36C77018R0359-0001000.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) NCO 15 Contracting Ofc - CMOP 07-22-2019 36C770 Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 15 Contracting Ofc - CMOP 3450 S. 4th St. Trafficway Leavenworth

KS

66048-5012 36C770 Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 15 Contracting Ofc - CMOP 3450 S. 4th St. Trafficway Leavenworth

KS

66048-5012 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C77018R0359 07-03-2019

X X x ** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to:

August 12, 2019 4:00 PM CDT x Shipper/packer Services for the Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacies

1) The purpose of this modification is to answer questions received in response to solicitation.

2) FAR Clause 52.204-15 is hereby added to the solicitation.

3) The due date of the solicitation is extended from July 31, 2019 to August 12, 2019 4:00 PM CDT.

Penny Capps Contracting Officer

SHIPPER/PACKER SERVICES

SOLICITATION 36C77018R0359

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO SOLICITATION

1. Based on the scope of the contract and the necessity to address some of the questions posed, would the Government consider a delay in proposal submission?

Answer: The Government will extend the closing date to 4:00 PM CDT on August 12, 2019.

2. Based on the scope of the contract, would the Government allow a site visit at one of the sites so that contractors can have a better understanding of the requirements for staffing and managing this contract?

Answer: Due to logistical and security constraints, a site visit is not considered feasible. However, please review the following informational video concerning CMOP operations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfYHffF7Qhs

3. The Government has provided their estimate as to the staffing of each CMOP site. How different is that from the actual staffing at each site? Would the Government consider providing current staffing at each site?

Answer: The estimated number of staffing provided was to define scope for offerors and to state contractual requirements. Actual staffing may vary from numbers provided due to a number of circumstances such as increases or decreases in workload, equipment malfunctions or failures at sites, necessitating workload transfers or severe weather events.

4. The Government has proposed a transition of 90 days to assume control of this effort. Under Section 17 Special Contract Requirements, Paragraph 17.7. Contractor Phase-in/Phase-out, Page 30, the FRP states, “A phase-in period may be needed to convert operations from the incumbent Contractor to the successor. The effective date of the contract resulting from this solicitation shall be up to 90 days. The amount of days may be adjusted upon mutual agreement of both parties. Contractor shall ensure that sufficient manpower is available during the conversion. A phase-out period may be needed at the completion of the contract.” Under Section 7. Government Responsibilities, Paragraph 7.5 Post Award conference, Page 20, the RFP states, “In accordance with FAR Subpart 42.5, VA will conduct a post award conference for each site to review contract terms and conditions prior to contractor work performance. The contracting officer as chairperson will prepare the agenda and notify the contractor of the time and place for the conference not later than 21 calendar days after contract award. Written meeting minutes will be provided to participants. The contractor shall be responsible for conducting post award conferences with subcontractors.” Is it the Government’s intent that the beginning of the 90-day transition period is the date of award? Is it the Government’s intent that the beginning of the 90-day transition period is the FIRST site post-award conference? Is it Government’s intent that beginning of the 90-day transition period is the LAST site post-award conference?

Answer: The beginning of the 90-day transition period will begin with the first post award conference date. The CMOP, as a production facility, will require production from the new Contractor during the transition period in order to meet mission objectives. To ensure production levels, a methodical and orderly transition is expected from the Contractor. The Contractor, during the transition period, will be responsible for meeting performance objectives and goals under the Contractor’s control. The Government, however, does recognize that challenges will occur during the 90-day transition period which will require adjustments to the transition plan and/or process. These extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration by the Government when evaluating Contractor performance during the transition period.

5. Under Performance Work Statement, Section 16. Invoicing and payment, Paragraph 16.2. on Page 25, the RFP states, “Sums due the Contractor shall be paid monthly, in arrears, upon receipt of a properly prepared invoice (as defined in FAR Clause 52.212-4(g), Invoice) submitted by the Contractor. Itemized billings shall be submitted for services performed. Payment shall be made only for services rendered.” Does that mean the Government will provide NET 30 payments after invoicing? Does the Government expect invoicing per site or at the overall program level?

Answer: The Government will provide N30 payments after the certification of a properly prepared invoice as specified in FAR Clause 52.212-4(g). The Government does expect that invoicing will be done at each facility level, not at the program level as each facility will have a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) that is responsible for the review of invoices prior to authorization of payment.

6. Under Submission Instructions, Section 4, Past Performance, Paragraph 1a, on Page 81, the RFP states, “Provide references (in the form of the Past Performance Questionnaire attached) from other entities with whom your organization has contracted with or had agreements with to provide large numbers of staffing within the last three (3) years of the solicitation release date that are of similar size and scope. These references shall address your organizational ability to provide services, the quality of the service provided and the duration. Please provide contact information to include telephone number, e-mail addresses, contract description, size in terms of dollar value and numbers of personnel and scope, to include geographic locations served and the number of FTE procured. If your organization has not provided shipper/packer services, please provide references on contracts other than shipper/packer services that speak to your ability to provide this requirement’s services in terms of size and scope. Past Performance Questionnaires shall be included as part of the proposal submissions and shall not be sent directly to the Contracting Officer from the reference source.” Does the Government identify the “reference source” as the Contractor submitting the response to the RFP, or the entity with which the Contractor submitting the response had proposal) and is packaged as part of the proposal prior to going to the Government, or the agreement? In other words, does the PPQ come to the Contractor (writing the proposal) or the does the PPQ go from the entity with which the Contractor had the agreement straight to the Government?

Answer: Due to the large number of proposals anticipated as well as a large number of teaming arrangements expected, the Government will not accept Past Performance Questionnaires directly from reference sources. Rather, PPQ’s are to be submitted with an offeror’s proposal in Section 4. While this is not the normal procedure, the Government will not assume responsibility for matching PPQ’s with the correct proposal.

7. Under Submission Instructions, Section 1., Paragraph 2) Signed SF1449, on Page 78, the RFP states, “Signed SF1449 and complete solicitation, including the price schedule contained within the solicitation. All fill ins must be completed throughout the solicitation.” Does the Government want the Price Schedule in this Section (Section 1) as well as Section 2, Price Worksheet?

Answer: Yes, the Government requires both the price schedule and the price worksheet to be completed.

8. Under Submission Instructions, Section 3. Technical Capability, Paragraph 1a, on Page 78, the RFP states, “Provide the actual number of candidates in your current candidate pool for each of the seven geographic regions covered by this solicitation.” Is the Government requiring small businesses to have a ready source of candidates in seven (7) different geographic regions? Will the Government accept a plan by the small business to provide enough candidates to meet the requirements of each geographic regions during the Phase-In/Phase-out transition?

Answer: The Instructions to Offerors specifies that the offeror provide the actual number of candidates that they currently have in their candidate pool in the geographic regions covered by the solicitation. In the absence of this information, the offeror should provide any relevant information speaking directly to their ability to meet the personnel requirements in each of the regions spelled out in the performance work statement.

9. Under Submission Instructions, Section 4. Past Performance, Paragraph 1a), on Page 81, the RFP states, “Provide references (in the form of the Past Performance Questionnaire attached) from other entities with whom your organization has contracted with or had agreements with to provide large numbers of staffing within the last three (3) years of the solicitation release date that are of similar size and scope. These references shall address your organizational ability to provide services, the quality of the service provided and the duration. Please provide contact information to include telephone number, e-mail addresses, contract description, size in terms of dollar value and numbers of personnel and scope, to include geographic locations served and the number of FTE procured. If your organization has not provided shipper/packer services, please provide references on contracts other than shipper/packer services that speak to your ability to provide this requirement’s services in terms of size and scope. Past Performance Questionnaires shall be included as part of the proposal submissions and shall not be sent directly to the Contracting Officer from the reference source. A maximum of five (5) past performance questionnaires will be evaluated.” What if the entity with whom our organization has contracted with has made a legal decision not to respond to any requirements for past performance, such as PPQ’s? Will the Government accept a plan by the small business to provide written Past Performance with the entity’s contact information to include telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, contract description, size in terms of dollar value and numbers of personnel and scope, to include geographic locations served and the number of FTE procured? If not, will the contractor proposing be penalized for not having the PPQ?

Answer: In the absence of past performance questionnaires, the Offeror may submit other information speaking to their ability to provide services. All Past Performance information received will be evaluated as stated in the solicitation and in accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2). Furthermore, as stated in the Instructions to Offerors, the Government reserves the right to obtain past performance information from any available source.

10. Under Section 3.5 Places of Performance, on Page 14, in Section 3.5.11, the RFP states, “Due to potential relocation of CMOP sites during the life of the contract, facilities may change locations within a radius of 50 miles of current existing locations.” The section shows three (3) potential future sites that will relocate. How does the Government expect the period of transition will impact day to day operations of those facilities? Does the Government expect there will be a shut down? Does the Government expect that both locations will need to operate during the transition period?

Answer: Due to leases expiring at several sites, relocation of operations is necessary. The Government does not expect a shut down of operations to occur at the sites. Rather, as equipment is installed in the new location, workload will gradually be transferred from one facility to another. During the relocation/transition process, both sites will be operational until all workload is transferred to the new location, at which time, the old location will cease operation and personnel transferred to the new site.

11. Under Performance Work Statement, in Section 8. Contractor Responsibilities, Paragraph 8.13, the RFP states, “Contractor meetings with Contractor employee(s) are permitted, but will not constitute billable time. The Contractor shall notify and coordinate such meetings with the COR in advance. Meetings not specifically related to the CMOP’s operational mission shall not disrupt production and shall not constitute billable time.” Do these meetings have to be outside working hours?

Answer: As this is a non-personal services contract, the Government will not specify when or how the Contractor holds meetings. However, it is expected that Contractor maintain normal production should they choose to hold meetings during production hours.

12. Under Performance Work Statement, in Section 17. Special Contract Requirements, Paragraph 17.3.3 Personal Hygiene and Clothing, Paragraph 17.3.3., on Page 28, the RFP states, “Contractor personnel shall be required to wear apparel that identifies them as a Contractor and to distinguish them from Government personnel.” Does the Government require a uniform, or will a standardized t-shirt/other shirt be sufficient?

Answer: As this is a non-personal services contract, the Government will not specify how the Contractor differentiates their personnel from Government personnel except to specify that the selected apparel shall meet facility dress code policies and shall sufficiently differentiate contract personnel from Government personnel.

13. Reference Performance Work Statement, Section 16. Invoice and Payment, on Page 25. Is certified payroll a requirement?

Answer: This contract is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (formerly Service Contract Act, SCA). Certified payrolls are not required.

14. RFP Page 4, Section 3. Invoices. This section indicates that invoices shall be submitted in arrears monthly. Due to the number and volume of invoicing which requires significant administration and oversight, will it be permissible to invoice weekly or bi-weekly?

Answer: Due to the number and volume of invoicing which requires significant administration and oversight, it will be permissible to bill weekly or bi-weekly.

15. RFP Page 22, Section 3.11. Per Paragraph 3.11, the offeror assumes that all packaging materials will be supplied by the Government. Are we to assume that the Government will monitor inventory levels of each type of packaging material needed and will supply as necessary?

Answer: The Government will supply all packaging material. As such, the Government will be responsible for the ordering of such supplies and for maintaining sufficient inventory levels. The contract shipper/packer will be responsible for keeping their work station stocked with adequate packaging material in order to work efficiently throughout the workday.

16. RFP Page 62, Service Contract Reporting Requirements Clause. Clause (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirement for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016)(Pub.L. 111-117, section 743 of Div.C) is not checked. Should this clause be checked?

Answer: FAR Clause 52.204-15 is applicable to this requirement. It was omitted in error and will be added via this amendment.

17. RFP Page 77, Section 1, Cover Page. The instructions for the cover page states, “Additionally, the name address and DUNS number of all partnering organizations (mentor-protégé, joint ventures, subcontractors) shall also be provided.” Can this information be included in an introduction to Section 1 due to space limitations on the cover page?

Answer: The cover page of Section 1 may exceed one page if providing the information required necessitates the use of more than one page. However, no additional information should be included other than what was stated in the instructions.

18. S02 BAA. The Business Associate Agreement included in the RFP package appears to be for Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians. Please provide the BAA for this Shipper/Packer RFP.

Answer: The BAA provided with the solicitation was for sample purposes and does not need to be completed at the time of proposal submission as stated in the Instructions to Offerors. Only the awarded contractor will submit a completed BAA and a blank copy will be provided at that time of award.

19. General-Period of Performance. For planning purposes, what is the anticipated start date of services?

Answer: The anticipated start date is June 1, 2020.

20. P.W.S. 8.22.1. Page 28. “The following chart gives the estimated number of contracted personnel that may be required to wear steel toed shoes, which will be the responsibility of the Contractor:

Section 8.22.1. shows the estimated number of steel toed safety shoes required by site. Tucson has an estimate almost four times as much as any other site. Is the Tucson number correct? If so, what about their operation is different, requiring that many?

Answer: While the CMOP collectively is a standardized operation, there are variables that are left to the control of each facility. As such, each facility may take a different approach to meeting policies, processes, and procedures. Some facilities do allow for the use of safety toe caps to meet safety regulations. However, Tucson does not assume this risk, and therefore, mandates the use of steel toed shoes in many of the workstations.

21. Submission instructions, Page 79. Multiple instructions require the contract to “provide documentation” on various items, e.g. 4(b) “Provide documentation to show your experience in transitioning a large number of personnel in terms of background screenings and onboarding process.” Please confirm that “documentation” means typical proposal narrative, charts, etc.

Answer: The term documentation was used so as to be as inclusive as possible in the type of information submitted. Documentation can mean typical proposal narrative, charts, graphs, illustrations or any other means to convey and support your ability in the particular areas addressed by the Instructions to Offerors. Any documentation and information provided should be of sufficient nature to provide an in-depth explanation of the offeror’s approach in accomplishing the contract objectives to include, if applicable, how the approach was successful in the past.

22. PWS 7.4.1. Page 25. “The CMOP shall provide disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by OSHA for specific job functions as well as training on wear and use. Items provided must be worn by contractor personnel to maintain OSHA standards and compliance. Steel toe safety shoes may be required in some facilities for some functions and will be the responsibility of the Contractor. Steel toe caps and slip on protective footwear will be made available by CMOP. Non-disposable PPE issued to contractor personnel shall be returned upon termination of contractor personnel from the contract. Failure to return non-disposable PPE may result in a charge to the Contractor.” Section 7.4.1 states that it is the contractor’s responsibility to provide the steel toe safety shoes that may be required, also stating that the steel toe caps and slip-on protective footwear will be made available by CMOP. Will the government clarify who is responsible for providing the cost – the government or contractor? Will the government please provide the cost of the non-disposable PPEs that will be made available by CMOP?

Answer: Certain job functions within the facilities require the wearing of steel toed safety shoes which will be the responsibility of the Contractor. However, on occasion, some personnel who do not routinely require steel toed shoes will be required to work in an area where toe protection is required. In these occasional instances, the Government will provide steel toe caps without cost. Additionally, some medication is required to be stored in cold storage. The Government will provide protective clothing to work in this area again at no cost to the Contractor.

23. PWS 7.6.2. Page 25. “The cost of the first issued badge shall be borne by the supported CMOP. In the event any contract employee loses or damages a badge, the Contractor shall be charged the amount prescribed by the CMOP for replacement badges policy adopted by each CMOP and in accordance with VA Handbook 0735.” Section 7.6.2 states that the contractor will be responsible for the cost of a replacement PIV badge if the need occurs and that the contractor will be charged the amount prescribed by the CMOP for said replacement badges. What is the cost of the replacement PIV badges?

Answer: The cost of a replacement PIV badge is currently $30.00.

24. VA770-17-R-0274. General Information. The Pharmacy services solicitation (VA770-17-R-0274) mentioned a union in Chicago, is there a certified union in Chicago and if so, is there a negotiated collective bargaining agreement?

Answer: There are currently no Collective Bargaining Agreements in place for the current contract at any of the facilities. The Hines, IL facility does follow the tenets of a CBA, but there is no formal agreement in place.

25. PWS 3.6. Normal Hours of Operation. Page 20. 3.6.7. Hines: 6:30 AM through 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM through 12:00 AM Monday through Friday. Normal Hours of Operations section 3.6 state that there are two shifts in Chicago from 6:30am-3:00pm and 3:30pm-12:00am but the FTE chart doesn't show any FTEs for second shift. Is there a 2nd shift at Chicago and if so, what is the FTE division between 1st and 2nd shift?

Answer: There are approximately 64 FTE on first shift and 63 on second shift. Leads are split equally on each shift at four on each.

26. PWS 3.3. Page 19. “Estimated required number of contractor personnel at each location:

First Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead First Shift Estimated number of FTE Shipper/Packer Second Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead Second Shift

It is our understanding that there are currently employees working at both Murfreesboro sites. Will the government provide the number of packers working at each Murfreesboro location? Will the contractor be required to have an on-site facility administrator at both sites?

Answer: There are approximately 24 shipper/packers working at each of the Murfreesboro locations. Having one facility administrator to cover both locations shall be acceptable as long as the facility administrator spends sufficient time at each facility to adequately monitor personnel and performance.

27. Instructions to Offerors, Basis For Contract Award. Page 76. “(c) This solicitation is being issued as a tiered evaluation with the following tiers: (1) SDVOSB concerns, (2) VOSB concerns, (3) small business concerns with HUBZone small business concerns and 8(a) participants having priority; and (4) large business concerns. If award cannot be made, the solicitation will be cancelled and the requirement resolicited.” The SF1449 states that this will be a tiered evaluation and page 75 and 76 details the basis for the award, however, C.12 states that this is a Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. Can you please confirm that companies other than SDVOSB can submit proposals with the understanding that the award criteria as detailed in Basis for Award on page 76?

Answer: Yes, companies other than SDVOSB, up to and including, large businesses, can submit a proposal.

28. PWS 3.3. Page 19. “Estimated required number of contractor personnel at each location:

First Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead First Shift Estimated number of FTE Shipper/Packer Second Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead Second Shift

In Section 3.3., the solicitation provides the estimated number of contractor personnel per location by FTE. Hours are also provided in the price worksheet that is to be used per Section 2 of the solicitation. The FTE provided in the solicitation for the Leavenworth, KS location and the Hours provided in the price worksheet for Leavenworth, KS don’t match. For estimating purposes which should be used; the FTE provided for Leavenworth, KS in the solicitation or the Hours provided for Leavenworth, KS in the price worksheet?

Answer: The hours listed on the price worksheet correspond to the chart provided. Leavenworth, KS has shorter shifts that equal 6.5 hours, not 8 hours per shift. The calculations are as follows:

6.5 hours x 5 days per week x 52 weeks = 1690 hours per FTE x 108 FTE = 182,520 hours

6.5 hours x 5 days per week x 52 weeks = 1690 hours per FTE x 2 FTE =3,380 hours

29. 36C77018R0359 PWS 14. Key Personnel Page 30. Section 14.1 states that the on-site Facility Administrators shall be Key Personnel. Section 14.3 requires a roster of “all personnel” at option year renewal and further states that all personnel named shall be considered key personnel. Will the Government please clarify only the on-site Facility Administrators are key personnel and that 2-page resumes are required for all 7 geographic locations? In addition, all resumes are excluded from the page count and are to be included in the proposal appendix.

Answer: All personnel working under this contract at a CMOP facility shall be considered Key Personnel. The solicitation does not have a requirement to submit resumes of key personnel with proposals.

30. PWS Section 14.3. Page 44. “The Contractor shall provide a roster of all personnel providing services under the contract at option year renewal, the first of each month, and when changes in personnel occur. Personnel named in the roster shall be considered key personnel.” Will the Government require the names of all personnel who will be working on the contract after award considering they are key personnel to vet the viability of the personnel in advance of contract support?

Answer: Rosters of key personnel will be required after contract award. It is the responsibility of the Contractor, not the Government, to vet key personnel.

31. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Instructions Page 77. “…tables, charts and illustrations may use 8pt font size Times New Roman”. Will the Government consider allowing Offerors to use any font type in 8 point font size for graphics/tables/exhibit headers?

Answer: Yes, the Government will allow other font type for graphics, tables, exhibits, headers.

32. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Instructions Page 77. Times New Roman Font 12pt for written response; Will the Government consider allowing Offerors to use any font type in 12 point font size for headers and sub-headers throughout the entire proposal document?

Answer: Yes, the Government will allow other font type for headers and sub-headers.

33. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Instructions Page 77. Page size of 8 ½” x 11”. Will the Government consider allowing Offerors to use 11*17 page size in Section 3 of the proposal document?

Answer: No.

34. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Deadline Page 81. “The offeror shall provide nine (9) hard copy proposals and an electronic version of the complete proposal package on CD (or DVD)-ROM to the address listed above by the time and date shown on the SF1449, block 8.” Will the Government accept 9 CD (or DVD)-ROM copies and one original signed copy?

Answer: No

35. 36C77018R0359 PWS 4.4. Program Management 14. Key Personnel. Page 30. “4.4 Program Management…The Contractor shall provide all necessary personnel to perform and manage the requirements of this contract. In addition to shipper/packers, daily on-site supervisory and technical monitoring of Contractor staff shall be necessary at each facility. This On-Site Facility Administrator position is responsible for all human resource management duties, oversight of policy compliance to include on-board processing, mandatory training and orientation of contractor personnel, on-going competency assessments of contractor personnel as well as performance management, quality control of services provided. The on-site facility administrator will be the point of contact for the respective CMOP CORs for all contract related issues. Section 14.1. states that the on-site Facility Administrators shall be Key Personnel.” Will the Government provide onsite office space for the on-site Facility Administrator and provide the necessary tools, such as access to the internet, broadband, Wi-Fi to conduct day to day operations?”

Answer: The Government will provide on-site space for Facility Administrators. However, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to provide necessary tools such as internet and Wi-Fi for day to day operations.

36. 36C77018R0359 Page 20. Places of Performance. Will the Government please confirm if any locations are unionized? If yes, is there an existing collective bargaining agreement in place and will the agreement be included as an attachment as part of this Solicitation?

Answer: There are currently no Collective Bargaining Agreements in place for the current contract at any of the facilities. The Hines, IL facility does follow the tenets of a CBA, but there is no formal agreement in place.

37. B.2. Price Schedule Price Worksheet. Pages 6-17. Base Year and Option Years for All Locations. CLINS for:

Shipper/ Packer Shipper/Packer Lead Shipper/Packer Overtime Shipper/Packer Lead Overtime Shipper/Packer Overtime Shipper/Packer Holiday Shipper/Packer Lead Holiday

Will the Government provide guidance on which labor category are we to bill for the required on-site facility administrator labor?

Answer: Program management and oversight are key components of this contract effort as an outgrowth of the services required. The only billable services authorized are for shipper/packer services. As this is a non-personal services contract, it will be the Contractor’s responsibility to oversee and supervise contract personnel. Facility administrators and any associated administrative personnel necessary in support of this contract are not authorized to be billed under this contract.

38. PWS 8.5-8.8. Page 26. “Contractor personnel shall be subject to the same standards in meeting or exceeding current recognized National Standards as established by The Joint Commission (TJC). Copies of the standards are on file at each CMOP, and may be made available to the Contractor. The Contractor shall perform services in accordance with the ethical, professional, and technical standards of the healthcare industry as consistent with VA policy, regulations, and procedures. Employees provided by the Contractor shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the Government’s requirements. Contractor employees shall be responsible for compliance with all requirements in accordance with applicable CMOP written policies, and procedures of the CMOP. Copies of all applicable documents will be available to all Contractor employees and are located at each CMOP.” Are all Joint Commission files (employee credentials) physical housed at each site? Or can they be accommodated at our headquarters location and/or stored in our internal database that can be accessed from anywhere? Will any credit be given for Joint Commission Accredited Firms?

Answer: Six-part training folders to meet Joint Commission standards are currently physically located on-site at each facility. However, due to advances in technology and IT systems, it would be permissible to maintain these records digitally, provided they are readily available for inspection during Joint Commission inspections and audits and as requested by authorized CMOP personnel. Joint Commission Accreditation is currently not a requirement of this service and proposals will not be downgraded due to lack of accreditation.

39. PWS 8.5-8.8. Page 26. Joint Commission Requirements. Given that there are several Joint Commission requirements for this opportunity, will the government provide additional evaluation credit for being a Joint Commission Accredited Firm?

Answer: While there are several Joint Commission requirements within the scope of the work, being Joint Commission accredited is not a requirement of this solicitation and proposals will not be downgraded due to lack of accreditation.

40. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Instructions. Pages 77 & 81. “The offeror shall provide nine (9) hard copy proposals and an electronic version of the complete proposal package on CD (or DVD)-ROM to the address listed above by the time and date shown on the SF1449, block 8.” Will the Government clarify which format should the documents be in (.pdf - .docx - .xls) on the CD or DVD?

Answer: PDF, .docx, or .xls are all acceptable formats on the CD or DVD.

41. PWS 8.10. Page 27. “The Contractor shall provide all office equipment, to include, but not be limited to, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required by on-site administrative and office personnel. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the Contractor and shall be coordinated with CMOP personnel.” With regards to equipment needs, will the Government explain what are the anticipated IT equipment needs (e.g., personal PCs, tablets, cell phones, etc.) needed to perform operations and accounting, and is that priced into the contract? Will the Government please confirm that the equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site contractor personnel required per Section 8.10 of the SOW, refers only to the on-site facility administrator.

Answer: As this is a non-personal services contract, the Contractor is responsible for determining and providing sufficient equipment such as computers (both hardware and software), office supplies and furniture, phones for their on-site administrator and any other support or administrative staff necessary for them to carry out their responsibilities in performing all aspects of program management and oversight such as invoicing and personnel administration and performance evaluation.

42. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Submission Instructions. Page 77. “Section 1: 2) Signed SF1449 and complete solicitation, including the price schedule contained within the solicitation. All fill ins must be completed throughout the solicitation.” Will the Government please elaborate on what is required in terms of the “completed solicitation” in Section 1 of the proposal? Will the government except for all solicitation fill-ins and not the entire 100-page document?

Answer: Yes, the Government will accept only the solicitation pages that are required to be filled in, as opposed to the entire document.

43. It appears that the FTE packers in Murfreesboro are working three hours overtime every day. (6:30 AM through 5:00 PM Monday through Friday). Is that correct? 3.3. Estimated required number of contractor personnel at each location:

First Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead First Shift Estimated number of FTE Shipper/Packer Second Shift Estimated number of FTE Lead Second Shift

3.6 Normal Hours of Operation (all times are listed in local time zones):

3.6.1. Leavenworth: 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM and 12:30 PM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday

3.6.2. Chelmsford: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM Monday through Friday

3.6.3. Tucson: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM or 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday through Friday and 2:30 PM – 11:00 PM and 3:30 PM to 12:00 AM Monday through Friday

3.6.4. Lancaster: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM Monday through Friday

3.6.5. Murfreesboro (old): 6:30 AM through 5:00 PM Monday through Friday;

3.6.6. Murfreesboro (new): 6:30 AM through 5:00 PM Monday through Friday;

3.6.7. Hines: 6:30 AM through 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM through 12:00 AM Monday through Friday

3.6.8. Charleston: 6:00 AM through 2:30 PM Monday through Friday; and 3:00 PM to 1:30 AM Monday through Thursday

Answer: Each Murfreesboro location has approximately 24 shipper/packers. Shipper/packers do not work overtime on any day unless significant circumstances cause an increase in workload. Some of the personnel work four, ten-hour days with staggered days off and some work regular, eight-hour days, Monday through Friday.

44. Would it be possible to get an extension to the due date on this RFP to 7 August at 4PM CST?

Answer: The Government will extend the closing date to 4:00 PM CDT on August 12, 2019.

45. Are any of the Shipper/Packers covered by a collective bargaining agreement? If so, can we have access to the agreement to ensure we are within the terms of the CBA?

Answer: There are currently no Collective Bargaining Agreements in place for the current contract at any of the facilities. The Hines, IL facility does follow the tenets of a CBA, but there is no formal agreement in place.

52.204-15 Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016)

(a) Definition.

“First-tier subcontract” means a subcontract awarded directly by the Contractor for the purpose of acquiring supplies or services (including construction) for performance of a prime contract. It does not include the Contractor’s supplier agreements with vendors, such as long-term arrangements for materials or supplies that benefit multiple contracts and/or the costs of which are normally applied to a Contractor’s general and administrative expenses or indirect costs.

(b) The Contractor shall report, in accordance with paragraphs (c) and(d) of this clause, annually by October 31, for services performed during the preceding Government fiscal year (October1-September 30) under this contract for orders that exceed the thresholds established in 4.1703(a)(2).

(c) The Contractor shall report the following information:

(1) Contract number and order number.

(2) The total dollar amount invoiced for services performed during the previous Government fiscal year under the order.

(3) The number of Contractor direct labor hours expended on the services performed during the previous Government fiscal year.

(4) Data reported by subcontractors under paragraph (f) of this clause.

(d) The information required in paragraph (c) of this clause shall be submitted via the internet at www.sam.gov. (See SAM User Guide). If the Contractor fails to submit the report in a timely manner, the contracting officer will exercise appropriate contractual remedies. In addition, the Contracting Officer will make the Contractor’s failure to comply with the reporting requirements a part of the Contractor’s performance information under FAR subpart 42.15.

(e) Agencies will review Contractor reported information for reasonableness and consistency with available contract information. In the event the agency believes that revisions to the Contractor reported information are warranted, the agency will notify the Contractor no later than November 15. By November 30, the Contractor shall revise the report or document its rationale for the agency.

(f)

(1) The Contractor shall require each first-tier subcontractor providing services under this contract, with subcontract(s) each valued at or above the thresholds set forth in 4.1703(a)(2), to provide the following detailed information to the Contractor in sufficient time to submit the report:

(i) Subcontract number (including subcontractor name and unique entity identifier), and

(ii) The number of first-tier subcontractor direct-labor hours expended on the services performed during the previous Government fiscal year.

(2) The Contractor shall advise the subcontractor that the information will be made available to the public as required by section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010.

(End of clause)