Q AND A - DENTAL HYGIENIST (CATAWBA).pdf

# Solicitation Page # Section # Section Title Question Answer

1 1 and 57 SF1449 & #16 Submittal Date Page 1 and Page 57 Note a Due Date of 5/27/2024, by 5:30 pm MDT. However, SAM.gov is showing 5/29/2024 as the Due Date. Please confirm the official Due Date, and if it is different than the Solicitation (5/27/2024), will an

Amendment be issued noting the change?

Yes ‐ due date will be extended to Friday, May 31st by or before 5:30pm MDT

2 General Existing Contract Is this an existing contract with an incumbent? If so, please provide the contract number and incumbent name. No

3 3 1.2 Price or Cost The section notes that "precise quantities cannot be pre‐determined." Please clarify if this refers to scheduled hours and, if so, provide the minimum and maximum number of hours the Dental Hygienist will work each week.

24 hours/week as listed in the SOW ‐ hours will vary due to Federal Holidays, Early Dismissals, etc., but these hours can be rescheduled to maintain 24 hours/week, if necessary.

4 3 1.4 Contract Price Please clarify if the FFP is the "Billing rate" that will be invoiced for total hours per month or if it is a set "Annual amount" that will be invoiced monthly in equal amounts.

the hourly rate

5 6 4.1.2 Other personal medical instruments Could the government expand on any other personal medical instruments that would be contractor furnished. All medical instruments will be provided by Catawba Service Unit

6 17 10.5 Invoice Submission The section notes to submit invoices in accordance with the payment schedule, please provide details of the payment schedule.

Monthly

7 59 16.9.2 Representations and

Certifications

The section states to complete "Section 15 ‐ Reps&Certs" and to place this and other "Statements of Offerors" with Business Proposal.

1. Please clarify the Business Proposal as only Volumes I, II, and III appear not to address a Business Volume?

2. Please clarify if "Section 15 ‐ Reps&Certs" is required to be completed and returned as the SAM.gov solicitation page appears to indicate that completion of Reps&Certs in SAM.gov is sufficient.

1. It can be included in Volume I or separately. 2. Some offerors include the "Reps & Certs", especially if there are any changes. Otherwise, Reps & Certs will be pulled from sam.gov

8 SAM.gov page Proposal Package should include Please clarify where the government would like the SF1449 and ISBEE forms placed, In a paticular volume or other? In either Volume I or separately.

9 10 5.7.3 Health Requirements of Contracted Healthcare

Providers:

Please clarify if any and/or what vaccination documentation is required with proposal submission? Reference Section 5.7.3

10 General Submission Deadline

Will the government provide an extension of the deadline to 6/7/2024 so that bidders can offer a complete, adequate, and accurately priced response? This date considers the time for government responses, bidders' review of responses, attainment of any documents clarified within the responses, and the government holiday observed on

5/27/2024.

It can be extended to Friday, May 31st

11 3 1.3 General Contract Information

Section 1.3, General Contract Information states, "The contract must maintain medical liability insurance. Coverage amount acceptable to the Contracting Officer, which is not less than the amount normally prevailing within the local community for the medical specialty." Can the Government please provide the type of medical liability insurance to include the limits that are required?

Contractor must maintain professional liability insurance, with limits to be determined

12 4 1.4 Contract Price

The Schedule of Charges table, Note, refers to The hourly rate shall be an all‐inclusive rate of all other fees including:

travel expenses; per diem; lodging; all cities, state, federal, and local taxes; and miscellaneous cost associated with the above services. Can the Government please clarify if the one (1) Dental Hygienist will be performing only at the

Catawba Service Unit, Rock Hill, SC or will be performing in other cities at other Service Units?

Contractor will be performing only at Catawba Service Unit

13 6 4.1.1 Contractor‐Furnished Items

Section 4.1.1, Contractor‐Furnished Items states, "Uniforms and Lab Coats must conform to the requirements of the Indian Health Service Manual, Part 3, and Chapter 4 and meet the approval of the Chief Nurse Executive at each IHS facility". Can the Government please provide an example of the Uniforms and Lab Costs that would be approved by the Chief Nurse Executive at each IHS facility?

PPE will be provided by Catawba Service Unit, to include disposable lab coats, goggles, shields, etc. For personal scrubs, there are no specific types that must be worn. Anyone working with patient must wear closed‐toe shoes.

14 6 4.1.2 Contractor‐Furnished Items Section 4.1.2, Contractor‐Furnished Items states, "Other personal medical instruments" defined, as Contractor‐ owned items include but not limited to stethoscope, scissors, as appropriate to the work unit. Can the Government please provide a list of all personal medical instruments with specifications that are required by contractor?

Catawba Service Unit will provide all medical instruments that are necessary.

15 7 5.1 General As the Wage Determination No. 2015‐4423, Revision #25, dated 12‐26‐2023 is referred to in the Solicitation, can the

Government please provide to offerors?

it will be added to attachments

16 8 5.5 Conduct Section 5.5, Conduct states, "The Contractor must perform standards as listed in the Federal Code of Conduct." Can the Government please provide the applicable standards related to this requirement as listed in the Federal Code of

Conduct?

Refer to https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title‐5/chapter‐XVI/subchapter‐B/part‐2635

17 pg. 8‐9 5.6 Conditions of Contract

Services Section 5.6.1, refers to a preemployment screening process. Can the Government please clarify that personnel will have the ability to perform prior to the Government investigation is complete?

No services can be provided until background investigation is complete.

18 pg. 6 5.1 SOW Section 5.1 Are the responsibilities for exposing, developing, and processing radiographs compliant with South

Carolina regulations for dental hygienists? Yes.

19 pg. 7 5.1 Wage Determination Section 5.1 How will wage adjustments be handled if there are updates to the wage determination during the contract period?

This will be considered on a case‐by‐case basis.

20 pg. 8 5.2.1 Work Schedule Section 5.2.1 Can the Dental Hygienist work a different combination of days (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday) if necessary, or are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mandatory?

It is possible. However, patients are not seen on Wednesday afternoons. The schedule would need to be agreed upon ahead of time, by the COR and Contractor (and/or vendor).

21 pg. 8 5.2.1 Work Schedule Section 5.2.1 Is there flexibility in the start and end times, or must the hours strictly be 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM? There is a little flexibility, but mainly 8:00am to 4:00pm, due to safety concerns.

22 5.2.3 Work Schedule Section 5.2.3 Who specifically within the IHS facility (Clinical Director, Supervisor, COR, or POC) will make final decisions on the tour of duty?

Contractors will be referred to the COR for tour of duty, scheduling, etc.

23 pg. 8 5.2.4 Work Schedule Section 5.2.4 Historically, often are work hours expected to vary, and under what typical circumstances? Due to Federal Holidays and Early Dismissals or emergency repair or other unforeseen disasters.

24 pg. 8 5.2.4 Work Schedule Section 5.2.4 What is the protocol for requesting work hour adjustments due to personal reasons? Contractors would contact the COR as soon as possible.

25 pg. 8 5.4 Performance Evaluation Section 5.4 Are there any specific training or resources provided to work effectively with multicultural patients and interpreters?

Trauma‐Informed Care on AMS (HHS Learning Portal) is one training that would be available to Contractor after they receive access.

26 pg. 8 5.5 Conduct Section 5.5 Where can the detailed Federal Code of Conduct be accessed, and are there specific conduct guidelines unique to this position?

Refer to https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title‐5/chapter‐XVI/subchapter‐B/part‐2635