12 OVR Enhanced Driving and Ancillary Services

This Invitation for Bid(s) is being reserved as a DGS Small Business Reserve Procurement. Only those suppliers that are self-certified will qualify. In order to self-certify, please visit this link --https://www.dgs.pa.gov/Small%20Business%20Contracting%20Program/Pages/default.aspxAdditionally, suppliers must be registered with the Commonwealth to access the PA Supplier Portal and bid documents. Please visit this link to register - https://pasupplierportal.state.pa.us/irj/portal/anonymous. The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), on behalf of Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) and the Bureau of Blind and Visual Services (BBVS) is issuing this Invitation for Bids (IFB) to procure professional, on-demand Non-Emergency Business Transport Services. DLI is seeking qualified transportation suppliers with the relevant experience, background, licensure, certifications, and ability to provide the required business transportation services at competitive prices. Agency requirements must be met and in compliance with all local, state, and Federal laws and regulations.Employee(s)/passenger(s) may be blind, visually impaired, or have other disabilities which preclude their ability to drive themselves while traveling on Commonwealth business. Suppliers are sought for the 21 total BBVS and BVRS OVR District offices located throughout the Commonwealth. Generally, service will be expected from the assigned headquarters or OVR District office of the employee to a location for the performance of Commonwealth business. Exception would be at the start of work when the OVR employee's location is closer to the work destination than the home office. Drivers will be asked to drop off the employee at a location and return at the scheduled pick-up time to provide transportation service.Ambulatory transports would include movement of personnel with disabilities who are medically unable to safely operate a motor vehicle, may have the capacity to walk, and do not require the transport of a wheelchair or a motorized scooter.Non-Ambulatory transports would include movement of personnel with disabilities who are medically unable to safely operate a motor vehicle and require the assistance of a lift or other mechanical mechanism to ensure safe transport of the person and their wheelchair or motorized scooter. Transport vehicle(s) must be equipped with a wheelchair ramp and/or lift and tie-downs when requested by the individual.ANCILLARY SERVICES/ ADDITIONAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENT: Under this agreement and at the request of OVR personnel, Suppliers shall provide assistive, ancillary services. These services may involve entering the residence of the BBVS or BVRS customer or a public location.OVR personnel may require assistance with scribe work, reading, sighted guide, safety surveys, placing bump dots on appliances as direction by the staff, assisting with documents requiring signature, and any other tasks that need completed visually. The vendor will not receive any assignments until it has met the following:Prior to issuance of an active purchase order, the contractor will provide evidence of additional insurance certificate(s), such as liability insurance, workers' compensation insurance, or other insurance, which covers the transport staff in the provision of support services outside of operation of the transport vehicle. Such insurance is intended to protect the transport staff, provider, OVR, OVR employee and customer against loss or risk associated the performance of these additional support services by the transport staff in connection with the provision of service under the purchase order.Any questions in reference to this IFB must be submitted individually and in writing via email by 2pm ET on Monday, January 15, 2024, to the L & I Central Procurement resource account - RA-li-OIT-BAS-Procur@pa.gov, with IFB 6100059505 - 12 OVR Enhanced Driving and Ancillary Services in the Subject Line. All questions and responses are considered an addendum to and part of this IFB. The Issuing Office shall not be bound by any verbal information, nor shall it be bound by any written information that is not either contained within the IFB or formally issued by the Issuing Office. The Issuing Office does not consider questions to be a protest of the solicitation.