36C26023Q0442 0001.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 NUMBERED 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 amendment, 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)

06-07-23

36C260 Network Contracting Office 20

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661

36C260 Network Contracting Office 20

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26023Q0442 05-26-2023

X x

See CONTINUATION Page

The purpose of this amendment is to address vendor questions.

See Continuation Pages for vendor questions.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged and in full effect.

Krystal Weeks Contracting Officer

1. Can you tell us who is your current vendor? This will help us determine if we can compete

Currently, there is no single provider of Court Reporter Services for the WSNC catchment area and VHA hospital locations detailed in attachment A.

2. Are these positions remote or only in person opportunities in the WSNC region? I live in CT.

As stated in solicitation 36C26023Q0442 and section B.1 DESCRIPTION OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEEMENT (BPA), “Court Reporters may be requested to appear in-person for meetings at larger WSNC facilities or to appear virtually for meetings at any WSNC facility, as determined by the ordering facility.” Therefore, the VA ordering facility will dictate if an order against the BPA requires in-person or remote services for court reporting.

3. I have a quick question for you about the court reporter post. We are a firm based out of Norfolk, Virginia. Are these mainly in-person hearings or more Zoom-type hearings and depositions

As stated in solicitation 36C2hj 6023Q0442 and section B.1 DESCRIPTION OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEEMENT (BPA), “Court Reporters may be requested to appear in-person for meetings at larger WSNC facilities or to appear virtually for meetings at any WSNC facility, as determined by the ordering facility.” Therefore, the VA ordering facility will dictate if an order against the BPA requires in-person or remote services for court reporting.

4. As a small business, to meet the requirement, would you let us know if partnering with a large to provide the support is permitted?

All legal clauses, provisions, and terms of this requirement are outlined in solicitation 36C26023Q0442. Legal advice regarding subcontracting opportunities, joint ventures, and other business partnerships or arrangements cannot be given by our NCO-20 VHA Contracting Office.

5. I wasn't sure if this was a remote contract that can be done through Zoom (court reporter's appearance) or if the court reporter needs to be in person

As stated in solicitation 36C26023Q0442 and section B.1 DESCRIPTION OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEEMENT (BPA), “Court Reporters may be requested to appear in-person for meetings at larger WSNC facilities or to appear virtually for meetings at any WSNC facility, as determined by the ordering facility.” Therefore, the VA ordering facility will dictate if an order against the BPA requires in-person or remote services for court reporting.

If an offer cannot provide in-person appearance fees at a certain location listed in the Price Cost Schedule (attachment A) enter N/A. It is expected that all virtual appearances fees will be the same regardless of location, and this solicitation is to establish firm-fixed pricing for both in-person appearance fees and virtual appearance fees.

6. Do you have an estimate of how often the hearings are held?

Attachment C- of solicitation 36C26023Q0442 contains historical annual estimates of court reporting services for VHA medical facilities within the WSNC regions. Attachment C- are historical estimates only and not a guarantee of future orders.

7. Are transcripts automatically produced, or are they only produced upon request?

Delivery of transcripts information can be found in solicitation 36C26023Q0442 in the Performance Works Statement (PWS) in section B.1 DESCRIPTION OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEEMENT (BPA):

DELIVERY OF TRANSCRIPTS

a. Timelines for delivery of transcripts shall be specified in individual TOs and priced in accordance with the BPA Price/Cost Schedule.

b. When actual discrepancies in the transcribed testimony and the audio recording are identified and verified by the VA, the Court Reporter shall produce a corrected version at no additional cost to the Government.

c. Transcripts may be delivered in either hard copy format or digital format, as requested by the ordering facility.

Therefore, each individual task order and customer order will dictate whether digital or hard copy transcripts are required, as well as the timeline for production and delivery.

8. I did view the solicitation, but I did not see details about the scope of services. do you have any attachments explaining such? is this for in person court reporting or virtual?

As stated in solicitation 36C26023Q0442 this acquisition is for services in the WSNC regions and VHA hospital locations. The scope of services regarding the VHA hospital locations for court reporter services (in-person & remote) and the transcripts deliverables can be found in the Price Cost Schedule (attachment B), as well as Attachment A WSNC Medical Facilities for a detailed listing of VHA hospital locations that require Court Reporting Services.

9. Is this a position that can be serviced through Zoom proceedings or is travel required?

As stated in solicitation 36C26023Q0442 and section B.1 DESCRIPTION OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEEMENT (BPA), “Court Reporters may be requested to appear in-person for meetings at larger WSNC facilities or to appear virtually for meetings at any WSNC facility, as determined by the ordering facility.”

This solicitation is to establish a Firm-Fixed Price BPA to include both in-person appearance fees and delivery of transcripts and pages. The Court Reporter must be able to perform all required tasks to the specified standards in the PWS and without incurring additional costs to the VA regardless of location. This includes travel for in-person court appearances. Therefore, in-person appearance fees is detailed by WSNC locations in the Price Cost Schedule (Attachment B) for interested parties to submit quotes for Firm-Fixed Prices for Years 1 through 5.

10. Who is current vendor? Is the vendor a large corporation? We need to know because we are truly a small business so if your vendor is a large corporation, we will not be able to compete.

There is currently no single vendor for court reporter services for the WSNC VHA locations. The current solicitation 36C26023Q0442 is a total small business set-aside so large businesses are not eligible for participation.