Questions and Answers.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 13 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Post-Accident Toxicological Testing
- Solicitation number
- 693JJ626Q000028
About this file
This file is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document addressing clarifications on RFQ #693JJ626Q000028 for Post-Accident Toxicological Testing services.
The Q&A confirms this is a small-business set-aside solicitation for a recompete of incumbent contractor Chesapeake Toxicology Resources (Contract #693JJ623C000022). Small-business prime contractors may satisfy required laboratory credentials—DHHS/SAMHSA NLCP certification, ABFT/ANAB forensic toxicology accreditation, or CAP forensic toxicology accreditation—through a qualified subcontractor, provided a signed subcontract ensures the subcontractor remains in place for the contract's entire duration. At minimum, vendors must demonstrate initiation of CAP accreditation at the time of application. The pricing structure consolidates 16 CLINs from the existing contract into four CLINs due to the firm-fixed-price contract type, with quoters providing final pricing in a designated column and leaving discount columns blank if not applicable. Blood tube replacement, affecting approximately 30,000 tubes on a 24-month cycle, is scheduled for the first and third option years, with next replacement anticipated in Winter 2027. Reporting continues via the FRA's encrypted SLFTS system; overnight delivery is no longer required. Laboratory turnaround time of 15 working days is standard, with extensions acceptable for fatality cases involving tissue samples when coordinated with FRA oversight. Toxicology box replacement may occur within five working days of case completion when coordinated with FRA. The 16-month shelf-life requirement for blood tubes is flexible—tubes with reasonable remaining shelf life are acceptable, with 16 months serving as a target rather than an absolute requirement.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment 2 - Pricing Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Synopsis Solicitation.pdf | ||
| Attachment 3 - SF-1449.pdf | ||
| Attachment 1 - SOW for Post-Accident Toxicological Laboratory Testing.pdf |
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Sheet1
| Contractor Question | FRA Answers | |
| Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past. | Yes, this requirement is currently awarded to Chesapeake Toxicology Resources for the same scope of work. The current contract is 693JJ623C000022. | |
| The RFQ requires the Contractor to maintain one or more of the specified laboratory credentials, including DHHS/SAMHSA NLCP certification, ABFT/ANAB forensic toxicology accreditation, or CAP forensic toxicology accreditation. Would FRA permit a small-business prime contractor to satisfy this requirement through a proposed subcontractor/team member that maintains the required accreditation and performs the applicable forensic toxicological laboratory analyses, while the prime contractor retains overall contractual, program-management, administrative, and subcontractor-performance responsibility? | Yes, that would be acceptable so long as the prime contractor has a signed sub-contract that ensures that the sub-contractor/team member remain in place for the entire period of the contract. | |
| The Synopsis/Solicitation states that the Government's intent is to award a small-business set-aside purchase order. However, Block 10 of the SF-1449 appears to identify the acquisition as unrestricted. | ||
| Please confirm whether RFQ #693JJ626Q000028 is being conducted as a small-business set-aside or as an unrestricted acquisition. | RFQ #693JJ626Q000028 is being conducted as a small business set-aside. | |
| Attachment 2 includes fields for CLIN description, CLIN type, discounts, and total with discounts. Please clarify where quoters should enter the proposed undiscounted Firm-Fixed-Price amount for each applicable CLIN, or whether the "Total with Discounts" field is intended to represent the final quoted price. | Quoters should provide their final pricing in column E and if discounts are not applicable, quoters may leave column D blank. | |
| The SOW describes a system-wide blood tube replacement requirement involving approximately 30,000+ blood tubes on an approximately 24-month cycle. | Yes, the blood collection tubes eventually start losing their vacuum and must be replaced in order to ensure that blood can be collected. | |
| For pricing purposes, can FRA identify the anticipated performance period or option year in which the next system-wide blood tube replacement is expected to occur? If the exact timing is not yet known, should quoters provide pricing for this requirement in each applicable option period? | The blood tubes will be replaced in the first and third option years. | |
| Unless otherwise directed by FRA, both positive and negative results shall be forwarded to the FRA during the Contractors regular business hours via a suitable encrypted mail account when the case is completed by the Contractor. Written report hard copy originals shall be forwarded to the FRA COR or designee the same day via overnight delivery. Currently the COR receives all completed written reports, both Positive and Negative, via the FRA encrypted SLFTS system on the day they are signed and released by the Laboratory Director. Would this continue to be sufficient, or would an additional overnight delivery still be required? | The current process of transmitting through SLFTS is sufficient, there is not a need to change anything. | |
| Interpretation of Results and Reporting: Section H, number iii |
Requirement:
As practicable, but not later than fifteen (15) working days after the receipt of samples.
| On the rare occasion of a fatality when fluids are not available or suitable for testing, tissue samples are required for testing. In these instances, laboratory turnaround time may exceed 15 working days. Would this be acceptable once coordinated with the FRA Technical Oversight contractor and FRA PATT team? | As long as the laboratory keeps in contact with the oversight contractor and FRA, the extended turnaround time is acceptable. |
| FRA Post-Accident Toxicology Boxes |
Requirement:
| Once a Toxicology box is received from an accident / incident, the Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that a replacement toxicology box is distributed within three (3) working days to the submitting railroad at no charge to the regulated employer. Priority and all available resources are dedicated to testing and the issuance of the written report to the FRA and MRO. Is it acceptable to have replacement Toxicology Boxes mailed within 5 days of the completion of the case? | In most cases, the five day turnaround is acceptable, but the laboratory should consult with FRA in order to make sure that there are not extenuating circumstances requiring a quicker replacement. |
| FRA Post-Accident Toxicology Boxes |
Requirement:
| Note 2: Most, if not all of the appropriately 5000 boxes currently in the field or in inventory, have a blood tube expiration date of December 2027. Accordingly, the next blood tube switch out /replacement shall occur in Winter 2027. Can the dates within the SOW be updated to reflect the current status and dates of Tox Box kits in the field? | Yes, the dates will be noted in the SOW and the CO will be informed of the refresh dates for the negotiation process so that the parties are on the same page. |
| FRA Post-Accident Toxicology Boxes , Section L |
Requirement:
| Normal day-to-day box distribution shall be drawn from available total stock/standing inventory on a "first in, first out" (FIFO) basis. The Contractor shall not distribute kits with blood tubes that have less than 16 months shelf life remaining on the blood tube vacuum. As the total standing inventory level is depleted through normal distribution, the Contractor is strongly encouraged to direct the manufacture of boxes for the standing inventory in "production runs or lots" of not less than 100 complete three kit and component toxicology boxes per run/lot, to maintain the standing target inventory level. Is it possible to delete this 16-month requirement? During the process of Toxicology Box production all kits are manufactured with the same lot and therefore the same expiration date. Additionally, our existing practice ensures all existing Toxicology Boxes in our inventory are updated with the same tube (same lot number, same expiration date). This ensures all kits in the field and in inventory are identical. This allows for a more efficient and cost-effective replacement process. If this requirement were to be in place, it would shorten the shelf life and useability of kits held in inventory within the lab. | Yes, FRA will accept replacement tubes in tox kits with under 16 months of shelf life as long as there is a reasonable amount of shelf life left on the blood tubes in those refurbished kits. 16 months can be used as a target but not an absolute unalterable requirement. | |
| Attachment 2 – Pricing Sheet | ||
| The pricing breakdown of the existing contract includes 16 CLINs. They include items such as shipment from pre-existing inventory of FRA Toxicology Boxes, Manufacture Warehousing and Shipment of FRA post-accident toxicology boxes, preparation and submission of monthly reports, preparation packaging and shipment of aliquots /splits and the screening and confirmatory drug and alcohol tests in tissues) other than vitreous in addition to a few others.Attachment 2- Pricing Sheet includes only 4 CLINs for the entire project. Were the missing CLINs eliminated on purpose or will there be an additional pricing sheet to address the additional associated tasks? | The missing CLINS were eliminated on purpose due to the contract type being set as a firm-fixed price contract. The missing CLINS were consolidated into the four included on the pricing sheet. | |
| Is it required to have CAP accreditation at the time of the application or it can be obtained after award | At minimum, the vendor must demonstrate that they have initiated the CAP accreditation process. |
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