Attachment 11 Murfreesboro Solicitation Amendment Questions.pdf

Murfreesboro Solicitation Amendment Questions

7/17/2024 2:00 PM CST

The below provides responses to questions received. Please note, questions that are outside the scope of this solicitation, such as questions regarding staffing contracts at other facilities, union activities, or the incumbent approach will not be answered as part of this amendment

Document Page # Reference/Section Question

36C77022R0003+0006 9 Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Proposals/ Volume III. Past Performance, 6. Past Performance Questionnaire

If we are using the same past performances on all the CMOPs, can we have our customer submit one past performance questionnaire rather than one for each separate opportunity? It would greatly reduce the required effort from our customers.

Response: Please see Attachment 5 – Past Performance. Page 1 must identify the Solicitation(s) for which the PPQ is submitted for. Offerors may list multiple Solicitation numbers in the appropriate field if they desire the PPQ to be considered for multiple procurements.

PWS; 1.6.3 2 Future operational hours may change, increase, or decrease, to include expansion to morning, evening, weekend, or split shifts, based on workload demand or operational contingencies to include, but are not limited to inclement weather, equipment failures, local, state, or Federal emergencies, workload transfers, and staffing shortages.

If weather shuts down access to the Murfreesboro, will the government reimburse awarded small businesses for contracted employees arriving at the facility? If so, how many hours?

Response: The Government anticipates awarding a single indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract under the solicitation. Accordingly, actual hours will be ordered via individual Task Orders (TOs). The hours in the Price Schedule are estimates only and not guaranteed.

PWS; 1.6.4 2 The government reserves the right to decrease operations when deactivating

If the government sends contractor employees home due to reduced production needs during a week, how much will the government reimburse for their availability?

facilities or due to significant decreases in workload.

Response: The Government anticipates awarding a single indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract under the solicitation. Accordingly, actual hours will be ordered via individual Task Orders (TOs). The hours in the Price Schedule are estimates only and not guaranteed.

PWS; 8.15 10 “…The Contractor is liable for any workers’ compensation events resulting for the delivery of services.”

Are workers’ compensation cost estimates expected to be the same as those of prior years during this new period of performance? If so, must the contractor include estimates in overhead, or will there be equitable adjustments during the PoP?

Response: All unit prices are fully burdened rates. Proposal preparation and submission is a matter of business judgement. It is up to the offeror how to structure their proposal in order to meet the requirements set forth in the PWS.

PWS; 9 Contractor Deliverables 9.2

11 A monthly production report must be provided to the COR, listing by name, each contract provider and associated production measures at each assigned station.

Will the government provide weekly data from the system tracking the DLH provider and each assigned workstation in SQL database format?

Response: This is an amendment to the solicitation that has yet to be awarded and thus data on current employees with a different contractor will not be provided. The awardee will have data provided to them on the performance of their employees.

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 41 of 68 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1

The government has issued an amendment permitting new companies to bid on this opportunity while also allowing the original bidders to resubmit their proposals with revisions. Will the government accept new proposals from the current bidders? If so, what will happen to the proposals they previously submitted?

Response: Please refer to 36C77022R0007 Amendment 0005, Addendum to FAR 52.212-1.

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 49 of 68 Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation— Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Subfactor B *Note: If a proposal includes a Facility

Given that a) evaluation and awards have taken over 6 months, and b) the RFP Key Personnel clause requires that the contractor request and provide an FA that meets or exceeds the requirement, would the government protect the VA’s best value decision by keeping the award to the awarded contractor provided that the FA at start of the contract fully meets or exceeds the requirement?

Administrator that is unavailable at the time of anticipated contract award, that the proposal will be deemed unacceptable and ineligible for award.

Response: Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with 36C77022R0003 Amendment 0005, Addendum to 52.212-2.

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 43 of 68 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Proposals; Factor 1 Sub-factor B

Factor 1 Technical Capability, Sub-factor B: Program Management states: “Provide your proposed method of electronic timekeeping and records management for large numbers of personnel. Include all equipment, software, and/or other approaches you are proposing for timekeeping purposes. Examples must include a sample of timekeeping, attendance, and payroll reports and how they are used to support attendance and invoicing.”

Will the government provide on-site ethernet connection as well as facility space for the on-site SDVOSB SCA employees and FA personnel to record their time on a daily basis? If not, what bandwidth can be expected for on-site personnel to conduct time recording? If no on-site provision will be furnished, will the on-site workers’ time away from the facility for time recording for each SCA labor category (i.e., pharmacy technicians and shipper/packers) be billable to the contract, or must that time for each SCA FTEE be absorbed by the contractor on a daily basis?

Response: Please see Attachment 1 PWS part 8.6, 9.8, and 9.9

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 43 of 68 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Proposals; Factor 1 Sub-factor 1.b

RFP requires navigating the VA’s unique credentialing, background, and onboarding process. Is the contractor responsible for the associated costs related to the VA actions, or does the VA cover those costs? If the contractor is responsible, what are those costs?

Response: Yes the contractor is responsible for onboarding and credentialing in accordance with the PWS. Proposal preparation and submission is a matter of business judgement. It is up to the offeror how to structure their proposal in order to meet the requirements set forth in the solicitation.

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 32 of 68 Section C.12 Supplemental Insurance Requirements

Section C.15 Supplemental Insurance Requirements of the Solicitation includes the statement “(d) The successful bidder must present to the Contracting Officer, prior to award, evidence of general liability insurance without any exclusionary clauses for asbestos that would void the general liability coverage.” Is the

VA indicating there is a risk of exposure to asbestos in the VA facilities? If not, what is the purpose of including this requirement, as it could have a significant cost implication?

Response: This information is required by regulation "when the contract amount is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold."

RFP 36C77022R0003 0005 -

41 of 68 ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND

NOTICES TO

PROPOSALS

Submittal and Inquiries. – Proposal Format

Note for offerors who have already submitted proposals

Offerors who have previously submitted shall, in response to this amendment, include a complete submittal of all proposal volumes.

Even proposal volumes without changes shall be resubmitted in full.

To facilitate evaluation, offerors must identify the changes in each proposal volume (e.g., highlighted text, strikeouts, or text change bars).

A cover sheet shall accompany each volume. The cover sheet shall be clearly marked as to volume number, The government stated that offerors who have already submitted proposals shall include a complete submittal of all proposal volumes. Does the government plan to allow other companies who have not submitted a proposal by January 27, 2023 (original due date) an opportunity to submit a response under Amendment 0005?

title, copy number, solicitation identification, offeror's name and must clearly identify which sections of the volumes have been edited since the prior submission.

Response: Any offerors who submit in accordance with the terms of 36C77022R0007 Amendment 0005(and subsequent amendments) may be considered for this opportunity.

Could you please provide the previous price of contract 36C77022R0003?

Response: The current contract is 36C77024D0011. Proposal preparation and submission is a matter of business judgement. It is up to the offeror how to structure their proposal in order to meet the requirements set forth in the PWS.

Could you please provide the award details for the previous contract holder of contract 36C77022R0003?

Response: The current contract is 36C77024D0011. Proposal preparation and submission is a matter of business judgement. It is up to the offeror how to structure their proposal in order to meet the requirements set forth in the PWS

36C77022R0003 0005 Conformed Page 9 B.3 Schedule Given this contract has the same phase-out language and requirements as the Leavenworth solicitation, is the B3. Schedule missing a Phase-Out JB/CLIN?"

Response: Phase out CLIN not applicable and removed from solicitations.

Attachment 5 – Past Performance R1

Page 1 Instructions to Prime Contractor

Under what circumstances would the government use previously completed PPQs for the other CMOP projects from same customers?

Response: Please see Attachment 5 – Past Performance. Page 1 must identify the Solicitation(s) for which the PPQ is submitted for. Offerors may list multiple Solicitation numbers in the appropriate field if they desire the PPQ to be considered for multiple procurements.

36C77022R0003 0005 Conformed Page 8 B.2 Ordering Periods What is the new timeline for the anticipated award and phase-in date (contract start date) given the suspension of other bids?

Response: Anticipated award date is unknown at this time. Please see Attachment 1 PWS part 7 for information regarding phase-in/phase-out.

Attachment+1-PWS+r3 Attachment+2-PRS+r1

PWS,

PRS

8.3, 8.6, 8.8, 8.15, 9, 14.1, 10.3.1, 10.3.2

The PRS references sections in the PWS do not match, and in some cases, do not exist. How do we successfully address these items that do not correlate?

Response: Please see updated Attachment 2 PRS r2

36C77022R0003 0005 Conformed Page 40 ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND

NOTICES TO

PROPOSALS

For tables, graphics, photos, etc., is the 8pt Times New Roman font the minimum?

Response: Please refer to 36C77022R0007 Amendment 0005, Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Proposal Format.

Attachment+1-PWS+r2 Page 5 4. Qualifications While we will conform to contractual standards and The Joint Commission standards of occupational health requirements for contract personnel, can you please confirm the occupational health requirements for these positions?

Response: Please see Attachment 1 PWS part 4 and 8.4.1.

Attachment+3- Performance+Standards

Omitted Production Expectations

The Performance Standards Attachment included with the other CMOP solicitations is omitted for this solicitation. What are the VA employee standards of productivity, competency, quality, conduct and protocol for the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians? What Units are being measured?

Response: Please see attachment 12.

Amendment 005 Conformed RFP 42 ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND

NOTICES TO

PROPOSALS,

Proposal Format, Volume Content, Volume II – Technical Capability, Subfactor A Experience, Subparagraph a.

The RFP states, “Provide documentation to demonstrate the placement of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians staffed by your proposed team (to include subcontractors and/or teaming partners) within the last 3 years.” Would the Government accept placement of nursing or other medical technical personnel as a demonstration of this capability?

Response: Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with 36C77022R0003 Amendment 0005, Addendum to 52.212-2.

Amendment 005 Conformed RFP 43 ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND

NOTICES TO

PROPOSALS,

Proposal Format, Volume Content, Volume II – Technical Capability, Subfactor B Program Management, Subparagraph b.i.

The RFP states, “Provide resumes for proposed Facility Administrators. The proposal shall identify which Facility Administrator is proposed for each respective shift. The resumes must, at a minimum, contain the names and qualifications of the Facility Administrator.” Understanding that the labor market is fluid, would the Government accept replacements if these specified Facility Administrators are unavailable at the time of award?

Response: Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with 36C77022R0003 Amendment 0005, Addendum to 52.212-2.

Attachment 1, PWS 8 General, Paragraph 8, Government Responsibilities, Subparagraph 8.2.

Are there any specific requirements for the technology or software systems or EMRs that our staff will need to be proficient in?

Response: The requirements are articulated in Attachment 1 PWS and not limited to specific technology or software. Proposal preparation and submission is a matter of business judgement. It is up to the offeror how to structure their proposal in order to meet the requirements set forth in the PWS

Attachment 1, PWS 1-2 General, Paragraph

1.5 Place of

Performance, Subparagraph 1.5.3.

Is there a current, expected timeline and process for the transition of workload from the Sam Jared location to the Elam Farms location? Will there be approximately the same amount of personnel at the beginning of the contract (with two (2) locations) as at the end of the Contract (with only the one (1) location), or does the Government expect cuts due to automation, consolidation, etc.?

Response: This will be discussed after award with the awardee.

SOW 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3 Can the government provide additional details on the transition from Sam Jared to Elam Farms? Will all the FTEs from Sam Jared transition to Elam Farms? Is Elam Farms large enough to absorb all the personnel of Sam Jared? Will extended hours be required? Will the Elam Farms facility require fewer FTEs? What staffing adaptations does the government anticipate may happen during the transition?

Response: This will be discussed after award with the awardee.

Attachment 1, PWS 1-2 General, Paragraph

1.5 Place of

Performance, Subparagraph 1.5.3.

How will staffing needs be communicated to us during the transition and throughout the contract period, especially in cases of sudden changes in volume or workload?

Response: The Government anticipates awarding a single indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract under the solicitation. Accordingly, actual hours will be ordered via individual Task Orders (TOs). The hours in the Price Schedule are estimates only and not guaranteed.

Attachment 1, PWS 9-10 General, Paragraph 9, Contractor Responsibilities

Are there specific medical vaccines and/or shots that will be required by contractor personnel on this contract? If so, what are they?

Response: PWS 21.1 contractor personnel must be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives.

Attachment 1, PWS 9-10 General, Paragraph 9, Contractor Responsibilities

Are there specific background checks required by contractor personnel on this contract? If so, what are they?

Response: The requirements are articulated in Attachment 1 PWS 24.