6515--Bed Rental - Sol# 36C24720Q0442

Questions and Answers to subject Solicitation (No. 36C24720Q0442):

My responses are in blue.

Question:

Subject submits the following questions with regards to the subject Solicitation (No. 36C24720Q0442). Please provide responses to each to allow subject to provide a complete and responsive proposal.

Section B.2 Price/Cost Schedule includes seven (7) products which bidders must price. None of the products listed in the Price/Cost Schedule have specifications detailing the salient characteristics required of each product. There is information in Section 3 of the Performance Work Statement and Section E.2 Evaluation which provide some characteristics, but those sections do not specify which products need to have the characteristics mentioned and which ones do not. Please provide a detailed list of salient characteristics for each product.

Answer: In addition to the listed Salient Characteristics in the PWS; No specification for depth of mattress. The different types of therapies have different mechanisms if action, so cannot say a certain depth is required.

Question:

As it relates to Item 1 above, Section B.2 Price/Cost Schedule references conflicting language. Please advise regarding the following:

Low Air Loss Bariatric Bed Please define the term bed . Does it reference a support surface or bed frame? Bed frames do not offer Low Air Loss. Is this a reference to the combination of a bed frame and a support surface? Once clarified, please provide salient characteristics for the product being solicited.

Answer: Specialty bed refers to the type of support surface and whatever frame that the support surface comes on; microclimate control; please reference PWS for salient characteristics; 1,000 pounds.

Low Air Loss w/ Max Weight Please define Max Weight and provide salient characteristics for the support surface.

Answer: At least 350 pounds; please reference PWS for salient characteristics.

Bariatric Foam Mattress Please provide salient characteristics for the support surface. Are multiple sizes needed? If so, what sizes specifically.

Answer: No, multiple sizes are not needed.

Support Surface with Combined Immersion - Please provide salient characteristics for the support surface. Weight capacity? Please define Combined Immersion .

Answer: Immersion- refers to the fact that as the body sinks into the surface, pressure is redistributed over the entire area of contact not just bony prominences. PWS lists and/or support surface with combined immersion; please reference PWS for salient characteristics.

Low Air Loss Immersion Therapy - Please provide salient characteristics for the support surface. Please define Immersion Therapy .

Answer: PWS lists and/or immersion therapy; Immersion Therapy- is the depth of penetration (sinking) into a support surface.

Fluid Immersion Simulation Please provide salient characteristics for the support surface. Is this in reference to Dolphin Fluid Immersion Simulation support surfaces? If so, please refer to the Dolphin Fluid Immersion Simulation System to ensure the correct product is offered.

Answer: PWS lists and/or fluid immersion which refers to surface; No reference to Dolphin Immersion Stimulation.

Deep Cell Low Air Loss - Please provide salient characteristics for the support surface.

Answer: PWS lists and/or deep cell low air loss; please refer to the salient characteristics.

Question:

Please clarify the due date for proposals. Two dates are currently noted. Tuesday (4/21) on eBuy, and indicated in the Q/A response document, and Friday (4/24) on beta.sam.

Answer: The Proposal due date has been extended until Friday April 24th, 2020.

Question:

The RFQ does not include FAR provisions or clauses relating to Protest. Please confirm the clauses applicable to this RFP and the POC to whom Protests are to be submitted.

Answer: E.3 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

Protests, as defined in section 33.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from:

James Boles/Darlene Chase

Hand-Carried Address:

Darlene Chase

Department of Veterans Affairs

Contracting Officer

2008 Weems Road

Tucker GA 30084

Mailing Address:

Darlene Chase

Department of Veterans Affairs

Contracting Officer

2008 Weems Road

Tucker GA 30084

E.6 VAAR 852.233-70 PROTEST CONTENT/ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (OCT 2018)

(a) Any protest filed by an interested party shall

(1) Include the name, address, fax number, email and telephone number of the protester;

(2) Identify the solicitation and/or contract number;

(3) Include an original signed by the protester or the protester s representative and at least one copy;

(4) Set forth a detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds of the protest, including a description of resulting prejudice to the protester, and provide copies of relevant documents;

(5) Specifically request a ruling of the individual upon whom the protest is served;

(6) State the form of relief requested; and

(7) Provide all information establishing the timeliness of the protest.

(b) Failure to comply with the above may result in dismissal of the protest without further consideration.

(c) Bidders/offerors and Contracting Officers are encouraged to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve protests at any stage in the protest process. If ADR is used, the Department of Veterans Affairs will not furnish any documentation in an ADR proceeding beyond what is allowed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(End of Provision)

E.7 VAAR 852.233-71 ALTERNATE PROTEST PROCEDURE (OCT 2018)

(a) As an alternative to filing a protest with the Contracting Officer, an interested party may file a protest by mail or electronically with: Executive Director, Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Risk Management and Compliance Service (003A2C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or Email: EDProtests@va.gov.

(b) The protest will not be considered if the interested party has a protest on the same or similar issue(s) pending with the Contracting Officer.

(End of Provision)

PLEASE NOTE: The correct mailing information for filing alternate protests is as follows:

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Logistics,

Risk Management Team, Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20420

Or for solicitations issued by the Office of Construction and Facilities Management:

Director, Office of Construction and Facilities Management

811 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20420

Question:

(b) The copy of any protest shall be received in the office designated above within one day of filing a protest with the GAO.

Subject does not believe the RFP as currently written can be awarded without clarification of the above items. In its current form, subject would be forced to Protest any award made.

Answer: Items have been addressed as requested. We want to avoid a protest at all cost.

Statement:

Thank you for your time and attention in responding to our inquiries. We have submitted them with the intention of ensuring the Atlanta VAMC obtains the products it is seeking. Should subject be able to assist your office by providing sample salient characteristics to assist with defining the products, please let me know. Our Product Management team maintains salient characteristics to support VA contracting offices with the process.

Answer to statement: Thank you for offering your Salient Characteristics, however, to avoid any conflict of interest and the fact that the service line has their own Salient characteristics that they are requiring, they have outlined their own salient characteristics in detail as requested.

No Questions and Answers will be allowed after 4/22/2020 at 4pm EST.

Thank you,

Darlene Chase

Darlene.Chase@va.gov

The contractor shall provide specialty and bariatric bed and mattress rentals to the Atlanta VA Health Care System for the sole purpose of patient care within defined time frames for services.

Specialty beds are specialized medical beds that adhere to the needs of patients by size, specific care needs, or treatment requirements.