P09 PWS Childcare_State_Washington.docx

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

The Office of Women’s Health (OWH)-Veteran’s Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP)

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Veterans Affairs (VA) Kids Care Services

1. Background The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, Deborah Sampson Act of 2020, Section 5107(a): Under section 5107(a) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315; codified at 38 U.S.C. § 1709C), the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) Office of Women’s Health (OWH) Veterans Childcare Assistance Program has a requirement to provide drop-in childcare services to veterans who have mental health appointments or intensive healthcare medical appointments at any VA facility. The services shall include flexible scheduling options for ad hoc childcare while veterans are receiving medical appointments at the VA medical center.

2. Scope of Work The Contractor shall provide hourly drop-in childcare services for children ages six (6) weeks through twelve (12) years old and up to eighteen (18) years of age for children who are differently abled, during hours that align with the outpatient clinic hours of the facility in accordance with those facilities in Washington’s state, where VA Kids Care resides and Federal laws pertaining to childcare centers. Any child that is less than 6 weeks old will not be accepted into VA Kids Care. The Contractor shall at all times provide at least one childcare attendant on-site with experience in caring for differently abled children.

The Program consists of temporary care (not to exceed 3 hours) that offers children a variety of activities. The current maximum capacity is dependent on the space available at each facility. However, the daily operational capacity is determined by the age of the children, childcare attendant/child ratios, and the veteran needs.

Additional requirements will be detailed at each order level.

The Contractor shall provide all manpower, resources, and services necessary to meet the following objectives:

a) Provide a minimum of three staff at each VA Kids Care, including 1 Childcare Clerk and 2 Childcare attendants.

b) Provide a childcare attendant clerk who must have experience in caring for children who are differently abled when a childcare center has a child on site.

c) Provide a program manager responsible for the entire program from compliance to staffing.

d) Provide manpower and communications to the VA Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP).

e) Provide safe and quality care for young children while strictly adhering to health, sanitation, safety, fire, and risk management requirements.

f) Acquired respective state-qualified requirements and experienced management, support, and Child Development Staff, who communicate positively and professionally with children and parents.

g) Provide environments that positively contribute to children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

h) In case of an emergency or incident where an attendant cannot reach the Veteran to come to VA Kids Care to address the physical needs of a child, the Contractor shall provide any necessary first aid, and in instances where a diaper change is emergent, they will provide it for the children. This information will be provided in a standard operating procedure (SOP) at a local site for staff to use.

The Government will provide the following:

a) Operational infrastructure such as space and furniture for VA Kids Care.

b) Marketing materials such as pamphlets to inform Veterans about the registration process and VA Kids Care contact information.

c) SOP for emergency procedures in case the Veteran is being admitted to the hospital.

d) Diapers, baby wipes, including water, disposable books, and age-appropriate toys for children to use.

e) The government will provide snacks when needed. However, the Veteran or caregiver must give the snack to the child outside of VA Kids Care to avoi potential allergic reactions to other children. Veterans can ask the childcare attendant for a snack for their children.

f) One local VCAP Manager or designee, a Government employee, works directly with the COR, oversees the operations for the local VA Kids Care, and will act as a local Director. This person reports to the COR, and local leadership and works together with the Contractor, local leadership, and the program office to ensure VA Kids Care is in compliance with childcare regulations within the respective state.

3. Place of Performance The following location is VA facility that have committed to opening VA Kids Care. Activation date is to be determined by COR. This list is subject to change. Please hold CRTL and click the link to open page.

Outpatient Clinic Hours are Monday to Friday from 08:00 am to 4:30 pm.

1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108 800-329-8387 Puget Sound (American Lake), WA Link

Note: Facility number followed by a letter identifies a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)

Federal Holidays The Federal Holidays observed by the Federal Government are:

When one (1) of the holidays falls on Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a Federal Holiday. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be observed as a Federal Holiday by U.S. Government Agencies. Also included would be any day specifically declared by the President of the United States of America as a Federal Holiday.

In addition to following states requirements for operating drop-in childcare centers, the VA is exceeding state requirements. For example, each VA Kids Care center will have multiple cameras that will connect the VA Kids Care to the facility’s police. In addition, each VA Kids Care center will have a vestibule door system where the Veteran will drop off the kids in the area between the two doors and ONLY the kids will be buzzed into the VA Kids Care. No parents are allowed to enter behind the 2nd door.

4. Type of Contract The Government intends to award a Hybrid Firm Fixed Price contract.

5. Period of Performance The period of performance shall be one (1) 12-month base year with four (4) option years from the award date.

Period of Performance

6. Task Areas

6.1 Specific Tasks and Deliverables

6.1.1 Task #1: Kick-off Meeting

Kick-off meeting shall occur no later than 5 days from task order award unless otherwise specified by the CO or COR, the contractor shall lead a kick-off meeting for the effort. The purpose of the kick-off meeting is to create an understanding between the VA and the contractor of the project approach, major actions, and schedule for key milestones and deliverables. The kick-off meeting shall also serve as the means to provide the vendor with additional details regarding required tasks. The vendor shall provide the Government with a draft presentation one business day prior to the meeting. The presentation shall review the task coordination details, e.g., meeting schedules and topics, deliverable review, issue resolution processes, and preferred communication mechanisms. The kick-off meeting shall be held at a VA facility or virtually, at the discretion of the Government. The completion of this meeting shall result in the following outcomes:

Deliverable(s):

· Kickoff Meeting (Agenda/Participation/Notes)

6.1.2 Task #2: Recurring Adhoc Report

The contractor shall be responsible for providing monthly reports/data on the total number of children accessing/utilizing VA Kids Care. Subsequently, the contractor shall also provide reports/data as requested by the COR.

Deliverable(s):

· Recurring Adhoc Report

6.1.3 Task #3: Childcare Program Manager

A Contractor, who functions as the childcare center program manager, who will act as a regional director for VA Kids Care, will provide program administration and be responsible for the recruitment, hire and supervision of staff and oversight over all aspects of the childcare program. The childcare center program manager must have a minimum education requirement of at least 25 college credits in childhood education, of which only 8 can be department-approved clock hours, must hold a child development associated certificate at a minimum, and must be registered with the respective State training requirements for early care and training education, and must have experience on providing care to children who are differently abled. The childcare center program manager must have a minimum of two years of experience as a program manager of a childcare center for children ages 6 months through 12 years, and up to 18 years of age for differently abled children.

The childcare center program manager will be responsible for providing a contingency plan for emergency and routine leave coverage that meets staffing experience; certification requirements and child/care giver ratios to the local VCAP manager for concurrence. The Contractor is required to provide the following documents to the Contracting Officer Representative and the local VCAP manager for each proposed contractor employee that will be performing under contract at the respective local facility.

1. List of proposed personnel and the job title for the position they will be performing.

2. Professional resumes for all proposed personnel, shall be no more than 3 pages.

3. Copy of professional certifications that are current and valid for the positions to be held.

4. Additionally, but not limited, proof of education, year of pertinent experience, employment history, child develop associate, current health condition, immunization history, references, etc.

The childcare center program manager will be responsible for hire and recruitment of staff. The Childcare Center Program Manager will hire for the following positions listed below. Each staff member must have the appropriate credentials and experience listed in the staff member’s position description.

Deliverable(s):

· Program Manager Labor Hours (250 hours)

6.1.4 Task #4: Childcare Clerk

Childcare Clerk who must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and has documented experience working with children. The childcare clerk must be located at the VA Medical Center for the majority of the hours and readily available to provide guidance; and program direction and function as a supervisor or a leader with VA Medical Center Staff (i.e. Fire; Safety; Executive Leadership; local Veteran Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP) manager; Public Relations etc.). These duties shall not interfere with any assigned provision of childcare. In the event the childcare center clerk is unavailable due to planned administrative leave, emergency, or sick leave the contractor must designate a person to be in charge that meets the minimum qualifications for with the respective State for a lead childcare clerk. The local VCAP manager or designee will be advised in advance of any planned absences that require designation and/or substitution of staffing and provide concurrence.

Deliverable(s):

· Childcare Clerk Labor Hours (2080 hours)

6.1.5 Task #5: Childcare Attendant

The childcare attendant must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school diploma or equivalent and operates under the direct supervision of a childcare clerk.

Deliverable(s):

· Childcare Attendant (2 attendants) Labor Hours (1040 hours)

6.1.7. Deliverables Schedule

7. Veterans Requirements to Receive Childcare Services Veterans will be informed of the program via on-site signage, promotion through VA websites, mail, Veterans service organizations, clinical provider referrals, and general inquiries. Veterans will be required to sign an attestation that the Veteran has a medical appointment at the time of child drop-off.

Pending final regulations approval, intensive healthcare appointments are defined as follows:

38 U.S.C. § 17.324 Eligible appointments.

(a) VA will furnish childcare assistance under § 17.324 to an eligible veteran who receives at a VA medical facility:

(1) Mental health care (including a mental health-related appointment and an appointment where mental health is discussed); or

(2) An appointment that does not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) when the eligible veteran or the health care provider determines that the presence of the child may impact the effective provision of health care. Examples include, but are not limited to, an appointment where the presence of a child may be inappropriate, unsafe, or uncomfortable for the child or the eligible Veteran and an appointment where it may be difficult for the eligible veteran to adequately supervise the child for the duration of the appointment.

(b) The following are not eligible appointments under paragraph (a):

(1) Emergency room visits; and

(2) Any appointment requiring sedation.

7.1 Safety

7.1.1 Childcare Safety

Childcare Safety is ensuring freedom from accidental or inadvertent injury during childcare service processes. All adverse events, close calls, or intentionally unsafe acts must be reported immediately (same day) to the COR or designee for the local VCAP manager. In case of an emergency, the childcare center will dial 911.

8. Inclement Weather Should the VA childcare center not open due to weather conditions; local leadership will make a determination and share the decision on its regular outlets such as the VA facility’s website, local radio and television stations will announce this information, and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will confirm and advise the Contractor of any closure. The childcare center should adjust its operating hours accordingly. The Veteran can call the local medical facility to confirm for childcare center’s closure.

9. Scheduling Services will mostly be available between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, the childcare services must be aligned with the outpatient clinic operations hours +/- 30 minutes to allow veteran time to drop off and pick up their kids. Pre- appointments for use of drop-in services are not required. Veteran may, however, contact the childcare center in advance of their appointment date. Capacity is dependent on the space availability at the local facility at any given time. However, it is anticipated that general use will not exceed three (3) hours for most users, with, drop-in consideration for children with special requests of Veterans based on multiple appointments and/or appointment types. The drop-off and pick-up area is located in the reception area of the childcare center.

10. Childcare attendant to Child Ratio The childcare center will operate within the childcare attendant-to-child ratio per Washington’s State requirement.

Once the maximum capacity is reached for a stated age group, no additional children will be accepted within the stated age group. The Veteran can be put on a waitlist. Once the VA Kids Care has more capacity, the Contractor can contact the Veteran to inform them of the VA Kids Care availability.

Note: For the actual teacher-to-children ratio, please click on the respective state link in the “Place of Performance” table above.

11. Contractor Responsibilities

The Contractor must submit all prospective employee qualification documents to the COR prior to finalizing employment. These documents will include, but are not limited to, proof of education, years of pertinent experience, employment history, immunization history (as required by state), references, etc.

The prospective contracted employee may not begin work until the initial VA required Childcare National Agency Check and Inquiries (CNACI) background checks and health requirements are met for taking care of children.

12. Licensure/Regulatory Requirements The contractor must retain a license from the respective State Department of Early Learning and must operate in compliance with all State and Federal Laws and Regulations governing childcare centers with all applicable per State and Federal laws and regulations governing childcare centers.

The Government will ensure the VA Kids Care centers are licensed with all state regulations.

13. Key Personnel Skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel are essential for successful Contractor accomplishment of the work to be performed under this effort. These are defined as individuals crucial to the successful performance of the orders issued and the programs being supported by those orders and are those persons identified as key personnel in accordance with solicitation requirements. The Contractor agrees that the key personnel will not be removed, diverted, or replaced from work without prior notification of the CO. Contractor staff will be fully qualified and have the level of experience necessary to accomplish the requirements of this PWS, as well as those requirements outlined in Section 6.0.

Substitution of Personnel:

Any personnel that the Contractor offers as substitutes shall have the ability and qualifications to meet or exceed the requirements of the contract. Requests to substitute personnel shall be reviewed and approved by the COR. In addition, the substitutes must be trained by the trainer to ensure the replaced childcare attendant is competent to do all tasks assigned. All requests for substitutions in personnel shall be submitted to the COR within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to making any change in key personnel. The request shall be written and provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution. The contractor shall submit a complete resume for the proposed substitute. The COR will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the contractor of the recommendation in writing. Substitute staff should be designated by the contractor well before the need presents itself, as substitute staff will be required to have already completed the required VA background checks (including a CNACI) and mandatory VA training. The Government retains the right to remove personnel from employment at the VA site.

Childcare Staffing Requirements

Skills, Relevant Experience, and Certification

Childcare Program Manager (CCPM)

Certification

• Must possess a current child development associated certificate

• Must be registered with the respective State training requirements for early care and training education

Experience / General Position Description – CCPM shall:

• Have a minimum education requirement of at least 25 college credits in childhood education, of which “only” 8 can be department- approved clock hours

• Have experience in providing care to differently abled children.

• Have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a program manager of a childcare center for children ages 6 months through 12 years, and up to 18 years of age for differently abled children.

• Act as a regional director for VA Kids Care

• Provide program administration and responsible for recruitment, supervision of staff, hiring, and oversight of all aspects of the childcare program

• Be responsible for providing a contingency plan for emergency and routine leave coverage that meets staffing experience; certification requirements and child/ care giver ratios to the local VCAP manager for concurrence

• Be required to provide the following documents to the COR and the local VCAP manager for each proposed contractor employee that will be performing under contract at the respective local facility:

1. List proposed personnel and job title for the position they will be performing

2. Professional resumes for all proposed personnel

3. Copy of professional certifications that’s current and valid for all positions

4. Additionally, but not limited, proof of education, year of pertinent experience, employment history, child develop associate, current health condition, immunization history, references, etc.

Childcare Clerk (CCC)

Certification

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and has documented experience working with children

Experience / General Position Description – CCC shall:

• Be located at the VA Medical Center [VAMC] for the majority of the hours and readily available to provide guidance and program direction

• Function as a supervisor or a leader with VA Medical Center Staff (i.e. Fire; Safety; Executive Leadership; local Veteran Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP) manager; Public Relations etc.). Such duties shall not interfere with any assigned provision of childcare.

• Designate a person to be in charge that meets the minimum qualifications for the respective State for a lead childcare clerk, in the event the childcare center clerk is unavailable due to planned administrative leave, emergency, or sick leave

• Advised the local VCAP manager in advance, of any planned absences that require designation and/or substitution of staffing and provide concurrence

Childcare Attendant (CCA)

Certification

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and operates under the direct supervision of a childcare clerk

Experience / General Position Description – CCA shall:

• Be a skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel essential for successful contractor accomplishment of the work to be performed under this contract

14. Adverse Events Adverse events may result from acts of commission or omission (e.g., negative outcomes from the childcare services provided). Examples of more common adverse events include child falls, procedural errors or complications, and missing children’s events. Contractor shall submit in technical proposal on how they would address adverse events.

15. Close Calls A close call is an event or situation that could have resulted in an adverse event but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. Such events have also been referred to as "near miss" incidents. An example of a close call would be when a child was almost picked up by an unauthorized adult, but the error was caught and corrected prior to the child being given to an unauthorized adult for pickup. Close calls are opportunities for learning and afford the chance to develop preventive strategies and actions; they receive the same level of scrutiny as adverse events that result in actual injury. Contractor shall submit in technical proposal how they would address close calls events.

16. Intentionally Unsafe Acts Intentionally unsafe acts, as they pertain to children, are any events that result from:

-A criminal act -A purposefully unsafe act -An act related to alcohol or substance abuse by an impaired adult/provider and/or staff member, or events involving alleged or suspected child abuse of any kind.

17. Notification of Adverse Actions The Veteran will be notified of any adverse action which occurred the same day of the action. The notification will be given to the Veteran following the VHA Issue Brief. The Veteran will sign receipt of an acknowledgement, which does not relieve the contractor's responsibility for ramifications of such adverse action. Per Incident Report SOP: Incidents must be reported as soon as the situation allows, not to exceed one hour, to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) local VCAP Program Manager. The local VCAP Program Manager must submit the VA Kids Care mandatory incident report in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidance on Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Operations (15) Guide to VHA Issue Briefs. The local VCAP Program Manager must notify the Veterans Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP) Director and the VA medical facility Director of all reportable incidents.

18. Reporting Requirements:

The Contractor shall be responsible for adhering to the VA security procedures that ensure both children and adults are safely and properly identified prior to childcare drop off and pick up. Identification of both child and adult shall include, but not be limited to, first and last name, phone number where an adult can be reached, State or government-issued ID of the parent or guardian, address, appointment time and place, and emergency contact. The Contractor will also be responsible for obtaining emergency points of contact for each child who is not the parent or guardian of the child during drop off so that another designated responsible individual may pick up a child in the event that the Veteran is unable to return to pick up the child after the child has been dropped off for childcare. An emergency Point of Contact (POC) shall be identified by first and last name and a phone number where the emergency POC can be reached.

The identification of children, adults, and emergency POC shall be recorded and provided to the local VCAP Manager monthly or as requested.

The Contractor shall retain a paper log of Veteran’s use of the childcare center as well as materials used during that period of care. The daily log should contain but not be limited to the Veteran's full name, time and location of appointment(s), age of child/children, name of child/children, and emergency contact name and cell phone number. The information recorded in the log shall be determined via project meetings between the Contractor and local VCAP manager/VA Central Office designees before the actual start date of the program. Once the OI&T infrastructure is built, it will be transferred to an electronic log by a VA employee.

The Contractor shall implement a quality assurance program to ensure that VA requirements are being met. The Contractor shall take corrective action when deficiencies are identified and return any corrective/additional information to the local VCAP manager or Compliance Officer within 14 calendar days.

The local VCAP manager/VA Central Office will have ultimate oversight, review, and rejection/acceptance of all performance related to this program/acquisition.

Under no circumstances should veterans receive billing from the contractor.

The contractor shall appoint a program manager to be responsible for effective liaison with local VA /VA Central Office coordinators and the contract COR.

19. Facility Access and Control The Contractor and the local VCAP manager will work together to ensure the policies and checklists regarding safety; security and emergency procedures address opening and closing of the facility and checking that all doors and gates to the outside areas are secure. During emergencies, families or designated family representatives are notified by the Contractor or the local VCAP manager via telephone, Medical Center emergency notification system, radio, or television broadcast. Local facility emergency SOP will be followed in full force and effect.

The Contractor shall ensure that its employees working at the childcare center display his/her identification badge while on VA grounds. Employees are required to show their valid identification badge to gain access to the facility. If an employee's identification badge becomes lost or stolen, it must be reported to the local VCAP manager within one workday.

20. Physical Security

Theft/Loss/Damage:

In cases of theft, the Contractor shall notify the local VCAP manager in writing within one hour upon discovery. The contractor shall provide the necessary security and precautions to safeguard and protect all Government equipment, property, and supplies. The contractor will replace any lost or stolen items at no cost to the government. Replacement equipment shall be identical in quality to that which was originally furnished by the Government and shall meet all Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.

Lock and Key Control:

The local VCAP manager or designee shall sign for and receive from the Government the initial keys and locks for Government furnished facilities. The contractor is responsible for securing the physical facility and grounds which includes all equipment and furnishings both indoors. The contractor shall reimburse the Government for replacement of locks and keys when the contractor loses or duplicates a master key, all locks will be replaced at the contractor's expense. The contractor shall report the occurrence of a lost, stolen, or misplaced key to the VA Security Office and local VCAP manager within 24- hours after discovery of such a loss, theft, or misplacement.

21. Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA) Requirements The Contractor shall adhere to and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements found in Public Law, Government Policy and National Standards, Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA) Guideline 1910, and Washington State Licensing.

22. Phase-In Operations To minimize any decreases in productivity and to prevent possible negative impacts on additional services, the Contractor shall have personnel on board during the seven (7) business day phase in period. The phase in period will commence upon each facility’s opening date. During the phase in period, the Contractor shall become familiar with performance requirements to fully satisfy performance requirements identified within the PWS.

23. Confidentiality and Nondisclosure It is agreed that press releases, marketing material or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, shall not be publicized by the contractor without the written approval of the COR and the designated VA Childcare Assistance Program Director. The contractor shall not use its involvement with the childcare program in any publicity arena nor any contractor advertisements.

Notes:

The Government prohibits any dissemination of religious information, prayer, and program activities within the childcare center that teach or promote religious doctrine.

24. Penalty for Non-Performance If the Contractor does not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no additional cost to the Government. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by performance, the Government may:

Require the contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements.

25. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) Performance Standards define required performance for specific tasks. The Government performs surveillance to determine if the Contractor exceeds, meets or does not meet these standards. The Government may utilize the Performance Based Service Assessment Survey, provided as Attachment E, or other methods to compare Contractor performance to the Acceptable Levels of Performance (ALPs).

25.1 Methods of Surveillance

Various methods exist to monitor performance. The COR shall use any or several of the surveillance methods listed below in the administration of this QASP.

1. 100% Inspection (evaluates all outcomes) - Each month, the COR shall review all of the Contractor’s performance/generated documentation and document results accordingly. This assessment shall be placed in the COR’s Quality Assurance (QA) file.

2. Random Sample - The COR shall review a random sampling of the contractor’s performance/generated documentation and document your results accordingly. This assessment shall be placed in the COR’s QA file.

3. Validated Customer Complaint or Validated Below Average ALP in a Specific Area - Each month, the COR shall review the Contractor’s performance/generated documentation corresponding to a validated customer complaint or validated inability to perform in accordance with the ALP in a specific area and document your results accordingly. This assessment shall be placed in the COR’s QA file.

25.2 Frequency of Measurements

During task order performance, the COR will periodically analyze whether the negotiated frequency of surveillance is appropriate for the work being performed. It shall be at least twice a year.

25.3 Acceptable Performance Levels (APLS)

Standard Surveillance Method Outcome

25.4 Documenting Performance

Acceptable Performance The Government shall document acceptable performance in accordance with the chart above. Any report may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action.

Unacceptable Performance When unacceptable performance occurs, the COR shall inform the CO. This will always be in writing, although when circumstances necessitate immediate verbal communication, that communication will be followed in writing. The COR shall document the discussion and place it in the COR file.

When the CO determines formal written communication is required, the COR shall prepare a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) and present it to the contractor's program manager.

The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of the CDR in writing to the CO. The CDR will state how long after receipt the contractor has to take corrective action. The CDR will also specify if the contractor is required to prepare a corrective action plan to document how the Contractor shall correct the unacceptable performance and avoid a recurrence. The CO shall review the contractor's corrective action plan to determine acceptability.

Any CDRs may become a part of the supporting documentation for any contractual action deemed necessary by the COR.

26. Government Furnished Equipment

Government Provided Services and Furnished Property:

The Government will furnish the childcare facility for use by the Contractor to perform the requirements of this contract. Facilities are designed and equipped to meet VA fire, safety, health, and sanitation standards and program needs.

All requests for building maintenance will be made to the local VCAP manager or designee. The Contractor shall make no structural alterations to the facility. The Contractor shall return the facility to VA in the same condition as received, minus normal wear and tear. Inspections of the site will be completed by the local VCAP manager on a Quarterly basis and a written report of findings will be provided to the contractor. Any issues attributable to the Contractor’s neglect or abuse will be noted and may be subject to correction at the contractor's expense.

The Contractor will be responsible for the cleaning standard required by State and Federal Laws for all VA childcare center facilities per VA Kids Care Cleaning SOP.

The Contractor shall clean the non-hazardous spills and clean the toys per VA Kids Care Cleaning SOP. The Government will clean the VA childcare facility Care after hours.

The Government will provide grounds maintenance (snow removal, grass-cutting, pest control, and garbage collection from the dumpsters), security, and fire protection.

The Government, during the implementation period will work with the local Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) office to provide toys, and materials to enhance the childcare program.

The COR and Contractor shall accomplish a joint inventory list that confirms all Government- furnished equipment provided to the contractor. Both the COR and contractor will sign and receive copies of the inventory.

The Government will provide the maintenance of all Government-furnished facilities and of all built-in real property (sinks, toilets, built-in cabinets, lighting, light bulb replacements, air conditioning and heating systems, and will pay for utilities (heat, air conditioning, electricity, and water). A listing of all Government-Furnished equipment will be reviewed by both the contractor and COR, for which the contractor will acknowledge receipt.

The Contractor shall be responsible for the cost of maintenance repairs in case of damages incurred because of the contractor's misuse or neglect.

The Government will make structural alterations as may be required to conform to applicable health, safety, and sanitation requirements or modified use of the facility.

The Government will provide external security via the VA Police Service.

The Government will provide access to fire protection and prevention via the local Fire Department.

The Government will provide telephone and limited computer networking capability compatible with the local system.

Prior to contract start date, the contractor shall conduct a joint inventory with the COR and sign a receipt for all non-consumable equipment and materials provided by Government. If for any reason the inventory has not been completed and signed by the contractor by the 10th working day following contract start date, the contractor shall accept Government's inventory list as true and accurate. The COR and the contractor shall jointly update inventory records every 6 months. Inventory copies shall be furnished to the contractor. The contractor, with like quality items, shall replace missing or damaged equipment beyond normal wear and tear. The COR shall approve replacement items. One month before contract completion, a joint inventory shall be conducted using the current inventory list.

The Contractor is responsible for notifying the COR of any Government Funded Property (GFP) that the contractor believes to be necessary to perform the contract and for notifying the COR of any maintenance, repair, or replacement of GFP.