Attachment 11 - Charleston Questions and Answers.xlsx
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- Q517--Staffing Service Charleston CMOP
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- 36C77022R0004
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| RFP Section | Page | Question | Government Response | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | Will the VA reconsider and remove these very restrictive requirements in order to ensure fair competition for this acquisition. Reference FACTOR 1 Technical Capability "with a MINIMUM of 51 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and 38 shipper/packers (unskilled labor) for a total of 89 FTEE in a single contract". | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan | p. 39 | Will the VA reconsider and remove these very restrictive requirements in order to ensure fair competition for this acquisition. Reference Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan –Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the Charleston CMOP | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | The document did not explain the importance of the number 89 and why it needed to be “in a single contract ”Demonstration means actual hiring and placing of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, healthcare workers and shipper/packers (unskilled labor) in a healthcare or pharmacy environment prior to the issuance of the solicitation with a MINIMUM of 51 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and 38 shipper/packers (unskilled labor) for a total of 89 FTEE in a single contract. Section 1.3 of the PWS. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | The document did not explain the importance of the number 89 and why it needed to be “in a single contract”. Will 75 be just as good? What about 125 but in 3 different contracts. The point is that what you added later that says The offeror shall demonstrate their experience and effectiveness in managing a staffing contract with a large number of personnel. is hard to argue with and it covers all the bases. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan | p. 39 | I also would like to know if you are only looking for companies that are based in the Charleston area or in South Carolina for this contract. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan | p. 39 | On page 39 of 58 in the solicitation document it stated as follows: Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan – The staffing plan should contain sufficient number of qualified personnel to work at the Charleston CMOP. Provide specific information as to how your company proposes to meet the requirements of the performance work statement, to include, but not be limited to, the following information: Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the Charleston CMOP. Aside from the incumbent, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to meet this 50 mile radius requirement. Leaving this language in place will be in direct contravention of the FAR as it summarily eliminates competition. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan | p. 39 | The offeror shall provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and shipper/packers (unskilled labor) successfully placed in the last 24 months. Aside from the incumbent, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to meet this 50 mile radius requirement. Leaving this language in place will be in direct contravention of the FAR as it summarily eliminates competition. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 11 | Attachment-1 (PWS), on page 11 of 24 it states “Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians must meet VA employee standards of productivity, competency, quality, conduct and protocol.” This language is ambiguous at best and doesn’t help clarify what you are looking for. Our company have contracts at multiple VISNs within the VA and I have never come across this language. I am also aware that due to the bargaining agreement that talking about employee’s productivity is an area of high sensitivity that is avoided within the VA. Therefore, this is a problematic language as it stands. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | In the solicitation it is stated under Factor 1: Technical Capability – “Should you rely on other business partners to meet contractual requirements (i.e., subcontracting, teaming, mentor-protégé, joint ventures), you shall provide the name and SAM UEI number of each partner. The requests in your proposal must also clearly identify each business partner’s specific role in relationship to contract performance, down to the task level. Additionally, you must obtain written permission from all proposed business partners via a signed Subcontractor Information Release Consent Form. If no release form is provided for a specific business partner, the business partner information shall not be evaluated.” However, in a joint venture, the parties are jointly liable for the obligations and requirements under the contract and also jointly entitled to the rights that arise thereunder. In a prime contractor/subcontractor team, the prime contractor is the only party in privity of contract with the government. This is the difference between a Joint Venture and a Prime/Subcontractor arrangement. So there will be no “subcontractor” relationship under a Joint Venture who is not using a subcontractor as another partner to the Joint Venture, which means there should be no requirement for a Subcontractor Information Release Consent Form for Joint Ventures not using a subcontractor. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| Staffing Matrix Attachment 5 | N/A | There are zero hours for most of the line items. In other words, there are zero hours for overtime, nights, holidays, or any time for any work by lead positions. Was the Government intent, therefore, that only the four labor categories be priced (without any consideration for overtime, nights, holidays, or any time for any work by lead positions)? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |
| Staffing Matrix Attachment 5 | N/A | there are line items with reference to “lead” personnel. Are the “lead” personnel identical to the “key personnel” identified in PWS, Para 3? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS for Key Personnel. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 5 | Key Personnel, addresses the requirement for key individuals for each of the four labor categories (pharmacist, pharmacist technician, shipping/packaging, and facility administration). Is the Government expectation that there be only one lead person per labor category? | See Amendment 0004 to the soliciation which revises the PWS. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 1 | A new CMOP 766A is currently being built in Ladson, SC that will eventually replace the CMOP 766 at 3725 Rivers Ave., Ste. 2, North Charleston, SC 29405. A slow transition of workload is currently taking place with a full transition of workload scheduled to be completed by April 2023. The contractor is required to staff both locations until a full transition of workload from CMOP 766 to CMOP 766A has been completed. What is the current percentage of work currently being performed at the CMOP in Charleston vs the CMOP in Ladson? | Currently the percentage of work at Ladson (766A) fluctuates between 0% and 50% each week for first shift. Second shift workload has remained at CMOP 766, Rivers Ave.The same complement of 265 FTEE are being used to staff both CMOPs therefore, it is as if only one CMOP was in operation | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 1 | A new CMOP 766A is currently being built in Ladson, SC that will eventually replace the CMOP 766 at 3725 Rivers Ave., Ste. 2, North Charleston, SC 29405. A slow transition of workload is currently taking place with a full transition of workload scheduled to be completed by April 2023. The contractor is required to staff both locations until a full transition of workload from CMOP 766 to CMOP 766A has been completed. When can we expect complete transition to be completed? | As the question states, full transition is scheduled to occur by April 1, 2023 | |
| 36C77022R0004 | p. 1 | Wage determination found on Standard Form 1449 2015-5105 does not match the Wage determination 2015-4427 attachment submitted on SAM.gov | Block 20 of the SF1449 should be corrected to read: WD 2015-4427 Rev 23 dated 12-27-2022 applies to this solicitation and resultant contract. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 10 | The Contractor must provide all equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site administrative contractor personnel, if required. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be coordinated with the COR. Any connectivity for electronic equipment is the responsibility of the Contractor. Is this just for the facilities administrator? | The VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace for the contractor (PWS 7.6). The equipment/furniture required for such workspace is wholly dependent upon what the contractor has determined to be necessary in order for its Facility Administrator(s)(FAs) and administrative contract personnel to perfom their required duties. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 10 | The Contractor must provide all equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site administrative contractor personnel, if required. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be coordinated with the COR. Any connectivity for electronic equipment is the responsibility of the Contractor. What kind of equipment/furniture is required? | The VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace for the contractor (PWS 7.6). The equipment/furniture required for such workspace is wholly dependent upon what the contractor has determined to be necessary in order for its Facility Administrator(s)(FAs) and administrative contract personnel to perfom their required duties. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 10 | The Contractor must provide all necessary equipment for detailed electronic timekeeping purposes to include hardware that would require personnel to physically clock in and clock out. Personal electronic devices are not allowed on the production floor and cannot be used for this purpose. Records such as time and attendance logs must be used to verify Contractor's performance. Detailed timekeeping reports are to be submitted weekly, for verification and review, to the COR. Manual adjustments to timekeeping records must be easily identified to include a detailed rationale to support the adjustment. The Contractor shall provide the COR with any additional documentation necessary to validate invoicing. One timekeeping device shall be provided for each forty (40) personnel. Installation of timekeeping systems are the responsibility of the Contractor and are to be coordinated with the COR. Timekeeping records are to be maintained for six (6) years, three (3) months after the final payment is received on the contract. Based on the Paragraph, will we need to supply hardware - device on-site (1 per 40 FTEs) so that the employees can clock in and out? | Yes. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 10 | Would our companies current process of logging time be allowed? | At this time, VA has no way of determining if your current process of timekeeping meets all of the PWS requirements. See PWS 8.8 for reference to this solicitations requirements for electronic timekeeping. Please refer to Section E, FAR 52.212-1 for information needed to submit with respect to your proposed timekeeping process. | |
| PWS Attachment 1 | p. 1 | Are the facilities open and operating 24 hours? | No. See PWS Paragraph 1.6. | |
| Will the Government accept past performance that does not include the labor category "shipper/packer," but includes other unskilled labor categories in a pharmacy setting that require the seven qualifications listed | Yes. | |||
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix.xlsx | N/A | The staff matrix shows 4160 hours for the facility administrator, which is consistent with 2 FTE. Will the Government please confirm that there are 2 FTE facility administrators required? Is it to cover the 2 different shifts? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix.xlsx | N/A | If 2 FTE are required, will the Government provide on-site facility administrator space for both facility administrators? | The VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace for the contractor (PWS 7.6). The equipment/furniture required for such workspace is wholly dependent upon what the contractor has determined to be necessary in order for its Facility Administrator(s)(FAs) and administrative contract personnel to perfom their required duties. | |
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix.xlsx | N/A | The Pharmacist Lead and Pharmacy Technician Lead positions do not have line items for regular night shift; however, they have line items designated for “Overtime Night” and “Holiday Night”. Is this an oversight? Please advise. | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix.xlsx | p. 1 | There are two sites (766 and 766A) with two 8-hour shifts each (total 16 hours/day). Will the facility administrator(s) at each site be required to cover both shifts? | Yes, see PWS Paragraph 3.2. | |
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix.xlsx | p. 1 | Attachment 5 – Staff Matrix shows a total of 4160 hours for the Facility Administrator. Is this enough hours to cover both shifts at both facilities? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |
| p. 1 | Considering there is a day and an evening shift at both facilities, we respectfully request that the Government add a line item for each labor category to account for the “evening” shift | PWS 1.3 states the number of FTEE that will be needed for the solicitation therefore, both sites will be staffed utilizing the same pool of staff. Only one day shift and one evening shift is required. A portion of FTEE per shift may be scheduled at one CMOP while the remaining staff would be scheduled to report to the other CMOP | ||
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 9 | Will the Government please provide a list of items the CMOP will provide as disposable protective equipment (PPE) as required by OSHA for specific job functions? | PWS 7.4.1. The CMOP will supply disposable PPE to include gloves, aprons, eye protection and any other PPE required by OSHA. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 9 | States “Steel toe safety shoes may be required in some facilities for some functions and will be the responsibility of the contractor.” Do any functions at these facilities require steel toe safety shoes? If so, which labor categories require steel toe safety shoes? | Access/work in the Receiving area may constitute foot protection. 7.4.1. Steel toe caps and slip-on protective footwear will be made available by CMOP. Steel toe caps and/or slip-on protective footwear are not considered disposable. Contractor may elect to provide steel toed boots in place of cap or slip-on but at their own expense. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 9 | Will the Government please provide a list of all inventory/furniture/equipment provided by the Government in the Government-provided on-site facility administrator space? | VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace. PWS 8.9. The Contractor must provide all equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site administrative contractor personnel, if required. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be coordinated with the COR. Any connectivity for electronic equipment is the responsibility of the Contractor. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 10 | States “The Contractor must provide all necessary equipment for detailed electronic timekeeping purposes to include hardware that would require personnel to physically clock in and clock out.” Question – What is the current electronic timekeeping system/hardware being utilized on-site? | The current electronic timekeeping hardware that is on-site is owned and operated by the incumbent. There is no requirement that incumbent's timekeeping system be utilized. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 10 | States “The contractor must provide any PPE in accordance with published guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason.” Will the Government please identify which “published guidance” needs to be followed? | PWS 8.10 The contractor shall provide PPE in accordance with published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | |
| Attachment-1 (PWS) | p. 13 | States “Contract employee to be placed in a CMOP must be screened for improper use of drugs by the Contractor as part of pre-employment”. Please confirm this means that every employee for this requirement must be drug tested prior to employment. | Services provided under this contract are subject to VA’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy. As such, Contractor shall provide personnel consistent with the aim of that policy, i.e., personnel that are drug free. Contractor shall have its own guidelines in place to promote the utilization of drug free personnel, including the ability to administer drug testing on their personnel during situations of “reasonable suspicion” of drug use and testing following any incidents of “accident or unsafe practices”. It is also recommended that Contractor have procedures in place for random drug testing. | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | Single contracts of this magnitude and specificity (51 pharmacists and 38 shipper/packers) are very rare. The only likely past performance applicable to this requirement is an existing contract with a VA CMOP. The ability for any vendor, particularly a SDVOSB, to demonstrate the required capabilities in a single contract is almost non-existent. These specific questions and requirements were not asked or mentioned in the Sources Sought stage of this effort, so it is difficult to understand how the Government determined that more than one (the incumbent) will be able to meet these requirements. The only SDVOSB likely to successfully respond to this solicitation is the incumbent, who sits in an unpopulated JV. This will severely limit competition and will provide an unfair advantage to the incumbent contractor. | See Amendment 0002 which revised submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability: | p. 38, p. 39 | The existence of a pharmacy operation within 50 miles of the Charleston CMOP that would demonstrate anywhere close to the magnitude of the Charleston CMOP is extremely unlikely and will once again limit competition and provide an unfair advantage to the incumbent contractor. | See Amendment 0002 which revised evaluation criteria. | |
| C.15 SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS | P. 23 | Does the following statement found in Section C15 Supplemental Insurance Requirements (page 23-24)(c) Automobile liability: $200,000.00 per person; $500,000.00 per occurrence and $20,000.00 | ||
| property damage., mean employees will be driving/delivering meds? If so, will they be using their POV or a government Vehicle? | Driving/delivering meds is not in the scope of this contract. See PWS 5.0 Tasks, for tasks that are within scope of this solicitation. | |||
| 1. On Attachment 5, Staff Matrix, there are zero hours for most of the line items. In other words, there are zero hours for overtime, nights, holidays, or any time for any work by lead positions. Was the Government intent, therefore, that only the four labor categories be priced (without any consideration for overtime, nights, holidays, or any time for any work by lead positions)? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |||
| 1. On Attachment 5, Staff Matrix, there are line items with reference to “lead” personnel. Are the “lead” personnel identical to the “key personnel” identified in PWS, Para 3? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS. | |||
| 2. PWS, Para 3, Key Personnel, addresses the requirement for key individuals for each of the four labor categories (pharmacist, pharmacist technician, shipping/packaging, and facility administration). Is the Government expectation that there be only one lead person per labor category? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS. | |||
| 1. The Contractor must provide all equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site administrative contractor personnel, if required. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be coordinated with the COR. Any connectivity for electronic equipment is the responsibility of the Contractor. Is this just for the facilities administrator? What kind of equipment/furniture is required? | The VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace for the contractor (PWS 7.6). The equipment/furniture required for such workspace is wholly dependent upon what the contractor has determined to be necessary in order for its Facility Administrator(s)(FAs) and administrative contract personnel to perfom their required duties. | |||
| 1. Based on the Paragraph below, will we need to supply hardware - device on-site (1 per 40 FTEs) so that the employees can clock in and out? Or- Would our companies current process of logging time be allowed? 8.8. The Contractor must provide all necessary equipment for detailed electronic timekeeping purposes to include hardware that would require personnel to physically clock in and clock out. Personal electronic devices are not allowed on the production floor and cannot be used for this purpose. Records such as time and attendance logs must be used to verify Contractor's performance. Detailed timekeeping reports are to be submitted weekly, for verification and review, to the COR. Manual adjustments to timekeeping records must be easily identified to include a detailed rationale to support the adjustment. The Contractor shall provide the COR with any additional documentation necessary to validate invoicing. One timekeeping device shall be provided for each forty (40) personnel. Installation of timekeeping systems are the responsibility of the Contractor and are to be coordinated with the COR. Timekeeping records are to be maintained for six (6) years, three (3) months after the final payment is received on the contract. | Yes. | |||
| Are the facilities open and operating 24 hours? | No, see PWS Paragraph 1.6. | |||
| Single contracts of this magnitude and specificity (51 pharmacists and 38 shipper/packers) are very rare. The only likely past performance applicable to this requirement is an existing contract with a VA CMOP. The ability for any vendor, particularly a SDVOSB, to demonstrate the required capabilities in a single contract is almost non-existent. These specific questions and requirements were not asked or mentioned in the Sources Sought stage of this effort, so it is difficult to understand how the Government determined that more than one (the incumbent) will be able to meet these requirements. The only SDVOSB likely to successfully respond to this solicitation is the incumbent, who sits in an unpopulated JV. This will severely limit competition and will provide an unfair advantage to the incumbent contractor. Request that rather than using "MIMIMUM", the government request "... with a similar size, scope, and complexity to 51 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and 38 shipper/packers..." | See Amendment 0002 which revised evaluation criteria. | |||
| The existence of a pharmacy operation within 50 miles of the Charleston CMOP that would demonstrate anywhere close to the magnitude of the Charleston CMOP is extremely unlikely and will once again limit competition and provide an unfair advantage to the incumbent contractor. Request that the requirement be changed to "Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on your company's payroll.", eliminating “within 50 miles of the Charleston CMOP”. | See Amendment 0002 which revised evaluation criteria. | |||
| In Factor 1, Technical Capability (p.38), the Solicitation states that the shipper/packer is "unskilled labor": that is, this individual need only have: |
1. Have a high school diploma or GED.
2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills with coworkers and staff.
3. Have basic typing skills, PC computer skills, working knowledge of MS Office.
4. Must read, understand, speak, and write English fluently under the authority of U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
5. Must be able to lift to 50 pounds when required; push or pull up to 150 pounds on a rolling cart or using a pallet jack
6. Able to sit/stand for long periods of time (8-10 hours) and being able to lift totes weighing up to 30 pounds repetitively.
| 7. Must be able to understand the precautions required when handling hazardous materials and hazardous waste. Will the Government accept past performance that does not include the labor category "shipper/packer," but includes other unskilled labor categories in a pharmacy setting that require the seven qualifications listed above? | Yes. | ||||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 1 | Please clarify your FTEE equivalent and total number of hours. Section 1.3 indicates a higher number of needs and hours than stated in the Staff Matrix attachment. | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS. | ||
| N/A | Please outline any peaks: What is the timeframe and by what % does the staffing demand increase? | Workload varies. See PWS 1.2.2.2. Average production rates can vary widely from day to day and week to week based on a variety of factors such as inclement weather, staffing shortages, workload transfer, and system malfunctions. PWS 8.3. | The contractor must attempt to maintain a 100% staffing rate per scheduled shift but at no time will a staffing rate below 97% be considered acceptable for each labor category. Rates below acceptable levels will result in action by the CO, unless otherwise authorized by the COR. If required to be staffed at less than 97%, notification will be made by COR to the contractor. | ||
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix | Can you confirm that these roles are eligible for benefits and holiday pay? What is the process to bill for those? | This is not a personal services contract and contractor personnel are not employees. Accordingly, the Government does not pay contractors for sick leave, holidays, vacation, etc. | |||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 9 | Is a uniform required? | See PWS 8.4. All Contractor employees must be clearly differentiated from VA staff. All contract employees must wear apparel, or a badge issued by the contractor that clearly indicates the name of contracted agency. | ||
| N/A | What is the average assignment length of your temporary workers by job category/skill set? | As this question does not pertain to the solicitation, the Government has no response. Should the offeror desire information about the existing contract, the offeror can submit a FOIA request to: Ryan McFarland, Ryan.McFarland@va.gov. To the extent that the question regards staffing requirements, please refer to Section 1.3 of the PWS. | |||
| N/A | What challenges are you experiencing with your current contingent labor program? | This is an opportunity for offerors to ask questions pertaining to the solicitation. As this question does not pertain to the posted solicitation, the Government has no response. | |||
| N/A | Do you currently have an on-site program? | Yes. FAR 52.212-1 included details on a site visit which was available on Dec 14, 2022. | |||
| N/A | What is the current fulfillment rate on your openings by labor category? | The Government does not track this; it is internal to the contractor. | |||
| N/A | What is the current retention rate of your contingent workforce by labor category? | The Government does not track this; it is internal to the contractor. | |||
| RFP 36C77022R0009 | Can paid sick leave, if any, be billed as used? | This is not a personal services contract and contractor personnel are not employees. Accordingly, the Government does not pay contractors for sick leave, holidays, vacation, etc. | |||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 10 | Is automated timekeeping currently utilized for contingent workers? If so, which system? | The current Contractor owns and operaters all necessary equipment for detailed electronic timekeeping purposes to include hardware that would require personnel to physically clock in and clock out. | ||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 5 | Please describe the orientation and training process that your hiring managers currently administer to temporary employees, including forklift certification. | The contractor is responsible for "hiring managers". Operation of forklifts is out of scope of this solicitation. See PWS 5.0 Tasks | ||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 9 | Please outline your requirements for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Which PPE is expected to be provided (paid for) by the vendor? Please indicate which positions require which PPE. | PWS 7.4.1. The CMOP will supply disposable PPE to include gloves, aprons, eye protection and any other PPE required by OSHA. PWS 8.10 The contractor shall provide PPE in accordance with published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | ||
| N/A | Can you please provide your safety record for 2022? | The Government does not track this; it is internal to the contractor. | |||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | Page 1 | What VA resources are available to the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs including technology/IT resources, data resources, and management/operational resources to assist with managing customer incidents or complaints. (Looking for VA management resources above and beyond the contract lead roles at the site) | VA QA at the CMOP manage customer incidents or complaints. It is not the contractor's responsibility to handle customer complaints. | ||
| RFP 36C77022R0009 | Page 32 | The past performance requirements listed in the solicitation are too restrictive. As a SDVOSB set-aside solicitation, the only companies that can maintain the SDVOSB status and meet these requirements are Joint Ventures created under the all-small Mentor Protégé program. It does not allow teaming and subcontracting due to the fact SDVOSB companies will be leaning too heavily on their subcontractors to meet the past performance requirements. In the true spirit of the SDVOSB program, I kindly request you eliminate the minimum number of FTEs for the past performance references. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| RFP 36C77022R0009 | Page 39 | The key personnel resume requirements listed in the solicitation are too restrictive. As a SDVOSB set-aside solicitation, the only companies that can maintain the SDVOSB status and meet these requirements are Joint Ventures created under the all-small Mentor Protégé program. It does not allow teaming and subcontracting due to the fact SDVOSB companies will be leaning too heavily on their subcontractors to meet the key personnel resume requirements. In the true spirit of the SDVOSB program, I kindly request you eliminate altogether the key personnel resume requirements. Especially since, no matter who wins, the new vendor will hire the current workforce on the contract. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| RFP 36C77022R0009 | Page 38 | “Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the ****** CMOP” This requirement listed in the solicitation is too restrictive. As a SDVOSB set-aside solicitation, the only companies that can maintain the SDVOSB status and meet this requirement are Joint Ventures created under the all-small Mentor Protégé program. It does not allow teaming and subcontracting due to the fact SDVOSB companies will be leaning too heavily on their subcontractors to meet the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the ****** CMOP requirements. In the true spirit of the SDVOSB program, I kindly request you eliminate altogether this requirement. Especially since, the current contractor has a clear advantage on this requirement. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| RFP 36C77022R0009 | In 2022, there is no reason why companies should have to print, bind and ship hard copy and electronic proposals. I request the submission of proposals be changed to email submittals. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |||
| Is there an affirmative date by when the transition to Ladson SC facility will be completed? | No. | ||||
| Will Federal employees have the option of joining the Union? | This is a non-personal services contract therefore, VA does not communicate with Unions that may represent contract workers. | ||||
| 32 | In order to get maximum competition from qualified vendors, would the government please consider changing the submission method to an email rather than physical mail delivery of Hardcopies and CDs? Given the close proximity of the final date for questions and the solicitation due date (December 23 and January 6, respectively), it is possible that some offerors may have mailed in their hard copy submission before all potential amendments can be acknowledged. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |||
| Subcontractor Information Release Consent Form | 39,41 | This form is mentioned in the evaluation factors for both the Technical and Past Performance Volumes. Should it be included in both volumes, or is it preferred to only be included in one of them? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| BAA | 33 | This form that is required in Volume 1 did not seem to be supplied with the RFP. Can the government please provide a template? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation, which attaches the Business Associate Agreement. | ||
| PWS 8.9 | Can the government please provide a list of specific equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture that the offerors are expected to provide to ensure the government gets the most accurate, cost-effective quote possible? | The equipment/furniture required for such workspace is wholly dependent upon what the contractor has determined to be necessary in order for its Facility Administrator(s)(FAs) and administrative contract personnel to perfom their required duties. | |||
| PWS, SM, RFP | 40 | If a position is listed as a “Key Personnel” in the PWS but does not have any hours assigned to it in the staff matrix, are offerors still expected to provide a resume for that position in their response? (For example, a Lead Pharmacist is considered a Key Personnel, but has 0 hours assigned on the staff matrix.) | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. See Amendment 0004 to the soliciation which revised the PWS and Staff Matrix. | ||
| PWS, SM, RFP | 40 | Is the number of resumes required at proposal tied to the estimated annual hours in the Staff Matrix, or is it one per labor category designated as a Key Personnel? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| SM | Should offerors complete itemized pricing for line items that have an estimated quantity of 0? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| SM | Can the government please confirm if the omission of a Fringe Benefits column for each ordering period is intentional? As it is, the itemized cells will not cleanly add up to the totals. | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| SM | Several cells requesting dollar amounts are locked in a date format. Can the government please correct the spreadsheet to remove these limitations? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| SM | Should there be rows for Pharmacist Lead Night and Pharmacy Technician Lead Night? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| SM | Should row 17 read “Pharmacy Technician Overtime (in excess of 40 hours per week)”? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| PWS | Section 7.4 states the CMOP will provide disposable PPE as required by OSHA but 8.10 says that contractors are responsible for providing PPE during a pandemic or for other health/safety reasons. Please provide additional clarification on the contractor’s responsibility to provide PPE. | PWS 7.4.1. The CMOP will supply disposable PPE to include gloves, aprons, eye protection and any other PPE required by OSHA. PWS 8.10 The contractor shall provide PPE in accordance with published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | |||
| PWS | Section 7.4 states the CMOP will provide disposable PPE as required by OSHA but 8.10 says that contractors are responsible for providing PPE during a pandemic or for other health/safety reasons. Please provide additional clarification on the contractor’s responsibility to provide PPE. | No. VA will provide masks and hand sanitizer stations during pandemics. | |||
| PWS | Is the requirement for the contractor to provide PPE during a pandemic or other health/safety reason only for administration staff? | PWS 7.4.1. The CMOP will supply disposable PPE to include gloves, aprons, eye protection and any other PPE required by OSHA. PWS 8.10 The contractor shall provide PPE in accordance with published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | |||
| PWS | Are contractors currently required to provide additional PPE? If so, what PPE is the contractor currently required to provide? | PWS 7.4.1. The CMOP will supply disposable PPE to include gloves, aprons, eye protection and any other PPE required by OSHA. PWS 8.10 The contractor shall provide PPE in accordance with published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance during any events such as a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | |||
| 40 | Are sentences 3-5 of this paragraph (copied below) instructions for the resumes themselves or are they requests for additional items/narratives on top of the requested resumes? Sub-factor D: Key Personnel - Provide the names and qualifications of the Key Personnel, referenced at PWS Para 3, proposed for this project in the form of resumes. Resumes for each individual must include educational qualifications, if applicable. Clearly present the separate credentials of each proposed key team member and provide a concise summary of each individual’s separate duties and responsibilities as proposed for this solicitation. Describe up to three (3) examples demonstrating the experience of each individual designated as key personnel. Projects should be relevant examples of similar size, scope, and complexity. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |||
| 39 | Please confirm if there is a specific required format for clearly presenting the separate credentials of each proposed key team member? Will a statement on their resume suffice? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | |||
| site visit | During a recent site visit at the Lancaster, TX CMOP location, it was mentioned that the contractor is expected to certify top-performing workers as “certified staff trainers,” which were approved by the VA to provide training for newly hired personnel on standardized processes and procedures. We are curious if this process applies to the Leavenworth CMOP location as well. | This procurement does not require "certified staff trainers". Please refer to the PWS 5.0, Tasks. | |||
| site visit | Are these certified staff trainers the same as the leads for each discipline? | This procurement does not require "certified staff trainers". Please refer to the PWS 5.0, Tasks. | |||
| site visit | If these certified staff trainers are not the leads, will the government consider putting them on a separate line item on the staff matrix to provide additional compensation for the extra responsibilities and requirements? | This procurement does not require "certified staff trainers". Please refer to the PWS 5.0, Tasks. | |||
| site visit | Is the government going to provide training covering best practices and expectations for these certified trainers to prepare them for their new role or is this training the contractor’s responsibility? | This procurement does not require "certified staff trainers". Please refer to the PWS 5.0, Tasks. | |||
| PRS | Will the government please define the performance standards for each labor category? | Performance Standards are located at PWS Paragraph 10.0. | |||
| PRS | Will employees tasked with onboarding/training new staff be held to the same performance standards as the individuals in their labor category that do not have that additional responsibility? | The contractor's portion of onboarding is the responsibility of the FA unless the contractor elects to use their own Administrative Staff to complete these tasks, see PWS Paragraph 2.3 for clairty. No other labor categories bear the responsibility for onboarding training new staff. | |||
| Would the Government consider changing the Experience and Past Performance requirements to focus on the numbers of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians and Shipper/Packers hired and placed in total across the organization, and not under a single contract in a specific geographic region? The current language could be considered “unduly restrictive” under the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984, which requires that requires that solicitations generally permit fair competition and contain restrictive provisions only to the extent necessary to satisfy the needs of the agency (See 10 U.S.C 2305(a)(1)(B)(ii)(2006). The language as currently written favors the incumbent offeror/team in that few facilities outside of the CMOPs themselves contain this number of FTEE under a single contract and in a specific location. GAO has noted in numerous pre-award protests that unduly restrictive language tied to experience and past performance requirements must be reasonably necessary to meet the agency’s needs, and that the agency much ensure that it is rational and can withstand logical scrutiny. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| Because of the consolidation of functional areas for this opportunity and to ensure adequate competition, can a bidder provide two contracts -- one with the requirement for pharmacists/pharmacy techs and another with the shipper/packer requirements to meet the minimums included in the Factor 1, Technical Capability section (“Demonstration means actual hiring and placing of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, healthcare workers and shipper/packers (unskilled labor)…in a single contract”)? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| 2. Will the government please confirm resumes can be provided in an appendix that is not included in page count? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| In alignment with other VA contracting office practices as well as to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), we request that bidders be allowed to submit their proposals via email instead of hard copies. If not, we sincerely request an extension to allow adequate time for production efforts during the holidays. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| 4. Will the government please confirm if resumes can be submitted to demonstrate staffing within a 50-mile radius, in order to address the Factor 1 Technical Capability requirement ( “Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the Charleston CMOP”) ? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| The pricing worksheet (Staff Matrix) does not have a column for fringe benefits. Where should offerors show the costs associated with fringe benefits? | See Amendment 0004 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | ||||
| Will the Government please provide a list of items that will be provided as disposable protective equipment (PPE) as required by OSHA for specific job functions? | VA will provide masks, aprons, gloves and any other PPE required by OSHA when working in an area that requires additional protection. | ||||
| Will the Government please provide a list of all inventory/furniture/equipment provided by the Government in the Government-provided on-site designated lead space? | VA will only supply a dedicated on-site workspace. PWS 8.9. The Contractor must provide all equipment, office supplies, office machines, and furniture required for on-site administrative contractor personnel, if required. Any installation required will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be coordinated with the COR. Any connectivity for electronic equipment is the responsibility of the Contractor. | ||||
| The solicitation states “The Contractor shall provide all necessary equipment for detailed electronic timekeeping purposes.” Question – What is the current electronic timekeeping system/hardware being utilized on-site? | The current electronic timekeeping hardware that is on-site is owned and operated by the incumbent. There is no requirement that incumbent's timekeeping system be utilized. | ||||
| Over the past year, what union activities, requests, or communications have occurred specific to work contemplated by the solicitation? | This is a non-personal services contract therefore, VA does not communicate with Unions that may represent contract workers. | ||||
| What is the identifying title/number of the union representing contractor employees currently performing the work contemplated by the solicitation? | This is a non-personal services contract therefore, the incumbent contractor would have this information. VA does not want to risk misidentifying title/number of any Unions | ||||
| RFP | The RFP evaluation section E.6 indicates that a transition plan is evaluated. However, the pricing requested does not evaluate transition pricing. Please update the 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors and 52.212-2 Evaluation criteria to include instructions for transition pricing and how this pricing will be evaluated. | The transition Plan will be evaluated to determine your company’s experience in transitioning from an incumbent contractor. Pricing will not be any different than what was identified in Attachment 6 Staffing Matrix. The transition will begin on the first day of a signed contract. The transition period will not be a separately priced CLIN but is a contract requirement. | |||
| RFP | The RFP evaluation section E.6 indicates that a transition plan is evaluated. However, the pricing requested does not include transition pricing. Is transition included and are we allowed to modify the hours to reflect the Offeror’s transition plans? | PWS Para 5.6 provides information on the transition. The transition period will not be a separately priced CLIN but it is a contract requirement. It is up to the contractor to determine how they will price their proposal. | |||
| PWS | Para 6.3 speaks to VetPro. Is VetPro required for both Pharmacists and Certified Pharmacy Techs, or is it required for only Certified Pharmacy Techs? Can the government please confirm which positions require VetPro? | Certified Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists require VetPro. | |||
| RFP | Does the addition of “healthcare workers” indicate that additional healthcare labor categories beyond Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and Shipper/Packers are being solicited by the government; and will they be billable under the resultant contract? | Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are considered Healthcare workers. See PWS 1.12.13. | Healthcare Worker: As defined by the CDC, health care personnel “refers to all paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials." Furthermore, the Government used the same rationale for Shipper/Packers by opening it up to unskilled labor. |
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