36C26119Q0367-004.docx

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

FOR THE FOLLOWING:

662-19-3-9615-0004

The contractor will be evaluated in accordance with the following:

1. PURPOSE

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) provides a systematic method to evaluate performance for the stated contract. This QASP explains the following:

· What will be monitored?

· How monitoring will take place.

· Who will conduct the monitoring?

· How monitoring efforts and results will be documented.

This QASP does not detail how the contractor accomplishes the work. Rather, the QASP is created with the premise that the contractor is responsible for management and quality control actions to meet the terms of the contract. It is the Government’s responsibility to be objective, fair, and consistent in evaluating performance.

This QASP is a “living document” and the Government may review and revise it on a regular basis. However, the Government shall coordinate changes with the contractor through contract modification. Copies of the original QASP and revisions shall be provided to the contractor and Government officials implementing surveillance activities.

2. GOVERNMENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following personnel shall oversee and coordinate surveillance activities.

a. Contracting Officer (CO) – The CO shall ensure performance of all necessary actions for effective contracting, ensure compliance with the contract terms, and shall safeguard the interests of the United States in the contractual relationship. The CO shall also assure that the contractor receives impartial, fair, and equitable treatment under this contract. The CO is ultimately responsible for the final determination of the adequacy of the contractor’s performance.

Assigned CO: Felicia Demita Organization or Agency: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

b. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) – The COR is responsible for technical administration of the contract and shall assure proper Government surveillance of the contractor’s performance. The COR shall keep a quality assurance file. The COR is not empowered to make any contractual commitments or to authorize any contractual changes on the Government’s behalf.

Assigned COR: Stephanie R. Gaxiola, LCSW, MPH Organization or Agency: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

3. CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVES

The following employee(s) of the contractor serve as the contractor’s program manager(s) for this contract.

Primary:

Alternate:

4. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The contractor is responsible for performance of ALL terms and conditions of the contract. CORs will provide contract progress reports quarterly to the CO reflecting performance on this plan and all other aspects of the resultant contract. The performance standards outlined in this QASP shall be used to determine the level of contractor performance in the elements defined. Performance standards define desired services. The Government performs surveillance to determine the level of Contractor performance to these standards.

The Performance Requirements are listed below in Section 6. The Government shall use these standards to determine contractor performance and shall compare contractor performance to the standard and assign a rating. At the end of the performance period, these ratings will be used, in part, to establish the past performance of the contractor on the contract.

5. METHODS OF QA SURVEILLANCE

Various methods exist to monitor performance. The COR shall use the surveillance methods listed below in the administration of this QASP.

a. DIRECT OBSERVATION. 100% surveillance: Monthly random COR/Program Coordinator/LCSW and RN VA patient visits.

b. PERIODIC INSPECTION. Inspections scheduled and reported annually per COR delegation or as needed. Inspections will include a review of nursing and psycho-social patient care and documentation.

c. VALIDATED PATIENT/CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. Individual patient/family complaints will be reviewed and investigated within 72 hours of receipt. The scope of the investigation will be dependent on the nature and severity of the complaint.

d. RANDOM SAMPLING. Patients medical documentation will be reviewed randomly during monthly COR/Program Coordinator/LCSW and RN visits.

e. Verification and/or documentation provided by Contractor. Contractor will be required to submit annual proof of Liability insurance coverage and a copy of a valid State Skilled Nursing Facility Licensure

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Reference Performance Requirement

Method

Certification or waiver required

b. Maintenance of active VA Contract.

a. Admission hold until the CNH is compliant with this standard.

b. Termination of Contract

2.) Adherence to the VA’s quality of care standards as noted in the VA’s Contract Nursing Home Program Handbook (See VHA Handbook 1143.2, “VHA CNH/CNH Oversight Procedures and Exclusion Reviews (June 4, 2004) a copy of which is available at: http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/publications.cfm?pub=2.)

b. Maintenance of active VA Contract.

a. Admission hold until the CNH is compliant with this standard.

b. Additional Oversight.

c. Removal of VA Patients from the Contracted SNF

d. Termination of Contract.

b. Maintenance of active VA Contract.

a. Admission hold until CAP is completed.

b. Maintenance of active VA Contract.

a. Admission hold until the CNH is compliant with this standard.

b. Maintenance of active VA Contract.

a. Admission hold until the CNH is compliant with this standard.

b. Termination of Contract.

7.) CNH Veteran Rehospitalization at any acute facility.

within 24 hours of admission.

All hospitalizations will be reported.

Patient Satisfaction Possible lower quality rating by VA in CPAR.

7. RATINGS

Metrics and methods are designed to determine rating for a given standard and acceptable quality level. The following ratings shall be used:

Government’s benefit. The contractual performance of the element or sub-element being assessed was accomplished with few minor problems for which corrective actions taken by the contractor were highly effective.

Note: To justify an Exceptional rating, you should identify multiple significant events in each category and state how it was a benefit to the GOVERNMENT. However a singular event could be of such magnitude that it alone constitutes an Exceptional rating. Also there should have been NO significant weaknesses identified.

Note: To justify a Very Good rating, you should identify a significant event in each category and state how it was a benefit to the GOVERNMENT. Also there should have been NO significant weaknesses identified.

Note: To justify a Satisfactory rating, there should have been only minor problems, or major problems the contractor recovered from without impact to the contract. Also there should have been NO significant weaknesses identified.

8. DOCUMENTING PERFORMANCE

a. The Government shall document positive and/or negative performance. Any report may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action and preparing annual past performance using a CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CPAR).

b. If contractor performance does not meet the Acceptable Quality level, the CO shall inform the contractor. This will normally be in writing unless circumstances necessitate verbal communication. In any case the CO shall document the discussion and place it in the contract file. When the COR and the CO determines formal written communication is required, the COR shall prepare a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR), and present it to CO. The CO will in turn review and will present to the contractor's program manager for corrective action.

The contractor shall acknowledge receipt of the CDR in writing. The CDR will specify if the contractor is required to prepare a corrective action plan to document how the contractor shall correct the unacceptable performance and avoid a recurrence. The CDR will also state how long after receipt the contractor has to present this corrective action plan to the CO. The Government shall review the contractor's corrective action plan to determine acceptability. The CO shall also assure that the contractor receives impartial, fair, and equitable treatment.

Any CDRs may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action deemed necessary by the CO. See Sample CDR below.

CONTRACT DISCREPANCY REPORT

5. DATES

a. CDR PREPARED

6. DISCREPANCY OR PROBLEM (Describe in detail. Include reference to PWS Directive; attach continuation sheet if necessary.)

10. CONTRACTOR RESPONSE AS TO CAUSE, CORRECTIVE ACTION AND ACTIONS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE. (Cite applicable quality control program procedures or new procedures. Attach continuation sheet(s) if necessary.)

12. GOVERNMENT EVALUATION. (Acceptance, partial acceptance, reflection. Attach continuation sheet(s) if necessary.)

13. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS (Acceptance, partial acceptance, reflection. Attach continuation sheet(s) if necessary.)

14. CLOSE OUT

CONTRACTOR NOTIFIED

COR

CONTRACTING OFFICER

9. FREQUENCY OF MEASUREMENT

10. COR AND CONTRACTOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QASP

SIGNED:

COR NAME/TITLE DATE

SIGNED:

CONTRACTOR NAME/TITLE DATE