Questions and Responses.docx

1. Q: What is the current Contract Number for this work?

R: Currently there is no contract in place. The previous contract has expired and was 36C26119P0067 with the vendor being Airgas USA, LLC.

2. Q: Where is the schedule for each facility with COR designation (Para 1.5, PG 7 of 57), quantities for each “individual activity” (Para 1.4, PG 7 of 57), and facility-specific instructions with delivery times/frequencies (Para 3.1 on PG 8 of 57)?

R: Delivery frequencies once a week to the Fresno VA Hospital and once a month to the CBOC’s: Oakhurst, Merced and Tulare.

3. Q: What are the sizes of all Liquid Nitrogen Dewars utilized by VAMC & CBOCs? Due to recent increases in FDA Regulations with how Liquid Nitrogen is filled and transported, this must be priced by the full Dewar fill and not by the Liter.

R: 20 litter and 40 litter

4. Q: PG 11 of 57, Para 6, states “Attaching of oxygen cylinders to manifold systems, when required, shall also be performed by the contractor at no additional cost.” Please note coming into the facility requires badging (multiple drivers – as the driver may not be the same for each delivery). Additionally, there is a liability in that Vendors incur (vendor employees could come into contact with patients especially with current COVID-19 national emergency). Can we validate this requirement or add a CLIN to account for the costs associated, as it is nonstandard for MED CYLs? If this is a requirement, what are the GOV requirements for Vendors entering the Facility? – as opposed to delivering to the Loading Dock where no additional security checks, background investigations, HIPPA are required. – request removing this requirement as it is nonstandard and requires the vendor to transport several CYLs internal to the hospital and remove the empties. CYLs on a manifold are G/H Cylinders (large) and for example, manifolds are replaced in “halves” meaning if it is an (8) CYL manifold, two sets of (4) Each, meaning one side, or “half” is replaced, meaning the vendor would have to transport (4) Large Cylinders to the manifold (into an elevator that cannot have personnel in it), potential damage to the fittings on the GFE Manifold (again liability), and (in reverse) return the empties. This is a very involved process, especially given the current COVID 19 response and there is a cost for time spent accomplishing this - would a vendor be allowed in the VAMC at all?

R: The vendor is not required to attach anything.

5. Q: How are vendors to account for the differing rental costs of medical gas cylinders? Recommend adding cylinder rental grouping by size, type, and functionality:

R: There are two fees, a rental fee and a fill fee.

6. Q: What are the annual rental quantity estimates for each cylinder type?

R:

Lung Diffusion • 0.3% CO 0.5% Ne 21% O2 Bal N2 Size 200 40

7. Q: What is the estimated annual total of deliveries for all VA facilities to account for ITEM #0003 in the B.2 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE (PG 4 of 57)?

R: 52, one per week for the main facility and once per month for CBOCS. For a total of 88 deliveries.

8. Q: How are vendors to account for orders required during emergency delivery situations? Recommend adding a Line Item to account for this possibility.

R: An emergency CLIN will be added will be de-obligated at the end of the period of performance if it is unused.

9. Q: In evaluation of proposals, what is the relationship between technical, past performance and price? PG 39 of 57, Para E.6, (a), incompletely states “Technical and past performance, when combined, are.”

R: It’s not applicable.

10. Q: Are the Liquid Nitrogen Dewars currently VA Owned or Rented?

R: VA Owned

11. Q: Page 10 of 57 Para 5.5.5 states the “Government shall pay for hydrostatic testing of government-owned cylinders at the prices listed in Schedule B.” Are there any VA Owned Cylinders that would require this? Per PG 12 of 57, there are no VA Owned Cylinders utilized in this requirement.

R: Yes, 33 VA owned cylinders.

12. Q: Page 7 of 57 Para 1.4 states “The contract awarded under this solicitation will be in effect from through plus four (4) one-year option periods.” No dates are entered, can the Government confirm what they are stating as a contract award period?

R: Each CLIN shows the period of performance.

13. Q: Page 39 of 57, Para E.6 “Evaluation” Item 1, States “License to operate in the State of California”, please confirm you are referring that the Prime Contractor must be licensed with the “California State Board of Pharmacy”. If so, please confirm that Contractor must be licensed at the time of proposal submission.

R: Contractor must be licensed to operate in the state of California at time of submission.

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