Industry_Questions_and_Government_Answers.pdf

Additional RFQ Questions M68909-17-Q-7628

QUESTION: ANSWER:

1. What was the justification for removing this Solicitation (M6890917Q7628) from the Small Business Set-aside (specifically SDVOSB) to a Full and Open Competition?

While researching the initial questions received in response to the posting of RFQ M6890917Q7628, the Government met with both the Camp Pendleton FIRE/EMS and San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency Emergency Medical Services Department. The decision was made to amend the solicitation to include both the California Code of Regulations and San Diego County EMS policies, procedures and protocols for multiple reasons:

1) MCB Camp Pendleton does not have a trauma center on base. As a result, the Camp Pendleton FIRE/EMS follows the San Diego County EMS system policies, procedures, and protocols, to include the California State requirements, which are implemented at the county level. The medical control for Camp Pendleton EMS is off-base through Tri-City Medical Hospital.

2)Camp Pendleton FIRE/EMS, as part of their agreement with San Diego County, has an Exclusive Operating Area (EOA), including Paramedic services, on base and on the I-5 corridor adjacent to base.

They do not have the capacity to support this requirement, and have approved us to contract out for these services in their EOA, contingent upon us following the local county and state regulations and procedures.

3) SD County approved ALS and BLS providers will have access to the San Diego County 911 radio system.

They will be able to contact the Camp Pendleton Base 911 response system instantaneously.

4) These regulations and procedures are designed to ensure that injured persons receive timely, high quality pre-hospital emergency care in response to potentially life-threatening accidents and injuries.

5) Locally trained, certified, and accredited EMS personnel will also be familiar with the local scope of practice policies for California and San Diego County. These can vary greatly from state to state. As the Camp Pendleton Base 911 EMS will be responsible for transport of all injured personnel, the Government intent is to ensure smooth transfers of care between the EMTs and Paramedics performing under this contract and the base EMS responders arriving to provide the transportation.

Following these meetings, the Government reviewed the current list of approved Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support providers. As none of these companies were SDVOSBs, the determination was made to withdraw the set-aside in accordance with FAR 19.506.

2. Without this effort being cancelled in its entirety by the government; and SDVOSB's providing capabilities of executing the SOW, why did thegovernment change the set-aside status mid process?

Please see the answer to Question 1 above.

3. Under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), can the government legally change a set-aside status in the

Yes, the Government can legally change a set-aside status, see FAR 19.506 Withdrawing or Modifying Small Business Set-Asides.

middle of an announced/postedprocurement process?

4. If the answer to Q2 is "affirmative," can/will the government provide the FAR affording said change?

Yes, included in the answer to Question 3 above.

5. In Q&A #3 - the only company authorized by SD County is AMR which is a large business but that because of number 1 above this effort is directed toward them for award. Or define affiliated

There are only three businesses that are authorized by San Diego County as Advanced Life Support providers – American Medical Response, Mercy Medical Transportation, and Rural/Metro. In addition, there are multiple businesses authorized by San Diego County as Basic Life Support providers. Refer to the answer to Question 7 for the definition of “affiliates.”

6. It was taken from SDVOSB and now F&O Please see Question 1 above.

7. Please define "affiliated" from the government's response to Question 3.

The term “affiliates” is defined in FAR 2.101 Definitions, as included below:

“Affiliates” means associated business concerns or individuals if, directly or indirectly--

(1) Either one controls or can control the other; or

(2) A third party controls or can control both.

8. If it is the Webster definition that we are to use then affiliated is "a subsidiary group or a person officially attached or connected to an organization". Please understand the EMTs and Paramedics within San Diego County are union members.

Is it the government's intent to hire a "union" or "union members" which must be approved by the union, done through the union policy, and at the current union hourly rates as that is what is required to provide someone "affiliated" with an approved San Diego County EMS/Paramedic provider?

Or is it the governments intent that the EMT is "certified" in accordance with National Registry Standards or California EMT Standards and that the Medical Oversight is performed by a California Licensed Medical Director (Doctor)?

Please refer to the definition of “affiliates” provided in response to Question 7 above. In addition, there is not one single union for all Paramedics or EMTs in San Diego County. Employees of the Fire Departments or companies approved as Basic Life Support Providers or Advanced Life Support Providers may belong to a union if they so choose. Any vendors submitting quotes with union employees subject to collective bargaining agreements are required to notify the contracting officer so that the Wage Determination can be updated appropriately to reflect the collective bargaining agreement.

9. Due to the size, scope and previous responses from SDVOSBs received during the prior releases of this effort that was cancelled during source selection. The questions that were released as part of amendment #3 do not show any lack of SDVOSB capability to perform.

Can the government please explain why this effort was taken away from an SDVOSB set aside and created as full

Please see the answer to Question 1 above.

and open with no increase in scope or size?

10. Please clarify from the government's response to Question 3 what is meant by "approved San Diego County EMS Basic Life Support service provider and Paramedics must be affiliated with an approved San Diego County EMS Advanced Life Support Service Provider". Currently American Medical Response a large business that currently employs the "union EMTs and Paramedics" holding the San Diego County Ambulance contract is the only approved provider.

Is it the government's intent to hire American Medical Response as a prime or subcontractor for this effort since they are the only approved service provider in San Diego? Is the change in acquisition strategy from SDVOSB to Full & Open because of this?

AMR is not the only approved provider. Please see the answer to Question 5 above.

11. In QnA released #3 states "approved San Diego County EMS Basic Life Support service provider and Paramedics must be affiliated with an approved San Diego County EMS Advanced Life Support Service Provider".

According to the San Diego County EMS the requirement to be an "approved San Diego County provider" only applies to the organizations/companies that conduct patient transport since according to all of the QnA released as part of Amendment #3 stated that the contracted EMT/Paramedics will not provide transport and that all higher level of care will be coordinated by the AVTB RSO. Please remove this requirement as it is not needed to perform this effort and limits competition.

No, this requirement will not be removed. This requirement was included for several reasons. First, the EMTs and Paramedics will be preparing patients to be transported by the Camp Pendleton Base EMS system, which follows San Diego policies, protocols and procedures. By utilizing emergency medical personnel from approved providers, they will be familiar with the SD county standards and practices and will also have access to the SD County EMS radio system. In addition, Camp Pendleton Base EMS has an exclusive operating area for Paramedic services aboard Camp Pendleton. As they do not have the capacity to support this requirement, they have agreed to allow us to contract for Paramedic services in their EOA as long as the Paramedics are accredited in accordance with SD County protocols, policies and procedures. Please refer to the response to Question 1 above for additional information.

12. I am wondering if this is a completely new requirement or if a contractor has performed this work?

If the latter, are you able to provide the incumbent information: contractor name and contract number?

This is a new requirement and there is no incumbent contractor. This question was previously addressed in Amendment 0003 Questions and Answers.

13. Citation a): Attachment_1_PWS_23_MAY_2017, page 4.3.2.2 Paramedics ” In accordance with San Diego County EMS policies, procedures and protocols, a licensed Paramedic must be

The PWS includes the minimum requirements of the Government. Vendors may exceed the minimum requirements in their technical quote.

affiliated with an approved San Diego County Paramedic/Advanced Life Support service provider.”

(emphasis added)

Citation b): Attachment_1_PWS_23_MAY_2017, page 5.

3.6 Medical Control and Direction

“…The Contractor is responsible for medical control of their own emergency medical personnel performing services under this contract. Medical direction during an emergency must be in compliance with San Diego County EMS policies, procedures, and protocols.

Accordingly, the Contractor’s medical director does not need to be onsite for this effort, but must be locally approved and affiliated with a San Diego County base hospital station.” (emphasis added)

Question: Does a licensed Paramedic that is affiliated with an Approved San Diego County Critical Care Transport service provider that has a medical director that is locally approved and affiliated with a San Diego County base hospital station meet the intended requirements given that licensure at the Critical Care Transport level includes and exceeds the scope of practice defined for Advanced Life Support licensure.

Please Note: The deadline for questions closed on June 02, 2017. The Government will not respond to any additional questions after Question 13 above.