QUESTIONS_AND_ANSWERS,_22_May_19.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

As of 22 May 2019

Q1. PWS 1.4.3.4 Coordination with Other Contractors. The Government may award other contracts or additional work not prescribed in this contract. The contractor shall fully cooperate with other such contractors. The contractor shall not commit or permit any act that will interfere with the performance of work by another contractor. -The legal approach this verbiage leaves the awarded contractor with vast legal liability to what defines "cooperate," e g - if the other contractor is breaking the law or violating the best interests of the awarded contractor. The legal ambiguity leaves the awardee in legal peril due to the lack of specific definition in this section. If you would please further advise?

A1. In the event another contractor is present, the awardee is asked to coordinate as needed to allow the contractor to provide the required services. For example, the awardee shall allow the janitorial contractor access to the facilities or area in use in order to perform contracted cleaning services.

Q2. PWS 1.4.4.1 The contractor may request permission to work outside these hours by obtaining approval from the KO at no additional cost to the Government (includes weekends and extended daily work hours). - Are drill weekends considered outside of normal hours?

A2. No, drill weekends are not considered outside the normal service hours.

Q3. PWS 1.4.6.2 Liability. The contractor hereby agrees to release the Government (to include its officer, enlisted personnel, agents, and employees) from any liability for any loss, damage, or injury sustained by the contractor or his employees during the performance of this contract. The contractor also agrees to indemnify the Government for any loss, damage, or injury to Government personnel or agents or other third parties, provided such loss to the Government is caused by the negligence of the contractor or his personnel while performing this contract. - Will the Government cover legal expenses of the contractor if the contractor's employees are not found to be negligent at the completion of liability legal proceeding?

A3. No.

Q4. PWS 1.4.10.2 Contractor shall provide licenses for Athletic Training and/or Physical Therapy and certifications for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to include Automated External Defibrillator

(AED). These qualifications are necessary in order to work with pre-habilitative industrial employees who fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Employees Compensation Act and the special needs of working with United States DoD fighter pilot. Must also have experience in working with high performance athletes and multiple years of experience working with musculoskeletal injuries and rehabilitation. -

FECA is designed to cover to Government Service (GS) and large employee based contractors to the

Federal Government, will the contractor only be working with pilots who are not covered by FECA? or are employees not including pilots to be serviced as well?

A4. The contractor shall provide licenses for Athletic Training and/or Physical Therapy and certifications for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to include Automated External Defibrillator

(AED). Only fighter pilots will be serviced under this contract.

Q5. PWS 1.4.10.4 MASSAGE THERAPIST MT) must possess and maintain an active, current, and unrestricted license from the State of Michigan MTs provide pre-habilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in fighter pilots. As such, the Contractor shall evaluate and provide massage therapy to fighter pilot personnel as part of a pre-habilitation program. Pre-habilitation is intended to strengthen core musculoskeletal (MSK) system to enhance resistance to neck and back injury. Also, healthy lifestyle education is addressed as part of an overall health maintenance program to enhance injury resistance.

Such massage therapy as part of an overall program, focusing on neck and back pain, will improve the overall quality of life for fighter pilot. The MT must have experience working with professional and/or collegiate athletes, or equivalent. A minimum of two (2) years’ experience is desired. - Massage

Therapists are not trained or licensed to issue any form of exercise, especially for the spine. Is there a specific expectation of the Massage Therapist to issue or advise on any form of exercise? Next, what is meant by "healthy lifestyle"? Again, Massage Therapists have no training outside the delivery of non-medical soft tissue mobilization.

A5. There is no expectation that the MT issue advice on exercise. MT may provide healthy lifestyle education within the limitation of their knowledge, education and experience.

Q6. PWS 5.1.2.1 MT: The MT, working with other team members, shall develop an IP for each assigned pilot member requesting services of the MT. The goals of theIP isto increase neck and back conditioning and overall health to minimize the risk of neck and back injury and to minimize the severity of any injury experienced by the member by addressing neck and back strain encountered by pilots. The Contractor shall provide a written evaluation and assessment to the Squadron Medical Element within seven days after members’initial appointment. - What does "IP" stand for/define? Is this Injury Plan? This would fall outside the scope of both what OHWS has defined as "Pre-habilitaive" and definitely outside the scope of practice for a Massage Therapist. A MT is not licensed to - diagnose an injury, assess an injury, or develop a treatment plan for a musculoskeletal injury. Is this section intended to be assigned to the Athletic Trainer?

A6. Individualized Program (IP). Section 5.1 of the PWS will be revised to generally describe an

IP with the following language:

The Contractor shall develop an Individualized Program (IP) for each pilot serviced within seven days of the initial evaluation. The goals of this IP is to increase physical conditioning and overall health to minimize the risk of neck and back injury.

Q7. Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services?

A7. This is a new requirement. There is no incumbent.