Statement of Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Public Address Mass Notification System (PAMNS) and Code Blue Help Point System Maintenance Support Services VA Salt Lake City Health Care System — George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center

1.0 Introduction and Scope

The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (SLCHCS) requires maintenance and support services for two installed campus systems:

1. Public Address Mass Notification System (PAMNS): A campus-wide audio paging, intercom, and mass notification system built on the Biamp Vocia platform, installed across seventeen (17) buildings and associated fiber infrastructure at the VA SLCHCS - George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center.

2. Code Blue Help Point System: A network of outdoor and indoor emergency phone stations enabling direct voice communication with VA emergency services. This system is manufactured by Code Blue Corporation and is not the hospital clinical "code blue" emergency response protocol.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, transportation, replacement parts, test equipment, tools, service manuals, software licenses, and expertise necessary to perform the following services:

· Scheduled Preventive Maintenance (PM)

· Corrective Maintenance and Unscheduled Repairs

· Software and Firmware Maintenance

· System Testing and Reporting

· One-Time System Upgrade: Passive to Active End of Line Devices (Section 5.5)

The Contractor shall maintain both systems in accordance with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards and recommended maintenance intervals. All work shall be coordinated with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and shall comply with all VA security, safety, and infection control requirements described herein.

2.0 Period of Performance

The Option periods may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government.

3.0 Place of Performance

Department of Veterans Affairs VA Salt Lake City Health Care System George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center 500 Foothill Blvd Salt Lake City, UT 84148

4.0 Covered Equipment and Locations

4.1 PAMNS — Biamp Vocia System

Coverage includes all Biamp Vocia equipment at the locations listed below, including but not limited to: speakers, amplifiers, paging stations, cabling, head-end rack equipment, MS1-E units, text-to-speech (TTS) units, VoIP devices, switches, and inter-building fiber connections. Detailed single-line diagrams are provided in Attachment 4.

4.2 Code Blue Help Point System

Coverage includes all Code Blue Help Point emergency phone stations, including handsets, speakers, cameras, visual beacons (blue lights), pedestal enclosures/housings, power connections, and fiber connections, at the locations listed below. External Campus Code Blue Help Point Emergency locations are provided in Attachments 1 and 2. Attachment 6 is the External Campus – Code Blue Help Point Speaker Phone Equipment List as reference to Attachments 1 and 2.

5.0 Specific Tasks

5.1 Initial Assessment and Inventory

Within thirty (30) calendar days of contract award, the Contractor shall conduct a comprehensive on-site assessment of all PAMNS and Code Blue Help Point system components at all locations identified in Section 4.0. The assessment shall document:

a. Physical condition of all components: head-end rack equipment, amplifiers, speakers, paging stations, Code Blue phone stations, cameras, fiber connections, power connections, and associated cabling.

b. All component makes, models, serial numbers, current software and firmware versions, and physical condition.

c. Components at end-of-life or end-of-manufacturer-support.

d. Pre-existing deficiencies or deferred maintenance items outside the scope of routine PM.

e. Operational status of the PAMNS-to-Code Blue integration ("Big Voice" function; Section 5.6).

f. Current software license status for all Biamp Vocia and Code Blue components.

g. For Buildings 1, 3, and 14 specifically: a complete inventory of all existing Biamp Vocia PLD-1 and PLD-2 Passive End of Line Devices by building, physical location, quantity, and condition. This inventory is required to support the upgrade quote under Section 5.5.

Government Review: The Contractor shall submit the Initial Assessment Report to the COR within thirty (30) calendar days of contract award. The Government shall review and accept or return the report with comments within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt. If returned, the Contractor shall resubmit within ten (10) calendar days addressing all Government comments. The accepted Initial Assessment Report constitutes the agreed baseline record of equipment condition for the duration of the contract and governs application of Section 15.0 (Condition of Equipment).

5.2 Scheduled Preventive Maintenance

The Contractor shall submit a proposed Preventive Maintenance (PM) Schedule to the COR within fifteen (15) calendar days of contract award. The PM Schedule shall cover all equipment in Section 4.0, be based on OEM-recommended maintenance intervals, and identify specific tasks, frequency, and anticipated duration for each maintenance activity. The COR shall approve the PM Schedule before any scheduled PM work begins.

The Contractor shall provide the COR with a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days advance notice before each on-site PM visit. At minimum, the Contractor shall perform the following PM tasks:

Monthly — PAMNS (Remote):

· Remote system health check of head-end equipment and all network-connected components.

· Verification of system connectivity, active alarms, and fault conditions.

· Logging of system uptime metrics.

Monthly — Code Blue Help Point System (On-Site):

· Physical functional test of each station: activation, two-way voice communication, speaker output, visual beacon (blue light) activation, and camera function.

· Inspection of exterior pedestal enclosures/housing, mounting hardware, and weatherproofing on all exterior stations.

· Inspection of power connections and indicator lights.

· Documentation of each station tested, test result (pass/fail), and any deficiencies identified.

Annual — PAMNS (On-Site, All Buildings in Section 4.1):

· Physical inspection, cleaning, and functional testing of all PAMNS components in each building.

· Verification of speaker output levels, amplifier performance, and paging station function.

· Inspection and cleaning of all rack-mounted equipment.

· Verification of all system configurations against the current approved baseline.

· Calibration and adjustment of components per OEM standards.

Semiannual — External PAMNS "Big Voice" (On-Site):

· Functional test of the external campus PAMNS speaker network across all exterior zones.

· Verification of PAMNS-to-Code Blue integration as described in Section 5.6.

5.3 Corrective Maintenance and Unscheduled Repairs

The Contractor shall diagnose and repair all malfunctions and failures of PAMNS and Code Blue system components.

Authorization: Service calls may be initiated only by the Contracting Officer (CO), COR, or the COR’s designated VA representative.

Quote and Approval Requirement: Before initiating any unscheduled repair work, the Contractor shall provide the COR with a written quote identifying:

(a) Estimated labor hours, which shall consist solely of Billable Labor Hours as defined in Section 17.0;

(b) Itemized parts with the supplier's quote or invoice attached as a reference; and

(c) Proposed completion date.

The Contractor shall not begin work or order parts until the COR provides written confirmation that the quote is fair and reasonable and that sufficient funds remain in the applicable annual allowances. If annual allowance funds are insufficient, work shall not proceed until the CO authorizes additional funds through a written contract modification. See Section 7.0 for the allowance structure governing unscheduled maintenance.

Scope: The Contractor shall repair or replace any failed or defective component covered under Section 4.0, including but not limited to: speakers, amplifiers, paging stations, microphones, control units, head-end rack equipment, MS1-E units, TTS units, VoIP devices, switches, fiber connections, Code Blue handsets, enclosures, visual beacons (blue lights), cameras, power supplies, and all associated cabling and connectors.

Parts Standards: All replacement parts shall be new. Used, refurbished, or remanufactured parts shall not be installed without prior written COR approval. All repairs shall meet OEM specifications and standards.

Out-of-Service Signage: If a component must be taken out of service during repair, the Contractor shall post COR-approved signage at the affected device to notify staff and visitors of the temporary outage.

Hard Drive Replacement: If a computer hard drive requires replacement, the Contractor shall turn the original drive over to the COR for government-directed destruction. The Contractor shall not retain, reuse, or otherwise dispose of any removed hard drive. The replacement hard drive is a covered part funded under the applicable unscheduled maintenance parts allowance.

End-of-Life Components: If a component identified as end-of-life or no longer supported by the manufacturer in the accepted Initial Assessment Report (Section 5.1.c) — including but not limited to a Code Blue IP5000 unit — cannot be restored to full operational condition through corrective maintenance and troubleshooting, the Contractor shall treat replacement of that component as an unscheduled repair under this Section. The Contractor shall submit a written quote to the COR in accordance with the Quote and Approval Requirement above and shall not order parts or begin replacement work until the COR provides written confirmation that the quote is fair and reasonable and that sufficient funds remain in the applicable annual allowance, consistent with Section 7.2.

Warranty of Workmanship and Parts All corrective maintenance work performed and all replacement parts installed under this contract shall be warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date the applicable Field Service Report is accepted by the COR. If a component that was repaired or replaced under this contract fails due to the same root cause, or if the same repaired component or assembly fails for any reason, within the one-year warranty period, the Contractor shall diagnose and re-perform the repair and replace any defective parts at no additional cost to the Government. Labor and parts required to re-perform a warranty repair under this paragraph shall not be billed against, or draw down, the Annual Parts Allowance or Annual Labor Allowance established in Section 7.2, and shall not require a Section 5.3 Quote and Approval Requirement submission. Warranty re-performance is a Contractor obligation at its own cost and is not Government-funded corrective maintenance. Warranty re-performance shall be initiated within the response times specified in Section 6.2 based on the nature of the failure.

Parts that carry an OEM manufacturer's warranty exceeding one (1) year shall be covered under that OEM warranty for the full OEM warranty period. The Contractor is responsible for facilitating OEM warranty claims on the Government's behalf for all covered parts.

5.4 Software and Firmware Maintenance

The Contractor shall maintain all software and firmware for PAMNS and Code Blue components at current manufacturer-supported versions. Software and firmware maintenance shall include:

· Monitoring OEM software and firmware release schedules for all covered systems.

· Evaluating new releases for compatibility with the installed configuration before installation.

· Coordinating with VA Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Biomedical Engineering (Biomed) before any update affecting networked components or requiring VA network access.

· Installing approved updates in accordance with OEM specifications.

· Documenting all software and firmware versions before and after each update.

· Maintaining all required software licenses for the Biamp Vocia platform and Code Blue Help Point platform for the full period of performance, including license renewal at each option year exercise.

5.5 System Upgrade — Passive to Active End of Line Devices (One-Time Task) The Contractor shall replace all existing Biamp Vocia Passive End of Line Devices (PLD-1 and PLD-2) with Active End of Line Devices (ELD-1) in Buildings 1, 3, and 14.

Because exact device quantities are unknown prior to contract award, the following process governs execution of this task:

1. During the Initial Assessment (Section 5.1), the Contractor shall document all PLD-1 and PLD-2 devices in Buildings 1, 3, and 14 by building, specific location, quantity, and condition.

2. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of COR acceptance of the Initial Assessment Report, the Contractor shall submit a written upgrade quote to the COR. The quote shall include: itemized parts (ELD-1 units and all associated installation materials), estimated labor hours at the contract fixed hourly rate, the supplier's quote or invoice for parts, and a proposed work schedule by building. The upgrade shall be funded from the applicable unscheduled maintenance labor and parts allowances established in the Price/Cost Schedule.

3. The COR shall review the quote for price reasonableness and available allowance funds, and shall approve or return with comments within fifteen (15) calendar days. The Contractor shall not begin upgrade work or order materials until COR written approval is received.

4. Upon completion of the upgrade in each building, the Contractor shall perform a full functional test of the PAMNS in that building and submit a Repair and Upgrade Report within five (5) business days of completion.

Infection Control: For any work requiring access to ceiling plenums, the COR will provide an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) prior to work beginning. The Contractor shall comply with all ICRA requirements, including use of a HEPA filtration cart for all above-ceiling work. Work in any area requiring an ICRA shall not begin until the ICRA has been provided to and reviewed by the Contractor. The Contractor shall coordinate the upgrade schedule with VA OIT and Biomed.

5.6 PAMNS–Code Blue Integration Maintenance ("Big Voice")

The PAMNS and Code Blue systems are integrated so that activation of any Code Blue station triggers a campus-wide emergency broadcast through the external PAMNS speaker network (the "Big Voice" function). The Contractor shall:

· Maintain the PAMNS-to-Code Blue integration in fully operational condition at all times.

· Verify the Big Voice integration function during each semiannual on-site test (Section 5.2).

· Diagnose and repair any failure of the Big Voice integration function as a corrective maintenance event under Section 5.3, subject to the response time requirements in Section 6.2.

· Coordinate with OIT and Biomed on any network configuration changes affecting the PAMNS-to-Code Blue interface.

6.0 Performance Standards

Contractor performance will be monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), provided as Attachment 5. The QASP identifies performance objectives, acceptable quality levels, and methods of surveillance. In the event of a conflict between the QASP and this SOW, this SOW governs.

6.1 System Uptime

The PAMNS and Code Blue systems shall each maintain a minimum uptime of ninety-five percent (95%), measured on a monthly basis.

Uptime Definition: "Uptime" is the percentage of total available hours in the measurement period during which a system is fully functional and capable of performing its intended mass notification or emergency communication function. Planned PM outages coordinated in advance with the COR are excluded from the calculation. For the Code Blue system, uptime is calculated on a per-station basis; a station is considered "down" when it cannot complete two-way voice communication or activate the visual emergency signal.

The Contractor shall track and report monthly uptime for each system in the Monthly Maintenance Report (Section 8.0). Failure to meet the 95% threshold in any month shall be documented with a root cause analysis and corrective action plan included in the following month's report.

6.2 Response Time Requirements

Response time is measured from the time the COR or the COR’s designated VA representative places a service call or sends written notification to the Contractor during normal hours of coverage (Section 9.0).

If the Contractor cannot meet an on-site response deadline, the Contractor shall immediately notify the COR in writing with the reason for the delay and a revised estimated on-site arrival time.

7.0 Pricing Structure and Materials Standards

7.1 Scheduled Preventive Maintenance — Contractor-Quoted Fixed Price The Contractor shall provide a fixed price for all Scheduled Preventive Maintenance services described in Section 5.2 as part of the solicitation response. The PM fixed price shall encompass all labor, transportation, and routine maintenance consumables required to perform all PM tasks at the frequencies and locations specified in Sections 4.0 and 5.2 for each period of performance. Non-consumable parts that require replacement during PM activities are not included in the PM fixed price and shall be processed under the unscheduled maintenance allowances in Section 7.2.

7.2 Unscheduled Maintenance — Annual Allowance Structure

All corrective maintenance, unscheduled repair labor and parts, and the one-time ELD-1 system upgrade under Section 5.5 are funded through annual allowances established in the Price/Cost Schedule for each period of performance. The allowance structure is as follows:

· Annual Parts Allowance: A Government-established annual not-to-exceed dollar amount for unscheduled maintenance and upgrade replacement parts, set in the Price/Cost Schedule. The Contractor shall not exceed this allowance in any performance period without prior written CO authorization through a contract modification. All parts costs billed under this Allowance shall comply with the parts standards, sourcing requirements, and markup review methodology established in Section 7.3, including disclosure of any affiliate, parent, or subsidiary relationship with a proposed parts supplier. The COR may reject and return for correction a markup determined unreasonable under the Section 7.3 standard prior to approval under this Section and Section 5.3. The Annual Parts Allowance is a not-to-exceed ceiling, not a guaranteed payment; the Contractor is entitled to payment only for actual parts costs incurred and approved by the COR during the applicable period of performance. Any unused or unobligated balance of the Annual Parts Allowance at the end of a period of performance is not payable or transferable to the Contractor, is not carried forward to a subsequent period of performance, and remains subject to de-obligation by the Government.

· Annual Labor Allowance: Combines the Government-established annual labor hours quantity and the Contractor's fixed hourly rate in a line item for each period of performance found in the Price/Cost Schedule. All labor hours billed under this Allowance shall consist solely of Billable Labor Hours as defined in Section 17.0. Labor hours shall be calculated using the fixed hourly rate established in the Price/Cost Schedule Labor Allowance CLIN applicable to the specific period of performance during which the labor is actually performed; the Contractor shall not apply a rate from any other period of performance regardless of when the Work Order quote is submitted or approved. The Annual Labor Allowance is a not-to-exceed ceiling, not a guaranteed payment; the Contractor is entitled to payment only for actual Billable Labor Hours incurred and approved by the COR under this Section and Section 5.3 during the applicable period of performance. Any unused or unobligated balance of the Annual Labor Allowance at the end of a period of performance is not payable or transferable to the Contractor, is not carried forward to a subsequent period of performance, and remains subject to de-obligation by the Government.

Quote and Approval Process: Before initiating any unscheduled maintenance or upgrade work, the Contractor shall submit a written quote to the COR identifying:

(a) estimated labor hours at the fixed contract hourly rate;

(b) itemized parts with the supplier's quote or invoice attached; and

(c) proposed completion date.

Note: Any quote submitted under this Section that includes travel time as a billable labor item shall be returned to the Contractor for correction prior to COR approval.

No work shall begin and no parts shall be ordered until the COR provides written confirmation of price reasonableness and sufficient remaining allowance funds.

Allowance Tracking: The Monthly Maintenance Report (Section 8.0) shall include a running balance of parts costs expended and labor hours charged against each annual allowance. When cumulative charges are close to exhausting any annual parts or labor line item before the end of a performance period, the COR shall immediately notify the CO in writing. No further unscheduled maintenance or upgrade work shall proceed until the CO authorizes additional funds and/or hours through a written contract modification.

Note: Costs associated with warranty re-performance under Section 5.3 are excluded from the Annual Parts Allowance and Annual Labor Allowance and shall not be reflected as a draw against either allowance in the Monthly Maintenance Report.

7.3 Parts Standards

· All replacement parts shall be new. Used, refurbished, or remanufactured parts shall not be installed without prior written COR approval.

· All replacement parts shall be equivalent to or better than the original component in quality, performance, and compatibility with the installed system.

· Parts shall be sourced from the OEM or an OEM-authorized distributor to the greatest extent practicable.

· The Contractor shall notify the COR of any anticipated parts delays and provide an estimated delivery and repair completion date.

· The Contractor shall obtain, maintain on file, and make available to its Field Service Engineers all OEM technical documentation, service manuals, schematics, parts lists, and diagnostic software necessary to service the covered systems. The VA will not provide service manuals or diagnostic software to the Contractor. A listing of all service data manuals by name shall be provided to the COR and CO upon request.

8.0 Deliverables

All reports shall be submitted electronically in a format approved by the COR.

9.0 Hours of Coverage

Normal hours of coverage are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Time (MT), excluding Federal holidays.

Federal Holidays observed by the VA:

New Year's Day (January 1) Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January) Presidents' Day (third Monday in February) Memorial Day (last Monday in May) Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) Independence Day (July 4) Labor Day (first Monday in September) Columbus Day (second Monday in October) Veterans Day (November 11) Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) Christmas Day (December 25) Also, any other day specifically designated by the President of the United States.

All scheduled and unscheduled maintenance shall be performed during normal hours of coverage unless one of the following conditions is met:

· The Contractor must request in writing to perform work outside normal hours of coverage, and the CO must approve the request in writing before work begins; or

· The COR directs in writing that work be performed outside normal hours, and any associated additional cost is approved in advance by the CO in writing before work begins.

10.0 Contractor Qualifications

10.1 Field Service Engineer (FSE) Professional Licensing and Training The Contractor shall assign qualified Field Service Engineers (FSEs) to perform work under this contract. Each designated FSE shall meet the following requirements:

(a) OEM Systems Competency (Required). Each FSE shall hold current Biamp Vocia factory certification for work on the PAMNS/AV systems. For any FSE who has not yet completed this certification at the time of assignment, the Contractor shall ensure the FSE completes Biamp's Vocia training (available online at no cost) before that FSE performs any work on the covered systems.

(b) Low-Voltage/Fiber Network Competency (Required). Each FSE shall hold at least one current, industry-recognized low-voltage, structured-cabling, or fiber-optic credential demonstrating competence to install, terminate, test, and maintain the fiber network transport layer connecting the covered systems, such as:

· BICSI Installer 2 (Copper/Optical Fiber), BICSI Technician (TECH), or Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD);

· Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT); or

· An equivalent industry-recognized low-voltage or fiber-optic certification.

(c) Safety Training (Required). Each FSE shall hold current, valid OSHA 10-Hour (minimum) training certification.

(d) VA-Required Training. Each FSE shall complete any additional training identified by the COR as required for site access or performance under this contract.

State Licensing Note: Utah does not require a Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) electrician or contractor license for Class 2/Class 3 power-limited (low-voltage) communications work of the type covered under this contract, consistent with Utah Code 58-55-305 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-301. If any work performed under this contract involves line-voltage (non-power-limited) electrical work, such work shall be performed by appropriately licensed personnel as required by Utah law.

Documentation: Documentation of FSE technical competency, certifications, and training shall be provided to the COR and CO upon request and within five (5) calendar days of any FSE personnel change.

10.2 OEM Proprietary Access

The Contractor shall maintain active access to all OEM proprietary information required to service covered systems, including software updates, factory service bulletins, configuration tools, and technical service documentation.

10.3 Subcontracting

Any approved subcontractor must meet the same FSE Technical Competency and Training requirements (Section 10.1) and OEM proprietary access requirements (Section 10.2) as the prime Contractor for the systems being serviced.

11.0 Site Access, Badging, and Security

11.1 VA-Issued Identification Badge

All Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center shall obtain and wear a VA-issued identification badge at all times while on VA premises. To obtain a badge, each individual shall submit fingerprints through VA Police and successfully complete the required background investigation. The Contractor shall initiate the badging process for all personnel no later than ten (10) calendar days prior to their anticipated first on-site date of work.

11.2 Check-In, Check-Out, and Daily Work Log

Upon arrival at the facility, each FSE shall check in with the COR or the COR’s designated VA representative before beginning work. Upon completion of work, the FSE shall present the completed Field Service Report to the COR or the COR’s designated VA representative, who shall sign to acknowledge work status.

The Contractor shall maintain a daily work log for each on-site visit. The log shall record, at minimum: FSE name and VA badge number, date, time of arrival, time of departure, location(s) accessed, and a description of work performed. Daily work logs shall be made available to the COR upon request and retained by the Contractor for the duration of the contract plus three (3) years following contract expiration.

11.3 General Site Requirements

· Contractor personnel shall park only in designated contractor parking areas. VA Police can provide parking guidance. The VA will not reimburse parking violations.

· Smoking is prohibited inside all VA buildings.

· Possession of weapons is prohibited on VA property. Tool kits and enclosed containers are subject to inspection.

· Violations of VA regulations may result in citation answerable in Federal District Court.

12.0 Information Security Requirements

The Contractor and all Contractor and subcontractor personnel shall comply with all applicable Federal laws and VA Directives and Handbooks relating to information and information system security, including VA Directive 6500.6, Appendix C, Sections 1 through 13. A copy of VA Directive 6500.6, Appendix C is provided as Attachment 3.

Key information security requirements include:

· Contractor personnel shall not connect personal devices to VA networks or systems.

· Contractor personnel shall not remove VA data, software, or hardware from VA premises without explicit written authorization from the COR and CO.

· Any suspected or confirmed information security incident shall be reported to the COR in writing within one (1) hour of discovery.

· Any software updates, firmware changes, or network configuration changes to PAMNS components connected to the VA network require advance coordination with and written approval from VA OIT in accordance with VA IT change management procedures.

Authority to Operate (ATO) and Remote Access: Specific ATO obligations applicable to the Contractor's networked system access activities, including remote monitoring of VA-networked PAMNS components, shall be determined through post-award coordination between the Contractor, the COR, and VA OIT within thirty (30) calendar days of contract award. The Contractor shall cooperate fully with all VA OIT requirements established through this coordination. Remote monitoring reporting obligations under Section 5.2 are tolled from the date of contract award until VA OIT confirms in writing that remote access has been provisioned for the Contractor. Any delay in provisioning attributable solely to the Government shall be documented jointly and shall not constitute a Contractor performance deficiency for the affected reporting period.

13.0 Safety and Infection Control

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable VA, VHA, and OSHA safety regulations at all times while performing work at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center. This is an active inpatient and outpatient medical facility; the Contractor shall conduct all work in a manner that minimizes disruption, noise, and potential safety risks to patients, visitors, and staff.

Infection Control: For any work requiring access to ceiling plenums or areas subject to infection control measures, the COR will provide an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) prior to work beginning. The Contractor shall comply with all ICRA requirements, including use of a HEPA filtration cart for all above-ceiling work. Work in any area requiring an ICRA shall not begin until the ICRA has been provided to and reviewed by the Contractor.

General Safety: The prime Contractor is responsible for the safety performance of all subcontractors. All personnel shall conduct themselves professionally at all times and shall adhere to all applicable industry-standard safety practices.

14.0 Services Beyond Contract Scope

If the Contractor identifies defects, damage, or repairs that it believes fall outside the scope of this contract, the Contractor shall:

1. Notify the COR and CO in writing no later than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours after discovery, identifying the condition and the basis for the out-of-scope determination.

2. Provide the COR with a written cost estimate for performing the out-of-scope work.

3. Take no action on the identified item until the CO provides written approval.

15.0 Condition of Equipment

The Contractor accepts responsibility for all equipment described in this SOW in its current "as is" condition at the time of contract award. The accepted Initial Assessment Report (Section 5.1) constitutes the agreed baseline record of equipment condition and governs the distinction between pre-existing deficiencies and deficiencies arising during performance. Pre-existing deficiencies documented in the accepted Initial Assessment Report that fall outside the scope of routine PM and corrective maintenance shall be processed through Section 14.0 (Services Beyond Contract Scope). Deficiencies that arise after the baseline date are the Contractor's responsibility under this contract.

The Contractor is strongly encouraged to conduct a site visit and inspect all equipment prior to submitting a proposal. Failure to inspect prior to contract award shall not relieve the Contractor from performance requirements of this contract, nor serve as a basis for any equitable adjustment claim related to pre-existing conditions that were observable upon inspection.

16.0 Applicable Standards

The Contractor shall perform all work in conformance with the latest published editions of the following standards and regulations, as applicable:

· National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99 — Health Care Facilities Code

· Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards applicable to the work being performed

· OEM specifications and standards for all covered systems

· VA Directive 6500.6, Appendix C — Information Security

· VA and VHA infection control policies, including ICRA requirements provided by the COR

17.0 Definitions and Acronyms

18.0 Attachments