Nursing Support

Nursing 3rd set of questions Addded October 23rd.

Will the due date be extended?
Yes to Monday October 30th.

Should the proposals be delivered by hand, mailed or electronically submitted? How many Copies?
1 Electronically submitted copy  to robert.niedzwiecki@usda.gov  and to fbo.gov

When is the dead line for questions.
October 25th 3 PM.

Nursing 2nd set of questions.

On the Period of Performance, the statement of work has listed BASE + 2 years, however, under the instructions to offerors, it is listed as BASE + 3 years... Which is being offered with this solicitation?

Base and 2 years. The base and 2 years will be evaluated for price evaluation. Leave the third year blank. If the third year is priced only the base and two years will be evaluated for pricing purposes.

The FAR instructions and evaluation criteria sections both mention technical capability, but neither elaborates on what information the USDA is seeking in that regard. Do bidders need to include resumes/licensing for potential on-call candidates to fill the four RN positions?

It is assumed by bidding on this requirement one has the capacity to fulfill the licensing requirement for RN's in Washington DC or Maryland. Upon arrival for duty the nurse will be required to provide proof she is a registered licensed nurse within the jurisdiction and has five years of experience. This information can be provided ahead of time. The emphasis is on response time in filling substitute nurses.

Or will a general description of Bidder's capabilities suffice?

The bidder needs to explain how randomly one or up to four positions cane be filled within a short notice, for a day, week or two weeks.

The evaluation criteria also makes mention of Past Performance, but there appear to be no specific instructions on the kind or quantity of references are required. How many references should Bidders include in their responses? Can these be federal, state, and/or commercial?

The Past Performance will focus on how the vendor performed in providing replacement nurses on a short notice. It can be federal, state or commercial. However the vendor must provide contact information for verification purposes. Up to five references is sufficient.

Is the 480 HR quantity the maximum amount of hours the USDA anticipates needing?

Yes, 480 hours per year to fill in as a substitute nurse.

Will the USDA consider extending the response date given that submission instructions were issued belatedly
No

Nursing 2nd set of questions.

On the Period of Performance, the statement of work has listed BASE + 2 years, however, under the instructions to offerors, it is listed as BASE + 3 years... Which is being offered with this solicitation?

Base and 2 years. The base and 2 years will be evaluated for price evaluation. Leave the third year blank. If the third year is priced only the base and two years will be evaluated for pricing purposes.

The FAR instructions and evaluation criteria sections both mention technical capability, but neither elaborates on what information the USDA is seeking in that regard. Do bidders need to include resumes/licensing for potential on-call candidates to fill the four RN positions?

It is assumed by bidding on this requirement one has the capacity to fulfill the licensing requirement for RN's in Washington DC or Maryland. Upon arrival for duty the nurse will be required to provide proof she is a registered licensed nurse within the jurisdiction and has five years of experience. This information can be provided ahead of time. The emphasis is on response time in filling substitute nurses.

Or will a general description of Bidder's capabilities suffice?

The bidder needs to explain how randomly one or up to four positions cane be filled within a short notice, for a day, week or two weeks.

The evaluation criteria also makes mention of Past Performance, but there appear to be no specific instructions on the kind or quantity of references are required. How many references should Bidders include in their responses? Can these be federal, state, and/or commercial?

The Past Performance will focus on how the vendor performed in providing replacement nurses on a short notice. It can be federal, state or commercial. However the vendor must provide contact information for verification purposes. Up to five references is sufficient.

Is the 480 HR quantity the maximum amount of hours the USDA anticipates needing?

Yes, 480 hours per year to fill in as a substitute nurse.

Will the USDA consider extending the response date given that submission instructions were issued belatedly
No

Questions and Answers USDA Nursing Requirement (Fed Biz Ops)

Is this is a new requirement or there is an incumbent?
New requirement.
Will there be a pre-conference for this solicitation? No

Will you be providing information on the preferred content or structure of the proposals? Yes see amendment.

It appears the attachments are missing pages. Can you please provide?
No pages are missing form 1449 are pages 1 and 2 SOW are pages 3-5. However see new posting with instructions SOW and Evaluation criteria.

The SOW show a total of 480 hours per year for 4 RN's. Is this a typo? No typo. This is a very small requirement calling for a total of 480 hours per year on a "as needed basis".

Will this contract require new nurses to be hired to fill the positions?
No, please read the requirement.

2. Requirements:

Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in area of specialty. The RN is required to have passed the state board of exam in the state(s) working. The RN must hold Unrestricted Medical License, BCLS, PALS and ACLS if applicable in specialty area. It is anticipated multiple contracts may be awarded. A total of 480 hours per year for this requirement is anticipated

3. Scope of Work:

The USDA requirement is for registered nurses to replace the government nurses at all medical unit locations in the event a federal nurse is unable to report to their duty location, performing the duties listed below. This will be an on-call basis requirement, as needed, and scheduled at least 24 hours advance notice when possible. However, there may be instances when one, two or even three nurses call in sick at the same time and the contractor is expected two fill these vacancies within a matter of hours. A longer lead time of a week or more will be provided to the contractor when vacations of a week or more are scheduled.

The contractor will be expected to work an 8 hour shift, from the hours of 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, and will report to the on-duty nurse or the designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

Duties: The contracted nurse implements comprehensive nursing care in the occupational setting of the USDA buildings, administer emergency for occupational and non-occupational illnesses and occupational injuries to employees; and advises injured employees of available medical services and arranges appropriate treatment. Provides emergency medical treatment for contractor personnel, injured while working in USDA's facilities, personnel injured while visiting USDA facilities and students at USDA child development centers.

Administers medications and treatments authorized by personnel physicians; and administer s allergy and flu shots. Checks for adverse reactions and assesses employee's condition, and manages blood pressure clinics. Advises employees to obtain medical care and make referrals to private physicians, clinics, and community resources. The nursing staff is expected to follow up by telephone or interview on serious and acute conditions, compensable injuries, chronic illnesses, pregnancy, etc. by contacting employee, private physician or clinics, hospitals and supervisors.

Institutes internal safeguards to protect the medical confidentiality of all individuals served by the health unit, in accordance with nursing practice jurisdiction. Professional authority and federal guidelines.