Questions-Answers - Solicitation 70FBR421R00000003.pdf

US Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

Region IV 3005 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta, GA 30341

COVID 19 Rapid Field Testing – Solicitation 70FBR421R00000003

Subject: Responses to questions received by deadline, December 22, 2020 @3P. No other questions received after that time will be considered.

Question 1 - Hello Nicole, in reference to the subject FEMA requirement for Covid-19 rapid test would you please clarify how many people per location will require testing daily, weekly, monthly? Additionally would you please clarify the period of performance estimated for this requirement?

Answer 1: We require approximately 66 tests weekly. The period of performance may be approximately three (3) months but will determined and defined before award.

Question 2: On page 2 of the solicitation, first paragraph under the bulleted list states:

This solicitation is open to all responsible contractors, however, preference will be given to Hubzone small businesses. Any contractor response that does not provide a detailed narrative addressing the manner in which the contractors intends to meet the requirement will NOT be considered for award.

Can you please clarify that the underlined statement is unrelated to the Hubzone small business preference but rather refers to the contractor response and detailed narrative as described on page 1 and the bulleted list on page 2 (shown below):

Contractor shall provide a detailed narrative demonstrating how the contractor intends to meet the requirements of the Government’s PWS (Attached) for COVID 19 Rapid Field Testing.

The Contractor’s response is not limited to but MUST include the following:

o Physical location of each site o Type of PPEs providing o Number of personnel for each site o Qualifications of personnel o Pricing options in a spreadsheet o Type of equipment used for testing o Protocols being followed

Answer 2: To clarify – the solicitation is open to all responsible contractors, however, preference will be given to Hubzone small businesses.

Any contractor response (meaning – the response from ANY contractor – large or small business) that does not provide a detailed narrative (must include but not limited to the bullet points) addressing the manner in which the contractor intends to meet the requirement will NOT be considered for award.

Question 3: In the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Section 201 Safeguarding of Sensitive Information (MAR2015) , paragraph (e) Authority to Operate states that “The Contractor shall not input, store, process, output, and/or transmit sensitive information within a Contractor IT system without an Authority to Operate (ATO) signed by the Headquarters or Component CIO...” Our testing solution includes an ability to communicate with individuals being tested safely and securely through an app

(Gov2Go) downloaded to a mobile device. Would that app require an ATO?

Answer 3: Yes, any app would need an ATO.

Question 4: Can you provide an estimated number of tests to be required weekly? If that is unknown, can you provide a quantity of personnel (employees / contractors / visitors) who are located at the Atlanta site which could potentially be eligible for testing?

Answer 4: We require approximately 66 tests weekly, however in the event that we have an activation that number will go up.

Question 5: Does FEMA intend to request testing only when clinically indicated (i.e., individuals who are experiencing symptoms or have had a confirmed exposure), or for everyone in a proactive / surveillance-type model for weekly or bi-weekly testing?

Answer 5: Testing will be random, however in the event we have someone who is showing symptoms, or someone who has been in contact with someone with COVID, they will be directed to one of the testing sites.

Question 6: If it is only for clinically indicated individuals, does FEMA have a system in place to identify them, and if not, would FEMA be interested in learning about a system for this?

Answer 6: Yes, FEMA does have a system in place.

Question 7: On line 79 of the PWS FEMA requires access to a licensed physician, but on line 82 the requirement is for a licensed health professional. We suggest that for answering questions and determining next steps in care a nurse-level clinician is likely more appropriate than a physician, as the nurses can help navigate the patient to the correct locations for care or to their primary care physician without creating a doctor-patient relationship. Would FEMA accept a program that utilizes nurses to support test takers regarding results?

Answer 7: Licensed Health Care Professional only.

Question 8 : Will there be any options for small businesses to sub-contract?

Answer 8: Until an award is made, there is no way to determine if there will be an option for a small business to sub-contract.

Question 9: In the bid it’s requesting for the laboratory to have multiple locations within a 50 mile radius.

Will offers be accepted by Mobile Laboratory Companies who can provide services and staff to perform the duties within that same mile radius on demand meaning we offer to come directly to who ever is being tested for convenience.

Answer 9: No.