Q201--10 Year Scottsbluff CBOC

Question: The PACT Space Module Design Guide identifies the possible use of sliding doors, but does not require them. Does the VA have a preference for the use of sliding doors in the Scottsbluff CBOC? If so, would the Government please confirm if sliding doors are preferred on the patient side of each exam room or on both sides of each exam room.

Answer: We do not have a preference on using a sliding glass door.

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Question: Does the VA have any specific equipment requirements for furnishing the X-ray service? Does the VA have any specific minimum rooms and room sizes required for the X-Ray service?

Answer: Contractor is not required to have routine x-ray service available on site. Contractor is required to have emergent x-ray capabilities. If contractor chooses to have x-ray services on site please see information below:

Industry standard for an x-ray room digital radiography (DR) with an acquisition table and wall bucky. The size of the room should be able to accommodate a bariatric wheelchair, assist devices, or lifts. Furthermore, the transfer of images to VA Black Hills should be electronically not via DVD or other media. The contractor should furnish a computer that can transmit electronic image requests.

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Question: Would the VA consider reducing the lab size to 300 square feet with an attached 60 square foot restroom?

Answer: These space guidelines are set and are unable to make smaller.

Question: Are there any additional space requirements other than those listed in Section 4.9.1 of the PWS?

Answer: No

Question: Will the VA require the Contractor to follow an "on-stage/off-stage" design for the Scottsbluff CBOC?

Answer: Â No

Question: In order to make delivery of a new clinic site as cost effective as possible, while delivering optimal care, would the VA allow for five-foot hallways, as compared to six foot hallways as most buildings in the area utilize five foot commercial hallways?

Answer: This will need to be followed as written in contract.

Question: Is the women s health exam room an additional requirement to the two exam rooms?

Answer: Yes, there needs to be a designated women s health exam room. This room can be 1 of the 2 per provider but must meet all women s health guidelines.

Question: Based upon a separately denominated women's health exam room, and two additional noted exam rooms in that area, can the Government confirm if it is intending to require the following exam rooms, or a women's health exam room and one additional exam room in that area.

Answer: Yes, there needs to be a designated women s health exam room. This room can be 1 of the 2 per provider but must meet all women s health guidelines.

Question: In order to make delivery of a new clinic site as cost effective as possible, while delivering optimal care, would the VA allow for 42 inch doorways, as compared to 36 inch doorways as most buildings in the area utilize 36 inch commercial doorways?

Answer: Please follow guidelines as documented in the contract.

10. Is ACLS and BLS certification intended to be required for all administrative and clinical staff?

Answer: No, Clinical staff only and must have BLS. Can be ACLS certified if provider wishes.

Question: Can the Government please clarify who is responsible for Radiology Imaging?

Answer: If the contractor chooses to not have x-ray capabilities on site, VA staff at main facility will complete imagining at main facility. If x-ray capabilities is chosen to have on site by contractor, contractor will be responsible for staffing.

Question: Can the Government please confirm that there will be a VA Radiologist on site at the Scottsbluff CBOC, or that a VA Radiologist will virtually interpret X-rays taken at the Scottsbluff clinic utilizing PACS or other remote viewing modalities?

Answer: There will be no VA Radiologist on site. If contractor wishes to have VA Radiologist on site that will be hired by Contractor. VA Radiologist can interpret only if Contractor will send the imaging to VA PACS system.

Question: Does the Government anticipate an increase in anticipated patients to be served at the Scottsbluff clinic?

Answer: Projections are to maintain.

Question: Please provide the number of billable enrollees on the most current invoice.

Answer: October 2022: 1303

Question: Please explain why the CLINs are flat and the government does not expect a decline in enrollees at the clinic over the next 10 years, corresponding to Census estimates.

Answer: With the recent passing of the PACT Act we expect for new enrollees to match the projected decline.

Question: Please provide the average annual enrollment for the past five years.

Answer: 1300

Question: If the CBOC is moved from its current location, will it be required to be designed with the On/Stage-Off/Stage concept as laid out in the PACT Design Guide.

Answer: Yes, the new PACT Design Guide will need to be used.

Question: Please list all VA staff that will be onsite at the clinic and the approximate number of days per week they will be there.

Answer: 2 Nurse Practitioners, 3 RNs, 2 LPNs, 2 MSAs, 1 Pharmacist, 1 eye technician, and 1 Social Worker(all listed are Monday-Friday).

Question: Will the new Contractor inherit the patients last vesting visit?

Answer: Yes

Question: Will the government be doing site visits prior to award? If so, how much advance notice will the contractor be given?

Answer: No.

Question: How many Mission Act referrals, for Primary Care, were made the past 12 months for enrolled veterans of the Scottsbluff CBOC?

Answer: We are unable to pull by enrollment specifically to Scottsbluff CBOC.

Question: Will the government consider extending the start up time to 180 days instead of 120?

Answer: The contractor will be expected to take over patient care at 120 days.

Question: Regarding submission instructions on page 148 of RFP. Is submission electronic or hard copy? If hard copy, what mailing address should be used?

Answer: Electronic.

Question: Is a Clinic Manager required for the Scottsbluff CBOC and if so, is the Clinic Manager required to be a Registered Nurse?

Answer: Yes it is a requirement to have a clinic manager, no they do not have to be a RN.

Question: Who is responsible for setting up the contract with the local pharmacy and

who is responsible for paying the cost of the urgent/emergent medications?

Answer: VA Black Hills Pharmacy does have that contract and Black Hills will pay for the medication.

Question: Will the VA please provide a list of all medications that the VA Black Hills employed Eye Technician could administer to patients?

Answer: Phenylephrine 2.5%, proparacaine 0.5% and Tropicamide 1%, additional medication may be needed.

Question: If the VA is providing the Clinical Pharmacy Specialists, wouldn t the VA be responsible for meeting the anticoagulation management and providing the quarterly and annual anticoagulation quality assurance summaries?

Answer: Yes, VA will provide these quarterly reports.

Question: There is no requirement for the Diagnostic Radiologic Tech in the staffing section and there is no mention of x-ray in the minimum space requirements. Is it the VA s intention to have x-ray services available on-site at the Scottsbluff CBOC?

Answer: There will be no VA provided x-ray services on site.

Question: Is Psychotherapy Groups being provided in the 1 Telehealth Group Space identified in section 4.9.1 or is another space needed for Psychotherapy Groups?

Answer: Psychotherapy Groups can be provided in 1 telehealth group space, a 2nd space just for Psychotherapy groups is not needed.

Question: Wouldn t the VA provide the clinical pharmacy telehealth services since the VA is providing the CPS and the Contractor is providing the clerical support services?

Answer: Yes. VA will provide clinical pharmacy and Contractor will need to provide the clerical support services.

Question: The VA is requesting space for the VA Black Hills Pharmacist office but is not listed in the space requirements in 4.9.1. Will the VA be adding this office to the space requirements or is one of the spaces listed in 4.9.1 be utilized by the VA Black Hills Pharmacist?

Answer: Will need to add this office space to the space requirements.

Question: Will teledermatology, telemental health, and telepharmacy services all be provided in the 1 telehealth group space and 2 individual telehealth space identified in section 4.9.1, or is the VA requiring additional space for these services?

Answer: No additional space will be requested.

Question: Specifically, how many VA staff will be on site at the Scottsbluff CBOC? Are there any additional space requirements for VA staff that will be on site that is not accounted for in the space requirements outlined in section 4.9.1?

Answer: Will need to assure that the Eye tech will have their own exam room.

Question: Will the Government please confirm if VA will provide the phone circuit and physical phones?

Answer: Yes

Question: Will the Government please confirm if CAT 6 wiring is preferred and not CAT 6A?

Answer: CAT 6A is needed.

Question: Will the government please confirm the power requirements and if two 20-

amp dedicated receptacles on the network rack is acceptable?

Answer: Two 20-amp will not be acceptable.

Question: Will the government please confirm if shelves are required(4.11.2.6.6 Both racks will have 2 shelves on the bottom installed to hold IT computers)?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Will the government please confirm if a comparable brand to Leviton will

Suffice(4.11.2.6.7 Infrastructure installer should install Leviton CAT6 patch panels

and connectors in the rack.)?

Answer: No, Leviton is the requirement.

Question: Will the government please confirm if a comparable brand to Leviton will

Suffice(4.12.2 Contractor must be accredited by TJC or maintain a level of service that is in compliance with all current TJC standards. If the Contractor is TJC accredited, he/she will be required to furnish a copy of the accreditation letter(s) upon request by the Contracting Officer prior to award. Provide copies of CAP, CLIA, or Joint Commission accreditation and current applicable state licensing and/or Center for Disease Control (CDC)accreditation or proof that such documents are being processed for Laboratory Services.)?

Answer: No, Leviton is the requirement.

Question: There is no mention of how the proposal should be submitted. Does the VA want the proposal submitted via email to Sara.Hanson@va.gov?

Answer: Please submit via email to Sara.Hanson@va.gov.

Question: There are four parts listed for the instruction to Offerors. Does the VA want the proposal submitted in four parts or is one of these parts combined with another part?

Answer: Proposal submitted in four parts.

Question: Does the VA want the Subcontracting Plan to be submitted in Part 2 - Technical Proposal or Part 4 Veteran Preference SDVOSB/VOSB Status?

Answer: Please submit in Part 2.

Question: Will the Past Performance two (2) page limit apply to letters, metrics, customer surveys, independent surveys, or can these documents be provided as an attachment and not count towards the page limit?

Answer: Can be provided as an attachment.

Question: Would the VA like the bidder to provide the Past Performance using the information in the Solicitation itself, or use Attachment 6 of the Solicitation?

Answer: Attachment 6.

Scottsbluff CBOC