Response_to_Solicitation_Questions.docx

1. The Government is allowing only 10 pages to present our technical approach. Requiring the submission to be double-spaced presents an extremely formidable challenge that will impact a vendor’s ability to present a quality and compelling approach. We kindly ask that the Government rescind the double-spacing requirement.

RESPONSE: An amendment will be posted to FBO rescinding the double-spacing requirement.

2. Is there currently an incumbent performing this services?

RESPONSE: There is not a current incumbent. This is a new requirement

3. In Section 1.9.10. "The Contractor HCP may be required to extend the duty hours to ensure completion of the scheduled patient treatment or in cases of emergencies. Contractor HCP shall be paid the contract hourly rate until the Contractor HCP leaves the MTF premise. Hours worked do not include travel to and from the MTF. "This statement suggests that the HCP may incur overtime. If the hours are extended due to scheduled treatment or emergencies, will the contractor be able to bill the government for the extended hours even though in Section 1.9.11 - "OVERTIME IS NOT AUTHORIZED?"

RESPONSE: The MTF does not handle emergency patients. Emergency patients who come in are referred to a local hospital and/or other transported by an ambulance service. The Health Clinic closes its doors at 1530. The schedule allows for the last patient to be scheduled at 1420 hours for routine screening. If a patient needs additional attention, non-emergency, they will be referred for treatment to another military clinic or hospital within the local area or out-sourced to a civilian specialist. Past clinical history has revealed the clinic has not had to keep their doors opened past the 1530 hours.

4. How often will the provider be required to perform services at Fort Eustis and Williamsburg, Virginia?

RESPONSE: At this time, it is unknown how often the Provider will be required to perform duties at Fort Eustis. The Williamsburg Clinic will not be opening until mid-June 2018 or later if there are construction/hiring delays.

5. Does the government anticipate the provider will burn the 7,000 miles noted in the pricing CLINs? If the provider uses their own vehicle, that is a considerable amount of mileage to put on their vehicle each year of the contract. Will the government consider allowing the cost of a rental car in performance of services and allow the contractor to bill for it?

RESPONSE: No rental car will be authorized.

6. Since this is an email submission, what is the file limit size that can be accepted by the government for submission of offers?

RESPONSE: It has been found that when proposals are submitted in accordance with the solicitation requirements, there have not been issues concerning the file limit size. However, the offeror is responsible for insuring its proposal is received no later than on the date and at the time and at the address specified in the solicitation.

7. In terms of recouping funds for DOD-directed background investigations prior to Site and IT System access for Contractors, will the Army be averse to offsetting the Awardee's first invoice as described?

RESPONSE: The Government will not be responsible for compensating the contractor for any cost in the vetting of new hires for the contracted positions. The Government will incur costs when the MTF Security Officer performs all required criminal background investigations to include a Child Background check on the selected contract employees.

8. In an average week, how many hours can our candidate Physician expect to spend at each Place of Performance? (McDonald, Troop Med. Clinic #1 (TMC1), TMC2 at Fort Eustis; and Fort Story itself)

RESPONSE: Fort Story will be the HCP's primary place of performance and will work a 8 hour shift, M-F, excluding holidays. The Fort Story HCP will be scheduled to fill in at Fort Eustis and Williamsburg clinic on an as needed basis filling in for other HCP's taking leave (scheduled or emergency) and/or scheduled absences. When required to fill in, the HCP's 8 hour shift will include approximately 5 hours seeing patients, 1.5 hours will be allotted travel from Ft. Story to Ft. Eustis or the Williamsburg clinic and 1.5 hours allotted travel back to Ft. Story from Ft. Eustis or the Williamsburg clinic. From Ft. Story, VA the distance to Ft Eustis is 46 miles and 57 miles to Williamsburg. The government estimates the Fort Story HCP may serve the Fort Eustis/Williamsburg clinics 58 times a year.

9. If the Govt. requests that the contracted Physician report to multiple MTF locations in the same day, will our Physician's drive time be considered "On Duty"? Will this only be the case if our Physician responds to administrative or patient care calls during the drive?

RESPONSE: No, the HCP will not be required to visit more than one MTF Clinic per day.

10. Will each day's Duty Station be planned in advance? Or will a "morning stand-up" meeting/phone call determine each day's Duty Station?

RESPONSE: Yes. Schedules are created 6 months in advance. Leave requests are due 60 days in advance. The HCP will have advanced notice of his/her place of duty per the schedule.

11. Who will our Physician report to? (Title? Full Name?)

RESPONSE: A Family Nurse Practitioner. Once the award has been made, the contracted employees will be advised of whom they are to report to.

12. If our Physician needs time away from work and this need arises in less time than we are contractually obligated to notify the COR (2 weeks), what recourse is likely by the Govt. in response?

RESPONSE: The Government will recognize the HCP’s needs on a case-by-case basis and determine the best solution in handling the HCP’s absence for providing adequate patient care.

13. Does McDonald Army Health Center and its surrounding clinics use an online shift scheduling tool that our candidate will need to know how to use? If "yes", please name this scheduling tool and its replacement if one may be deployed by 2019.

RESPONSE: NO.

14. Would the Govt. consider adding a Other-than Direct Costs (ODC) CLIN to the solicitation to cover uniform allowance, Continuing Medical Education (CME), and other anticipated expenses? Perhaps the Travel CLIN could be enhanced to allow these types of expenditures?

RESPONSE: No. Contracted employees are responsible for providing their own uniforms and training, to include certifications.

15. Please provide the street address for "Williamsburg Health Clinic" referenced on page 33, Section 1.0.1?

RESPONSE: The Williamsburg, VA clinic will be a new facility, but the government has not chosen a Williamsburg, VA location yet.

16. Would the Army consider allowing Offerors to include very slight mileage rate increases for CLINs X002 above the current JFTR-approved mileage rate? Or should we expect the Army to "lock in" the 2017 rate across all 5 POPs?

RESPONSE: JFTR will determine travel mileage increases. If the JFTR rates change during contract performance, the government will revise the contract rates accordingly.