36C26325Q0194 0001_1.docx

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

GENERAL INFORMATION

NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE

316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St. Paul MN 55101

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Arielle Lifto arielle.lifto@va.gov 651-293-3031

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

This is an amendment 0001 to solicitation 36C26325Q0194.

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions asked for clarification on the scope of work.

The solicitation response due date is NOT extended, responses remain due no later than 10:00AM CST January 13, 2025.

See attached document: Amendment RFQ 36C26325Q0194.

See attached document: Amendment 36C26325Q0194 0001.

Questions and Answers:

1. What was the cost of the final full option year of the previous contract?

We do not disclose competitor pricing.

2. How many drivers/vehicles are currently used to service the current contract?

We do not know; this is for you to determine based on meeting the requirements listed in the SOW listed and your capabilities to successfully execute them.

3. What is the vehicle size currently servicing this location?

We do not know; this is for you to determine based on meeting the requirements listed in the SOW listed and your capabilities to successfully execute them.

4. Page 7 Contractor Responsibilities #6, states “The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing all vehicles, personnel, equipment and supplies, vehicle fuel, uniforms, and/or badges for performance of services under this contract.”

This statement leads us to believe that we would need to provide coolers. This would not be the case for coolers or totes. The government / VA will have supplies packaged and sealed in totes (mail, supplies, pharmacy items, lab items). The contractor should be responsible for supplies such as disinfectant wipes, nitrile gloves or medical masks.

5. Page 11 Schedule of Courier Services and Prices/Costs #2, states “The VA will provide all packing materials to include ice, dry ice and coolers for specimens or vaccines to maintain temperature stability.”

This statement leads us to believe the VA will provide coolers for transport. Which is true and who will be responsible for providing transport coolers? VA provides coolers.

6. Page 8 Contractor Responsibilities #11, states “Drivers are strictly prohibited from opening and or repacking the coolers, totes, and mail bags.”

Page 11 Schedule of Courier Services and Prices/Costs #2, states “The VA will provide all packing materials to include ice, dry ice and coolers for specimens or vaccines to maintain temperature stability.”

Page 11 Schedule of Courier Services and Prices/Costs #2, states “The VA will provide all packing materials to include ice, dry ice and coolers for specimens or vaccines to maintain temperature stability.”

These statements lead us to believe that the VA will be prepacking coolers with temperature control devices True and the drivers are prohibited from packaging or accessing the transport vessels. True – totes will be sealed with serial # zip ties

7. Page 11 Schedule of Courier Services and Prices/Costs #2, states “Per VA policy, sterile and unclean instruments are to maintain a temperature between 66 and 75 degrees with a humidity between 30 and 60 percent. The VA will monitor temperature and humidity within the totes and ensure packaging is enclosed in a leak-proof and secure tote. At all times, these items shall be transported in the passenger compartment of the vehicle in order to maintain a stable environment within the tote.”

This leads us to believe that the VA will also be packing and monitoring sterile. True

If the above is all true, why is the VA requesting the below be outlined in a submission if the VA is the one packaging and therefore controlling transport vessel temperatures/humidity? This statement is there because of federal guidelines and the transport of sterile equipment and is there in order to prevent a driver from placing the tote in an inappropriate area with extreme temperatures that would drastically impact the packaging and temperatures during transportation. For example, something that needs to be kept at a refrigerated environment should not be place in the back of a pickup during very hot temperatures. Or something that needs to be kept dry should not be in an open truck bed during rain or snow.

8. With the outline of the VA packing and providing all temperature control or monitoring devices and the drivers prohibited from accessing the internals of the transport vessels it would seem the only thing the awarded vendor could monitor, or control would be the ambient temperature of the transport vehicle. Yes, because of these federal guidelines we require an environment that doesn’t have wide temperature extremes – the vendor is responsible for keeping items in an appropriate area during transportation.

9. Please Clarify exactly what is needed from the drivers as well as for the submission of this Bid. Thank you. The VA expects the contractor to employ drivers that display common sense behaviors as appropriate with any workplace. We do not have a specified list of required attributes, rather expect the vendor to use their discretion in dictating what is responsible and reasonable workplace conduct. The VA will report any inappropriate behaviors expected in a safe and respectful work environment. For more a more detailed list of some specific expectations please refer to the Statement of Work. All details for submissions are found in the contents of the RFQ 36C26325Q0194, including but not limited to the SF1449, Statement of Work and Evaluation Factors. The submission should include how the contractor is able to meet the requirements listed in the SOW.

10. Page 54 ADDENDUM to 52.212-2 EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES Section # 1. Technical Capability: “-Factor 2: Provide a detailed explanation of how the temperature and humidity requirements will be met – Temperature for lab specimens: RT (room temperature) items 20-25C for, Refrigerated items 2 10C and frozen items ≤ -18C; Temperature for RMD (Reusable Medical Devices): 19-22C; Humidity: 30 60%. Include an example of how temperature will be tracked during deliveries.

The device below is placed into the totes, and then VA staff records the temperature excursions in a log

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