G009--Commercial Third Party Insurance Program

The Department of Veteran Affairs, National Acquisition Office (NAC), Commodities, Services, and Acquisition Services (CSAS) in conjunction with Veteran Health Administration (VHA), Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, is issuing a Request for Information and Sources Sought Announcement for the Driver’s Rehabilitation Program for Commercial Automobile Third Party Insurance.

The sole purpose of this announcement is for market research purposes and does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP). This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Furthermore, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this notice. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Submittals will not be returned to the responder.

A central tenet of acquisition reform is to significantly improve the quality of market research by conducting a market and industry survey. One of the main benefits of solid market research is to materially improve the government’s understanding of the current state of the marketplace, including commercial/government best practices, industry capabilities, innovative delivery approaches, commercial market service levels, and performance strategies and measures.

NAICS: 524210 – Insurance Agencies and Brokerages and or NAICS 524126 Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers

PSC: G009

For upcoming recompete for Commercial Third-Party Liability Insurance Program, a special emphasis of the market research is being placed on market/industry infrastructure, practices and product availability. We are also interested in identifying performance criteria that differentiate between and among high-quality firms in this field. We believe this information will dramatically improve the quality of the forthcoming acquisition, including the solicitation and resulting contract.

Public Law (P.L.) 93-538, mandated VA to provide opportunities for driver education and training for all eligible Veterans with disabilities and certain military personnel. Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities are entitled to have the opportunity to learn to drive a motorized vehicle on the Nation’s public highways. Depending upon the severity of the disability and the available adaptive equipment designed for utilization in today’s motor vehicles, the disabled individual should enjoy the independence and freedom of mobility offered all citizens.

Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 3903(e) authorizes the Secretary of the VA to obtain insurance on automobiles and other conveyances used in conducting the special driver training courses and to obtain, at the Government expense, personal liability and property damage insurance for all persons taking such courses, hereafter such persons shall be referred to as clients.

Client training will occur on a daily basis at each of the driver rehabilitation centers.  A VA employee, who is a trained drive rehabilitation specialist, accompanies program participants (clients) during each training session. The only incidence in which the drive rehabilitation specialist is not in the vehicle with the client is during a time when a driving test is being administered by the local (state) Motor Vehicle Department. The state examiner is the only person allowed in the vehicle with the client during the test, and coverage will extend to the client and vehicle during those times.

The Government estimates the total number of clients referred during each policy year is to be 10,000 eligible veterans, but this could increase to approximately 15,000 over the term of the contract and includes both veteran and non-veteran clients. Non-Veteran Client’s would be language interpreters, service animals, caregivers as appropriate. Roughly a 120 Veterans are scheduled weekly for training services by the clinical staff at VA.

Currently there are 32 National Sites, to include Puerto Rico who provide this training. All sites train within a radius of 20 miles around the facility. All the vehicles used in the VA Driver Rehabilitation Program are equipped with specially adapted equipment for use by the disabled driver trainee. At a minimum all GOV’s have been adapted to include an instructor brake.

These adapted vehicles are owned or leased by VA, referred to as GOV, are insured (“primary insurance”) by VA under GSA Fleet management practices. VA will contract with qualified Automobile Insurance Broker or Insurance Carrier to provide commercial automobile third party liability insurance coverage to eligible clients for the Driver Rehabilitation Program vehicles at all participating VA medical facilities. This policy will cover any new or replacement driver training vehicles purchased or leased by any existing or new VA facility added to the program during the policy period. This specific insurance policy offers coverage against claims of damages and losses incurred by the client who is at the time driving who is not considered the insured and therefore not covered under the Government Federal Tort Claims Act.

The liability coverage shall cover bodily injury and property damage to the third party caused by the driver trainee (client) while operating a specially adapted vehicle in the program. Coverage type for the vehicles under this contract will be for third party bodily injury (BI) of $500,000 and property damage (PD) of $500,000. For the combined BI and PD total of $1,000,000 per each accident.

Bodily Injury liability covers the cost resulting from injuries to the person. These injurie’ costs could include but not limited to hospital care, lost wages, and pain or suffering due to the accident.

Property damage liability covers costs resulting from damages to or loss of property. Examples of property damage include the payment to replace landscaping or mailbox and compensation for loss of use of a structure.

Coverage for Automobile Insurance services will be provided in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico.

B.1.1.4 CUSTOMER CONTACT AND CLAIM SERVICES

The insurance provider shall operate a customer service claims service program to provide customer support through toll free telephone number, facsimile, mail and or electronic media 24 hours a day seven days a week. The insurance provider shall respond to VA inquires via telephone, facsimile, mail and electronic media within 24 hours.

Carrier must carry an A.M. Best Rating of B or higher. AM Best rating is a rating assigned to insurance companies that have the ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations. AM Best ratings are based on the carrier’s historical ability to pay out claims, the amount of debt a carrier holds and the amount of other financial obligations. AM Best completes this analysis by looking at the balance sheet, operating performance, business profile and debt obligations of the insurance company. AM Best ratings have four different categories: financial strength, credit ratings, issue ratings and national scale ratings. Most online reviews feature a company’s financial strength ratings (FSR).

The following is the minimum service requirements that the contractor shall provide during the period of performance of this contract.

Task 1 - GOV and POV Coverage:

The contractor shall at a minimum provide the insurance policy coverage for the GOV’s and POV’s under this contract as Commercial Automobile Third-Party Insurance bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD). The policy should offer coverage against claims of damages and losses incurred by a driver who is not the insured and is therefore not covered under the insurance policy. The policy coverage is for the Driver Rehabilitation Program GOV’s at all participating VA medical facilities in the program. The liability coverage shall cover BI and PD that is caused by the driver trainee (client) while operating all vehicles specially adapted in the program. The provided automobile insurance that will indemnify the insured if another driver causes damage to the insured's car.

Coverage type for the government-owned vehicles under this contract will be for commercial automobile third party liability of BI of $500,000 and PD of $500,000 each. For the combined BI and PD total of $1,000,000 per each accident.

At a minimum this policy will also cover any new or replacement driver training vehicles purchased or leased by any existing or new VA facility added to the program during the policy period without exceeding the $1,000,000 total coverage.

Coverage shall be from contract award to the end of period of performance, with the allowance of adding and removing vehicles from program as required.

The contractor shall provide the required insurance cards to include and not limited to hard copy with the minimum required information printed on them:

1. Commercial Insurance Brokerage Identification
2. Name of Company Proving Insurance
3. Policy Number
4. Policy Effective and Expiration Date of Service
5. Vehicle Identification Number
6. Vehicle Make, Model, and Year
7. Insurance Coverage Amounts
8. Claims Contact Information

These insurance cards shall be provided electronically upon issuance of policy or modification of policy or as requested by CO or COR. Commercial Automobile Third-Party insurance cards must be received electronically within 5 days after receipt of modification.

Task 2 – Customer Service and Claims Processing:

The contractor at a minimum shall offer a customer contact and claims center. The customer service support should be through a toll-free number, facsimile, mail and or electronic media on a twenty-four (24) hour and seven (7) days a week basis.

Task 3 – Important Document: Contractor at a minimum shall provide the Government run loss, insurance policy, and a certificate of insurance document on a yearly basis.

1. Run/Loss Reports shall be provided via email to COR and CO annually.
2. Insurance Policy shall be provided on annual basis via email to COR, and CO.
3. Contractors Broker Certification or License provided annually.

We ask that industry and or interested parties respond to the following questions:

1. Please explain your company’s position in the marketplace and under what NAICS you qualify.
   1. Please explain your parent–subsidiary relationship with respect to the Commercial Third-Party Insurance Industry. Are you underwritten by another entity?
   2. Is the industry regulated? If so at what levels?
   3. Are you licensed in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico?
      1.  If not licensed in all 50 states which states are licensed in?
      2.  Can you company support provide commercial third-party insurance to all 50 United States, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico?

1. 1. What is you AM Best Credit Rating?
   2. Do you subcontract? If so, explain the nature of these subcontracts? To what extent are you currently subcontracting with small business and at what percentages?
   3. What is your Socio-Economic Indicator if defined as a Small Business?
      1. Are you registered and certified through Small Business Administration as a Women-Owned Small Business, 8(a) Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business or Historically Underutilized Business Zone Business?
2. What are the significant commercial practices within the industry?
   1. If you are covering more than one vehicle in more than one state, what is the best practice to provide vehicles insurance cards?
      1. What information should VA provide for these cards? (VIN, Make, Model, etc.)
      2. How often are insurance cards sent out?
   2. What are you customer service claims practices?
      1. Do you have a contact center phone number?
      2.  Web Link to do claims?
      3. What are the hours of operation?
   3. Are there any special practices, regulations or other, VA should be aware of for certain states?
3. What is your current nationwide policy recommendation for commercial business coverage for bodily injury and property damage? Do you recommend any other coverage?
4. Can you cover non- government furnished vehicles, like individually owned operated personal vehicle of the veteran?
   1. Are there any areas of concerns for consideration for insuring a non-government vehicle?
5. Can you provide a quote without a run loss reports or policy for the past five year? Would this increase cost to the government?
6. Would it benefit the government doing equitable price adjustments yearly to meet market changes in pricing? What is the percent of increase yearly for insurance rates? Please explain in detail.
7. Would it benefit the contract to provide insurance by regions or states instead of national?
8. Provide your complete listing of covered states and your NAICS Code.

I do want to emphasize that this RFI and any subsequent requests are solely for market research and are not competitions. The information obtained from the sessions will be used to improve the government’s knowledge of private industry’s capabilities. No evaluation of participating parties will occur and your participation in these RFI’s is not a promise of future business with Department of Veteran Affairs. No contract will be awarded from these requests.

Electronic/emailed responses are due no later than June 25, 2024.

Responding parties should take additional precautionary measures to prevent proprietary information from disclosure by marking the documentation being submitted with labeling sensitivities such as confidential and proprietary. Information provided in response to this RFI and future RFI’s that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly.  Please submit the information to Caroline.West@va.gov,. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Submittals will not be returned to the responder.

B.1 Vehicle Listing.

Attachment 1 Vehicle Listing

Garaged Location

Make

Model

Year

VIN

1

Albany, NY VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2009

2G1WC57M291154341

2

Albuquerque, NM VAMC

Toyota

Sienna

2019

5TDYZ3DC4KS991394

3

Albuquerque, NM VAMC

Ford

Fusion

2010

3FAHPOHG1AR103712

4

Ann Arbor, MI

Chrysler

Pacifica Sport Touring

2020

2C4RC1FG6LR223579

5

Atlanta, GA VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu

2020

1G1ZC5STOLF153023

6

Augusta, GA SCI Program

Chevrolet

Malibu

2022

1G1ZC5ST7NF139008

7

Augusta, GA VAMC

Mercury

Marquis

2010

2MEBM7FV7AX603957

8

Augusta, GA VAMC

Toyota

Sienna XLE

2022

5TDJRKEC5NS081364

9

Augusta, GA VAMC

Toyota

Sienna XLE

2021

5TDYRKEC3MS061966

10

Baltimore, MD  (Loch Raven site) VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2010

2D4RN4DE7AR167360

11

Boston, MA HCS    (Brockton/W. Roxbury)

Chevrolet

Impala

2010

2G1WA5EKXA1132406

12

Boston, MA HCS    (Brockton/W. Roxbury)

Chrysler

Voyager

2022

2C4RC1CG6NR153959

13

Boston, MA HCS    (Brockton/W. Roxbury)

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2009

2D8HN44E39R564537

14

Bronx, NY VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2010

2G1WA5EK5A1130028

15

Butler, PA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SXT

2008

2D8HN54PX8R779046

Castle Point, NY VAMC

Hyundai

Elantra GLS

2023

KMHLL4AG1PU556078

16

Castle Point, NY VAMC

Hyundai

Sonata

2015

KMHEC4A46EA118038

17

Cleveland, OH VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu

2020

1G1ZC5ST8LF004200

18

Cleveland, OH VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2019

2C4RDGCG9KR557494

19

Columbia, SC VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu Silver

2020

1G1ZC5ST4LF001231

20

Dallas, TX VAMC

Hyundai

Sonata

2021

KMHL24JJ2MA028433

21

Dallas, TX VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2015

2G1WA5E3XF1112687

22

Dallas, TX VAMC

Toyota

Sienna

2019

5TDKZ3DC9KS014287

23

Denver, CO VAMC

Dodge

Caravan

2013

2C4RDGCG8DR626212

24

Denver, CO VAMC

Toyota

Sienna

2019

5TDYZ3DC4KS011842

25

Denver, CO VAMC

Saturn

Vue

2009

3GSCL93Z99S640611

26

Denver, CO VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2019

2C4RDGEG3KR511317

27

Denver, CO VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SXT

2010

2D4RN5DX8AR371091

28

Des Moines, IA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2011

2D4RN3DG7BR616274

29

East Orange, NJ VAMC

Ford

Crown Victoria LX

2009

2FAHP74V49X131370

30

Hampton, VA VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu

2008

2G1WB58K981208927

31

Hampton, VA VAMC

Toyota

Sienna LE

2020

5TDKZ3DC8LS081190

32

Hines, IL VAMC

Ford

E 150

2008

1FDNE14L88DB56711

33

Hines, IL VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SXT

2016

2C4RDGCG0GR202527

34

Honolulu, HI VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2012

2C4RDGCG3CR366820

35

Houston, TX VAMC

Chrysler

Town and Country

2007

2A8GP64LX7R315169

36

Indianapolis, IN VAMC

Ford

Taurus

2004

1FAFP55214G162512

37

Indianapolis, IN VAMC

Chrysler

Voyager LX

2022

2C4RC1CG8NR204555

38

Lexington, KY VAMC

Chrysler

Grand Caravan

2008

2D8HN54P48R809254

39

Lexington, KY VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2008

2G1WT58K281333247

40

Little Rock, AR VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2008

2G1WC583781348870

41

Little Rock, AR VAMC

Toyota

Sienna LE

2008

5TDZK23C18S193531

42

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Ford

E 150

2013

1FMNE1BL3DDA92185

43

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2014

1G11Y5SL9EU100964

44

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Chrysler

Town and Country

2014

2C4RC1BG4ER285913

45

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Dodge

Charger

2019

 2C3CDXBG7KH630900

46

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Dodge

Charger

2019

2C3CDXBG4KH630899

47

Long Beach, CA VAMC

Chrysler

Pacifica

2019

2C4RC1BG3KR597524

48

Memphis, TN VAMC

Ford

Fusion

2010

3FADP0L30AR171423

49

Memphis, TN VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2016

2C4RDGCG3GR368640

50

Miami, FL VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu

2020

1G1ZC5ST5LF000282

51

Milwaukee, WI VAMC

Chevrolet

Malibu

2010

1G1ZF5EZ9AF110658

52

Milwaukee, WI VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SE

2009

2D8HN44E39R625949

53

Minneapolis, MN VAMC

Hyundai

Tucson

2023

5NMJA3AEXPH260817

54

Minneapolis, MN VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SXT

2009

2D8HN54149R564467

55

Minneapolis, MN VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2017

2C4RDGCG0HR749413

56

Minneapolis, MN VAMC (GRECC)

Chevrolet

 Impala

2008

2G1WB58K681321573

57

New Orleans, LA VAMC

Hyundai

Elantra SE

2019

5NPD74LF9KH467475

58

New Orleans, LA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2019

2C4RDGBG4KR634886

59

Palo Alto, CA VAMC

Pontiac

Bonneville

2002

1G2HX54K424158736

60

Palo Alto, CA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2002

2B4GP44392R515381

61

Palo Alto, CA VAMC

Ford

Ranger

2008

1FTYR44E88PA57989

62

Palo Alto, CA VAMC

Chrysler

Town and Country

2007

2A4GP54L27R316036

63

Palo Alto, CA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SXT

2016

2C4RDGCG4GR355945

64

Philadelphia, PA

Chevrolet

Impala

2009

2G1WB57NX91145575

65

Phoenix, AZ

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2014

2C4RDGCG7ER296662

66

Richmond, VA VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2010

2G1WASEK4A1119943

67

Richmond, VA VAMC

Chevrolet

Monte Carlo

2006

2G1WK161369276089

68

Richmond, VA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2013

2C4RDGCG3DR772629

69

Richmond, VA VAMC

Ford

Fusion

2019

3FA6POHD7KR163461

70

Richmond, VA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SE

2019

2C4RDGBG0KR754569

71

Richmond, VA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SE

2019

2C7WDGBG1KR566472

72

Richmond, VA VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan SE

2010

2D4RN4DE0AR363530

73

Salisbury, NC VAMC

Chrysler

LXI FWD Voyager

2021

2C4RC1DG2MR601854

74

Salisbury, NC VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2012

2C4RDGDGXCR281312

75

Salt Lake City, UT VAMC

Dodge

Caravan

2009

2D8HN44E19R701023

76

San Antonio, TX VAMC

Toyota

Sienna

2018

5TDKZ3DC6HS892283

77

San Antonio, TX VAMC

Ford

Fusion Hybrid

2018

3FA6P0UU6JR100596

78

San Juan, PR VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2019

2C7WDGBG5KR573358

79

Seattle, WA Puget Sound

Mercury

Grand Marquis

2006

2MEFM74W56X601614

80

Seattle, WA Puget Sound

Honda

Odyssey

2009

5FNRL38439B020166

81

Seattle, WA Puget Sound

Toyota

Sienna LE

2018

5TDKZ3DC9JS935892

82

Seattle, WA Puget Sound

Chevrolet

Impala

2010

2G1WA5EK1A1135677

83

Sepulveda, CA VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2010

2G1WA5EK3A1122011

84

St. Louis, MO VAMC

Nissan

Maxima

2023

1N4AA6CV6PC507124

85

St. Louis, MO VAMC

Toyota

Sienna XLE

2019

5TDYZ3DC5KS013468

86

Syracuse NY VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2009

2D8HN44E79R613836

87

Syracuse NY VAMC

Ford

Fusion Hybrid

2020

3FA6P0LU2LR200599

88

Tampa, FL VAMC

Chrysler

Town and Country

2012

2C4RC1CG5CR287424

89

Tampa, FL VAMC

Chevrolet

Impala

2007

 2G1WC58R979329080

90

Tampa, FL VAMC

Chrysler

Pacifica

2020

2C4RC1H78LR184488

91

Tampa, FL VAMC

Chrysler

Pacifica

2019

2C4RC1GGXKR575366

92

Tucson AZ VAMC

Ford

Crown Victoria

2009

2FAHP74V69X131368

 93

Tucson AZ VAMC

Dodge

Caravan

2009

2D8HN44E19R619633

 94

Washington DC

Chevrolet

Monte Carlo

2007

2G1WK16N379357873

95

Washington DC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2019

2C4RDGCGXKR693696

96

Washington DC

Nissan

Maxima

2021

1N4AA6CV1NC504354

97

West Los Angeles, CA

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2010

2D4RN4DE4AR377821

98

West Palm Beach, FL VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2017

2C4RDGBG4HR736570

West Palm Beach, FL VAMC

Dodge

Grand Caravan

2014

2C7WDGCG9ER422168