36C26320R0023-001.docx

36C26320R0023

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.

DUNS:

DUNS+4:

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. 2/2012)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

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

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

618-20-3-4002-0050 36C26320R0023 10-25-2019 John Peach 651-293-3037 11-25-2019

10 AM EST

36C263 Department of Veterans Affairs Network 23 Contracting Office Attention: Daniel Vagts 316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St Paul MN 55101 X X 561320 $30.0 Million N/A X Department of Veterans Affairs

NCO 23

One Veterans Drive, Building 70 Minneapolis MN 55417 Department of Veterans Affairs Network 23 Contracting Office Attention: John Peach 316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St. Paul MN 55415

Y Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center PO Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971 See CONTINUATION Page

3.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Opticians.

Services for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

See Section B.

Schedule of Services (pg.

See Section B.

Performance Work Statement (pg.

See CONTINUATION Page 618-3600160-4002-820200-2581 010041152 X X

ONE

Daniel Vagts

NCO2315L2-4547

Table of Contents

SECTION B - CONTINUATION OF SF 1449 BLOCKS

B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

(continuation from Standard Form 1449, block 18A.)

1. Contract Administration: All contract administration matters will be handled by the following individuals:

a. CONTRACTOR:

b. GOVERNMENT: Contracting Officer Contracting Officer is Daniel Vagts at daniel.vagts@va.gov Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 23 – St. Paul 316 Robert Street N.

St. Paul MN 55101

2. CONTRACTOR REMITTANCE ADDRESS: All payments by the Government to the contractor will be made in accordance with:

3. INVOICES: Invoices shall be submitted in arrears:

4. GOVERNMENT INVOICE ADDRESS: All Invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests.

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS: The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the Solicitation numbered and dated as follows:

6. TYPE OF CONTRACT: Resultant contracts shall be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract effective for the period stated in the Schedule of Services.

7. TERM OF CONTRACT: The contract period is effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 with four (4) available twelve-month option periods.

8. POINT OF CONTACT: The Contractor shall provide a point of contact (POC) who shall be responsible for the performance of the work under this contract. The POC shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all matters relating to the daily operation of this contract. The POC may be a contract health care provider performing under this contract. An alternate may be designated, but the Contractor shall identify, in writing, those times when the alternate shall act as the POC. The Contractor shall identify the POC and alternate in writing to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO). The Contractor shall give written notification to the COR and CO of the time when the alternate will act as the POC. The POC shall be available by telephone Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM through 4:30 PM, excluding Federal holidays.

9. SECURE FAX: VA Handbook 6500 requires the following statement on all fax cover sheets be included: “This fax is intended only for the use of the person or office to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or protected by law. All others are hereby notified that the receipt of this fax does not waive any applicable privilege or exemption for disclosure and that any dissemination, distribute on, or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this fax in error, please notify this office immediately at the telephone number listed above.”

10. POST AWARD ORIENTATION: The Contracting Officer shall follow the guidance in FAR Subpart 42.5 and note Information Letter (IL) 003A3-12-04 that provides documentation requirements for orientation conducted for such awards. A hyperlink to the IL is provided for your information. http://www.va.gov/oal/docs/library/ils/il12-04.pdf

B.2 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN--MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE (JUN 2011)

This solicitation includes FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, and VAAR 852.219-9, VA Small Business Subcontracting Plan Minimum Requirement. Accordingly, any contract resulting from this solicitation will include these clauses. The contractor is advised in performing contract administration functions, the CO may use the services of a support contractor(s) to assist in assessing the contractor's compliance with the plan, including reviewing the contractor's accomplishments in achieving the subcontracting goals in the plan. To that end, the support contractor(s) may require access to the contractor's business records or other proprietary data to review such business records regarding the contractor's compliance with this requirement. All support contractors conducting this review on behalf of VA will be required to sign an “Information Protection and Non-Disclosure and Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Agreement” to ensure the contractor's business records or other proprietary data reviewed or obtained in the course of assisting the CO in assessing the contractor for compliance are protected to ensure information or data is not improperly disclosed or other impropriety occurs. Furthermore, if VA determines any services the support contractor(s) will perform in assessing compliance are advisory and assistance services as defined in FAR 2.101, Definitions, the support contractor(s) must also enter into an agreement with the contractor to protect proprietary information as required by FAR 9.505-4, obtaining access to proprietary information, paragraph (b). The contractor is required to cooperate fully and make available any records as may be required to enable the CO to assess the contractor compliance with the subcontracting plan.

B.3 SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

36C26320R0023

Page 1 of Page 1 of

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

The contractor shall furnish three (3) opticians to provide onsite optician services to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System (hereinafter referred to as MVAHCS). The contractor’s opticians care shall cover the range of optician duties as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility and the standard of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized.

Place of Performance: Services shall be provided on site at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417 Pricing Instructions:

The offeror is instructed to edit the number of sub-clins to correspond with the number of key personnel submitted for the contract line item number (CLIN).

The contractor shall propose a minimum of three (3) key personnel to be credentialed and be available for scheduling to meet the requirements of the contract.

Period of Performance: BASE PERIOD: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021

Annual Cost

KEY PERSONNEL

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

TOTAL FOR BASE PERIOD

Hours

OPTION PERIOD 1: April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022

Annual Cost

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

TOTAL FOR OPTION PERIOD 1

OPTION PERIOD 2: April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023

Annual Cost

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

TOTAL FOR OPTION PERIOD 2

OPTION PERIOD 3: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Annual Cost

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

TOTAL FOR OPTION PERIOD 3

OPTION PERIOD 4: April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025

Annual Cost

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

NAME:____________

TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:____________

TOTAL FOR OPTION PERIOD 4

Total for base performance period and all option years: $_________________________

B.4 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

1. GENERAL:

1.1. Services Provided: The contractor shall furnish three (3) opticians to provide optician services onsite at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS).

1.1.1. Scope of Services: The Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS) has a requirement for the provision of services of three (3) Opticians to dispense and fit eyeglasses and frames to Veterans. Services are required by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (VAHCS), Surgical/Specialty Care Patient Service Line (SSC PSL) in support of the Ophthalmology Department. Contractor shall provide personnel necessary to perform services under this performance work statement. The contractor is responsible to ensure that contract personnel providing work on this contract are fully trained and fully competent to perform the required services for the duration of the contract period. Contractor will be compensated only for actual hours worked. The scope of the optician services required includes: verifying prescriptions, measuring patients for properly fitting spectacles, making repairs and adjustments, performing measurement tasks, documenting bifocal heights, spectacle data, visual acuity, patient education, and performing other related duties as assigned.

1.2. Place of Performance: Contractor shall furnish services at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.

1.2.1. Period of Performance: Services are required for a base period of twelve-months with four (4) twelve-month option periods.

1.3. Authority: Title 38 USC 8153, Health Care Resources (HCR) sharing Authority and FAR 12 in combination with 15.

1.4. Policy/Handbooks: Contractor personnel providing services in a VA Health Care facility shall provide services in accordance with the following U.S. Government statutes, and VHA/VA Regulations, Directives, Handbooks, and Policies implementing these statues. Electronic copies may be obtained at the websites listed below. This contract incorporates the below attachments by reference with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text.

1.4.1. VA Directive 1663: Health Care Resources Contracting - Buying https://www1.va.gov/vapubs/viewPublication.asp?Pub_ID=969&FType=2

1.4.2. VHA Directive 2006-041 “Veterans’ Health Care Service Standards” (expired but still in effect pending revision) https://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1443

1.4.3. VHA Directive 2010-018 “Facility Infrastructure”

https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2227

1.4.4. VHA Directive 1192 “Seasonal Influenza Prevention Program” https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=5472

1.4.5. VHA Handbook 1100.17: National Practitioner Data Bank Reports - https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2135

1.4.6. VHA Handbook 1100.18 Reporting and Responding to State Licensing Boards - https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1364

1.4.7. VHA Handbook 1100.19 Credentialing and Privileging - https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2910

1.4.8. VHA Handbook 1907.01 Health Information Management and Health Records: https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=3088

1.4.9. Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended http://www.justice.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm

1.4.10. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)(Public Law 104-191) www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/HIPAA-Administrative-Simplification/HIPAAGenInfo/Downloads/HIPAALaw.pdf

1.4.11. Minneapolis VA Health Care System Policy: The Minneapolis VAHCS policies are only available on the Minneapolis VA Intranet site. This site is not available to the general public. Copies of these policies will be provided.

1.4.11.1. POL-05 – PIV Card Policy (Personnel Identification Verification – ID Badge)

1.4.11.2. IC-01l – Infection Precautions

1.4.11.3. IM-01L – Medical Records (Management of Information)

1.4.11.4. IM-06F – Information Security Policy/Procedures

1.4.11.5. HR-22E – Dress Code/Professional Appearance for MVAHCS Employees

1.5. Definitions/Acronyms: Terms used in this contract shall be interpreted as follows unless the context expressly requires a different construction and/or interpretation. In case of a conflict in language between the Definitions and other sections of this contract, the language in this section shall govern.

1.5.1. ABO: American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners: https://www.abo-ncle.org/

1.5.2. AOD: Admitting Officer of the Day

1.5.3. BLS: Basic Life Support

1.5.4. CCNE: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education: www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation

1.5.5. CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1.5.6. CDR: Contract Discrepancy Report

1.5.7. CEU: Certified Education Unit

1.5.8. CME: Continuing Medical Education

1.5.9. CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

1.5.10. Contracting Officer (CO): The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government with the authority to enter into and administer contracts and make related determinations and findings.

1.5.11. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A person appointed by the CO to take necessary action to ensure the contractor performs in accordance with and adheres to the specifications contained in the contract and to protect the interest of the Government. The COR shall report to the CO promptly any indication of non-compliance in order that appropriate action can be taken.

1.5.12. COS: Chief of Staff

1.5.13. CPARS: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

1.5.14. CPRS: Computerized Patient Recordkeeping System- electronic health record system used by the VA.

1.5.15. Credentialing: Credentialing is the systematic process of screening and evaluating qualification and other credentials, including licensure, required education, relevant training and experience and current competence and health status.

1.5.16. DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency

1.5.17. ED: Emergency Department

1.5.18. FSMB: Federation of State Medical Boards

1.5.19. Full Time Equivalent (FTE): VA’s definition for full time- working the equivalent of 80 hours every two weeks, 2080 hours per year. In calculating FTE, any hours not worked on national holidays shall not be included.

1.5.20. HHS: Department of Health and Human Services

1.5.21. HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

1.5.22. HR: Human Resources

1.5.23. ISO: Information Security Officer

1.5.24. Medical Emergency: A sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably result in: permanently placing a patient's health in jeopardy, causing other serious medical consequences, causing impairments to body functions, or causing serious or permanent dysfunction of any body-organ or part.

1.5.25. MOD: Medical Officer of the Day

1.5.26. National Provider Identifier (NPI): NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPAA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers).

1.5.27. NLNAC: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. www.nlnac.org

1.5.28. Non-Contractor’s provider(s): Any person, organization, agency, or entity that is not directly or indirectly employed by the contractor or any of its subcontractors

1.5.29. NP: Nurse Practitioner

1.5.30. NPPES: National Plan and Provider Enumeration System

1.5.31. PA: Provider Assistant

1.5.32. POP: Period of Performance

1.5.33. PWS: Performance Work Statement

1.5.34. Privileging (Clinical Privileging): Privileging is the process by which a practitioner, licensed for independent practice; e.g., without supervision, direction, required sponsor, preceptor, mandatory collaboration, etc.; is permitted by law and the facility to practice independently, to provide specific medical or other patient care services within the scope of the individual’s license, based upon the individual’s clinical competence as determined by peer references, professional experience, health status, education, training and licensure. Clinical privileges must be facility-specific and provider-specific.

1.5.35. QA/QI: Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement

1.5.36. QM/PI: Quality Management/Performance Improvement

1.5.37. QASP: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

1.5.38. Veterans Health Administration (VHA): The central office for administration of the VA medical centers through throughout the United States. The VHA is located in Washington, D.C.

1.5.39. Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN): The regional oversight for the VA medical centers.

1.5.40. VISTA (Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture): A PC based system that will capture and store clinical imagery, scanned documents and other non-textual data files and integrates them into patient’s medical record and with the hospital information system.

1.5.41. VetPro: A federal web-based credentialing program for healthcare providers.

1.5.42. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC): Unless identified with the name of a different VA medical Center, for purposes of this contract, this term shall mean the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

2. QUALIFICATIONS:

2.1. Staff/Facility

2.1.1. License: Contractor’s provider’s may hold a current optician’s license issued in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or District of Columbia when services are performed onsite VA property. However, an Optician’s license is not required.

All license held by personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contractor’s providers who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this contract.

2.1.2. Board Certification/Experience: Contractor’s providers shall be board certified by the American Board of Optician (ABO) and/or the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) http://abop.org/board-certification/. In lieu of certification, the contractor’s provider’s must have at least three (3) years current Optician experience. Opticians provided must have had formal education and training in an opticianry program that is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation http://www.coaccreditation.com/ or have completed an Optician apprenticeship with three (3) years of on the job training. All continuing education courses required for certification and/or keeping up to date with developments in the field must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certifications and education shall be provided by the contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance.

2.1.3. Credentialing and Privileging: Reserved

2.1.4. Technical Proficiency: Contractor’s provider(s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government’s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all contractor’s provider(s) and contractor’s provider(s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations (referenced herein) that govern medical staff behavior.

2.1.5. Continuing Medical Education (CME)/ Certified Education Unit (CEU) Requirements: Contractor shall provide the COR copies of current CMEs as required or requested by the VAMC. Contractor’s provider(s) registered or certified by national/medical associations shall continue to meet the minimum standards for CME to remain current. Contractor shall report CME hours to the credentials office for tracking. These documents are required for both privileging and re-privileging. Failure to provide shall result in loss of privileges for contractor’s provider(s).

2.1.6. Training (ACLS, BLS, CPRS and VA MANDATORY): Contractor shall meet all VA educational requirements and mandatory course requirements defined herein; all training must be completed by the contractor’s physician(s) as required by the VA. Other training may become required. VA will communicate any changes to the training requirement to the contractor.

2.1.7. Standard Personnel Testing (PPD, etc.): Contractor shall provide proof of the following tests for provider(s) within five (5) calendar days after contract award and prior to the first duty shift to the COR and Contracting Officer. Tests shall be current within the past year.

2.1.7.1. TUBERCULOSIS TESTING: Contractor shall provide proof of a negative Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) or Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) for all contractor’s provider(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}. A negative chest radiographic report for active tuberculosis shall be provided in cases of positive TST or IGRA results. The TST or IGRA testing shall be repeated annually.

2.1.7.2. MEASLES, MUMPS, & RUBELLA TESTING: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all contractor provider(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.1.7.3. VARICELLA: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all contractor provider(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.1.7.4. ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS: Contractors shall provide proof of 1 dose of Tdap vaccination for all contractor provider(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.1.7.5. INFLUENZA: Contractors shall provide proof that all contractor provider(s) have received the annual Influenza vaccine unless it is contraindicated. If the contractor provider(s) has a medical contraindication to the vaccine, they shall be required to wear a mask during the Influenza season. {This is applicable to all health care workers}.

2.1.7.6. OSHA REGULATION CONCERNING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS: Contractor shall provide evidence of completing and passing generic self-study blood-borne pathogen training for all contractor’s provider(s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}; provide their own Hepatitis B vaccination series and Hepatitis B surface antigen test results following the Hepatitis B vaccination series; maintain an exposure determination and control plan; maintain required records; and ensure that proper follow-up evaluation is provided following an exposure incident.

2.1.7.7. The VAMC shall notify the contractor of any significant communicable disease exposures as appropriate. Contractor shall adhere to current CDC/HICPAC Guideline for Infection Control in health care personnel (as published in American Journal for Infection Control- AJIC 1998; 26:289-354 http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/InfectControl98.pdf) for disease control. Contractor shall provide follow up documentation of clearance to return to the workplace prior to their return.

2.1.7.8. Drug Testing: All contractor provided providers shall be subject to the VA’s policy in regard to a Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. Personnel may receive a drug test and are subject to random drug testing thereafter. This includes any situation of “reasonable suspicion” and “accident or unsafe practice testing.” Refusal to be tested or interfering with this process will result in immediate termination of the contract.

2.1.8. National Provider Identifier (NPI): NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPAA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers). The contractor shall have or obtain appropriate NPI and if pertinent the Taxonomy Code confirmation notice issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) be provided to the Contracting Officer with the proposal.

2.1.9. DEA (as required): Reserved

2.1.10. Conflict of Interest: The contractor and all contractor’s provider(s) are responsible for identifying and communicating to the CO and COR conflicts of interest at the time of proposal and during the entirety of contract performance. At the time of proposal, the contractor shall provide a statement which describes, in a concise manner, all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or currently planned interest (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) or actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest relating to the services to be provided. The contractor shall also provide statements containing the same information for any identified consultants or subcontractors who shall provide services. The contractor must also provide relevant facts that show how it’s organizational and/or management system or other actions would avoid or mitigate any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest. These statements shall be in response to the VAAR provision 852.209-70 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (Jan 2008) and fully outlined in response to the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document.

2.1.11. Citizenship related Requirements:

2.1.11.1. The contractor certifies that the contractor shall comply with any and all legal provisions contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, As Amended; its related laws and regulations that are enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor as these may relate to non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the contractor while providing services to Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals;

2.1.11.2. While performing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the contractor shall not knowingly employ, contract or subcontract with an illegal alien; foreign national non-immigrant who is in violation their status, as a result of their failure to maintain or comply with the terms and conditions of their admission into the United States. Additionally, the contractor is required to comply with all “E-Verify” requirements consistent with “Executive Order 12989” and any related pertinent Amendments, as well as applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations.

2.1.11.3. If the contractor fails to comply with any requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs or its Agency regulations, the Department of Veterans Affairs may, at its discretion, require that the foreign national who failed to maintain their legal status in the United States or otherwise failed to comply with the requirements of the laws administered by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor, shall be prohibited from working at the contractor’s place of business that services Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals; or other place where the contractor provides services to veterans who have been referred by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and shall form the basis for termination of this contract for breach.

2.1.11.4. This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

2.1.11.5. The contractor agrees to obtain a similar certification from its subcontractors. The certification shall be made as part of the offerors response to the RFP using the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document.

2.1.12. Annual Office of Inspector General (OIG) Statement: In accordance with HIPAA and the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1977, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has established a list of parties and entities excluded from Federal health care programs. Specifically, the listed parties and entities may not receive Federal Health Care program payments due to fraud and/or abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

2.1.12.1. Therefore, contractor shall review the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities on the HHS OIG web site at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/index.asp to ensure that the proposed contractor’s provider(s) are not listed. Contractor should note that any excluded individual or entity that submits a claim for reimbursement to a Federal health care program, or causes such a claim to be submitted, may be subject to a Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) for each item or service furnished during a period that the person was excluded and may also be subject to treble damages for the amount claimed for each item or service. CMP’s may also be imposed against the contractor that employ or enter into contracts with excluded individuals to provide items or services to Federal program beneficiaries.

2.1.12.2. By submitting their proposal, the contractor certifies that the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities has been reviewed and that the contractors are and/or firm is not listed as of the date the offer/bid was signed.

2.2. Clinical/Professional Performance: The qualifications of contractor personnel are subject to review by VA Medical Center COS or his/her clinical designee and approval by the Medical Center Director as provided in VHA Handbook 1100.19. Clinical/Professional performance monitoring and review of all clinical personnel covered by this contract for quality purposes will be provided by the VAMC COS and/or the Chief of the Service or his designee. A clinical COR may be appointed, however, only the CO is authorized to consider any contract modification request and/or make changes to the contract during the administration of the resultant contract.

2.3. Non-Personal Healthcare Services: The parties agree that the contractor and all contractor’s provider(s) shall not be considered VA employees for any purpose.

2.4. Indemnification: The contractor shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Government against, all actions or claims for loss of or damage to property or the injury or death of persons, arising out of or resulting from the fault, negligence, or act or omission of the contractor, its agents, or employees.

2.5. Prohibition Against Self-Referral: Contractor’s provider(s) are prohibited from referring VA patients to contractor’s or their own practice(s).

2.6. Inherent Government Functions: Contractor and contractor’s provider(s) shall not perform inherently governmental functions. This includes, but is not limited to, determination of agency policy, determination of Federal program priorities for budget requests, direction and control of government employees (outside a clinical context), selection or non-selection of individuals for Federal Government employment including the interviewing of individuals for employment, approval of position descriptions and performance standards for Federal employees, approving any contractual documents, approval of Federal licensing actions and inspections, and/or determination of budget policy, guidance, and strategy.

2.7. No Employee status: The contractor shall be responsible for protecting contractor’s provider(s) furnishing services. To carry out this responsibility, the contractor shall provide or certify that the following is provided for all their staff providing services under the resultant contract:

2.7.1. Workers’ compensation

2.7.2. Sick leave

2.7.3. Vacation time

2.7.4. Professional liability insurance

2.7.5. Health examinations

2.7.6. Income tax withholding, and

2.7.7. Social security payments.

2.8. Tort Liability: The Federal Tort Claims Act does not cover contractor or contractor’s provider(s). When a contractor or contractor’s provider(s) has been identified as a provider in a tort claim, the contractor shall be responsible for notifying their legal counsel and/or insurance carrier. Any settlement or judgment arising from a contractor’s (or contractor’s provider(s)) action or non-action shall be the responsibility of the contractor and/or insurance carrier.

2.8.1. Medical Liability Insurance: The contractor shall furnish their own medical liability insurance and will hold certificate of insurance for general liability and malpractice insurance. Prior to award of the contract, the contractor shall furnish to the VA a certificate of insurance evidencing that all required coverage has been obtained. The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining this certificate/coverage for the duration of the contract. Under no circumstances will contract physicians be considered a MVAHCS employee nor will contractor personnel be covered by VA liability insurance.

2.9. Key Personnel: Contractor will be responsible to ensure that the contractor personnel providing work on this contract are fully trained and fully competent to perform the required services for the duration of the contract period. Contractor’s personnel provided under this contract must meet the qualifications, training, and all requirements as stated in Section 2.1.

2.9.1. The VA Full Time Equivalency (FTE) for the services required is equivalent of up to three (3.0) FTE. One FTE is defined by the VA as a person working a minimum of 80 hours every two (2) weeks and does not include holidays.

2.9.2. The minimum number of opticians required to be on site on a daily basis, Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) is three (3.0) FTE. The work schedule is defined below in Section 3 - Hours of Operation.

2.9.3. The contractor shall be responsible for providing coverage to the VA during periods of vacancies of the contractor’s personnel due to sick leave, personal leave, vacations and additional coverage as required.

2.9.4. Personnel Substitutions: During the first ninety (90) calendar days of performance, the contractor shall make NO substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death or termination of employment. The contractor shall notify the CO, in writing, within fifteen (15) calendar day(s) after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required below. After ninety (90) days, the contractor shall submit the information required below to the CO at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

2.9.4.1. The contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the CO. Proposed substitutes shall have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The CO will notify the contractor within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on the proposed substitutes. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

2.9.4.2. For temporary substitutions where the key person shall not be reporting to work for three (3) consecutive work days or more, the contractor shall provide a qualified replacement for the key person. The substitute shall have comparable qualifications to the key person. Any period exceeding two (2) weeks will require the procedure as stated above.

2.9.4.3. The Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any contractor personnel at any time after performance begins, if personal or professional conduct jeopardizes patient care or interferes with the regular and ordinary operation of the facility. Breaches of conduct include intoxication or debilitation resulting from drug use, theft, patient abuse, dereliction or negligence in performing directed tasks, or other conduct resulting in formal complaints by patient or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. Should the VA COS or designee show documented clinical problems or continual unprofessional behavior/actions with any contractor’s provider(s), s/he may request, without cause, immediate replacement of said contractor’s provider(s). The CO and COR shall deal with issues raised concerning contractor’s provider(s) conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the CO.

2.9.4.4. Contingency Plan: Because continuity of care is an essential part of VAMC’s medical services, the contractor shall have a contingency plan in place to be utilized if the contractor’s provider(s) leaves contractor’s employment or is unable to continue performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

3. VA HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULING:

3.1. VA Business Hours: The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The services covered by this contract shall be furnished by the contractor as defined in the work schedule below.

3.2. Work Schedule: Contractor’s provider(s) will be scheduled to work on-site at the MVAHCS’s Ophthalmology Department, Monday – Friday, with the exception of Federal Holidays.

3.2.1. Clinic Schedule/Tour of Duty: It is estimated that each contract optician will be required to provide services 40 hours a week. Ophthalmology clinic services are scheduled as follows:

3.2.2. Patients must be seen by a contractor’s providers on-site at Minneapolis VAHCS in a timely manner in accordance with VA Rules and Regulations on clinic wait times and consult completion. Contractor shall notify the COR at least monthly about any obstacles to meeting this performance measure.

3.2.3. Contractor’s provider(s) shall be available and present in clinic during normal Minneapolis VAHCS clinic hours, which will be established, and may be revised, as deemed appropriate for patient care by the Chief of Ophthalmology or his/her designee. The contractor provider(s) may not work at another facility during scheduled VA tour of duty. Currently, the tour of duty is:

3.2.3.1. Monday – Friday, excluding federal holiday’s, between of 7:30am to 5:00pm or until the last patient is seen. Specific tours of duty will be:

7:30am – 4:00pm 8:00am – 4:30pm 8:30am – 5:00pm

3.2.3.2. The schedule for optician services will have staggered start and end times to ensure coverage for the Ophthalmology Clinic. Tour of duty may vary based on the nature of the workload, needs of the service, and patient care requirements.

3.2.3.3. If clinic hours run over, the provider will be paid at the current hourly rate.

3.2.3.4. All daily tours will include a 30-minute un-paid lunch break.

3.2.4. Contractor will be provided a work schedule 30 days in advance.

3.3. Off-hours Coverage: Reserved

3.4. Federal Holidays: The following holidays are observed by the Department of Veterans Affairs:

· New Year’s Day

· Martin Luther King’s Birthday

· President’s Day

· Memorial Day

· Independence Day

· Labor Day

· Columbus Day

· Veterans Day

· Thanksgiving

· Christmas

· Any day specifically declared to be a national holiday.

3.5. Cancellations: Unless a state of emergency has been declared, the contractor shall be responsible for providing services unless contractor’s provider’s is excused per the procedure list above.

4. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1. Clinical Personnel Required: The contractor shall provide contractor’s provider(s) who are competent, qualified per this performance work statement and adequately trained to perform assigned duties.

Opticians work directly with Veterans in order to provide care throughout their visit whether it is for exams, procedures or even surgeries. After an optometrist and ophthalmologist have assessed a patient needs and written a prescription, an optician must then oversee the ordering of all eye-related products and ensure that they are fitted, adjusted and repaired properly. Opticians may also be responsible for designing and fitting special devices such as artificial eyes, traumatic or anatomical defects and will be required to provide the following services:

4.1.1.1. Interpretation of prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists

4.1.1.2. Taking eye and facial measurements to correctly interpret prescriptions

4.1.1.3. Collection of eye measurements including corneal width and thickness

4.1.1.4. Helping clients select eyeglasses and lens treatments including tints and coatings

4.1.1.5. Guiding patients when selecting frames for proper fit and styling

4.1.1.6. Creating work orders for lab technicians to ensure delivery of proper lenses

4.1.1.7. Adjusting eyeglasses to ensure a proper fit

4.1.1.8. Repairing broken frames

4.1.1.9. Advising patients on any necessary repairs and adjustments

4.1.1.10. Inserting, removing and caring for contact lenses

4.1.1.11. Educating clients on proper eyeglass and contact lens care

4.1.1.12. Keeping track of orders, prescriptions, and inventory

4.1.1.13. Maintaining displays

4.1.1.14. Basic bookkeeping duties associated with tracking patient’s orders and recording purchases and other necessary information for each patient.

4.1.1.15. Preparing work order for optical laboratory

4.1.1.16. Ensuring that all orders arrive and are to the specifications of the patient.

4.1.1.17. Other optical related duties as assigned.

4.1.1.18. Opticians must maintain professional conduct and the highest standard of integrity during interactions with patients, patients’ families, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. Contract opticians will consistently communicate and treat others in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner.

4.1.2. Contractor’s provider(s) shall be responsible for signing in and out when in attendance. Time sheets will be used by the COR to confirm hours/day and services provided against the contractor’s invoices.

4.2. Standards of Care: The contractor’s provider(s)’ care shall cover the range of Optician services as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility and the standard of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized TJC, VA and national standards as established by:

4.2.1. VA Standards: VHA Directive 2006-041 “Veterans’ Health Care Service Standards” (expired but still in effect pending revision) https://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1443

4.2.2. The professional standards of the Joint Commission (TJC)…