36C77621R0041 0002.docx

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R405--COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Scenario (Modeling) Planning
Solicitation number
36C77621R0041
Issued by

About this file

This document contains an amendment to a solicitation for a COVID-19 pandemic response and scenario planning contract. The amendment provides responses to vendor questions, extends the response deadline to July 21, 2021, and replaces the previous volume table with an updated version.

The Department of Veterans Affairs seeks to award a single, firm-fixed-price contract to provide COVID-19 pandemic response services including near and long-term scenario planning, pandemic strategic planning through a healthcare operations center and leadership meetings, optional DoD support, and an optional transition plan. Key personnel requirements include infectious disease epidemiologists, health systems and federal government change management experts. The response should include technical, past performance, veterans involvement, price, and certification volumes within specified page limits.

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CONTINUATION PAGE(S)

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) None 36C776 Department of Veterans Affairs Program Contracting Activity Central 6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence

OH

44131 00076 Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs 6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence

OH

44131 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C77621R0041

X

X This amendment shall provide responses to the questions submitted by vendors in response to solicitation 36C77621R0041.

Responses to questions can be found on the continuation pages. Additionally, the Volume Table has been updated is located after the vendor questions and responses. The referenced updated Volume Table replaces all previous versions.

This amendment shall also extend the deadline for submission of proposal responses to the solicitation to Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 1:00PM ET.

Contracting Officer

No.
DOCUMENT SECTION
PAGE NUMBER
QUESTION
ANSWER
1
B.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE
15
Confirm that offeror places $20,000.00 for Unit Price and Amount for Item Number 0008
Correct, line item 0008 is in reference to the travel line item. This is a NTE amount of $20,000.00 for travel.
2
B.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE
17
Confirm that offeror places $20,000.00 for Unit Price and Amount for Item Number 1008
Correct, line item 1008 is in reference to the travel line item. This is a NTE amount of $20,000.00 for travel.
3
5.2.2 SCENARIO PLANNING
7
This section states that: The Contractor shall provide both near and long-term scenarios on outcomes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and other outcomes and insights (e.g., time to reach herd immunity). Please define the time period for near and long-term scenarios.
A significant portion of the work described will include developing an understanding of incidence rates. Incidence refers to the occurrence of new cases of disease in a population over a specified period of time. As this effort is to support COVID-19 pandemic response, this is a dynamic and frequently changing analysis based on real-time worldwide disease incidence including new and evolving SARC-CoV-2 variants. It is expected that epidemiological SMEs would be establishing time frames relative to the evolving global understanding of this disease and the current state of COVID-19 and its population implications throughout the PoP of this contract.
4
5.4 OPTIONAL TASK – DoD/DHA Support Services
9
The Government has provided government estimates for tasks in Section 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. Please provide government estimate for 5.4 OPTIONAL TASK – DoD/DHA Support Services.
The government estimates that ~100 hours of SME labor hours will be necessary for this task. However, this estimate is provided strictly for informational purposes only and does not represent an actual requirement under this effort; the contractor shall be responsible for determining how many hours and what labor categories are necessary to accomplish the work required in order to meet the performance requirements of this effort.
5
7.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements
13
Confirm that the Contractor Personnel Security Requirement Level for all key and non-key personnel is High, requiring a Background Investigation (BI).
Public health and safety requirements for concerns related to pandemic disease prevention and pandemic modeling, preparedness, and response were determined using the required DCSA position description tool which establishes the risk level of positions based on tasking required. This is applicable to all Key Personnel and some non-key personnel depending upon their required access levels to all data.
6
7.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements
13
As the Government has identified the Contractor Personnel Security Requirement Level as High, why is the offeror required to provide a Contractor Staff Roster identifying the Background Investigation Level?
The aggregation of public health and safety requirements for concerns related to pandemic disease prevention, pandemic modeling, preparedness, and response is what will determine the need for a higher Personnel Security Requirement. Note: no matter the security level of employee, access to data will be granted based on the Need-to-know security principle.
7
7.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements
13
Are personnel proposed by the offeror already required to possess the required Contractor Personnel Security Requirement Level? If personnel are not required to possess the required Contractor Personnel Security Requirement Level, will the government provide the necessary transition time to permit personnel to complete the required Background Investigation (BI)?
Proposed personnel would ideally be already in possession of the required security level, but it is not required. The government will allow a reasonable amount of time for the BI to be executed.
8
Section E.2, Paragraph 1,C - Content Requirements
45
Can the Government please confirm that the Technical Capability (Tab A) is required to be submitted in .xls format? The Table on Page 45, has the File Name of Tab A as, "Tech1.xls" with a 25 Page Limitation. While the other Technical Tabs are in .pdf format.
This is a typo; the government requests that the Contractor shall provide the Technical Capability in .pdf format. Table has been updated to reflect change(s) below.
9
7.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements
13
Confirm that offeror places $20,000.00 for Unit Price and Amount for Item Number 0008
Correct, line item 0008 is in reference to the travel line item. This is a NTE amount of $20,000.00 for travel.
10
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 45, Content Requirements
Will the Government please confirm that Tab A: Technical Capability can be submitted as a PDF, not an Excel?
This is a typo; the government requests that the Contractor shall provide the Technical Capability in .pdf format. Table has been updated to reflect change(s) below.
11
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 45, Content Requirements.
Will the Government please confirm that Offerors can submit Volume I, Tabs A-D as one combined PDF file (instead of 4 separate PDFs)?
Yes, the Government would prefer one combined pdf file. Offerors are reminded that respective page limitations for each tabbed section will still apply and must be adhered to.
12
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 45, Content Requirements; and, p. 49, Volume II – Past Performance Requirements
Will the Government please confirm that the 3-page limit per reference only applies to “Section 2-Performance” of the Past Performance Volume (i.e., Sections 1, 3, 4, and 5 are excluded from page limits)?
The past performance reference(s) identified for Volume II – Past Performance Requirements, Section 1 – Contract Descriptions shall include the information requested in Section 2 – Performance, and each instance of past performance provided shall have a 3-page limit, to total a 9-page limit for Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 – Subcontracts does not have a page limit. Section 4 – New Corporate Entities does not have a page limit. Section 5 – Questionnaire is not provided by the Offeror. Table has been updated to reflect change(s) below.
13
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 49, Volume II – Past Performance Requirements
Will the Government please confirm that the three past performance references should be from the Prime contractor only?
Per Section E.8 of the RFP, “Offeror” refers to the proposed prime contractor and all proposed major subcontractors. A major subcontractor is defined as one who will be and/or whose subcontract is considered to be a significant part of the work effort. In either case, the prime contractor and proposed major subcontractor(s) will be assessed individually and the results will then be assessed in their totality to derive the Offeror’s Past Performance rating.
14
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 50, Volume II – Past Performance Requirements.
Will the Government please confirm that Offerors are not required to include a copy of the completed Attachment 7 - PPQ with their proposal submission?
Per the RFP’s instructions, completed past performance questionnaires are to be emailed directly to Kymberly Morgan at Kymberly.Morgan@va.gov no later than the proposal due date. Offerors are not to required submit a copy of their questionnaires together with their proposal submission.
15
RFP Reference: PWS
p. 8, Section 5.2.3 – Pandemic Strategic Planning
The PWS states that within 2 days of the kickoff, a 60+ page deck is expected containing elements mentioned in PWS Section 5.2.1. Would outputs of the COVID-19 model need to be included in the first deck, such that Offerors would need an epidemiology model with 40 scenarios for all US states, VISNs, facility districts, and 150 countries built within the first day of the engagement?
The Government anticipates that transition tasking will take place, as necessary, to ensure that will facilitate the awardee’s ability to begin working on day one of the contract.
16
RFP Reference: PWS
p. 8, Section 5.2.3 – Pandemic Strategic Planning
Do all of the Offeror’s key personnel need to potentially be available to join any executive call, when needed, as listed in PWS Section 5.2.3: Healthcare Operations Center (5-7 days/week), PL&O (1day/week), Operations Leadership (1day/week), Chief of Staff Touchpoints (1day/week), and ad hoc emerging Healthcare Operations topics (5-7 days/week), such as financial considerations or COVID impacted care?
The core team of Infectious Disease Epidemiologists, Health Systems Counselor, and Change Management Executive must be regularly available to join these meetings and inform real-time analysis and decision making. The remaining key personnel should be available with appropriate notice (typically at least 24 hours).
17
RFP Reference: PWS
p. 8, Section 5.2.3 – Pandemic Strategic Planning.
For the various meetings that are listed (e.g., weekly PL&O meeting), are there additional analyses and slides that would be required above and beyond the 60+ page daily deck?
Yes, there is an expectation that additional analyses and slides may be required. For example, for P&LO the analysis is focused on supply chain resilience with respect to emerging and potential changes in transmission rates, global supply chain disruptions, and evolving CDC guidance (e.g., personal protection) This is a judgement usually made by the government based on the unique requirements of the area in question. The Government will advise if there is a need for the performing contractor to provide any additional information that may be required in such cases.
18
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p.1, SF 1449; and p. 60, Veterans Involvement Evaluation Approach.
To open this solicitation up to a wider selection of small businesses that Offerors can partner with, would the Government consider adding additional NAICS codes (e.g., 541519, 541511, 541512, 541513)?
This work requires support from the epidemiological industry with a focus on infectious diseases; specifically, COVID-19. It is in the Government’s best interests to maintain the scope as a pandemic response solution. Vendors not registered under the solicitation NAICS are permitted to bid and must provide affirmative documentation that shows they meet the size standards associated with the solicitation NAICS.
19
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 49, Volume II – Past Performance Requirements
Will the Government please confirm that certain contract details (e.g., awarded price/cost, final or projected price/cost) can be provided upon request, to protect client confidentiality?
Offerors are reminded that they must comply with all applicable proposal submission instructions as set forth within the solicitation. Failure to do so may render their proposal submission unacceptable. Any submitted proposal documentation that is considered to be proprietary in nature should be marked accordingly and will be handled by the Government in an appropriate manner.
20
RFP Reference: Solicitation
p. 50, Volume II – Past Performance Requirements
Will the Government please confirm that Offerors can provide past performance examples from international government clients, in addition to private sector and federal, state, and local governments?
Offerors may submit whichever past performance examples they deem appropriate and are responsive to the solicitation’s stated proposal submission requirements.
21
General
Given the RFI was substantially different than the RFP and did not provide the PWS or Key Personnel requirements, we ask that the government extend the date of submission by two weeks, which will allow for more competition.
The RFP close date will be extended to July 21st, 2021 at 1:00PM ET.
22
B.3 Price/Cost Schedule
14
Please provide a list of tools and systems currently used and will the offeror need to include any ODC costs for these items.
It is expected that Offerors shall identify their method of developing and analyzing pertinent datasets. As such, it is also expected that Offerors will therefore be determining and specifying the tools their own proposed methods may and/or will require to meet the performance requirements of this effort.
23
E.2.1.c, Table
44
Volume I file naming convention skips Tech 2.pdf. Will the government update the table to correct the file naming conventions?
The Table has been updated to reflect Tech2.pdf and provided below.
24
E.2.1.c
44
The government requires Volume I: Tab A to be submitted as an Excel (.xls) file. Would the government allow for the response to be in a Word or PDF format?
This is a typo; the government requests that the Contractor shall provide the Technical Capability in .pdf format. The Table has been updated to reflect pdf below.
25
Volume V - Solicitation, Offer and Award Documents and Certifications / Representations, 4 Certification of Understanding
50
The government states, "The Offeror shall provide a separate written document certifying that it understands the PWS requirements…". Can the Certification of Understanding document be included as an appendix to Vol V?
The Certification of Understanding should be included in Vol V.
26
2.0 Scope of Work
PWS 1, 5.3
"VHA and DoD requires real-time intelligence." Please clarify that the "real-time intelligence" will be provided by VA through the Corporate Data Warehouse?
It is expected that the performing Contractor will obtain the real-time intelligence referred to in the PWS . This information is not in the CDW. The Offeror’s proposed team of infectious disease epidemiologists is expected to obtain and provide this information based on the evolving, global understanding of COVID-19.
27
2.0 Scope of Work
PWS 1, 5.3
Is the incumbent currently providing "real-time intelligence?"
Yes.
28
2.0 Scope of Work
PWS 1, 5.3
Please provide the list of data sources currently used.
It is expected that the Offeror’s proposed team of infectious disease epidemiologists will determine this evolving list of necessary sources based on their experience as leaders in this field with similar diseases as well as their analysis of COVID-19 and the challenges it presents, along with potential responses needed.
29
2.0 Scope of Work
PWS 1
Will generalized data/curated data sets be provided or individual patient records?
No datasets will be provided; this is a cutting edge, pandemic response contract. The Contractor shall the collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and present data based on the evolving pandemic/endemic global situation.
30
2.0 Scope of Work
PWS 1
Rapid Field Response is not well defined. Please clarify.
In the context of the PWS, this refers to the ability to develop information and strategies related to what is happening in the field. An example of this concept would be the COVID-19 Delta variant that is posing a more significant threat in fewer (but growing) locations. Beginning with identifying those situations, and then coming up with way to deal with a variety of experiences. This process will help to make sure VISNs have access to the services , since this pandemic is not the same across the globe or even the enterprise. The focus of this effort is intended to result in support being provided to leaders anywhere in the system, not just specific locations.
31
5.2.2 SCENARIO PLANNING
PWS 7
Will the gov transition the referenced 40 historic shifting epidemic scenarios to the Offeror upon award?
he Government will consider doing so, however, it is expected that Offerors shall propose their own methods, of which some of those 40 may be considered obsolete, incorrect, or unimportant at the time of transition.
32
5.2.3 Pandemic Strategic Planning
PWS 8
"Within 2 days of performing the kickoff, the Contractor shall deliver a daily deck of at least 60+ slides which will includes at least the information outlined…." Please clarify that without access to VA (High-BI requirement), only public available information will be available until staff are cleared.
Only public information will be used to determine most datasets. Contractors can perform, in the first few months, without a final high clearance. It is expected that the performing Contractor will be able to use publicly available information about VHA (e.g., locations, facility types, patient population, employee numbers, vaccine rates), as well as other publicly available COVID-19 data (e.g., variant incidence, community vaccination rates) to prepare the daily slide deck until such time as the High-BI data is available to them.
33
5.2.3 PANDEMIC STRATEGIC PLANNING
PWS 8
"The Contractor shall provide advisory and /or consulting based support to senior agency officials who are responsible for planning and approving continuity of government operations, set policy for significant government programs impacting the public’s trust, and serve as the agency’s spokespersons concerning delicate, controversial matters impacting the public’s trust." Please clarify that the Senior Agency Official will be the spokesperson for the Department and not the Offeror?
Yes, the Senior Agency Official will be the spokesperson for the Department, not the Offeror.
34
5.4 Optional Task - DoD/DHA Support Services
PWS 9
All other tasks have LOE. Please provide a LOE for Optional Task given the 5 deliverables provided.
The Government estimates that ~100 hours of SME labor hours will be necessary for this task. However, this estimate is provided strictly for informational purposes only and does not represent an actual requirement under this effort; the contractor shall be responsible for determining how many hours and what labor categories are necessary to accomplish the work required in order to meet the performance requirements of this effort.
35
5.4 Optional Task - DoD/DHA Support Services
PWS 9
Please clarify that the gov will coordinate between the VA and DoD for any scenario data modeling for this effort.
The performing Contractor shall perform their own coordination with DoD.
36
5.5 Optional Task - Transition Plan
PWS 10
Will there be a transition out period between contractors if the incumbent is not awarded?
Yes, a transition period is anticipated to occur.
37
6.0 Key Personnel
PWS 12
Functional/Subject Matter Expert (SME) Health Systems Counselor, Functional/Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Federal Gov Change Mgmt. Executive, state "a top tier program". Please clarify what the government defines as a top tier program.
Top tier is intended in general as a reference to overall ranking of programs in terms of effectiveness, quality, and accomplishments. For example, many institutions of higher learning are separated into tiers based on their ranking. Schools that are in the top tier are the schools rank the highest when evaluated on a number of different factors.
38
6.0 Key Personnel
PWS 12
Are the position descriptions included in the RFP the current staff providing support for the government?
The position descriptions included list the KSAs the Government considers to be essential to carrying out the work for COVID-19 modeling and pandemic response, as well as those which the Government deems necessary for the value-added, evidence-based design, conduct and reporting of the research needed.
39
6.0 Key Personnel
PWS 12
The descriptions of the International Health System Experts will be challenging for any vendor. Will the government consider multiple resources to cover all regions identified?
Yes. The Government anticipates that International Health System Experts, as well as the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology SMEs comprising the core of the team, may need to be more than one resource.
40
6.0 Key Personnel
PWS 12
If the mission of the VA is "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans" and VA OCONUS is specific to Philippines, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. Why other regions if Optional Task 5.4 is not exercised?
COVID-19 is a global pandemic; not just one that affects US Veterans. To best serve our Veterans, VHA is deeply involved in the global effort to build the best understanding of this novel coronavirus as possible. The inclusion of other regions is to facilitate bringing the most appropriate methods available to bear on observational study from medical research, thus requiring a broad appreciation of the underpinning methods and their context of applicability and interpretation. The information to be obtained will utilized to establish and evolve care patterns for our Veterans and those serve through VA’s Fourth Mission with the most current, life-saving data available.
41
7.2 Contractor Personnel Security Requirements
PWS 13
Government has identified that a High Position Sensitivity for this contract. Will the government consider expediting vendor access understanding that the security requirements are for High BI?
If that is available, yes.
42
General
N/A
Will the government consider extending the due date by three weeks from July 7 to July 28?
The RFP close date will be extended to July 21st, 2021 at 1:00PM ET.

*Updated Table Information

Volume Number
Volume Name
File Name
Page Limitations
Volume I
Technical (comprised of the following Tabs):
Tab A
Technical Capability
Tech1.pdf
25 Pages
Tab B
Key Personnel
Tech2.pdf
Two (2) Pages Total for Narrative; One (1) Resume for each Key Personnel identified, Two (2) page limit per resume
Tab C
Management Approach
Tech3.pdf
5 Pages
Tab D
Corporate Experience
Tech5.pdf
5 Pages
Volume II
Past Performance
Past Perf.pdf
Maximum of three (3) Past Performance references; Each instance of past performance shall not exceed three (3) pages per contract reference. The past performance reference(s) identified for Volume II – Past Performance Requirements, Section 1 – Contract Descriptions shall include the information requested in Section 2 – Performance, and each instance of past performance provided shall have a 3-page limit, to total a 9-page limit for Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 – Subcontracts does not have a page limit. Section 4 – New Corporate Entities does not have a page limit. Section 5 – Questionnaire is not provided by the Offeror.
Volume III
Veterans Involvement
Vets.pdf
NONE
Volume IV
Price
Price.xls
NONE
Volume V
Solicitation, Offer and Award Documents
Certs.pdf
NONE

End of Document

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