Revised - SOW Cable TV Services.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Cable Television Service

West Texas VA Healthcare System

1. Background: The West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) has a requirement for basic and expanded subscription television service.

2. Scope of Work:

The West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) has a requirement to provide cable television services, equipment and labor as described in the Statement of Work. The contractor shall conform to all safety and security requirements and regulations applicable to contractor activity at the WTVAHCS. The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and services necessary to provide cable television services to the WTVAHCS located at 300 Veterans Blvd., Big Spring, TX. The contractor shall furnish at their own expense all satellite receivers and/or cable boxes needed to provide service to the facility. This will include more than one receiver/cable box per building if needed to provide access to other televisions. The contractor shall provide the capability to change the channel at each television and to be able to watch different programming at each television at the same time. Splitting the signal to other televisions in the building is not acceptable. The contractor will furnish the option to upgrade reception hardware at a minimal cost (i.e. capability for Digital Dolby sound, HDTV decoding, and Personal Video Recording capability, etc.) and said cost will be determined through negotiations between the contractor and the government.

Contractor must allow for expansion to new Government owned facilities. Currently, the existing commercial cable service provider services all the cable infrastructures at this location.

Therefore, the prospective television-programming provider must furnish at its own expense necessary infrastructure to distribute the television programming signal to all designated facilities. In instances where there is no existing cable infrastructure the contractor will furnish and install all needed equipment at a negotiated rate acceptable to both parties.

Attachment A (attached) indicates the number of drops, building, floor and room numbers. The WTVAHCS may identify the need for additional drops during the term of the contract.

3. Specific Tasks:

Cable Television Channel Lineup: The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that Federal law prohibits the Government from requiring specific programming on the cable television system. As allowed under 47 U.S.C. 544 (b)(2), the Department of Veterans Affairs is requesting that the provided programming fall under the following broad categories:

I. Local Channels

II. 24 Hour News

III. Weather

IV. Sports Stations

V. Super stations

VI. Family Favorites

VII. Government Channel(s)

(a) The contractor agrees to provide the broad categories of programming described above. If the contractor makes any change in programming services offered or channel positions, the contractor shall give the Government a 30-day written notice in advance of such changes. Examples of channels that fall under these categories are listed below.

1. ESPN

2. TNT

3. USA Network

4. Lifetime Television

5. FOX News

6. TBS

7. Bravo

8. Home & Garden TV (HGTV)

9. The Learning Channel (TLC)

10. KEYU - Telemundo

11. KACV - PBS

12. C Span

13. KAMR (NBC)

14. Inspiration

15. EWTN (Catholic Network)

16. EWTN Espanol

17. OWN

18. Trinity Broadcasting (TBN)

19. CNN

20. ABC Family

21. A&E

22. Food Network

23. FOX Sports Southwest

24. FX

25. Comedy Central

26. The History Channel

27. Galavision

28. ESPN2

29. Discovery Channel

30. C Span 2

31. American Movie Classics (AMC)

32. Sci-Fi Channel

33. Turner Classic Movies

34. TruTv

35. Disney Channel

36. KFDA (CBS)

37. KCIT (FOX 14)

38. Animal Planet

39. KVII (The CW)

40. KCPN (UPN 65)

41. KVII (ABC)

42. LMN

43. Community Channel

44. E! Entertainment

45. The Weather Channel

46. Travel Channel

47. CNBC

48. MSNBC

49. Univision

50. VA Broadcast

(b) Additional channels are to be added upon request and availability. Approval for addition of channels can only come from the COR.

The contractor shall ensure that the system is designed, installed, and operated in a manner that meets or exceeds the industry technical standards. These standards are mandatory and shall apply to all classes of television channels. The contractor shall at all times maintain and operate the system in strict compliance and will comply with the following:

(a) The contractor recognizes that signal leakage or other interference, including emission, radiation, or induction, from the satellite system that affects the Government's communications or healthcare facilities, or other electronic device or equipment located on Government property may disrupt or endanger healthcare activities and may pose a threat to the safety of both the public and VA personnel. The contractor shall take all necessary actions, including testing, maintenance, and coordination with Government personnel to prevent any such leakage or interference. Upon receiving notice of such leakage or interference from whatever source, including the contractor’s own testing and monitoring activities, the contractor shall immediately take corrective action at its own expense to eliminate the leakage or interference. Compliance with the technical standards set forth or incorporated in this contract shall not relieve the contractor of its obligations arising under this subparagraph.

(b) The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) shall approve all fiber and cable installations prior to commencement of work.

CATV Service and Maintenance:

(a) Service shall be provided in accordance with industry standards. The contractor shall respond to reports of trouble within twenty-four (24) hours. Weekends and holidays shall not be included in the twenty-four (24) hour period for the administrative areas.

Weekends and holidays shall be included if the outage is determined to be in a public or lodging area as determined by the COR. If the trouble is determined to be caused by factors not attributed to provider’s equipment or service, the contractor shall notify the

Government of the nature of the outage.

(b) The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of any new installations within 10 working days of the completion of the installation.

Testing and Measurement:

The contractor shall conduct at its own expense and with its own equipment all tests and measurements recommended or required by the FCC as set forth in 47 CFR Part 76 as that part exists on the effective date of this contract. At the direction of the COR, the contractor shall conduct tests and measurements to demonstrate that the system meets or exceeds the industry technical standards. The COR may direct such tests and measurements twice each calendar year and whenever the COR has reasonable cause to believe that the system does not meet the industry technical standards. Such tests and measurements shall be conducted by the contractor at contractor’s own expense and with its own equipment for any and or all activated channels. Immediately upon completion of any such test or measurement, the contractor shall provide the results of such test or measurement, including raw data, summaries, and conclusions, to the COR.

CATV Installation:

Any new cable installation for the WTVAHCS will be at the direction of the COR. Any installations completed without the express written consent of the COR are completed at the contractor’s own risk without guarantee of payment.

4. Performance Monitoring:

The COR, or designated representative (including a private cable or satellite TV expert or consultant), may inspect and conduct tests and measurements of the contractor’s equipment and facilities. Except in the case of an emergency, the COR shall conduct such inspections, tests, and measurements in a manner that will minimize any disruption of the contractor’s operations.

If requested, the contractor shall be available for periodic meetings at least quarterly, or as needed, with the COR and supporting personnel to review the provider's performance under this Contract.

5. Security Requirements:

Information System Officer, Information Protection:

The contractor will not have access to VA desktop computers.

Privacy Officer:

The contractor will not have access to Protected Health Information, (PHI) or Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

6. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI):

The Government shall provide a location on site with adequate room for contractor owned equipment if required. Adequate room will be made available to install any needed dish antennas or head-in system.

7. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations:

The contractor shall upgrade the WTVAHCS cable TV system with current technology comparable to the local community and surrounding area standards as necessary. The upgrade will be at no cost to the VA.

The Government recognizes that, over the term of this subsequent contract, television technology, the regulation of television and the programming services available for distribution will undergo continual change. The technology, equipment and services required by this SOW may become obsolete, uneconomical or otherwise disadvantageous to the government. The contractor and the government agree to consider, in good faith, proposals submitted by either party for modification of this SOW to permit the introduction of new equipment and technology or to otherwise improve CATV service at the WTVAHCS. Modifications under the subsequent contract will conform to FCC guidelines and standard industry practices.

Length of Service shall be for a base year with the 4 option years of continuing the service. The Government may add or terminate television services at any building, outlet, or drop without penalty. There shall be no “term” or minimum length of service required for television services at any location. There shall be no termination fee for terminating service and if the Government has prepaid for any service, the provider will reimburse the Government the appropriate pro rata share of that cost.

8. Period of Performance:

Base Year: 10/01/2025 – 09/30/2026 Option Year 1: 10/01/2026 – 09/30/2027 Option Year 2: 10/01/2027 – 09/30/2028 Option Year 3: 10/01/2028 – 09/30/2029 Option Year 4: 10/01/2029 – 09/30/2030

9. Risk Control:

The contractor will not interact with patients.

The contractor shall operate the system in a manner that protects against invasions of any subscriber's privacy and in conformance with the subscriber privacy requirements of federal law.

The contractor may obtain and use information which identifies any subscriber on an individual basis only to the extent necessary for installation of service, rendering service requested by a subscriber, maintenance, billing, and accounting purposes, or as otherwise required by law or this contract or as expressly authorized in writing by a subscriber.

10. Place of Performance:

West Texas VA Health Care system 300 Veterans Blvd.

Big Spring, Texas 79720

11. Worker Requirements and Access:

Contractor employees will need to get access badges from the VA Police Service located on the ground floor, main facility prior to conducting business, installation, or training functions.

12. Identification, Parking, Smoking and Regulations:

The Contractor’s personnel will wear visible identification issued by the WTVHCS Security and Police Service while on the premises.

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to park in the appropriate designated parking areas.

Information on parking is available from Security and Police Service. The WTVAHCS will not validate or make reimbursement for parking violations of the Contractor under any conditions.

Smoking is prohibited inside any buildings at the WTVAHCS. Possession of weapons is prohibited. Enclosed containers, including tool kits, shall be subject to search. Violations of VA regulations may result in citation answerable in the United States (Federal) District court, not a local district, state, or municipal court.

13. Records Manager:

i. 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.

ii. 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.

iii. 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.

iv. 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.

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

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

vii. 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.

viii. 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 [email, fac, etc.] or state of completions [draft, final, etc.]

ix. 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 of 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.

x. 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 ad proprietary information.