36C26223Q1804 0001.pdf

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office. is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30 PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print) (Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

1 3

36C262

Department of Veterans Affairs NCO22 Network Contracting New Mexico VA Health Care System 1501 San Pedro Drive SE Albuquerque NM 87108

36C262

Department of Veterans Affairs NCO22 Network Contracting New Mexico VA Health Care System 1501 San Pedro Drive SE Albuquerque NM 87108

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26223Q1804

09-10-2023

X

X X

09/25/2023 at 9:00am MST

1. The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to questions and extend the due date.

2. See page 2-3 for questions and answers.

3. The due date has been extended to September 25, 2023 at 9:00am MST.

Question 1: Is there a current contract in place? If so, what is the contract number?

Answer 1: Yes, 36C26223D0042.

Question 2: Based on historical data, what is the average loaded miles per ambulance transport?

Answer 2: 19.26 average miles per call (6 month average).

Question 3: The contract calls for ALS level ambulance and states that in D1. II. B “ALS shall be provided by ambulance vehicles containing at a minimum an on-board EMT-P”. In item O of that same section, an EMT-P is defined as “A certified health care provider who has successfully completed and maintains the USDOT National Standard Curriculum for EMT-P in order to provide advanced life support.” The SWD (SCA Wage Determination) referenced in this solicitation (# 2015-5443) has no listing for an EMT-P. What is the required wage rate for this position?

Answer 3: EMT-P starting wage for paramedic is $20.00 without experience.

Question 4: Is there an interest/need by the VA to add Specialty Care Transport (SCT) as defined in the SOW to this solicitation?

Answer 4: Yes, there is a need from time to time to transport patients under SCT that may require a higher level of care during transport to other facilities that can provide the care the VA could not.

Question 5: The Price/Cost Schedule calls for Basic Wheelchair Transport Service, which appears to fall under NAICS code 485991 (Special Needs Transportation), which would not include EMS personnel (EMTs and EMT-Ps). Is the VA requesting these transports to be conducted in ambulances by ambulance personnel?

Answer 5: To date, we have never used an ambulance to set up a wheelchair transport and most likely will not.

Question 6: Based on historical data, what is the average transport distance for each Basic Wheelchair Transport?

Answer 6: To date, we have never used an ambulance to set up a wheelchair transport and most likely will not.

Question 7: Would the VA be opposed to subcontracting transportation for services in excess of 200 miles one way to an air ambulance provider? If so, should pricing be supplied as a separated line item?

Answer7: No, as long as subcontracted transportation meets the medical needs of the patient during transport.

Question 8: The pricing sheets include a line item for wheelchair services. However, the SOW on page 35 cites the following: “Contractor care shall provide a full range of paramedic and ambulance services, for scheduled and on-call ground ambulance transportation services only.”

Wheelchair services are not considered a type of “ground ambulance” service. Should wheelchair services then be provided by the contractor? If required by the contractor, is it permissible to sub-contract that line of service? If required by the contractor, would it be acceptable by the VA to price those services at a fair market BLS ambulance rate as this service line Is outside the typical scope of service provision?

Answer 8: Ambulance company will not be requested to transport wheelchair patients.

Question 9: Is it the intent of the VA that all requests for service included in this bid proposal are to be scheduled by the VA for “in-house” VA patients only and not applicable to any emergent or 911 service that is not initiated by the NMVAHCS? If not, for any requests for service by VA patients external to the VA and not requested by the VA staff, who or what entity will be the responsible party for reimbursement of those services?

Answer 9: Bid proposal is for scheduled “in-house” VA patients only, that specific VA staff would call to set-up ambulance transport request. This is not applicable to any emergent or 911 services. Transport requests would be initiated by VA facility and specific VA staff.

Question 10: Can the VA please define what it considers an “emergent” patient versus a “non-emergent” patient type of request? Please provide examples, if possible.

Answer 10: Transfer out of the emergency room or the ICU to another hospital (ED or Inpatient) would be classified as an emergent transfer. Any outpatient/inpatient transfer to a long-term care facility, rehab, discharged home, to and from appointments… etc would be considered a non-emergent transfer.