Attachment 2 _ Vendor_s Questionnaire for Technical Evaluation 011025.pdf

Vendor’s Questionnaire for Technical Evaluation

For the Technical Evaluation, annotate the page in your proposal for each of the following:

Tasks 1 – 9 of the Statement of Work (SOW):

_____ Task 1: The Contractor shall provide all personnel, transportation, imaging phantoms, equipment and software to supply Nuclear Medicine Specialty Medical Physicist services in support of the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) Nuclear Medicine

Service.

_____ Task 2: The period of performance will be from January 20th, 2025 through January 19th, 2026 with the possibility of additional option years to extend the contract. This position will include a low-level Background Investigation.

_____ Task 3: Nuclear Medicine Service currently has the following imaging cameras on site:

a. Hologic Bone Densitometer x3 (Dallas and FWOPC)

b. GE 670 CZT Digital SPECT/CT x2 (Dallas)

c. Siemens Intevo SPECT/CT x2 (Dallas)

d. GE Starguide SPECT/CT (Dallas)

e. GE Discovery Digital MI PET/CT System x2 (Dallas)

f. GE 630 Gamma Camera (FWOPC)

*Nuclear Medicine Service may replace/upgrade any of the above equipment during the duration of the contract (base + option years included). Incremental new equipment may also be purchased or leased during the period of performance at VANTHCS which will also require medical physicist support.

_____ Task 4: The contractor will provide the following services for each camera as required by the Nuclear Medicine Service: Performance of acceptance testing (NEMA and accrediting bodies), quarterly/annual QC, consultative services, protocol reviews, image and dose optimization, calibration, and safety surveys of imaging equipment in accordance with the

American College of Radiology (ACR) and Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) standards for Nuclear Medicine. It is anticipated that sufficient time will be devoted to each of the aforementioned cameras during each visit. For any deficiencies noted during testing, the specialized Nuclear Medicine Medical Physicist will make recommendations and assist timely resolution as well as provide follow-up testing that documents resolution.

Contractor will provide Nuclear Medicine Physics support to the VANTHCS Theranostics

Program, including dosimetry and patient consultation as needed.

Contractor shall provide on-site twenty-four (24) hour emergency response time on unanticipated and/or emergent equipment and clinical needs. The contractor shall respond and be present at the VANTHCS facility within 2 business days to provide services for those tasks that have the potential to negatively impact patient access to health care services. For concerns that have the potential for negative clinical impact to a patient, the contractor shall respond within 6 hours and be present at the VANTHCS facility within 1 business day if requested.

_____ Task 5 Annual Performance Testing includes and not limited to:

1. Intrinsic Uniformity - Performed to ensure that the intrinsic detector integral and differential uniformity are sufficient to minimize the production of artifacts and ensure that patient abnormalities can be visualized without interference from the imaging system. These tests also monitor a scintillation unit for electronic problems and crystal deterioration (hydration).

2. System Uniformity - Performed to check all commonly used collimators for defects that might produce artifacts in planar and tomographic studies.

3. Intrinsic or System Spatial Resolution - Performed to ensure that the detector resolution is sufficient to provide satisfactory detection of lesions and delineate detail in clinical images.

4. Sensitivity - Performed to verify that count rate per unit activity is satisfactory to maintain image quality and preserve the integrity of quantitative studies.

5. Energy Resolution - Performed to verify that scatter rejection is sufficient to provide optimal contrast in clinical studies.

6. Count Rate Parameters - Performed to ensure that the time to process an event is sufficient to maintain spatial resolution and uniformity in clinical images acquired at high count rates.

7. Bone Densitometer Evaluation - Annual/Initial DXA evaluation based on ISCD requirements

8. CT Evaluation - Annual/Initial CT evaluation based on ACR & Joint Commission requirements

9. Formatter/Video Display - Performed to ensure that systems used to produce hard copy and monitors that are used for interpretation of clinical studies provide satisfactory image quality in terms of uniformity and spatial resolution.

10. Overall System Performance for SPECT Systems - Performed to quantitatively verify that

SPECT systems provide satisfactory tomographic uniformity, contrast, and spatial resolution.

11. Overall System Performance for PET Systems - Performed to quantitatively verify that

PET systems provide satisfactory tomographic uniformity, contrast, accuracy of semiquantitative measurements, and spatial resolution.

12. System Interlocks - Performed to verify that all system interlocks are operating as designed and that the system is safe and reliable for the nuclear medicine technologist to operate and for imaging patients.

13. Dose Calibrators - Performed annually to verify that readings from this instrument are accurate (accuracy test). All basic measurements of performance must be done at the time of installation and repeated after major repair. This test must be done according to protocols accepted by the appropriate state regulatory agencies or the NRC.

14. Thyroid Uptake and Counting Systems - Performed to verify energy calibration, energy linearity, energy resolution, sensitivity, and reliability (Chi-squared test) for the measurement of organ function and the assay of patient samples.

15. Shielding Integrity and Adequacy Evaluation - Complete structural shielding design plans for the installation of new diagnostic or replacement imaging equipment prior to first patient use, including subsequent testing.

_____ Task 6: Qualifications. Prior to commencing work all Contractor employees shall meet certain criteria to perform work under this contract as a Medical Physicist.

2.2 The Contractor Diagnostic Medical Physicist shall meet the following education, experience, certification, and qualification standards:

• Hold a Masters Degree in Medical Physics.

• American Board of Radiology Board Certification in Radiologic Physics

• American Board of Radiology Board Certification in Nuclear Medicine Physics

• American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine

• Meet all NRC, ACR, FDA and Joint Commission requirements for a qualified medical physicist.

• All Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control Regulations, and certifications

• Current recommendations of the NCRP and AAMP on medical imaging facility design and shielding, All current NRC regulations

• Current techniques for the calibration and testing of diagnostic x-ray equipment.

• _____ Task 7: Minimum evaluation criteria listed below:

• 5 years’ experience with NM equipment testing

• Submit proof of education, certification, qual standards

• Dosimetry and patient exposure determination (image optimization)

• Provide on-site 24-hour emergency response time

• Respond and be present within 2 business days to provide services for tasks that could have a negative impact to patient care if not addressed

• Provide consultative support

• Proof of ability to provide adequate personnel and/or contingency plan if main physicist is unavailable

• Provide examples of sample reports for quarterly testing, shielding designs, etc.

• Contractor must show ability to work with VA on minimizing downtime and negative impact to patient care

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