36C25820Q0121 0002.docx

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7.

ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF

PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE

OF YOUR

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO:

Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERE

D CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendmen t, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF

CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF

SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 09-02-2020 N/A Department of Veterans Affairs NCO22-Gilbert Network Contracting 3601 S. 6th Avenue Tucson AZ 85723 Department of Veterans Affairs NCO22-Gilbert Network Contracting 3601 S. 6th Avenue Tucson AZ 85723 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25820Q0121 04-09-2020

X X X

X The purpose of this solicitation amendment is to provide answers to questions that have been asked by interested contractors.

The quantities in the cost schedule have also been updated due to changes in the current need for the services.

No other changes have been made.

Nonya Montano Contracting Officer

CONTINUATION PAGE

A.1 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

Companion Care Services in accordance with the performance work statement.

Contract Period: Base POP Begin:

POP End:

Transportation per mile in accordance with the performance work statement. Mileage will be based on the current GSA Privately Owned Vehicle POV Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Contract Period: Base

Companion Care Services in accordance with the performance work statement.

Contract Period: Option 2

Transportation per mile in accordance with the performance work statement. Mileage will be based on the current GSA Privately Owned Vehicle POV Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Contract Period: Option 1

Companion Care Services in accordance with the performance work statement.

Transportation per mile in accordance with the performance work statement. Mileage will be based on the current GSA Privately Owned Vehicle POV Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Companion Care Services in accordance with the performance work statement.

Contract Period: Option 3

Transportation per mile in accordance with the performance work statement. Mileage will be based on the current GSA Privately Owned Vehicle POV Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Contract Period: Option 3

A.2 DELIVERY SCHEDULE

ITEM NUMBER

DELIVERY DATE

650 E. Indian School Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85012

USA

602-277-5551 x7780 Michael.Sierra@va.gov

Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Q: Is this a new requirement or is there an incumbent currently providing services?

A: New Requirement

Q: If there is an incumbent contractor, please provide us the award contract number, name of the contractor and the prior solicitation number

A: N/A

Q: 2.0 Qualifications 2.1.3 details "Caregiver skills training provided by contracted company or other documented training". When we the contractor hire caregivers, we make sure they have their current Certified Nursing Assistant Licensure and CPR Certification to be currently active. Would this satisfy these solicitations requirements?

A: Yes, so long as you maintain records of these trainings and that they are up to date. These certifications will be provided as part of the technical requirements File #2

Q: When we hire caregivers, we conduct a state background check. Item 2.1.5 on page 8 of 77 "Caregiver will have documented illegal drug screening tests completed one month prior to hiring" Will the normal state background check satisfy this requirement?

A: Yes, this should suffice and should be included as a statement in part of your technical offer. Also, I would like to see random checks, and reason for suspicion if that is applicable.

Q: 1.5 Definitions/Acronyms 2.1.8 "Contractor Liaison. The contractor shall designate one (1) employee who shall be responsible for the performance under the resulting agreement (s) and orders." This solicitation is requesting that we provide a caregiver and a driver to escort the veteran from his home to the Phenix VA Health Care System 650 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85012. Are we the contractor to provide a driver and a caregiver to provide the services requested in this solicitation?

Please note that when we provide personal care services to veterans or residents in the private sector and in the privacy of their own home, that state requirements are that we have a registered nurse assigned to each client and the registered nurse is the immediate supervisor of the caregiver. The immediate supervisor of the caregiver is a registered nurse.

A: Yes, the contractor will provide the caregiver, if the registered nurse is needed, then it should be the contractor that provides the RN.

Q: 2.4 Transport 2.4.1 "The contractor shall verify all vehicles used for the performance of this service are maintained in safe operating conditions during operations and shall be monitored for cleanliness and sanitizing." Do we the contractor need to provide handicap accessible vans as part of the potential services we are to provide for this solicitation.? If so, this would require a second company that specializes in providing driving services for wheelchair bound veterans. Please clarify.

A: Yes, not all of our veterans are ambulatory, so wheelchair service will be needed on occasion.

Q 3.0 Contractor Responsibilities "Contractor shall provide Companion Care Services as described in the Performance Work Statement as outlined below." 3.3 "Contractor shall provide experienced caregivers to provide non-medical private duty home care assistance and transportation from medical facility post procedure. Services to include reliable transportation, personal hygiene, bathing (if needed) medication reminder (no dispensing of medications) personal care, ambulation assistance, meal preparation and overnight stay if needed."

These services are describing personal care services which will require us the contractor to provide a Certified Nursing Assistant and this caregiver should be supervised by a registered nurse. The driving or escorting of the veteran we would recommend a second company that provides the driver and the vehicle whether it be a sedan or handicap accessible Van for wheelchair bound veterans. Please clarify.

A: Yes, the personal care services mention above should be available if needed. However, we solely want the service to provide transportation, medication reminder, ambulation assistance, and meal preparation for to 2-3 hours.

Q: 4.0 Specific Tasks 4.1.1.3 "Companion Care Services includes Personal Hygiene, bathing, Medication reminder. Personal Care Ambulation assistance, meal preparation, and overnight stay if needed."

These are personal care services that would require a Certified Nursing Assistant as the caregiver and a registered nurse being the immediate supervisor that would monitor and document the activities of the caregiver.

A: Yes, that is correct.

Q: 5.1 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress meetings: Can these meetings be virtual meetings IE Zoom or Face Time or will the government require these meetings to be face to face meetings?

A: Yes, moving forward most meetings are held virtually due to different locations of all stakeholders.

Q: Will the veterans that need escorting will any of them have the COVID 19 Virus? If so, we will not be able to escort or provide any services for them. Please clarify this situation.

A: No. VA Beneficiary will be screened by VA providers prior to release from the hospital to the Companion Care contractor to verify patient no longer requires medical supervision.

Q: Random Inspection - Five (5) randomly selected patient files will be reviewed per quarter. Will the VA provide us the documents and instructions on how to create a patient file?

A: 5.3 Quality Assurance Surveillance: The Government will periodically evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract. Contractor shall provide the Government unrestricted access to facilities and records required to evaluate Contractor’s performance under this contract.