A-01-01-PWS-1DecIPAP-SS.doc

THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT CENTER AND SCHOOL (AMEDDC&S)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

MASTER OF SCIENCE – PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES

1. General. This is a non-personal, non-severable services contract to provide university affiliation services for program coordination and administrative support services necessary to award a Bachelor of Science to students who successfully complete Phase I of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) and a Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies to students who successfully compete both Phase I and Phase II of the IPAP training. The government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers (CSP) shall be accountable solely to the contractor who, in turn is responsible to the government.

1.1. Background: The U.S. Army IPAP is located within the Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S) Graduate School, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), Fort Sam Houston, TX. The mission of the IPAP is to provide the uniformed services with professional, highly competent, and compassionate physician assistants (PAs) who model integrity, strive for leadership excellence, and are committed to lifelong learning. This required the AMEDDC&S Health Readiness Center of Excellence (HRCoE) (referred to as “AMEDDC&S”) to develop an affiliation with an accredited university that would agree to allow the Government to deliver its current curriculum, with military content infused to academically approve military affiliated students. This concept resulted in the establishment of the U.S. Army IPAP resulting in a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science Physician Assistant degree and is herein referred to as the "PROGRAM." This PROGRAM provides students with the knowledge, skills, problem solving abilities, duties, responsibilities, and ethics to deliver quality PA patient care and provides those concepts, principles, methods, and role models which will stimulate the continuous personal and professional growth of these PA Officers.

1.2. Scope of Work: The contractor shall provide services, materials, and qualified personnel necessary to award a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies.

1.2.1. The AMEDDC&S “ IPAP is taught by Government personnel under the supervision of the Program Director, at the AMEDDC&S, JBSA Fort Sam Houston Texas.

1.2.2. The PROGRAM consists of two phases: Phase I is 16 months in length and is mostly didactic, and consists of three classes with starting dates in January, April and August. Phase I is taught and completed at AMEDDC&S, JBSA, Fort Sam Houston. Phase II is 13 months in length and is mostly clinical. Phase II also has three starting dates in April, August and January, and is completed at various Army, Air Force and Navy military hospitals throughout the United States (U.S). The clinical internship is performed under the supervision of qualified clinical instructors appointed by the Government.

1.3. Key Personnel. The contractor shall provide a contractor representative who will have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters. The contractor will designate their representative, in writing, and submit to the KO 10 days after award of contract.

1.4. Security Requirements: The contractor shall be responsible for the security of all personal information.

1.4.1. The contractor shall not disclose or cause to disseminate any information concerning operations of military activities. Such action(s) could result in violation of the contract and possible legal actions.

1.4.2. All inquiries, comments or complaints arising from any matter observed, experienced, or learned as a result of or in connection with the performance of this contract, the resolution of which may require the dissemination of official information, shall be directed to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and contracting officer.

1.4.3. The contractor shall only conduct business with designated government personnel listed as points of contact (POCs). Names of authorized personnel shall be provided to the contractor by the government in writing and updated as necessary throughout the contract period.

1.4.4. U.S. Government records, copies and originals, are maintained by the contractor, but remain the property of the U.S. Government. These files must be surrendered to the COR no later than 30 calendar days after graduation of each class.

1.5. Identification of Privacy Act: this contract requires the development of a system of records in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974.

1.6. Sexual Harassment/Assualt Response and Prevention (SHARP)

1.6.1. The contractor shall comply with the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG)/MEDCOM Policy Memo 13-062, Policy for Reporting Incidents of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment under the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program (SHARP), 12 Nov 2013. The SHARP reporting requirements apply only to knowledge obtained by contractor personnel while performing services under this contract.

1.6.2. The contractor shall require all Contract Service Providers (CSP) with knowledge of an incident of sexual assault occurring on a Government facility, to include a Government leased facility, where the contractor is providing services under this contract, to report the incident to the contractor who shall immediately (within 24 hours) report the incident in writing to the government's COR. This reporting policy also applies to sexual assault incidents involving MEDCOM personnel that occur on the contractor’s owned or leased facility under this contract. All incidents shall be reported whether they involve contractor personnel or Government personnel, or other individuals, when the incidents occur on a Government facility or a Government leased facility.

1.6.3. The contractor shall require all CSPs with knowledge of an incident of sexual harassment occurring on a Government facility, to include a Government leased facility, where the contractor is providing services under this contract, to report the incident to the contractor who shall immediately (within 24 hours) report the incident in writing to the government's COR. This reporting policy also applies to sexual harassment incidents involving MEDCOM personnel that occur on the contractor’s owned or leased facility under this contract. All incidents shall be reported whether they involve contractor personnel or Government personnel, or other individuals, when the incidents occur on a Government facility or a Government leased facility.

1.7. Joint Base Fort Sam Houston Access and Access to other Federal Installations

1.7.1. Effective 1 May 2013, access to Joint Base Fort Sam Houston (JBFSH) will be closed except for pre-vetted and approved credential holders IAW Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 5352.242-9000 (Contractor Access to Air Force Installations); Air Force Instruction (AFI) 31-101 (Integrated Defense); AFI 31-113 (Installation Perimeter Access Control); and AFI 31-502 (Defense Biometric Identification Systems (DBIDS) Operations. The CSPs providing services at JBFSH will no longer be allowed entry without approved access credentials.

1.7.2. The contractor shall obtain installation identification (access credentials) for all CSPs who make frequent visits to or perform work at JBFSH. The contractor shall submit a request for access credentials through their designated unit Requesting Authority (RA)/Authorizing Official (AO), usually the COR (sponsor), for submission to the Security Forces Visitor’s Center (VC). The request for access shall be on company’s letterhead and include every individual requesting entrance into JBFSH. The request should contain contractor/company name, project title, project number/contract number, location of work site, contract start and end dates, name of government sponsor (RA/AO) and full names of CSPs, date of birth and driver’s license number and state issued. The contractor shall email or submit in person the request to the RA/AO at least 10 days in advance of required access date to JBFSH.

1.7.3. The Visitor’s Center (VC) will contact the RA/AO with approval and /or disapproval of listed contractor personnel. The RA/AO will then contact the contactor and have them report to the VC on the Walter’s Street Access Point location to obtain access credentials within 30 days of list approval. Credentials may be issued for up to one year.

1.7.4. The CSPs accessing the installation with a privately owned or company furnished vehicle shall have the following proof: vehicle registration, liability insurance, license plate number, current State Inspection Sticker, valid State Driver License and phone number for sponsor on installation.

1.7.5. Wants and warrants checks will be conducted for every contractor and/or employee. The contractor is responsible for ensuring its employees possess VC issued credentials upon access to JBFSH and upon request by the Security Forces.

1.7.6. The contractor is responsible for ensuring all installation access credentials issued to CSPs are returned to the issuing office upon expiration, completion of contract, or termination of services. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in withholding of final payment and possible debarment from entering any JBFSH installation.

1.7.7. For access to all other federal installations, the contractor shall contact their designated unit’s RA/AO (COR) for instructions on obtaining access credentials for their employees. All federal installations access procedures vary.

1.8. Quality Control. The contractor shall maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure the requirements are provided as specified in this contract. Within 30 calendar days after contract award, three (3) copies of the comprehensive written Quality Control Plan (QCP) shall be submitted to the COR and the Contracting Officer (KO), and within five (5) working days when changes are made thereafter. The contractor’s QCP shall include, as a minimum, a self-inspection plan and an outline of the procedures the contractor will use to maintain quality, timeliness, and responsiveness to contract requirements and customer satisfaction.

1.9. Post Award Conference and Periodic Meetings.

1.9.1. Post Award Conference. The Contractor shall attend the post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5.

1.9.2. Periodic Meetings. The contractor shall meet with the designated government representatives (which may include the Contract Specialist, KO, and COR representative, and other Government-authorized representative) quarterly or more frequently at the request of the KO to discuss any contract issues, concerns, and/or performance. The meeting may be conducted by Video Teleconference (VTC), teleconference, or in person as mutually agreed by all parties. The COR shall notify the KO and the Contractor of date, time and location of meetings at least three weeks in advance.

1.10. CONTRACTOR MANPOWER REPORTING (CMR). The contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the CHCC via a secure data collection site. The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address: http://www.ecmra.mil/. Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each USG fiscal year (FY), which runs October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year, beginning with 2014. Contractors may direct questions to the help desk at http://www.ecmra.mil/.

2.0. Definitions and Acronyms:

2.1. Definitions:

2.1.1. Contracting Officer (KO). The individual with the authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts. The KO is the exclusive government official authorized to execute changes and authorize deviations or variations from the contract.

2.1.2. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The government employee responsible for providing surveillance of the government’s quality assurance portion of the contract. This individual is designated, in writing, by the KO to be responsible for quality assurance, inspection, surveillance documentation and acceptance of the contractor’s performance. A copy of the letter of designation will be provided to the contractor.

2.1.3. Curriculum. A series of courses having a unified purpose and belonging to one major academic field. Usually includes certain required courses and elective courses within established criteria. A curriculum usually covers more than one term and leads to a degree or diploma upon successful completion.

2.1.4. Recycle: Applies when students are dis-enrolled from their current class and enrolled into a subsequent class. Recycle of a student occurs when they do not meet academic standards to continue with their current class and recycling of the student into a subsequent class is agreed upon by faculty members and approved by the program director.

2.1.5. Quality Assurance. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.6. Quality Control. All necessary measures taken by the contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.2. Acronyms:

AARTS

Army American Council on Education Registry Transcript System

AMEDDC&S

U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School

Armed services

Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard

AR

Army Regulation

ARC-PA

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant

CLEP

College Level Examination Program

COR

Contracting Officer’s Representative

CPARS

Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

DANTES

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support

DoD

Department of Defense

FAR

Federal Acquisition Regulation

IAW

In accordance with

IPAP

Interservice Physician Assistant Program iRAPT invoice, Receipt, Acceptance, and Property Transfer

KO

Contracting Officer

NCCPA

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PA

Physician Assistant

PAEA

Physician Assistant Education Association

POC

Point of Contact

SAT

Scholastic Aptitude Test

SMART

Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript

3.0. Government Furnished Items and Services.

3.1. Facilities. The Government will provide facilities, for Phase I students which will be AMEDDC&S, Joint Base Fort Sam Houston and Phase II at various military hospitals.

3.2. Administrative Support. The Government t will provide local administrative support for Phase I and Phase II students.

3.3. On-site registration. The Government will provide space and personnel to assist the contractor with onsite registration at IPAP for each incoming class. This is a quality control check to ensure all students are accurately registered and to address any last minute changes prior to the start of classes. Since IPAP is a distant site from the contractor university this onsite registration enables students to be confident that they are indeed registered and that they have full access to the contractor’s website and Blackboard learning management system. The assistance the government provides is only in the form of space and minor administrative support to contractor personnel.

3.4. Faculty.

3.4.1. The Government will nominate members of the PROGRAM faculty applying for professional status into the contractor’s institution and provide the contractor with the academic credentials and experience for each prospective faculty candidate no later than 30 days after award.

3.4.2. The Government will forward the new faculty academic credentials and experience no later than 30 days after new faculty are assigned to IPAP.

3.5. Students. The Government will provide the contractor with the academic transcripts for each individual requesting enrollment in the PROGRAM.

3.6. Curriculum. The Government will provide the contractor with the full curriculum and educational objectives within 30 calendar days of contract award, and within 30 calendar days of any significant alteration.

3.7. Quality Assurance (QA). The government will evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The QASP is the government’s internal plan for performing QA, and as such does not become part of the resultant contract.

3.8. Government Unique Training. The contractor shall ensure all service providers receive Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) training not later than 60 calendar days after contractor personnel begins performance under this contract. Training can be obtained either online or in person. Contractor personnel can attend SHARP training provided by U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) on an every other month basis by contacting (210) 221-8361 for class date/time and availability. If contract individuals have an Army Knowledge Online (AKO) account, they can access online the Team Bound Self Study course through Army Learning Management System (ALMS) at http://www.atsc.army.mil/tadlp/delivery/alms.asp.

4.0. Contractor Furnished Items. The contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under section 3 of this statement.

4.1. The contractor shall provide degrees, storage space to store students’ records; on-line Blackboard or a comparable system available to PROGRAM faculty and students.

4.2. A website homepage that promotes the Army iPAP PROGRAM; providing current and prospective applicants up-to-date information about the PROGRAM, faculty, curriculum, and the application process.

4.3 The contractor shall list the professional appointments as faculty in their graduate catalog.

4.4. The contractor shall maintain a network capable of supporting an on-line curriculum and communication platform. The contractor shall provide 24-hour network access 7 days a week.

4.5. The contractor shall grant access to all the contractor’s university resources and other sources of information normally afforded to the faculty at the contractor’s main campus. These research databases shall also be available to students enrolled in the IPAP for bona fide research purposes.

4.6. Qualifications. The contractor must be accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, The Higher Learning Commission – North Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities – Western Association of Schools and Colleges or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. They must be authorized to confer a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies degrees. The contractor shall maintain as part of its university system a PA program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), and has at a minimum been re-accredited at least once and has maintained continuous accreditation. The university must maintain membership with the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

5.0. Description of Work.

5.1. The contractor, will grant college graduate credit and award a Bachelor of Science to students who successfully complete Phase I of the IPAP and a Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies to students who successfully compete both Phase I and Phase II of the IPAP PROGRAM. Students must:

5.1.1. Maintain an acceptable grade point average (3.0 on the 4.0 point scale) over the didactic portion of the PROGRAM;

5.1.2 Complete all didactic course work and the residency portion;

5.1.3. Complete all other requirements of the iPAP PROGRAM; and

5.1.4. Graduate from the PROGRAM.

5.2. Student Eligibility.

5.2.1. The contractor shall review the admission credentials of prospective students. The contractor shall provide a report on the eligibility of the prospective students’ acceptance to the appropriate government selection board (PROGRAM Director) within 30 calendar days from receipt of admission credentials. Credits greater than 10 years old shall be noted on the report.

5.2.2. The contractor shall accept the admission, from any uniformed service, of students who have at least 60 hours academic credit from an accredited college/university, 30 hours of which must be in residence. The remaining hours may be derived from College Level Examination Program (CLEP) correspondence courses, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), military training credit on Army American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS) transcript, Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), etc. The acceptability of prerequisite courses shall be determined by discussion between the contractor and the IPAP representative. The contractor shall waive any requirements for courses of a State or local nature for IPAP students.

5.2.3. Applicants will be approved by the government prior to the contractor providing their final approval.

5.3. PROGRAM Description

5.3.1. The IPAP provides students a physician assistant education with a unique military work focus that is infused throughout Phase I and Phase II of the curriculum. The goal of the IPAP is to prepare candidates for PA practice in a military specific environment.

5.3.2. The PROGRAM Director will provide the number of students enrolled, for the initial class, to the contractor 60 calendar days prior to the start of the first class with the intent of providing the number of enrolled students 90 calendar days out in subsequent class starts.

5.3.3. At the end of each grading period, the IPAP will ensure student grades are submitted to the contractor within 14 calendar day for posting to official transcripts.

5.3.4. The PROGRAM Director will recommend the contractor withdraw/dismiss students who are failing to maintain military or academic standards within 15 calendar days of the grading period.

5.3.5. Provide to the contractor within fifteen working days any change in student status (withdrawn, dis-enrolled, removed, or recycled to the next appropriate class).

5.3.6. The PROGRAM Director will submit proposed research, through official Military Institutional Review Board channels for review and approval.

5.3.7. The contractor shall delegate responsibility for the governance of the PROGRAM to the government PROGRAM Director. The contractor hereby delegates student grievance procedures and oversight of curriculum implementation to the government PROGRAM Director. Furthermore, the contractor, in conjunction with the government PROGRAM Director, shall mutually agree upon admission criteria that serves the PROGRAM. The PROGRAM Director shall provide the contractor with the necessary admission information for each individual desiring enrollment in the PROGRAM. Within 14 calendar days of each selection board, the contractor shall provide acceptance letters to the applicants and written notification to the PROGRAM Director of all accepted applicants.

5.4. PROGRAM Curriculum. The IPAP will use the Government’s curriculum and educational objectives.

5.5. Affiliation Services.

5.5.1. Provide full registration for all students upon receipt of notification of selection by individual service selection boards. The initial portion of registration will occur online and the remainder must be completed on site at IPAP, JBSA, Fort Sam Houston, TX.

5.5.2. Provide all necessary administrative services for the IPAP students to receive college credits and a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree with appropriate honors recognition.

5.5.3. Confer a Bachelor of Science degree to all IPAP students successfully completing Phase I of the IPAP and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies to all IPAP students successfully completing both Phase I and Phase II of the IPAP. Actual degrees/diplomas shall be mailed to Registrar, U.S. AMEDDC&S, JBSA, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, no later than three weeks prior to graduation. The master’s degree will identify students receiving honors recognition.

5.5.4. The contractor shall post grades in student transcripts and maintain transcripts (in accordance with university policy) for all contractor’s students. An official degree-posted transcript will be sent to the IPAP representative within two weeks of graduation.

5.5.5. Accept the grading system used by IPAP, as follows:

A+ = 97-100

A = 90-96

B+ = 87-89

B = 80-86

C+ = 78-79

C = 75-77

F = <75

5.5.6. Review and accept the curriculum and educational objectives forwarded by the Government. The contractor shall provide input/feedback, if any, to the government no later than 10 days after receipt of the curriculum and educational objectives.

5.6. PROGRAM Faculty.

5.6.1. The government will nominate, and the contractor shall appoint, members of the PROGRAMs’ faculty applying for professional status into the contractor's institution within 60 days of receipt of application. Appointments will be effective only during the tenure of the instructor as a member of the PROGRAMs’ faculty, or the duration of this affiliation agreement between the contractor and the AMEDDC&S, whichever terminates first.

5.6.2. PROGRAM faculty shall be entitled the same rights, privileges, and benefits afforded contractor faculty at the contractor’s main campus and/or other satellite campuses as long as the rights and privileges provide a benefit to the government and do not contravene federal regulations governing standards of ethical conduct to include Joint Ethics Regulation Department of Defense (DoD) 5500.7.

5.6.3. The contractor shall provide opportunities for military related collaborative scholarly activity with the PROGRAM faculty, i.e., research, grants, and publications.

5.6.4. PROGRAM faculty may obtain faculty identification cards, as appropriate.

5.6.5. PROGRAM faculty may obtain faculty parking passes, as appropriate.

5.6.6. PROGRAM faculty shall be afforded faculty training opportunities with the contractor that are directly related the delivery of the PROGRAM.

5.7. PROGRAM student services shall include:

5.7.1. Maintaining academic records for each student enrolled in the PROGRAM and providing students a copy of their records at the same interval as students in attendance at the contractor's main campus.

5.7.2. The PROGRAM students shall be entitled the same rights, privileges, and benefits afforded graduate students in residence at the contractor’s main campus and/or other satellite campuses as long as the rights and privileges provide a benefit to the government and do not contravene federal regulations governing standards of ethical conduct to include Joint Ethics Regulation DoD 5500.7.

5.8. Contractor Required Visits. The contractor shall attend on-site registration for each incoming class.

5.8.1. The designated representative shall make an annual evaluation site visit to the AMEDDC&S at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

5.8.2. The contractor’s Dean or equivalent shall participate in class openings by VTC, attend graduation ceremonies at Fort Sam Houston, TX, or other official ceremonies mutually agreed upon in advance. The contractor shall not bill separately for travel.

5.8.3. All site visits shall be coordinated at least four (4) weeks in advance of the visit with PROGRAM Director. The annual site visit may be held in conjunction with graduation ceremonies.

5.9. The contractor shall design within 60 calendar days of award a webpage to promote the Army IPAP. The Government shall approve the webpage 14 calendar days prior to the PROGRAM start date.

5.10. The contractor in conjunction with the PROGRAM Director shall maintain the webpage providing up-to-date information. The webpage must be accessible 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

5.11. Contractor Manpower Reporting.

5.11.1. The contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the CHCC via a secure data collection site. The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address: http://www.ecmra.mil/.

5.11.2. Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each government fiscal year (FY), which runs October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year. Contractors may direct questions to the help desk at http://www.ecmra.mil/.

5.12. Deliverables.

5.12.1. Sexual Assault Reporting. The contractor will immediately (within 24 hours of gaining knowledge of the incident) submit a written report of an incident of sexual assault to the COR.

5.12.2. Sexual Harassment Reporting. The contractor will immediately (within 24 hours of gaining knowledge of the incident) submit a written report of an incident of sexual harassment to the COR.

6. Applicable Regulations and Manuals

6.1 Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy, 20 Sep 2012

6.1.2 OTSG/MEDCOM Policy Memo 13-062, Policy for Reporting Incidents of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment under the Sexual Assault Prevention and Responses Program (SHARP), 12 Nov 2013