36C77619Q0157-0001001.docx

RFQ 36C77619Q0157 Q&A

1. Will the VA provide documentation or an overview of the existing patient safety methods, metrics and tools used by IPS to track safety issues. Will VA also provide a representative sample dataset which demonstrate the nature of safety issues currently being tracked.

answer – Existing methods and pertinent data will be made available after award.

2. Can VA provide estimate of volume of tickets received within last year, and/or expected number of tickets for contractor to adjudicate?

answer – The contractor is not expected to adjudicate tickets

3. Is there an expectation that the contractor will work with VA patient safety issue owners to resolve, or are we simply offering a suggested solution?

answer – The contractor is not expected to work with patient safety issue owners.

4. Is there an incumbent for this work? If so, please provide the name of the incumbent.

answer – Incumbent was BITS. BITS is now part of Cognasante. Contract # VA118-16-F-1001

5. “Veterans Involvement” section appears to have missing language, it ends with "To receive credit, an offeror …" Please advise the missing language or clarify.

Answer: see answer to question #10.

6. Set-Aside is blank, is the Govt.'s intent to have this restricted to Small Business? VOSB or SDVOSB bidders?

Answer: There is no set-aside/restrictions for this requirement.

7. The RFP references NAICS 541512 in several places. Will offerors be asked to certify to their SB status with proposals? The RFP only refers to 52.219-28 Post-Award Representations. Please clarify.

Answer: See FAR Clause 52.212-3 on page 17 of the solicitation document.

8. Please confirm any page limitations on the Price Volume, Past Performance Volume and Veterans Involvement Volume and if they are considered separate from the 20-page limitation for the Technical Volume.

Answer: These should be within the 20 page limit. It is not expected that the Price Volume, Past Performance Volume & Veteran Involvement Volume are included in the 20 page limit.

9. The evaluation methodology states, “the Government will perform an evaluation using a comparative evaluation of the services quoted.” What is the comparative weighting of the separate evaluation factors? (e.g. technical is significantly more important than price.)

Answer: There are no weighted factors when conducting comparative analysis.

10. In accordance with Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 852.215-70 would the Government consider using the below criteria for this factor?

Proposal Instructions (Paragraph E.11.4.)

“In accordance with Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 852.215-70, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Evaluation Factors (DEVIATION), the Government will assign evaluation credit for an Offeror (prime contractor) which is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or a VOSB. To receive credit, an offeror must be registered and verified in Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database at time of proposal submission and at time of award (https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov) and must meet federal small business size standards for the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this solicitation.

Non-SDVOSB/VOSB Offerors proposing to use SDVOSBs or VOSBs as subcontractors will receive some consideration under this evaluation Factor. Offerors must state in their proposals the names of the SDVOSBs and VOSBs with whom they intend to subcontract and provide a brief description of the proposed subcontracts and the approximate dollar values of the proposed subcontracts. In addition, the proposed subcontractors must be registered and verified in the VetBiz.gov VIP database (https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov) and must meet federal small business size standards for the NAICS code assigned to this solicitation at time of both proposal submission and at time of award.”

Evaluation Criteria (Paragraph E.12.2(iv))

(1) For SDVOSBS/VOSBs: In order to receive credit under this Factor, an Offeror shall submit a statement of compliance that it qualifies as a SDVOSB or VOSB in accordance with VAAR 852.215-70, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factors (DEVIATION). Offerors are cautioned that they must be registered and verified in Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database (http://www.VetBiz.gov) and must meet federal small business size standards for the NAICS code assigned to this solicitation at time of both proposal submission and at time of award.

(2) For Non-SDVOSBs/VOSBs: To receive some consideration under this Factor, an Offeror must state in its proposal the names of SDVOSB(s) and/or VOSB(s) with whom it intends to subcontract and provide a brief description and the approximate dollar values of the proposed subcontracts. Additionally, proposed SDVOSB/VOSB subcontractors must be registered and verified in the VIP database (http://www.VetBiz.gov) in order to receive some consideration under the Veteran’s Involvement Factor and must meet federal small business size standards for the NAICS code assigned to this solicitation at time of proposal submission and time of award.

(3) With regard to the requirements for registration and verification in the VetBiz database, reference VAAR 804.1103-70.

(4) At the Offeror’s sole discretion, provide information IAW VAAR Subpart 852.219-72, Evaluation Factor for Participation in the VA Mentor-Protégé Program.

Answer: The language above will apply to this solicitation and evaluation criteria under the “Veterans Involvement Volume”.

11. Is the Government requiring resumes of proposed personnel? If so, do those resume count against the page count?

Answer: Resumes are required and do not count against 20 page count.

12. Please clarify that the Government will only evaluate the past performance of the prime contractor.

Answer: Past performance is for prime and all sub-contractors.

13. Is a crosswalk/compliance matrix permitted? If so, would it count against the page count limitation?

Answer: This would count against the page count.

14. Will the VA provide documentation or an overview of the existing patient safety methods, metrics and tools used by IPS to track safety issues. Will VA also provide a representative sample dataset which demonstrate the nature of safety issues currently being tracked.

Answer: Existing methods and pertinent data will be made available after award.

15. As part of this work, does the Govt anticipate any software that needs to be developed or implemented within the VA (either COTS or custom)?

Answer: No

16. Referencing PWS pg. 11 of 47, 5.2.1 PATIENT SAFETY METHOD DEVELOPMENT, “contractor will prepare a Deliverable Expectation Document (DED, sample provided).” Can the Gov’t provide a sample DED?

Answer: included, see attachment.

17. Reference PWS 6.1 page 15 of 47, "Program Manager Functional Responsibilities: Performs analytical tasks designed to collect and analyze information. Develops briefings, presentations, training and reports. Possesses experience in specialty areas as required by the contract; works independently and can manage the work effort of other team members. Minimum Experience/Education: Proposed staff should possess at least a 2-year degree in healthcare related field, and minimum 2 years related experience." Based on the assessment of the contract requirements, Would the Government consider raising the minimum experience/education level to at least a 4-year degree and a minimum of 5 years of experience in patient safety to ensure program success and better client value?

Answer: Requirements will remain as written.

18. Reference PWS, Multiple Tasks (5.2.1, 5.7.1, 5.7.2, etc.) require the contractor to develop patient safety methods, metrics, and tools. Can the Government provide any examples of anticipated safety methods, metrics, and tools required?

Answer: Existing methods and pertinent data will be made available after award.

19. Reference PWS, Section 6.1: What is the difference between Functional Analyst and Data Analyst? The functional responsibilities of these two positions are listed the same. The only difference is about the minimum requirement for experience and/or education.

Answer: Functional analyst should be familiar with health information technology features. Data Analyst should be familiar with data.

20. Reference PWS, Section 5.3: • Will the deliverable 5.3 include monthly report of ALL requests for changes or ONLY what is agreed for changes since Task 3 description states that contractor shall provide a comprehensive Project Space, to include ongoing support, maintenance and agreed upon changes?

• Will this task “The Contractor shall test the changes with applicable data entry and workflow process as provided by the government and provide a test report” also become one of the deliverables 5.3?

Answer: Monthly deliverable is all requests. Monthly report should include test report for in progress and/or completed

21.

· Reference PWS, Section 5.2 and 5.2.1’s titles and description are the same as section 5.7 and 5.7.1, but why are 5.7 and 5.7.1 optional tasks? This question is also applied for section 5.4 and 5.8.1 • Is the difference: o 5.2.1 needs to deliver up to 6 methods, metrics and tools whereas 5.7.1 only needs to deliver up to 2?

· o 5.4 needs to deliver up to 6 safety artifacts whereas 5.8.1 only needs to deliver up to 4?

Answer: Some tasks are considered optional depending on funding availability.

22. Reference PWS, why are these sections repeated? • 5.7.1, 5.7.2 and 5.7.3 are repeated?

• 5.8.1 and 5.8.2 are repeated?

Answer: Some tasks are considered optional depending on funding availability.