Questions and Answers.docx

FA4664-23-Q-0009

Medical Laboratory Testing 452d Aerospace Medicine Squadron (AMDS)

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1: Is this requirement for a local lab within California and close to March ARB?

Answer: Local laboratory preferred. March ARB does not currently have shipping supplies nor an established shipper billing account.

Q2. When the samples are collected by the Air Force Reserve Base personnel, will they use contractor supplied shipping supplies to pack the samples? If not, is the expectation for the courier to perform packing of samples?

Answer: Contractor should supply or make available specimen transport bags (sealable biohazard specimen bags). Specimens would remain individually bagged and refrigerated on March ARB prior to transport. It's expected the courier would have the specific transport requirements, i.e., cooler, coolant packs etc. as applicable. It is possible/an option, to use a cooler swap method with the courier service but that would need more logistics information.

Q3. Please specify the process for a commercial shipping entity to receive packed samples from the Air Force Reserve Base.

Answer: Currently March Lab uses FedEx for specimen transport. A commercial carrier would not be used. Specimens needing reference laboratory testing would be picked up via courier service at base visitors center.

Q4. How frequently will the testing be taking place for these samples? Will the samples be collected on a pre-configured schedule or “on-demand”? Will they be sent daily, weekly, monthly or an alternative schedule?

Answer: Bulk of specimens would need to be picked up Sundays at the end of UTA (training) weekends, typically once a month. A tentative schedule can be provided. “On demand” specimen pickup may occur Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, depending on mission requirements.

Q5. Are collection materials, such as specimen cups, needles, sterile swabs needed to be provided by the Contractor as part of the pricing?

Answer: Collection materials, such as specimen tubes, needles, sterile swabs are not needed. Only supplies “REQUIRED” by contractor for testing purposes are needed. A good example of this are urine transport/analysis devices specific to Contractor’s testing method as that is something we do not routinely order through our own logistics. These types of supplies should be included in price.

Q6. Is March ARB able to store a limited supply of dry ice and pre-configured shipping packages onsite to package the specimens for shipment? How are you currently packaging the specimens for shipment to the lab?

Answer: We do not keep dry ice on hand. All specimens are refrigerated prior to courier pickup, no commercial carrier is used. All shipments are packaged with coolant packs and are shipped same day (courier for local reference lab) or overnighted to Wright Patterson to maintain sample stability. (See question 2)

Q7. How does the base currently handle outgoing parcels through USPS/Fedex/UPS/another commercial shipper?

Answer: FedEx is only used by March Lab for Wright Patterson because that account is directly billed to the receiving lab and directed by Air Force Instruction (AFI). Any other commercial shipment method/outside local courier pick-up would need funding approval in advance.

Q8. Is there an incumbent on this requirement? If so, who?

Answer: Currently, there is no incumbent.