S02 36C25726Q0071.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

*= Required Field Sources Sought Notice

SUBJECT* Real Time Location (RTLS) Environmental Monitoring

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 78240

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25726Q0071

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 11-06-2025 1:00pm CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

ARCHIVE 15 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* F999

NAICS CODE* 811210

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department Of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 17

5441 Babcock Road Ste. 302 San Antonio TX 78240

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Melanie Williams melanie.williams5@va.gov 210-694-6378

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Multiple Locations Listed Within the Statement of Work

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL www.va.gov URL DESCRIPTION Department of Veterans Affairs Homepage

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

STATEMENT OF WORK

Background Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (TVCBHCS) is responsible for providing health care to Veterans in the Coastal Bend area. The eight (8) Outpatient Clinics within TVCBHCS are comprised of primary, specialty, and surgical services that work together to provide efficient, accessible health care to Veterans in their areas.

Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (TVCBHCS) is looking to procure a new automated continuous environmental (temperature, humidity, and differential pressure) monitoring system to comply with VHA Directives: 1108.07 (2), 1116, and 1761 at all sites.

TVCBHCS is seeking to implement a Real Time Location System (RTLS) Environmental Monitoring Solution for temperature, humidity, and differential pressure monitoring of various items including – blood products, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, food, sterile supplies, and more that needs compliance monitoring. The outfitting services are to be performed in accordance with this Statement of Work (SOW) and to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards, with the intent of ensuring the equipment operates as the original manufacturer intended, in a cost-effective, efficient manner, contributing to the VA Mission. The support services requested are necessary to make sure the application and hardware are maintained fully functional since this is a critical 24/7 system.

Objective This document highlights the requirements, technical specifications, and services being requested by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers listed below for consideration towards purchase of maintenance and support services.

• VA Health Care Center [HCC] (2601 Veterans Dr., Harlingen TX, 78550)

• VA Harlingen Outpatient Clinic (2106 Treasure Hills Blvd, Harlingen, TX, 78550)

• McAllen Outpatient Clinic (901 E Hackberry Ave, McAllen, TX, 78501)

• Brownsville Outpatient Clinic (5700 North Expy 77/83 Brownsville, TX, 78526)

• Corpus Christi VA Clinic (5283 Old Brownsville Rd, Corpus Christi, TX, 78405)

• Corpus Christi Specialty Clinic (205 S Enterprize Pkwy, Corpus Christi, TX, 78405)

• Corpus Christi West Point VA Clinic (925 S Padre Island Dr Frontage Rd, Corpus Christi, TX, 78416)

• Laredo VA Clinic (4602 N Barlett Ave, Laredo, TX, 78041)

Performance Details

3.1 Performance Period

Base Year: 1/18/2026 – 1/17/2027

Option Year 1: 1/18/2027 – 1/17/2028

Option Year 2: 1/18/2028 – 1/17/2029

Option Year 3: 1/18/2029 – 1/17/2030

Option Year 4: 1/18/2030 – 1/17/2031

Any work at the Government site shall not take place on Federal holidays or weekends unless directed by the Contracting Officer (CO).

There are eleven (11) Federal holidays set by law (USC Title 5 Section 6103) that VA follows:

Under current definitions, five are set by date:

New Year's Day January 1 Juneteenth National Independence Day June 19 Independence Day July 4 Veterans Day November 11 Christmas Day December 25

If any of the above falls on a Saturday, then Friday shall be observed as a holiday. Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday shall be observed as a holiday.

The other six are set by a day of the week and month:

Martin Luther King's Birthday Third Monday in January Washington's Birthday Third Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Labor Day First Monday in September Columbus Day Second Monday in October Thanksgiving Fourth Thursday in November

3.2 Place of Performance

The scope of this requirement includes RTLS components located at the main Harlingen Care Center (HCC) listed in section 2.0 as well as their associated Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOCs). Efforts under this requirement will be performed both on site at the VAMC facilities and remotely.

3.3 Travel

The Government anticipates travel under this effort to perform the tasks associated with the effort, as well as to attend program-related meetings or conferences throughout the Period of Performance. Include all estimated travel costs in your firm-fixed price line items. These costs will not be directly reimbursed by the Government.

The total estimated number of trips in support of the tasks associated for this effort is four for each of the locations. Anticipated locations and durations include the following:

Trip Name Trip Location Duration of Trip

NIST Recertification Harlingen / McAllen / Brownsville

3 Days

NIST Recertification Corpus Christi 3 Days NIST Recertification Laredo 1 Days

Scope of Work The Contractor shall provide software and hardware support and maintenance services for the Environmental Monitoring RTLS system.

The coverage includes:

Initial Assessment:

• On-site survey.

• Documentation of current environmentally controlled assets.

• Future state environmental management plan to include new system.

• Solution design documents.

• Asset deployment.

Software Maintenance:

• Annual Software License and version updates, patches and bug fixes

• Infrastructure to support EM backhaul: base stations, repeaters, etc.

• EM Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Differential Air Pressure

• Asset Tracking Tags

Hardware Maintenance:

• Extended Hardware Warranty: Infrastructure and Sensors

Support Services - Software and Hardware

• Replace all existing environmental monitoring devices with the new platform. All existing devices will be turned into the VA as their property. All the new monitoring devices will remain the property of the VA at the end of the service contract.

• Pulse remote monitoring for EM system health and performance

• Updating base station for Sensor and Repeater additions or modifications

• Level 1, 2 and 3 support for onsite resources (VA or partner), e.g. Troubleshooting, performance enhancement, backhaul infrastructure adjustments/recommendations, etc.

• Warnings, Bulletins, Alerts

• Technical Tips and FAQs

• Knowledge Center Access

• Engineering Assistance (via phone)

The Contractor shall work to resolve issues identified by the COR or a VA End-User from one of the enters. Local staff from end-users will perform initial review of all issues and if unable to resolve, contact the contractor who shall work with equipment manufacturer to resolve the issue. The source of these issues may be Tier level 1, 2, or 3 trouble tickets and will follow, at a minimum, the below response times. The Contractor shall provide addition response plan information as needed if it deviates from the below.

Severity Level Description Response Resolution

Critical: (Level 1) Business is substantially disrupted

A Critical incident is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• Complete loss of functionality/system

• Functionality severely degraded

• Loss of those features or functionality that may compromise: i) medical decisions, (ii) delivery of patient care, (iii) disclosure of confidential information

• Acknowledgement within 60 minutes upon receipt/notification of a Critical Incident

• Immediate action is taken to resolve reported incident

• Communication plan is put in place to keep Customer informed at regular, pre-determined intervals, starting with hourly and bi-hourly communication

Medium: (Level 2) Some business disruption, but able to function

There is disruption to or a partial loss of the system, but the system is usable, and the incident does not meet the above Critical criteria.

• Acknowledgement within 120 minutes upon receipt/notification of Critical Incident

• A plan of action is put in place that defines the response time

• Communication plan is put in place to keep Customer informed at regular, pre-determined intervals, starting with daily and weekly communication

Low: (Level 3) Inquiry or long-term request

Customer is experiencing issues that require technical advice or recommendation for the best solution and/or have slight impact on the operational environment

• Acknowledgement within 24 business hours upon notification

• Appropriate resources are assigned within 48 hours

In addition, the contractor shall provide NIST recalibration hardware and services for the temperature, humidity, and differential pressure sensors and probes across TVCBHCS. This is to be done for every sensor/probe as they come due every year as indicated in VA Directives.

VA will require the NIST recalibration kits and onsite services to recalibrate or swap sensors as applicable and then certificates of calibration provided to the VA electronically via email as well as uploaded to software within a week after completion of onsite work. The Contractor shall provide a plan for NIST Recalibration services to be received and shall make sure that any onsite work is completed by VA PIV Badged individuals.

4.1 Order Type

This effort shall be awarded as a base + four service contract.

Remote Access Requirements The vendor shall have remote access (VPN) to the TVCBHCS Facilities listed in section 2.0.

Remote access can be accomplished through Citrix Access Gateway (CAG), Site-to-Site Virtual Private Network (VPN), and RESCUE VPN, the vendor is responsible for managing all CAG accounts including but not limited to:

• Providing an updated list of all contractor employees who have accessed to through CAG every 12 months.

• Pay for the cost of background clearance for new contractor employee

• Ensure all contract employees have up to date TMS training as required.

Based on the Government assessment of remote access solutions and the requirements of this order, the Government estimates that no GFE will be required. Currently all possible contract employees for this work are sponsored through other RTLS contracts with the CORs having this understanding of the work.

General Requirements

6.1 Enterprise and IT Framework

6.1.1 One-VA Technical Reference Model

The Contractor shall support the VA enterprise management framework. In aPIVciation with the framework, the Contractor shall comply with OI&T Technical

Reference Model (One-VA TRM). One-VA TRM is one component within the overall Enterprise Architecture (EA) that establishes a common vocabulary and structure for describing the information technology used to develop, operate, and maintain enterprise applications. One-VA TRM includes the Standards Profile and Product List that collectively serves as a VA technology roadmap. Architecture, Strategy, and Design (ASD) has overall responsibility for the One-VA TRM.

6.1.2 Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) The Contractor shall ensure Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) product(s), software configuration and customization, and/or new software are Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card-enabled by accepting HSPD-12 PIV credentials using VA Enterprise Technical Architecture (ETA), http://www.ea.oit.va.gov/VA_EA/VAEA_TechnicalArchitecture.asp, and VA Identity and Access Management (IAM) approved enterprise design and integration patterns, http://www.techstrategies.oit.va.gov/enterprise_dp.asp. The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems comply with the VA Identity, Credential, and Access Management policies and guidelines set forth in the VA Handbook 6510 and align with the Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management Roadmap and Implementation Guidance v2.0.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems provide user authentication services compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-63-3, VA Handbook 6500 Appendix F, “VA System Security Controls”, and VA IAM enterprise requirements for direct, assertion based authentication, and/or trust based authentication, as determined by the design and integration patterns. Direct authentication at a minimum must include Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) based authentication supportive of PIV card and/or Common Access Card (CAC), as determined by the business need.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems conform to the specific Identity and Access Management PIV requirements set forth in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda M-04-04, M-05-24, M-11- 11, and NIST Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-2. OMB Memoranda M-04-04, M-05-24, and M-11-11 can be found at:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda /fy04/m04-04.pdf, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda /fy2005/m05-24.pdf, and https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2011/m11- 11.pdf respectively. Contractor delivered applications and systems shall be on the FIPS 201-2 Approved Product List (APL). If the Contractor delivered application and system is not on the APL, the Contractor shall be responsible for taking the application and system through the FIPS 201 Evaluation Program.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems support:

1. Automated provisioning and are able to use enterprise provisioning service.

2. Interfacing with VA’s Master Veteran Index (MVI) to provision identity attributes, if the solution relies on VA user identities. MVI is the authoritative source for VA user identity data.

3. The VA defined unique identity (Secure Identifier [SEC ID] / Integrated Control Number [ICN]).

http://www.ea.oit.va.gov/VA_EA/VAEA_TechnicalArchitecture.asp http://www.techstrategies.oit.va.gov/enterprise_dp.asp https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy04/m04-04.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy04/m04-04.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-24.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-24.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2011/m11-11.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2011/m11-11.pdf

4. Multiple authenticators for a given identity and authenticators at every Authenticator Assurance Level (AAL) appropriate for the solution.

5. Identity proofing for each Identity Assurance Level (IAL) appropriate for the solution.

6. Federation for each Federation Assurance Level (FAL) appropriate for the solution, if applicable.

7. Two-factor authentication (2FA) through an applicable design pattern as outlined in VA Enterprise Design Patterns.

8. A Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) implementation if the solution relies on assertion based authentication. Additional assertion implementations, besides the required SAML assertion, may be provided as long as they are compliant with NIST SP 800-63-3 guidelines.

9. Authentication/account binding based on trusted Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) headers if the solution relies on Trust based authentication.

10. Role Based Access Control.

11. Auditing and reporting capabilities.

12. Compliance with VAIQ# 7712300 Mandate to meet PIV requirements for new and existing systems.

https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4846

The required Assurance Levels for this specific effort are Identity Assurance Level 3, Authenticator Assurance Level 3, and Federation Assurance Level 3.

6.1.3 Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPV6)

The Contractor solution shall support the latest Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) based upon the directives issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on August 2, 2005 (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memorand a/fy2005/m05-22.pdf) and September 28, 2010 (https://cio.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/09/Transition-to-IPv6.pdf). IPv6 technology, in accordance with the USGv6 Profile, NIST Special Publication (SP) 500-267 (https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/usgv6-technical-basis-next-generation-internet), the Technical Infrastructure for USGv6 Adoption (http://www-x.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/index.html), and the NIST SP 800 series applicable compliance (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsSPs.html) shall be included in all IT infrastructures, application designs, application development, operational systems and sub-systems, and their integration. In addition to the above requirements, all devices shall support native IPv6 and/or dual stack (IPv6 / IPv4) connectivity without additional memory or other resources being provided by the Government, so that they can function in a mixed environment. All public/external facing servers and services (e.g. web, email, DNS, ISP services, etc.) shall support native IPv6 and/or dual stack (IPv6/ IPv4) users and all internal infrastructure and applications shall communicate using native IPv6 and/or dual stack (IPv6/ IPv4) operations. Guidance and support of improved methodologies which ensure interoperability with legacy protocol and services in dual stack solutions, in addition to OMB/VA memoranda, can be found at:

https://www.voa.va.gov/documentlistpublic.aspx?NodeID=282.

6.1.4 Trusted Internet Connection (TIC)

The Contractor solution shall meet the requirements outlined in Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M08-05 mandating Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memorand a/fy2008/m08-05.pdf), M08-23 mandating Domain Name System Security (NSSEC) https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4846 https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-22.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-22.pdf https://cio.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/09/Transition-to-IPv6.pdf https://cio.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/09/Transition-to-IPv6.pdf https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/usgv6-technical-basis-next-generation-internet https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/usgv6-technical-basis-next-generation-internet http://www-x.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/index.html http://www-x.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/index.html http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsSPs.html https://www.voa.va.gov/documentlistpublic.aspx?NodeID=282 https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2008/m08-05.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2008/m08-05.pdf

(https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memorand a/fy2008/m08-23.pdf), and shall comply with the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) Reference Architecture Document, Version 2.0 https://s3.amazonaws.com/sitesusa/wp-content/uploads/sites/482/2015/04/TIC_Ref_Arch_v2-0_2013.pdf.

6.1.5 Standard Computer Configuration

The Contractor IT end user solution that is developed for use on standard VA computers shall be compatible with and be supported on the standard VA operating system, currently Windows 10 (64bit) and Microsoft EDGE. The Contractor shall also ensure and certify that their solution functions as expected when used from a standard VA computer, with non-admin, standard user rights that have been configured using the United States Government Configuration Baseline (USGCB) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Secure Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) specific to the particular client operating system being used.

6.2 Security and Privacy Requirements

6.2.1 Position/Task Risk Designation Level(s)

In accordance with VA Handbook 0710, Personnel Security and Suitability Program, the position sensitivity, and the level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access for the following tasks within the PWS are:

Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation Requirements by Task Task Number

Tier1 / Low Risk

Tier 2 / Moderate Risk

Tier 4 / High Risk

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5

The Tasks identified above, and the resulting Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation requirements identify, in effect, the Background Investigation requirements for Contractor individuals, based upon the tasks the Contractor individual will be working. The submitted Contractor Staff Roster must indicate the required Background Investigation Level for each Contractor individual based upon the tasks the Contractor individual will be working, in accordance with their submitted proposal.

6.2.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements

Contractor Responsibilities:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2008/m08-23.pdf https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/memoranda/fy2008/m08-23.pdf https://s3.amazonaws.com/sitesusa/wp-content/uploads/sites/482/2015/04/TIC_Ref_Arch_v2-0_2013.pdf https://s3.amazonaws.com/sitesusa/wp-content/uploads/sites/482/2015/04/TIC_Ref_Arch_v2-0_2013.pdf

a. The Contractor shall prescreen all personnel requiring access to the computer systems to ensure they maintain the appropriate Background Investigation, and are able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

b. Within 3 business days after award, the Contractor shall provide a roster of Contractor and Subcontractor employees to the COR to begin their background investigations. The Contractor Staff Roster shall contain the Contractor’s Full Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, individual background investigation level requirement.

The Contractor shall submit full Social Security Numbers either within the Contractor Staff Roster or under separate cover to the COR. The Contractor Staff Roster shall be updated and provided to VA within 1 day of any changes in employee status, training certification completion status, Background Investigation level status, additions/removal of employees, etc. throughout the Period of Performance. The Contractor Staff Roster shall remain a historical document indicating all past information and the Contractor shall indicate in the Comment field, employees no longer supporting this contract. The preferred method to send the Contractor Staff Roster or Social Security Number is by encrypted e-mail. If unable to send encrypted e-mail, other methods which comply with FIPS 140-2 are to encrypt the file, use a secure fax, or use a traceable mail service.

c. The Contractor should coordinate with the location of the nearest VA fingerprinting office through the COR. Only electronic fingerprints are authorized. The Contractor shall bring their completed Security and Investigations Center (SIC) Fingerprint request form with them (see paragraph d.4. below) when getting fingerprints taken.

d. The Contractor shall ensure the following required forms are submitted to the COR within 5 days after contract award:

1. Optional Form 306

2. Self-Certification of Continuous Service

3. VA Form 0710

4. Completed SIC Fingerprint Request Form

e. The Contractor personnel shall submit all required information related to their background investigations (completion of the investigation documents (SF85, SF85P, or SF 86) utilizing the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) after receiving an email notification from the Security and Investigation Center (SIC).

f. The Contractor employee shall certify and release the e-QIP document, print and sign the signature pages, and send them encrypted to the COR for electronic submission to the SIC. These documents shall be submitted to the COR within 3 business days of receipt of the e-QIP notification email. (Note: OPM is moving towards a “click to sign” process. If click to sign is used, the Contractor employee should notify the COR within 3 business days that documents were signed via e-QIP).

g. The Contractor shall be responsible for the actions of all personnel provided to work for VA under this contract. In the event that damages arise from work performed by Contractor provided personnel, under the auspices of this contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for all resources necessary to remedy the incident.

h. A Contractor may be granted unescorted access to VA facilities and/or access to VA Information Technology resources (network and/or protected data) with a favorably adjudicated Special Agreement Check (SAC), completed training delineated in VA Handbook 6500.6 (Appendix C, Section 9), signed “Contractor Rules of Behavior”, and with a valid, operational PIV credential for PIV-only logical access to VA’s network. A PIV card credential can be issued once your SAC has been favorably adjudicated and your background investigation has been scheduled by OPM. However, the Contractor will be responsible for the actions of the Contractor personnel they provide to perform work for VA. The investigative history for Contractor personnel working under this contract must be maintained in the database of OPM.

i. The Contractor shall follow all Government rules and regulations regarding information security to prevent disclosure of sensitive information to unauthorized individuals or organizations, and shall adhere to all VA Privacy & Security, the Privacy Act and HIPAA requirements.

j. The Contractor, when notified of an unfavorably adjudicated background investigation on a Contractor employee as determined by the Government, shall withdraw the employee from consideration in working under the contract.

k. Failure to comply with the Contractor personnel security investigative requirements may result in loss of physical and/or logical access to VA facilities and systems by Contractor and Subcontractor employees and/or termination of the contract for default.

l. Identity Credential Holders must follow all HSPD-12 policies and procedures as well as use and protect their assigned identity credentials in accordance with VA policies and procedures, always displaying their badges, and returning the identity credentials upon termination of their relationship with VA.

Records management requirements

a. Citations to pertinent laws, codes and regulations such as 44 U.S.C chapters 21, 29, 31 and 33; Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a); 36 CFR Part 1222 and Part 1228.

b. Contractor shall treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S.

Government for which the Government Agency shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest.

c. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records.

d. Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act.

e. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract.

f. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract.

g. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor must deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data.

h. Contractor agrees to comply with Federal and Agency records management policies, including those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. These policies include the preservation of all records created or received regardless of format [paper, electronic, etc.] or mode of transmission [e-mail, fax, etc.] or state of completion [draft, final, etc.].

i. No disposition of documents will be allowed without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Agency and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of the Agency or destroyed without regard to the provisions of the agency records schedules.

j. Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and Agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information.

Performance Metrics The table below defines the Performance Standards and Acceptable Levels of Performance associated with this effort.

Performance Objective

Performance Standard Acceptable Levels of Performance

1. Technical / Quality of Product or Service

1. Demonstrates understanding of requirements

2. Efficient and effective in meeting requirements

3. Meets technical needs and mission requirements

4. Meets response times and plan in requirements

5. Provides quality services/products

Satisfactory or higher

2. Project Milestones and Schedule

1. Established milestones and project dates are met

2. Products completed, reviewed, delivered in accordance with the established schedule

3. Notifies customer in advance of potential problems

Satisfactory or higher

3. Cost & Staffing 1. Currency of expertise and staffing levels appropriate

2. Personnel possess necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform tasks

Satisfactory or higher

4. Management 1. Integration and coordination of all activities to execute effort

Satisfactory or higher

The COR will utilize a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) throughout the life of the contract to ensure that the Contractor is performing the services required by this SOW in an acceptable level of performance. The Government reserves the right to alter or change the surveillance methods in the QASP at its own discretion.

Further Consideration Offeror’s are provided the opportunity to obtain further details from the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Healthcare System to better tailor the product quote(s). All requests for information derived from any Offeror will be shared with each Contracted vendor per the standardized contracting rule set.