36C26126Q0651 Questions and Responses.pdf

1. The solicitation references minimum specifications including dimensions of 9.4 x 10.3 x

8.6 inches, integrated printer, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Masimo/Nellcor compatibility, and dual-sensor CPR feedback. Are vendors required to offer the specific brand name unit (ZOLL) referenced in the salient characteristics, or will functionally equivalent products from other FDA-cleared manufacturers be considered?

Response: No, they do not have to be specific Zoll defibs referenced in the salient characteristics. The salient characteristics are describing general requirements for any type of defib. Yes, other FDA-cleared manufacturers be considered. Please provide the specifications of the “or equal” item.

2. Please confirm the exact delivery locations and dock/receiving contacts for each of the six (6) facilities listed: VA Southern Nevada HCS, VA Sierra Nevada HCS, VA Palo Alto

HCS, VA Central California HCS, and VA Northern California HCS (Sacramento and

Martinez).

Response: Each station’s address is on page 15 of the RFQ. Once awarded, if required, a POC for each station will be provided.

3. Will the government accept a phased delivery schedule, or is simultaneous delivery to all six facilities required?

Response: Yes, a phased delivery schedule would be preferred.

4. Does the government require trade-in of existing legacy units as part of this contract? If so, please specify the current make/model inventory being replaced and any credit expectations.

Response: Please see revised SOW under “Trade In and Removals”.

5. Are installation, site deployment, and staff training services required as part of this award, or are they optional line items?

Response: Please see page 15 of the RFQ. A line item has been added for each station to incorporate the on-site training. Deployment support for each station is already captured in Line Items of the RFQ. The updated line items for the deployment support are 0008 (Las Vegas), 0017 (Fresno), 0025 (Palo Alto), 0033

(Reno), and 0039 (Nor Cal).

6. Please confirm whether cloud-based software subscriptions (such as event review or readiness monitoring software) are optional or mandatory line items on the quote.

Response: Please see page 14 of the RFQ. If provided, it will be optional.

7. Can offerors propose accessories and consumables (chargers, cases, pads, cables) from the same manufacturer as the primary device, or must all accessories match a specific brand?

Response: No, all items do not have to match a specific brand. All items are brand name or equal. The only requirement is you shall provide an Authorized Distributor

Letter for each brand name on your quote and provided the specifications for all “or equal” items.

8. How does VISN21 define training & deployment support?

• ZOLL defines training & deployment support as an educational service provided at no charge with the purchase of new defibrillators which ZOLL staff come onsite to each hospital to train clinicians on the proper use of our defibrillators leading up the deployment of the devices. ZOLL does not quote this service as a line item on the quote, but rather it is automatically included with the defibrillator purchase. If VISN21’s expectations on training & deployment align with ours, ZOLL’s recommendation is to remove deployment from the quote line items knowing it will automatically be included (CLINs 0008, 0016, 0022, 0029, 0034).

Response: The definition of training and deployment aligns with VISN 21’s definition. However, we would still like training and deployment support listed as a requirement. The two have been (deployment and training) separated into their own line items per station.

9. Is VISN 21 willing to pay for training specific to Biomedical Equipment Support

Specialists (BESS)? If yes, what is the preferred format of the Biomedical Equipment

Support Specialists (BESS)?

• We offer onsite training which a ZOLL employee comes onsite to each location.

We also offer an online format which Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists

(BESS) can receive training virtually from ZOLL.

• ZOLL does offer training specific to Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists

(BESS) however ZOLL does charge for this specific service. ZOLL would include this as a line item for each location.

Response: We would like to see all your options available as value added services.

10. Is VISN21 looking to include the Zenix Viewer, Tablet?

• The Zenix Viewer, Tablet does not have FIPS Compliant Wi-Fi available at this time. ZOLL cannot provide this line item to the VA without FIPS Compliance

(CLINs 0005, 0012, 00021, 00026, 00032). This can be added on in the future at any time when it becomes available.

Response: We acknowledge the current FIPS Compliant Wi-Fi status of the Zenix

Viewer Tablets. You may include it in the quote or as a value-add option is preferred but not required.

11. TRADE-IN CREDIT VALUES (Items 0003, 0010, 0019, 0020, 0024, 0031) Please provide the minimum acceptable trade-in credit values for ZOLL R-Series and ZOLL X-

Series units, or confirm whether trade-in credit values are offeror-determined and entered at the offeror's discretion.

Response: Please see the updated SOW table under “Trade-In and Removal” for expected trade-in values. We do not have a minimum acceptable trade-in value.

12. PALO ALTO CARRY CASE OMISSION (Items 0017-0022) The line items for Palo Alto do not include a Zenix Carry Case line item, whereas all other facilities include carry cases (one per unit). Please confirm: (a) whether carry cases are included in the Zenix unit price for Palo Alto, or (b) whether carry cases are not required at that facility, or (c) whether a carry case line item was inadvertently omitted.

Response: Cases for Palo Alto are not a requirement but are a value-add. Statement of Work has been updated to reflect this change.

13. LIFEPAK 15 TRADE-IN AT PALO ALTO The Statement of Work identifies 5 Lifepak

15 units at Palo Alto for retirement, however no trade-in line item exists for Lifepak 15 units on the cost schedule. Please confirm whether: (a) Lifepak 15 units are included in the R-Series trade-in line items, (b) they are excluded from trade-in scope entirely, or (c) a separate trade-in credit line was inadvertently omitted.

Response: The Lifepaks were inadvertently omitted. A line item has been added

(0023).

14. AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR LETTER TIMING The Instructions to Offerors (E.2

Addendum) requires an Authorized Distributor Letter from the OEM if applicable. Please confirm: (a) whether this letter must be included at the time of quote submission on June

2, or (b) whether a letter of intent or written confirmation of pending authorization from the OEM is acceptable at time of submission, with the formal letter provided prior to award.

Response: Please see page 38 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1. The Authorized

Distributor Letter from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) shall be submitted with your quote prior to the due date and time. A pending authorization will not be accepted.

15. DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT SCOPE (Items 0008, 0016, 0022, 0029, 0034) Please confirm whether Deployment Support is required to be performed in-person on-site at each individual facility (as implied by the SOW requirement for 2 days minimum per facility), or whether any portion of software deployment and configuration may be performed remotely.

Response: We request that at minimum 2 days of training is provided per facility.

Remote software deployment and configuration is acceptable if required.

16. ACCUVENT SENSORS BRAND EQUIVALENCY (Items 0004, 0011, 0025) The solicitation states Brand Name or Equal for AccuVent Sensors. Please confirm whether

Masimo-brand or Nellcor/Medtronic-brand mainstream EtCO2 sensors are acceptable as an or-equal substitute, and if so, what documentation is required to demonstrate equivalency.

Response: Yes these are acceptable. Please refer to the SOW. We are requesting

Masimo and EtCO2 and Masimo/Nellcor pulse ox.

17. An extension of the quote submission deadline to allow additional time for SDVOSB vendors to obtain authorization documentation from ZOLL.

Response: An extension soley on the reasoning of obtaining the Authorized

Distributor Letter from Zoll will be denied. This is not a “Brand Name Only” requirement. If you can provide an “or equal” item that you are an Authorized

Distributor for then that will be accepted and evaluated.

18. Clarification on whether a letter of intent or written confirmation of pending authorization from ZOLL is acceptable in lieu of a formal Authorized Distributor Letter at time of submission.

Response: Please see page 38 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1. The Authorized

Distributor Letter from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) shall be submitted with your quote prior to the due date and time. A pending authorization will not be accepted.

19. Outreach to ZOLL Medical Corporation directly to request that ZOLL facilitate timely vendor authorization for qualified SDVOSB offerors on this set-aside acquisition.

Response: I cannot direct a company who they can and cannot recognize as an authorized distributor.