36C26120Q0591 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) 06-23-2020

612MCP

Department of Veterans Affairs VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21) VA Northern California HealthCare System 5342 Dudley Blvd, Bldg 209 McClellan CA 95652-2609

612MCP

Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs

VA

Northern California HealthCare System 3230 Peacekeeper Way, Bldg. 209 McClellan CA 95652-1012 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26120Q0591 06-23-2020

X X X

July 06, 2020 by 11:59 pm PST X

a. The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date andto answer Solicitation Questions.

b. The due date of this solication is changed from June 26,2020 to July 06, 2020 by 11:59 pm PST

c. The due date for Past Performance Questionaire is July 06, 2020 by 11:59 pm PST.

d. Submit questions in writing by June 25, 2020 by 4:00 pm PST to latasha.winston@va.gov

** Please see additional pages for questions and answers (Q&A)**

Latasha Winston

CONTRACTING OFFICER

FAQ RE Solicitation 36C26120Q0591

1. Q. What is the current due date of the Solicitation?

A. July 06, 2020 by 11:59 pm PST

2. Q: What is meant by the Amendment 0001 regarding the change to due dates?

A: The Solicitation Amendment was published to clarify that the due date of all attachments is at the same time that the RFQ is due June 26, 2020 @ 1159 p.m. Pacific. **Note, that Amendment 0002 further extends the RFQ deadline to 7/6/2020 at 11:59 PM PST.”

3. Q: How to submit Past Performance information?

A: Submit Past Performance Information on a word or PDF document

4. Q: On page 55 of the solicitation document, it states in section 4. Candidates “Items a-e must be submitted with the quote package”, however there seem to be only items a-d. Please advise

A: This was a typo, please submit only a-d with quote package

5. Q: Is this an existing requirement? If so, can you tell me who the incumbent is?

A: This is a new contract

6. Q. What is the Price Worksheet referenced on page 53 of the solicitation?

A. It is referring to section B.2 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE.

7. Q. In addition to the certification provided by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), will the Government accept pharmacy technician certifications based on successful completion of the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)?

A. No, it must be Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

8. Q. Does the Solicitation allow for the pharmacy technicians to “float” between Palo Alto and Menlo Park Division (and/or Livermore), or are the pharmacy technicians supposed to remain static at each respective location?

A. Yes, floating between sites may be an option

9. Q. Will the Veterans Administration allow the lead pharmacist at the respective clinic to sign the Form 17A-29 as the “preceptor” for our Pharmacy Technician employee?

A. NO

10. Q. The total number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) hours for each of the ten pharmacists is 2,080; however, on Page 9 of the solicitation, it states, “There will be no overtime (OT) provided and will not be reimbursed or paid by the government.” The solicitation also indicates “The Contractor is not expected to work on Federal Holidays.” The use of 2,080 FTE hours would indicate WORKING on federal holidays and NO vacation time. Please verify whether this is correct.

A. The government will not order any services on Holidays as indicated in the PWS section 2.2 and there is no overtime allowed. The hours are only estimated, and contractor will only be paid for hours worked. The immediate need is for ten pharmacy technicians. However, the Government's needs will change through the duration of the contract as its staffing fluctuates. Throughout the performance of the contract the VA will continually attempt to fill its vacancies, including those filled through this contract for temporary staffing services, through its own Human Resources. If/when VA HR is able to fill vacant positions, then the need would decrease accordingly for these temporary staffing services.

11. Q. Does the current COVID-19 Executive Order for an additional 80 hours of paid sick for employees apply to this solicitation?

A., you may be required to follow the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), H.R. 6201

12. Q. Please verify whether the pharmacy technicians will require a credentialing package to ensure they meet the requisite credentials.

A. No VHA Handbook 1100.19, Credentialing and Privileging does not apply to this requirement

13. Q. Please verify all the training requirements for working in your VA facilities.

A. The two trainings listed are part of our TMS online training system (which include HIPPA) that must be completed BEFORE we could allow a contract technician to start working on-site. There are SEVERAL on-site orientation/trainings that these contract technicians will be given PRIOR to being allowed to independently work in the various pharmacies. They will be provided with these trainings during their paid contract hours.

14. Q. How does the Government expect six Pharmacy Technicians at Palo Alto to cover six, 8-hour shifts SEVEN days a week; and, how will two Pharmacy Technicians at Menlo Park cover three, 8-hour shifts for five days a week?

A. The tours of duty listed are typical “shifts” at each of the sites; and the tour of duty is determined by the workstation they are assigned to cover. For example, if a contract technician has exceptional IV room (hazardous and non-hazardous sterile compounding skills) they could be scheduled to work our “IV 1” shift which would work 7:30am – 4:00pm. If another tech doesn’t have IV experience, but does have prior IP unit dose experience, we could schedule them to work our “UD 2” shift which would work 7am- 3:30pm. And if a third contract tech has only outpatient pharmacy experience, we could schedule them into our “OP Fill 3” shift which would work 9am – 5:30pm. These contract technicians would only work 40 hours per work week. These contract technicians will work alongside our existing staff; so they will not be expected to cover all the shifts.

15. Q. PWS 2.3.3, states, “Prepare sterile intravenous (IV) medications, including chemotherapy and hazardous agents, and perform required IV room maintenance, quality/environmental control monitoring, and record keeping per United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) 797 and 800 guidelines, departmental policies and procedures.” Does the Government require any certifications or licensing for this requirement from the State of California?

A. No, just the PTCB

16. Q. Will all ten pharmacy technicians be responsible for inpatient- AND outpatient-responsibilities, hence, making it a requirement that all our pharmacy technician candidates should have background experience working in a hospital setting?

A. Contract technicians with prior inpatient experience will be assigned to work in the acute care inpatient setting at Palo Alto. Contract technicians with only outpatient/retail experience will only be assigned to work one of our outpatient settings

17. Q. The Contractor shall comply with policies and procedures, State and Federal laws and regulations (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S.P., Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)), The Joint Commission standards, and other program review criteria that govern service. Does the State of California have specific regulations that must be met under this contract as well?

A. NO. As a federal facility, we follow federal laws

18. Q. Page 34, C.5 52.216-1, Ordering, Paragraph (a), the last sentence is incomplete, and ends as, “issued from through [ ? ] .” Please clarify as to what is missing at the end of this sentence.

A. Section C.5 52.216-18 ORDERING (OCT 1995) is revised to state: orders may be issued from the first day of the ordering period through the last day of the ordering period

19. Q. Page 35, C.7 52.216-22, Paragraph (d) states, “...provided, that the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after the end of the ordering period.” For clarification, if a task order is issued prior to end of ordering period, would services continue until the end of the task order period of performance (that is, after the ordering period has already expired)?

A. C.7 52.216-22, Paragraph (d) states Any order issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that period shall be completed by the Contractor within the time specified in the order

20. Q. FAR 52.212-5, (b)(18), Limitations on Subcontracting is not checked. Please verify if applicable.

A. VAAR 852-219.10 and 852.219-74 LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING is checked and applicable

21. Q. Please confirm that the agency is only requesting resumes on five candidates, and not the ten candidates as directed in the PWS.

A. Yes, five resumes are required at time of quote submission; however, up to an additional five resumes may be required at a later time

22. Q. Please confirm that you are going to award an IDIQ contract.

A. Yes this is an IDIQ Firm Fixed Price Contract

23. Q. VAAR 852.273-73 Evaluation Health-Care Resources, first paragraph states, “Moreover the Government is not assigning weight to the factors or listing them in any particular order.” However, in Paragraph 1, Experience, it states, “Experience that is considered recent (within the last 3 years) will be rated more favorably than those that are not recent.” Also, the Government did not include a rating scheme for past performance. Is the Government going to provide a rating scheme for rating offeror’s experience more favorably for recent performance, relevancy, and providing traveling staff? In other words, how will the Government be weighing unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, better, and best? Should not the criteria just rather be “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable”?

A. This is not going to be rated under acceptable and unacceptable rating, Per the solicitation In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the quotes will undergo a comparative evaluation to determine which quotor provides the best value to the Government based on the information relative to the non-priced factors while also providing a competitive price. The solicitation is being procured under FAR 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, and the Government will conduct a comparative evaluation of quotes. Solicitations are not required to state the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor. The Government will compare quote submissions to determine which response is "best" as a whole. Quotes will not be evaluated based on "Acceptable" or "Unacceptable." Again, this is a comparative evaluation. The evaluation criteria is only stating that for experience and past performance, certain things may be rated more or less favorably when we conduct our comparative evaluation. Lacking those attributes in your submission will not result in an Unacceptable rating. Evaluation is not lowest priced technically acceptable (LPTA).

24. Q. Page 59, E.8 VAAR 852.273-73 Evaluation Health-Care Resources, Paragraph 2, Recruiting/Hiring, the Government did not include a rating scheme for recruiting/hiring. Is the recruiting/hiring rated “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable,” or will the Government provide a rating scheme for rating recruiting/hiring more favorably for quotes that demonstrate a thorough vetting process of prospective employees; and, rating less favorably for extensive subcontractors; and, more favorably for excellent methods and background checks? In other words, how will the Government be weighing unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, better, and best? Should not the criteria just rather be “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable”?

A. This is not going to be rated under acceptable and unacceptable rating, Per the solicitation In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the quotes will undergo a comparative evaluation to determine which quotor provides the best value to the Government based on the information relative to the non-priced factors while also providing a competitive price. Evaluation is not lowest priced technically acceptable (LPTA).

25. Q. Page 60, E.8 VAAR 852.273-73 Evaluation Health-Care Resources, Paragraph 3, Past Performance, states the Government will evaluate as “less relevant” past performance for subcontractors; in other words, will subcontractors’ past performance be “Unacceptable,” since there is no relevance standard? In other words, how will the Government be weighing unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, better, and best? Should not the criteria just rather be “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable”?

A. No it will not be unacceptable it just will be considered less relevant than a contractor past performance submitted for a prime contractor. A. This is not going to be rated under acceptable and unacceptable rating, Again Per the solicitation In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the quotes will undergo a comparative evaluation to determine which quotor provides the best value to the Government based on the information relative to the non-priced factors while also providing a competitive price. Evaluation is not lowest priced technically acceptable (LPTA).

26. Q. Page 60, E.8 VAAR 852.273-73 Evaluation Health-Care Resources, Paragraph 4, Candidates. Same as previous question regarding unclear and ambiguous criteria for “more favorably” ratings for experience versus those with less experience. In other words, how will the Government be weighing unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, better, and best? Should not the criteria just rather be “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable”?

A. This is not going to be rated under acceptable and unacceptable rating This is not going to be rated under acceptable and unacceptable rating, Again Per the solicitation In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the quotes will undergo a comparative evaluation to determine which quotor provides the best value to the Government based on the information relative to the non-priced factors while also providing a competitive price. Evaluation is not lowest priced technically acceptable (LPTA).

27. Q. Page 60, Page 59, E.8 VAAR 852.273-73 Evaluation Health-Care Resources, Paragraph 4, Price, states, “The Government will evaluate quotes by adding the total price for all contract line items, including ordering periods, for a total price” and “The Government will also evaluate the price to assess the quoter’s ability to attract and retain staff for the geographic area.” It appears the Government is requesting price realism. Please clarify whether a compensation plan is required for SCA employees under wage determinations, since all the CLIN pricing is going to be Firm Fixed Price

A. The government is not going to do a price realism analyst the Government will also evaluate the price to assess the quoter’s ability to attract and retain staff for the geographic area. This is not a price only or a low-price technical evaluation. Again, Per the solicitation in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the quotes will undergo a comparative evaluation to determine which quotor provides the best value to the Government based on the information relative to the non-priced factors while also providing a competitive price. Contractors determine the appropriate compensation wage rate. The Government is not aware of anywhere in the solicitation that requires an SCA compensation plan nor is it aware what constitutes an "SCA compensation plan." The SCA is applicable and is a minimum required wage rate. Evaluation is not lowest priced technically acceptable (LPTA).

***The due date of this Solicitation and Past Performance Questionnaire to include any other documents is July 6, 2020 by 11:59 pm PST

** *Submit questions in writing by June 25, 2020 by 4:00 pm PST to latasha.winston@va.gov