Questions_and_Answers_for_W81K00_29_Jan_16.pdf

Questions and Answers for W81K00-16-T-0026:

1. Will the entire place of performance be at Ft. Hood, TX or will CO and KS be included under the forthcoming solicitation?

A: The Entire Period of Performance will be located at North Fort Hood near Gatesville, Texas located about 30 miles from the main post. The mission will dictate possible alternate work site duties on Fort Hood.

2. Would it be possible for the Government to release a version of the solicitation that is in MS Word or is a PDF that is not scanned? It is difficult to use many of the forms included in the solicitation in its current format.

A: Yes, the Government posted a PDF version online on 1/19/2016.

3. It appears 3 of the 4 required Labor Categories will fall under the Service Contract Act. The DOL Wage Determination Register for this location was not referenced or provided in the RFP for offerors to use in preparing compensation and pricing submittals.

In that there are incumbent employees, could you please provide the DOL Wage Determination used on the previous contract in order to correctly apply Health & Welfare calculations for this proposed contract.

A: The Government has amended the solicitation to add FAR Clauses 52.222-42 & 52.222-43. Please amendment 0002.

4. All CLIN Lines for the base year, equates to 7 months, with an average of 1 FTE obtaining 1,368 hours. However, each subsequent Option Year (1-4), total 12 months, yet CLINs only show 1,368 hours. Is this a typographic error? Is the Government using 1,920 or 2,080 for Option years beyond the base for 1 FTE?

A: Yes; this was an error, amendment 001 was issued on 1/19/2016 that should have corrected this issue.

5. Is this a new requirement?

A: Yes; this is a brand new requirement.

6. Are there currently incumbents providing these services?

A: No incumbents.

7. The due date on the sf1449 states 2/12, but the due date on pg 77 second paragraph states 2/9. Should we go by the date of the sf1449?

A: The due date has been amended to reflect 1000hrs on 2/19/2016.

8. Can we use our own comp plan or must we use the one attached in the solicitation?

A: Yes; the government issued one as an example, as long as your version provides all the same information and can be easily read.

9. Are the $5,000 bonuses required? Does the optometrist receive one?

A: The bonuses are allowed by the Government to assist in the recruiting efforts, however; they are not mandatory to use.

Only allowed for NP/PA’s.

10. The comp plan states 1920hrs but the CLIN lines state 1368hrs. Which is correct?

A: Please use 1920 hours as the basis for your comp plan, the base year is shorter, that’s why you see the 1368 hours.

11. In the price schedule on page 3, there are no units for CLIN 0001 – Base. Are you expecting us to price this CLIN?

A: No; this is an informational line item. Please provide pricing for all Regular Hours, Excess Hours and Contractor Manpower Reporting (CMR) CLINS, the Bonus CLINS are set at a maximum $5,000.00. Keep in mind, all proposals are allowed a reasonable escalation factor for option periods.

12. On page 9, should 1001AD be for CNAs instead of NP/PA?

A: Yes; that is correct. It should be CNA’s.

13. With respect to the compensation plan, are offerors allowed to provide description of our compensation elements?

A: Yes; please see the government’s example and provide information along the same lines.

14. On page 4, for CLIN 0001AC, is it intended that the bonus includes retention bonus as well as sign on bonus?

A: Yes; Sign on/Retention bonuses are being offered. Same for all option years.

15. On page 56, paragraph 1.12.3, if an employee receives a sign on bonus and works the full year are they eligible to receive a retention bonus their second year?

A: Yes; per the PWS they must work a full 12 months, otherwise the amount will be prorated when they sign on for another year. Also; keep in mind if for some reason the individual sign’s on and ends up departing before they fulfil the full 12 months, the portion not used will be prorated and recouped.

16. On page 56, paragraph 1.12.3, if an employee works 1 full year and agrees to work the following full year thus they receive a retention bonus. If the care giver does not complete the second full year is the retention bonus pro-rated?

A: See answer for question #15.

17. We see no requirement for a technical volume. Can you please confirm this is correct?

A: Not required.

18. FAR Clause 52.212-1 is incorporated by reference. Paragraph 4 of this clause states, “A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary.” Will a technical description be accepted?

A: Yes; a technical description is acceptable.

19. Are there incumbents?

A: New requirement, no incumbents.

20. Are there vacancies?

A: New requirement, no incumbents.

21. On page 40-41 of the solicitation, Section 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.2.1 both refer to therapists. Can you please clarify?

A: Sorry, this was an error. Should be replaced with “Providers” and removed from 1.1.2.1.

22. On page 41-42 of the solicitation, Section 1.2.3 and 1.2.7: Are DEAs required for PAs and NPs?

A: Yes, DEA license is a requirement for NP’s and PA’s, the requirement calls for them to backfill shortages at the hospital, therefore, they need to be prepared to write prescriptions, see DEA verbeige added to the qualifications section for the PA & NP in the PWS.

23. On page 50-51 of the solicitation, Section 1.5.1 references pharm techs. Do the Hours of Operation laid out in this section apply to the labor categories requested in this requirement? Are the hours, alternating shifts and alternative work sites applicable in the same manner to all labor categories required or do they vary by labor category?

A: Pharmacy Technicians was used in error. Please replace with “providers”. Yes; the alternating schedule does apply to all skill sets.

24. For past performance references, do individual task orders under ID/IQ Basic contracts count as one contract? Or should offerors submit a reference for an ID/IQ Basic Contract as a whole?

A: Should come from Task Orders.

25. Can the Government please provide what Wage Determination is to be used to determine the SCA Classifications and pay rates for the SCA-covered positions?

A: See FAR Clause 52.222-42 in the solicitation.

26. Are there any current incumbent HCPs performing this service or is this a new requirement? If so, how long have the incumbents been in place?

A: New Requirement, no incumbents.

27. Section 1.2.1 states that Optometry Technicians “shall have and maintain unrestricted certification from the state of Texas.”

Is the certification referenced in this PWS section referring to licensure rather than a specific certification?

A: See changes in the PWS on amendment 002, can be certified in any of the 50 states.

28. As this a personal services contract, would the Government consider candidates with certification/licensure from any state?

A: Yes. NP’s & PA’s may be required to write prescriptions for narcotics, therefore requiring a DEA license in the state of Texas.

29. Section 1.2.12 states that Certified Nurse Assistants “shall have and maintain unrestricted certification from the state of Texas.” Is the certification referenced in this PWS section referring to licensure rather than a specific certification?

A: No. Certification can be from any of the 50 states, see PWS Change amendment 002.

30. Section 1.5.1 (Duty Hours) of the PWS makes reference to “Pharmacy Technicians”, though those positions are not requested in the solicitation. Can the Government clarify this reference?

A: This is an error. See Changes on the PWS amendment 002.

31. Since this is a commercial item, will the government waive the mandate on such items? One example to maintain such incentive, but to mitigate Contractor risk in the Bonus claw-back clause (i.e. payment back to the Government to Contractor) would be: Government to add a Compensation plan to the evaluation – Contractors, of course, would be required to demonstrate an adequate compensation plan that is commensurate with Site.

A: Compensation Plan is a part of the evaluation for this requirement.

32. May Government clarify in PWS such Labor Categories?

A: Only allowed for NP/PA’s.

33. Does this mean that the sing-on bonus may be paid over a period of 12 months, OR that the sign-on bonus is required for providers who will commit to a period of no less than 12 months?

A: Yes; the Sign-on/Retention Bonus is only intended to for those employees who sign the commitment to completed 12 months. Again, otherwise the amount will be prorated when they sign on for another year. Also; keep in mind if for some reason the individual sign’s on and ends up departing before they fulfil the full 12 months, the portion not used will be prorated and recouped.

34. If a provider is back-filling another provider (who did not work for 1 full year), will the government permit a sign-on bonus for such “back-fill”? If so, will the government increase the Units?

A: The back fill must be a permanent replacement, if the first individual received a sign-on and didn’t finish the full term of 12 months, then that bonus is recouped at a prorated amount.

35. What instance would a HCP not perform services within the previous 12 months, and still receive a retention bonus? Are incumbents granted a retention bonus?

A: New requirement, no incumbents. Per the PWS they must work a full 12 months, otherwise the amount will be prorated when they sign on for another year. Also; keep in mind if for some reason the individual sign’s on and ends up departing before they fulfil the full 12 months, the portion not used will be prorated and recouped.

36. There are no CLINS for a retention bonus. Since this is an LPTA contract, and since cost should be the same for all Contractors

– to avoid an unfair advantage, will the Government consider adding a CLIN for retention bonus? Also, will the government clarify which Labor Categories will receive such retention bonus?

A: Yes; Sign on/Retention bonuses are being offered. Same for all option years.

37. Will the Government indemnify and hold harmless Contractors of HIPAA related incidents (i.e. delete BA Agreement) since Government is maintaining total control of Contractor employees in the same way as military and civil service employees IAW FAR Part cited above? Contractor, therefore (unlike FAR 37.4, including 37.401(c))

A: Please see HIPAA rules for medical employees.

38. Will the government please clarify if the bidder is requited to an amount in the “Net Amt” line for CLIN 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, 4001?

A: These are informational line items. Please provide pricing for all Regular Hours, Excess Hours and Contractor Manpower Reporting (CMR) CLINS, the Bonus/Retention CLIN are set at a maximum $5,000.00 for each year. Keep in mind, all proposals are allowed a reasonable escalation factor for option periods.