GEROFIT program SOW.docx

Statement of Work The Gerofit Program at the Durham VA Health Care System (DVAHCS) is a medically supervised group exercise program for older veterans (65 years and older). The program is staffed by trained VA personnel, including exercise physiologists, who lead group classes, oversee individual exercise prescription, provide instruction in safe and proper use of the equipment, and exercise progression guidelines. The goal of the Gerofit program is to provide older veterans an opportunity to come together and be active in pursuit of public health guidelines that recommend 150 minutes/week of aerobic exercise, strengthening exercise, balance, and flexibility training. Veterans enrolled in the program complete routine, recurrent assessments of physical function which are used to track progress and inform exercise prescriptions by our staff. The Gerofit staff will be responsible for administering this exercise program and will need full access to space and equipment for the designated timeframe specified below.

Time The Gerofit program requires a lease time and space from a community-based fitness facility large enough for an average of 100 veterans for a 2 ½ hour block of time. While the active roster may be 100 veterans, the typical daily census during this block of time ranges 50-90 individuals. The exact time block is negotiable but must be 3 days/week at a set time each day of use (no rotating schedules).

Space & Equipment The facility must have existing group exercise space (approximately 500 ft2) for group classes, balance, and Tai Chi programs led by our staff and that can accommodate 20 25 individuals. These group classes routinely use padded floor mats, chairs, and equipment such as Thera-bands, balance disks, cones. It is expected that these materials will be provided by the facility OR negotiated with the Gerofit program. In the case of the latter, designated secured storage space will need to be identified for Gerofit equipment.

In addition, we require access to aerobic exercise machines including stationary and recumbent bicycles (≥5), treadmills (≥5), ellipticals/arc trainers (≥3). Space is requested, but not mandatory, for the placement of 12 additional pieces of aerobic and other senior friendly equipment provided by Gerofit for use by our mobility-limited veterans. These include Sci-fit arm cycles (3), Rogue air bikes (4), Nu-steps (4), and Schwinn stationary bike (1), that would ideally be accommodated in the fitness facility. Access to a walking track is preferred, but not required.

Access to strength training equipment is also required, and at minimum should include several machines: leg press, seated hamstring curl, chest press, lat pulldown, padded low row, quadricep extension, and an assisted pull up. In addition, free weights are needed ranging 1 to 30 lbs. The Gerofit program has 8 medicine balls with rack and will require designated secured storage space for this.

Access to a swimming pool is highly preferred but is not required. In the event a swimming pool is available onsite, the Gerofit program requests up to twice weekly, 60-minute timeslot to use the pool for programming.

The Gerofit program requires access to secured (locked) space to store exercise equipment (e.g., cones, stopwatches, measurement wheel), body weight scale, blood pressure monitoring equipment, staff personal belongings, and sensitive documents. Veterans should have access to areas to safely store their personal belongings during the Gerofit sessions. In addition our administrative program files are stored in a locked cabinet, which will need to be readily accessible by Gerofit staff.

Accessibility Entry into the facility must be handicap accessible, and walkways within the facility and across activity spaces should be accessible. Bathroom facilities are required, and ideally handicap accessible. Must have ample free (or validated), proximal parking for an average of 60 veterans. Highly desirable that the facility be “senior friendly” as noted by the presence of other senior programming and handicapped accessibility.

The facility ideally is on a public transportation route and within 10 miles of the Durham VA Health Care System located at 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC, 27705. The facility must provide free, secure and reliable wifi access to Gerofit staff for onsite documentation and remote assessments. Ideally this wifi access would be available throughout the entire facility, not just in designated areas.

A minimum two week notice of any break in service operations (e.g., maintenance) is required.

The prospective facility should provide a proposal to include cost/month and information for technical evaluation factors described below. The proposals should be evaluated by the technical evaluation board (TEB) so the cost and other technical factors have weight of 50/50.

Contractor shall provide leased time and space for an average of 60 Veterans (range is 45-90 /day) over a 2 ½ hour block of time, on 3 days per week.

The facility shall have existing space for floor exercises, balance, and Tai Chi programs, in addition to safe access to stationary and recumbent bicycles, treadmills, strength training equipment, and shall be handicap accessible.

The DVAHCS Gerofit staff shall be responsible for administering the exercise program and shall have full access to stationary and recumbent bicycles, treadmills, strength training equipment, and an open area for floor exercises and Tai Chi classes. VA staff shall be present at all times a patient(s) is present at the facility during the agreed upon times.

Space is requested, for the placement of ~12 pieces of our equipment for use by our mobility-limited veterans. 7 of these will require an electrical plug to function properly.

Contractor’s facility shall be:

· designated exercise space including equipment and group exercise room (≥2,500 ft2).

· located within a 10-mile radius of the DVAHCS.

· handicap accessible (few stairs and/or elevator), to include bathrooms.

· some handicap parking, and enough parking spaces to accommodate ~40 veteran vehicles.

· accessible to major highways and bus system.

· wifi access throughout the facility.

· storage space for group exercise equipment.

· secured storage space for medical equipment and administrative materials.

· smoke-free.

· maintain a clean environment that includes provision of individual and equipment sanitation supplies.

· have emergency response equipment (AED) available onsite.