36C26126Q1088 - Solicitation Document.docx

36C26126Q1088

PAGE 1 OF

1. REQUISITION NO.

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NO.

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NO. (No Collect Calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME

9. ISSUED BY

CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

UNRESTRICTED OR

SET ASIDE:

% FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

8(A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ

IFB

RFP

15. DELIVER TO

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY

CODE

17a. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

UEI:

EFT:

PHONE:

FAX:

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

ITEM NO.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

QUANTITY

UNIT

UNIT PRICE

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only) 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _______________

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________________________ OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DATED ________________________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

SET FORTH HEREIN IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER) 30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR PRINT) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

(REV. NOV 2021)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

570-26-3-751-0901

36C261-26-AP-4795

36C26126Q1088 08-17-2026 Jill Williams 702-001-5380 08-28-2026 16:00

PDT

00261 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 21

X X Y 238210 $19 Million N/A X See Performance Work Statement

00261 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 21

Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center P.O. Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971 See CONTINUATION Page The VA Central California Healthcare System (VACCHCS) Medical Center requires triennial inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical systems in compliance with VA Directive 1028 paragraph 8.j (6) dated February 24, 2021.

This is a 100% SDVOSB set-aside. Offerors must be verified at the time of quote submission and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. Failure to submit SDVOSB certification AND completion of VAAR Clause 852.219-75 will result in being excluded from evaluations and ineligible for award.

WD 2015-5609 REVISION 29, DATED 05/13/2025 APPLIES TO THIS

SOLICITATION.

Quote packages must be emailed to jill.williams@va.gov by 16:00 (4pm) PST on 08/28/2026.

Questions must be submitted NLT 12:00pm (noon) on 08/21/2026 See CONTINUATION Page X X Jill Williams Contracting Officer Table of Contents

SECTION B - CONTINUATION OF SF 1449 BLOCKS

B.1 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

Triennial Electrical Inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical systems in compliance with the Performance Work Statement Contract Period: Base POP Begin: 09-20-2026 POP End: 09-19-2027

Repair / service work to remedy deficiencies found during testing and inspection. Must be authorized by CO or COR prior to starting work (Labor only).

Contract Period: Base POP Begin: 09-20-2026 POP End: 09-19-2027

Performance Work Statement (PWS) Tri-Annual Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Electrical Systems VA Central California Health Care System

1. BACKGROUND: The VA Central California Healthcare System (VACCHCS) Medical Center requires tri-annual inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical systems in compliance with VA Directive 1028 paragraph 8.j (6) dated February 24, 2021.

2. SCOPE OF WORK:

2.1 The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, tools, equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), specialty services, administrative support, and any necessary professional engineering services required for the inspection, testing, maintenance (including cleaning) and repair of the equipment, including labor, equipment and supplies for all equipment and systems specified or recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Tools, equipment, and PPE shall comply with the requirements of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910, Subpart I, and NFPA 70E. A complete, comprehensive list of all equipment systems that the contractor is required to service under this contract is identified in Attachment #1.

2.2 The Contractor shall provide maintenance service, in compliance with the following codes, standards and references:

2.2.1 VA Directive 1028 paragraph 8.j (6) dated (February 24, 2019).

2.2.2 NFPA 70B, 70E, 99, 100, and 110,

2.2.3 National Electrical Code,

2.2.4 Equipment manufacturer's recommendations,

2.2.5 National Electrical Testing Association (NETA)- best practices followed to the extent possible,

2.2.6 OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910, Subparts I & S

2.2.7 All other applicable laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, and codes.

2.3 The specific tasks and services required for this contract are listed in Attachment #2. In general, testing will include the following devices:

Switchgear and Switchboard Assemblies,

(a) Transformers, Dry Type, Air-Cooled, Low-voltage, Small,

(b) Transformers, Dry Type, Air-Cooled, Low-voltage, Large,

(c) Transformers, Liquid-Filled,

(d) Metal–Enclosed Busways,

(e) Switches, Air, Low-Voltage,

(f) Switches, Air, Medium-Voltage, Metal-Enclosed,

(g) Circuit Breakers, Air, Insulated-Case/ Molded-Case,

(h) Circuit Breakers, Air, Low-Voltage Power,

(i) Circuit Breakers, Vacuum, Medium-Voltage,

(j) Protective Relays, Mechanical, and Solid State.

(k) Protective Relays, Microprocessor Based,

(l) Grounding Systems,

(m) Ground-fault Protection Systems,

(n) Motor Control, Motor Starters, Low-Voltage,

(o) Emergency Systems, Engine Generators,

(p) Emergency Systems, Automatic Transfer Switches,

(q) Generator Control and Synchronization Systems.

2.4 If repairs require work outside the scope of routine maintenance, the contractor shall notify the COR for appropriate decision and action. Demand Maintenance and Repair Procedures shall be followed for non-reoccurring maintenance repair work.

2.5 Alternate Power Sources: Depending on estimated outage duration, the Contractor may be required to provide alternate power source(s) (generators, temporary power feeds, temporary automatic transfer switches, etc.) in the event executing work should shut down critical facility systems in the following areas:

2.5.1 Chilled Water Plant (Including but not limited life safety related systems or equipment).

2.5.2 Steam Plant (Including but not limited to life safety related systems or equipment).

2.5.3 Air Handling Units in Building 1, Floors SB 3 and 6

2.5.4 Air Handling Unit, OPC, Basement, Emergency Department

2.5.5 Information Resources Management (IRM) server room, uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and related heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment).

2.5.6 Building 1, Sub Basement Motor Control Center.

2.5.7 Building 24, Research Laboratory.

2.5.8 Community Living Center.

2.5.9 Building 1, 5th Floor, West Wing (ICU / SDU) shall have two sources of power at all times.

2.5.10 Police Dispatch

2.6 The Contractor shall be aware that due to mission requirements the work will be predominantly performed during non-business hours 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM and on weekends. For services that require complete or localized power outages, the Contractor shall perform these services outside of normal working hours (6:00 PM to 6:00 AM and on weekends), coordinated in advance with the COR. All services that interrupt or interfere with Medical or patient services shall be coordinated in advance with the COR; this may require Contractor service being performed outside of normal working hours. In some cases where medical emergency or scheduled services such as surgery are performed, scheduling may require advance planning up to a week in advance in coordination with the COR.

2.7 The contractor shall perform no service on energized equipment without written approval from the Safety Officer, Engineering Chief, and Hospital Director. VACCHCS has a formal procedure for approval of service on energized equipment. The Contractor will coordinate with the COR who will obtain these approvals for the Contractor. Approvals can take up to a week to obtain and are often disapproved.

2.8 The Contractor will adhere to NFPA 70E for Lock Out/ Tag Out and local VACCHCS procedures for performing service on de-energized equipment.

2.9 All equipment shall be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, the best practices of the industry, and applicable codes, standards, and regulations. If a conflict arises between these standards, the most stringent will prevail.

2.10 The contractor shall be responsible for the installation of signs and or barricades as related to equipment and / or systems as deemed necessary by the COR.

2.11 The Contractor shall maintain workspaces in a clean and orderly manner. When work is performed in these areas, the Contractor's personnel shall clean up all debris and leave the area in a presentable condition. Floors shall be swept and mopped when required and all dust shall be removed from vertical and horizontal surfaces at each visit. Remnant oil spots or stains are not tolerated. The Contractor must obtain the approval of the COR before storing anything in VA spaces. Operating supplies such as lubricants, rags, cleaners, etc., shall be properly secured in containers approved by the COR. Storage shall not negatively impact the means of egress, fire protection systems, and emergency lighting. Clearances from electrical equipment shall be maintained as required by NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code.

2.12 All inspection and testing intervals shall strictly adhere to the intervals required by the governing codes and standards and manufacturer’s recommendations to the extent possible.

3. REPORTS:

3.1 Service Report submissions: The contractor shall provide sample testing and inspection reports in their technical package for COR review and approval. Contractor shall deliver formal/ final reports of service no later than 14 calendar days from completion of each service. Contractor shall the reports digitally in PDF by email to the COR. All reports shall adhere to and shall be equivalent to NFPA templates or standards and shall be completed in full and signed. At the conclusion of the tri-annual testing/inspection the contractor shall supply a comprehensive report in two (2) hard three ring binders with cover page, table of contents and tabulated with dividers and one PDF copy on CD Rom of all reports. The reports shall include sections for all services performed including Demand Maintenance and Repair reports. Demand Maintenance and Repair reports must clearly link to a testing/inspection deficiency to demonstrate proper resolution of each deficiency identified during testing/inspection. Reports shall be submitted within 7 calendar days of the service in two (2) hard three ring binders with cover page, table of contents and tabulated with dividers and one PDF copy on CD Rom. The written report shall show the following minimum information:

3.1.1 Company’s name, addresses, telephone, & FAX numbers

3.1.2 Name and signature of contractors who performed the maintenance and testing.

3.1.3 VA Work Contract Number, name and number of VA Contracting Officer.

3.1.4 Date and Time of work.

3.1.5 Copies of contractors’ valid licenses, professional and training certificates.

3.1.6 Descriptions and model number of specialized tools and equipment used, such as torque wrench or infra-red scanning camera.

3.1.7 Location, Type, Name, and nameplate information of electrical equipment to be maintained and tested. Descriptions of work items.

3.1.8 Test data.

3.1.9 Reference materials.

3.1.10 Remarks on conditions of electrical equipment. List all deficiencies, if any.

3.1.11 Recommended corrective actions, if any.

3.2 Deficiency Report. When any deficiencies are identified, the contractor shall inform the COR immediately via verbal and written notification email. Contractor shall submit the deficiency report to the COR within two (2) business days. The deficiency report shall include at a minimum the following information:3.2.1 Location

3.2.2 Equipment/system name

3.2.3 Date of failure identification

3.2.4 Description of failure (pictures, drawings, etc.)

3.2.5 Justification (if repair is not accomplished)

3.2.6 Description of repair work (pictures, drawings, etc.)

3.2.7 Material list (description of article, quantity, catalogue-cut, pictures, etc.) for repair

3.2.8 Proposed repair schedule

3.2.9 Cost proposal

3.2.10 Submission date of the report

3.2.11 Signature of technician

3.3 Repair report. Upon completion of any repair work, whether via Demand Maintenance and Repair procedures or following routine testing/inspection service, the contractor shall supply a repair report certifying the repair work was completed. The report shall be provided by email within (2) business days of completion.

4. Demand Maintenance and Repair Procedures:

4.1 For maintenance and repairs requiring work outside the scope of routine maintenance, repairs are performed using Demand Maintenance and Repair Procedures. The government will fund the purchase order associated with the contract an additional sum of $20,000.00 for reimbursement of contractor costs for repair, maintenance, or investigation work. Repair, maintenance and investigation work may be requested through call back or as a result of routine inspection/testing services.

4.2 Labor: Contractor shall submit with their bid proposal a schedule of labor rates that will be charged for maintenance and repair work performed during normal business hours and during non-business hours, holidays and weekends. The submitted schedule of labor rates shall remain unchanged throughout the term of the contract. Prevailing wages apply.

4.3 Materials: The contractor shall provide all materials associated with repair work at the Contractor’s cost plus a reasonable mark-up for overhead, profit and handling. The contractor may be requested by the COR to provide evidence documenting the contractors’ procurement costs associated with materials. Contractor shall submit a schedule with their bid proposal listing the amount(s) or percentage(s) associated with materials mark-up. The submitted mark-up for materials shall remain unchanged throughout the term of the contract.

4.4 Travel/Per Diem: Costs associated with contractor Travel/Per Diem for Demand Maintenance work that requires travel that cannot be performed during the same time period that the tasks in the SOW are performed shall not exceed the amounts established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Rates can be obtained at: https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources

4.5 Labor Costs Incurred During Travel (Travel Time): Contractor may charge for no more than four hours of labor per an employee, per a repair when Contractors staff must travel to perform Demand Maintenance and Repair.

4.6 Contractor Reimbursement: Contractor shall be reimbursed for Time and Material work by submitting an invoice to the COR for review and approval prior to invoicing through Tungsten. The government shall approve for payment submission or reject the invoice within 14 calendar days.

4.7 The contractor shall not perform any repairs not included in the Scope of Work (attachment 2) or beyond the allotment made for repair reimbursement except by Demand Maintenance and Repair procedures. Contractor will not be compensated for any addition repairs without proper authority. Contractor shall obtain a written approval or change order with authorization and notification of available funds. Only the Contracting Officer has the authority to approve change orders. The contractor shall not assume that an increase to the allotted repair funds will be approved or available. The contract shall not invoice against the repair funds without approval of the COR or CO. All repairs shall be authorized in writing.

5. Contractor Qualifications:

5.1 Contractors shall be experienced Electrical Contractors, having properly trained and licensed permanent staff required to perform the proposed work. Electrical Contracting (i.e. the construction, repair, testing and maintenance of industrial and commercial electrical distribution systems) shall be the primary interest/specialty of the Contractor’s business.

5.2 Contractors shall be certified by the Inter-National Electrical Testing Association (NETA) or equivalent certifying organization as Certified Technicians.

5.3 Contractors shall have technical training and demonstrable track records of working experience in maintenance, inspection, and testing of Electrical Power Distribution Systems and related components in healthcare, industrial, educational, and commercial facilities for a minimum of five (5) continuous years. Electrical components on which the Contractors have experience shall include, but not be limited to, panels, switchboards & switchgear (low and medium voltage); low voltage controls; emergency and standby generators; automatic transfer switches, wiring, transformers, meters, and other electrical appurtenances.

5.4 Contractors shall have safety trainings – either on-the-job or class-room type - in electrical safety outlined in the OSHA Standard 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910 Subpart S – Electrical, and the NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. Training certification shall be provided indicating each technician is a Qualified Person as defined by NFPA 70E. Training certifications shall be submitted to the VA Contracting Officer prior to work. If no training certifications are available, the Contractor shall certify that he/she has met this requirement in writing and submit it to the VA Contracting Officer prior to work.

5.5 The Contractor shall maintain records identifying the certifications and ongoing training of each employee performing services under this contract. The contractor shall make this record available for review by the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) upon request.

5.6 Contractors shall have and provide all necessary tools, equipment, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to perform the work safely, effectively, and timely. Tools, equipment, and PPE shall comply with the requirements of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910, Subpart I, and NFPA 70E.

5.7 Prior to initiating work, Contractor shall provide documentation that all instruments, test equipment, tools and PPE have current calibration. Dated calibration labels shall be visible on all instruments, test equipment, tools and PPE as appropriate.

5.8 Contractor’s personnel shall be certified to perform testing on electrical distribution equipment in accordance with ANSI/NETA ETT-2018, Standard for Certification of Electrical Testing Technicians.

5.9 Contractors personnel shall have received the OSHA 10-hour Construction Safety course and be familiar with NFPA 70, National Electric Code, NFPA 70B.

6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Fresno VA Medical Center - 2615 E. Clinton Ave. Fresno, CA 93703

7. HOLIDAYS: Legal holidays recognized by the Federal Government in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 6103, Executive Order 11582 and Public Law 94-97 or any other by the President of the United States to be a national holiday, the following national holidays are observed and for the purpose of this contract is defined as “Legal Federal, official holidays” as follows:

Recognized Holidays:

8. SITE INVESTIGATION AND CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE WORK:

8.1 The Contractor acknowledges that it has taken steps reasonably necessary to ascertain the nature and location of the work, and that it has investigated and satisfied itself as to the general and local conditions which can affect the work or its cost, including but not limited to (1) conditions bearing upon transportation, disposal, handling, and storage of materials; (2) the availability of labor, water, electric power, and roads; (3) uncertainties of weather, or similar physical conditions at the site; (4) the conformation and condition of the ground; and (5) the character of equipment and facilities needed preliminary to and during work performance. The Contractor also acknowledges that it has satisfied itself as to the character, quality, and quantity of materials or obstacles to be encountered insofar as this information is reasonably ascertainable from an inspection of the site, as well as from any documents made a part of this contract. Any failure of the Contractor to take the actions described and acknowledged in this paragraph will not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty and cost of successfully performing the work, or for proceeding to successfully perform the work without additional expense to the Government.

8.2 The Government assumes no responsibility for any conclusions or interpretations made by the Contractor based on the information made available by the Government. Nor does the Government assume responsibility for any understanding reached or representation made concerning conditions which can affect the work by any of its officers or agents before the execution of this contract, unless that understanding or representation is expressly stated in this contract.

9. QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM:

The Contractor shall coordinate, report, and ensure the timely completion of the work specified in this PWS. This encompasses the planning, coordination, technical direction, and surveillance of all activities necessary to execute all work. The contractor shall submit their Quality Control plan in hardcopy in hard three ring binders with cover page, table of contents and tabulated with dividers and digitally in PDF within ten (10) days of contract award date. The COR will review the document and note any needed clarifications and return to the Contractor for revisions, if necessary. A VA approved QAQC Plan shall be in place within thirty (30) days of the contract start date.

9.1 The contractor shall provide the overall management effort required to integrate technical and programmatic functions.

9.2 The contractor shall ensure the technical excellence, cost effectiveness, and timeliness of all required work deliverable products.

9.3 The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure service is performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he/she assures that his/her work complies with the requirements of the contract. The overall goal of the program should be to identify and correct any problems that may exist before they are identified by or reported to the COR. The Government has the right to review and ask for corrections, additional items, and updates during the contract period.

9.4 The Contractors QAQC Plan shall include the following at a minimum:

9.4.1 A comprehensive list of all devices and associated equipment required to be maintained and/or inspected as part of this service contract in accordance with the NFPA codes list in paragraph 2.1 above. This list shall be reviewed with VA and discrepancies addressed prior to contract award.

9.4.2 An inspection plan and schedule covering all services required by this contract. The inspection plan must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis and how often inspections will be accomplished and documented. The name and title of the individual(s) who will perform the inspections shall be noted.

9.4.3 On site records of all inspections conducted by the Contractor noting necessary corrective action(s) taken. The Government reserves the right to request copies of any inspection.

9.4.4 The methods for identifying and/or preventing deficiencies in the quality of service performed before the level of performance becomes unacceptable.

9.4.5 Organizational structure and functions noting intermediate supervisory responsibilities and overall management responsibilities for ensuring total contract performance.

9.4.6 The Contractor shall provide as part of the QAQC Plan and maintain records identifying the required certifications (per NFPA requirements) and ongoing training of each employee and/or laboratory testing agencies performing services under this contract. The Contractor shall make any updates to certifications or records for individuals and/or laboratory testing agencies available for review by the VA.

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVELLANCE PLAN:

The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan and PWS. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. Failure to correct any adverse findings or failure to deliver all services described in this contract may result in non-acceptance of the services by the Government. Failure to meet the standards of this performance work statement my result in a deduction of price equal to the value of the unperformed or poorly performed services. Failure to provide services in accordance with this contract could also result in termination of the contract for cause and/or adversely impact the Contractor’s ability to be selected for future contracts as documented. Government verification inspections of services shall not constitute acceptance nor replace the contractor inspection or in any way relieve the contractor of any responsibility to take all actions necessary to assure highest quality of service rendered. The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is included in Attachment 3.

11. CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE:

11.1 The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will be appointed by the Contracting Officer who will provide technical guidance and clarifications to the Contractor. It shall be noted that interpretation of contractual terms and/or financial matters is the responsibility of the Contracting Officer.

11.2 The COR will monitor the Contractors performance to assure that services provided, and the standards of performance are met in accordance with this Performance Work Statement and the QAQC Plan. In accordance with FAR 52.212-4 (a) “Inspection/Acceptance” the Government reserves the right to inspect or test any supplies or services that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require repair or replacement of non-conforming supplies or re-work of non-conforming services at no additional cost to the Government.

12. STANDARD OF CONDUCT: Contractor, subcontractors, and contractor’s personnel must adhere to the contract and shall conduct themselves according to VA conduct standards.

12.1 Neglect of Duties. Contractor, subcontractors, and personnel neglect of duties shall not be condoned. This shall include but not limited to sleeping on duty, unreasonable delay or failures to carry out assigned tasks, conducting personal affairs during duty hours, and refusing to render assistance or cooperate in upholding the integrity of the work site security. This can result in the termination of the contract or removal of the employee(s), which will be the decision the VA. The CO shall inform the contractor in writing of actions.

12.2 Disorderly Conduct. The use of abusive or offensive language, quarreling, intimidation by works, actions, or fighting shall not be condoned. Also included is participation in disruptive activates which interfere with normal and efficient of government operations. This can result in the termination of the contract or removal of the employee(s), which will be the decision the VA. The CO shall inform the contractor in writing of actions.

12.3 Driving. Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall obey all speed limits and traffic signs. Disobeying traffic regulation could result in court citations, which include monetary fines. Continued violations could result in being restricted from driving on VA facilities.

12.4 Parking. Contractor vehicles will be parked only in lots or areas designated by the COR, if available. The Government will not be liable for any lost, stolen, or damage vehicles or items. Contractor shall obey all distances from critical areas which are deemed by the VA or code. Continued violations could result in being restricted from driving on VA facilities.

12.5 Cellular Phone/Radio Use: Cellular phones and two-way radios are not to be used in emergency rooms, surgical and recovery suites, and within six feet of any medical equipment.

12.6 Smoking. Smoking is prohibited on VA property. Smoking on VA property could result in citations, which include monetary fines. Continued violations could result in removal from VA facilities.

12.7 Intoxicants. The Contractor shall not allow any employee to possess, sell, consume, or be under the influence of intoxicants, drugs, or substances that produce similar effects. The use of illegal drugs is prohibited on Federal property. Violators will be prosecuted.

12.8 Posted Signs: The Contractor shall comply will all posted signs on VA property.

12.9 Criminal Actions. Contractor, subcontractor, or contractor’s employees may be sanction for criminal actions, but not limited to the following:

12.9.1 Falsification or unlawful concealment, removal, mutilation, or destruction of any official documents or records or concealment of material facts by willful omission from official documents or records.

12.9.2 Unauthorized use of Government property, theft, vandalism, or immoral conduct.

12.9.3 Unethical or improper use of official authority or credentials.

12.10 Removal of Personnel. The Government reserves the right to direct the Contractor to remove any employee from the work site for failure to comply with the standards of conduct or for safety/security violations.

13. SECURITY:

13.1 Security Badge: Contractor and contractor’s employees shall obtain a flash badge / temporary badge from dispatch, VA police on arrival to any campus. The VA Issued Security badge shall be worn on the upper torso and be visible at all times.

13.2 Contractor’s Badge: Contractor, Subcontractors, employees, and representatives shall have a company badge visible at all time. Contractor’s badge shall be visible at all times.

13.3 Physical Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding their equipment while on government property government. Additionally, the contractor shall be responsible for any government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. Contractor will NOT be provided a staging area for storage of tools, equipment, material, supplies, and other items. The Government will not be responsible for damage or loss of contractor’s property. Contractor is responsible to safeguard its property.

13.4 OI&T Security: Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) certification and accreditation requirements do not apply for this service contract and therefore a Security Accreditation Package is not required. At no time will the vendor be in contact or have access to VA sensitive information, OI&T systems, or the VA OI&T network.

14. SAFETY

14.1 In performance of this contract, the Contractor shall take such safety precautions as the Contractor Officer or his/her designee may determine to be reasonably necessary to protect both the lives and health of the occupants of the building and property. The Contractor Officer or his/her designee will notify the Contractor of any non-compliance. The Contractor shall, after receipt of such notice, immediately correct the condition to which attention has been directed.

14.2 The Contractor shall provide all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and attire to personnel and require employees to use it during the performance of their duties as necessary. Employees shall be trained on the use and proper maintenance of PPE. The contractor shall conform to all regulations, federal and local OSHA standards.

14.3 Contractor shall comply with the Federal and State OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens Standard(s) and Airborne Infection Precautions. The Contractor shall ensure:

14.3.1 Methods are in place by which all employees are educated as to the risks associated with Blood Borne Pathogens and Infectious Airborne Diseases in Health Care facilities

14.3.2 Have policies and procedures in place which reduce the risk of employee exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens and Infectious Airborne Diseases

14.3.3 Have mechanisms for employee counseling and treatment following exposure to blood borne pathogens and Infectious Airborne Diseases.

14.3.4 Provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or clothing such as gloves, caps, gowns, masks, and protective eyewear throughout the performance of this contract.

14.4 Uniforms. The contractor shall require all his employees, including supervisor, to wear distinctive uniform clothing for ready identification. The uniform shall have the Contractor’s name, easily identifiable.

14.5 Supervision. The contractor shall arrange for satisfactory supervision of the contract work. The Contractor or his designee shall be available at all times, when the contract work is in progress, to receive notices, reports or requires from the Contracting Officer or his representative.

15. INVOICING: Contractor shall invoice in monthly increments or as established by the Contracting Officer in arears for work performed. Invoices will not be paid until all required deliverables have been received during the billing period. Invoices shall be submitted to the COR for review and approval prior to submission to Tungsten.

15.1 All invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests.

15.2 VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System- The FSC uses a third-party contractor, Tungsten, to transition vendors from paper to electronic invoice submissions. Please go to this website: http://www.tungsten-network.com/US/en/veterans-affairs/ to begin submitting electronic invoices, free of charge.

15.3 More information on the VA Financial Services Center is available at http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp.

15.4 Vendor e-Invoice Set-Up Information:

15.5 Please contact Tungsten at the phone number or email address listed below to begin submitting your electronic invoices to the VA Financial Services Center for payment processing, free of charge. If you have question about the e- invoicing program or Tungsten, please contact the FSC at the phone number or email address listed below:

15.5.1 Tungsten e-Invoice Setup Information: 1-877-489-6135

15.5.2 Tungsten e-Invoice email: VA.Registration@Tungsten-Network.com

15.5.3 FSC e-Invoice Contact Information: 1-877-353-9791

15.5.4 FSC e-invoice email: vafsccshd@va.gov

References

1. NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, Latest Edition.

2. NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, Latest Edition.

3. NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, Latest Edition.

4. NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, Latest Edition.

5. NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, Latest Edition.

6. NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, Latest Edition

7. The Joint Commission Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, Latest Edition.

8. OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Requirements Part 1910 Subpart J - The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) (1910.147).

9. OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Requirements Part 1910 Subpart S - Electrical (1910.301 - 1910.399).

10. OSHA - Safety and Health Regulations for Construction Part 1926 Subpart K - Electrical (1926.400 - 1926.449).

11. Statement of Work : Maintenance and Testing of the Electrical Power Distribution System.

12. CEOSH. The General Safety Guidebook, Latest Edition.

13. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Std 1584-2002, Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations.

B.2 IT CONTRACT SECURITY

VA INFORMATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY/PRIVACY

1. GENERAL

Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security.

2. ACCESS TO VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEMS

a. A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order.

b. All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program. The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures.

c. Contract personnel who require access to national security programs must have a valid security clearance. National Industrial Security Program (NISP) was established by Executive Order 12829 to ensure that cleared U.S. defense industry contract personnel safeguard the classified information in their possession while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not have a Memorandum of Agreement with Defense Security Service (DSS). Verification of a Security Clearance must be processed through the Special Security Officer located in the Planning and National Security Service within the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness.

d. Custom software development and outsourced operations must be located in the U.S. to the maximum extent practical. If such services are proposed to be performed abroad and are not disallowed by other VA policy or mandates, the contractor/subcontractor must state where all non-U.S. services are provided and detail a security plan, deemed to be acceptable by VA, specifically to address mitigation of the resulting problems of communication, control, data protection, and so forth. Location within the U.S. may be an evaluation factor.

e. The contractor or subcontractor must notify the Contracting Officer immediately when an employee working on a VA system or with access to VA information is reassigned or leaves the contractor or subcontractor's employ. The Contracting Officer must also be notified immediately by the contractor or subcontractor prior to an unfriendly termination.

3. VA INFORMATION CUSTODIAL LANGUAGE

a. Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data - General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1).

b. VA information should not be co-mingled, if possible, with any other data on the contractors/subcontractor's information systems or media storage systems in order to ensure VA requirements related to data protection and media sanitization can be met. If co-mingling must be allowed to meet the requirements of the business need, the contractor must ensure that VA's information is returned to the VA or destroyed in accordance with VA's sanitization requirements. VA reserves the right to conduct on site inspections of contractor and subcontractor IT resources to ensure data security controls, separation of data and job duties, and destruction/media sanitization procedures are in compliance with VA directive requirements.

c. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/ subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/ created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management and its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract.

d. The contractor/subcontractor must receive, gather, store, back up, maintain, use, disclose and dispose of VA information only in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable Federal and VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies. If Federal or VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies become applicable to the VA information or information systems after execution of the contract, or if NIST issues or updates applicable FIPS or Special Publications (SP) after execution of this contract, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to implement the information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies in this contract.

e. The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state. If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed.

f. If VA determines that the contractor has violated any of the information confidentiality, privacy, and security provisions of the contract, it shall be sufficient grounds for VA to withhold payment to the contractor or third party or terminate the contract for default or terminate for cause under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12.

g. If a VHA contract is terminated for cause, the associated BAA must also be terminated and appropriate actions taken in accordance with VHA Handbook 1600.01, Business Associate Agreements. Absent an agreement to use or disclose protected health information, there is no business associate relationship.

h. The contractor/subcontractor must store, transport, or transmit VA sensitive information in an encrypted form, using VA-approved encryption tools that are, at a minimum, FIPS 140-2 validated.

i. The contractor/subcontractor's firewall and Web services security controls, if applicable, shall meet or exceed VA's minimum requirements. VA Configuration Guidelines are available upon request.

j. Except for uses and disclosures of VA information authorized by this contract for performance of the contract, the contractor/subcontractor may use and disclose VA information only in two other situations: (i) in response to a qualifying order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) with VA's prior written approval. The contractor/subcontractor must refer all requests for, demands for production of, or inquiries about, VA information and information systems to the VA contracting officer for response.

k. Notwithstanding the provision above, the contractor/subcontractor shall not release VA records protected by Title 38 U.S.C. 5705, confidentiality of medical quality assurance records and/or Title 38 U.S.C. 7332, confidentiality of certain health records pertaining to drug addiction, sickle cell anemia, alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus. If the contractor/subcontractor is in receipt of a court order or other requests for the above mentioned information, that contractor/subcontractor shall immediately refer such court orders or other requests to the VA contracting officer for response.

l. For service that involves the storage, generating, transmitting, or exchanging of VA sensitive information but does not require C&A or an MOU-ISA for system interconnection, the contractor/subcontractor must complete a Contractor Security Control Assessment (CSCA) on a yearly basis and provide it to the COR.

4. INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

a. Information systems that are designed or developed for or on behalf of VA at non-VA facilities shall comply with all VA directives developed in accordance with FISMA, HIPAA, NIST, and related VA security and privacy control requirements for Federal information systems. This includes standards for the protection of electronic PHI, outlined in 45 C.F.R. Part 164, Subpart C, information and system security categorization level designations in accordance with FIPS 199 and FIPS 200 with implementation of all baseline security controls commensurate with the FIPS 199 system security categorization (reference Appendix D of VA Handbook 6500, VA Information Security Program). During the development cycle a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) must be completed, provided to the COR, and approved by the VA Privacy Service in accordance with Directive 6507, VA Privacy Impact Assessment.

b. The contractor/subcontractor shall certify to the COR that applications are fully functional and operate correctly as intended on systems using the VA Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC), and the common security configuration guidelines provided by NIST or the VA. This includes Internet Explorer 7 configured to operate on Windows XP and Vista (in Protected Mode on Vista) and future versions, as required.

c. The standard installation, operation, maintenance, updating, and patching of software shall not alter the configuration settings from the VA approved and FDCC configuration. Information technology staff must also use the Windows Installer Service for installation to the default "program files" directory and silently install and uninstall.

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