R602--VHI Courier Services

36C25023Q0090 0001

RFQ 36C25023Q0090 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Question: Do you know the weight/volume of the specimens, supplies and mail?

Answer: Most shipments will be light to moderately heavy (10-15 pounds), however, the VA may occasionally need to send packages weighing up to 50 pounds. Please review the Statement of Work, Section 3-g.

2. Question: The frequency of transportation?

Answer: Please review the Statement of Work under Table 1. The frequency of transportation is daily. Some are multiple times daily.

3. Question: What vehicle is required or needed? (18-wheeler, sprinter van, box truck)

Answer: No specific requirements exist for the type of vehicles used. However, the vehicles need to be capable of transporting the cooler being used to transport specimens and should be capable of functioning in all weather conditions that may be encountered in Indiana (i.e. Rain, Snow, Heat, Cold, Sleet, Wind, Etc.). Should also be capable of transporting securely (ie convertibles would not be ideal because someone could snatch the cooler from the vehicle?

4. Question: Will there be a dock available for loading/unloading?

Answer: No, this should not be necessary for the shipments.

5. Question: Who will do the loading/unloading?

Answer: Contractor/courier.

6. Question: Will we be transporting narcotics for this contract, and if we are will there be any special requirements or training to do so?

Answer: No, the courier is asked to sign a form upon pickup taking chain of custody for the shipment.

7. Question: I have read in the contract that a web portal would be required to place orders for needed pickups, we now do that with multiple contracts we currently have but they just email me directly, would that be okay to do with this contract?

Answer: Web portal is much preferred to allow chain of custody signature recording and ensure timely response to requests.

8. Question: If we are providing coolers, and refrigerants for this contract can I please have a quantity needed, sizes, and types required?

Answer: The VA will supply the coolers and cold packs for the CBOC pickups, they are lockable.

9. Question: Will all of the routes originate from the VA at 1481 W. 10th street, Indianapolis, IN 46202?

Answer: For routines on a daily basis, they come to the VA, pick up coolers and supplies, then to CBOC, then return to VA.

10. Question: Will there be any leeway with the pickup times?

Answer: +/- 30 minutes from the times stated

11. Question: Terre Haute has three separate CLIN s, but all the addresses are the same, will the pickups just be in different locations of the building?

Answer: Terre Haute has two different pickup times for the Outpatient Clinic (OC) and one pickup time at the Mental Health Clinic. Therefore, the pickups will be different locations of the building.

12. Question: Wakeman VA address is the contract states that it is at 3791 10th street Edinburgh, IN 46124, but when mapping it the address shows 3783 10th street Edinburg, IN 46124 I just wanted to confirm which address is correct.

Answer: The correct address for the Wakeman VA Clinic is 3783 10th street Edinburgh St, Edinburgh IN 46124.

13. Question: Has this requirement been released yet? The RFQ had a projected date of 6/6/23 but no updates were listed.

Answer: Yes, the requirement has been released. The RFQ has a projected date of 1/6/23, not 6/6/23.

14. Question: What is the actual RFP due date?

Answer: The actual RFP due date is 1/13/23 at 1pm EST.

15. Question: Will this opportunity be for daily/weekly courier services?

Answer: Please see answer to question 2.

16. Question: The RFQ states this is a set aside for veteran owned companies. Does this mean if we are not veteran owned, we cannot submit a bid?

Answer: The RFQ is opened to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOSBs) only. No other type of businesses will be accepted at this time.

17. Question: In regard to the Price/Schedule:

Item X008 Brownsburg CBOC 4:30pm pickup time. According to the RLR VAMC website, the Brownsburg CBOC closes at 4:00pm. If that is the case, is there an after-hours pick up location on site or is the website wrong?

Answer: Brownsburg pickup should be 3:30pm.

Item X014 Unscheduled Runs, Distance > 50 miles. What is maximum number of miles the courier will be required to travel from the pickup point to the delivery point? For example, distance > 50 mile but < how many miles?

Answer: Approximately 150 miles

18. Question: In regard to the Statement of Work:

General Requirements: Item l states contractor must supply insulated transport containers:

Question: How many transport containers are needed?

Answer: N/A VA provides transport containers.

Question: What size is required of a transport container (LxWxH)?

Answer: N/A VA provides.

Question: Will the transport containers be required to lock?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Will contractor need to supply ice packs for refrigerated specimens and dry ice for frozen specimens?

Answer: No, VA provides.

Contractors Responsibilities:

Question: Will company ID badges suffice instead of company uniforms?

Answer: Uniforms are preferred, at least a company-identifiable shirt. If ID badges are utilized, they must be worn at all times and clearly visible to all staff.

19. Question: Do all Scheduled Routes start and end at the RLR VAMC or can the courier go directly to the CBOCs and Domiciliary at the start of their route?

Answer: Yes, all start and end at RLR.

20. Question: If the courier is required to pick up a transport container at the RLR VAMC at the start of the scheduled route when will the container be ready for pick up?

Answer: Any time after 7:30am.

21. Question: Are any scheduled locations listed scheduled to close or relocate during the course of the contract?

Answer: Yes. Shelbyville may relocate during the next year. There are no guarantees that others may not close or relocate or that additional routes will not be added during the course of the contract.

22. Question: Being the primary contractor will we be allowed to use independent contractors as long as at least 51% of all payments for courier services are to company employed W2 employees?

Answer: Yes, as long as the SDVOSB company provides 51% of the work according to FAR

23. Question: Please confirm the prevailing hourly wage rate for the contract is $18.19 and the Health & Welfare hourly rate is $4.23 according to Executive Order?

Answer: Please review Section D in the RFQ, the new hourly wage rate for the contract and the health & welfare hourly rate is current as of 12/27/2022.

24. How many paid holidays are required under the contract?

Answer: There are 13 Federal Holidays, please see Statement of Work, Section 3-nv. There are times the Domiciliary is expected to be delivered on those holidays.