Industry Day Question and Answer.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 66 KB Posted May 26, 2023

Attached to: Q999--VHA Integrated Staffing Program Government Responses to Vendor Questions
Solicitation number: 36C10X23Q0083
Issued by: Department of Veterans Affairs Strategic Acquisition Center Frederick

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Question number	Document name (dropdown)	Section of document	Page #	Question (from Vendors)	Response (Gov't will provide)
7	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	All	1	Will Physician Assistants who are Physician Extenders with Master's Degrees become a Labor Category to help with staff shortages?
8	Facilities Listing	All	1	Will bidding by Geographical location be permitted? (ie: Southeast or New England areas)
9	VIT Definitions	VITAL	1	Please confirm that this will be set-aside in the NAICS 541611
10	VIT Definitions	VITAL	1	States: "capability in Functional Category I capability areas" - Please explain what the SAC means by "Functional Category I" . There is nothing in the Draft PSW that states "Functional Category I". Can we make the assumption this means Occupational Category 1 outlined in Draftr PWS page 6 Section 3.3.1 Occupational Category 1 - CLinical Occupational Series and Labor Categories
11	VIT Definitions	VITAL	1	States: "extensive experience and capability to integrate large teams in execution of government contracts" - Does the SAC require this individual experience coming stricly from the VITAL, or does this ecompass the entire VIT. The NAICS code is $24.5 M avergae over five years, the government has to recognize that the phrase "extensive experience and capabiloity to integrate large teams" can be considered outside capability to remain small, and should truly refer to the entirety of the VIT (all the team) not necessarily the VITAL.
12	VIT Definitions	VITAL & VITEP	1	VITAL verbiage states "VITALS are considered small for the duration of the five-year base period"

Then in the VITEP it states "Mature VITEPS may also have the opportunity to move into the VITAL role if the VITAL becomes large durng the base period of performance.

This is contradictory language; can you pelase advise what is correct.

13 VIT Definitions VITEP 1 States: "A VITEP is considered small for its subcontracts if it does not exceed the size standard for the NAICS code that the prime contractor believes best describes the product or service bein acquired by the subcontract (consistent with the governments identified NAICS per capability area)"

1. There is nothing in the Draft PWS that references "capability area" - is this supposed to reference the 3 Occupational Categories outlined in 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3 of the Draft PWS?

2. Please advise if each category will have its own corresponding NAICS code.

20	VIT Definitions	VITAL	1	States "VIP Verified SDVOSB (or eligible VIP-verified Joint Venture)" - The CVE no longer verifies SDVOSB organizations nor do they verify SDVOSB JVs. The SBA now verfies SDVOSB through VetCert, and they do not have a rule requiring a Joint Venture be verified or listed in the system. Can you please remove this language/requirement as it is no longer applicable.
21	VIT Definitions	VIT Agile Lead (VITAL)	1	Please explain what Functional Category 1 is in reference to with capability in all Functional Category I capability areas
22	VIT Definitions	VIT Eligible Partner (VITEP)	1	Please explain how this process would work - Mature VITEPs may also have the opportunity to move into VITAL role if the VITAL becomes large during the base period of performance.
23	VIT Definitions	VIT Lead	1	How does the government anticipate dealing with the size standards limitations that will limit one SDVOSB to be the Prime contrator?
24	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Psychologists	1	What about the issue of reciprocity between states on the licensing of psychologists - how is the VA getting around this?
25	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Psychologists	1	Is state licensing sufficient if they do not have APA internship or APA internship a must?
26	Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	1	The Government states at least 20% of VA health systems have clinical staffing shortages and at least 20% of VA health care systems have non-clinical staffing shortages. Can the Government provide the % or % estimate of health care systems facing both clinical and non-clinical shortages?
27	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Series 0180	1	Behavioral health providers are amongst the highest demand specialty. Request minimum experience be changed from 5 years to 1 year of experience within the past 3 years.
28	VIT Definitions	VIT Eligible Partner (VITEP)	1	If the Governmnet allows Mature VITEPs to move into VITAL role, will they be awarded their own separate prime contract?
29	VIT Definitions	All	1	VITEP definition states, "VITEPs may be awarded a contract number and may have opportunity to serve as Task Order Level Lead (TOLL) on designated task orders." Are VITEPs able to serve as TOLL on multiple TOs or only one at a time?
30	Performance Work Statement	1.1	1	The PWS states, "The resulting acquisition will be a multiple award IDIQ contract IAW FAR 16.504." Does the VA contemplae using multiple award "pools" for this procurement, such as Unrestricted, Small Business Set Aside, HUB Zone, etc.? Or will all awards be set aside for VOSBs and SDVOSBs?
31	VIT Definitions	VIT Agile Lead (Vital)	1	If our company is a VITAL for the purposes of this award, will we be expected to have some aspect of AGILE certification among our internal staff?
32	VIT Definitions	VITEP	1	The government mentions that if our company exceeds the size standard in NAICS 541611, a VITEP may be able to be considered as a VITAL, for the purpose of task orders we need to remain as a small in order to bid on these, correct?
33	VIT Definitions	VITAL	1	The government mentions several times the "functional categories", where can I find a complete listing of these areas or is this referring to the Government Series reference on the Labor Categories? Or the labor categories themselves?
34	VIT Definitions	VIT	1	The table on page one has a listing of up to 10 partners. As long as the partner is contributing to the "collective" capability and experience , how large can the team be?? Will it be limited to 10?
35	VIT Definitions	VIT	1	From the definition we see that this team must be led by an SDVOSB, does the government plan on changing this strategy and awarding to a large Locum Tenen company?
36	VIT Definitions		1	Are Functional Categories defined elsewhere?
37	VIT Definitions		1	Is the NAICS code intended to be 541611 or 561320? Will 541611 be used at the IDIQ level with other NAICS utilized at the TO level?
14	VIT Definitions	FMC	2	States: a VIT with collective capability in all Functional Category Areas" - again, tehr eis nothing in the draft PWS that describes Functional Areas - is this refering to the 3 Occupational Categories outlined in 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3 of the Draft PWS?
15	Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	2	States: resulting acquisition vehicle will be a multiple award IDIQ - does the government have a specific goal number for award on this IDIQ?
16	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2	Paragraph 2 states: This vehicle is a resource to support implementation and healthcare staffing requirements at all elvels of the VHA.

Paragraph 3 States: The purpose of this contract is to provide healthcare staffing through a pool of highly qualified VITS.

Is this vehicle a required procurement method for VA healthcare staff procurement before the FSS 621-I or placement on SAM for smiliar services as covered by this IDIQ?

17 Performance Work Statement 1.2 Scope 2 Paragraph 3 States: The purpose of this contract is to provide healthcare staffing through a pool of highly qualified VITS.

When cross referenced with Definitions draft of VITAL - are we to assume that functional area 1 and Occupational Category 3.3.1 is the driving requriement for extensive experience

18	Performance Work Statement	1.1	2	The government mentions multiple awards will be made. How many awards is the government intending to make?
19	Performance Work Statement	1.1	2	Approximately how many IDIQ awards does the government anticipate makoing?
20	VIT Definitions	Exclusivity	2	How does the government plan to manage this post IDIQ award?
21	VIT Definitions	TOPR	2	Is the governemtns intention to ofer this under a BPA with several Prime Comtractors than issue TO's to fulfill their needs?
22		Re: Solicitation Notice	2	The Government notes it "may provide consolidated answers via a separate SAM.gov notice at a later date" - will each vendor receive individual answers to their specific questions if consolidated answers are not provided?
23	Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	2	The Government notes this will be a multiple award IDIQ - what safeguards and processes will be used to ensure that VITs are not offering overlapping candidates for different roles/needs/TOs under this multiple award vehicle?
24	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2	Can services under "Other task orders may provide staff for ongoing program management and other support needs that allow VHA to accomplish its strategic goals and objectives, only if they also have a need in Occupational Series 1 or Occupational Series 2." support efforts for the modernization / transformation of clinical and non-clinical services delivery to enable realized efficiencies to reduce the workforce shortage?
25	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2	Can the Government clarify if "For each base contract and any subsequent task order awards, the contractor shall provide the contractor personnel, comprehensive management, materials, equipment, facilities, travel, supervision of contractor resources, and any required deliverables necessary to satisfy the requirement. The contractor shall perform the work in accordance with the resultant base contract, and any task order awards." denotes that the VITs may be asked to provide fully operational clinics and/or other facilities for use to provide and/or support Veteran health care?
26	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Can VHA provide more information on the strategic goals referenced in the PWS, 1.2 Scope, page 2 in regard to Occupational Series 1 or 2 where staffing would assist in achievement of the goals?
27	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Scope 1.2 speaks to streamline order procedures and reduced procurement lead times. Can the Government provide an overview of someof the inefficiencies currently encountered?
28	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Scope 1.2 speaks to streamlined ordering procedures and reduced procurement lead times. Can the Government provide an overview of current (baseline) procurement times for reference?
29	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Will there be target turnaround times for 1) staffing for emerging needs or 2) staffing for specific period of times to allow normal recruitment and onboarding?
30	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Can the Government provide an overview of current staffing levels, and identify any areas that have been difficult to fill?
31	VIT Definitions	Exclusivity	2	Can the government provide additional clarrification regarding a firm being associated with more than one VITat the TO level?
32	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Re: Temporary services: We understand that the government needs both on demand and longer term staffing, What is the shortest amount of time a placement may be working in their capacity, i.e. days? What is the longest amount of time, i.e. less than a year.
33	Performance Work Statement	1.2/3.3	2	The PWS states "IT Support is outside the scope of this contract." It is unclear why "3.3.3.1.10 Information Technology Management (Series 2200 –2299)" is included.
34	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	The PWS notes "IT Support is outside the scope of this contract". Can the government please clarify if Vendor Management System software, technologies that support personnel processes (e.g., credentialing) and additional technologies such as scheduling systems are part of the scope.
35	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	Are other contract vehicles that VHA uses to obtain staff from the Clinical Occupation series being replaced by this IDIQ?
36	VIT Definitions		2	In the definition of Exclusivity, please clarifiy the meaning of "No individual firm may be associated with more than one VIT, unless specifically provided for at the TO level." What are examples of "specifically provided"?
37	VIT Definitions		2	Recommend removing "IHT" from IHT Free Agent (FA) VIT List at bottom of page 2.
38	VIT Definitions		2	In the clause 'If the VIT offers best value on an offer that includes a VITEP TOLL, the award will be placed against the VITEPs assigned contract number." What is the intention of this clause, specifically referencing the contract number?
39	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2	The PWS notes "The Veteran Integrated Team Agile Lead (VITAL) shall provide the services and labor categories necessary to fulfill the requirements of the 3 Occupational Series and lead a VIT (Veteran Integrated Team)". Section 3.3 notes "The Veteran Integrated Team shall provide services, labor categories, and solutions necessary to fulfill the scope of all three Occupational Series." Can confirm fulfillment of these requirements can be provided by VIT members (i.e., the VITAL and VIT-SOs) in compliance with Limitation of Subcontracting requirements?
1	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Physician Services	3	Why would the VA limit itself to only allowing physicians who MD/DO were from certain American and Canadian schools? Also this limitation conflicts with PWS 7.11. ECFMG certification allows foreign-trained physicians a pathway to practice in the U.S. if they undergo a ACGME accredited residency program in the US/Canada, and allowing providers who take this route is a commercially reasonable practice. We would suggest adding that to the eligibility for physicians, else VA is unnecessarily constraining the labor pool available to it under the resultant contracts.
18	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	3	Top paragraph States" A description of the VIT and all team requirements are identified in B1 Contract Administration Data" - can you please provide us with B1
19	Performance Work Statement	2.1	3	Will all task orders be issued competively to all qualifed IDIQ holders?
20	Performance Work Statement	1.2	3	How many SDVOSB (VITAL) Contractor's are you expecting to be a part of the multiple award IDIQ contract?
21	Performance Work Statement	RFI (Problem)	3	The VA loses many interested candidates during the long recruitment and onboarding (R/O) requirements. Does the VA have interest in expanding the RFP to automate R/O phases to significantly speed recruitment and onboarding process and increase the candidate conversion to full time employee? Referencing VA language "...fill clinical and non-clinical vacancies until new VHA employees can be onboarded" and "...expected to worsen in the coming years due to rising health care demand and the challenge of promptly recruiting and onboarding new hires to meet that demand."
22	Performance Work Statement	RFI (Problem)	3	Is the VA interested in a Professional Services vendor to redesign an enterprise through facility-level recruitment strategy to include new innovations for VA recruitment, tapping new staffing sources, and designing a multimedia campaign?
23	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Medical, Hospital, Dental and Public Health (Series 0600 – 0699)	3	Could the Government include column headings for all tables? Example is the ‘Medical, Hospital, Dental and Public Health (Series 0600 – 0699)’ table which displays the heading and then begins with ‘0602’ for ‘Physician Services’ whereas the ‘Clinical Occupational Series’ table on page 1 lists Series, Labor Category, Description, Minimum Education, Minimum Experience, and License/Certification as the column headings.
24	Performance Work Statement	1.2	3	How many awards does the Government intend to make?
25	Performance Work Statement	2.0 GENERAL INFORMATION	3	Will every awardee or VIT be able to propose on every TOPR?
26	VIT Definitions	Open Enrollment	3	Can the government provide additional clarrification regarding the role of "non-key partners"?
27	VIT Definitions	Open-Enrollment	3	Will members of another team, be able to join our team even though may have been on another team at the time of award?
28	Performance Work Statement	2.3	4	Will the govenrment offer labor category location wage adjustments?
29	Performance Work Statement	2.4	4	Will travel be counted as an ODC at the TO level?
30	Performance Work Statement	2.3	4	Can the government provide what type of work or services might be required at a contractor’s facility?
31	Performance Work Statement	2.4	4	PQS Section 2.4 references "Travel, to include the simultaneous deployment of multiple teams, within the United States and its territories." Will this include the management teams in addition to the locums personnel themselves?
32	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Will contractors be able to bid on Specific Occupation Catagories? Or must they bid on all three?
33	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Can the government provide an estimate of the percentage of work expected for each Occupational Category?
34	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	In order to maintian good personell a significant Fringe benifts package will be needed to attract ualified personell. Will the government be issuing a minimum standard for the fringe package so that there is at least a baseline established?
35	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Will the government be issuing a base rate for each job Classification such as the use of the SCA Wage Determination where applicable or at other criteria in order that a fair base line of wages are given for each TO?
36	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1 Non-Personal Services	5	In section 3.2.1 Non-Personal Services the VA states that this is not a personal services contract. This means that there are management and administrative functions that the prime contractor will need to fulfill when they provide staff. (assign tasks, prepare work schedules, measure/manage performance of staff) Is it the VA's intention that offerors are to include the cost of these management/administrative services in the LCat rates that they bid? Will the TOPRs and associated PWS' include enough detail in regards to the daily work assignments and tasks to prevent the need for local VA staff to slip into a 'personal services' model?
37	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1	5	We encourage the government to consider the implications of 3.2.1 and the designation that this is a non-personal services contract (NPSC). In many cases the contract personnel will work in, and part of, a team within a VA facility and will need to be supervised by Government employees. In addition, the Government staff in the facility will, likely need to create work schedules and assign tasks to effective utilize the services of a contract worker.
38	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1 & 3.2.3	5	For direct staffing requirements, could the Government clarify if these sections denote that contractor supervision and management personnel will need to be provided for all supporting staff placed in Government locations?
39	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	In Section 3.3, it states that the PWS is intended to provide four categories of support: Planning and Analytical Services, Strategic and Operational Support, Implementation Support, and Monitoring and Evaluation Support. However, subsections 3.3.1-3.3.3 all read as if the work is purely staff augmentation. Will the government please clarify the nature of the work under this PWS?
40	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Will the government please clarify the intention behind using federal Occupational Series in this document intended for non-federal employees? Is it intended to connote the use of federal occupational qualification standards? How should the LACK of an occupational series (e.g., Change Management Specialist) be interpreted?
41	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1	5	Non-Personal Services: Is it the government intent that all labor categories will be for non-personal services?
42	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Is there a plan to streamline, centralize and/or consolidate Credentialing and Onboarding services within VHA? Improvements in these areas would significantly reduce time to get contracted staff on the job and move among VA facilities.
43	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Does the Occupational Services and Labor Categories (3.3.3.1-3) include Temporary Placements, Permanent Hires, and Temp-to-Perm options? As written, the PWS appears to be soliciting only for Temporary Placements.
44	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	Is there a plan to incorporate a single Vendor Management System within VHA that will be used by all VITs and VHA staff, or will each Prime contractor be responsible for providing their own systems within their VITs?
45	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	For Occupational Services and Labor Categories (3.3.3.1-3), it is unclear how task order staffing proposals would be evaluated, especially for the Clinical Occupational series. Please provide example evaluation criteria.
46	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	With the varied levels of competition for many critical clinical and allied health professionals and regional / market salary differences from across the U.S., how does the government plan to evaluate price at both the IDIQ and task order levels? How is the Service Contract Act applied?
47	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1	5	For Non-Personal Services, please provide additional information or an example to clarify the implications for contracted staff, including clinicians, who are embedded with VHA operations.
48	Performance Work Statement	3.2.3	5	Please provide additional information or an example that explains (Inherently Government Function) "3.2.3.1 Contractor Worker Arrangement: A contract worker shall not be assigned in the same place of performance in both a NPSC arrangement, regardless of whether the contract worker is performing on different TO's or employed by another contractor."
49	Performance Work Statement	3.3	5	The Occupational Categories listed suggests operational support services only (3.3.3.1-3). Will there be a separate task or category for advisory services to address planning and analytical services, strategic and operational support, implementation support, and monitoring and evaluation that are described prior to sections 3.3.1-3?
50	Performance Work Statement	3.3.1	6	What is the average duration of the temporary assignments? This will become particularly imporant for the clinical and medical positions, as they appear to be needed on site, nationwide. It will be extremely difficult for contracts to full these positions on-site during standard business hours if there're only six month assignments.
51	Performance Work Statement	3.3.1	6	Does the government plan to set minimum assignment timeframes to help companies attract talent as an industry best practice?
52	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	Will the VA provide a Professional Services contractor access to VBA, VHA, Community Care, Office of Academic Affiliations, and other related data to enable creation of enterprise-level predictive analytics and modeling tools that anticipate and prioritize future clinical and non-clinical hiring needs at each facility? Which data cannot be provided? Referencing VA language in Planning and Analytical Services
53	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	Does the VA have interest in using the metaverse and other simulated training to speed onboarding and shorten the orientation process while ensuring high competency? Referencing VA language in Implementation Support related to training, communication, and change management.
54	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	Does the VA seek a redesign of the TMS platform to more readily identify internal staff who are candidaes to fill vacancies and details? Referencing VA language on the talent management processes.
55	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	Does the VA seek a dashboard that is built within or external to HR Smart or related HR software? Referencing "Monitoring and Evaluation Support."
56	Performance Work Statement		6	How will the VA evaluate bidders on anything other than price to make sure that the end result is not LPTA, resulting in minimally qualified candidates?
57	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	The PWS identifies that services “may be required” in the following areas: Planning and Analytical Services, Strategic and Operational Support, Implementation Support, Monitoring and Evaluation Support. When such services are required does the VA intend to identify those needs in the individual TOPRs so that the contractors can price in the support for those services at the task order level? Will there be any requirement for these types of services at the IDIQ level and, if so, will each contractor be provided with a TOPR for this support?
58	Performance Work Statement	3.3 Occupational Services and Labor Categories	6	The PWS states in the Strategic and Operational Support section that "...contract labor staff may be eligible to transition into VHA employees". Can the government share additional information on which labor categories or an example of a situation where this is relevant?
59	Performance Work Statement	3.3.2.1.4	7	Is this healthcare housekeeping?
3	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Nursing Assistant	8	CNA courses do not last 2 years; they last 1-3 months. The standard should be that the CNA has completed the minimum amount of didactic and clinical training required by the state in which the CNA will be providing services.
4	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Medical Supply Technician	8	Requiring a 2 year degree in not appropriate for this position; you will not be able to find such individuals. Also this labor category's name and description do not match. A Medical Supply Tech is different from a Sterile Supply Tech. In the case of the latter, though, 2 years is also not appropriate. Instead, require graduation from a central sterile supply training course.
5	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Medical, Hospital, Dental and Public Health (Series 0600 – 0699)	8	Could the Government review and confirm column data for the LCAT tables to ensure the accuracy of the information populated? Example is the ‘Medical, Hospital, Dental and Public Health (Series 0600 – 0699)’ table on page 8 which displays ‘0622’ for ‘Medical Supply Technician’ and the fourth column in the row states ‘Providing reassurance and encouragement to mentally ill patients.’.
6	Performance Work Statement	4.1.4	9	Does the government have a preferene on the VMS that is chosen to manage all partners?
7	Performance Work Statement	4.2	9	To aggregrate and present accurate and up-to-date data, can the deadline be adjusted to the 15th of the month.
19	Performance Work Statement	6.0 Key Personnel	10	Can the Contractor Representative and the IDIQ contract Manager be the same Key Personnel
20	Performance Work Statement	4.3	10	Would the Government clarify the intended LCAT(s) for the TO Managers under this award? Does the TO Manager requirement overlap with the Task Order Project Lead (TOPL) requirement, or are they intended to be separate positions?
21	Performance Work Statement	6.0	10	In the first paragraph, the PWS states that "the key person" for the IDIQ is the IDIQ Contract Manager. However, in the next paragraph, it goes on to identify three IDIQ Level Key Personnel. Will the government please confirm the key personnel for the IDIQ?
22	Performance Work Statement	6	11	Once all security background check documentation has been accurately and completely submitted, what does the VA foresee as the average review/approval turnaround time we should expect (to help manage the timing expectations of target staff)
23	Performance Work Statement	6.0	11	For the Task Order Project Lead (TOPL), the PWS specifies that the contractor should designate a POC at the "IDIQ level' for all task orders. Should this be at the "task order level"?
24	Performance Work Statement	7.5	12	How does the government intend to handle contractor time keeping resolution?
25	Performance Work Statement	7.1.1	12	To clearify it will be the Contractor's responsiability or the employees responsibilty to carry to required Malpractice Insurance?
26	Performance Work Statement	7.2	12	Will the Government retain and exercise approval authority on individual contract workers presented by the contractor?
27	Performance Work Statement	7	12	Please confirm the contractor will be required to ensure no individuals on HHS OIG exclusionary list are permitted to serve as contract workers under this program.
28	Performance Work Statement	7.5	12	The requirements ("The Contractor shall be responsible for a record of arrival and departure times, absenteeism, payroll records, coordinating time off with the Government, and appraisals of their employees") can be perceived as subjecting contractor personnel "to the relatively continuous supervision and control of a Government officer or employee" contrary to FAR 37.104. Will the government please remove?
29	Performance Work Statement	7.0	12	There are two sections numbered 7.X. Will the government please adjust?
30	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Series 0647	12	Please explain why 6 months of nursing experience is required for the Diagnostic Radiologist Technician labor category?
31	Performance Work Statement	7.2	12	The PWS states that the initial start shall not be less than 20 calendar days from the CLIN PoP. Is there a limit as to how many FTE we can have credentialed and security checked in our pool of laborers at any one time?
32	Performance Work Statement	7.6	12	Is the Basic Life Support Certification required for all positions or specific to the Clincial Occupational series?
33	Performance Work Statement	7.14	13
34	Performance Work Statement	7.13	13	Please confirm that the contractor will be permitted to bill for the time required for the contract personnel to completed the required Criminal History Background Check?
35	Performance Work Statement	7.9	13	Once a complete and accurate credentials application file has been submitted for properly qualified medical providers, what does the VA expect the average turnaround time be for the completion of the review and awarding of privileges (again to help us establish proper start date expectations with target candidates)
5	Performance Work Statement	7.19	14	Replacement times desired are unrealistic. 30 and 60 are more in line with industry standards unless "qualifying documents"are merely a CV and license and not the entire credentialing package.
6	Performance Work Statement	7.19	14	We encourage the Government to consider the workflow as currently envisioned under the requirement for the recruiting, onboarding and placement of contract wokers. We believe the current timeframes for staff placement are too short given the requirement. In most cases, the issuance of a Task Order will be the start of a contractor's recruiting process. Recruiting, conducting preliminary screenings, interviewing candidates will require moe than 15 or 30 days alone. Then, once a candidate is idetnified, the credentialing process can take an addition 30 to 45 days. Once the candidate is hired and credentialed, background checks, health requirements and training will also be required. Taken together, it is not realistic to believe any contractor can successfully place a contract worker until after at least three months from the issuance of a Task Order. In other programs, contractors have maintained a database of candidates but that database alone has been shown not to significantly decrease the time from Task Order to fulfillment to start of work. We believe the Government and the contractors will be best serve by reasonable timeframes that are achievable given the complexity of staffing for many of the Labor Categories required under this contract.
7	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	3566	14	Hospital cleaning tyically requires special qualifications or certifications. The LCAT for the Environmental Service Technician only requires a high school diploma of GED equivalent. Will this position require special qualifications or certifications in addition to a high school diploma?
8	Performance Work Statement	7.19	14	Given the current demand for Healthcare Providers, we suggest qualifying documents for non-credentialed personnel be NLT 30 days and NLT 60 days for credentialed personnel.
9	Performance Work Statement	7.32.1	16	Please confirm that the Contractor will be permitted to bill for the time required for contract personnel to completed the required training.
10	Performance Work Statement	7.32.2	16	Can the government specify the number of hours required for annual training?
11	Performance Work Statement	7.0	18	Bringing to your attention that 7.0 is used twice as section numbers and thereby disrupting section sequence.
12	Performance Work Statement	7.9 & 7.19	13 & 20	Historically, the credentialing process may take longer depending upon the time of year and the location of the base, will our team have a time limit in which to get this done? Will our team be penalized for government delays?
13	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	ALL	1-46	For many labor categories in which the minimum experience is provided, the minimum experience requirements are substantial. Would the Government consider accepting less experienced candidates who are otherwise well qualified on a case-by-case basis or lowering the minimum years of experience to provide a wider candidate base?
14	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2 & 3	Given the need for the VITs to complete acquisition of medical equipment, payment of substantial salaries, and potential leasing and/or acquisition of facilities, will it be possible to have viability via a pure SDVOSB-led team model for this acquisition given the high dollar value of these direct purchases and obligations under this IDIQ? Is the Government considering a multiple award vehicle including both SDVOSB and non-SDVOSB teams to allow for enhanced viability of larger TOPRS under this vehicle?
15	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2 of 20	Our experience in staffing various VAMCs and VA Healthcare Systems is that each one has an arduous non-standard onbording and credentialling process that can take months. Many VAMCs only meet once a month to review credentials. Will this IDIQ set up an independent or centralized credentialling and onboarding approval (or better a pre-approval) process for our candidates to serve at any/all VAMCs?
16	Performance Work Statement	1.2	2 of 20	While our candidates are going through the long and difficult credentialling and security approval processes, at the same time the gov't finds and places a federal candidate, will the gov't expect that such occurances is just the cost of doing business with an unpredictable placement process or will the gov't recognize the false pretense of seeking a temporary hire and make some type of restitution? Or perhaps will the gov't guarentee at least 4 to 6 months of work for the temporary hire once they are approved and onboarded (regardless of the gov't having also filled the position)?
17	Performance Work Statement	1.2 & 3.3	2, 5, & 6	Would the Government consider utilization of this vehicle to provide pre-planning, planning, and analysis task orders to conduct needs assessments and inform the development of future staffing task orders? Currently, as written, independent planning and analysis work is excluded unless accompanied by direct staffing "Other task orders may provide staff for ongoing program management and other support needs that allow VHA to accomplish its strategic goals and objectives, only if they also have a need in Occupational Series 1 or Occupational Series 2.", however, section 3.3 notes activity categories and task areas that would often benefit from functioning independently from direct staffing task orders to inform the creation of or analyze the effects/outcomes of staffing efforts.
18	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		39 on	Would the Government clarify years of experience, if any, for Subject Matter Experts (SME) positions in addition to Masters Degree?
19	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		39 on	Would the Government clarify if any aligned Masters' Degree would qualify for the Subject Matter Experts (SME) positions and that this alignment is at the discretion of the contractor if not further defined in future solicitation documents?
20	Performance Work Statement	3.2.1	5 of 20	On our existing NPSC arrangements, the gov't requires us to send resumes for pre-screening by the clinic staff. This process is more in line with a Personal Services Contract and it slows up the hiring process. Will the gov't address the limits of clinic staff involvment regarding resume screening under a NPSC arrangement for this IDIQ?
2	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	All	All	This is a very limited list of Clinical labor categories. Consider adopting the more expansive list the Defense Health Agency has developed in the PWS of current MQS contracts, which will afford VISNs far greater flexibility in ordering the services they need at such time that the services are needed.
3	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	All	All	Will the government please clarify the intention behind using federal Occupational Series in this document intended for non-federal employees? Is it intended to connote the use of occupational qualification standards? How should the lack of an occupational series (e.g., Change Management Specialist) be interpreted?
4	Facilities Listing	All	All	The Facility Listing appears to concentrate heavily on the Northeast, particularly New York and New Jersey. Does the VA anticipate including additional regions?
5	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	All	All	Does the VA anticipate using a Self-Scoring Worksheet model to assess offerors' Past Performance in proposals?
6	Facilities Listing		All Pages	Will the government be issuing a fixed number of staff they are looking to place and positions the are looking to fill in each facility in each region
7	Performance Work Statement	N/A	N/A	Does VHA anticipate that the Service Contract Act will apply to any of the roles covered by the SOW?
8	Performance Work Statement	N/A	N/A	Are there any Special Hiring Authorities leverageable to meet/accelerate hiring goals?
9	Performance Work Statement	N/A	N/A	Does VHA intend to do any direct hires from the pools of candidates employed by the staffing firms awarded on the contract? If so, is there a preferred placement fee methodology acceptable to VHA?
10	Performance Work Statement	N/A	N/A	Is it anticipated that task orders will be specific to VISNs or specific to role types across VISNs?
11	Performance Work Statement	N/A	N/A	Are task orders likely to be solely based on open requisitions or will there be more of a project based approach based on negotiations with the central procurement/program teams?
12	VIT Definitions	n/a	n/a	Did not see ICSP (Integrated Critical Staffing Program) which is mentioned in the Section C PWS document defined within this document – could this acronym and its definition be included?
13		General	N/A	The VA very often converts contract workers to GS. Although contractors are supportive of the opportunity for continued employment of our healthcare professionals to support Veterans, there is a cost involved in our recruitment and operational process. Suggest the VA consider a conversion fee for contract workers recruited for GS positions. This is a common practice in civilian healthcare facilities.
6	VIT Definitions			Given the scope, complexity, and magnitude of this nationwide requirement, it is extremely unlikely that a VIT, with its limited resources and experience, would be able to successfully execute the contract. By definition, a VIT is a small business, and this program will need prime integrators with the experience of staffing a multitude of labor categories nationwide as well as managing a team. Moreover, it simply would not be possible for an SDVOSB to also perform at least 50% of the work by revenue. That is, the VIT necessarily will have to subcontract out more than 50% to its team in order to fulfill nationwide orders at scale and with the speed required in the PWS, and there simply are not sufficient SDVOSB concerns (VITEP/VITSO) to cover 50% of the requirement anticipated by the Government.

Structuring this as an SDVOSB set aside will set the requirement for program failure. Instead, VHA can acheive its goals of SDVOSB through full & open competition with strong SD/VOSB subcontracting goals. Under a program like this, the prime necessarily will subcontract significant parts of the requirement, and strong SDVOSB subcontracting requirements will ensure contract dollars flow to those firms, many of which specialize in staffing particular regions of the country and not the entire country.

21			What are the specific strategic goals and objectives of the VA FY 2022-2028 Strategic Plan that this acquisition will support?
22			Can you provide more information on the set-aside IDIQ award(s) for US Small Businesses, including the eligibility criteria and requirements for Integrated Teams led by SDVOSBs and VIT Eligible Partners (VITEPs)? Our company is a US Small Business led by licensed board certified Physicians though we are new to Veterans Affairs contracting and we would appreciate being matched with appropriate partners.
23			What are the critical success factors for this acquisition, and how will you measure their achievement?
24			What are the specific healthcare focused services that are within the scope of this Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, as described in Section 3, and how can they be utilized by all VHA programs and facilities?
25			Can you provide more information on the expected efficiencies, streamlined ordering procedures, and reduced procurement lead times that are anticipated as benefits of this acquisition vehicle?
26			What are the potential types of deliverables that may be required from the contractor, in addition to materials, equipment, facilities, and travel, to satisfy the requirements of the base contract and any subsequent task order awards?
27			Can you provide more information on the reasons why IT support is explicitly mentioned as being outside the scope of this contract? From our experience some level of integration is helpful.
28		General	What is the governments anticpated total spend on this contract?
29	Performance Work Statement		Does the VA utilize the Cerner product; Clarvia?
30	Performance Work Statement		Does your timeclock keeping system have an open API?
31			Does the VHA have any insights on how they intend to award task orders to the awarded suppliers? Ex: By VISN?
32			Can the government please share the expected evaluation criteria for IDIQ awardees?
33			Can the government please share the expected timeline for key milestones (i.e. Bid Release, Bid Due, Award, Start of Performance)
34	VHA ICSP Labor Categories	Various	Some categories have no qualification requirements. Will these details be filled in so we can get an exact match?
35	Performance Work Statement		Will the resulting contracts include LCat hourly rates by geographic region? (since labor costs can vary dramatically from region to region) Or will the VA expect the offerors to propose rates that can be supported in any part of the country and then discount on a task order by task order basis based on the region that the task order work is in? If the latter, how will the VA evaluate rate cards that are submitted by various offerors? The more competitive the offerors get with their IDIQ rate card, the less ability they will have to provide staff in high price, high demand, low availability geographies.
36	Performance Work Statement		How many awards does the VA anticipate making on this multi award IDIQ?
37	VIT Definitions		In the attachment of definitions there are references to the IHT contract. Is this a typographical error or does the VA see some type of linkage between this contract and the IHT contract?
38	Performance Work Statement		The VA has selected a NAICS code (NAICS 541611) that is for "Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services". Wouldn't NAICS codes for temporary staffing (561320) or staff placement (561311) be more appropriate for this contract?
39	Performance Work Statement		Section 6.0 Key Personnel requires that contractors give 15 days notice for the replacement of key personnel. Since most standard practice in industry is for people to give two weeks notice, this will be an impossible requirement to meet in most cases. Would the VA consider changing this to 10 days notice?
40	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		Section 7.6 Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification requires that contract workers shall maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or other certifying body yet many of the labor categories are non-clinical. Could the VA identify which labor categories will require this certification and which do not.
41	Performance Work Statement		Does the Government anticipate this will be a Serivce Contract Act (SCA) covered requirement?
42	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		Does the government anticipate awarding to a single contractor nationally or by region? In other simliar programs, having mulitple awardees in the same geographic location resulted in contractors "poaching" qualified staff from one another in order to fulfill a Task Order. The candidates were then able to agree to work for the "highest bidder" which resulted in contractors having to choose betwen filling a position at a loss or declining to bid on a Task Order. We encourage the Government to award to a single contractor to avoid simliar problems.
43	Performance Work Statement		Please define any perceived Conflict of Interest (COI) and any potential offerors who would be prohibited from bidding on this solicitation due to said COI.
44	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		Would the government be open to proposing Junior, Mid, and Senior Level for each Labor Category?
45	VHA ICSP Labor Categories		Would the government consider professional experience in leiu of educational requirements for non clinical labor categories? This would align with Executive Order 13932.
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PWS

Document name	Section of document	Page #	Question (from Vendors)	Response (Gov't will provide)
Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	1	The Government states at least 20% of VA health systems have clinical staffing shortages and at least 20% of VA health care systems have non-clinical staffing shortages. Can the Government provide the % or % estimate of health care systems facing both clinical and non-clinical shortages?	VA OIG has identified both clinical and nonclinical shortage occupations at each VHA health care facility. Shortage occupations are identified as those with significant labor shortages by 20% or more of all facilities. ICSP expects to have task orders with one or more occupational categories requested, and Veterans Integrated Team Agile Leads (VITALs) are expected to have the capability to provide clinical and nonclinical staffing at all facilities.
Performance Work Statement	1.1	1	The PWS states, "The resulting acquisition will be a multiple award IDIQ contract IAW FAR 16.504." Does the VA contemplate using multiple award "pools" for this procurement, such as Unrestricted, Small Business Set Aside, HUB Zone, etc.? Or will all awards be set aside for VOSBs and SDVOSBs?	All awards will be set-aside for SDVOSB Veteran Integrated Team Agile Leads (VITALs). No reserves are anticipated at this time.
Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	2	States: resulting acquisition vehicle will be a multiple award IDIQ - does the government have a specific goal number for award on this IDIQ?	No set amount. The number of awards will vary based on the quality of responses with consideration to the balance between competition and TO efficiency.
Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2	Paragraph 2 states: This vehicle is a resource to support implementation and healthcare staffing requirements at all levels of the VHA.

Paragraph 3 States: The purpose of this contract is to provide healthcare staffing through a pool of highly qualified VITS.

Is this vehicle a required procurement method for VA healthcare staff procurement before the FSS 621-I or placement on SAM for similar services as covered by this IDIQ?	There is no mandatory use policy for this vehicle.
	Performance Work Statement	1.2 Scope	2	Paragraph 3 States: The purpose of this contract is to provide healthcare staffing through a pool of highly qualified VITS.
When cross referenced with Definitions draft of VITAL - are we to assume that functional area 1 and Occupational Category 3.3.1 is the driving requirement for extensive experience	The language has been adjusted to reflect Occupational Categories, not functional categories. All Veteran Integrated Teams (VITs) are expected to have experience in all Occupational Categories, and all Veteran Integrated Team Agile Leads (VITALs) are expected to have experience in managing large integrated teams.
	Performance Work Statement	1.1	2	The government mentions multiple awards will be made. How many awards is the government intending to make?	No set amount. The number of awards will vary based on the quality of responses with consideration to the balance between competition and TO efficiency.
	Performance Work Statement	1.1	2	Approximately how many IDIQ awards does the government anticipate making?	No set amount. The number of awards will vary based on the quality of responses with consideration to the balance between competition and TO efficiency.
	Performance Work Statement	1.1 Overview	2	The Government notes this will be a multiple award IDIQ - what safeguards and processes will be used to ensure that VITs are not offering overlapping candidates for different roles/needs/TOs under this multiple award vehicle?	Exclusivity requirements apply; partners may support one and only one Veteran Integrated Team (VIT).

This is the start of the file's text. The full file is on GovTribe.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated May 26, 2023.