QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf

Amendment to the Solicitation

1. Section B.2, Schedule of Services and Price is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the attached document Updated Schedule of Services and Price

2. Section D.1 Price Worksheet is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the attached document name Updated Price Worksheet

3. Paragraph 3 of the PWS is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

PHARMACY COURIER RUNS/APPROXIMATE FREQUENCY:

The Pharmacy shall prepare the items for pick-up and delivery for each location. There shall be no restriction on the number of packages to be picked up for any given run if the medications prepped can be delivered on one delivery service. Contractor shall include unlimited amounts of medication carrier items for pick-up and delivery for all courier transportation runs. The Government shall provide coolers for medication transport. The Contractor shall respond to the VA’s request for services within 4-hours by having their courier vehicle and driver present at the pick-up location. The approximation of runs will be once a month from the hospitals listed under section 2.1. For the CBOCs affiliated with VASDHS and VALBHS, the expected service at least once weekly, and from the other non-VA affiliated facilities is at least twice weekly. Ultimately, the contractor’s service will be used to deliver medications to/from any VASDHS and VALBHS CBOC and other hospitals in the vicinity if medication is needed before the next calendar day.

Questions and Answers

1. Who is the incumbent contractor?

This is a new requirement

2. What was the previous award amount?

No previous contract

3. How many driver’s are being used currently?

No current contract

4. What kind of turn around time are you looking for with these stat pick-up’s?

The Government requires a 4-hour response time for services. Paragraph 3 is hereby amended (please see above #3 under amendment to the solicitation)

5. Do the cooler’s have to be lockable? How many cooler’s will be required? Ice packs? Dry ice?

The Government will provide the coolers which will not be locked.

6. What size of cooler’s will be needed?

Pharmacy will provide coolers/carriers and there are several sizes.

7. How big of a vehicle is needed, what size vehicle is currently being used?

Please see section D Price Worksheet for estimated quantities. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the size of the vehicle based upon the services request from the VA Pharmacy.

8. Will we be doing a cooler rotation system?

No

9. Do we provide the cooler’s?

No, VA will provide.

10. Are there any scheduled route’s for this contract or just as needed pick-up’s?

As needed only.

11. Is there a pick-up and drop off time when a pickup gets scheduled or just ASAP?

Both.

12. How many drivers/vehicles are required to service this contract?

Please see section D Price Worksheet for estimated quantities. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the size of the vehicle based upon the services request from the VA Pharmacy. There is no Government requirement to have a co-driver.

13. What are the approximate number of trips for each line item per week, month, or year? And/or, what is the approximate yearly total for all on-call trips between all facilities?

This is an IDIQ contract, but the yearly estimate of trips can be found in section D – Price Worksheet.

14. Can you please clarify why this requirement is set as a RFP and not RFQ?

A request for proposal requires the Offeror to sign the proposal agreeing to all terms and conditions and the offered pricing.

15. Do you accept CPARs evaluations as additional Past Performance information?

Please respond to this solicitation per the instructions in section E.2 and reference section E.3.

16. Regarding specific employees information: It is common practice for small businesses that the drivers, cars and other equipment used for a contract are not sourced until after an award has been made, for cost effectiveness and to reduce loss. However, we will be forwarding our standard Training Certificates-Procedures for your reference, is this information acceptable?

Please respond to this solicitation per the instructions in section E.2 and reference section E.3.

Please note

17. Regarding evaluation factors for the price Volume: we usually like to provide a “Pricing realism” cost break-down, to include SCA minimum per year, the number of drivers, hours and miles that are estimated to be required for performance, and other costs. Is it acceptable that we forward this Pricing Realism chart with our Price response?

No, Please submit pricing in accordance with the specified formats listed in Section B and D