Service Dog Health Insurance

The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA), Office of Acquisition and Operations (OAO), Strategic Acquisitions Center (SAC) is issuing a Draft Request for Proposals to seek comment and feedback from interested stakeholders. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Part 17, VA will provide veterinary health insurance coverage, which includes both a comprehensive health plan as well as sick/injured insurance coverage for all Service Dogs screened and approved by the VA for receipt of Service Dog benefits regardless of age, breed, geographic location or pre-existing medical conditions. There are currently 370 Service Dogs eligible for veterinary health care benefits. This quantity is expected to increase during the contract period of performance.



THIS IS NOT AN ORDER, SOLICITATION, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation for services. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this announcement. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized and posted at www.fbo.gov.



Your response to this Draft Request for Proposals will be due on July 26, 2012 to the persons listed below. Your response will assist the VA in determining the best acquisition solution to ensure robust competition, and ultimately the best valued solution for the VA Service Animal Health Insurance requirement. This announcement is specifically targeted for interested, qualified businesses that can provide animal health insurance.



If there are any questions concerning this Draft Request for Proposal, please cite the applicable line number in your inquiry.



All responses to questions related to this draft solicitation will be posted to www.fbo.gov.



If you have any questions concerning this opportunity please contact:

berneta.ellis@va.gov or rodney.burgoscabassa@va.gov. Please see the document attached to this posting.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition and Operations (OAO), Strategic Acquisitions Center (SAC), Fredericksburg VA is issuing a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information for Guide and Service Dog Health Insurance. This office is seeking industry feedback/comment on this draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) in regard to the Guide and Service Dog Health Insurance Requirement.



Should you have any questions/comments, please cite the applicable line number of the PWS. Questions/comments shall be submitted via email. When responding, please include the solicitation # (VA798S-12-I-0003) in the subject line.



THIS IS NOT AN ORDER, SOLICITATION, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation for services. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this announcement. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized and posted at www.fbo.gov.

The response date is extended to February 23, 2012.



Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA), Office of Acquisition and Operations (OAO), Strategic Acquisitions Center (SAC), Fredericksburg VA is issuing a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information for Service Dog Insurance. THIS IS NOT AN ORDER, SOLICITATION, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation for services. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this announcement. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized and posted at www.fbo.gov.



Your response to this Sources Sought announcement will assist the VA in determining the best acquisition solution to ensure robust competition, and ultimately the best valued solution for the VA Service Animal Health Insurance requirement. This announcement is specifically targeted for interested, qualified businesses that can provide animal health insurance across the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and potentially the Philippines.



Background: Service/guide dogs are considered a prosthetic device in the VA system. They serve as a critical component of rehabilitation and can be part of the treatment plans for Disabled Veterans. Veterans that acquire service and guide dogs for significant visual, hearing, and mobility impairments may apply for and be awarded VHA veterinary benefits under current regulations. Just as we would maintain or repair another prosthetic device, we provide payment for veterinary care for service/guide dogs. We are seeking a vehicle such as pet insurance to control costs and maintain consistency.



Objectives:

Award Service Animal Health Insurance contract vehicle(s) to provide comprehensive commercial medical insurance coverage for service dogs of eligible veterans. Currently, there are approximately 600 dogs that are part of this program. This number is likely to increase.



The animal medical insurance provider shall accept "all comers". Thereby, all dogs will be covered under the policy regardless of breed, age, and the hereditary conditions associated with them. Please note, due to the investment of time and money into the extensive training of service dogs, dogs that enter a service dog program are examined, tested and screened by a Veterinarian prior to the training program. Once in training, the dogs are followed at regular intervals to ensure the best health when placed with a Veteran handler. Dogs of this caliber should be considered very healthy and negative for a hereditary condition.



The insurance will ensure that the VA, not the veteran, be billed for any premiums, copayments, or deductibles associated with the policy.



The policy will feature dental coverage (sedated teeth cleaning when necessary) for all service dogs.



The policy will cover both well dog and emergency care for all service dogs.



Well Dog coverage will include:

--Yearly check-up/physical

--Dental coverage, i.e., teeth cleaning (with sedation when deemed necessary)

--Immunizations



Emergency Care will include coverage for:

--All pre-existing conditions such as hip dysplasia,

--Diagnostic tests, surgeries, prescription medications, (including hereditary and congenital disorders)

--Euthanasia and cremation services



For additional information on the requirement, please see the Federal Register posting at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/16/2011-14933/service-dogs



Questions:



What is the feasibility of providing medical insurance coverage to all dogs, regardless of breed, age, and hereditary conditions? Is there an established age range for working dogs?



Would it be more efficient and effective to provide insurance on a regional basis? Market research has indicated animal insurance prices are relative to geographic location. What is the geographic range your company can cover? What are limitations of an insurance company providing coverage overseas?



In responding to this announcement please include the following:

Name of Company

Contact Information

Business Size: Please indicate your business size (Large or Small). If you happen to be a small business, please indicate your size standard and small business socio-economic sub-categories that represent your business; are you a Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned? Indicate any sub-categories that apply.



Interested parties may respond to this notice via e-mail to

jesse.hardy@va.gov

and

regina.mcgregor@va.gov.



The response date is extended to February 23, 2012.

Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA), Office of Acquisition and Operations (OAO), Strategic Acquisitions Center (SAC), Fredericksburg VA is issuing a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information for Service Dog Insurance. THIS IS NOT AN ORDER, SOLICITATION, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation for services. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this announcement. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized and posted at www.fbo.gov.



Your response to this Sources Sought announcement will assist the VA in determining the best acquisition solution to ensure robust competition, and ultimately the best valued solution for the VA Service Animal Health Insurance requirement. This announcement is specifically targeted for interested, qualified businesses that can provide animal health insurance across the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and potentially the Philippines.



Background: Service/guide dogs are considered a prosthetic device in the VA system. They serve as a critical component of rehabilitation and can be part of the treatment plans for Disabled Veterans. Veterans that acquire service and guide dogs for significant visual, hearing, and mobility impairments may apply for and be awarded VHA veterinary benefits under current regulations. Just as we would maintain or repair another prosthetic device, we provide payment for veterinary care for service/guide dogs. We are seeking a vehicle such as pet insurance to control costs and maintain consistency.



Objectives:

Award Service Animal Health Insurance contract vehicle(s) to provide comprehensive commercial medical insurance coverage for service dogs of eligible veterans. Currently, there are approximately 600 dogs that are part of this program. This number is likely to increase.



The animal medical insurance provider shall accept "all comers". Thereby, all dogs will be covered under the policy regardless of breed, age, and the hereditary conditions associated with them.



The insurance will ensure that the VA, not the veteran, be billed for any premiums, copayments, or deductibles associated with the policy.



The policy will feature dental coverage (sedated teeth cleaning when necessary) for all service dogs.



The policy will cover both well dog and emergency care for all service dogs.



Well Dog coverage will include:

--Yearly check-up/physical

--Dental coverage, i.e., teeth cleaning (with sedation when deemed necessary)

--Immunizations



Emergency Care will include coverage for:

--All pre-existing conditions such as hip dysplasia,

--Diagnostic tests, surgeries, prescription medications, (including hereditary and congenital disorders)

--Euthanasia and cremation services



For additional information on the requirement, please see the Federal Register posting at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/16/2011-14933/service-dogs



Questions:



What is the feasibility of providing medical insurance coverage to all dogs, regardless of breed, age, and hereditary conditions? Is there an established age range for working dogs?



Would it be more efficient and effective to provide insurance on a regional basis? Market research has indicated animal insurance prices are relative to geographic location. What is the geographic range your company can cover? What are limitations of an insurance company providing coverage overseas?



In responding to this announcement please include the following:

Name of Company

Contact Information

Business Size: Please indicate your business size (Large or Small). If you happen to be a small business, please indicate your size standard and small business socio-economic sub-categories that represent your business; are you a Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned? Indicate any sub-categories that apply.



Interested parties may respond to this notice via e-mail to

jesse.hardy@va.gov

and

regina.mcgregor@va.gov.



Responses are requested by February 16, 2012.

The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA), Office of Acquisition and Operations (OAO), Strategic Acquisitions Center (SAC), Fredericksburg VA is issuing a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information for Service Dog Insurance.



THIS IS NOT AN ORDER, SOLICITATION, OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation for services. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this announcement. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized and posted at www.fbo.gov.



Your response to this Sources Sought announcement will assist the VA in determining the best acquisition solution to ensure robust competition, and ultimately the best valued solution for the VA Service Animal Health Insurance requirement. This announcement is specifically targeted for interested, qualified businesses that can provide animal health insurance.



Please see the document attached to this posting.