Amendment_00002_Q A.pdf

HSCEDM‐16‐R‐00002

Amendment 00002

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

# RFP

SECTION

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

B B‐3a Page 1 of 132: We understand that in the Base Period, the Contractor will have sixty (60) days for the Transition Period and three‐hundred and five (305) days for contract performance.

Please clarify the following items with regard to the timing of this transition.

Will incumbent health care staff remain employees of the current Contractor throughout the 60‐day Transition Period, transferring to the employ of the incoming Contractor on Performance Period Day 1 of 305?

Or will the incoming Contractor have access to incumbent health care staff prior to the Transition Period, so that all staff are employed by the incoming Contractor on Transition Period Day 1 of 60?

Please confirm that ICE does not expect the incumbent health care workforce to be a mixture of incumbent Contractor and new Contractor employees at any time during the Transition Period, as this situation would be extremely problematic from the operational, administrative, and risk management standpoints

Offerors must understand that the Government is requiring offerors to develop and propose their own strategy to ensure an effective transition in, which must be completed within 60 days of contract award. The Government will not dictate the strategy since we are interested in evaluating all possible options.

C C‐14 QASP: Please provide the previous three evaluation reports from the most current inspections for the current contractors’ performance.

The Government does not believe that the specifics of that information are relevant to this RFP. The Government will therefore not be providing the requested information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with

SECTION

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

the requirements of this RFP.

3 C C‐21 Please confirm that “Employment Reference Checks” requires confirming dates of employment.

Yes

C C‐26 Per C‐26 Time Clock, Contractor is required to use government supply time clocks and time cards. C‐33 IHSC Invoice references invoicing from timesheets and hours worked. Please confirm that the government will supply Contractor time card data in electronic format to allow Contractor to automate payroll processing and required invoicing reporting. Please explain how this data is provided to the Contractor.

The Contractor will have access to the government timekeeping data either in electronic or hard copy form.

C C‐43 Page 54 of 132: Please provide more detail about the Tele‐ Health Unit, particularly with regard to telepsychiatry.

Who provides the physicians (including psychiatrists) for the Tele‐Health Unit?

Will the Contractor be permitted to make use of the IHSC Tele‐ Health Unit resources to provide coverage in those instances where an onsite provider is not readily available?

Will ICE permit the Contractor to utilize the Contractor’s own telepsychiatrists?

Is there a limit on the percentage of psychiatry hours the Contractor is permitted to fill via telepsychiatry?

The Contractor will not be required to provide telepsychiatry services

F F‐4 page 58 Please provide the complete current (2015) Quality Control Plan in place for Dilley and the other 21 sites.

The Government will not be providing the requested information. Offerors are out approach to ensure compliance with

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

the requirements of this RFP.

F F‐4 page 58 Please provide the weekly Site Status Reports for each of the 21 sites for the period of January 1 – March 21, 2016.

The Government will not be providing the requested information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

J J‐2 Attachment J‐2 is titled “QASP” but is actually the Q&A released

March 29, 2016. Will the Government provide an updated Q&A attachment, as well as an updated QASP?

Yes

J J‐7 Please provide the average daily population for each of the past 12 months at each site.

The Government will not be providing the requested information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

J J‐13 The revised RFP Attachment J‐13 lacks the 2,080 “Annual Maximum” hours in column D for the York Medical Records Technician. However, this value appears in the “Contract Coordinator” row (which should be blank). Will ICE please issue a corrected RFP Attachment J‐13? Or does the government prefer that Offerors make this correction themselves?

A revised Attachment J‐13 is provided with this amendment.

J J‐13

Standard Facilities

The Medical Records Technician in York has 0 hours listed in the “Annual Maximum Hours” column; however, the Contract Coordinator has 2080 hours listed. Please confirm that the 2080 should be listed for the Medical Records Technician and not for the Contract Coordinator.

A revised Attachment J‐13 is provided with this amendment.

12 J J‐13 Transition Please confirm the line items “Registered Nurse‐Casual” in Berks, All casuals are removed from the Transition Tab of J‐13. A revised

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

Period Std. Fac. El Paso, Elizabeth, and LA Staging should be removed.

Additionally, please confirm the “Nurse Practitioner/Physicians Assistant‐Casual” in Taylor should also be removed.

Attachment J‐13 is provided with this amendment.

J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐Revised

Was it the government’s intent to leave the level of effort, number of FTEs and hourly rate formulas blank on all Contract Coordinator positions except York? How will the government fairly evaluate Contract Coordinator costs without setting a level of effort for all bidders?

A revised J‐13, which eliminates the level of effort for the York Contract Coordinator position, is provided under this amendment. It is the Government’s intent to leave the LOE blank for the Contract Coordinator positions. Each Offeror is to propose and describe in detail a plan for the Contract Coordinator positions. Offerors shall base the level of effort on its proposed solution.

J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐Revised

The Contract Coordinator positions were added to the pricing matrix however the lines were left blank in relation to number of FTEs, level of effort and hourly rate formulas. The pricing instructions state to add a fully burdened hourly rate only and all other information added will not be accepted. Should be add a level of effort and if so, is there a standard level of effort for Contract Coordinators so that all firms are evaluated fairly?

Yes, each Offeror is to propose and describe in detail a plan for the Contract Coordinator (CC) positions. Offerors shall base the level of effort it provides for each Contract Coordinator position on its proposed plan. For this position only, you may “modify” J‐13 to include the proposed level of effort for each CC position at each location as well as provide applicable fully burdened labor rates.

15 J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

Please clarify whether or not NTE Travel should be included in the fully burdened labor rate in the price proposal.

No. NTE travel costs shall not be included in proposed labor rates.

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

J J‐13 Medical

Staffing Pricing ‐Revised

Please confirm that the vendor is not responsible for medication expenses, onsite labs, on‐site radiology, or other non‐labor patient care expenses.

The Contractor will not be responsible for costs associated with non‐labor patient care.

J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐Revised

Please clarify the instruction for the pricing transition activities.

Specifically, is the pricing sheet supposed to reflect how quickly vendors believe they can ramp up to the fully staffed levels?

The transition in pricing sheet is supposed to reflect the prices associated with Offerors’ proposed solutions for providing effective transition in plans.

J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐Revised

Please clarify the instruction for the pricing transition activities.

Specifically, should the fully burdened rates during the transition period include anticipate one‐time costs associated with start‐ up?

The transition in pricing sheet shall reflect the prices associated with Offerors’ proposed solutions for providing effective transition in plans. It is up to the Offeror to decide what labor and other elements, such as one‐time costs, to include.

J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐Revised

Please clarify the instruction for the pricing transition activities.

Specifically, should non‐productive hours associated with on‐ boarding process be included in the fully burdened rates?

The transition in pricing sheet shall reflect the prices associated with Offerors’ proposed solutions for providing effective transition in plans. It is up to the Offeror to decide what labor and other elements, such as the non‐ productive hours, to include.

J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐ Revised

The revised pricing form (J‐13) includes a Contract Coordinator position at each site, which will result in additional hours depending on whether a full or part time position is needed.

However, in SF 1449 the number of total hours at each site still represents the initial pricing form (J‐13). Please clarify vendors should address the costs associated with Contract Coordinator hours on SF 1449.

The level of effort provided on the SF 1449 represents the Government’s best estimate of the labor hours required for each facility. Based on the negotiated agreement, the resulting award document will reflect the final estimated level of effort. Offerors are to include its

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

proposed LOE (which includes the Contract Coordinator hours) in Block 21 and its prices in Block 24 on the SF 1449.

J J‐13 Medical Staffing Pricing

‐ Revised

In order for the site totals in SF 1449 to tie to the amounts provided in J‐13, please confirm that Offerors should use a blended site rate as the “Unit Price” in Column E of SF 1449.

Offerors are to include its proposed LOE (which includes the Contract Coordinator hours) in Block 21 and its prices in Block 24 on the SF 1449.

Offerors are not required to provide unit prices in Block 23.

J J‐14 DOL

Service Wage

Rate Determinations

Amend 1

WD 15‐2519 (Rev.3) Port Isabel – ICE Medical Facility includes Executive Order 13658 which bringing minimum wage rates to $10.15 for all Service Contract Act covered positions. The CNA is a covered position however the Revised WD lists the minimum compensation at $8.94. Please confirm Executive Order 13658 applies to this procurement.

Yes. Under Executive Order (EO) 13658, an hourly minimum wage of $10.15 for calendar year 2016 applies to all contracts subject to the Service Contract Act for which the solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2015. If this contract is covered by the EO, the contractor must pay all workers in any classification listed on this wage determination at least $10.15 per hour (or the applicable wage rate listed on this wage determination, if it is higher) for all hours spent performing on the contract in calendar year 2016. The EO minimum wage rate will be adjusted annually.

J J‐15 What weight will the Subcontracting Plan be given during evaluation The Government intends to score each evaluation factor precisely as specified in RFP Section M‐5. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be evaluated as

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

specified in M‐5(e)(1).

J J‐15 In Att. J‐15, p.1 states subcontracting goals of 41% SB, 5% SDB, 5% WOSB, 3% HUBZone, and 3% SDVOSB. On p.3, there is a 43% SB goal and vendors are requested to submit specific justification if the SB goal is lower than the example. Please clarify whether the total SB goal is 41% or 43%.

The goal is 41%. Attachment J‐15 has been revised and attached to this amendment.

J J‐15 Please confirm that subcontractors who are in the process of obtaining small business certification may be used to satisfy subcontracting requirements so long as they achieve certification by the time of contract activation. (J‐15)

If a Contractor is attempting to utilize a small business that has not yet been certified but is in the process of being certified that should be indicated in the small business subcontracting plan. The Government expects Contractors to act in good faith with regard to clause 52.219‐8.

J J‐17 Current Vacancies

Since there is a significant pay difference between social workers and psychologists, will the Government please indicate which labor category is currently providing services at sites where there are no vacancies in the MHP labor category?

The requested information will not be provided.

Offerors are highly encouraged to propose an acceptable solution for staffing all positions, including the Mental Health Provider (MHP) positions.

In areas where the Government has a requirement for more than one MHP, which includes social workers and psychologists, the Government prefers a 1: 1 ratio of each discipline.

27 L L‐1 Page 115 of 132: Please confirm the top left corner cell in the table should refer to Provision “52.204‐7” (as opposed to

Yes. The correct clause is 52.204‐7, System for Award Management

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

“52.214‐7”).

L L‐1 Page 115 of 132: FAR 52.222.46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees states, “As part of their proposals, offerors will submit a total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the contract.” With regard to how FAR 52.222.46 relates to this solicitation, please clarify the following points.

Does ICE wish Offerors to provide this data with their proposal submissions? Based on the pre‐proposal conference and RFP Attachment J‐1_Site_Staffing_Matrix, we believed this information would be provided at a later point in the solicitation process?

As this data is not required by any other specification of the RFP;

and no direction is given on where to include this data; please define where ICE wants Offerors to include the required salary and fringe benefit information in their responses (i.e., which Volume and which Tab).

Does ICE require this data to be broken down (a) by facility; (b) by position; or (c) both?

Additionally, FAR 52.222.46 states that the Agency will evaluate Offerors proposal based on their “envisioning compensation levels lower than those of predecessor contractors for the same work.” However, in this solicitation, Offerors do not know what the compensation levels of the predecessor contractor are. This makes it impossible for any Offeror to know whether its proposed rates are higher, lower, or the same as those in the predecessor contract. Therefore, to provide a level playing field

Yes. Please provide the data with proposal submissions in Volume II, Section (6).

Offerors data shall include prospective salary and fringe benefit information.

Data shall be provided by facility and by position.

It is the Offeror’s responsibility to understand what salaries are acceptable for each position and each location.

Compensation packages shall be designed to encourage the retention of qualified staff. Since the Government will evaluate the Offeror’s plan in order to ensure that it reflects a sound management approach and a good understanding of the contract requirements, Offerors should not focus on the predecessor contractor’s compensation package.

Confidential and competition sensitive information will not be provided.

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

and to enable Offerors to comply with the requirements of FAR 52.222.46, will ICE please provide the rates (by facility and by position) being paid under its current contract?

L L‐10 Page 125 of 132: Given that ICE has allowed a second round of questions; and that Offerors will need time to review, analyze, and incorporate the government’s responses to these questions into their proposals; will ICE please extend the proposal due date by one to two weeks?

There are no extensions granted as the result of this amendment.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #29

Page 9 of 36: Who will be financially responsible for the cost of establishing connectivity (i.e., having lines run, etc.) for Contractor‐supplied timeclocks?

Since the Contractor will not be permitted to install or connect to any government IT system, the Contractor’s solution shall not include installation of a Contractor‐supplied timeclock at the Government’s facilities. However, the Contractor will be permitted to access a web‐based system to retrieve data for Contractor staff time keeping purposes.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #29

Page 9 of 36: Who will be financially responsible for the cost of maintaining ongoing connectivity (i.e., monthly Internet and line charges) for Contractor‐supplied timeclocks?

Since the Contractor will not be permitted to install or connect to any government IT system, the Contractor’s solution shall not include installation of a Contractor‐supplied timeclock at the Government’s facilities. However, the Contractor will be permitted to access a web‐based system to retrieve data for Contractor staff time keeping purposes.

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ICE Response #35

Page 10 of 36: With regard to ICE’s assertion that incumbent staff will be made available to the Awardee:

The awardee will be provided access to incumbent staff upon contract award.

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

Will the incoming Contractor be given access to incumbent health care staff prior to the 60‐day Transition Period?

If “yes,” how far prior to the beginning of the Transition Period?

Will this access be onsite at the ICE facilities?

The 60‐day transition period will provide the awardee the opportunity to recruit and hire any incumbent staff being hired to support the new contract.

It is up to the awardee to determine where incumbent staff will be approached, but the awardee will have access to the ICE facility upon contract award.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #48

Page 14 of 36: Since all sites (except Dilley and Berks) are NCCHC‐accredited, please confirm the RFP‐required staffing level at each facility meets the NCCHC’s expectation of having

3.5 provider hours per every 100 detainees.

NCCHC Staffing Standard J‐C‐07 (NCCHC 2014 Standards for Health Services in Jails, p. 50) states, “The general expectation is that the staffing plan includes, at a minimum, one physician on site 3.5 hours a week for each 100 inmates housed in the facility.” While this is not required for accreditation, the Government exceeds this expectation at all accredited facilities.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #52

Page 15 of 36: With regard to the eClinicalWorks EHR:

Please indicate who will provide training on the EHR system for new hires.

Please indicate who will provide ongoing training on the EHR system when software changes and/or upgrades occur.

Please define the Contractor’s financial responsibility (if any) for obtaining EHR licenses from eClinicalWorks for new or additional

The Government will provide all initial and ongoing training for eClinicalWorks.

The Contractor will not be responsible for obtaining EHR licenses.

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

hires.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #52

Page 15 of 36: Is ICE currently using an electronic medication administration record (“eMAR”)?

If so, is the eMAR (a) part of eClinicalWorks; or (b) a separately implemented system from another vendor?

If the preceding response is (b), please identify the eMAR vendor, software system, and version number.

The Government is not currently using an electronic medication administration record.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #

The answer to Question 62 in the original Q&A released on March 29 states that there are two incumbents that provide the current service. Are the services furnished under these contracts subsumed under the current contract?

The resulting contract will replace both current contracts.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #

The answer to Question 64 in the original Q&A states there are two incumbents providing the current service. Does Maxim Healthcare Services provide all contractor services at each facility under the current contract?

No.

Q&A

P00001 ICE Response

#64 Page 16 of 36: What are the contract expiration dates for the InGenesis and Maxim contracts?

InGenesis: 07/15/2018

Maxim: 09/22/2016

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #64

Page 16 of 36: Please identify the differences (if any) between the scope of the InGenesis contract and the scope of this RFP, e.g., facilities, positions, and/or responsibilities included;

payment/contract structure; etc.

The Government will not be providing this information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

Q&A

P00001 ICE Response

#64 Page 16 of 36: Please identify the differences (if any) between the scope of the Maxim contract and the scope of this RFP, e.g., facilities, positions, and/or responsibilities included;

The Government will not be providing this information. Offerors are

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

payment/contract structure; etc. out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

Q&A

P00001 ICE Response

#64 Page 16 of 36: Will the government please provide Offerors with copies of the InGenesis and Maxim contracts?

No, all requests for existing contracts and documentation must be submitted through the official ICE FOIA process.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #125

Question 125 of the original Q&A asks for an explanation of how withholdings will be administered consistent with 52.232‐9. The Government’s answer indicates it will deduct or withhold according to the QASP. The Government also states: “If that Contractor was also less than 90% compliant with e‐Qip submissions, the government would deduct another 0.25% …” What does the Government mean by “compliant” in this instance?

The answer refers to the Functional area titled “e‐Qip Submission” of Attachment J‐2, QASP. The performance measure column defines the compliance with that Functional area, “Number of complete (no missing standard documentation) e‐QIP’s mailed to PSU within ten (10) calendar days of notification of e‐QIP initiation.”

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #125

In reference to Question 125 of the original Q&A released March 29, 2016, are the withholdings administered by the Government going to be deducted from the monthly invoice for the entire Contract, or will withholdings be deducted from the monthly invoice for each location where the penalties occurred?

The deduction will be taken from the entire monthly invoice.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #130

The response to question 130 directs offerors to include the Compensation Plan for Professional Employees in Volume II (6), however the revised Solicitation, page 124, Section L.9.4, Instructions for the Preparation of volume III, Price Proposal, Section (a) (6) is listing the Compensation Plan for Professional Employees. Please confirm the Compensation Plan should be included in Volume III, Price Proposal.

Offerors shall include Compensation Plans in Volume II, Section (6).

45 Q&A ICE Response Answer #142 in the previous Question and Answer response indicates that offerors should provide resumes for the Contract

No. The offeror will need to supply updated resumes upon contract award if

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

P00001 #142 Coordinators. Answer #42 indicates that there are no Contract Coordinators in the current contract, and the solicitation does not provide an anticipated award date or contract commencement date. Given the lack of incumbent staff for the Contract Coordinator position and the uncertainty of activation date, individuals whose resumes are submitted with the proposal might no longer be seeking employment by the time an award announcement is made. Will IHSC consider waiving the resume requirement for Contract Coordinators?

initial candidates presented are no longer available.

Q&A P00001

ICE Response #158

Answer #158 indicates that price realism will be evaluated as part of the response. Answer #35 indicates that incumbent staff will be made available to the awardee. In order to provide non‐ incumbent offerors equal ability to meet the evaluation threshold of price realism and ensure minimal disruption to the existing contracted workforce, please provide the hourly rates for each position at each of the contracted locations.

It is the Offeror’s responsibility to understand what salaries are acceptable for each position and each location.

Confidential and competition sensitive information will not be provided.

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Page 7 The RFP describes vendor staff as augmenting General Schedule and Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service staff. By location, please provide the number and types of on‐site General Schedule and Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service staff.

The Government will not be providing this information.

Of note, prior to accepting any Government requests for coverage of a federal shift vacancy, the Contractor must first ensure that is has filled vacant Contractor staff positions under the contract.

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Page 10 Please clarify whether the Contract Coordinator is the equivalent of a Health Services Administrator.

No. Contract Coordinators are responsible for managing Contractor staff as outlined in the Position Description.

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Section C‐6(1) Section C‐6 (1) states “The Government shall have the right to reject off‐site Key personnel used by Contractor if they fail to meet the position description requirements.” However, no position descriptions are provided by the Government. What criteria will the Government use to determine the merit of off‐ site Key Personnel?

Proposed off‐site Key Personnel must have demonstrated qualifications which fall within the guidelines outlined in the

RFP.

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Page 117 Please confirm the stated subcontracting percentage goals apply to the total available amount of subcontracted services rather than the total contract amount.

Subcontracting percentage goals apply to the total amount of subcontracted dollars rather than the total contract amount.

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Page 118 Please confirm that a vendor may bid as the prime contractor on one proposal and as a subcontractor on a second proposal.

Yes. Since any award as the result of this RFP will be a single award, the Government does not anticipate a conflict of interest for cross teaming or cross bidding.

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Page 119 Please explain what offerors may include in the resume for Key Personnel to be submitted as part of the sanitized technical proposal. Per L‐9.2(a) (on RFP, Amend. 1 page 119), offerors are supposed to “remove all company logos and company names.”

If offerors submit resumes for Key Personnel indicating that they are current employees of the offeror, this would appear to defeat the purpose of using sanitized proposals.

Resumes for Key Personnel shall be sanitized. Offerors shall indicate the qualifications and experience of Key Personnel while not providing the name of the Key Personnel nor identifying current or past employers by name in the sanitized technical proposal. Stating that a proposed key person is a current employee of the Offeror will not defeat the purpose of the sanitized proposal.

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Page 120 There is a discrepancy in the instructions for completion: on page 120 of the solicitation, under Transition Plan, the Government is requesting “Background Investigations; all

The reference should be C‐20. The RFP has been corrected.

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P00001 employees are cleared in accordance with Section C‐5 of the SOW. However, Section C‐5 of the SOW addresses Quality Control and within C‐5 there is no mention of background process. Background investigations requirements are contained in Section C‐20.0Could the Government clarify this discrepancy?

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Page 121 Please confirm that state organizations, as well as federal and commercial organizations, may be used to satisfy the requirements of L.9.2(e)(1).

Yes, this includes services provided to federal, state or commercial organizations. The RFP has been clarified.

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Capability and Experience of Key Personnel

The government has provided position descriptions for the Contract Coordinators and the Nurse Manager and Clinical Services Manager at the Dilley, TX site. Is it the government’s intent for the Offeror to provide position descriptions (PDs) for all key personnel or only the key personnel positions who currently do not have a PD provided in the RFP (PM, APM and other contractor proposed key positions)?

Positon Descriptions are not required for PM and APM. All other Position Descriptions have been provided in the

RFP.

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Capability and Experience of Key Personnel

If the government wants position descriptions for all key personnel positions, is it acceptable for the contractor to edit the government provided PD for the Contract Coordinators, Nurse Manager and Clinical Services Manager in order to get within the 2 page limitation (the government provided PDs are currently 4 pages)?

Positon Descriptions are not required for PM and APM. All other Position Descriptions have been provided in the RFP. Resumes are separate and should be no longer than two pages.

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Section L.9.4

The response to question 130 directs offerors to include the Compensation Plan for Professional Employees in Volume II (6), however the revised Solicitation, page 124, Section L.9.4, Instructions for the Preparation of volume III, Price Proposal, Section (a) (6) is listing the Compensation Plan for Professional Employees. Please confirm the Compensation Plan should be

Offerors shall include Compensation Plans in Volume II, Section (6).

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

included in Volume III, Price Proposal.

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Page 128‐129 Please confirm that the following are the subfactors for Evaluation Factor 1 – Technical Approach and are listed in order of descending importance: Technical Capabilities; Transition Plan; Quality Control Plan; Compliance with Standards? (RFP, Amend. 1 pages 128‐29)

The Government does not intend to separately score subfactors. Therefore, identification of these requirements as “subfactors” is not necessary.

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Page 129 Please clarify how the percentage of subcontracted dollars in each category will impact scoring for Evaluation Factor 4.

The Government intends to score each evaluation factor precisely as specified in RFP Section M‐5. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be evaluated as specified in M‐5(e)(1).

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Page 129 Please confirm that the following are the subfactors for Evaluation Factor 2 – Management Approach and are listed in order of descending importance: Organizational Structure and Staffing Plan; Capability and Experience of Key Personnel; and Subcontractors. (RFP, Amend. 1 page 129)

The Government does not intend to separately score subfactors. Therefore, identification of these requirements as “subfactors” is not necessary.

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Page 130 Please confirm that the following are the subfactors for Evaluation Factor 4 – Admin/PP and are listed in order of descending importance: Small Business Subcontracting Plan, Past Performance References, and DHS Mentor Protégé Program? (RFP, Amend. 1 pages 130)

The Government does not intend to separately score subfactors. Therefore, identification of these requirements as “subfactors” is not necessary.

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132 M‐5(e )(2) Section M‐5(e)(2) (on RFP, Amend. 1 page 130) provides no guidance to offerors on how the government intends to evaluate past performance. It merely states: “The Government reserves the right to evaluate relevant information gathered through such sites as the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) as well as other public sources.” The only other guidance provided in the RFP is from Section L‐9.3 (on RFP, Amend. 1 page

Past performance will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 15.305(2).

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

123), where the Government requests that “[f]or each contract referenced in Volume I, Corporate Experience, provide a contract number and a point of contact at the agency or company where the work was performed that can discuss specifics about the project and the Offeror’s performance on the contract.” Related questions include:

How is relevancy defined?

Does the Government intend to evaluate relevancy of each reference and quality of performance on each reference? If so, how do those concepts equate to the ratings available under Evaluation Factor 4 (Pass, Fail, Neutral)?

Or is the Government merely going to confirm that a reference has been provided and that is all that must be demonstrated for an offeror to be eligible for a Pass under this factor?

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Page 132 M‐6 Section M‐6 (on RFP, Amend. 1 page 132) defines three ratings to be used for Evaluation Factor 4: “Pass;” “Fail;” and “Neutral.”

In response to Q&A 161, the agency indicates that “[a] neutral rating in this factor will not result in denial of an award.” But is “Pass” better than or equal to a “Neutral” rating? Put another way, if two offerors were technically equal except that one received a “Pass” for Evaluation Factor 4 and one received a “Neutral,” would the offerors be considered technically equal or would the one with the “Pass” be considered technically superior to the offeror that received a “Neutral”?

As defined in FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv), a “neutral” rating is neither favorable nor unfavorable. Without further information concerning the actual technical evaluations the Government will not answer this hypothetical question.

General General With the exception of Contract Coordinator, which is a new requirement under the current solicitation, are any other services being requested in the current solicitation not included

Yes, however the Government does not believe that the specifics of that information are relevant to this RFP.

Rather than focusing on the existing

REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

in the current service? contracts, Offerors are highly encouraged to propose its solution based on the current requirements as specified in the RFP.

General General According to the Government, there are two incumbents under the current Contract – InGenesis Inc. and Maxim Healthcare Services. Does incumbent Contractor InGenesis Inc. provide complete contractor services at each facility?

The Government will not be providing this information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

66 General General What services are being provided by InGenesis Inc. under the current contract?

The incumbent is providing Medical Staffing Services.

67 General General What services are being provided by Maxim Healthcare Services under the current contract?

The incumbent is providing Medical Staffing Services.

General General The Government stated in the original Q&A that there are two incumbents under the current Contract – InGenesis Inc. and Maxim Healthcare Services. Does current incumbent Maxim Healthcare Services provide supplemental staffing or full staffing services at each facility?

The Government will not be providing this information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

General General Please clarify if the purpose of providing a sanitized technical proposal is to allow evaluators to evaluate offerors without knowing the offerors’ identity. If so, how is that possible given that the technical proposal will contain such information as key personnel resumes and corporate experience information? For example, incumbent contractors will presumably list their incumbent experience allowing evaluators to identify their proposals.

Offerors shall identify its Key Personnel by indicating his or her qualifications only with no identification of current or past employers. If Offerors follow the directions identified in RFP Section L, the Government will have the information it needs to perform evaluations in accordance with Section M.

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General General With respect to Evaluation Factor 4, will evaluators assign a rating for each of the following three subcategories – Small Business Subcontracting Plan, Past Performance References, and DHS Mentor Protégé Program, or will evaluators assign only a rating for the overarching Evaluation Factor 4?

The Government does not intend to separately score subcategories for the Factors 1‐3 however it will score sub‐ factors for Evaluation Factor 4. The RFP Section M has been modified to include this change.

General General Please provide the previous twelve months’ health services reports for each of the 21 sites and Dilley.

The Government will not be providing this information. Offerors are encouraged to provide a well thought out approach to ensure compliance with the requirements of this RFP.

72 General General Please provide the federal rules regarding the use of physician extenders.

Refer to the Position Descriptions for PA’s and NP’s.

General General Please clarify who provides overall management of the health services at each location – the Contract Coordinator or General Schedule/Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service staff.

IHSC is the medical authority of ICE. The Health Service Administrator serves as the local authority for IHSC and is responsible for overall clinic management. Management of Contractor staff is accomplished through the assigned Contract Coordinator and must stay within the scope of clinic operations as determined by the Government Technical Monitor.

General General Please clarify whether or not General Schedule and Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service physicians provide supervision for the contractor’s mid‐level practitioners at location.

Clinical oversight will be provided be the Physician on‐site. The Contractor will be responsible for the direct supervision of all of its employees. However, directions and guidance with regard to

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the requirements of the program and acceptability of services will be provided by the COR, the on‐site Health Services Administrators or a designee.

General General The majority of Supplies/Services specify performance periods beginning on 7/15. However, lines 0023, 3003, 3023, and 4023 specify performance periods beginning on 9/30. Please clarify.

It is anticipated that each period of performance will commence on 7/15 of the applicable year. That information will be updated based on the actual award date of the contract.

General General Please confirm that IHSC will be responsible for providing and paying for the office space, furniture and supplies for the DC office as well as administration space, furniture and supplies for each of the sites.

The Government will provide all space and equipment it determines is necessary to support this program.