Amendment No. Three.pdf

SAP

State of South Carolina

Request for Proposal

Amendment No. Three

Solicitation:

Date Issued:

Procurement Officer:

Phone:

E-Mail Address:

5400020394 01/20/2021

WHITNEY CARSWELL

(803) 898-3472 carswewp@dhec.sc.gov wpc

DESCRIPTION: DHEC Healthcare Quality Merger Services USING GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: SC Dept. of Health & Environmental Control

The Term "Offer" Means Your "Bid" or "Proposal". Your offer must be submitted in a sealed package. Solicitation Number & Opening Date must appear on package exterior. See "Submitting Your Paper Offer or Modification" provision.

SUBMIT YOUR SEALED OFFER TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES:

MAILING ADDRESS:

SC DHEC

Attn: Procurement Services Division 301 Gervais Street, 4th Floor Columbia SC 29201-3073

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

SC DHEC

Attn: Procurement Services Division 301 Gervais Street, 4th Floor Columbia SC 29201-3073

SUBMIT OFFER BY (Opening Date/Time): 01/26/2021 02/09/2021 2:30 PM ET (See "Deadline For Submission Of Offer" provision) QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 12/03/2020 5:00 PM ET CLOSED (See "Questions From Offerors" provision) NUMBER OF COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED: See Instructions on Page 3 CONFERENCE TYPE: Pre-Bid/Proposal Conference DATE & TIME: November 30, 2020: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

(As appropriate, see "Conferences - Pre-Bid/Proposal" & "Site Visit" provisions)

LOCATION: Conference Call

AWARD &

AMENDMENTS

Award will be posted on February 8, 2021 February 22, 2021. The award, this solicitation, any amendments, and any related notices will be posted at the following web address:

http://www.procurement.sc.gov

You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By signing, You agree to be bound by the terms of the Solicitation. You agree to hold Your Offer open for a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days after the Opening Date. (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

NAME OF OFFEROR

(Full legal name of business submitting the offer)

Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed with, the entity identified as the Offeror. The entity named as the offeror must be a single and distinct legal entity. Do not use the name of a branch office or a division of a larger entity if the branch or division is not a separate legal entity, i.e., a separate corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

(Person must be authorized to submit binding offer to contract on behalf of Offeror.)

DATE SIGNED

TITLE

(Business title of person signing above)

STATE VENDOR NO.

(Register to Obtain S.C. Vendor No. at www.procurement.sc.gov)

PRINTED NAME

(Printed name of person signing above)

STATE OF INCORPORATION

(If you are a corporation, identify the state of incorporation.)

OFFEROR'S TYPE OF ENTITY: (Check one) (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

___ Sole Proprietorship ___ Partnership ___ Other_____________________________

___ Corporate entity (not tax-exempt) ___ Corporation (tax-exempt) ___ Government entity (federal, state, or local)

COVER PAGE - PAPER ONLY (MAR. 2015)

http://www.procurement.sc.gov/

PAGE TWO

(Return Page Two with Your Offer)

HOME OFFICE ADDRESS (Address for offeror's home office / principal place of business)

NOTICE ADDRESS (Address to which all procurement and contract related notices should be sent.) (See "Notice" clause)

Area Code - Number - Extension Facsimile

E-mail Address

PAYMENT ADDRESS (Address to which payments will be sent.)

(See "Payment" clause)

____Payment Address same as Home Office Address ____Payment Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

ORDER ADDRESS (Address to which purchase orders will be sent) (See "Purchase Orders and "Contract Documents" clauses)

____Order Address same as Home Office Address ____Order Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

Offerors acknowledges receipt of amendments by indicating amendment number and its date of issue. (See "Amendments to Solicitation" Provision) Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date

DISCOUNT FOR

PROMPT PAYMENT

(See "Discount for Prompt

Payment" clause)

10 Calendar Days (%) 20 Calendar Days (%) 30 Calendar Days (%) _____Calendar Days (%)

PREFERENCES - A NOTICE TO VENDORS (SEP. 2009): On June 16, 2009, the South Carolina General Assembly rewrote the law governing preferences available to in-state vendors, vendors using in-state subcontractors, and vendors selling in-state or US end products. This law appears in Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. A summary of the new preferences is available at www.procurement.sc.gov/preferences. ALL THE PREFERENCES MUST BE CLAIMED AND ARE APPLIED BY LINE ITEM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AWARD IS MADE BY

ITEM OR LOT. VENDORS ARE CAUTIONED TO CAREFULLY REVIEW THE STATUTE BEFORE

CLAIMING ANY PREFERENCES. THE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY HAVE CHANGED. IF YOU

REQUEST A PREFERENCE, YOU ARE CERTIFYING THAT YOUR OFFER QUALIFIES FOR THE

PREFERENCE YOU'VE CLAIMED. IMPROPERLY REQUESTING A PREFERENCE CAN HAVE SERIOUS

CONSEQUENCES. [11-35-1524(E)(4)&(6)]

PREFERENCES - ADDRESS AND PHONE OF IN-STATE OFFICE: Please provide the address and phone number for your in-state office in the space provided below. An in-state office is necessary to claim either the Resident Vendor Preference (11-35-1524(C)(1)(i)&(ii)) or the Resident Contractor Preference (11-35-1524(C)(1)(iii)). Accordingly, you must provide this information to qualify for the preference. An in-state office is not required, but can be beneficial, if you are claiming the Resident Subcontractor Preference (11-35-1524(D)).

Preferences do not apply to Request for Proposals per the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code Section 11-35-1524, Part (E)(5).

____In-State Office Address same as Home Office Address ____In-State Office Address same as Notice Address (check only one) PAGE TWO (SEP 2009) End of PAGE TWO http://www.procurement.sc.gov/preferences

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFERORS SUBMITTING HARD COPY BIDS

Mailing Address: Opening/Physical Address:

SC DHEC – Division of Procurement Services SCDHEC – Division of Procurement Services Bureau of Business Management Bureau of Business Management 2600 Bull Street Columbia Mills Building – 4th Floor Columbia, S.C. 29201 301 Gervais Street Columbia, S.C. 29201

See Section II.A. – Public Opening Information – DHEC Clause

NUMBER OF COPIES

The offer you submit on-line, the Offeror MUST submit the following:

1. One (1) original paper copy (hardcopy) (marked “ORIGINAL”).

2. One (1) Individual copy of your Offer on a USB Drive identical to the Original (but NOT including the Price

Proposal)

3. One (1) each separate individual copy of the Price Proposal (marked “Price Proposal”) in a separate sealed envelope;

4. One (1) each separate individual copy of your Price Proposal on a USB drive identical to the paper copy, labeled

“Price Proposal.”

5. One (1) Redacted copy (marked “Redacted”), if applicable. See Section IV - “Submitting Redacted Offers” of both the Technical and Price Proposal.

All copies requested must be delivered no later than the date and time specified on the cover page of the solicitation to the following address:

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of Procurement Services

Whitney Carswell, Procurement Manager Solicitation Number 5400020394 301 Gervais Street, Columbia Mills Building, 4th Floor

Columbia, SC 29201

Initial here if NO redacted copy is necessary _______

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE OBJECTED OR QUALIFIED OR OFFEROR

INCLUDES ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO BE CONSIDERED, THE OFFER WILL BE

DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

IF YOU QUALIFY YOUR OFFER WITH A STATEMENT SUCH AS, “THIS IS NOT AN OFFER”, THE OFFER

WILL BE DEEMED “NON-RESPONSIVE” AND REMOVED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

Amendment No. Three

INVITATION FOR BID NO. 5400020394

Description: DHEC Healthcare Quality Merger Services

AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION (JAN 2004)

(a) The Solicitation may be amended at any time prior to opening. All actual and prospective Offerors should monitor the following web site for the issuance of Amendments: www.procurement.sc.gov (b) Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this solicitation (1) by signing and returning the amendment, (2) by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on Page Two, (3) by letter, or (4) by submitting a bid that indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment. (c) If this solicitation is amended, then all terms and conditions which are not modified remain unchanged. [02-2A005-1]

QUESTIONS FROM OFFERORS – AMENDMENT (JUN 2017)

THE SOLICITATION IS AMENDED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. INFORMATION OR CHANGES RESULTING

FROM QUESTIONS WILL BE SHOWN IN A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FORMAT. ALL QUESTIONS

RECEIVED HAVE BEEN REPRINTED BELOW. THE “STATE’S RESPONSE” SHOULD BE READ WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE QUESTIONS. THE QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE A CROSS-

REFERENCE TO THE POTENTIAL OFFEROR THAT SUBMITTED THE QUESTION. QUESTIONS DO NOT

FORM A PART OF THE CONTRACT; THE “STATE’S RESPONSE” DOES. ANY RESTATEMENT OF PART OR ALL OF AN EXISTING PROVISION OF THE SOLICITATION IN AN ANSWER DOES NOT MODIFY THE

ORIGINAL PROVISION EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS: UNDERLINED TEXT IS ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL

PROVISON. STRICKEN TEXT IS DELETED. [02-2A097-1]

CHANGES:

SUBMIT OFFER BY (Opening Date/Time) Change From: 01 / 26 / 2021 - 2:30PM ET Change To: 02 / 09 / 2021 - 2:30PM ET

AWARD

Change From: February 8, 2021 Change To: February 22, 2021

The following prospective offeror questions and agency response is hereby incorporated into the solicitation:

Question 1:

Temporary Management Team How many management positions are there currently in the licensing and certification bureaus? How many of those are vacant? Do the current managers have survey experience?

Section 3.1.4.1 Four (4) upper level management slots will be required What are the expected roles and responsibilities of these four slots? Are there presently DHEC staff in these roles, or will staff need to be recruited and placed by the contractor? If the four slots are not referring to DHEC staff, please clarify that the expectation is for the Contractor to provide four staff members for training and mentoring of the DHEC upper level management position and what they desired qualifications are for these four positions.

State’s Response:

There are 16 management positions in the licensing and certification bureaus.

Of the 16 management positions, five (5) of those are vacant.

All of the current managers have survey experience.

The four upper level management slots will be required for training and mentoring of current DHEC managers.

Question 2:

Internal and External Training Section 3.1.6.1 Eight (8) slots will be required Are these 8 slots expected to be filled by surveyor trainers or surveyors?

What are the desired qualifications and disciplines (i.e., RN, pharmacist, registered dietician, etc.) for these 8 positions?

State’s Response:

The eight (8) slots required are expected to be filled by survey trainers. The disciplines requested are RN and Generalist positions.

Question 3:

How many surveyors are currently employed by DHEC in the following categories:

a. Certification, newly hired:

b. Certification, experienced:

c. Licensure, newly hired:

d. Licensure, experienced:

State’s Response:

There are currently eight (8) newly hired Certification staff.

There are currently nine (9) experienced certification staff.

There are currently zero (0) newly hired licensure staff.

There are currently 17 experienced licensure staff.

Question 4:

What is the total amount of vacant surveyor positions at this time?

State’s Response:

There are currently a total of 17 vacant survey positions.

Question 5:

What is the total number of surveyors when fully staffed?

State’s Response:

There will be a total of 62 surveyors when fully staffed. This number will include federal and state surveyors.

Question 6:

Have licensure staff already passed SMQT?

State’s Response:

Licensure staff have not passed the SMQT.

Question 7:

Does this task include training of new staff only, or does it also include continuing and/or re-training of existing staff as well?

State’s Response:

This task will consist of the training of new staff only.

Question 8:

Who is currently responsible for training surveyors? Is this their primary role? Are any DHEC staff currently qualified to precept?

State’s Response:

The Department’s training team is responsible for training staff; however, they are not qualified to percept at this time. Current SMQT certified staff assist in the field training of new surveyors; however, this is not their primary role.

Question 9:

Does DHEC currently have a training curriculum for new surveyors or is the contractor expected to create the training curriculum?

State’s Response:

Yes, there is a training curriculum that has already been developed.

Question 10:

How many weeks of classroom training will be permitted?

State’s Response:

Based on our current curriculum, at least three weeks will be permitted for classroom training.

Question 11:

Are the newly hired surveyors currently conducting surveys?

State’s Response:

The newly hired surveyors are assisting SMQT certified staff in conducting surveys.

Question 12:

Will DHEC staff be identified to be trained on taking over the 2567 Quality Assurance review responsibilities or will the contractor be able to make this determination and recommendation?

State’s Response:

Managers within the certification department are conducting the Quality Assurance reviews of the 2567 reports.

Question 13:

Section 3.3.1 Complete the required In-Field Training for DHEC individual surveyors. - Do all current DHEC surveyors require precepting? If not, how many current DHEC surveyors require precepting experience? Is a specific survey type required for the precepting experience or is any type (recertification, complaint, initial, etc.) acceptable?

State’s Response:

All new surveyors need precepting experience. We currently have approximately 20 new surveyors that need precepting experience, primarily with recertification and complaints.

Question 14:

Section 3.3.1 Complete the required In-Field Training for DHEC individual surveyors. One In-Field training occurrence includes…. – Are new surveyors expected to have only one in-field training? Or is the intent to have one in-field training followed by 1-3 precepting experiences?

State’s Response:

The intent is to provide the new surveyor with at least one in-field training and up to 1-3 precepting experiences for each survey task.

END AMENDMENT NO. THREE

END AMENDMENT NO. THREE