Attachment 11 - Tucson Questions and Answers.xlsx
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- Q517--Staffing Service Tucson
- Solicitation number
- 36C77022R0008
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Sheet1
| RFP Section | Page | Question | Government Response | ||
| Attachment 1 PWS | 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 0003 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | |||
| 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. | ||
| RFP 36C77022R0008 | 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 | 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 36C77022R0008 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 36C77022R0008 | 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 36C77022R0008 | 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 36C77022R0008 | “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 36C77022R0008 | 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. | |||
| On the Staff Matrix attachment 5 , 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 0003 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix. | ||||
| 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 the PWS? | See Amendment 0003 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS for Key Personnel. | ||||
| Attachment 1 PWS | In paragraph 3 in the PWS - 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 0003 to the solicitation which corrects the Staff Matrix and the revised PWS for Key Personnel. | |||
| Attachment 1 PWS | Paragraph 8.8, 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. 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. Will we need to supply hardware - device on-site (1 per 40 FTEs) so that the employees can clock in and out? | Yes. | |||
| Attachment 1 PWS | Will our current process of logging time be allowed (i.e., PAYCOM)? | 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. | |||
| Attachment 1 PWS | Paragraph 8.9, states that 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. | |||
| Attachment 1 PWS | Is the facility open and operating 24 hours? | ||||
| No. The facility is not open and operating 24 hours. See PWS 1.6.1 | |||||
| RFP 36C77022R0008 | In Factor 1, Technical Capability the Solicitation states that the shipper/packer is "unskilled labor": that is, this individual need only have: * Have a high school diploma or GED. * Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills with coworkers and staff. * Have basic typing skills, PC computer skills, working knowledge of MS Office. * Must read, understand, speak, and write English fluently under the authority of U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).* 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. * Able to sit/stand for long periods of time (8-10 hours) and being able to lift totes weighing up to 30 pounds repetitively. * 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. | |||
| RFP 36C77022R0008 | C.15 SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. (b) General Liability: $500,000.00 per occurrences. (c) Automobile liability: $200,000.00 per person; $500,000.00 per occurrence and $20,000.00 property damage. | ||||
| (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. Does the above statement 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. | ||||
| Attachment 4 | Attachment 4 - Wage Determination for Solicitation number 36C77022R0008. This is a request for Pharmacist, Pharmacy Techs and Shipper/Packer however there is no Occupational Code or title for Pharmacist so we are unclear on the minimum wage requirement. Is this something you are able to assist with? | Pharmacists are not covered under wage determinations. | |||
| N/A | 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. | |||
| N/A | 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 36C77022R0008 | N/A | Given the holiday season, many vendors will have limited proposal bandwidth (e.g. paid time off [PTO]) to offer the Government strong, quality proposal responses to the solicitation requirements provided. Will the Government extend the deadline by two (2) weeks to 01-20-2023? | See Amendments 0001, 0002 and 0003 which extended proposal closing dates. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 | Page 31 | C. Proposal Preparation Instructions, 2. Format. Given the recent reports of increased cases of influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), we want to ensure the safety of the Government contracting team. Will the Government revise the requirements to allow for fully electronic proposal submissions via email? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 | Page 33 | C. Proposal Preparation Instructions, (c) Volume III - Past Performance. The instructions state, “Past Performance information described herein is required on the offeror and all subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners expected to perform 30 percent or more of the proposed effort based on the total proposed price.” Does this 30 percent encompass the entirety of the subcontracting team or is the Government intending for one subcontractor to be allocated this percentage of workshare? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Atachment 7 | Page 33 | C. Proposal Preparation Instructions, (c) Volume III - Past Performance; Attachment 7 – Past PerformanceThe instructions allow for the use of subcontractor past performance, but the instructions in Attachment 7 say “Instructions to Prime Contractor: (Contractor submitting proposal):” Please clarify whether subcontractors can submit PPQs for their relevant experience for inclusion in their Prime Contractor’s proposals? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 38 | FACTOR 1 Technical Capability; Attachment 1 - PWS. The evaluation criteria states, “Demonstration means actual hiring and placing of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, healthcare workers and shipper/packers (unskilled labor) in a healthcare or pharmacy environment…” The PWS lists “Pharmacist” and “Pharmacy Technician” under the definition of “healthcare worker.” Clarify what other labor categories are considered under the label “healthcare worker.”? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 38 | FACTOR 1 Technical Capability. The evaluation criteria states, “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 39 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and 31 shipper/packers (unskilled labor) for a total of 70 FTEE in a single contract.”. This requirement for this minimum number of FTEEs on a single contract severely limits the competitive pool and favors the incumbent contractor, opening the solicitation up to potential protest. We request the Government remove this requirement to increase competition across the SDVOSB, allowing otherwise qualified offerors to submit their relevant experience and capability to fulfill the contract requirements. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 38 | FACTOR 1 Technical Capability. The Government requests that offerors demonstrate “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 39 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and 31 shipper/packers (unskilled labor) for a total of 70 FTEE in a single contract.” Will the Government allow offerors to submit Single-Award IDIQ contracts (or Multiple-Award IDIQ contracts) demonstrating the minimum number of FTEEs required through task orders under those IDIQ contracts? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 39 | FACTOR 1 Technical Capability, 1) Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan. The evaluation criteria state, “Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the Tucson CMOP.”This requirement limits competition and favors the incumbent(s) who are currently performing at this CMOP, opening the solicitation up to potential protest. We request the Government remove this requirement to allow otherwise qualified offerors to submit their relevant experience and capability to fulfill the contract requirements for Sub-Factor A. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 39 | FACTOR 1 Technical Capability, 1) Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan. What forms of documentation will the Government consider compliant in demonstrating an offeror’s “experience in navigating the VA’s unique credentialing, background, and on-boarding processes for a large number of contract personnel” for this requirement? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 | Page 40 | Will the Government accept interim or final CPARs in lieu of PPQs? | Yes. | ||
| Attachment 1 – PWS | PWS, 3. Key Personnel, 3.1 Facility Administrator. The PWS states, “FA’s must be Six Sigma Certified at or above the Green Belt Level and/or be Project Management Certified.” Please clarify the intent of the FA possessing these certifications. Our team has presented FAs and other similar labor categories on contracts of similar size, scope, and magnitude who have performed the position’s duties successfully without the requested certifications. | CMOP utilizes Six Sigma Standards as a management tool to improve patient quality and safety. This metrics-driven system is used to reduce medical errors and remove defects from the processes involved in delivering care. The requirement is only to provide Green Belt Level which is considered a beginner level when compared to Black Belt and Master Blackbelt Six Sigma Level. The FA will need Greenbelt and/or be Project Management Certified to understand the performance management and quality control used at the CMOP. CMOP cannot attest to the need of other procurements with other entities. This procurement requires Green Belt Level and/or Project Management Certified. | |||
| Attachment 5 - Staff Matrix | Will offerors be allowed to increase the number of hours for those labor categories with zero (0) listed in Column B, “Estimated Annual Hours” if we determine additional FTEE hours are needed? | No. The Contracting Officer is the only one authorized to increase the number of hours for those labor categories. The numbers of hours in the staff matrix are an estimate. Actual labor hours required will be reflected on task orders. | |||
| Attachment 7 – Past Performance | Page 1 | Under “Instructions to Reference Contract," the Government requires the contracting personnel completing the form to “return the form to vendor requesting the reference.” We have had cases where some customers refuse to send the completed PPQ back to us because of the sensitive nature of the PPQ response, even with presenting the instructions from the solicitation requirements. Does the Government have an alternative for offerors if they encounter similar scenarios? | Amendment 0002 to the solicitation revised the PPQ and submission instructions. | ||
| RFP | Proposal Preparation Instructions (Page 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 0003 to the solicitation, which extends the proposal submission date. | ||
| RFP | Subcontract Information Release Consent Form | 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. | ||
| RFP | Business Associate Agreement | 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 0003 to the solicitation, which attaches the Business Associate Agreement. | ||
| 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 | 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. | |||
| PWS, SM, RFP | 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 0003 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 0003 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 0003 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| SM | Should there be rows for Pharmacist Lead Night and Pharmacy Technician Lead Night? | See Amendment 0003 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 0003 to the solicitation which revises the Staff Matrix. | |||
| PWS (8.10 & 7.4): | 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. | |||
| Is the requirement for the contractor to provide PPE during a pandemic or other health/safety reason only for administration staff? | No. PPE would be required for all on-site employees during a pandemic or other health/safety reason. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| RFP | Evaluation SubFactor D | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||||
| SF 1449, Block 20 references Wage Determination 2015-5105 and Attachment 4 is for Wage Determination 2015-5473. We assume 2015-5473 is the correct WD for this requirement, can you please confirm if that is that correct? | Block 20D should be corrected to read: Wage Determination 2015-5473 Rev 19 dated December 27, 2022 will apply to this solicitation and contract. | ||||
| 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 Tucson CMOP location as well. | This procurement does not require "certified staff trainers". Please refer to the PWS 5.0, Tasks. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| 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. | |||||
| E.6 52.212-2 EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2021) | |||||
| FACTOR 1 Technical Capability | 38 | Please clarify whether an offeror can demonstrate relevant experience through a combination of prime and subcontractor past performance through which one single contract meets the pharmacist and pharmacist technician FTEE minimums and another single contract meets the shipper/packers (unskilled labor) FTEE minimums. Due to the high FTEE minimums required to support the contract, we believe the requirement to demonstrate the full 70 FTEEs for pharmacists, pharmacist technicians, and shipper/packers on a single contract might limit competition. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| E.6 52.212-2 EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2021) | |||||
| 1) Sub-factor A: Staffing Plan | 39 | (1) Is the Government willing to change this requirement from 24 to 36 month to be consistent with your limit of 3 year past performance? |
(2) How does the government plan to validate offeror metrics on time to fill for pharmacists, pharmacy techs?
| (3) How will the government evaluate an offeror who is able to retain personnel vs hiring of new personnel? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Attachment 1 PWS 3.0 Key Personnel | 6 | Please confirm the number of key personnel positions as the staffing matrix indicates multiple FTE for these positions. Does the Government require: |
1. Facility Administrator -there are 4,160 FTE hours in the staffing matrix - Does the proposal need to have one or two Facility Administrator key position resumes?
2. Shipper/Packer Lead - there are 8,320 FTE hours in the staffing matrix. Does the proposal need to have one or four Shipper/Packer Lead key personnel positions resumes?
3. Pharmacist Lead - there are no FTE hours in the staffing matrix nor are there historical numbers in PWS 1.3 for the Pharmacist Lead position - Does the proposal need to have any Pharmacist Lead key personnel position resumes?
4. Pharmacist Tech Lead - there are 12,480 FTE hours in the staffing matrix - Does the proposal need to have one or six Pharmacist Tech Lead key personnel position resumes?
In total, will there be four key personnel or 12+ (depending on the number of Pharmacist Lead key personnel positions required)?
| ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 | ||
| INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO PROPOSALS, A(5)© | 31 | To meet the requirement to deliver hard copies by 6 January 2023, we will be going to proposal production on 31 December. We are concerned that - with questions due during a week of two major holidays and the proposal being due within a week of the New Year's Day holiday - questions will not be answered in time for us to be able to adjust our proposal accordingly. |
| We respectfully request a two-week extension to ensure we have time to review and react to answers to questions. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||||
| Attachment 1 PWS | n/a | Please provide an overview of the technology infrastructure used by the CMOP team in support of tasks, e.g., automation technology, supply chain management systems (DMLSS), RFID or other hand-held devices, etc. if so, please provide information on the technology types (make, model, version, etc.). | It is the responsibility of CMOP to manage VA supplied technology infrastructure therefore, providing make, model version, etc. would not be within scope of this solicitation. All labor categories require basic typing skills, PC computer skills, and working knowledge of MS Office to support tasks. See PWS Section 3 for reference. Pharmacy Technicians may operate various types of pharmacy automation, including, but not limited to, Autofill devices; Baker Cells; Kalish cells, A-frames; repackaging equipment; electronic scales. See PWS Section 4 for reference. | ||
| Attachment 1 PWS 3.0 Key Personnel, 3.1.2 | 6 | Please clarify whether the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, Senior Leaders Course (AFSO21), which is considered a Six Sigma equivalent, is an acceptable alternative credential to Six Sigma Green Belt. Please reference: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/120176/afso-21-makes-processes-smarter-faster-cheaper/#:~:text=SHAW%20AIR%20FORCE%20BASE%2C%20S.C.%20%28AFNS%29%20--%20Air,a%20product%20or%20procedure%20%22smarter%2C%20faster%20and%20cheaper.%22 | Yes. Any course or certification that requires students to learn LEAN Six Sigma would be acceptable therefore AFS021 meets this criteria. Furthermore, the AFS021 course requires an understaanding of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) which the CMOP also uses to improve quality | ||
| 1149 | 1 | Please provide an update to the 1449 with the correct WD reference for Pima County in Arizona. | Block 20D should be corrected to read: Wage Determination 2015-5473 Rev 19 dated December 27, 2022 will apply to this solicitation and contract. | ||
| General | Is there a requirement for contractor personnel to be able to operate a forklift or other equipment at the Tucson CMOP? If yes, what requirements will the contractor personnel need to operate the equipment? | Contractor personnel will not operate forklifts. | |||
| General | How many vacancies are there for Pharmacist, Pharmacy Techmician and Shipper/Packers | 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. | |||
| Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Proposals | 33 | The table included in this section defines the number of digital (CD) and Hard Copies (binders) required for the solicitation submission. The Paper Reduction Act of 1995, requires that agencies obtain approval before requesting collection of information requiring paper. In addition, with COVID being an issue with handling and distribution of this type of media, has electronic delivery of the proposal been considered? This will eliminate the paper requirements as well as any potential issue with handling of the required media for submission. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| 1.3; 1.3.1; 1.3.2; 1.3.3 & Attachment 6 Staffing Matrix | PWS page 1; Solicitation page 38 | In the solicitation it states the minimum number of FTEEs totals 70 (39 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, 31 shipper/packers) (page 38 of the solicitation). In the PWS (page 1) the staffing numbers historical data implies that we are expected to bid on 86 FTEEs. Attachment 6, Staffing Matrix numbers do not match this number, as with the stated hours it is approximately 211 FTEEs. Please clarify the discrepancies. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| E.6 | 37 | This states: Technical and Past Performance, when combined are significantly more important than price. However this does not say what the weight of each of these is in relation to the other. Please provide us the scoring criteria for each evaluated section - Technical, Past Performance and Price. | Reference Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, which states: Factor 1, Technical Capability and Factor 2, Past Performance, are of equal importance. In accordance with FAR 15.304, Technical Capability and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor A | 39 | This states: Provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently on payroll within a fifty-mile radius of the Tuscon CMOP. As this is evaluation criteria for the technical volume - how is this number quantified as being acceptable? What number will achieve the highest rating? How is a rating obtained? The incumbent has a distinct advantage in having placed these positions and makes this a violation of Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) and is unduly restrictive and sets this contract up for a possible GAO Protest. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor A | 39 | This states: The offeror shall provide the actual number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and shipper/packers (unskilled labor) successfully placed in the last 24 months. As this is evaluation criteria for the technical volume - how is this number quantified as being acceptable? What number will achieve the highest rating? How is the rating obtained? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor A | 39 | This section is a request for documentation. How is this information used in the quantifying of the offeror's and ability to provide appropriate staffing? How is this quantified and scored? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor A | 39 | Request for documentation showing experience in navigating the VA's unique credentialing, background, and on-boarding process for a large number of contract personnel. If no VA on-boarding experience, please provide examples of on-boarding processes specific to your organization. Will the Government please quantify how much evidence of credentialing, background, etc. is required and how is this scored? If examples are provided - how are they scored and what number of examples should be provided? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor A | 39 | Please provide scoring and evaluation criteria for recruitment practices. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor B | 39 | Please provide scoring and evaluation criteria for offeror electronic timekeeping and records management. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor B | 39 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for company provided experience relating to facility administrators. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor B | 39 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for offeror provided Quality Control Plan. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor C | 39 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for offeror provided timelines and milestones related to transition. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor C | 39 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for offeror provided documentation demonstrating transitioning of personnel. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 1, 1) Sub-factor C | 40 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for offeror provided processes and procedures that speak of offeror experience in maintaining production standards and goals during transition periods. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 2, Past Performance | 40 | Please provide the scoring and evaluation criteria for the Past Performance. Is this a pass/fail? What constitutes a pass? Or a fail? Is this a confidence rating? If so what constitutes each level of confidence? | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Factor 2, Past Performance | 40 | Is there a minimum and maximum number of past performance contracts to be provided? Is the number of Past Performance contracts provided important to any rating that is provided in response to question #16 above. | See Amendment 0002 to the solicitation which revised proposal submission instructions and evaluation criteria. | ||
| Contractor Phase In/Phase Out | PWS page 8 | If the contractor does not accept less than the full 90-days, will the Government either extend the incumbent or offer concessions to the awarded contractor? If concessiosn, will the VA consider financial compensation for acceptance of a reduced transition period. | PWS 5.7 discusses phase in/phase out services. 90 days is a contract requirement and subject to change upon mutual agreement. | ||
| 1.3 | PWS page 1; Solicitation page 38 | The PWS states the historical number of FTEE's for the weekly requirements for the contract. Please clarify if this FTEE count includes the leads for these positions. | Yes | ||
| Subfactor A | RFP 39 | The PWS states that documentation for o-boarding is required as well as navigating the VA's unique credentialing, background, and on-boarding processes. Please provide the VA credentialing criteria and requirements. Without this information being provided it gives the incumbent an unfair advantage, limits competition, and sets the award up for a GAO Protest. | See Amendment 0002 which revised evaluation criteria. | ||
| RFP | 40 | 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 | 40 | 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 5.7 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 | 8 | 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 | 38 | 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 | |
| RFP | 39 | Factor 1 Technical Capability, Subfactor A, Staffing Plan states: “c) Provide documentation to support item b) above. At a minimum, documentation must be provided for each example and shall include […] 7. Time taken for placement/on-boarding of the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and 8. Time to fill vacancy per number of business days for each position; as well as d) Provide documentation to show your organization’s experience in navigating the VA’s unique credentialing, background, and on-boarding processes for a large number of contract personnel. If no VA on-boarding experience, please provide examples of onboarding processes specific to your organization.” The VA’s unique system requires clearances for NACI, CAC, VetPro, on-site facility access, and local finger printing requirements that are not found in commercial hiring environments. Can the government provide estimates of VA processing time for each of these aspects? If not provided, should we exclude the government/VA portion of the time to fill and on-boarding number of business days, thus reflecting Contractor’s process portion of the process? | Exclude the government/VA portion of the on-boarding number of business days, reflecting only the contractor’s portion of the process. |
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