Final NMTS QA 102221.pdf

PAGE SUBJECT QUESTION ANSWER

1 2 FAR (48 CFR) 53.214©

Are critical care transport (CCT)/special care transport (SCT) ground resources included in the contract and if so, how will those resources be requested? Will FEMA specifically request resources with ventilator, ECMO or NICU capabilities? If so, what is the anticipated quantity for the years of the contract and how will those resources be reimbursed?

See Revised RFP Section C, PWS 6.3.1

2 2 Purpose

"The support resources shall be in the form of both staffed transport and emergency medical services as well as licensed and certified medical personnel for augmentation beyond medical transportation." What additional services might be required under "augmentation beyond medical transportation?"

"Augmentation beyond medical transportation" is a reference to Basic and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.

3 106

4.1 Full Zone/6.3.2.

Medical Personnel Services

The RFP lists Advanced EMTs (AEMT) as a new staffing resource not previously included in the FEMA contract. Please advise/clarify the AEMT scope of practice if it differs from the NHTSA 2019 Scope of Practice Model and what role you envision the AEMT filling for FEMA deployments. Under the deployment, will an AEMT fall under the EMT category for resource requests or will AEMTs be requested as a separate category? For example, in the 150 fixed site personnel required by a single zone, would FEMA continue to request EMTs and paramedics (i.e.: 50 Paramedics and 100 EMTs with both EMT-Basic and EMT-Advanced fulfilling the EMT request) or will FEMA request a specific quantity breakdown of each certification level (i.e.:

50 AEMT, 50 EMT and 100 Paramedic) resources for a deployment?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 5.3

4 106 5. Contractor Personnel When would FEMA require the submission of the CV of the medical director, project manager and other key personnel?

See Revised RFP, Section L.7 Phase I , Factor 1

5 109 6.1.6 Shelter Packages

In previous iterations of the RFP, shelter package management was included as a pass-through expense and FEMA provided the contractor an itemized list of supplies and equipment to be contained in each of the four types of shelter packages. This list does not appear to be included in this RFP. Will it be made available to the contractor or could you provide that list now? Also, will this continue to be a pass-through expense or will this expense fall solely on the contractor? Finally, will the new contractor have access to the existing shelter packages from the incumbent contactor?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.1.6, The new contractor will not have access to shelter packages.

6 110

6.2.2 Reserve Ambulance

Caches

Will any FEMA-procured equipment purchased for and provided to the current provider be transitioned to or purchased for the new contractor?

No. See RFP, Section C, PWS 10, 10.1

7 110

6.3 Services - Utilization

of In-State and Contiguous-State Resources

The RFP states that "the Contractor may utilize ground ambulances, air ambulances, paratransit vehicles, and fixed site personnel resources from affected state(s) with disaster declarations that have specifically requested use of this contract." Will there be protocols, restrictions, guidelines or recommendations beyond just ensuring that the resources/network providers are not part of an EMAC or state response? If so, please provide.

will provide protocols, restrictions, guidelines or recommendations beyond just ensuring that the resources/network providers are not part of an EMAC or

8 111

6.4.1 Ground Resources

Ambulances

Previous RFPs and contracts specifically designated ground resources as "non-hazmat." Please clarify that all ground resources required of this contract have a non-hazmat designation. In those representatives that are not specifically designated as "non-hazmat" in the line items, does FEMA require a hazmat credential and if so, what are those credentials? Additionally, if there is now a hazmat component, there are no CLINs identifying hazmat resources, does FEMA expect that hazmat ambulances will be priced the same as non-hazmat ambulances?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.3.1

9 129 H.1 Subcontracting Plans and Goals

The written description indicates that 42.5% of subcontracted expenses are required to be paid to qualified Small Businesses, but the example in the paragraph only equals a 10% allocation ("if a contract is awarded for $100 Million, and of which $10 Million is planned to be subcontracted, the subcontracting goal for all small businesses for the contract is $1 Million"). Please clarify. See Revised RFP, Section H.1

10 160 K.9 52.215-6 Place of Performance

This appears to be a yes/no question that needs to be responded to. Do we need to answer this as part

See RFP, Section L.7, Phase II, Volume II, Factor 4

11 163

K.11 52.222-22 Previous Contract & Compliance Reports

This appears to be a yes/no question that needs to be responded to. Do we need to answer this as part of our submission on 10/28, and if so, does this page count towards our 5 page limit?

See RFP, Section L.7, Phase II, Volume II, Factor 4

12 163

K.11 52.222-25 Affirmative Action Compliance

This appears to be a yes/no question that needs to be responded to. Do we need to answer this as part of our submission on 10/28, and if so, does this page count towards our 5 page limit?

See RFP, Section L.7, Phase II, Volume II, Factor 4

13 166 Cover page Does the cover page of the submission count towards the 5 page limit No

14 172

FACTOR 1:

DEMONSTRATED

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

On page 172 of the RFP, it states : "Each party (the prime contractor, as well as all teaming partners and/or proposed sub-contractors if applicable) to the proposal must provide specific prior experience reference information for three prior and/or existing contracts that are similar in scope, size and complexity to the role they are proposed to fulfill under the proposal." If more than three firms are desiring to team, Attachment 10 clarifies that the additional firm contract information (question 3) can be included on a separate page. Would those supplemental pages be included in the 5-page limit?

Because the customer experience must be submitted (question 5) for each partner as well, should that also be submitted as supplemental pages and do these supplemental pages count against the 5 total page limit? Providing the tables for each member if there are more than three in the teaming arrangement would take up much of the five allotted pages without providing the additional information.

See Revised RFP, Section L.7, Phase I, Factor 1 and Revised Attachment 10

15 172

FACTOR 1:

DEMONSTRATED

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

For the Phase I submission, are bidders restricted to providing information only in the format of Attachment 10 or can additional experience and capabilities information requested in the RFP be provided outside of that form or supplemental to that form?

No offerors are not restricted to the format of Attachment 10.

However, submissions should not exceed the 10 page limit.

See Revised RFP, Section L.7 , Phase I, Factor 1 and Revised Attachment 10

16 172

FACTOR 1:

DEMONSTRATED

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Should questions 5, 6, 7 and 8 be submitted for each of the partners in a teaming arrangement?

No, See RFP, Section L.7 , Phase I, Factor 1 and Revised Attachment 10

17 172

FACTOR 1:

DEMONSTRATED

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

For format on the submission for Phase I due October 28, are the contractors to respond only within the format of Attachment 10 answering those questions within a 5-page limit? Please clarify if we can provide additional information outside of the questions listed on Attachment 10 for Phase I or if the full Phase I submission is only the answers to the questions on Attachment 10. There are additional items that are listed on page 172 as information required for submission that are not included as direct questions on Attachment 10, including a description of key personnel and their duties. How should we include that information and would that information be included in the five page limit?

No offerors are not restricted to the format of Attachment 10.

However, submissions should not exceed the 10 page limit.

See Revised RFP, Section L.7, Phase I, Factor 1 and Revised Attachment 10

18 172

FACTOR 1:

DEMONSTRATED

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

If entering into a teaming arrangement, will the demonstrated experience of the individual members be consolidated and counted as experience of the new entity or group?

See RFP Section L.7, Phase I, Factor 1 and Revised Attachment 10

19 general Please provide the current line items and the reimbursement amount for each line item currently paid by FEMA to its main contractor under the current contract.

This information cannot be provided

20 general Please provide historical data for the past 10 years including the date, length and resource request of previous FEMA deployments.

This information cannot be provided

107 &

RFP 5.1 and 5.6;

Attachment 10

Will the Government please confirm that Resumes for the Project Manager and Medical Planners can be added to Attachment 10 as an addendum and will not count against the five (5) page limit?

See Revised RFP, Section L, Phase I, Volume I, Factor 1

22 107 5.3

Does FEMA require that all medical staff be licensed in the state where they are deployed, or in their home state only? RFP states that FEMA will “assist in getting the affected State(s) to allow reciprocity for Contractor and subcontractors responding pursuant to this contract” but will this be established pre-incident?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 5.3

Page

109 PWS 6.1.5

Does FEMA require each Para-Transit vehicle to have GPS tracking devices as detailed in Performance Work Statement for ambulance tracking and a tactical 2-way radio such as an 800 MHz radio?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.1.5

24 110 6.3

What limitations on staff recruitment exist? Will FEMA allow a vendor to recruit staff for the operation that live within the affected zone, but are not actively supporting the operation in some capacity (work in the affected area, EMAC resource, etc.)?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.3

Page

110 PWS 6.3

Can the Contractor utilize subcontracted paratransit vehicles from within the impacted state if such vehicles are not specifically allocated to existing state or local contracts or response plans?

To be determined at Task Order level, See Revised RFP, PWS Section 6.3

Page

110 PWS 6.3

Regarding using Contiguous-State Resources: May we use Para-Transit vehicles from within the affected Zone if it is not a contiguous-State with an EMAC Agreement? See PWS Section 6.3

27 126 G.7 The RFP specifies monthly invoicing and payment? Is FEMA open to more frequent billing and payment if staff are paid weekly for short term contracts? No

28 140 I.9 52.237-7 Does FEMA require that the approved vendor provide Worker’s compensation insurance in every state of contract execution?

Insurance is required as stated in FAR 52.237-7, 52.228-5 and 3052.228-70

29 172 RFP L.7, Factor 1;

Attachment 10

For Phase I, the RFP states “Provide concrete, verifiable examples of experience of both commercial and federal expertise.” Will the Government please confirm that Offerors can submit examples of State Government contracts?

See Revised RFP, Section L.7, Phase I, Factor 1

30 172 RFP L.7, Factor 1;

Attachment 10

For Phase I, the RFP states: “Describe how the Key Personnel will fulfill the requirements and duties found in the PWS and has all the required experience.” There isn’t a location in Attachment 10 that is asking for this information. Will the Government please confirm that the required Key Personnel information referenced in the RFP can be added as an addendum to Attachment 10 and will not count against the five (5) page limit?

See Revised RFP, Section L.7, Phase I, Factor 1 and revised Attachment 10

31 172 RFP L.7, Factor 1;

Attachment 10

Will the Government please confirm that each offeror is to submit up to three (3) examples/references total in their proposal and NOT three (3) examples/references per team member (Prime contractor and Subcontractors)?

See RFP, Section L.7 Phase I, Factor 1

173 of 178 Advisory Notification

Is there an anticipated date when the Phase 1 advisory down-selection notices will be issued?

See RFP, Section L.7 Phase I, Factor 1

33 Page 6 Attachment 3

Can you confirm that paratransit “seats” include all seats available for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory passengers on paratransit vehicles? For purposes of clarity, that would mean that a van with 6 positions, including one wheelchair position, would count as 6 paratransit seats.

See Revised RFP, PWS Section 6.3.1

34 Page 9 Attachment 3

Regarding Type 6- ADA Bus > 26 passenger (wheelchair accessible) with two (2) wheelchair tie-down spaces: Does that vehicle count as two (2) Para-Transit seats OR do all remaining seats also count as Para-Transit seats?

See Revised RFP, PWS Section 6.3.1 and Part III:

Section J; Attachment 3 rescinded

35 n/a Attachment 10

For question #3, will the Government please confirm that it will not count against the five (5) page limit if an Offeror needs to add more than three (3) partners on a separate sheet of paper?

See Revised RFP, Section L.7 Phase I, Factor 1

36 n/a Attachment 10 Will the Government please specify where Offerors should put contract numbers and reference contact information for their cited contracts? See Revised Attachment 10

37 n/a Attachment 11 – CLIN Pricing Sheet

On the pricing worksheet, Offerors are to provide pricing for Bariatric ALS. Is the Government not requiring Bariatric BLS for this opportunity?

Yes, the Government is not requiring Bariatric BLS

38 n/a Attachment 11 – CLIN Pricing Sheet

On the pricing worksheet, Types 1-3 (ALS, BLS, and Bariatric ALS) are all labeled as Non-Hazmat. Are Types 4-6 (ALS, BLS, and Bariatric BLS) considered as Hazmat? See Revised Attachment 11

Option Period 3

– Zone

Attachment 11 – CLIN Pricing Sheet What is the requirement for CLIN 3017 – Reserved: Contract QTY 1? There is no requirement

Option Period 4

– Zone

Attachment 11 – CLIN Pricing Sheet

Should Travel, Fuel, and Other Direct Cost, amounts also be included in Zone 1 for Option Period 4 CLINS 4013, 4014, and 4015? See Revised Attachment 11

Option Period 4

– Zone

Attachment 11 – CLIN Pricing Sheet What is the requirement for CLIN 4047 – Reserved: Contract QTY 1? There is no requirement

42 n/a n/a Does FEMA anticipate awarding single vendors to support individual zones or multiple awardees for all zones?

FEMA reserves the right to award single or multiple vendors per zone.

43 107-108 5.3. Medical Personnel Will FEMA define what functions an Advanced EMT (AEMT) can perform under this contract?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 5.3 & 12.3

44 108

5.4. Field Operations

Team Member

EMS experience is not specifically listed as applicable experience to meet the 5 years of experience required for FOT. Is “rescue” in this instance equivalent to Emergency Medical? See RFP, Section C, PWS 5.4

45 108

5.5 Communications

Support Team Member

Would FEMA consider removing the IS-300 and -400 requirements for CSTs as this is uncommon and not industry standard for CST personnel?

No, FEMA will not consider removing the IS-300 & IS-400 requirement.

46 109 6.1.6 Shelter Packages

Is the financial responsibility of the vendor/bidder to purchase and maintain shelter packages? Is there an opportunity for reimbursement for vendors? What constitutes “sufficient” shelter packages?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.1.6

47 109

6.2. Supplies and Other

Materiel

What is “appropriate PPE”? Which federal agency (FEMA, CDC,OSHA, HHS, etc.)

will determine this and how will that be communicated?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.2

48 110

6.3 Services, Utilization

of In-State and Contiguous-State Resources

Are in-state assets now allowed to be used once the COVID emergency has ended or are they allowed only during the COIVD pandemic? Also, the solicitation states we are not allowed to use EMAC resources from the contiguous states, is this also allowed during COVID, but expected to NOT be allowed once the pandemic is determined to be over?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.3

49 111

6.3.2. Medical Personnel

Services Are Fixed Site Personnel also required to have EVOC Training?

See Revised RFP, Section C, PWS 6.3.2

50 115

9.2. Controlled

Substances

In section 9.2 it states the contractor is responsible for providing initial supply of controlled substances or narcotics for ALS ambulances. The current practice is to only use HHS/FEMA controlled substances and narcotics. Is this a change from the current contract practice? See RFP, Section C, PWS 9.2

51 115

10. PROPERTY

ADMINISTRATION and

10.1. Government

Furnished Property and Government Furnished

Sections 10 and 10.1 seem to conflict. Please confirm that no GFE will be provided and that it is the intent of the contract for the provider to purchase the shelter packages and communication equipment.

The Contractor is responsible for all shelter packages and communications equipment for this contract. No GFE will be provided for this contract.

Beginni ng page

Attachment 8, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

Attachment 8 designates a 100% on time performance for all assets from paratransit to aircraft. Is this new or an existing standard? This is an existing standard.

53 n/a n/a May I ask if there is an incumbent for this solicitation?

Yes, American Medical Response Inc.

Sheet1