QUESTIONS_AND_RESPONSES_as_of_10_July_2014.docx

SOLLICITATION FA7000-14-R-0018

PERSONAL SERVICES CLINICAL SUPPORT SERVICES

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

As of: 24 June 2014

QUESTION 1. Could you please advise if Solicitation Number FA7000-14-R-0018 is a new requirement. We are wondering if there are any incumbents, would you be able to share (1) the contract numbers and (2) if there are vacancies?

RESPONSE 1. This solicitation consolidates two expiring contracts as well as adds new positions. Contracts are FA7000-09-C-0045 and FA7000-10-C-0011. Yes, there are incumbents and currently there are no vacancies.

QUESTION 2. Please advise if there is a deadline for submissioon of questions, bidding date or a date Q&As may be available for solicitation FA7000-14-R-0018. Is this award for a single contractor? Is this a new contract or is there an incumbent? What is the deadline for bid submission? Does the contractor need to fill all positions?

RESPONSE 2. You can locate the deadline for submission of questions and proposal in FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors. FAR 52.212-1 also states “multiple awards shall not be contemplated.” Please refer to RESPONSE 1 for incumbent information. Please refer to Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation, which states “Failure to propose on any position in Attachment 3, the Clinical Support Pricing Worksheet, will cause the offeror’s proposal to be rejected as non-responsive.” This is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity type contract in which the Government has some known and as well as unknown requirements at this time. The contractor will need to fill all positions on the individual task orders when issued.

QUESTION 3. Is this a new or follow on requirement? If it is a follow on, please let us know the current contract number and contract value. Who is the incumbent?

RESPONSE 3. Please refer to RESPONSE 1. FA7000-09-C-0045 current contract value is $4,003,218.00. FA7000-10-C-0011 current contract value is $5,994,896.00. The incumbent contractor for both contracts is Kuhana Associates.

QUESTION 4. I am emailing to see who is the current incumbent on this contract, what the current contract value is? How long the current contract is at that value? Last, is the scope of this contract any different than the previous contract, and if so, what is added or substracted.

RESPONSE 4. Please refer to above responses. Both contracts were Base plus 4 one-year option periods. Both of these contracts were “C” type contracts. The acquisition is for a Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. While these positions will be included there are many other new requirements that may or may not be acquired throughout the life of this contract.

QUESTION 5. Who are the incumbent contractors on this effort? What are the current contract values? Is this to be awarded to a single entity (company, JV, team)? Is a single entity currently on this effort? Will the prices submitted be considered a ceiling rate?

RESPONSE 5. Please see previous answers regarding incumbent information/contract values. Yes, this will result in a single award to a one company. While we are consolidating two existing contracts, many of the positions on the IDIQ are new requirements in support of the Colorado Springs Military Health System. Prices submitted will be firm fixed priced for the base year plus all option periods. They are not considered a ceiling rate.

As of: 30 June 2014

QUESTION 6. Which of the 39 labor categories listed in the PWS are or may be new positions not currently staffed by the incumbent contractor.

RESPONSE 6. The follow positions are currently staffed: Assistant Lead Polysomnographic Technician, Chiropractor, Clinical Social Worker Integrated Primary Care, Gastroenterologist, Operating Room Registed Nurse, Opthalmology Lead Laser Technicial, Opthalmology Technican—Laser Eye, Opthalmology Technician—Opthalmology Clinic, Pediatrician, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist, Polysomnographic Technician, and Registered Dietitian. The remaining positions are new.

QUESTION 7. If the Period of Performance is 15 August 2014, will a grace period be given for positions requiring credentialed providers?

RESPONSE 7. Paragraph 1.6.4.3 address this—credentialed providers need to be on the job within 90 days of task order award. Paragraph 1.6.4.4 states non-credentialed providers need to be on the job within 60 days.

QUESTION 8. Are the rates provided by the contractor for the base + option years subject to change when bidding task orders?

RESPONSE 8. No, the rates proposed are firm fixed rates and task orders will be issued at those rates. Rates are not subject to change with the exception of any SCA Wage Increase/Decrease for the SCA employees.

QUESTION 9. Per the solicitation, “Adequate price competition per FAR 15.403-1(c)(1) is anticipated to determine price reasonableness, price analysis will be conducted to satisfy the requirements mandated by FAR 15.305(a)(1).” What method will the government use to conduct its price analysis to confirm price reasonableness?

RESPONSE 9. Adequate competition for this firm-fixed price acquisition is expected and therefore will establish price reasonableness and satisfy the requirements mandated by FAR 15.305(a)(1).

QUESTION 10: A travel CLIN is included in this requirement. Please given an example of why travel in the Continental U.S. may be required (ex. Educational purposes).

RESPONSE 10. TDY would be for educational training purposes.

QUESTION 11: Will healthcare professionals be required to travel between facilities on any given work day or will they only be schedule at one location per work day.

RESPONSE 11: It is highly unlikely a healthcare professional would have to travel between facilities. The task order award will indicate the primary duty MTF location.

QUESTION 12: What is the typical on-call schedule and how often is on-call required for the following healthcare professionals: Internal Medicine Physician – Pulmonology and Internal Medicine Physician – Endocrinology?

RESPONSE 12: Both of these positions have been identified for possible on-call (weeknight/weekend/Holidays). See Attachment 3 of the PWS. The typical schedule is unknown at this time.

QUESTION 13: Will bi-weekly invoicing to the government be acceptable?

RESPONSE 13: No, monthly invoicing is the acceptable method.

QUESTION 14: Work hours were listed in the solicitation for some of the healthcare professionals but not all of them. Please advise if any of the healthcare professionals listed below will work evenings, nights, weekend and/or rotating shifts. If any of them will, please advise what the typical schedule is when rotating shifts apply.

RESPONSE 14: The work hours are identified for the known requirements at this time. Work hours will be identified in individual task orders. It is anticipated the HCW will work day shift which may or may not include on call weeknight or on call weekend/Holiday

QUESTION 15: Is the incumbent eligible to bid on this re-compete?

RESPONSE 15: That is the incumbent contractor’s business decision.

QUESTION 16 : For all positions governed by the Service Contract Act, can the government provide the relevant SCA codes for those positions?

RESPONSE 16:

SCA POSITION TITLES IDIQ EQUIVALENT

QUESTION 17: Can the government provide, based on historical or current data, how many FTEs are expected to be ordered by CLIN or labor band.

RESPONSE 17: The known requirements at this time are:

Physician Assistant (1 FTE); LVN (1 FTE); Dietitian (1 FTE); Licensed Clinical Social Worker (1 FTE); Gastroenterologist (1 FTE); Pediatrician (1 FTE); Laboratory Technologist (1 FTE); Pediatric LVN/LPN (1 FTE); Phlebotomist (1 FTE); Chiropractor (1 FTE); Ophthalmology Technicians (2 FTEs) and Lead Ophthalmology Technician (1 FTE) At this time, the Government cannot determine the precise quantities or services that will be required during the contract period for the remaining positions or any additional quantities for the above identified positions.

QUESTION 18: Why are physician labor categories 1880 hours/years versus 1920 for all other positions?

RESPONSE 18: This is the practice of the MTF for professional physicians 1880 hours and 1920 for the remaining healthcare workers.

QUESTION 19: Given that this is a small business 8(a) set-aside, will the government consider reducing the number of FTEs for the relevancy rating to something less than 35?

RESPONSE 19: Valid concern—the number has been reduced to 25+.

QUESTION 20: Solicitation states a maximum number of 5 PPQs may be submitted. Is there a minimum number of PPQs required.

RESPONSE 20: There is not a minimum number of PPQs required only the maximum of 5.

QUESTION 21: Would you consider extending the response date for soliciation FA7000-14-R-0018?

RESPONSE 21: In order avoid lapse in service of the current positions and give the new contractor adequate start up time, the Government cannot extend the date proposals are due.

As of: 1 July 2014

QUESTION 22: Question regarding pricing sheets. Tab 1 – CLIN 0001 does not include a podiatrist position. CLIN 0002 and 0003 have a lne for Podiatrist on-call hours. Should CLIN 0001 include a full time Podiatrist? Or is the Podiatrist requirement only for on-call hours?

RESPONSE: Podiatrist has been added. See SubCLINS 0001BH, 1001BH, 2001BH, 3001BH and 4001BH.

QUESTION 23: Attachment 3, Pricing Sheet, the Gov’t has combined all CLINS in Tab 0001 and also provided separate sheets for each CLIN. Can you clarify which one we have to use, the combined one or the individual sheets for each CLIN.

RESPONSE 23: The individual tabs have been deleted.

As of: 2 July 2014

QUESTION 24: In reference to past performance, out of the maximum of 5 PPQs, can that be a mixture of PPQs from prime and any subcontractors? If we are proposing 2 Subs, can we provide a mixture of our team’s PPQs or does the prime have to provide a certain number of PPQs and any sub can provide a certain PPQs.

RESPONSE 24: The five can be a mixture of prime and subs. There is no certain number of each required. Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation states:

Paragraph B.3) Past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontracts that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the acquisition will be considered as highly as past performance for the principal offeror.

QUESTION 25: According to your response in the Q and As, you stated a contract of 25+ positions will be relevant. Can we provide a multiple TOs per same contract to meet this requirement.

RESPONSE 25: Yes QUESTION 26: Is there a requirement of the labor mix on the PPQs FTEs?

RESPONSE 26: There is not a requirement of the labor mix; however, in evaluating past performance, the Government reserves the right to give greater consideration to information on those contracts deemed most relevant to the effort described in this solicitation.

QUESTION 27: Can you clarify the responses to Question #1 where you state there are no vacancies out of the 37 labor categories. Then on Question #6, you state only 13 positions are staffed out of the 37 positions and the remainder positions are new/vacant. Can you please clarify these reponses as they seem to contradict each other?

RESPONSE 27: There are currently no vacancies on contracts FA7000-10-C-0011 and FA7000-09-C-0045.

QUESTION 28: The USAF Personal Services Clinical Healthcare Support FA7000-14-R-0018, has a due date for questions requirement “10 days prior to closing of the solicitation” (page 32 of 66), which makes the due date Saturday, July 5th at 11:00am. Since July 5th is a Saturday and the 4th, Independence Day is Friday and a Federal holiday, would you consider moving the questions due date to Tuesday at 11:00am July 8th?

RESONSE 28: Amendment 0003 to the solicitation changes the questions due date to Monday, 7 July at 11:00am. However, this does not change the date proposals are due.

As of: 8 July 2014

QUESTION 29: Is the current (follow-on) contract with just one location, two or all three?

RESPONSE 29: Both of the expiring contracts (FA7000-09-C-0045 and FA7000-10-C-0011) are located at USAFA, 10 MDG.

QUESTION 30: Is this a new contract with one or 2 locations, or a follow-on for three locations?

RESPONSE 30: There are new positions identified to start in FY14 and the primary location for the new positions is USAFA.

QUESTION 31: Can the Government provide a complete list of Healthcare Professional Positions included in the solicitation which require Wage Determination in accordance with the SCA with appropriate mapping: Response 16 of the Questions and Answers does not include Medical Laboratory Technologist, Radiologist, Polysomnographic Technician and Physician Assistant. Any reason?

RESPONSE 31: It is the Contractor’s responsibility to determine which classification best matches the requirements of the PWS for the SCA covered employees.

QUESTION 32: Considering fast-track acquisition and award, can a reasonable access to the incumbent contract employees provided prior to award for potential employment related discussions.

RESPONSE 32: Incumbent employee information can’t not be provided until contract award. The Government understands the fast-track and plans to provide at least 2 weeks for this process.

QUESTION 33: Under the existing Clinical Support Services contract, is required to provide a reasonable tranisition support to the new contractor?

RESPONSE 33: Both expiring contracts include FAR 52.237-3, Continuity of Services.

QUESTION 34: Past Performance history in this “Best Value Source Selection” seems to be dominantly weighed for the FTE “relevancy” of 25+ as against overall performance of the contractor in terms of staffing, screening, retention, and transition management. Considering 8(a) small business acquisition, could government further reduce the FTE relevancy number and consider adding evaluation points for the overall management performance of clinical staffing?

RESPONSE 34: Based on the known staffing requirements at this time, the Government feels the “Relevant” definition of 25+ employees per contract is correct. Also, the evaluation criteria states: In evaluating past performance, the Government reserves the right to give greater consideration to information on those contracts deemed most relevant to the effort described in this solicitation.

QUESTION 35: The Government revised the description of “relevant” past performance efforts to be recruiting, retention, and management capabilities of 25+ employees per contract. Would the government please further define the rating for “somewhat relevant?” It is now defined only as “some of the scope and magnitude of effort and complexities” which appears very vague.

RESPONSE 35: There are no subcategories for “somewhat relevant.” The definition provided for “somewhat relevant” is taken from the Mandatory Source Selection procedures (AFFARS 5313).

QUESTION 36: FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend the Services is not included in the RFP. Is this your intent?

RESPONSE 36: Yes, because this is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity type contract, a task order can be written up until the day before contract expiration, therefore the Government determined the Extension of Services clause is not needed.

QUESTION 37: No ordering office is designated in the RFP. Other than the issuring office in block 9, will any other ordering offices be designated?

RESPONSE 37: No, all orders will be issued by 10 CONS.

QUESTION 38: Based on response 16 in the provided questions and answers to date, can the Government clarify if the RNs and LPNs should be classified as level I, II, or III?

RESPONSE 38: It is the Contractor’s responsibility to determine which classification best matches the requirements of the PWS for the SCA covered employees.

QUESTION 39: According to page 19 of the Performance Work Statement, the Clinical Nurse—Family Practice needs a BLS, ACLS and PALS. Can the Government please confirm that all of these certifications are required for this position?

RESPONSE 39: Yes, these certifications are required.

QUESTION 40: In the Performance Work Statement, some positions, notably the Clinical Social worker and the IM/Endocrinologist, do not have a requirement for BLS listed in their position description. Can the Government please verify that these positions do not require CPR/BLS certifications?

RESPONSE 40: All positions identified require BLS.

QUESTION 41: We did not notice any statements regarding travel reimbursement if the staff have to work at Peterson AFB or Fort Carson. Can the Government confirm that there is no travel allowance for travel reimbursement on this contract?

RESPONSE 41: Correct, there is not travel reimbursement. It is anticipated the healthcare worker will have a primary duty location at one of the three MTFs and will most likely not be required to travel to duty different locations.

QUESTION 42: With reference to on-call, we notice there are no on-call for the Gastroenterologist, Psychiatrist-Board Cerified—Adult, and Psychiatrist—Board Certified – Child/Adolescent. Is this an oversight or are on-call hours not required for these three labor categories?

RESPONSE 42: On-call hours are not required for these positions.

QUESTION 43: How many originals and copies for Volume III should be submitted?

RESPONSE 43: Submit an original and one copy.

QUESTION 44: In accordance with provisions of 10 U.S.C, 1091 and DODI 6025.5, “Personal Services Contracting,” implemented 6 January 1995, the total amount of compensation paid to an individual direct health care provider in any year cannot exceed the full time equivalent annual rate specified in 10 U.S.C. 1091. Effective 21 January 2000, the maximum amount the Government is allowed to pay for these personal services is $400,000.00 per year per HCW for this contract. Page 1 of Attachment 1, Performance Work Statement, states “Personal Services” however, there are a number of physician labor categories that could exceed the $400K annual ceiling. Will the Government make these labor categories “non personal” so that the health care providers may be compensated at the market rate which may exceed $400,000.00?

RESPONSE 44: The Government cannot make these positions “non personal” and would encourage using business staffing decisions taking this limitation into consideration.

As of: 10 July 2014

QUESTION 45: Does the past performance volume have to be laid out exactly as presented in the solicitation and Amendment 0003? Can we attach letters, etc in an appendix, or does everything in instruction section (a) go in the body of the proposal?

RESPONSE 45: You may Tab out letters, metrics, customer surveys separately from the reference information.

QUESTION 46: Will the past performance of subcontracts be considered if they do not meet the 25+ requirement as stated in Amendment 0001?

RESPONSE 46: Past performance information on subcontractors will be evaluated if it is considered “relevant” or “somewhat relevant” to the solicitation.

QUESTION 47: Please clarify if the 25+ employee standard applies to a single contract vehicle (such as the umbrella AF CLASS contract) or at a single site. Obviously, for many 8(a) companies, 25 or more employees at a single site is more difficult standard with which to comply than 25 or more employees under a single contract vehicle, which would allow multiple sites, and likely, broader labor category staffing experiences that in the long run, would be equally if not more beneficial to meeting the Government’s needs on this solicitation.

RESPONSE 47: Yes, the 25+ refers to a contract versus a single site.

QUESTION 48: Please clarify to which WD RN and LVN labor categories did you intend to conform your RN and LPN nurses positions. The prevailing WD has respective labor categories RN1 through RN4 and LPB 1 through LPNIII. In your pricing worksheet, you ask us to price Clinical Nurse-Family Practice and Operating Room Registered Nurses, as well as LVN/LPN and LPN/LVN Flight Medicine, Occ Med and MSME without reference to the specific WD labor category you intend. A more specific delineation here would assist prospective bidders to price to the Government the RN and LPN services you need at a price point that allows us to recruit, place and retain RNs and LPNs, respectively, with the skill sets you need.

In specific, the Government’s Q&A Response dated through July 8 referencing the SCA Position Titles and IDIQ Equivalent doesn’t clearly indicate, for example, whether or not the (current) OR nurse position is a RN IV vs an RN III under the current El Paso County Wage Determination. Likewise, should the Government need a clinical nurse later on, it is not clear whether or not this position conforms to an RNI or RNII position (or higher). Same is true for the LPN Flight Medicine (Occ Med and MSME) vs LPN/LVN positions, respectively.

RESPONSE 48: Please refer to question 38.

QUESTION 49: Is the Past Performance Section of the Proposal to serve as, what is normally, the technical section?

RESPONSE 49: Past performance section is the past performance section—No technical section is requested .

QUESTION 50: In which section(s) are offerors to include the completed SF1449—in the pricing section or the Contract documents section, or both?

RESPONSE 50: The contractor is only required to complete blocks 12, 17(a), 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30(a) (b) and (c) of the SF 1449 and it should be submitting in Part I, Price Proposal along with the Clinical Support Pricing Worksheet.

QUESTION 51: Are the continuation pages of the SF 1449 to be included with Pricing, or only with Attachment 3.

RESPONSE 51: Please see RESPONSE 50.

QUESTION 52: To whom are offerors to send Attachment 5?

RESPONSE 52: Paragraph 6 (c) of the Instructions to Offerors states:

(c) In addition to the above information, the offeror shall mail Attachment 5 of this solicitation, Past Performance Questionnaire, to the list of most relevant contract references. Instruct these references to complete the past performance questionnaire and return to:

Or via e-mail to michael.davidson.11@us.af.mil and diana.thrasher@us.af.mil

QUESTION 53: Pediatrician 2.3 notes that Pediatricians are considered non-mission essential services. Does this mean that other CLINs are to be considered as essential.

RESPONSE 53: No, all positions are considered non-mission essential.

QUESTION 54: Should offerors include information regarding quality system(s), management plans, etc in the proposal submission?

RESPONSE 54: No, this information will be not be evaluated if submitted.