36C26319R0170-0001000.docx

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) None 36C263 Department of Veterans Affairs

NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE

Attention: Daniel Vagts 316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St. Paul

MN

55101 Department of Veterans Affairs

NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE

Attention: Daniel Vagts 316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St. Paul

MN

55101 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26319R0170

X

X

ONE

The purpose of this modification is to poste Questions and Answers.

Daniel Vagts Contract Officer

NCO2315L2-4547

Questions and Answers

1 – Is there an incumbent? And if so, can the government provide current contract value and / or incumbent contact info. Answer: No incumbent 2 – To confirm, the government would be agreeable to a job share between two Gastroenterologists (most likely two weeks on and then two weeks off for each job?

Answer: Yes, job share is acceptable. If continuity of care is fulfilled with qualified, Board Certified physicians with Advanced Endoscopy experience for 40 hours/week. Each candidate will need to successfully complete background investigations and credentialing. There is also expectation for full coverage if a candidate is delayed or does not pass credentialing.

3 – If the provider does not have a current BLS and/or ACLS thru the American Heart Association, will the government still consider that doctor if they agree to obtain life support upon acceptance?

Answer: No. Physician candidates should have current BLS and ACLS.

2.1.2 Board Certification - Contractor’s physician (s) shall be Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Gastroenterology and be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) by American Heart Association. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance.

4 – Will the VA consider a provider that is not currently board certified in Internal Medicine?

Answer: No, physician candidates need to be Board Certified.

2.1.2 Board Certification - Contractor’s physician (s) shall be Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Gastroenterology and be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) by American Heart Association. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance.

5 – Can the VA provide any historical data about the number of surgeries that the GI should expect to do in a work week?

Answer: The expectation is a 40-hour work week, with a full procedure schedule.

3. HOURS OF OPERATION

3.1 VA Business Hours: MVAHCS Gastroenterology Clinic is open 8:00a- 4:30p Monday through Friday, based on clinic needs and subject to change. The one-half hour is unpaid for lunch for a tour of 8 hours.

Clinic Schedule: will be published by Chief of Gastroenterology 2 weeks in advance, based on clinic needs.

4.5.2.1 Clinic and Surgical Care: Contractor’s physician (s)) shall provide clinical Gastroenterology services. Contractor’s physician (s) shall be present on time for any scheduled clinics/surgeries as documented by physical presence in the clinic or operating room at the scheduled start time.

4.5.2.1.1 Operative Services: Contractor’s physician (s) shall provide comprehensive clinical gastroenterology services including the full range of colonoscopy, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD, Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) procedures such as:

Colonoscopy Colonoscopy via colostomy Colonoscopy w/biopsy(ies) Colonoscopy w/ablation of tumor/polyp/lesion Colonoscopy w/removal of tumor/polyp/lesion by hot forcep Colonoscopy w/removal of tumor/polyp/lesion by snare technique Colonoscopy w/out biopsy Colonoscopy w/stent Colonoscopy w/ submucosal Colonoscopy w/endoscopic mucosal resection

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) EGD diagnostic EGD w/biopsy(ies) EGD w/removal of tumor/polyp/lesion by snare technique EGD w/removal of tumor/polyp/lesion by hot forcep EGD w/stent placement

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with or without following interventions ERCP w/snare ERCP w/stent ERCP w/polyp resection ERCP w/sphincterotomy ERCP w/dilation

Endoscopic Ultrasound with or without the following interventions Endoscopic Ultrasound w/FNA Endoscopic Ultrasound w/biopsy Endoscopic Ultrasound w/guidewire placement Endoscopic Ultrasound w/stent placement Endoscopic Ultrasound w/dilation

Small Bowel Enteroscopy

6 – Can you also provide us with the number of the other GI’s working, as well as the support staff of the clinic and OR?

Answer: There is a current vacancy for Advanced Endoscopy. There are staff MDs, Nursing, GI Technicians and administrative support for the department.

7 – Is there any pager call or call back that would be expected? If so. Can that info please be provided?

Answer: No call coverage is included due to facility complexity of OR schedules.

8 – Will the VA consider a GI that can’t/isn’t qualified to do ERCP’s? If required, is there additional education or certifications that will need to be provided with the physician?

Answer: No. The current vacancy is for Advanced Endoscopy which includes ERCP’s 9 – As it relates to the reference info for each physician outlined on page 73, Section 1.5, letter C: If the reference or provider does not have a contract number, value of contract, or start/end dates of a contract CAN that info be absent and still be considered an acceptable reference? Most of the references that these physicians will use have never worked in the government sector and have not worked in the typical contract physician role.

Answer: Government would accept a reference outside the government sector without a contract number, contract value and start and end dates.

10 – As outlined in Factor 2 Past Performance, can the government please clarify what is deemed an acceptable professional reference to speak to contractor’s ability to provide quality GI services? Can those 4 professional references be utilized as POC’s for the relevant contracts OR do they need to be in addition to the 5 contracts.

Answer: Need four (4) professional references and have five (5) federal contracts to reference.

11 – Is this a new requirement or is it a consolidation of other existing contracts? Answer: New requirement.

12 – Evaluation Factors, 1.1 “A listing of all personnel who will be assigned to perform the required services. 2 credentialed physicians are required for this contract.”

a. Performance Work Statement, GENERAL, states:

a. 1. “Services Provided: The Contractor shall provide 1 FTEE Board Certified Gastroenterology Physician Services with advanced GI Endoscopy on site in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Minneapolis VAHCS.”

b. Should the Evaluation factor state, “1 credentialed physician is required for this contract?

Answer: Expectation is 1 FTE for 40 hours/week. It is written to have 2 credentialed physicians for coverage of leave lasting more than 3 days, vacation, etc.

13 – There is no mention of call in this solicitation; can we assume there will be none?

Answer: No call coverage is included due to facility complexities of OR schedules.

14 – Could more than one physician do this opportunity? Answer: Yes 15 – What is the call schedule? Answer: No call coverage required.