Questions_and_Answers_of_01_August_2013.pdf

ALS AMBULANCE SERVICES

SOLICITATION # FA4407-13-R-0002

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

DATE: 01 August 2013

Question 1. Is this project considered a new requirement?

Answer: No.

Question 2. If this project is not considered a new requirement;

(a) Who is the incumbent?

Answer: MedStar Ambulance, POB 296, 705 Bradbury Lane, Sparta, IL 62286

(b) What is the contract number?

Answer: FA4407-09-D-0003

(c) What was an estimated value?

Answer: The awarded contract value was $2,780,586.36 as stated in the FEDBIZOPPS Award Notice which was posted on 10 April 2009.

Question 3. Will the Government provide the vehicles?

Answer: No.

Question 4. If we are registered and running out of Illinois EMS Region V. is that acceptable or do we need to be registered and running out of Illinois EMS Region IV before submitting our proposal? Can we be in the process of applying to IL EMS Region IV when we submit our proposal or will that count against us?

Answer: Contractor must be able to obtain Region 4 certification by the start of the contract (1 November 2013). The offeror is responsible for getting with the …

Region 4 Coordinator Ms. Jill Pendegrass RN, BSN Southwestern IL.

EMS System Coordinator 618-257-5874 …to insure they complete all required documents etc. to be certified within Region 4.

Question 5. If no respondents qualify for the set-aside, will the Base issue a new RFQ?

Answer: Yes, the solicitation would be re-issued.

Question 6. Is there a minimum number of respondents who qualify for the set-aside or would a single qualified respondent suffice?

Answer: No, there is no minimum number of respondents required.

Question 7. Is there any circumstance in which a respondent who does not qualify for the small business set aside would be awarded this bid?

Answer: No.

Question 8. What portion of the call volume resulted in transports?

Answer: From Jan-Jul 2013, 171 calls were made, of that 132 were transported to hospital.

Question 9. What portion of the transports were insured by TriCare?

Answer: Based on self-reported information, approximately 91 of 171 were TriCare Active Duty Service Member or Active Duty Family Member

Question 10. Do I understand the solicitation correctly, is this a fixed price per month contract.

Which means every month you will receive a fixed amount of payment?

Answer. Yes.

Question 11. The price is to be for the Lump sum charge for the 11 months? Which includes 100 hours of special event hours?

Answer: Yes, the lump sum price (billed monthly 1/11th) needs to include the projected 100 hours for special events.

Question 12. You are stating there will only be 10 hours of extra hours for special events above the 100 hours requested in Item 0001 the entire 11 months of the first part of the contract?

Answer: Yes, this is an estimated amount in case the special events exceed the 100 hours.

Question 13. The crews and ambulance will be housed at the Fire station on base?

Answer: Yes

Question 14. Are there separate quarters for the ambulance crews? (the reason is the possible employment of women to go there) (this is for our own information)

Answer: Yes, space is available. Firehouse One is shared. They have two sleeping quarters, one for paramedics and one for EMT. Each bedroom is its own individual, so women have their own space/shower and men have their own space/shower.

Question 15. What does the crew members need to furnish for their safety and living quarters?

Answer: Bedding, personal hygiene items and food.

Question 16. The backup ambulance doesn’t have to be our own ambulance and crew; it can be a mutual aid agreement with an ambulance service in the area?

Answer: Correct. However, you will be responsible to insure the appropriate pre-clearance for whom ever you use can access the base through the Gates if and when this occurs.

Question 17. Are the ambulance calls that are received from the housing area, are they to be billed to their private insurance companies? The solicitation states Champus and Medicare are possible insurance companies that would have to be billed.

Answer: Yes, the current ambulance service company bills private insurance companies when applicable.

Question 18. Are any of the housing areas for retired military personnel?

Answer: There is no specific housing area set aside for retired military personnel. However, some retired military personnel do reside in the privatized housing covered by this contract.

Question 19. Do I understand the solicitation correctly, is this a fixed price per month contract.

Which means every month you will receive a fixed amount of payment?

Answer: Yes that is correct, a fixed amount every month.

Question 20. Can we bill bi-monthly versus monthly?

Answer: This can be an option, but must be requested in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. This is normally only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Question 21. On the wages, per the federal wage scale the Paramedic and EMT will only be paid the federal wages when they dispatched to a call correct or when they are on exercise drills? Or are they to be paid the federal hourly wages for the full 40 hours whether they run a call or are sitting at the base?

Answer: The SCA wage determination applies for all hours associated with this contract. As performance is continuous whether on the installation or in transit to and from the installation.

Question 21. Please clarify the “ALS” stands for Advance Life Support”.

Answer: Yes, the ALS should refer to Advanced Life Support versus Advanced Life Saving.

Amendment 1 to the PWS will be issued correcting this error.

UALS AMBULANCE SERVICES