Draft PWS.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Contractor shall provide all labor, supplies, equipment, maintenance, information technology, and supervision necessary to provide Reference Laboratory Services to VISN 4 described herein. Reference Laboratory Services include, but are not limited to: specimen preparation and storage; transportation of clinical laboratory specimens, microbiology cultures, and stocks; performance of analytical testing; reporting of analytical test results; and consultative services.

I. Specimen Preparation and Storage for Reference Testing Specimens

1. Contractor shall supply each Government facility with its commercial laboratory reference test manual to insure that the collection and storage of specimens are in accordance with Contractor’s requirements.

1. Contractor shall provide all materials necessary to collect and preserve specimens that are destined to the commercial reference laboratory for testing. These materials include those items that are dictated by and in compliance with the collection requirements of the commercial reference laboratory.

1. If a medico legal specimen is submitted, the Contractor shall provide its own special forms and special handling procedures to maintain a valid “chain-of-custody possession” and develop the formal documentation necessary for that purpose. Contractor’s testing personnel who performed the analysis may be required to provide Court testimony. Contractor testimony shall be provided as required at no additional expense to the Government.

1. Contractor shall be responsible for storing specimens in such a manner to insure the integrity of the specimen.

1. Transportation Services for Reference Testing Specimens

1. Contractor shall provide transportation of primarily biomedical materials that include patient specimens and microbiology cultures and stocks, originating from Government facilities and destined to the contracted commercial reference laboratory. These items are classified as Hazard Materials Class 6, Division 6.2 and are defined in 49 CFR Part 173.134 as those materials that contain or could contain etiologic agents. Transportation shall be done in such a manner that the safety and integrity of the biomedical material is maintained.

1. Routine transportation services shall occur once per day from the Government facilities listed in the Schedule. Specimen pick-up times will be negotiated after contract award.

1. Contractor shall provide all necessary supplies for biomedical materials to be transported from the originating facility to the Contractor’s laboratory. These supplies shall include, but may not be limited to:

1) Shipping and packaging containers. Packing material must be capable of maintaining temperature requirements for specimens until they reach the Contractor’s laboratory.

2) Required labels and packaging materials for shipping specimens via courier that are infectious, or etiologic agents, in accordance with appropriate requirements of 42 CFR Part 72, 49 CFR Parts 171 and 173, and the Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) consistent with current regulatory updates.

3) Test request forms, preprinted with the appropriate Shipping Section details and account information.

4) Test request forms for specialized testing (i.e. cytogenetics, tissue, etc.).

1. Emergency transportation services shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week including Government holidays. The estimated number of emergency transportations per facility per year is one (1).

Response time for emergency transportation services shall be within 4 hours for those Government facilities within the metropolitan areas Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Division and 6 hours for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Division. Emergency response time refers only to the transportation of the specimen(s) and does not include the time for test performance.

1. Specimen Testing

1. The Contractor and/or subcontractor shall provide the full range of clinical and anatomic pathology diagnostic testing capabilities to execute all required tests as annotated in Attachment A (approximately 3,000 tests). Contractor shall make available the following test information:

1. Requisition form requirements

1. Alphabetized test name list

1. Test order code

1. Specimen collection and preservation requirements

1. Test method employed (indicate if testing performed in duplicate) and interpretations

1. Test reference intervals adjusted for age, sex or race, when required

1. Test specific sensitivity, specificity and interferences, when required

1. Result code

1. Test critical values, if any

1. Policy for critical value notification

1. CPT coding

1. Test turnaround times (minimum and maximum times indicated); where the turnaround time is defined as the time between receipt of specimen by the Contractor and receipt of results by a Government facility.

1. Schedule of test performance (specific days of week indicated)

1. Location of test performance by test name (i.e. name of primary laboratory, name of separate branch/division of primary lab, name and address of secondary (sub-contracted) laboratory must be cited) Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and each Government facility of any test information modifications no later than two weeks prior to the implementation date of the test change.

Any new test(s) not listed in Attachment A must be added to the contract through modification by the Contracting Officer (CORs and Government facility representatives do not have this authority) prior to specimen being tested.

1. All reference laboratory testing shall be executed in accordance with standard industry practices. It is preferred that test methods are FDA approved. Any non-FDA approved method being performed shall have a disclaimer and documented validation plan. Upon request, the validation plan and validation results shall be made available to the COR or designee.

1. The Contractor shall ensure the accurate and timely performance (defined in Section III.A.12) of laboratory testing services on the biomedical materials.

1. Specimen Retention

1. A medico legal specimen shall be retained indefinitely. This type of specimen will be identified by the Government in writing or through telephone communication.

1. All anatomic pathology materials (e.g., histology blocks, slides or other diagnostic material) generated by the VA and sent to the Contractor laboratory for testing and diagnostic evaluation shall be returned within 7 days after final diagnosis is reported.

1. Reporting of Results

1. The results of testing shall be reported within the prescribed turnaround times provided by the Contractor as part of the test information (defined in Section III.A.12).

1. A report of laboratory testing results must be transmitted as a printed copy to the dedicated printer at the ordering Government facility and when possible, through electronic host to host computer interface. Electronic delivery of reports by computer interface connection is normally the required method of receipt. However, in unusual circumstances where electronic delivery via the dedicated printer is not possible, the Contractor shall deliver the reports without an additional charge by expedited overnight courier shipping, mailing and/or transportation services by hand within 24 hours, or by telephone facsimile to a protected machine identified to the Contractor by the VA. Delivery by electronic mail i.e. MS Outlook, etc. is prohibited.

Specifications outlining the requirements of this computer interface including computer hardware, maintenance and supply requirements are defined in Section IX., Telecommunication Requirements below.

1. Each test report generated in hard copy form or through electronic transmission shall, at minimum, include the following information:

1. Patient's full name

1. Patient’s identification number, e.g. social security number (SSN)

1. Physician’s name (if supplied)

1. Government laboratory accession number (if supplied)

1. Submitting facility name

1. Submitting facility account number

1. Patient's location (clinic/ward) (if supplied)

1. Test(s) ordered

1. Date/time of specimen collection (when available)

1. Date/time test completed

1. Test result

1. Reference intervals (adjusted for age, sex or race, when appropriate)

1. Toxic and therapeutic ranges, if applicable

1. Flagged abnormal results

1. Reference laboratory accession number

1. Name and address of testing laboratory

1. Any other information the laboratory has that may indicate a questionable validity of test results.

1. Specimen inadequacy with documentation supporting its unsuitability for testing.

1. Test results determined by the contractor to be critical, shall be communicated by telephone to a designated Government contact person(s) at the originating Government laboratory facility upon verification of the critical test result. The telephonic report shall be followed by an electronic transmission.

1. Customer Service

1. Contractor shall provide customer service that is accessible by toll-free telephone service 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to assist Government staff for tracking and resolving related issues/problems that may arise in the performance under this contract.

1. Upon award, the Contractor shall provide the name(s) and telephone number(s) of contractor employees who will address the following customer services throughout the contract performance period:

1. Telephone Inquiries – Telephone inquiries are divided into four major categories with additional subcategories defining the type of inquiry and the Government’s minimum time expectation for meeting this service.

1. Specimen Collection

1. Routine inquiries, questions and clarifications regarding collection requirements shall be addressed at the time of the initial call.

1. Esoteric inquiries, questions and clarifications regarding collection requirements that require further research shall be addressed within ½ hour of the initial call.

1. Testing

1. Inquiries regarding the status of pending orders shall be addressed at the time of the initial call.

1. Esoteric inquiries when information is requested regarding methodology, correlation, interferences, reflex tests, etc. shall be addressed within two hours of the initial call.

c. Technical Expertise

1. Test utilization inquiries where information is required as to the most appropriate test to be ordered shall be addressed within two business hours of initial call.

1. Result interpretation inquiries shall be addressed within four business hours of initial call.

3) Consultative services where information is required regarding the clinical significance of tests shall be addressed within twenty-four business hours of the initial call.

d. Account follow-up

1. Information general in nature yet specific to the account, e.g. test pricing, equipment repair, supply ordering, etc. shall be addressed within four hours of the initial call.

1. The Contractor shall notify the originating laboratory by telephone of specimens cancelled due to unacceptability for reasons relating to volume, specimen container, identification, loss of specimen, etc.

1. The Government will place orders for specimen collection and transportation supplies by telephone or through written or electronic methods.

1. Consultative Services/Utilization Reports

1. Contractor shall prove consultative services that are consistent with the services offered to other contracted customers without compensation. These services may include consultations by laboratory professionals or experienced physicians on test or methodology selection or test result interpretation.

1. Contractor shall provide a statistical analysis of the Government facilities’ workload testing volumes to assist in the monitoring of ordering trends and utilization patterns and will make recommendations to the facilities on mechanisms to reduce their costs.

1. Contractor shall provide monthly a cumulative workload summary report of tests performed. The summary must include the facility account number, the test name, the test ordering code, monthly test volume, year-to-date test volume, unit test cost, monthly test expenditures and year-to date test expenditures.

1. A copy of the report shall be delivered electronically to the Contracting Officer, Lead COR, and each Government facility COR by the 10th of the month following the close of the reporting month.

1. All reports shall be submitted in electronic spreadsheet format and have the capability to sort by four (4) different methods:

1. Facility account number

1. Test names listed alphabetically

1. Test names listed in order of year-to-date test frequency (highest to lowest)

1. Test names listed in order of year-to-date total test cost (highest to lowest)

1. Contractor shall provide a monthly listing of any tests performed not listed in Attachment A. This listing shall include, at a minimum, the test name and/or test ordering code, quantity of each test performed, and proposed pricing.

1. Contractor shall provide a monthly listing of any tests listed in Attachment A that are no longer performed by contractor and shall be removed from Attachment A. This listing shall include, at a minimum, test name and/or test ordering code.

1. Data Management System A. Contractor shall provide to the Government all necessary laboratory test parameters (parameters are required for each test contained in a panel) to insure accurate test result transmission between the Government and the Contractor’s database. Required test parameters include:

1. Ordering code

1. LOINC code

1. CPT code

1. Interface code

1. Test cost

1. Reference ranges

1. Units of measurement

1. Test result interpretation or interpretive remarks, if appropriate

1. Testing site (if not performed at the vendor’s main laboratory facility

1. Test methodology

1. Specimen types

1. Specimen collection and handling requirements

1. Indication whether test is a panel/profile test, list of tests included in panel/profile The parameters for all tests in the Contractor’s database shall be kept current and be available to the Government sites throughout the performance period of the contract. Updates to the test parameter information must be provided to Government sites no less than 2 weeks prior to the implementation of any changes. The Contractor shall provide telephone access to a Contractor’s technical representative to respond to any question(s) regarding the laboratory test parameter information.

B. The Contractor shall provide a data management system that meets the following requirements:

1. Test ordering must be accomplished through a menu that is intuitive, has minimal options and uses a mouse or touch screen. Upon selection of the test, the computer shall alert (flag) the user to the type of specimen required and the storage conditions. It must also alert the user to the location of the laboratory that will be performing the test.

1. Test definition, test information and test requirements must be complete, available and easily accessible.

5) Reports of test results must be immediately available upon verification of the test result. Contractor’s computer located at the Government site must be able to print test results upon request and reprint retrospective test results.

1. Telecommunication Interface Requirements

1. In order for contract performance to begin within the shortest time possible after contract award, Contractor must already possess a current, VA nationally approved Business Partner Gateway (BPG) Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and have an integrated system approach to facilitate and streamline all aspects of specimen ordering, testing, and reporting. As such, the Contractor shall develop and program an interface connection to electronically transmit orders, specimen status, and test results between the Contractor’s host computer system and the Government’s host computer system (VistA).

1. The VistA host computer system supports a Universal Interface (UI) and a Generic Instrument Manager (GIM). The GIM is a commercial hardware and software product that provides electronic connection between the Contractor’s host computer and the Government’s host computer. The configuration must provide the required security of the Government host computer system. The actual electronic connection between the GIM and the Contractor’s host system is of the Contractor’s choosing. The initial and continual expense of the electronic message connectivity and maintenance shall be borne by the Contractor throughout the performance of the contract.

1. Contractor shall provide, install, maintain, repair, and if necessary remove, all required telecommunication equipment, hardware, software and related consumable supplies to support the transmission of electronic data to all sites referred to in the Schedule. This may include, but is not limited to:

1) Generic Instrument Manager (GIM) for the interface connection

1. Shipping list printers

1. Bar-code printers

1. Back-up result printers connected directly to Contractor’s computer system

1. Any required communication lines

1. Software to receive and send orders, display status of and/or test results

1. Consumable supplies to maintain the operation of the equipment listed above, e.g. toner/ink, paper, labels, etc.

1. Contractor shall be responsible for all annual recurring costs associated with support and maintenance of the Generic Instrument Manager (GIM) system including all GIM equipment, software and instrument connections. The Generic Instrument Manager will be located in a Government secured area. The Contractor shall coordinate with the respective Government Information Technology Department to access the GIM.

1. The Contractor shall conduct preventive maintenance and repair of Contractor furnished hardware, software and associated communication lines. In addition, throughout the performance period of the contract, the Contractor shall repair or replace any malfunctioning hardware or software.

1. All electronic messaging between the two (Contractor and Government) host computer systems using the GIM shall utilize VistA Health Level Seven (HL7) V1.6 technical specifications. Health Level 7 (HL7) is a registered trademark of Health Level Seven, Inc, a Standards Developing Organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute to author consensus-based standards. Information regarding HL7 transmission protocols may be accessed through the Health Level Seven, Inc web-site, www.HL7.org.

1. VistA Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange (LEDI) identifies Government-specific content and encoding tables to be used with HL7 message protocol conventions. The LEDI specification follows very closely the HL7 V2.3.1 standard. LEDI identifies encoding tables and HL7 message protocol conventions.

LEDI also identifies to the commercial reference laboratory contractor shipping lists containing required specimen demographics and requested tests to be performed. This list will be provided in printed format during the implementation period. This information is also available in electronic HL7 format if required.

(LEDI) software will provide a HL7 acknowledgement for the receipt of tests results from the contractor. In the event that electronic communication is disrupted, the contractor shall provide hard copy of specimen results upon demand. The hard copy must contain Government’s assigned specimen identification where specimen identification is defined as a unique Government-assigned number that is associated with each specimen. This specimen identification number will appear on the test order form, on the specimen label and on the shipping manifest.

1. The Contractor shall provide the Government with specimen status in response to electronic and verbal query. Upon test completion, a formatted HL7 message containing specimen test results with Government’s assigned specimen identification shall be returned to the requesting medical center.

1. Contractor shall address within two hours of initial inquiry, interface connection questions where information is required to update, maintain and support the services of the host-to-host linkage between the Government and the Contractor.

1. Contractor shall provide in-service training required for the routine loading and care of printers and other hardware located on-site. The training will ensure that Government staff is capable of performing routine servicing of hardware.

1. Meeting the below specified deadlines are of utmost importance to the Government. As such, Contractor shall have an operational interface connection with the facilities listed in B.2 within 45 days of contract award. The establishment of the test database will be the responsibility of the Government and will begin as soon as the Contractor notifies the Government of an operational interface connection. The validation of the test transmissions through the interface connection will be the joint responsibility of the Government and Contractor.

The Contractor shall certify in writing successful test validation on the final day of the time periods indicated for Phase 1 and Phase 2 listed above. Written certification will not be required for Phase 3, as test establishment and validation will occur on an individual, as needed basis.

[End of Performance Work Statement]

SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

1. Services

1. The services specified herein may be changed by written modification to this contract. The VA Contracting Officer will prepare the modification (reference FAR clause 52.212-4(c), Changes) and, prior to becoming effective, must be signed by both parties. Only the Contracting Officer is authorized to make commitments or issue changes that affect price, quantity, or quality of performance of this contract. In the event the Contractor effects any such change at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change shall be considered unauthorized and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in costs incurred as a result thereof.

1. This is a non-personal services contract as defined in FAR 37.101. There is no employer-employee relationship between the Government and the contractor or the contractor’s employee(s). Contractor personnel are not subject to the supervision and control of a Government officer or employee. Rather, contractor personnel perform their duties in accordance with the Performance Work Statement. Supervisory functions such as hiring, firing, directing, and counseling of contractor personnel are not performed by the Government. The healthcare provider who furnishes services under this contract is subject to Government technical oversight of the services. The Government retains the right to reject services for contractual non-performance.

1. The Government may evaluate the quality of professional and administrative services provided, but retains no control over the medical, professional aspects of services rendered.

1. Contractor is required to maintain medical liability insurance for the duration of this contract. Medical Liability insurance must cover the provider(s) for services in all states where services are rendered by the provider. Contractor must indemnify the Government for any liability producing act or omission by the contractor, its employees and agents occurring during contract performance.

1. Contractor shall, in writing, keep the Contracting Officer informed of any unusual circumstances in conjunction with the contract.

1. Contractor shall not, under any circumstances, furnish reports directly to patients.

II. Term of Contract This contract is effective for a base period of one year from the effective date of award. The Government, at its discretion, may exercise up to four (4) option periods of one (1) year each. The contractor shall perform no services after September 30th of each year until the contracting officer authorizes such services in writing.

Availability of Funds during a Continuing Resolution: At the beginning of each new fiscal year (October 1st) the federal government or parts thereof may be operating under a Continuing Resolution and only be funded for a limited period of time rather than for the entire fiscal year. If, at any time, funds for this contract are provided under a Continuing Resolution (CR), funds will only be available for performance under this contract up to and including the expiration date of the CR, and any extension thereof. The Government's obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond the expiration date of the CR, and any extension thereof, until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability.

III. Federal Holidays Contractor is not required to provide transportation of specimens on federal holidays. The 10 holidays observed by the Federal Government are: New Year’s Day (January 1st), Martin Luther King’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January), Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day (1st Monday in September), Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November), Christmas Day (December 25th) and any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a national holiday.

When one of the above designated legal holidays falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a legal holiday. When a legal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed as a holiday by U.S. Government agencies.

1) Offeror must have at least three years of experience in providing laboratory testing services and must have at least one year experience in transporting biomedical materials.

5) Contractor shall maintain safety and health standards consistent with the requirements set forth by the Occupational, Health, and Safety Administration (OSHA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.

1. Personnel

1) Contractor shall ensure all testing and supervisory personnel at all contractor-owned, affiliate, or subcontracted laboratories assigned to work under this contract meet and maintain the applicable personnel qualifications set forth under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 regulations.

2) Contractor shall ensure its employees have the ability to perform the applicable duties consistent with their license and certification.

1. Personnel assigned by the contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall be proficient in written and spoken English (38 USC 7402).

1. Contractor shall comply with any new regulatory requirements for mandatory education and/or competency assessment, which occur during the contract period. These items must be completed by the individual contractor employee(s) within a mutually agreed upon timeframe between the Government and the Contractor.

1. Contractor couriers entering any Government facility must be attired in a contractor-issued uniform that bears the name of the Contractor’s company. In addition, the Contractor representative shall prominently display a contractor-issued identification badge.

1. HHS/OIG

To ensure that the individuals providing services under the contract have not engaged in fraud or abuse regarding Sections 1128 and 1128A of the Social Security Act regarding federal health care programs, the contractor is required to check the Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS/OIG), List of Excluded Individuals/Entities on the OIG Website (www.hhs.gov/oig) for each person providing services under this contract. The listed parties and entities may not receive Federal Health Care program payments due to fraud and/or abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. During the performance of this contract the contractor is prohibited from using any individual or business listed on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities. Any healthcare provider or entity that employ or enter into contracts with excluded individuals or entities may have a Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) imposed against them. By signing this offer, the Contractor certifies that all persons or entities listed in the contractor’s proposal have been compared against the OIG list and are NOT listed as of the date the offer was signed.

VI. Record Keeping – Contractor Contractor must establish a record keeping system of all tests performed.

VII. Medical Records Clinical or other medical records (ie. test results) of VA veteran patients treated by Contractor under this contract are owned by the VA. If requested, test results will be mailed to the VA at no additional cost. Mail shall be sent in accordance with VA Directive 6609, Mailing of Sensitive Personal Information. Contractor may obtain a copy of VA Directive 6609 at the following website: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/index.cfm. If a subpoena or court order is received for the production of a medical record/test result, the contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer that a subpoena or court order was received.

VIII. Confidentiality of Patient Records A. The Contractor is a VA contractor and will assist in the provision of health care to patients seeking such care from or through VA. As such, the Contractor is considered as being part of the Department health care activity. Contractor is considered to be a VA contractor for purposes of the Privacy Act, Title 5 U.S.C. 552a. Further, for the purpose of VA records access and patient confidentiality, Contractor is considered to be a VA contractor for the following provisions: Title 38 U.S.C. 5701, 5705, and 7332. Therefore, Contractor may have access, as would other appropriate components of VA, to patient medical records including patient treatment records pertaining to drug and alcohol abuse, HIV, and sickle cell anemia, to the extent necessary to perform its contractual responsibilities. However, like other components of the Department, and not withstanding any other provisions of the sharing agreement, the Contractor is restricted from making disclosures of VA records, or information contained in such records, to which it may have access, except to the extent that explicit disclosure authority from VA has been received or disclosure is required by law. The Contractor is subject to the same penalties and liabilities for unauthorized disclosures of such records as VA.

Contractor must adhere to the provisions of Public Law 104-191, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and the National Standards to Protect the Privacy and Security of Protected Health Information (PHI). As required by HIPAA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has promulgated rules governing the security and use and disclosure of protected health information by covered entities, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA has recognized Diagnostic Laboratory Facilities as healthcare providers and that the PHI is being disclosed and/or used for treatment. Therefore, no BAA is required for Reference Laboratory Services.

X. Designation of Contract Representatives La Mar A Harris COR The Business Manager – VISN 4 Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (PaLMS)), will be designated as the Lead Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to represent the Contracting Officer in furnishing guidance and advice regarding the work being performed under this contract. Each facility will also have an appointed COR who will provide technical guidance, verify services were actually performed, and also verify that documentation for services performed is received prior to certifying payment. The foregoing is not to be construed as authorization to interpret or furnish advice and information to the Contractor relative to the financial or legal aspects of the contract. Enforcement of these segments is vested in and is the responsibility of the Contracting Officer. The extent and limitations of the COR designation will be provided in the COR Delegation Memo. Information from the facility CORs will be forwarded to the VISN 4 PaLMS Business Manager who will monitor the overall performance of the contract.

XI. Contract Performance Monitoring

1. Departments being served will monitor Contractor performance to ensure that services called for in the contract have been received by VA in a timely manner. Any incidents of Contractor noncompliance as evidenced by the monitoring procedures will be forwarded immediately to the Contracting Officer.

1. Documentation of services performed will be reviewed prior to certifying payment. The COR will perform periodic spot checks and document with the using service to ensure records monitoring. VA will pay only for services actually provided, and in strict accordance with the Price Schedule/Attachment A. Contract monitoring and recordkeeping procedures will be sufficient to ensure proper payment and allow audit verification that services were provided.

1. Departments being served, through the COR(s), will provide a written statement annually to the Contracting Officer to include a summary of Contractor actions and a statement that all requirements of the contract have been fulfilled as agreed. This summary evaluation will be submitted 45 days prior to expiration of contract (and/or prior to election of option year renewals, if applicable).

XII. Quality Assurance Monitoring A. Contractor shall maintain a Quality Assurance Program related to Reference Laboratory services covered under this contract.

B. Contractor shall also participate in a joint quality assurance surveillance program (QASP) with the Government facilities. This program must minimally address the quality aspects representative to the testing process, i.e. pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical variables and include a description of monitoring and evaluation activities. There must be a mutually agreed upon procedure for responding to issues, problems and/or concerns identified by the Government with details as to whom and in what timeframe the matters will be reconciled. The issues that may need to be addressed may be general in nature or specific to an incident or event. The contractor will meet or communicate with the facility/VISN 4 staff for process review and improvement of contract performance on an as needed basis.

XIII. Contractor Certification Citizenship-Related requirements: Contractor must adhere to and return the signed certification Attachment B found in Section D of this solicitation. This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

XIV. Required Registration with Contractor Performance Assessment System (CPARS)

1. As prescribed in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 42.15, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) evaluates contractor past performance on all contracts that exceed the thresholds outlined in FAR Part 42.15, and shares those evaluations with other Federal Government contract specialists and procurement officials through the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). The FAR requires that the contractor be provided an opportunity to comment on past performance evaluations prior to the posting of each report. To fulfill this requirement VA uses an online database, the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). The CPARS database information is uploaded to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) database, which is available to all Federal agencies.

1. Each contractor whose contract award is estimated to exceed the thresholds outlined in FAR Part 42.15 is required to provide to the contracting officer contact information for the contractor’s representative with their response to the solicitation. The contractor is responsible to notify the contracting officer of any change to the contractor’s representative during the contract performance period. Contractor’s representative contact information consists of a name and email address.

1. The Government will register the contract within thirty days after contract award. For contracts with a period of one year or less, the contracting officer will perform a single evaluation when the contract is complete. For contracts exceeding one year, the contracting officer will evaluate the contractor’s performance annually. Intermediate reports will be filed each year until the last year of the contract, when the final report will be completed. Each report shall be forwarded in CPARS to the contractor’s designated representative for comment. The contractor’s representative will have thirty days to submit any comments and return the report to the VA contracting officer. Failure by the contractor to respond within those thirty days will result in the Government’s evaluation being placed on file in PPIRS without contractor’s comments.

[End of Special Contract Requirements]

CONTRACT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

I. General Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security.

II. Contractor Personnel Security Requirements Failure to comply with the contractor personnel security requirements may result in termination of the contract for default.

Contractor and its subcontractors shall have a current process in place for conducting employee screening/background checks as a condition of employment with the contractor or subcontractor. Contractor shall also provide a certification memo indicating that all its employees and subcontractor employees having access to VA sensitive information (ie. laboratory technicians and/or technologists, administrative personnel) during the performance of this contract have successfully passed through this process to their standards. The certification memo shall be provided to the Contracting Officer and Lead COR on an annual basis (employee screening/background checks are not required to be re-conducted annually).

All contractor employees who require access to the Department of Veterans Affairs' computer systems for system connectivity shall be the subject of a VA background investigation. The VA obtains the Background Investigation through the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Process (e-QIP). Upon receiving a request for the investigation from the Contracting Officer, the contractor’s employee will be initiated into e-QIP for the Background Investigation followed by an e-mail with instructions to log into e-QIP. Contractor employee shall complete all application requirements within 14 days or receipt of e-QIP email. A contractor’s employee shall not commence working at VA under contract until the Contracting Officer receives notification from the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement that the contract employee’s application was received complete. A favorable adjudication from the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement must be received in order for a contractor employee to continue contract performance. This requirement is also applicable to all subcontractor personnel.

The following required forms must be submitted through the e-QIP system to the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement before contract performance begins:

(iii) Electronic Fingerprint Form (FD 258) or electronic fingerprints Fingerprinting is required with the background investigation. Fingerprinting can be done at the local VA Facility. The Electronic Fingerprint Verification Form must be submitted with the above required forms.