UV Sterilizers

Added: Jul 07, 2017 10:16 am Modified: Aug 01, 2017 8:51 amTrack Changes Page 1 of 1

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the response date 8/8/2017 for VA250-17-Q-0774. All other terms and conditions of the previously posted Combined Synopsis Solicitation remain unchanged.





Quotes are to be emailed to Christopher Callihan at Christopher.Callihan@va.gov, no later than

8 August 2017 3:00 p.m. EST.

Added: Jul 07, 2017 10:16 am Modified: Jul 28, 2017 10:08 amTrack Changes Page 1 of 1





Solicitation #VA250-17-Q-0774 is being amended to reflect the following:



Under Background, the second paragraph will now read as follows:



The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center currently utilizes a whole room sterilizer system and are looking to augment the current system and allow the facility a greater versatility in disinfecting and reducing contaminated areas and exposure. Our medical center would like to stress that the UV disinfection system we are looking for, should have versatility to treat hard to reach surfaces to target specific problem areas (e.g., toilet seats, sinks or under a beds).



The intent is not to discredit the effectiveness of the system currently in place. The purpose of this statement is to emphasize the hospital currently utilizes a whole room sterilizer and is not looking to replace this system but rather augment the current system and allow the facility a greater versatility in disinfecting and reducing contaminated areas and exposure.

Added: Jul 07, 2017 10:16 am Modified: Jul 28, 2017 7:21 amTrack Changes Page 1 of 4

The purpose of this amendment is to post the questions and answers in addition to extending the quote due date until 1 August 2017 and the posting of the government responses to the questions submitted until 28 July 2017. All other terms and conditions of the previously post Combined Synopsis Solicitation remain unchanged.



EVALUATION CRITERIA/ SUBMISSION OF OFFER

Quotes are to be emailed to Christopher Callihan at Christopher.Callihan@va.gov, no later than

1 August 2017 3:00 p.m. EST.



All Questions Shall be submitted in writing in response to the Solicitation and are due no later than 17 July 2017 at 3:00 PM EST. Questions shall be emailed to christopher.callihan@va.gov on or before the date and time stated. Any Government responses, answers, and or/comments to all questions will be posted by 28 July 2017.

Contractor is responsible for verifying all existing field conditions.



Christopher A. Callihan

Contract Specialist

Network Contract Office (NCO) 10

Email: christopher.callihan@va.gov



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS



Q. It appears this requirement has been established to prevent the exposure and aging of equipment associated with continuous, narrow spectrum (253.nm) UV light. Is this a correct assumption?

A. Preventing unnecessary exposure to and aging of equipment is one objective of this requirement.



Q. If non-continuous UV technology has been shown to NOT cause material damage that targets both specific and broad areas, will it be considered as meeting the requirement?

A. Please see solicitation for all specifications of this requirement.



Q. "The UV disinfection system shall provide Targeted UV disinfection with proven effectiveness against Clostridium difficile (C. dif.), Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE)." What is the standard that will be applied to validate this requirement?

A. Peer reviewed journals will be used to verify effectiveness as part of the evaluation.



Q. Will unit-wide peer-reviewed outcome studies showing reductions in C.diff, MRSA, and VRE be the minimum acceptable threshold?

A. Peer reviewed journals will be used to verify effectiveness as part of the evaluation.



Q. Will reductions in Surgical Site Infection (SSI) rates be considered?

A. There are no immediate plans to include surgical site infection rates in the data analysis.



Q: how do you know where the C.diff is located in the patient room or clinical area?

A: C. diff contamination is likely to be found on high-touch surfaces.

 

Q: Is your main mission to reduce CDI or other pathogens that cause HAIs as well?

A: We anticipate that enhanced disinfection with UV technology lowers the risk of C. diff as well as other pathogens.

 

Q: Is peer reviewed evidence required that the Offerer s systems is effective in killing pathogens or reducing CDI or both?  

A: The UV disinfection system shall provide Targeted UV disinfection with proven effectiveness against Clostridium difficile (C. dif.), Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE). Peer reviewed evidence siting the effectiveness of the items is required to be submitted with the quote along with sufficient data/brochures to allow the Government to complete a technical comparison of the items offered to meet the Government s requirements. 

 

Q: Is peer reviewed evidence of process improvements that reduce average patient room treatment times from 57 minutes for Tru-D to 14 minutes for a UV-C system that increases pathogen kill significantly an important consideration?

A: Evaluations will be conducted under FAR Part 13 and any subsequent award will be made to the offer that provides the best value to the Government.  In addition to price, offers will be evaluated on technically meeting the Government s requirement, delivery and training schedule.  In addition to completing the cost/price schedule, contractors shall provide sufficient data/brochures to allow the Government to complete a technical comparison as well as peer review journal(s) siting the effectiveness of the items offered to meet the Government s requirements. 

 

Q: If the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center determines that there are two complimentary systems that have advantages and strengths in achieving your goal to reduce CDI, would you consider awarding two vendors systems?

A:The Government intends to make a single award to one offeror.

 

Q: Is treatment to a targeted area confirming a known C.diff killing dose of UV-C in the treatment area in the shortest possible treatment time to guarantee disinfection while limiting overtreatment that causes fading a priority for the Louis Stokes VA?

A: Among other factors, timeliness of the UV disinfection for target specific areas will be considered during evaluation.

 

Q: Are processes that confirm a uniform UV-C irradiation a priority for the VA?

A: Please see SOW for specific specifications.

 

Q: By adjustable, do you mean an apparatus that can confirm that the known lethal UV-C dose is delivered to the target?

A. By adjustable, the device can be adjusted to accommodate the angle of incidence so that areas likely to be contaminated will receive an optimal dose of UV.

 

Q. Is it important for the EVS operator to not have to guess which UV-C dose to use or to confirm if the UV-C dose was delivered?

A. The UV Systems should have clear instructions to ensure a standardized protocol is followed.

 

Q: Is it important for the EVS operator to determine and guarantee that a specific UV-C dose has been delivered to targeted or hard to reach areas?

A. This is not a requirement listed in the SOW. Please see SOW for specific specifications of what is required.



Q: Is Cloud based reporting (without access to VA WiFi) of disinfection cycles by date, time, dose, room or area and operator important for EMS and IC to help reduce HAIs?

A. This is not a requirement listed in the SOW. Please see SOW for specific specifications of what is required.

 

Q: There is evidence that C.diff transmission also occurs through aerosolization. How do you intend to disinfect areas where colonization potentially occurred?

A: This requirement is to augment the current disinfection processes that are being utilized at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. The government intends to use UV disinfection systems with versatility to treat hard to reach surfaces, to target problem areas (e.g., toilet seat, sink or under a bed) in conjunction with the current disinfection procedures to decrease the infection rate.

 

Added: Jul 07, 2017 10:16 am Modified: Jul 19, 2017 1:26 pmTrack Changes Page 1 of 1

The purpose of this amendment is to extend the quote due date until 31 July 2017 and the posting of the government responses to the questions submitted until 27 July 2017. All other terms and conditions of the previously post Combined Synopsis Solicitation remain unchanged.





EVALUATION CRITERIA/ SUBMISSION OF OFFER

Quotes are to be emailed to Christopher Callihan at Christopher.Callihan@va.gov, no later than

31 July 2017 3:00 p.m. EST.



All Questions Shall be submitted in writing in response to the Solicitation and are due no later than 17 July 2017 at 3:00 PM EST. Questions shall be emailed to christopher.callihan@va.gov on or before the date and time stated. Any Government responses, answers, and or/comments to all questions will be posted by 27 July 2017.

Contractor is responsible for verifying all existing field conditions.



Christopher A. Callihan

Contract Specialist

Network Contract Office (NCO) 10

Email: christopher.callihan@va.gov

Added: Jul 07, 2017 10:16 am Page 1 of 3

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is VA250-17-Q-0774 and is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-95. The associated NAICS code is 334510 and small business size standard is 1250 employees. This is a total small business set-aside. The requirement is for 30 UV Sterilizers for use at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. This system allows medical staff to disinfect specific surfaces in patient rooms to increase C. difficile infection (CDI) prevention at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.



This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a formal, written solicitation will not be issued. PAPER COPIES OF THIS SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. This solicitation documents and incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through FAC 2005-95. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/Far/. The selected Offeror shall comply with the following commercial item terms and conditions, which are incorporated herein by reference: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items - the selected offeror shall submit a completed copy of the listed representations and certifications or confirm that the annual representations and certifications was completed electronically via the SAM website accessed through http://www.acquisition.gov; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.203-17, 52.203-99,52.204-4, and 52.232-40 FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, paragraph (a) and the following clauses in paragraph (b): 52.203-6, 52.204-10, 52.209-6, 52.211-6, 52.219-6, 52.219-8, 52.219-14, 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-40, 52.222-50, 52.223-18, 52.225-1, 52.225-13, and 52.232-34. The full text of the referenced FAR clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/.



Evaluation: will be made using the procedures under FAR 13. Offers will be evaluated on price and other factors. Other factors are Technical and Training Schedule.



The following VAAR Clauses apply

852.203-70 Commercial Advertising

852.211-70 Service Data Manuals

852.232-72 Electronic submission of payment requests

852.246-70 Guarantee (at least one year)

852.246-71 Inspection



The Following VAAR Provisions apply

852.211-72 Technical Industry Standards





Quotes are to be emailed to Christopher Callihan at Christopher.Callihan@va.gov, no later than

21 July 2017 3:00 p.m. EST.





Objective:

This activity proposes the acquisition of 30 EA UV Disinfection Systems. The systems will allow medical staff to disinfect specific surfaces in patient rooms to increase C. difficile infection (CDI) prevention at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center requires units in each of the patient areas as follows: inpatient, general, acute, and tertiary care with a total of 673 beds. All beds are spread throughout the main hospital and Cares Tower. The main hospital has four floors with patient s beds and Cares Tower has 6 floors with patient s beds. It is our intention in this to have 2-3 units, on each floors with patient s beds, available at all time. In addition to the inpatient, general, acute, and tertiary care units, the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center requires units in each of the specific services to include OR, ER MICU, SICU and Radiology. While the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center proposes 30 EA UV Disinfection Systems, a minimum of one unit for each location identified above is required, 15 EA UV Disinfection Systems, to meet the minimum needs of the government.



The UV disinfection system should have versatility to treat hard to reach and target problem areas (e.g., toilet seat, sink or under a bed). Preference will be given to a UV system that provides the best solution to prevent unnecessary exposure and unnecessary aging of equipment that does not require disinfection.



Background:

Environmental Management Service (EMS) works closely with the medical staff and Infection Prevention and Control personnel to disinfect patient rooms after the room has been occupied by a patient diagnosed with C diff. The number of C-Diff rooms has increased, despite current sanitation procedures.



The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center currently utilizes the Tru-D SmartUVC Part Number: 0367AOLF, but we are still not getting the desired results and the level of disinfection expected to especially hard to reach areas.



The government intends to use UV disinfection systems with versatility to treat hard to reach surfaces, to target problem areas (e.g., toilet seat, sink or under a bed) in conjunction with the current disinfection procedures to decrease the infection rate.



The Vendor shall be an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) authorized dealer, authorized distributor, or authorized reseller for the proposed equipment/system such that the OEM warranty and service are provided and maintained by the OEM. All warranty and service associated with the equipment/system shall be in accordance with the OEM terms and conditions. The vendor shall provide new items ONLY; no remanufactured or "gray market" items. All items must be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.



Specification

To obtain our objectives the UV disinfection system shall have the following characteristics;



The UV disinfection system shall target specific areas, problem areas such as toilets, sinks, under a beds and other difficult areas. THIS IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS WHEN THE ENTIRE ROOM DOESN T NEED TO BE DISINFECTED TO THE NEXT LEVEL. TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE TO AND AGING OF EQUIPMENT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE DISINFECTION.



The UV disinfection system shall be compact and portable (e.g., easily moved or carried around from room, navigable through a standard door.)



The UV disinfection system shall be adjustable.



The UV disinfection system shall have adjustable exposure cycle times.



The UV disinfection system shall have the ability to set disinfecting time manually, as needed.



The UV disinfection system shall provide Targeted UV disinfection with proven effectiveness against Clostridium difficile (C. dif.), Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE).



OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

A preference will also be provided to a system with safety features geared toward rooms with public access.



A minimum of 15 units is requested to have a unit available in each designated area.

Main Hospital: 4 floors

Cares tower: 6 floors

Specialty Services: one unit each (5)



No ozone generation is preferred;

As VHA directive 7706 January 7, 2016 instructs VA directors to Ensure mercury elimination and reduction is considered during all phases of acquisition and procurement.



EVALUATION CRITERIA/ SUBMISSION OF OFFER

All Questions Shall be submitted in writing in response to the Solicitation and are due no later than 17 July 2017 at 3:00 PM EST. Questions shall be emailed to christopher.callihan@va.gov on or before the date and time stated. Any Government responses, answers, and or/comments to all questions will be posted by 19 July 2017.

Contractor is responsible for verifying all existing field conditions.



Christopher A. Callihan

Contract Specialist

Network Contract Office (NCO) 10

Office: 216-447-8300 x3796

Email: christopher.callihan@va.gov



Evaluations will be conducted under FAR Part 13 and any subsequent award will be made to the offer that provides the best value to the Government. In addition to price, offers will be evaluated on technically meeting the Government s requirement, delivery and training schedule. In addition to completing the cost/price schedule, contractors shall provide sufficient data/brochures to allow the Government to complete a technical comparison as well as peer review journal(s) siting the effectiveness of the items offered to meet the Government s requirements. Failure to do so could result in an unacceptable offer. A proposed delivery/training schedule is to be provided.