Q517--Virtual Pharmacy Services Search for Small Businesses

Responses to Vendor Questions regarding Sources Sought Notice

Virtual Pharmacy Services

When are responses due?

Answer: The date and time remains unchanged. Responses are due on June 18, 2024 @ 12PM Central time.

Will this procurement be open to small businesses?

Answer: Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will help determine the type of small business set-aside that will apply to this procurement.

Could you provide the number of beds available per unit, such as ICU, ER, Med surge, and Psych?

Answer:

Acute Mental Health Max 23, current active 10

Long Term Care Max 90, current active 60

MedSurg Max 24, current active 10

Psychiatric Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP) Max 41, current active 41

What ADM (Automated Dispensing Machines) are in use?

Answer: Omnicell and Talyst

What are the hardware or software equipment requirements?

Answer: The VA has no specific hardware or software requirements. The vendor is responsible to provide and maintain a system that is compatible with the VA VPN and software. The vendor shall install and maintain external communication systems required for secure, VA-compliant image and data delivery to its pharmacists. The vendor shall also configure, install, and maintain all remote workstation software at its pharmacists reading stations. The vendor shall expeditiously provide hardware and software information to the VAIHCS Information Security Officer (ISO), Chief, Information Manager, and the COR before vendor is able to provide services. Microsoft Windows 10 is the Government s operating system.

The notice requests an all-inclusive estimated rate for each of the five order years. It lists an annual volume of 6,000 scripts and total pharmacist hours of coverage. Could you please clarify whether you are seeking a combined price that includes both scripts and hours of coverage, or if you require separate pricing for each either a price per script or an hourly coverage rate?

Answer: The VA is requesting separate pricing (by line item) for the scripts and hourly coverage as detailed in the Price Schedule. Vendors may submit alternate pricing that is inclusive of scripts and hourly coverage.

Are there any security requirements for providing virtual pharmacists besides the site-to-site VPN?

Answer:

The vendor shall comply with all VA information security requirements including initial and annual security awareness training and background checks for the pharmacists.

The vendor shall use equipment that meets VA security standards and shall conform to all Rules of Behavior set forth by the Office of Cyber & Information Security (OCIS).Â

The vendor shall apply for and install an approved VA remote access solution that allows secure access to internal VA resources in order to be granted remote access.Â

Could you provide more context to the Annual Scripts - 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, 4001 - in the pricing buildup? Is that the estimated volume of scripts for VA Illiana Health Care System (VAIHCS)? Any recommendations on how a script is priced?

Answer: The estimated annual volume of scripts is based on historical data and anticipated VA needs. Each of the five ordering years is estimated at 6000 scripts. The vendor will determine how to price the scripts.

What is the daily or monthly volume of orders?

Answer: Scripts are estimated at 6000 per year or approximately 500 per month.

10. How many Pharmacists are on duty at each time?

Answer: It is within the vendor s discretion to determine how many pharmacists should be on duty at a given time.

11. Could you inform me if this is a new requirement or a follow-on to an existing contract? If the latter, could you provide me with the Contractor Name and Contract #?

Answer: This is a follow-on contract. The current contractor is Mednovations 36C25220D0012.

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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Virtual Pharmacy Services - VA Illiana Health Care System

The Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC), on behalf of the VA Illiana Health Care System (VAIHCS) located at 1900 E. Main Street, Danville, IL 61832, is seeking a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that can provide a pool of virtual pharmacists who can provide Virtual Pharmacy Services for VAIHCS. The vendor shall provide professional inpatient pharmacy services to remotely complete pending inpatient orders (including those administered by the intravenous route). These services would be needed during off tour hours, to include weekends and all observed Federal Holidays when the inpatient pharmacy is closed.

The VA intends to award a five-year contract with a period of performance commencing November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2029.

Potential Vendors must be a U.S. based company capable of providing remote pharmacy services via secured web-based system provided by the vendor. Services provided under this contract are not to be performed outside of the United States. The vendor shall provide pharmacists, technical support personnel, medical and telecommunication equipment, supplies, and supervision necessary to perform and implement pharmacy services to meet the needs of the Government. Contracted pharmacists must evaluate each prescription for drug-drug interactions, contraindications for recorded drug allergies, appropriate doses, accurate directions, and assure the final order will be understandable to the nurses administering the medication.

The contracted pharmacist must log into the VA system at least once every 30 minutes for routine orders and verify the order within 30 minutes or less from the time that the order was entered into the VA system.

The contracted pharmacist must be available by phone for emergent medication needs. Emergent medication orders must be processed within 15 minutes of order entry.

All pharmacists must have an active license recognized by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in accordance with the regulations of the State in which the pharmacist is licensed.

Services are required as follows:

Standard coverage:

Monday:Â 7:00pm CST Monday to 7:00am CST Tuesday

Tuesday:Â 7:00pm CST Tuesday to 7:00am CST Wednesday

Wednesday:Â 7:00pm CST Wednesday to 7:00am CST Thursday

Thursday: 7:00pm CST Thursday to 7:00am CST Friday

Friday: 7:00pm Friday CST to 7:30am CST Saturday

Saturday:Â 4:00pm CST Saturday to 7:30am CST Sunday

Sunday: 4:00pm Sunday CST to 7:00am CST Monday

Holiday coverage is for all observed Federal Holidays.

If the Holiday falls on a Sunday-Thursday, the hours would be from 4:00pm CST to 7:00am CST the next day

If the Holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, the hours would be from 4:00pm CST to 7:30am CST the next day

If a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the weekend hours apply on the observed Holiday.

Vendor s Qualifications:

Ability to provide an adequate number of licensed pharmacist to cover the Government s requirements.

Ability to obtain a site-to-site VPN connection with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ability to provide and maintain the means for enabling and maintaining system connectivity.

Ability to install and maintain external communication systems required for secure, VA-compliant image and data delivery to its pharmacists and shall configure, install and maintain all remote workstation software at its pharmacists reading stations.

Knowledge of VA Formulary, VA VISTA and the VA patient record system.

To be considered a complete response, the following information shall be submitted:

A briefing that addresses the following:

Ability and experience providing virtual pharmacy services.

Anticipated startup time required if awarded a contract.

The number of pharmacists that would be required to fulfill the needs of the Government.

The number of pharmacists that would potentially be presented who currently work for a VA Medical Center (i.e., moonlighters).

Provide information of current or past experience at any VA Medical Center.

If the company is a small business, indicate if it is able to comply with the Limitations on Subcontracting at FAR 52.219-14 for these services.

Provide proof of Veteran socio-economic status by providing a copy of the verification from the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) site: (Veteran Small Business Certification (sba.gov))

Provide proof of current SAM registration by providing a copy of the registration from SAM Registration Verification site: (SAM.gov | Home)

Provide Federal Supply Schedule Contract Number, if applicable.

Provide All-inclusive estimated rates each of the five order years.

Pricing is for Market Research purposes only.

Year One:Â November 1, 2024-October 31, 2025Â

LIN No.

Description

Unit

Est. QTY

Unit Price

Est. Total

0001

Annual ScriptsÂ

EA

6000

0002

Pharmacist Mon-ThursÂ

HR

2376

0003

Pharmacist FridayÂ

HR

650

0004

Pharmacist SaturdayÂ

HR

806

0005

Pharmacist SundayÂ

HR

780

0006

Pharmacist HolidayÂ

HR

165.5

Total Estimated Value: Year 1 =

Year two:Â November 1, 2025-October 31, 2026Â

LIN No.

Description

Unit

Est. QTY

Unit Price

Est. Total

1001

Annual ScriptsÂ

EA

6000

1002

Pharmacist Mon-ThursÂ

HR

2388

1003

Pharmacist FridayÂ

HR

625

1004Â

Pharmacist SaturdayÂ

HR

821.5

1005

Pharmacist SundayÂ

HR

780

1006

Pharmacist HolidayÂ

HR

166

Total Estimated Value: Option Year 2 =

Year three: November 1, 2026-October 31, 2027Â

LIN No.

Description

Unit

Est. QTY

Unit Price

Est. Total

2001

Annual ScriptsÂ

EA

6000

2002

Pharmacist Mon-ThursÂ

HR

2400

2003

Pharmacist FridayÂ

HR

612.5

2004Â

Pharmacist SaturdayÂ

HR

806

2005Â

Pharmacist SundayÂ

HR

795

2006

Pharmacist HolidayÂ

HR

136.5

Total Estimated Value: Year 3 =

Year four:Â November 1, 2027-October 31, 2028Â

LIN No.

Description

Unit

Est. QTY

Unit Price

Est. Total

3001

Annual ScriptsÂ

EA

6000

3002

Pharmacist Mon-ThursÂ

HR

2400

3003Â

Pharmacist FridayÂ

HR

625

3004Â

Pharmacist SaturdayÂ

HR

806

3005Â

Pharmacist SundayÂ

HR

780

3006Â

Pharmacist HolidayÂ

HR

166

Total Estimated Value: Year 4 =

Year five:Â November 1, 2028-October 31, 2029

LIN No.

Description

Unit

Est. QTY

Unit Price

Est. Total

4001

Annual Scripts

EA

6000

4002

Pharmacist Mon-Thurs

HR

2388

4003

Pharmacist Friday

HR

637.5

4004

Pharmacist Saturday

HR

806

4005

Pharmacist Sunday

HR

780

4006

Pharmacist Holiday

HR

165.5

Total Estimated Value: Year 5 =

The NAICS Code for this requirement is 561320 - Temporary Help Services, which has a small business size standard of $34 million.

This Sources Sought Notice will be used to identify potential Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses that would be interested and capable of providing qualified virtual pharmacists and to assist the Contracting Officer in making a set-aside determination. This notice and any responses are for market research purposes only and shall not be considered as a request for quote or as an obligation for services. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any vendor s input resulting from this Sources Sought Notice. No contractual arrangement will be made as a result of this announcement.

All interested parties, regardless of socioeconomic status, capable of providing the required virtual pharmacist services are encouraged to respond to the Sources Sought Notice. Questions shall be submitted via email to Amy Burger at Amy.Burger@va.gov and to Antanette Shellaugh at Antanette.Shellaugh@va.gov no later than Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Central time. The Subject Line of the email must read as follows: Virtual Pharmacy Services Questions Company Name.

Responses shall be submitted no later than Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Central time. The Subject Line of the email must read as follows: Virtual Pharmacy Services Company Name.

All information should be UNCLASSIFIED or NON-PROPRIETARY.