Questions for Medical Support PAs EMTs RN.pdf

Questions for Medical Support PAs, EMTs, and RNs.

Question: Are there incumbents?

Answer: Yes LTE - All positions filled, but EMT-P trainer. Trainer resigned to pursue a different line of work.

Graham Technologies - Both positions filled.

Question: What is the contract number for the current contract?

Answer: W91YTZ-17-C-0637

Question: Who is the incumbent company?

Answer: CAGE: 52UT0

GRAHAM TECHNOLOGIES LLC

9701 APOLLO DR STE 411

UPPER MARLBORO MD 20774-4783

Question: As the positions require a TS clearance, should we be provided a DD254 with the solicitation?

Answer: This is not a classified contract

Question: Section B (Pricing) only shows 2 FTE Physician Assistants for CLIN 0001

There is a Physician Assistant - SURGE – however that is not a full-time position with only 1600 hours allocated in

CLIN 0002

So, are we pricing only the hours shown in Section B (Pricing) or do we price 3 full-time positions?

Answer: The SURGE PA is a separate CLIN than the other two FTE PA positions.

Question: Pg. 68: Hours 1920 vs 1912? 2080 hours less 88 hours of holidays and 80 hours of PTO=1912 Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. The hours will be reduced to 1912 to reflect the addition of the new Federal Holiday Juneteenth Day.

Question: Pg. 03: Item 02 Please clarify surge PA's level of effort. How many hours are required?

Answer: Clinics are geographically dispersed. SURGE PA will cover one location 1600 hrs/yr. The other two PA’s, will work 1912 hrs./year each at different clinics.

Question: Pg. 36 Section 52.222-42: Do the fringe benefits need to be factored into the hourly rates and are they already in there for the current contract?

Answer: The decision how to price each line item is at the discretion of the vendor.

Question: Pg. 40 Section 52.222-62/Pg. 108: Sick Leave/regular Leave – The requirement is for employees to earn one hour of sick leave/30 hours of work not to exceed 56 hours/year. Regular leave is two weeks of regular leave for an employee with up to five years of leave and three weeks of leave for anyone with 5-15 years of company tenure. Can regular leave be a suitable substitute for sick leave? Is sick leave accruable?

Answer: The decision how to price each line item is at the discretion of the vendor.

Question: Pg. 73 Section 1.9.1: Will the govt pay for any additional required training? The PWS allude's to Govt training that they will pay for, but what about all the other required training ie certifications, qualifications etc?

Answer: The government will not cover these costs. It’s up to the vendor to decide if they choose to cover Continuing Medical Education, ACLS, PALS, BLS, licenses, etc.

Question: Pg. 60 Section 1.0.1.2: All personnel proposed must have multiple certifications and special capabilities to include TS clearance as stated on page 60 (1.0.1.2)--Does the government believe companies bidding at the low SCA rates will retain incumbent personnel and/or can actually hire someone with these stated requirements at an

SCA labor rate? The government states that the evaluation will be Low Priced / Technically Acceptable (LPTA) per page 134 and backed by attaching WD 2015-4281 Rev 23 dated 28 APR 2022 as a SCA cross reference to two of the proposed labor categories presented in Attachment 1 (pages 86-90).

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. Wage Determination was updated to reflect current version dated 27 June 2022. The decision how to price each CLIN is at the discretion of each vendor.

Question: The Excel Compensation document released on 20 July 2022 appears to be pricing work sheet and not a Compensation Plan for Professional Employees. Question: Is this excel spreadsheet to be considered the Compensation Plan to be included in the contractor’s response?

Answer: The decision how to price each line item is at the discretion of the vendor.

Question: Pg. 108 - Pg. 109: The DOL SCA Wage Determination 2015-4281 Rev. 23 has been replaced by 2015-4281 Rev. 24 dated 06/27/2022. Question: Should bidders use the current version versus what has been provided in the current issued RFP?

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. Wage Determination was updated to reflect current version dated 27 June 2022.

Question: I noticed that in section 1.0.1.2 of the solicitation.

The contractor shall ensure that all FTEs shall have an ACTIVE TOP SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE prior to the start of the period of performance, and subsequently, prior to the start date of any new hire employees. (refer to PWS supplement).

Does this in turn require our company to have the same level of facility clearance? If it does require this type of clearance would the government be willing to sponsor our company for this level of security?

Answer: The Government does not require the vendor to have a SCIF, therefore a sponsor is not needed.

However, the vendor’s security manager should have access to Government internet web sites that help track the status of the employee’s security clearance and eligibility for a Sensitive Compartment Information (SCI) clearance.

Question: Is this a new requirement or existing? If re-compete, what is the current contract number, who is the incumbent contractor, and what is the total price of the existing contract?

Answer:

Lumbee Tribe Enterprise, LLC WY91YTZ-17-C-0333 ($7.7 mil), base +4, SEP 2017 thru SEP 2022

New contract, when compared to existing contract will not have SURGE EMT-P position.

Graham Technologies, LLC W91YTZ-17-C-0637 ($2.3 mil), Base +4, SEP 2017 thru SEP 2022

New contract, when compared to existing contract will have a reduction in Health Care Benefits Coordinator hours, 0.5 FTE.

Question: Page 112 states “the contract agency Facility Security Office (FSO) is responsible for ensuring that the employee has the required SECURITY clearance”. Will the Government sponsor and facilitate the HCPs in obtaining the necessary security clearance level?

Answer: The vendor is responsible for ensuring HCPs have the appropriate TS clearance.

Question: What role(s) will the offeror company play in facilitating the security clearance level of the HCPs? Does the offeror company need to sponsor the security clearances of the HCPs? Will incumbent HCPs have to re-certify their security clearances due to the change in contracting company?

Answer: The offeror will hire and/or ensure the HCPs have the appropriate clearance level required for the positions. The company may choose to keep the incumbents currently working in position. The offeror will ensure the HCPs remain in compliance in accordance with the contract award certifications and requirements the duration of the period of performance.

Question: Is a Point of Contact, Program Manager, or another contract representative of the offeror company also required to have a Secret or Top-Secret Clearance? If so, will the Government also sponsor that Clearance?

Answer: No

Question: Page 50, 1.0.1 states: The Contractor HCP shall provide the personal services of a Certified Physician Assistant (PA), a certified Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic (EMT-P) or Registered Nurse (RN). Can the government clarify if the word “or” should be changed to “and”? It appears throughout the rest of the solicitation that all 3 labor categories are required.

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. The Government will change the word “or” to “and”.

Question: Are there incumbents on the current contract? If so, are all positions filled?

Answer: 1 x EMT-P Trainer is unfilled.

Question: Page 62, 1.1.7.7: Are any incumbent Contractor HCPs employees of the Department of Defense, either military or civilian?

Answer: None of the contract PA’s, RN or EMT-P’s work a US Government civil servant or Active Duty.

Question: The description on SAM states “The HCP shall provide 6 Full-Time Equivalents, (3-Licensed Physician Assistants, 2-Certified EMT, 1-Clinical: General Registered Nurse)”. The solicitation states 5.5 FTEs. Can the Government confirm which is correct?

Answer: The SURGE PA is the position that is 1600 hrs. /per year. The 2 x PA, 1 x RN and 2 x EMT-P are FTE/year.

Question: How many PA’s are covering 2.5 FTEs?

Answer: 2 x PA’s are FTE, the SURGE PA is 1600 hrs./year.

Question: Can the Government provide the non-work phone number and email addresses of the incumbent HCPs?

Answer:

POC Lumbee Tribe Enterprise, LLC / Mr. Ray Sterling, Clinic Physician Assistant, (706) 464-3593, raysterl@aol.com

POC Graham Technologies, LLC / Ms. Arlea Dailey, Health Care Benefits Coordinator, (703) 403-0857, arlea.w.daily.ctr@mail.mil

Question: Page 62, 1.1.8 states: “The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel, services, materials, equipment, supplies and facilities necessary…” Can the Government specify and elaborate what materials, equipment, supplies and facilities the contractor is responsible for?

Answer: The contractor should provide qualified personnel and services. Equipment, supplies and facilities will be provided by the government.

Question: Is the Contracting Company responsible for gear and equipment, tactical or otherwise, for the HCPs to perform their mission?

Answer: Equipment, supplies and facilities will be provided by the Government.

Question: Page 68, 1.3.1: Will the HCPs maintain the same M-F, 0730-4:30, 40hrs a week schedule while traveling to CONUS, OCONUS, and NCR sites? If working longer hours while traveling as the mission dictates, will the CLIN hours be increased, or will the HCPs work shorter hours and/or less days upon redeployment to home station to “make up” for any extra hours worked?

Answer: The CLINS will not be increased. The contractor would work less hours to make up for any extra hours.

Question: Page 68, 1.3.8 states there are 11 Federal holidays. Will the Government change the CLIN hours to reflect 1912 hours per FTE instead on 1920?

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. The Government will change the FTE hours to from 1920 to 1912. There is an additional Federal Holiday to reduce the amount of federal working hours.

Question: Page 70, f states: “Contractor individual shall be screened before employment and annually for tuberculosis by a tuberculin skin test using the Mantoux technique”. Updated CDC guidelines do not recommend annual screening (unless prevalent) after baseline. Will the Government consider removing annual testing?

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. The Government will strike annual screening, AFTER baseline screening.

Question: Page 71, 1.5.8 states the Government offers vaccine for occupational exposed hazards, i.e., smallpox, anthrax, etc. Is this at the Government’s expense?

Answer: Yes

Question: Page 73, 1.8.2.2 states: “The contractor shall provide each contract employee his/her own uniform and /or stethoscope”. Page 69, 1.4.6 states “Contractors shall wear dresses, pants or slacks, shirt or blouses with collar and sleeves, shoes and socks”. Can the Government clarify if the HCPs should wear contractor-provided uniforms, or what is described on page 69, which appears to be describing a form of business casual?

Answer: Formal Business casual is appropriate.

Question: Page 74: If any of the incumbent positions are currently subject to a Performance Commitment by virtue of having participated in any Government Unique Training, can the Government specify how many positions are subject to such training, which labor category (PA, EMT, RN), and how much time is remaining on their Performance Commitment.

Answer: At this time, there are no Performance Commitments for any of the labor categories.

Question: Page 77, item 1.15.5, 1.15.7, and 1.15.8, references “General Surgeon”. If this is in error, request removal of the reference.

Answer: Refer to amendment 0001 of the solicitation. “General Surgeon” has been changed to “HCPs”

Question: Are the HCP’s that travel CONUS, OCONUS, or NCR in positions that require the contracting company to pay hazardous duty pay?

Answer: No, hazardous duty pay is necessary.

Question: Are the PAs required to have ACLS and PALS, or only BLS?

Answer: ACLS and BLS.

Question: Is the RN required to have ACLS, or only BLS?

Answer: ACLS and BLS.

Question: If there is an incumbent RN, is he/she Bachelor’s or Master’s prepared?

Answer: Incumbent has a Master’s.

Questions: EMT-P required to have ACLS, PALS and BLS.

Answer: Yes, all three.

Question: What is the age range of the populations served by the PAs? EMT-Ps? RNs?

Answer: 18 - 60 years old

Question: Page 90 states “The contracted RN will demonstrate proper preparation of patient’s for treatments and procedures, to include surgical interventions”. Can the Government state what types of surgical interventions are performed?

Answer: Minor Surgical Procedures

Question: To remain in compliance with the Wage Determinations, specifically “VACATION: 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year of service with a contractor or successor 3 weeks after 5 years and 4 weeks after 15 years”. Can the Government provide the anniversary date each incumbent began working on this effort?

Answer: LTE contract originated in SEP 2017, which would be the start time for 2 x PA’s and 1 x Surge PA. All three PA’s were on the contract prior to LTE, dating back to 2012. The RN and EMT-P are circa 12-24 months.

Question: Based on Attachment 9, Travel Requirements Table, it appears there are (or there needs to be) Two (2) PAs to fill 2.5 FTE positions. Is this correct? Or does the Government intend there to be three (3) PAs?

Answer: 2 x Physician Assistants FTE and 1 x SURGE PA 1600 hrs. /year.

Question: Page 121 states “The Government intends to award a firm fixed-price non-personal services contract under the authority of 10, U.S.C. 2304 and 41 U.S.C. 253.” Elsewhere in the solicitation it is expressly stated that this is a Personal Services Contract. Can the Government clarify what type of contract this is?

Answer: Firm Fixed Price Contract

Question: Can the Government describe any On the Job Training (OJT) for any new hires?

Answer: The Government will provide standard on-the-job training as seen in private, commercial or U.S.

Government: in-processing, learning Standard Operating Procedures, understating basic policy and procedures.

Question: Are any HCPs that travel OCONUS required to be covered with specific insurance under the Defense Base Act (DBA)?

Answer: No

Question: GovWin states that this is a follow-on opportunity, can the Government provide the name of the current contractor? Or, are these services currently being provided by GS employees?

Answer: Lumbee Tribe Enterprise, LLC.

Question: On page 60 of 135 of the Solicitation – 1.0.1.1 it states “The quality of care provided by the Contractor HCP shall be of a quality meeting or exceeding currently recognized national standards as established by the Joint Commission (JC).”

a. Can the Government advise if Contractors are to hold a JC certification, or if the personnel we employee must comply with these hospital standards? 8-koi currently works at Ft. Belvoir, as well as WRNMMC, we have over 7 years of knowledge of the standards you all expect and would hire personnel who meet and/or exceed these standards.

Answer: No requirement to have each contractor hold JC certification. The Government encourages, Health Care Providers to be comfortable with practicing JC standards.

Question: Do you know who the small business advocate is for your region? If so can you kindly advise?

Answer: U.S. Small Business Administration - Washington Metropolitan District Address: 409 3rd St SW, Washington, DC 2041 Phone: (202) 205-8800