Service Dog Health Insurance

The purpose of this modification is to post the Government's response to Contractor's questions. An amendment will be issued to the solicitation with all questions and responses after the due date for questions.



Question: Do you have any past procurement history for this solicitation? Is it possible to receive the unit price, total price, contract number and contractor name?



Response: This is a new benefit to Veterans with Service Dogs. The Department of Veterans Affairs has no procurement history on this requirement because providing Service Dog Health Insurance is a new benefit per 38 Code of Federal Regulations 17.148.

The purpose of this presolicitation modification is to change the contract type, the period of performance and the anticipated release date of the Request for Proposal. The changes are reflected in the revised language provided below.



The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition Operations, Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), currently has a requirement for veterinary health insurance and wellness coverage for all current eligible Veteran-owned Service Dogs approved by VA to receive veterinary-health care benefits and for all Service Dogs who become eligible for veterinary-health care benefits. Veterinary health insurance coverage will include Certified Service Dogs owned by disabled Veterans throughout the United States and U.S. territories. Coverage will encompass Service Dogs owned by Veterans suffering from visual, hearing and/or substantial mobility impairments and may be expanded to include any other future disabilities approved by VA. The Contractor shall provide VA with full comprehensive, quality veterinary health care insurance coverage for all Service Dogs approved by VA for receipt of insurance coverage regardless of age, breed, geographic location or pre-existing condition as long as the Service Dog is determined capable of performing as a Service Dog. The insurance coverage shall include both a comprehensive wellness plan as well as sick/injured insurance coverage. The Contractor shall ensure veterinary health care insurance coverage is provided by properly state licensed veterinarians for services and/or supplies rendered.



The period of performance will consist of one (1) twelve month base year and one (1) twelve month option year from time of award. All terms and conditions will be included in the Request for Proposal (RFP). The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about 5 October 2012 and it will be posted in the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) (www.fedbizopps.gov). A closing date of receipt of proposals will be reflected in the RFP. This requirement will be awarded as an Indefinite Delivery Requirements Firm-Fixed Price service contract under NAICS code 524128 with a size standard of $7M. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to independently review the referenced web link (FBO) frequently for updates to any and all documents. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their copy of the RFP and amendments, if any. Please do not call the contact listed above for questions regarding the RFP. The RFP will identify how questions will be addressed by the SAC.



Interested vendors should register for the Interested Vendor's List at www.fedbizopps.gov. Individual copies of the Interested Vendor's List will not be prepared nor distributed by the Contracting Officer.



All Offerors must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/sam/ to be eligible for award.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition Operations, Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), currently has a requirement for veterinary health insurance and wellness coverage for all current eligible Veteran-owned Service Dogs approved by VA to receive veterinary-health care benefits and for all Service Dogs who become eligible for veterinary-health care benefits. Veterinary health insurance coverage will include Certified Service Dogs owned by disabled Veterans throughout the United States and U.S. territories. Coverage will encompass Service Dogs owned by Veterans suffering from visual, hearing and/or substantial mobility impairments and may be expanded to include any other future disabilities approved by VA. The Contractor shall provide VA with full comprehensive, quality veterinary health care insurance coverage for all Service Dogs approved by VA for receipt of insurance coverage regardless of age, breed, geographic location or pre-existing condition as long as the Service Dog is determined capable of performing as a Service Dog. The insurance coverage shall include both a comprehensive wellness plan as well as sick/injured insurance coverage. The Contractor shall ensure veterinary health care insurance coverage is provided by properly state licensed veterinarians for services and/or supplies rendered.



The period of performance is sixty months from time of award. All terms and conditions will be included in the Request for Proposal (RFP). The anticipated release date of the solicitation is within the next thirty days and it will be posted in the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) (www.fedbizopps.gov). A closing date of receipt of proposals will be reflected in the RFP. This requirement will be awarded as an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Firm-Fixed Price service contract under NAICS code 524128 with a size standard of $7M. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to independently review the referenced web link (FBO) frequently for updates to any and all documents. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their copy of the RFP and amendments, if any. Please do not call the contact listed above for questions regarding the RFP. The solicitation will identify how questions will be addressed by the SAC.



Interested vendors should register for the Interested Vendor's List at www.fedbizopps.gov. Individual copies of the Interested Vendor's List will not be prepared nor distributed by the Contracting Officer.



All Offerors must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/sam/ to be eligible for award.