer: The contractor may recruit as they wish. Relocation fees/expenses, etc. will not be covered by the government.

- Question: Referencing Pg 16 background: Based on the current and projected future workload, additional staffing will be required over the next 24 months to support seven healthcare systems. based on that this is a two year contract, however we only see CLINS for the base year. Please clarify is it a 1 year contract or is it a 1 year base with the option for a second year?

Answer: This contract will be for a period of 12 months.

- Question: CLIN 0007 is for 100 CNAs but hours are 260,000.00. If these are 100 CNAs at 2080 hrs the total hours should be 208,000.00. Is there a reason there is another 52,000 hours included in this CLIN

Answer: No. The government will review for correction to reflect the required quantity of hours.

- Question: Referencing section 2. Background Investigation.

Is the contractor responsible for fees associated with background checks $231.00?

Answer: Background Investigations will be conducted at the government expense.

- Question: Referencing Section 7. Training and certification.

How many hours are anticipated for training purposes?

Answer: Each facility has different requirements. I would anticipate one week minimum (40 hours), depends on the crisis at hand. Shorter version is possible.

- Question: Referencing section VA Hours of Operation:

Will the HCW work 12/12/12 the first week and 12,12,12,12 on the second week on the 12 hour schedules?

Answer: Shifts will vary.

- Question: Will all locations have HCW's scheduled hours be 12,12,12 first week with the second week including an 8 shift to make the second week hours a total of 44.

Answer: All locations will have different needs (shifts and hours)

- Question: Regarding. Pg. 65, Section E.1:

For a small business to recruit this many candidates/packages in two weeks is overly restrictive. Is it possible to extend the submission due date to allow a minimum of 30 days?

Answer: Extension to the solicitation closing date will now be September 14, 2020 at 10:00 am CST.

- Question: Regarding Pg.65, Section E.1:

Will the government consider updated resumes and Letters of Intent only for proposal submission? Many candidates will be solicited by multiple contractors and won't be willing to provide the information unless they are guaranteed a position.

- Question: Regarding Pg. 66, Section E.2:

Due to the urgency of this requirement, will the government consider making the evaluation criteria best value as opposed to LPTA?

Answer: The award criteria is LPTA (Lowest Priced Technically acceptable)

- Question: Are there any current incumbent vendor(s) on the contract? If so, who are they?

Answer: There is no Incumbent vendor, this is a new requirement.

- Question: What was the annual spend in the past fiscal?

Answer: This is a new requirement.

- Question: Would resumes of staff need to be submitted with the RFQ submission? If so, how many resumes would need to be submitted? Is it possible to provide a grid of the staff instead?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Are any of the nursing staff subject to a Collective bargaining agreement?

Answer: No, they are not.

- Question: Is this RFP intended to be a "PRN-type" Contract? In other words will the ordering agency orderan acute care nurse to cover for three days and that's it ? ...or will the length of assignment be for a normal period of time...i.e. six months?

Answer: The intent is for a normal period, not PRN

- Question: Please confirm ACLS is required for ALL RN Candidates. It is very unusual for Acute care and Long-term care RNs to have ACLS.

Answer: All RNs will need to have BLS and ACLS certification

- Question: Acute Care RN: There is a reference to “providing assignments” to staff, will some FTEs have supervisory responsibilities while others are staff?

- Answer: No. FTEs have supervisory responsibilities this will be removed from the PWS.

- Question: OR RN: There is a reference to supervisory responsibilities, will some FTEs have supervisory responsibilities while others are staff?

Answer: No. FTEs have supervisory responsibilities this will be removed from the PWS

- Question: Cardiac Cath/EP Lab RN: PWS makes reference to both “Charge Nurse” and “Float Nurse”. Also references on-call and call back responsibilities. Is the on-call/call back applicable to the RNs???

Answer: Yes. The government will need to factor in costs for coverage to be included in the contract.

- Question: The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite

Quantity contract. Will the task orders for the FTEs be based on changing workload requirements? Will the nurses work FT hours for the 24 months of the contract at the same location, or are they sent to different hospitals based on staffing needs/task orders?

Answer: All nurses may not be needed for the full term of the contract. Those hired for minimum full time equivalent (FTE) immediate needs will work at the facilities they are selected for to bring the facility back to pre-pandemic operations. Others will be brought on as needed per facility.

- Question: Is ACLS required for ALL the nursing positions including Acute Care, LT Care, and Dialysis? It is mentioned only under CCRN and Cardiac Cath Lab RN “Specification Requirements”

Answer: BOARD CERTIFICATION/ELIGIBILITY

• BLS certification (required)

• ACLS certification (required)

- Question: Please clarify the number of and specialties of the candidates you are requesting in the proposal. Are you expecting to receive all the candidate packages for the minimum needs identified in paragraph one of the PWS?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Please consider extending the due date to the following Friday due to the labor

Day holiday weekend.

- Question: Referencing Page 1 and Page 65, can the Government please confirm the proposal deadline?

- Question: Referencing page 4, paragraph 3, can the Government please confirm the invoicing period? Recommend biweekly or semi-monthly invoicing to align with payroll cycles.

Answer: The period of performance for this requirement is a 12-month period. Invoicing will be done monthly in arrears.

- Question: Referencing Page7- Section 3: Please clarify the work hours for the following:

Amarillo – Work schedule-Acute Care, 1900-2800; 2330-3200 West TX – Work schedule-CNAs will be required to work three 12 hour shifts each week and then work three 12 hour shifts plus an 8 hour shift every other week. This schedule will amount to 44 hours in the work week and the contractor will be required to pay overtime. Will the government add an overtime CLIN to burden the cost?

Answer: Yes, an overtime CLIN will be added. Please see attached price schedule.

- Question: Referencing Page 15, price schedule, the item numbers are do not differentiate the various locations and MTFs covered by this RFP nor the differing shift types. Can the Government clarify how they wish for the Price Schedule to be completed? For example, should sub-clins be added to accommodate services at each location? At each location and for each shift type (day vs evening vs night vs weekend, etc)?

- Question: Referencing Page 15, Price Schedule, while many HCPs may require hotel, car, and travel accommodations, some HCPs will be recruited from the local marketplace and will not require such accommodations. Will the Government consider separating hotel, car, and travel as a NTE exceed CLIN or CLINs?

Answer: The Government will not pay Hourly rates for hotel, Car and Travel, as travel between the facilities within VISN 17 is not expected.

- Question: Referencing page 17, Central Texas requirement of 5 ED RNs, can the Government please provide job description for these HCPs?

Answer: Please see attached.

- Question: Referencing page 17 minimum FTE, Central Texas requirement of 5 ED

RNs, and page 15 price schedule, will the Government be adding a CLIN to the Price Schedule for these RN services?

Answer: No. The ED RNs and the Critical Care RNs will be priced in the same CLIN.

- Question: Referencing page 17, background, the Government cites a 24-month period however the Price Schedule identifies pricing for a 1-year PoP. Can the Government please clarify?

Answer: The period of performance for this requirement is a 12-month period.

- Question: Referencing Page 29-Section 3.3: Time & Attendance-What is the record keeping system used by Patient Care Services. Will the contractor be required to use it and be granted access to use it?

Answer: Time and Attendance system is AcuStaf. The clinician will be required to use it and can provide paper copies of the time worked to the contractor.

- Question: Referencing Page 29-Section 7: Training & Certification-Please clarify: The

Contractor shall bear half of FSS Net Ceiling Rate to train and orient the Contractor employees for a period not to exceed 40 hours.

Answer: Since ACLS and BLS training/certification is required prior before station onboarding, this can be removed.

- Question: Referencing Page 30 – Section 12.2-Background Investigations-Will the RNs and NAs report to the VA to complete fingerprints for the initiation of the background investigation? Will the contractor be required to pay for the cost of the investigation? If so, how will that be billed to the contractor?

Answer: RNs and CNAs are to report to the VA to complete fingerprints for the initiation of the background investigation. Government will pay for all background investigations.

- Question: Referencing PWS 12.2, can the Government clarify, by location and labor category, which level of access is associated to each position?

Answer: -Position Sensitivity (all categories) – The position sensitivity has been designated as Low Risk.

- Question: Referencing PWS 12.2, can the Government clarify how these fees are assess and paid? For example, is the contractor responsible for paying these fees for each HCP we onboard?

- Answer: No. The government will cover the fees (Low Risk) since favorable adjudication has to be granted prior to the accepted clinicians start date.

- Question: Referencing Page 63, wage determination, please confirm that the

Government is conforming all RN positions to occupation code 12316 and all CNA positions to occupation code 12224.

Answer: All RNs and CNAs for this requirement shall be paid in accordance with the Wage Determinations in the county services are being performed as level IV.

- Question: Referencing Page 65 – E.1 – Submission of Quotes: The contractor is required to provide a resume, BLS, ACLS and Competency Check lists for each candidate. Is the offeror required to submit these items for all of the requested positions in the initial task order request?

- Question: Referencing Page 66-Factor 1: Please clarify these statements that require a response from the offeror for the following:

a) Ability to treat patients

b) Describe contingency plan for equipment downtime

c) Access, plan, implement and evaluate the delivery of client care consistent with accrediting/regulatory bodies, the VA

d) Identify ethical issues and take appropriate action

e) Manage assignments which reflect optimum use of staff availability

Answer: Please see attached revised Factor 1: Technical Capability.

- Question: Referencing page 66, can the Government clarify if they will be making a single award or multiple awards as a result of this RFP?

Answer: The government will be making a multiple award as a result of this solicitation.

- Question: Referencing page 66, and due to the unique and complex requirements of performance on the resultant of COVID and some of the difficult to fill locations on this requirement, will the Government please consider a best-value basis for award? We believe a LPTA basis for award presents substantial risk to the Government and their beneficiaries.

Answer: The award criteria is LPTA (Lowest Priced Technically acceptable)

- Question: Referencing page 66, can the Government please confirm page count and format requirements for the technical response? Please also confirm that cover pages/table of contents/resumes/ certifications/checklists will not count towards associated page count.

Answer: Please limit technical response to no more than 10 pages. Cover pages/table of contents/resumes/ certifications/checklists will not count towards associated page count.

- Question: Referencing PWS 1.1.15, the Government will be calculating FTE hours as

2080 hours per year. This does not accommodate for non-productive time like PTO/Holidays/Sick Leave/etc. Will the Government consider an FTE calculation based on productive time (for example: 2080 – 80 holiday – 80 PTO – 56 sick leave= 1856 productive hours per year per FTE)

Answer: NO

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.1.2, are resume including previous experience, BLS certification, ACLS certification, and Agency competency checklist required at time of proposal submission or are the required upon award and on an ongoing basis thereafter based on facility ordering?

Answer: Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.1.2, “a minimum 3 professional references…”, how does the Government wish for us to submit those to satisfy the requirement? For example, does the Government want a list of POC names and contact information? Or is there another method desired?

Answer: Please list POC names and contract information.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.1.2 can the Government clarify the difference between proof of liability insurance and the contractor’s certificate of insurance requirements being requested?

Answer: A copy of the contractor’s liability insurance will need to be submitted if selected for consideration.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.1.2, is liability insurance and contractor certification of insurance required to be submitted with the proposal for any proposed subcontractors, or just the prime contractor at this time?

Answer: Liability insurance and contractor certification of insurance are required to be submitted with the proposal.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.1.3, can the Government clarify the specific department/unit that the Acute Care Registered Nurses will work in?

Answer: Acute Care/Medical Surgical Unit

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.2, non-personal services, because these services are for commercial items commonly procured under personal services contracts, will the Government consider changing this to a personal services requirement?

Answer: This contract will be for non-personal services.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.2, if the Government will not change this to a personal services requirement, will the Government consider adding a CLIN for Program Management?

Answer: This is a Firm Fixed Price contract; therefore the government will not add a CLIN for program management.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.2, if the Government will not change this to a personal services requirement, will the Government provide office space and equipment for an on-site program manager to oversee our employees and the overall requirement and deliverables?

Answer: Government furnished property will not be provided with this contract. Office space and equipment for an on-site program manager will not be provided.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.2, can the Government confirm that they will provide computers, phones, desks, and other equipment required to perform the ordered services?

Answer: The government will provide computers, phones, desk for the RN’s and CNAs to perform services required in the PWS.

- Question: Referencing PWS 2.2, can the Government clarify what equipment and materials the contractor is responsible for providing as part of this requirement?

Answer: The government will provide PPE only (if any additional needs are required, it will be the responsibility of the contractor; i.e. scrubs, stethoscopes)

- Question: Referencing 2.3.6, substitutions, how many HCPs will the Government enable the contractor to credential for every FTE required by the contract?

Answer: Please submit as many substitutions that is needed to ensure continuous coverage of services through the period of performance.

- Question: Referencing 2.3.8, can the Government further define key personnel and clarify this requirement further? Is the Government requesting resumes for all HCPs requested as minimum FTEs on page 16?

- Question: Referencing PWS Section 3, VA hours of operation, many of these hours exceed normal military time (i.e. 2330-3200 for acute care at Amarillo). Can the Government please review this section and reconfirm all potential shift types and hours?

Answer: Please see attached revised VA hours of operations.

- Question: Referencing PWS Section 3, shifts of nearly every type can be ordered – can the Government clarify the frequency of evening, night, and weekend shifts for all locations and labor categories?

Answer: Only those identified shifts per facility will be used.

- Question: Referencing PWS Section 3, is overtime (excess of 40hr/week per employee) required or authorized? Will overtime CLINs be added to the Price Schedule?

Answer: Overtime, will be granted. Please see attached price schedule.

- Question: Referencing PWS Section 3, in consideration of the HCPs required as a minimum order, how frequently will these employees be required to work in excess of 40 hours/week.

Answer: The government cannot anticipate the frequency of employees being required in excess of 40 hours/week; each situation will be different.

- Question: Referencing PWS Section 3, can the Government provide sample schedules for all FTEs, labor categories, and locations as identified in the minimum order on page 16?

- Answer: The hours of availability are listed for each facility. Scheduling will be based off there hours and the daily census.

- Question: Referencing PWS 7, can the Government clarify amount of training hours required by labor category and location?

Answer: Training will be at the minimum of one week (40 hours).

- Question: Referencing PWS 7, can the Government clarify the FSS Net Ceiling Rate identified in this paragraph? Is this referencing the rates on the price schedule?

Answer: This will be an open market procurement, therefore FSS guidelines will not apply to this contract.

- Question: Referencing PWS 8, the Government identifies this as a coverage contract yet the minimum order on page 16 is identified in terms of FTEs. Can the Government please clarify if this is an FTE based contract or an hours-based coverage contract?

Answer: This will be a hours based coverage contract. Estimated hours are based on the number of FTEs needed for the period of performance.

- Question: Referencing 52.212-1 on page 65 and 52.212-2 on page 66, the submission and evaluation criteria are vastly different for the technical response. Can the Government please reconfirm what is applicable for response to this proposal?

Answer:

Please include the below items upon submission of quote.

- Quality Control Plan: Description and reporting reflecting the contractor’s plan for meeting of contract requirements and performance standards

- Proof of Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance

- Contingency plan for replacing key personnel to maintain services as required under the terms of the contract

- Vendors will not be required to submit resumes for each candidate with their proposal. Vendors will be required to provide demonstrations of the capability to provide the required CNA and RNs stated in the Performance Work Statement.

- Question: Referencing 52.212-2, can the Government please define recency and relevancy for the purpose of evaluating past performance references? How will confidence ratings be assigned?

Answer: Recency and relevancy refers to the same or similar service provided and how recent was the services provided.

- Question: Referencing 52.212-2, can the Government please define how the technical response will be evaluated? Are there different ratings that can be achieved based on strengths demonstrated in the proposal and comprehensive value-add plans and processes?

Answer: The Government will evaluate technical responses on an acceptable or unacceptable basis.

- Question: Referencing 52.212-2, can the Government clarify how pricing and HCP compensation will be evaluated? Will HCP compensation be evaluated for reasonableness and will compensation elements that promote retention and ability to fill requirements be rated higher that bare minimum wage determination rates?

Answer: Pricing will be evaluated as Lowest Price Technically Acceptable.

- Question: Is this a single award IDIQ or multiple award IDIQ?

Answer: This will be a multiple award contract.

- Question: Due to the fact that the government is requesting a substantial amount of items for this response, would the government consider extending the due date for offeror’s response?

- Question: Should the Rules of Behavior form (Attachment D.4) be completed by all candidates and the offeror?

- Answer: Only if the candidate’s resume has been accepted to move forward. It will not be required at time of submission of quote.

- Question: How many past performance references are allowed for the prime and subcontractor?

Answer: Please provide as many past performance references to demonstrate performance of same or similar services.

- Question: Is there a page limit for the technical? What font should be used?

- Question: What is the file size capacity for the electronic submission? Can the offeror submit more than one email to submit the offer?

Answer: Yes, the vendor can submit more than one email to accommodate the large file size.

- Question: Page 30: How quickly will the VA office of Security take in returning a favorable adjudication of our staff? Since we will need to process personnel frequently depending on increased staffing requirements, will the Security office be able to accommodate a limited timeline for security clearance?

Answer: The Security office will be able to accommodate the limited timeline for security clearance.

- Question: Will fingerprinting be required at the specific facility for the nurses before

Vetpro can be initiated? Will the facilities be able to expedite the process of fingerprinting to accommodate the ramp up?

Answer: Fingerprinting will be required for the nurses before Vetpro can be initiated.

- Question: Page 66 Will the VA accept ED as CC experience?

Answer: Yes. All Resumes will be reviewed for acceptance by the subject matter expert.

- Question: Page 66 Will the VA accept Cardiology for AC?

Answer: All resumes submitted for Acute Care will be reviewed for acceptance by the subject matter expert.

- Question: Page 66 How does the government want this information to be submitted in the response?

Answer: Email your quote to matthew.clements2@va.gov. The subject line must specify 36C25720R0099– VISN 17 Registered Nursing Staffing Services Contract

- Question: Page 66 Is there a page limit for this section and are there specifics for how you would like this information included (separate document, appendix, ect.)?

- Question: Page 65 Does the government have any format specifications they want adhered to? (page limit, font, margins, etc.)

- Question: Page 66 Is this opportunity a single or multiple award? The language indicates a single but want to clarify Is the government aware that payrates for nursing personnel have risen in accordance with the pandemic and that LPTA may be an issue with recruiting sufficient staff? Understanding this, would the Government consider comparable market rates vs LPTA?

Answer: This will be a multiple award contract. Award will be based on the lowest price technically acceptable.

- Question: Page 18 Clarification – do licenses and certifications for the personnel need to be state-specific to Texas?

Answer: No they do not.

- Question: Page 27 Does the Government expect the CV of each key personnel and what facility they will be assigned to?

- Question: Page 27 Can the government define who is considered to be “Key Personnel” in reference to proposal resume submission?

- Question: Page 29 When there is a cancellation/closure by the VAMC, will the contractor be able to bill for the services as we will need to pay our nursing staff? How much time/ notification will the VAMC provide the contractor?

Answer: This is a Firm Fixed Price contract, the contractor can only bill for hours of service that was actually performed. The vendor will know immediately upon notice of any cancellations/closure by the VAMC.

- Question: Page 31 Is the Government charging the contractor for the background investigation fees for the position sensitivity of low risk at $231.00 per investigation?

Answer: Background Investigations will be conducted at the government expense.

- Question: Page 68 Please clarify that the Performance history and experience is in relation to successful performance of nursing services rather than the states Emergency Physician services.

Answer: Performance history and experience is in relation to successful performance of nursing services only.

- Question: Page 65 Is the government willing to provide an extension on the due date as the requirements for submittal are very detailed and key personnel is required?

Answer: Yes, extension to the solicitation closing date will now be September 14, 2020 at 10:00 am CST.

- Question: Page 65 Are the required attachments for Key Personnel for staffing immediate needs only? Or for all 500 aggregate positions estimated? Should candidate supporting information be provided in a separate document attachment. May we submit via DOD SAFE as the file size may be too large with 100+ key personnel?

- Question: Page 65 Please advise where to find these attachments B.2 Schedule of

Services and B.3, 2. Qualifications. Where can we find the Agency Competency Checklist, and how should we record the information from each candidate being submitted?

Answer: B.2 schedule is located on Page 15, B3.2 qualifications is located on page 18.

Each agency should have a checklist to show staff training, licensures are up to date, certifications are current, etc (i.e. Basis Life Support) prior to sending them out in the field.

- Question: Page 15 Is it expected that the government will require pricing or travel and lodging to be under joint travel regulations?

Answer: The Government will not pay Hourly rates for hotel, Car and Travel, as travel between the facilities within VISN 17 is not expected.

- Question: Page 16 Does VA anticipate making this a one-year award with a one-year option?

Answer: The government anticipate making this a 12 month contract with no option years.

- Question: No services shall be provided by any contract registered nurse prior to obtaining credentialing approval. Page 24 Will the VA allow exception?

Answer: No exception

- Question: Any chance the government would consider issuing multiple IDIQs?

Answer: This requirement will be a multiple award contract.

- Question: Page 52 Is adherence to limitations on subcontracting evaluated at contract level or task order level?

Answer: This is a total SDVOSB set aside. Consent for subcontracts was not identified by the Contracting Officer in the solicitation.

- Question: Page 67 How many RN candidates and how many CNA candidates is VA hoping to receive?

Answer: Please reference the Performance Work Statement, page 16 of the solicitation.

- Question: Page: 24 Is the functional statement to be submitted with the proposal?

Answer: This will be provided by the government as part of clinician’s orientation/training (documenting the physical requirements for the job).

- Question: Page 68 Would the government consider extending the timeframe for past contracts to 3 years rather than 2 years? In our experience within 3 years is standard and would provide the contractor more opportunity to showcase experience.

Answer: The contractor is required to provide at least 2 years of experience.

- Question: Page 27 With this being a year contract, staff will take time off for vacations, etc. Will replacements be required for planned leave of five days or less?

Answer: No. The leave will need to be scheduled in advance with the COR.

ITEM INFORMATION