Q_A responses to post.docx

Q&4 Responses to post

1. Could we please get an Engineering schematic to validate what the current GOV BULK TANK Support Pads are structurally rated to? The Site visit revealed there had been recent (relatively recent) upgrades to the Bulk Tanks/Support Pads. The GOV’s initial answer was that the PADs had structural ratings consistent to the existing Pads, yet this is not a Certified Project Engineer stamped rating. Our questions are what each Pad is rated to by Tank Size (main and reserve). This is especially important in that if a Pad has a higher rating than what is currently emplaced on the pad, no new pad will need to be poured to install a different vendor’s tanks, and/or facilitate a tank upgrade (presumably due to COVID 19 increased requirement – equating to less icing and enhanced capacity). Simply, put, can we get the AS BUILT drawings for each tank that denotes pad ratings in respect to Tank Sizes? – See attachments labeled to VHR-120 4 and VS-1500 4H to Amendment

2. Could we please get the estimated annual usages per (4) Locations (NOTE: Livermore is only on a cylinder bank – the GFE GOV Bulk Tank was decommissioned by the GOV)

SEE BELOW TABLE FOR ESTIMATED USAGE LEVELS

3. Can we please corrected tank sizes, the GOV provided in Q&A Session 1:

SEE BELOW TABLE FOR CORRECTED SIZES

4. Contract Line Items (CLINs) seem to be incomplete for a facility this size (multiple locations) as well as a bid that incorporates both Bulk Liquid Oxygen and Medical Oxygen & Specialty Gas Cylinders in one contract vehicle. Specifically:

1. There are only (18) Aggregate CLINs over all (some are ADMIN CLINs with subsets), there are DUPLICATE CLINS for Telemetry Monitoring, specifically (using the Base Year only):

CLINS 0015 AA thru DD are for Telemetry for (4) Tank Locations CLINS 0018 AA thru DD are for the very same task – request deleting – No issues if they are duplicate entries - CLINS 0018 AA thru DD on all years have been removed

Recommend adding Monthly Tank Rental of Contractor Owned Tanks for the (4) Locations. – No issues

2. Recommend a review of the required Medical Oxygen and Specialty Gas Cylinders needed for the facility. Out of (18) CLINs, with the duplicates indicated above, there are very few “gases needed” commensurate with a facility this size? Comment: Not having accurate MED GAS CLINs and respective quantities may lead to an underfunded contract award, that literally “rears its head” in (for example) OPTION YEAR 2 (third contract year), when the GOV allocated funding has been extinguished.

There is an additional med gas required besides what is listed on the IGCE. There is a requirement for Argon H Tank, usage is approx. 2 tanks per month. If there is an addition in the future, it will be addressed with the CO when the need arises.

3. Q: Recommend a “Loss of Use” CLIN, to allow for funding a CLIN to pay for any Contractor Owned Cylinder Loss when identified – to allow a process to fund a contract CLIN when needed for this function. If not, the GOV must find a vehicle to pay for lost contractor owned Cylinders. – if CLIN is added, then there must be a tracking mechanism set up by the vendor that is concurred by Gov. CLIN added, Vendor must show tracking mechanism

4. Q: Can we add a CLIN for an emergency delivery fee for Bulk Liquid Oxygen for an authorized emergency delivery? Q10 SOW Page 9 of 13 Paragraph 9.7 states “Emergency Order will be subject to the emergency delivery LIN on the Schedule of Items.” There is no CLIN for Emergency Delivery included for any Ordering Period (CLINs 0017 – 0017EE and all subsequent Ordering Periods is for “Delivery Charge”). Can this CLIN be added for all Ordering Periods? - Emergency deliveries have been based on the fact the vendor failed to provide delivery as scheduled. Gov. should not be charged an extra charge for deliveries that contractor failed to provide.

5. Q: Can we add a CLIN for an emergency delivery fee for Medical Cylinders for an authorized emergency delivery, like the Bulk LOX? – Emergency deliveries have been based on the fact the vendor failed to provide delivery as scheduled. Gov. should not be charged an extra charge for deliveries that contractor failed to provide.

5. Recommend reviewing the Licensing requirements – succinctly, that the Small Business Offeror have a Medical Gas Distribution License in the name of the offer. Succinctly – the current RFQ tends towards being misleading stating:

Respectfully, the GOV must clearly define this, especially when State Licensing is one of the four evaluation factors. Please Note: The State of California does not allow a Prime Contractor to utilize a subcontractors State License, as the State requires all entities in the Pharmaceutical Chain of Custody to be licensed – and this evaluated factor has been successfully challenged on similar Veteran Administration Medical Gases bids within VISN 21. Additionally, therefore being insured to perform NAICS 325120/221210 is such a vivid requirement – so that the Awardee, the accountable entity to the GOV is both Licensed to distribute Medical Gases (for human consumption) in the State of CA and is insured (underwritten) to do so. – REMOVING FROM SOLICITATION language stating will accept subcontractor license if CA state law permits. It will be upon the Prime to ensure their subs are properly licensed. ONLY the bidder will need show proof of licensing.

6. Are there any GFE Cylinders on this bid? - No

7. Can we get the current Contract Number for the Medical Cylinders? - 36C26122P0225

8. Can we get the current Contract Number for the Bulk Liquid Oxygen? - 36C26122P0225

9. SCHEDULE OF FACILITIES IN SOW: Section 3.1 under Delivery Requirements in the Statement of Work references a “schedule” for each facility that specifies unique delivery instructions for each facility. Please inform us where this is referenced schedule in the Solicitation? – The delivery schedule can be worked out with the contractor. The deliveries for bulk tanks are based on set refill points from telemetry readings from the gauge of the tanks on VA premises. The med gas cylinders are based on patient load therefore difficult to provide a set schedule. Upon award, facility point of contact and vendor shall establish a PAR level to maintain adequate supply of med gas cylinders.

10. CBOCs: Do any of the (12) outpatient clinics require direct delivery of cylinder gases? If so, please provide the gases utilized with estimated annual quantities for each individual clinic. – 7 CBOCs. Yes, they will require med gas cylinders. SEE BELOW TABLE FOR ESTIMATED USAGE LEVELS – CBOCs will be added per this amendment as well – MPD = Menlo Park Division

Fremont (FRE) 39199 Liberty Street, Building B Fremont, CA 94538-1501 Major General William H. Gourley Outpatient Clinic (MONT) 201 9th Street Marina, CA 93933-6039

Modesto (MOD) 1225 Oakdale Road Modesto, CA 95355-3357 San Jose (SJC) 5855 Silver Creek Valley Place San Jose, CA 95138-1059

Sonora (SON) 13663 Mono Way Sonora, CA 95370-2811 Stockton (STK) 7777 South Freedom Road French Camp, CA 95231-9694

11. OXYGEN SIZE-E CYLINDERS (CLIN 0010), Does GOV utilize (fill/rental pricing) for Oxygen Size-E Cylinders with Integrated Valve (Walkabout), Post Valve (no regulator), or provide pricing for both? Both types of Oxygen Size-E Cylinder were observed in Palo Alto & Menlo Park cylinder storage rooms during site visits, CLIN 0010 states “Oxygen E Cylinder,” yet the requirement, nor CLIN is readily visible? – Provide pricing for both.

12. CLIN 0014, OXYGEN MEDIGAL GRADE 6 PACK 200L: Can the GOV please provide more information (or current vendor Part #) about this gas cylinder type and its utilization? This appears to be for the Oxygen manifold at the Livermore VAMC. If so, CLIN 0014 is a duplicate of CLIN 0011 (OXYGEN, MEDICAL SIZE H) as the Oxygen manifolds observed during the site utilized Oxygen Size-H Cylinders which is CLIN 0011 – The Livermore VA Division site utilizes H tanks and dewars but are set up and delivered by the current contractor as a 6-pack unit, already connected in series.

13. Please add an estimated annual usage (by 100/CCF) for the Bulk Liquid oxygen use, if not, we cannot price CLIN(s) 0016 AA to DD yet, no computable figure – and the unit of issue is Month – respectfully, how much per month, per facility? SEE QUESTION 2.

14. CLINs 3015A through 3015D, 3016A through 3016E and 3017A through 3017E are numbered differently than previous Ordering Periods. Can these be corrected to read 3015AA through 3015DD, 3016AA through 3016EE and 3017AA through 3017EE (and subsequent year) to coincide with the previous Order Periods.

SEE ATTACHED REVISED CLIN/BID SCHEDULE

15. I need the VA clarify if WOB rental pricing is required if WOBs are not a part of this bid. (A potential bidder actually proposed the addition of the rental CLIN structure and the VA approved it, but the VA did not create it, another bidder suggested it.) - Government does not own any of the cylinders. Rental pricing will be necessary.

16. Which line items are for the tank rentals? Both CLINs 15 and 18 say Telemetry.

SEE ATTACHED REVISED CLIN/BID SCHEDULE

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