Draft PWS.docx

Section C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Indian Health Service COVID-19 Response and Contact Tracing Support Services

C.1 Background The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.56 million AI/AN people who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a very high demand for contractor support services to address the pandemic response related requirements including contract-tracing services. To maintain national standards of care and assure continuous quality improvement in the face of serious health disparities and during the COVID crisis and pandemic, sufficient staff is essential. The availability of a staffing resource option will provide an avenue to support the health care expertise required to continue to provide safe and quality health care services to AI/AN population during the COVID-19 crisis.

C.2 General Requirements Under this a Time-and-Material (T&M), multiple-award, Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract, contractors are responsible for providing the needed staffing resources identified in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the IHS Hospitals / Service Units / and Healthcare Facilities within 12 IHS Areas (https://www.ihs.gov/locations/) in support of the COVID-19 response effort including contact-tracing services. The IHS will issue Request for Quotations (RFQs) for a stand-alone task order awards upon identification of each facility-level or Area-Level requirement. Each Area and Facility may issue multiple task orders to different IDIQ contract holders. Upon a determination by the Areas’ Chief of the Contracting Office (CCO), other stand-alone or IDIQ contracts, other than the resulting IDIQ contracts herein, may be pursued to acquire the needed services.

This is a staffing contract only – IHS will not procure any program implementation services, system/software, equipment or supplies under the terms of this contract. Contractor support staff hired via this contract requirement will support the ongoing / upcoming IHS mission objectives and Programs and the Agency may provide required Furnished Information (GFI), Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), and Government Furnished Property (GFP) upon determination of the need(s).

C.2.1 Contractual Requirements The Contractor shall meet the following business and clinical requirements:

1. Within 7 days of the contract award, contractor shall enter into a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with the IHS that follows the provisions identified here: https://www.ihs.gov/sites/hipaa/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/IHSBusinessAssociateAgreement.pdf C.2.2 Non-Personal Services If the contractor believes that any actions or instructions by the government officials constitute, or are perceived to constitute personal services, it shall be the contractor's responsibility to notify the Contracting Officer (CO) immediately.

C.2.3 Subcontract Management The contractor shall be responsible for any subcontract management necessary to integrate work performed on this requirement and shall be responsible and accountable for subcontractor performance on this requirement. The prime contractor will manage work distribution to ensure there are no Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) considerations.

C.3 Labor Categories and Qualifications This PWS section lists all-embracing qualifications of the labor categories to be acquired via the task order awards. Request for Quotes (RFQ) for the Task orders may be selective in choosing the primary roles and responsibilities and respective qualification of the contractor employee. However, given the dynamic and complex workflow involving the pandemic response efforts, contractor employees may be asked to provide other related services that are not specifically identified as Task Order primary roles and responsibilities or included in this PWS, if: 1) the requested service is commonly considered as responsibility of a qualified professional under the task order labor category; and 2) the evaluated qualification and experience of the resulted task order conveys the contractor employee’s capability to provide the services. Task Order Scope will identify the onsite / offsite support needs and award decision of the order may be determined by evaluation of the preferred qualifications.

C.3.1 Contact Tracer Tasks and Responsibilities may include all the following, but not limited to:

a. Making follow up calls to patients after initial call by EPI/Contact Investigator;

b. Documenting the names and contact information of all individuals who have had contact with a COVID-19 patient;

c. Tracing and notifying all contacts who have potentially interacted with an infected individual;

d. Maintaining appropriate discretion with the information;

e. Tracking and documenting all health data (using an IHS provided software); and/or

f. Referring contacts for additional testing or health care services as identified.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Health care experience or customer service-oriented professionals with experience of frequently interacting with customers.

Preferred Qualifications / Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Call center skills (patience, communication, listening, composure, resilience, and persuasion skills) - a portion of work may be conducted via established protocols and scripts;

iv. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

v. Candidate with health care training and experience (RN/PHN, Pharmacist, etc.); and/or

vi. Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or related field.

C.3.2 Contact Tracing Supervisor / Program Manager / Case Manager / Training Manager Provides support services to the originating site leadership for coordination of the contact tracing program/function and recommendations for case escalations and personnel management. When requested, the contractor is to coordinate and provide contact tracing training.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include some or all the following, but not limited to:

a. Providing policy development support services for handling of the escalated issue, along with guidance in support of the Contact Tracers;

b. Making recommendations in regards to maintaining appropriate discretion with the information;

c. Conducting COVID-19 and infectious disease research to assist with strategic decision making;

d. Supporting Program oversight and decision-making authority for case escalations and all contact center operations;

e. Providing ongoing management of the individual case (assessment, treatment planning, advocacy, and monitoring);

f. Providing care coordination of high-risk patients or contacts (with medical home or quarantine site);

g. Managing the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services for patients and contacts;

h. Managing cases until individuals graduate from quarantine; and/or

i. Providing contact tracing training, including train-the-trainer sessions.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Registered Nurse, or related experience from a predominately health care background;

ii. Candidates with good understanding of COVID-19 care needs and capability to recognize and refer the cases to other professionals when necessary;

iii. Bachelor’s in public health or related field (health education); and/or

iv. Experience in providing trainings.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. Physician (MD) candidate who can provide immediate guidance to special cases and scenarios;

v. In-depth knowledge of CDC COVID-19 guidelines and recommended training requirements; and/or

vi. Master’s Degree in Public Health.

C.3.3 Case Investigator A professional who performs the initial interview to recognize and track symptoms, provide educational resources and guidance, and obtain relevant contacts.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Preparing case interviews for infected patients received from reporting sources, state and local health departments, or similar Tribal programs (such as Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) or Tribal Health Department) or urban Indian organizations (UIO);

b. Conducting patient interviews to identify symptoms to determine infection rate and potential risks;

c. Obtaining all frequent or recent contacts and locations visited;

d. Maintaining appropriate discretion with the information;

e. Providing educational materials when necessary;

f. Documenting case findings and relaying information to identified local contact or authority; and/or

g. Initial call/case investigation/contact tracing, provide some oversight, coordinating effort of the Contract Tracers/Public Health Specialists.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Health care, public health or related experience; and/or

ii. Case Management experience;

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iii. Experience in using RPMS or other Electronic Health Record System;

iv. RN, preferably a PHN; and/or

v. Candidate with MPH degree C.3.4 Community Resource Coordinator / Social Worker / Self-Isolation & Self-Quarantine Monitor A professional who performs community outreach and resource management to impacted places of business and diagnosed individuals (particularly those in quarantine/ isolation status). The contractor is to improve the lives of people and families by connecting them with resources like healthcare, counseling and referral services. When providing services under social worker capacity, the contractor will provide direct assistance and counseling to those diagnosed with diseases and disorders and assists patients to cope with the related issues.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Coordinates wraparound services for COVID-19 affected individuals by connecting them to community-based services and resources;

b. Performs community outreach to impacted or at-risk businesses and locations;

c. Maintains appropriate discretion with all information;

d. Follows cases until individuals graduate from quarantine;

e. Providing counseling to patients and families;

f. Serving as liaisons in coordinating with other health professionals to bring patient wellness;

g. Providing the social services needed to enable patients to maintain social distancing or self-quarantine. Follows cases until individuals graduate from quarantine; and/or

h. Conducting daily monitoring of clients with COVID-19 during self-isolation and contacts during self-quarantine for temperature, signs/symptoms. The monitoring methodology will be instructed by the government official.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Minimum of 2 years of experience in case management, community outreach and familiar with community resources;

ii. Skilled in connecting to community resources and bridges to available benefits;

iii. Knowledge in and familiarity with local, state, and county resources;

iv. Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) or in a related field such as psychology, sociology, and public health administration; and/or

v. Licensing or certification per State requirements.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. RN or Certified Medical Assistance; and/or

v. Public Health/ Community Health, Behavioral Health, and Substance Abuse experience.

C.3.5 Registered Nurse (RN)/ Professional Nurse and Public Health Nurse (PHN) A professional who is responsible for providing patient care, medical education/guidance, and emotional support to the patients and family members

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Screening of patients;

b. Collecting COVID specimen;

c. Supporting COVID vaccine clinics;

d. Supporting efforts to identify and isolate COVID patients;

e. Providing necessary services in support of the Agency’s effort to be in compliance with all applicable CLIA, CMS, and accrediting body regulations; and/or

f. Providing direct patient care services at the IHS Emergency Department, Inpatient/Outpatient Department, Car Clinics, Public Health Nursing Program field, and/or other IHS Healthcare Service locations.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Experience and RN licensing per state requirements

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Pediatric, and/or Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certifications; and/or

v. Experience in Public Health/Community Health, Behavioral Health, and Substance Abuse C.3.6 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Provides basic nursing duties as an assistant to physicians and registered nurses.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Screening of patients;

b. Collecting COVID specimen;

c. Supporting COVID vaccine clinics;

d. Supporting efforts to identify and isolate COVID patients; and/or

e. Providing direct patient care services at the IHS Emergency Department, Inpatient/Outpatient Department, Car Clinics, Public Health Nursing Program field, or other IHS Healthcare Service locations.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Experience and licensing per state requirements

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

C.3.7 Health Technician / Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) Provides intimate, hands-on healthcare to patients in medical/healthcare settings. Serves as the "go between" that connects patients, nurses, and doctors.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Assisting screening of patients;

b. Collecting COVID specimen;

c. Supporting COVID vaccine clinics;

d. Supporting efforts to identify and isolate COVID patients;

e. Providing direct patient care services at the IHS Emergency Department, Inpatient/Outpatient Department, Car Clinics, Public Health Nursing Program field, and/or other IHS Healthcare Service locations;

f. Answering patient calls, documenting patients' health issues and reporting to nurses; and/or

g. Providing other support services as directed by the physicians and nurses.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Experience and/or licensing per state requirements.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support.

C.3.8 Psych Technician Provide mental health support for COVID patients and family members.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Observing patients behavior, listening to patients concerns and documenting patients’ condition;

b. Helping patients in identifying resources;

c. Answering patient calls, and providing updates and progress report to nurses; and/or

d. Providing other support services as directed by the physicians and nurses.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

ii. Experience and/or licensing per state requirements.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

iv. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

v. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

vi. Candidate who can provide onsite support.

C.3.9 Pharmacy Technician A professional who assist with medication fills and other pharmacy operations.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Assisting the pharmacist with the daily pharmacy operations;

b. Assisting with processing prescriptions;

c. Assisting patients;

d. Assisting pharmacy runners for outside delivery of meds;

e. Providing other administrative support services;

f. Preparing the work area; and/or

g. Providing other support services as directed by the Pharmacist.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Related customer service experience;

ii. Character to provide good customer service; and/or

iii. Good writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support.

C.3.10 Supply Technician A professional who provides supply management support services.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Warehouse / stocking services for PPE;

b. Providing inventory management services;

c. Providing records management and documentation services; and/or

d. Providing other support services as directed by the government official.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Related customer service experience;

ii. Medical supply experience;

iii. Character to provide good customer service; and/or

iv. Good writing skills

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support.

C.3.11 Program Assistant A professional who provides administrative support services.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Coordinating and setting up meetings;

b. Compiling reports or performing data entry tasks;

c. Providing records management and documentation services; and/or

d. Providing other support services as directed by the government official.

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Related customer service experience;

ii. Knowledge and experience in using Microsoft Office, Adobe and conferencing software

iii. Character to provide good customer service; and/or

iv. Good writing and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support.

C.3.12 Laboratory Technician Technician who provides laboratory testing support with pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic testing in a CLIA moderately complexity laboratory or higher.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Providing specimen collection, processing, and analyzing services;

b. Conducting data reporting;

c. Providing instrument maintenance services (schedule and unscheduled);

d. Compliance with all applicable CLIA, CMS, and accrediting body regulations both standard and during time of the Public Health Crisis.;

e. Process incoming lab reports; notifying Contact Investigator/PHN;

f. Run Abbott COVID-19 tests at the service unit, complete state testing forms; and/or

g. Assists with increased load of laboratory testing for COVID rapid testing and occasional phlebotomy

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics;

ii. Successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; and/or

iii. Bachelor’s degree in clinical lab sciences, customer service, attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. Distance Support Experience, e.g., call center.

C.3.13 Laboratory-Assistant Technician Technician who provides laboratory testing support with pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic testing in a CLIA moderately complexity laboratory or higher.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Providing specimen collection, processing, and analyzing services;

b. Conducting data reporting;

c. Providing instrument maintenance services (schedule and unscheduled);

d. Compliance with all applicable CLIA, CMS, and accrediting body regulations both standard and during time of the Public Health Crisis.;

e. Process incoming lab reports; notifying Contact Investigator/PHN;

f. Run Abbott COVID-19 tests at the service unit, complete state testing forms; and/or

g. Assists with increased load of laboratory testing for COVID rapid testing and occasional phlebotomy

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Experience working in a clinical laboratory setting;

ii. Related customer service experience;

iii. Character to provide good customer service; and/or

iv. Good writing skills

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation; and/or

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. Distance Support Experience, e.g., call center.

C.3.14 Epidemiologist / Data Analyst Data gathering and analyzes of disease outbreak to provide oversight, reporting and coordination efforts with local staff/State/Tribal/Federal programs.

Tasks and Responsibilities will include the following but not limited to:

a. Initial call/Case investigation/contact tracing, provide some oversight, coordinating effort of the Public Health Specialists/Case Investigators;

b. Support local efforts to collect data, monitor and trending of information;

c. Reviews quality of data;

d. Statistician to prepare and analyze data;

e. Reviews available data for trends and metrics to inform leadership and stakeholders;

f. Data management and trending;

g. Metrics reporting;

h. Network analysis for alignment with reporting capabilities and compiling of data; and/or

i. Social and behavioral analysis (mobility data and social distancing practices)

Minimum Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Familiar with data collection techniques and software to support data collection;

ii. Ability to complete trending analysis;

iii. Ability to provide requested surveillance matrix;

iv. Support would be given to train Service Unit staff as needed with data tools, etc;

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience Requirement:

i. Qualified candidate who is local to the community or reservation;

ii. Qualified candidate who is fluent in the major Native language of the local community or reservation;

iii. Candidate who can provide onsite support;

iv. Distance Support Experience, e.g., call center; and/or

v. Ability to provide dashboard of matrix to analyze case and contact management.