V225--IDIQ - New Base plus 4 OY / Non-Emergent Ambulance Services (VA-22-00019452)

Questions and Responses Submitted for RFP36C24722R0059:

The Small Business set aside box it checked, with a size standard of 16.5 Million. Confirming any firm (and its subsidiaries and affiliates) with revenues greater than 16.5 million average annually will not be allowed to bid on this contract?

A verification of the offerors SBA size classification based on the assigned NAICS code will be conducted upon receipt of proposal. The NAICS will be verified against the most current SBA Size standard listing effective 1 Oct 2022. The size standard for this requirement; 621910 is now $20.0M ..reference the SBA site. https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards

Is the Small Business 100 % set aside subject to the Veterans First Program with priority given to VOSB/SDVOSB?

No. Market research supports a 100% total small business set-aside as the appropriate strategy for this solicitation.

The Pricing period states 12/1/2022, does contracting think this is a firm timeline to solicit, review, award and kick off the contract at a 12/1/2022 start date?

Yes, based on the procurement timeline, this requirement will begin as expected on 1 December 2022. Further, the start date initiates the 60-day phase in period before full contract performance by the awardee.

In the Price/Cost Schedule are the quantities used from the last year of actuals or are these estimates?

These quantities are estimates based on recent contract performance from the past eight months.

The contract is listed and Non-Emergency how are Emergencies handled and what parameters make these transports not the responsibility of the contractor? Â

Emergencies are handled through 911 calls; contractor will not receive 911 calls from the VA for emergency transportation.

Please define the Round Trip used as an item are all trips that have a pickup and drop of the exact locations to and from such as dialysis ? Rounds trip definition is included in the definition section of the RFP.

Roundtrips is defined as moving a patient from the original destination to an appointment and having to wait through the end of the appointment to transport the same patient back to the original point of pick-up.

The line items for cost BLS/ALS are listed with mileage bands have one way and round-trip descriptions, are the numbers listed in the quantity for Round Trip two actual legs? Example Item #11 BLS Round Trip 0-35 has a quantity of 4560. This would be for SC DHEC purposes and reporting 9120 individual trips, 1 round trip quantity listed = 2 individual trip legs?

No, the quantity listed for Round trip is not for two actual legs, roundtrip is defined as moving a patient from the original destination to an appointment and having to wait through the end of the appointment to transport the same patient back to the original point of pick-up.

The line items for cost BLS/ALS are listed with mileage bands, if there is a long-distance transport to another state how is this billed under the contract, example to 700-mile trip to FL form the Columbia VA?Â

The contractor will be allowed to bill the flat rate for the Black mileage band (108-143 miles) plus the excess mileage rate.

The line items for cost BLS/ALS are listed with mileage bands, the numbers provided show almost 10-11 individual trip legs per day on average for the band of 108-143 miles BLA and ALS combined. This high of number could significantly increase the cost of the contract due to the number of trucks needed to complete the mission with OTP per the contract. Are these line items from historical data or estimates?Â

These line items are supported by current data from the contract currently in place. In addition to estimating increases for future option years.

Can Contracting provide the name, specifications and information of the electronic ordering software that will be required to be used by the contractor?Â

YES. The Program is called VetRide.

Ambulance service trips outside of 143-mile are not mentioned. How are they to be priced and is date and time negotiable? The contractor will be allowed to bill the flat rate for the Black mileage band (108-143 miles) plus the excess mileage rate.

Is there a required number of ambulances to be available?

There is not a required number of ambulances but based on the current contract, an estimate is 13-15 ambulances. The vendor is ultimately responsible for determining the number of ambulances to perform the contract at or above the Acceptable Quality Level.

The size standard for the VA contract is listed at $16.5 million are the quantities correct?

The size standard for this requirement; 621910 is now $20.0M ..effective 1 October 2022, reference the SBA site. https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards

Will the VA triage the type of call (ALS vs BLS vs NEMT) or will the call center be responsible for that?Â

All contracted trips will be nonemergency (ALS and BLS), these trips will be triaged by the VA Special Mode Transportation Coordinators.

Does my call center have to be in the State of South Carolina?Â

No, as long as the vendor can at a minimum meet the Performance Standards detailed in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) as the Acceptable Quality Level and the home office/business is in the State of South Carolina and meet the Department of Public health requirement to have an Ambulance license to operate.

Can the solicitation deadline be extended for two weeks please?

No. Currently there is no reason for an extension of the RFP.