Ambulance ALS/BLS services

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (Tampa VA Healthcare Network) is resoliciting ground ambulance services supporting the James A. Haley VA Medical Center and associated Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, with proposals due June 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT. Amendment 0006, dated May 19, 2026, reissued the entire solicitation with corrections to ensure compliance with FAR and VAAR requirements following prior amendments that extended deadlines multiple times (most recently from March 13 to March 27, then to June 3).

The contract is unrestricted (no set-aside) and covers a five-year period: one base year beginning June 1, 2026 (amended from June 6 in earlier versions) through May 31, 2027, plus four one-year option periods and one six-month option extending through November 30, 2031, with a total estimated value of $22.5 million on a Firm-Fixed-Price basis. Place of performance is Tampa, Florida (33612), with service area spanning ten Florida counties (Citrus, Pasco, Hardee, Pinellas, Hernando, Sumter, Hillsborough, Polk, Levy, and Marion) and potentially other VA Medical Centers within VISN 8 across state lines. NAICS code is 621910 (Ambulance Services); PSC is V225 (Transportation/Travel/Relocation—Ambulance).

The contractor must provide Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Critical Care Transport (CCT) services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Line items include BLS pick-ups (4,000 units base year, up to 5,000 in option years), ALS emergent pick-ups (300 units), ALS non-emergent pick-ups (300 units), Critical Care Transport (150 units), mileage outside the 25-mile base rate (50,000 miles), and waiting time in 15-minute increments (100 units), with corresponding no-show reimbursement CLINs. All vehicles and equipment must comply with federal, state, and local standards. Contractors must employ certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Critical Care Transport Paramedics (CCTPs) meeting state requirements, maintain National Agency Check with Written Inquiries security clearances, undergo background checks including Special Agreement Checks and fingerprinting, and comply with annual tuberculosis testing and mandatory VA security and privacy training including VA National Rules of Behavior acknowledgment.

The incumbent contract is 36C24820D0023 (under temporary bridge contract). Historical 2025 data shows approximately 3,102 total annual transports: 2,841 BLS, 206 ALS, zero CCT, six ambulatory, and 49 stretcher trips.

Contractors must obtain Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) approved for all counties served by April 15, 2026 (per Amendment 0003, proof of application submission is acceptable at proposal time). All subcontractors must independently meet licensing and COPCN requirements for their respective counties. The contractor must utilize VetRide Vendor Portal or VA-approved transportation software for receiving orders and submitting electronic HCFA 1500 invoices within 30 days of service. Response times are 30 minutes for urgent transports and scheduled add-ons from James A. Haley VAMC and 60 minutes for non-VAMC add-on requests. The contractor must provide capacity to handle up to four simultaneous transportation requests with mixed service levels, including one potentially requiring Critical Care Transport Tier III capability. Quality standards require 95% compliance on 24/7 availability and 97% on-time performance.

Contractors must maintain required insurance ($500,000 general liability, $200,000–$500,000 vehicle liability), comply with Service Contract Labor Standards wage determinations, HIPAA, and blood-borne pathogen protocols. The contractor must provide all equipment, supplies, personnel, and vehicle maintenance at no additional cost and complete a Contractor Security Control Assessment (CSCA) demonstrating compliance with NIST-based security controls including FIPS 140-2 validated encryption, firewall maintenance, antivirus software, access controls, risk assessments, and security incident reporting procedures.

Evaluation prioritizes experience capability (performance plan, quality control plan, vehicles/equipment/staffing, and VetRide utilization) significantly over price. Offerors must submit three past performance references with contractor contact information and complete a Past Performance Questionnaire rating prior experience on safety, timeliness, responsiveness, service capability, and overall performance. An Experience Questionnaire requesting detailed narratives on ambulance services performed, scale of effort, operating environment, performance satisfaction, and issues encountered must be submitted by June 5, 2026 to J'Vonne Wilson at NCO 8 (jvonne.wilson@va.gov, 813-816-4620, 8875 Hidden River Parkway, Suite 160A, Tampa, FL 33647).