W81K04-17-T-BPAN_Vendor_Submitted_Questions.pdf

Q# Vendor Question Government Response

Since malpractice insurance is required for non-personal services, can the Contractor include the cost of this insurance in its submitted ceiling costs for the BPA?

IAW FAR 31.201-1 (a) The total cost, including standard costs properly adjusted for applicable variances, of a contract is the sum of the direct and indirect costs allocable to the contract, incurred or to be incurred, plus any allocable cost of money pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-10, less any allocable credits. In ascertaining what constitutes a cost, any generally accepted method of determining or estimating costs that is equitable and is consistently applied may be used. If you choose to include the cost of medical malpractice insurance in your ceiling price, ensure that it is clearly identified in your price narrative and excel spreadsheet.

For Weeknight on-call and Weekend/Holiday on-call rates, does the on-call service require only calling in when paged? If it requires a trip to the MTF, does the time worked in the MTF get billed under the Regular or Holiday hourly rates or under the on-call rate?

The BPA call will indicate whether on-call duty is required. If applicable, the on-call rates apply when the nurse is in an on-call status as defined at paragraph 2.1.24 of the PWS. If the provider is required to go to the MTF then they will no longer be in an on-call status and the regular, holiday or overtime hourly rates (as applicalbe) would apply.

If the HCP incurs overtime, how are these hours billed? If under the Regular or Holiday hours, can you provide an estimate of how many overtime hours should be included for pricing purposes?

Since the nurses are covered by the Service Contract Act (SCA), overtime columns have been included in the pricing structure on the Master BPA. However, overtime shall not be authorized unless specifically identified by thje BPA call. most Military Treatment Facilities do not authorize contract nurses to work overtime; the BPA call will identify whether overtime is anticipated and will be required on the call. The solicitation has been amended to respond to this question. The Factor 3 Price By Region Worksheet has been updated to include pricing columns for overtime pricing.

Exhibit E – Wage Determination List appears to be outdated as all of the provided WDs are dated 12/30/2016. Most have been updated more recently and many of the old WD numbers do not exist any longer.

Please provide an updated list with the current WD numbers and revisions so all Offerors are using current WDs.

The solicitation has been amended. Exhibit E has been updated to reflect the most recent information.

5 Are there any incumbents for this contract? If so, can the Government please provide the names and contract numbers of the incumbents? These is a new requirement; there are no incumbents.

6 Does the Government have any estimates for prior usage by location and types of nurses ordered?

Since this is a new requirement, the Government does not have any estimates for prior usage by location and types of nurses ordered.

**Government responses to vendor questions that affected a change to the formal solicitation are highlighted in yellow for ease of reference.

On page 2 of the solicitation, the government identifies CLINs for Travel. Does the government anticipate providing estimates for the travel associated with these assignments at the Task Order level?

For the Master BPA, the Government does not have travel estimates, these will be identified on the individual BPA calls. In accordance with the PWS, the USG will reimburse costs that are considered to be reasonable and allowable only to the extent that they do not exceed on a daily basis the maximum rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR). Travel will not be reimbursed for trips within a 50 mile radius of the place of performance stated in the BPA call.

On page 4 of the solicitation, the Government identifies that Invoices shall be itemized and submitted monthly or upon completion of the BPA call. Will the Government consider allowing bi-weekly invoicing for the BPA Calls?

Monthly invoicing is anticipated. If allowable, the contracting officer issuing BPA calls may consider and make a determination to allow bi-weekly invoicing.

On page 37 of the solicitation, the Government states that “If required by the BPA call, the Contractor shall have sufficient qualified personnel available so that all services are provided in the event a contractor nurse(s) scheduled to work becomes ill, resigns, is terminated, or is otherwise unavailable to work. The substitutes/replacements shall have at least the minimum qualifications required for the position.” Will the Government please clarify if the replacements identified are typically used for long term absences?

It is anticipated that qualified personnel will be available to fulfill the required services in the event there is an absence due to illness, resignation, termination, or some other reason that the initial HCP is unavailable to filfill the requirement so that there is not a break in service. Since the BPA is intended for short term assignments ranging form approximately 3 to less than 10 months, the Government does not expect long term absences, e.g. due to vacations.

On page 45 of the solicitation, Description of Work, the Government identifies that “The Contractor shall provide technically competent contractor nurse(s) within the time stated in the BPA call. Can the government please provide an estimate of the typical time allotted for fulfilling the call order?

This timeframe will be identified on the individual task order. The contractor would have from the date of award to the start of performance to recruit and place the nurses. Typically the government will award the BPA call at least 30 days prior to start of performance.

On page 45 of the solicitation, Travel, the Government states that “contractor nurse(s) may be required to travel based on the location of the MTF and specialty required”. Will the Government please clarify how personnel are identified to travel? Does the contractor propose personnel that are willing to travel? Or does the Government select previously assigned personnel to travel from one location to another if willing?

PWS Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2. address travel. Travel may be included in the BPA call if it is anticipated the vendor will have to fill the short term requirement with a nurse who must travel from outside the area in which the Military Treatment Facility is located. For example, if a RN is needed in San Antonio, travel may not be included on the BPA call since it is a large metropolitan market and it would be expected that the contractor can fill the requirement locally. However, if an RN is needed at Fort Irwin, CA travel expenses may be included on the BPA call with the expectation the anticipation that it would need to be filled with a traveling nurse who would require transportation, temporary lodging, etc. Travel, if applicable, will be identified on the individual BPA call.

On page 49 of the solicitation, section 5.7.4 On-Time Placement, the Government states that “The Contractor shall ensure that contractor nurse(s) have met all pre-performance requirements and are prepared to begin performance at the location, time and date stated in the BPA Calls.” Will the Government clarify more on the security process for the BPA Calls to ensure timely placement and starting?

PWS sections 1.6.6.2, 1.13, 1.16, 5.6, 5.6.1, and 6.1.5. address security requirements. Specific Military Treatment Facility security processes, as applicable, will be addressed with each BPA call.

On page 49 of the solicitation, section 6.2.3, the Government makes reference to an orientations checklist as part of the deliverables, will the Government clarify the content of the orientation checklist?

The correct reference for this is pragraph 6.1.3. of the PWS in the solicitation. If an orientations checklist is required it will be identified at the individual BPA call level.

On page 57, the Government identifies the criteria necessary for Registered Nurses and Registered Nurse Case Managers. Will the Government consider allowing An Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a diploma for Registered Nursing for this labor category?

Yes, after additional consideration and researching the commercial standard, the solicitation has been amended at Exibit D to read "Degree: Dipolma in Nursing, an Associate Degree in Nursing, or a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing." The Nursing program must be accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

On Page 57, the Government identifies certifications required for the Registered Nurse, Case Manager. Will the Government consider allowing the RNs to obtain certification within assignment?

No, if the Government places a BPA call requiring an RN Case Manager with certification, the Government expects the RN Case Manager will be certified prior to starting the performance at the Military Treatment Facility. This would apply to any nursing position requiring specialty certification.

On page 89 of the solicitation, the Government states that the page limitation for Factor 1 (Technical and Management Capability) is 18 pages in total. Will the Government consider excluding Subfactor 1D (Nursing Specialties Provided) and Subfactor 1E (States in Which Nursing Services have been Provided) from the 18 page limit?

Page 89 of the solicitation states the technical narrative shall not exceed 18 pages. The excel spreadhseets for Subfactor 1D and 1E are not considered technical narrative and are not included in the 18 page limit for technical narrative.

My employers would like to have an opportunity to visit a large facility like the site you have there in San Antonio (since we are located so close) in order to give us an idea of what type of staffing steps we need to take to give the U.S. Army the best service we possibly can. Is there a point of contact at the San Antonio Medical Center?

Site visits are not being conducted for this requirement.

Exhibit D – Short Term Nurses Minimum Qualifications – Registered Nurses indicates that all Registered Nurses are required to possess a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. This requirement will seriously limit the pool of available nurses for short-term assignments. Please clarify if a BSN is required for all RN’s or is an associate degree from an accredited nursing school also acceptable?

See response to question #16.

19 Is an existing BPA in place and if yes, who are the current incumbents? See response to question #5.

20 If an existing BPA is in place, what are the current ceiling rates? See response to question #5.

21 Because questions have to be turned in does this mean we can’t call you with questions after this?

In order to prevent an unfair competitive advantage the Government will not discuss the requirement with any interested party. All vendor questions shall be submitted in writing via email, if applicable the Government will proivide all responses via FBO. Interested parties are not prohibited from submitting questions during the solicitation phase.

Training- will it be paid training and will most of it be done online.? I know the Cyber training will be but will there be other training and if so, will they have to travel to get it?

Training required by the Government will either be online or at the Military Treatment Facility where services will be provided. Contract nurses will not be expected to travel to other facilities/locations for training. See PWS section1.6. for training requirements and whether the nurse is paid during the training. Specifics will be identified in the BPA calls.

23 What is Master BPA level? P. 75 3.1 Not clear on what you mean by surveillance activities?

The Master BPA is the overarching Blanket Purchase Agreement established by the HRCO Contracting Officer and the Agreement Holder, it is differentialted form the BPA Calls which will be issued by authorized contracting officers within the U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity's Regional Heanth Contracting Offices. On page 75, surveillance activities refers to an aspect of the Government's quality assurance surveillance program.

With the being a BPA not really sure how this will work with. I will have to get these people set up and have them on call, until you guys have a need for us? I’m asking this because these people may have to come from other states etc. and I will need to pay them until you guys call on us? In previous instances what was the average amount of calls made, and what was the average time worked on these sites.

The Government does not expect an agreement holder to set up an office and have staff waiting for a call. The Government will issue requests for quotes to the BPA holders, who will in turn submit quotes. The Government will then award a BPA call to one of the BPA holders who would then be expected to have nurses available to start working at the Military Treatment Facility on the date specified in the BPA Call.

With Travel will there be a limit on the travel that can be counted?

Should there be a limited amount of travel involved? I was trying to get a range for mileage considered for travel, I know that anything under 50 miles is not counted for a round trip correct?

See response to question #11.

In the solicitation it reads that (RHC’s) will place calls for temporary/short term nursing services. It states that it may be for less than three months but shall be for less than 10 months. May through September being the most frequent months due to transferring etc. I’m trying to see how to calculate for these needs? So is it safe to say that the people (nurses) will be on call until they are called? Trying to figure how to offer the position to the candidate, because if no set times how does one prepare for that? I understand that FAR 13.303 BPA do not have to include pricing, so is the pricing ultimately going to be based on the number of calls made? Also, is there a $3000 threshold so that is the maximum amount paid regardless of the number of calls, or this when I would just rotate the calls to other states. Not really sure how that would work?

For the first part of the question, reference response to question #24. The quoter is required to submit celeing pricing in response to this solicitation, see Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 and Factor 3, Price By Region Worksheet. There is not a $3,000 threshold applicable to this requirement.

27 Price List, will this be completely determined by me? Is the $3000 the total amount for a month or the entire contract? See response to question #26.

28 When calls are placed are the nurses expected to actually go to the clinic, hospital etc. or will the office be set up in that location?

When BPA calls are placed, the call will be for a specific RN or LVN nursing requirement at one of the Military Treatment Facilities listed in the combined synopsis/solicitation starting on page

58. The BPA call will indicate the period of performance, work hours, and duties. The nurses are expected to be at the MFT location to start performance on the date in the BPA call.

29 There is mention of transportation, what will be transported? P.30

This clause 252.247-7023 Transporation of Supplies by Sea is required by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplememnt (DFARS); however it will only apply in the event that transportation of supplies is applicable. It is not anticipated that transportation of supplies will be applicable to the BPA calls.

30 For that pay scale listed why are there two different amounts one includes wage and the other fringe benefits, which one is correct. P.16

FAR Clause 52.222-42 identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5341 or 5332. The first dollar amount shown is the wage, the second amount shown is the wage with the 40% fringe benefit applied.

31 Will employee need to be on site M_F at designated time or an as need basis?

The BPA call will specify the duty hours for each requirement. Nurses working in a clinic setting may be working Monday thru Friday during clinic hours while nurses working in an intensive care unit may be working shift work and holidays/weekends.

32 Do you know of any old awards you guys have given to companies that I can review? See response to question #5.

33 Will the contractor be expected to make visits to the sites’ and if so how many within the time frame? See response to question #17.

Page 77, item (1), subitem v. Subfactor 1E. Since the offeror is able to use past performance from a teaming partner as detailed in item (2) Factor 2, does the requested experience for states where services have been provided also include teaming partner services?

Yes, if the contractor is proposing a teaming partner they can consider their partners experience providing the required services when completing the spreadsheet for Subfactor 1E.

Page 77, item (1) subitem v. Subfactor 1E. For the states where we have provided services, can offerors include states where any healthcare staffing services have been performed in the last three years? Item (2) provides the ability to furnish any other past or present performance information which the offeror believes demonstrates the ability to perform the services required – please confirm this applies to item v.

Subfactor 1E as well.

FAR Clause 52.212-1 Subfactor 1E States in Which Nursing Services Have Been Provided is the title of the spreadsheet and it indicates the rating is based on the number of states the quoter has provided nursing services in the past three years. The Government will not make recommendations on how to prepare your quote. In accordance with the solicitaion, the Government will consider recency and relevency when evaluating past performance. The verbiage in paragraph (2) of the ADDENCMUM to FAR 52.212-1 is for Factor 2, Past and Present Performance and does not apply to Subfactor 1E.

Page 77, item (2) Factor 2: Please clarify what the Government considers an approved teaming arrangement. Is an executed, contractually obligating teaming agreement acceptable?

Paragraph b(4)(e)(2) of the ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1 states "For purposes of this solicitation a teaming arrangement is considered one in which two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor." Teaming arrangements which meet this definition are acceptable.

Would you confirm if there're specific past performance questionnaires required, and when the Past Performances are due, for the BAP referenced above? This may be an oversight on my part, as I may have overlooked the information in the BPA.

The Government does not have a specific past performance questionaire; the ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1 identifies the requirements for the submission of past performance. All responses are due by the response due date identified in the solicitation.

38 Can you please tell me if this is a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent, and what is the contract number? See response to question #5.

Would you mind providing the previous BPA numbers for short tern nursing services as they relate to Solicitation # W81K04-17-T-BPAN please? IF W81K04-17-T-BPAN is considered a new requirement, would you mind clarifying that please?

See response to question #5.

40 Please provide the option year prices for the contract.

As identified in the solicition, the resultant agreements will have a five-year ordering period and will not include options. However, the CLINS have been formulated in a way to allow for different pricing in out years. Quoters may account for changes in prices on the applicable CLIN.

41 Is this a new contract or an existing one? See response to question #5.

42 If this is an existing one, what is the name of the current contractor? See response to question #5.