36C26020Q0733 A00003.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) A00003 10/1/2020 36C260 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 20 5115 NE 82nd Ave, Suite 102 Vancouver WA 98662 36C260 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 20 5115 NE 82nd Ave, Suite 102 Vancouver WA 98662 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26020Q0733 09-22-2020

X X X ** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to: 10/20/2020 12:00 PM (Pacific) X The purpose of this Amendment is to answer vendor questions.

See Continuation Pages and Attachment.

Erik K. Berg Contracting Officer

CONTINUATION PAGES

1. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many hearings per year per location were held in total The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Western States Network Consortium (WSNC) in 2018/2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

2. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many transcript pages were ordered in total per year per location by The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Western States Network Consortium (WSNC) in 2018/2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

3. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Administrative Investigations and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

4. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Disciplinary Appeals Boards and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

5. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) hearings and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

6. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Merit Systems Protection Boards (MSPB) hearings and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

7. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Disciplinary Appeals Boards hearings and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

8. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for the Office of Resolution Management and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

9. Question: Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for Regional Counsel Requirements and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

10. Can you provide historical detail for how many 2019 hearings per year per location were held for other meetings that require legal documentation and how many transcript pages were ordered in 2019?

Answer: See attached WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage Spreadsheet.

11. Question: We are currently servicing some awarded contracts where the VA facilities are requesting remote court reporting services due to Covid-19. My question is if it would be possible to service this contract with the option of providing remote reporters? If possible, it may greatly help the Government save on their overall court reporting costs. It would also help reduce administration hours, due to consolidating the locations rates.

Answer: Yes, as the PWS does not specify that the Court Reporter has to appear in person. The specifics of in-person or remote attendance of the Court Reporter is left to the ordering facility to specify as desired. The Court Reporter must be able to perform all required tasks to the specified standard and without incurring additional costs to the VA regardless of location. The vendor is free to provide separate priced line items for in-person and remote Appearance Fees.

12. Question: I am looking for clarification on rates requested. The bid states that the: "The services required will be used for Administrative Investigations, Disciplinary Appeals Boards, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) hearings, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) hearings, Disciplinary Appeals Board hearings, Office of Resolution Management, Regional Counsel Requirements, and any other meetings that require legal documentation."

History with our past/current contracts considers most of the services mentioned above to be "hearing rates". However, in court reporting there is a substantial difference in costs of a "deposition" type of hearing and a "court" type of hearing, both in the appearance rate and also in the page rates. Some of the past bids have line items for each type, however this bid only has one. Would you please clarify which type of hearing rate you would like us to submit on the contract.

Answer: This solicitation requests that the Fees identified in Attachment A apply regardless of the purpose of the appearance.

See attached document: WSNC Court Reporting Estimated Usage.