Industry Day_ Q&A.pdf

Industry Day Regulated Medical Waste (RMW)

Questions and Answers

Contractor Questions and Government Replies

1. Are you planning on using a unit rate? Costs will vary across regions due to transportation costs.

Government Reply: The contractor will establish per pound rates for each facility and these are included in the basic contract.

2. Is each agency issuing a task order (TO) responsible for the administration of that TO?

Government Reply: Yes.

3. How will you address technological advances? For If we come to you with a more cost effective method (pyrogenisis).

Government Reply: The Government is not opposed to new technologies. The Government is only concerned with the work getting done, and it is up to the contractor to decide how to accomplish the work required as long as it abides by the contract and PWS, necessary laws, regulations, etc.

4. If the storage facility is out of regulations is it our responsibility to notify?

Government Reply: The contractor may refuse pick-up, but is required to notify the TO Contracting Officer (KO) and the TO Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

5. Is non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste included?

Government Reply: No.

6. The 130 gallon containers are proprietary to Stericycle. Do you plan on including other container sizes?

Government Reply: The PWS will be revised to include a range of sizes.

7. Will we be required to package the material?

Government Reply: No; pick-up only.

8. Will Europe be included as a requirement in the solicitation?

Government Reply: No.

9. What are the line items for Category A?

Government Reply: Contracting will work with the contractor in case of emergency as this need cannot be anticipated.

10. What are the Small Business goals?

Government Reply: We will be working on the Small Business goals and these will be make clear in the solicitation. A subcontracting plan will be required from any large business that is proposing, and a small business participation plan will be required in all proposals by any contractor.

11. Will you look at CPARS as part of proposal evaluation? There may be difficulty receiving responses on PPQs from customers/contracting.

Government Reply: Yes.

12. How will current contracts for current RMW treatment and disposal be handled?

Government Reply: Current contracts will remain in place. As options or period of performance expire, that requirement will then be accomplished under this contract.

13. Do you have dates for current awards and their end dates?

Government Reply: Not at this time. However, we plan to award this contract by 30 September 2020.

14. Is each MTF required to use this contract?

Government Response: Yes, this is a mandatory contract. MTFs will no longer be awarding individual contracts.

15. Will there/ can there be specific/preferred containers?

Government Reply: Containers are specified in the PWS

16. Will service dates be specified?

Government Reply: Yes. In Exhibit B.

17. Will the Government maintain internal storage, tracking, etc. until the point of pick-up?

Government Reply: Yes. The Government will weigh material.

18. Can we use Government scale numbers?

Government Reply: Yes; however, the contractor will still be required to verify the weight by weighing it themselves. Disposal facility will also weigh it.

19. Are contractors required to complete DOT training?

Government Response: Yes.

Government Questions and Contractor Replies

1. Is the vendor utilizing - or have the ability to utilize - re-usable sharps containers as part of any of their current contracts?

a. Contractor Reply: Yes

b. Contractor Reply: Yes.

c. Contractor Reply: Yes.

2. What, if any, state-specific RMW requirements have they encountered that impacted/modified their delivery of service in a particular location?

a. Contractor Reply: Mostly hazard/radioactive waste.

b. Contractor Reply: New Jersey, NJEDP, A901 Licensure requirement. Must be direct licensure, which can take up to 18 months. Cannot subcontract in NJ.

c. Contractor Reply: None.

3. What contingencies, if any, do they have should their primary method of disposal be substantially interrupted?

a. Contractor Reply: Alternative disposal sites, use of subcontractors, and ensuring knowledgeability about the installation’s contingency plan in order to work together. We have experience with contingency plans and have also hosted Table Top Exercises (TTXs) for this topic.

b. Contractor Reply: Relationships with other vendors.

c. Contractor Reply: Relationships with other vendors.

4. Are there any states (regardless of certification) where they don't currently have RMW collection capabilities? How would those potential gaps in service be addressed under your proposal?

a. Contractor Reply: Yes; however, we would address this in our proposal, and possibly obtain certifications ourselves or utilize teaming partners who have certifications or the ability to get certified.

b. Contractor Reply: Yes, but can operate in many states utilizing subcontractors.

c. Contractor Reply: Yes; however, we have the ability to utilize teaming partner arrangements/subcontractors.

5. If the enterprise wide requirement were to be broken down into regions (example: West, Central and Eastern), how many regions would be recommend and why? Provide comment on industry ability to weigh RMW at pick-up location(s)?

a. Contractor Reply: The combination of North and South within each proposed region will affect cost as the transportation cost to the processing location will vary. In order to weigh at pick-up location versus own location we would need transportable scales that are calibrated; however, this is not an effective manner of weighing. Weighing at pick-up location versus own location would result in higher costs.

b. Contractor Reply: No recommendation. However, there is a large disparity in transportation costs between northeast area and southeast area. Weighing at pick-up location versus own location is doable, but redundant and increases costs.

c. Contractor Reply: Smaller regions that presented would increase competition amongst Small Businesses. Weighing at pick-up location versus own location increases costs.

6. Are there any additional Groups, not defined as Regulated Medical Waste in Section 2 of the Draft PWS, which need to be identified?

a. Contractor Reply: No.

b. Contractor Reply: Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste.

c. Contractor Reply: Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste, trace chemo, and hazardous pharmaceutical waste.

7. Do subcontracting opportunities exist, and if not, why?

a. Contractor Reply: Yes. Interested in either proposing as a subcontractor, but may propose as a prime contractor, utilizing subcontractors.

c. Contractor Reply: Yes.

8. Is your company licensed and fully qualified to perform the service of regulated medical waste (RMW) transport, processing, and disposal in all 50 states and the territories of Guam and Puerto?

a. If not, what states is your company not licensed/certified to perform RMW transport and processing?

b. In states where you are not licensed/certified, do you have or potentially will have partner firms that could perform the service in the PWS? If so, are you willing to provide the names of any potential partner firms?

Contractor Replies:

a. No, we are not; however, we would address this in our proposal, and either partner with those who have the required certifications or get certified ourselves.

We also have eight companies in which we can partner with.

b. No; however, can utilize teaming arrangements/subcontractors. This would be addressed in our proposal.

c. No; We are licensed in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.

9. Are there any changes you would recommend us (DHA) to make to the PWS to improve the potential contract?

a. Contractor Reply: Not at this time, but may follow up in an e-mail

b. Contractor Reply: Require online capabilities for reporting by contractor. For example, tracking permits and manifests.

c. Contractor Reply: Preferred containers information would be beneficial to Exhibit

B. Will send other recommendations via e-mail.

10. If your firm has existing contracts with AF or Navy MTFs, can you identify the locations (base name and MTF identifier) that you currently service, provide a copy of the existing contract with contract no., the current period of performance, and the options remaining on the contract? Relatedly, in your experience with your military contracts, are there any areas or specific requirements you would revise in your current contract or in the proposed PWS to improve the ability of your firm to deliver services required under this PWS to the DHA/military.

a. Contractor Reply: N/A

c. Contractor Reply: Would provide in proposal.