SOW-Onsite Cytotechnologist Pittsburgh VAMC.docx

Statement of Work The Contractor shall furnish all key personnel to provide services necessary to perform onsite Cytotechnologist Services to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The Contractor’s cytotechnologist (s)’ care shall cover the range of Pathology and Laboratory services as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility and the standard of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized national standards as established by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP): https://www.ascp.org Place of Performance: Services shall be provided onsite, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240

1. GENERAL:

1.1. Services Provided: The Contractor shall provide a graduate of an accredited program, Diploma associate degree or greater Cytotechnologist Services onsite in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the VA and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

1.2. Place of Performance: Contractor shall furnish services at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.

1.3. Authority: Title 38 USC 513 General Contracting Authority (FOR FSS TASK ORDERS). VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) part 873)

1.4. Policy/Directives/Handbooks. The contractor shall be subject to the following policies, including any subsequent updates during the period of performance. The policies listed below can be accessed electronically at the following: VA Publications VHA Publications

1.4.1. VA Directive 1663: Health Care Resources (HCR) Contracting – Buying Title 38 U.S.C. 8153

1.4.2. VHA Directive 1003.04: VHA Patient Advocacy

1.4.3. VHA Directive 1065: Productivity and Staffing Guidance for Specialty Provider Group Practice

1.4.4. VHA Directive 1088(1): Communicating Test Results to Providers and Patients

1.4.5. VHA Directive 1100.18: Reporting and Responding to State Licensing Boards

1.4.6. VHA Directive 1100.20: Credentialing of Health Care Providers

1.4.7. VHA Directive 1100.21: Privileging

1.4.8. VHA Directive 1192.01: Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program for VHA Health Care Personnel

1.4.9. VHA Directive 1220(1): Facility Procedure Complexity Designation Requirements to Perform Invasive Procedures in Any Clinical Setting

1.4.10. VHA Directive 1400.01: Supervision of Physician, Dental, Optometry, Chiropractic, and Podiatry Residents:

1.4.11. VHA Directive 1605.01: Privacy and Release of Information

1.4.12. VHA Directive 1907.01: VHA Health Information Management and Health Records

1.4.13. VHA Handbook 1100.17: National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Reports

1.4.14. VHA Handbook 1400.04: Supervision of Associated Health Trainees:

1.4.15. Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended: http://www.justice.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm

2. QUALIFICATIONS:

2.1. Staff/Facility

2.1.1. License: The Contractor’s Cytotechnologist(s) assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia) when services are performed onsite on VA property.

All licenses held by the key personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this contract.

2.1.2. Board Certification: All Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) shall be graduate of an accredited program, Diploma associate degree or greater cytotechnologist Services hold an active ASCP certification and be currently certified in BLS, ACLS or equivalency. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance.

2.1.3. Technical Proficiency: Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government’s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) and Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations (referenced herein) that govern medical staff behavior. Candidate must have proof that they have passed PAP proficiency in the previous 12-month period.

2.1.4. Continuing Medical Education (CME)/ Certified Education Unit (CEU) Requirements: Contractor shall provide the COR copies of current CMEs as required or requested by the facility. Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) registered or certified by national/medical associations shall continue to meet the minimum standards for CME to remain current. Contractor shall report CME hours to the credentials office for tracking. These documents are required for both privileging and re-privileging. Failure to provide shall result in loss of privileges for Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s).

2.1.5. Training (ACLS, BLS, EHR and VA MANDATORY): Contractor shall meet all VA educational requirements and mandatory course requirements defined herein; all training must be completed by the contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) as required by the VA. Other training may become required. VA will communicate any changes to the training requirement to the contractor.

2.2. Key Personnel:

2.2.1. The VA Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for the services required is 1.00 FTE is defined by VA as minimum of 80 hours every two weeks (after Contractor vacation, holidays, and continuing medical education days are subtracted).

2.2.2. The minimum number of graduates of accredited program, Diploma associate degree or greater Cytotechnologist Services required to be onsite daily is __1.00_ as defined in paragraph Hours of Operation in this section.

2.2.3. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing coverage to the VA during periods of vacancies of the Contractor’s personnel due to sick leave, personal leave, vacations and additional coverage as required. In the event a scheduled cytotechnologist is unable to complete an assigned shift, the Contractor shall provide replacement cytotechnologist coverage within 2 hours and notify the COR immediately of the schedule change.

2.2.4. Personnel Substitutions: During the first ninety (90) calendar days of performance, the Contractor shall make NO substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the CO, in writing, within _15__ calendar day(s) after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required below. After 90 days, the Contractor shall submit the information required below to the CO at least _15__ calendar days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

2.2.4.1. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the CO. Proposed substitutes shall have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The CO will notify the Contractor within _15__ calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on the proposed substitutes. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

2.2.4.2. For temporary substitutions where the key person shall not be reporting to work for _3__ consecutive workdays or more, the Contractor shall provide a qualified replacement for the key person. The substitute shall have comparable qualifications to the key person. Any period exceeding two weeks will require the procedure as stated above.

2.2.4.3. The Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any Contractor personnel at any time after performance begins, if personal or professional conduct jeopardizes patient care or interferes with the regular and ordinary operation of the facility. Breaches of conduct include intoxication or debilitation resulting from drug use, theft, patient abuse, dereliction or negligence in performing directed tasks, or other conduct resulting in formal complaints by patient or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. Should the VA COS or designee show documented clinical problems or continual unprofessional behavior/actions with any Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s), s/he may request, without cause, immediate replacement of said Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s). The CO and COR shall deal with issues raised concerning Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the CO.

2.2.4.4. Contingency Plan: Because continuity of care is an essential part of Facility’s medical services, The Contractor shall have a contingency plan in place to be utilized if the Contractor’s cytotechnologist(s) leaves Contractor’s employment or is unable to continue performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

3. VA HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULING:

3.1.1 VA Business Hours: _Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

a. The services covered by this FSS contract shall be furnished by the Contractor as defined herein.

b. The following terms have the following meanings:

(1) Work hours: Personnel shall typically perform services 40 hours a day, seven days a week, including Federal Holidays with actual work schedules to be mutually agreed upon by Contractor and VA based on patient care needs. A 30 minute, unpaid, lunch break is included in each shift. The shift has two 15-minute paid breaks.