Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MARCH 28, 2007 FBO #1948
MODIFICATION

Q -- HOME PULMONARY SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS AT VA CARIBBEANHEALTHCARE SYSTEM, PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Notice Date

3/26/2007
 

Notice Type

Modification
 

NAICS

621610 — Home Health Care Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Procurement Business Division;Tres Rios Building, Suite 600;27 Gonzalez Giusti Ave., San Patricio;Guaynabo PR 00968
 

ZIP Code

00968
 

Solicitation Number

VA-672-07-RP-0009
 

Response Due

4/10/2007
 

Archive Date

5/10/2007
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

1. Due date for offers is extended to April 10, 2007 at the same time. 2. The following changes are incorporated in this solicitation: a. The Government reserves the right to inspect offeror's facilities prior to award. b. Section 1, Contract Administration Data Correct the number of year the companies have established business in Puerto Rico in home pulmonary services from 3 to 2 years on page 3 to be consistent with requirement of paragraph 27 of the Statement of Work. c. Addendum to Contract Terms and Conditions Clause 52.212-4 The website for Federal Acquisition Clauses was corrected and the website for VA Acquisition clauses was added, page 34. d. The equivalent rates for federal hires under FAR clause 52.222-42 were added on page 46. e. Changed Attachment 2, page 49, Wage Determination to Revision 3 dated January 26, 2007. f. On Addendum to Contract Terms and Conditions 52.212-1 Sentences were revised for redundancy, page 79. Information regarding "Competitive Range" was revised, page 79. Past Performance information was deleted from this section and inserted under Factor 3, page 80. Paragraph heading "Price Proposal" was revised by deleting the requirement for narrative basis for price and assignment of points to price, page 79. g. Section heading "Qualification of Offerors" was deleted, page 83 of the original solicitation. h. FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation -Commercial Items (Jan 1999) was revised to simplify the list of evaluation factors and their order of importance, page 82. 3. Listed below are responses to inquiries submitted by offerors. Page 83, item Factor 4 Price: Can VAMC provide us with the historical cost paid for the items requested in this RFP? Cost information must be requested, in writing and sign by the requestor, under the Freedom of Information Act to: Department of Veterans Affairs VA Caribbean Healthcare System Attn: Kiomara Bonilla (FOIA Officer) 10 Casia Street, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00921-3201 The request must describe the information requested, state your willingness to pay applicable fees or provide a justification to support a fee waiver. Requestor must include a daytime telephone number and write "Freedom if Information Act Request" on the envelope. Does VAMC is requiring a BID BOND or Performance Bond for the submission of this proposal? We don't see any request in the RFP on this issue. No. Pages 7,10,13,16, items 0033, 0034 and 0035, 1033, 1034, and 1035, 2033, 2034 and 2035, 3033, 3034, and 3035, in II. Schedule of Supplies/Services (Block 20). What is the brand and model of the different CPAP's, BIPAP's and Ventilators used by VAMC? Can VAMC provide a distribution list of how many BIPAP's with respiratory rate backup, BIPAP's without respiratory rate backup, CPAP's and Ventilators are? Model Respironics BIPAP = 194 BIPAP ST ventilator system = 30 BIPAP Synchrony = 1 new and 4 used in stock BIPAP PRO - 6 new and 3 used in stock BIPAP PRO M series = 17 CPAP = in use by patient 1,271 + new 19 and 4 used in stock Model Invacare - Oxygen concentrator = 840 + 8 used in stock & integra ten lpm hi-fl02 pro oxygen concentrator Model Invacare, Devilbis & Bunn - compressors psi 50 = 31 in use, 5 used in and 1 new in stock Model Lifecare - PLV-100 mechanical ventilator = 46 (preventive maintenance service is given by Respironics) Pages 7-8, 10-11, 13-14, 16-17, items 0035, 0037 thru 0039, 1035, 1037 thru 1039, 2035, 2037 thru 2039, 3035, 3037 thru 3039 in II SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES (BLOCK 20). RT's visits are 4,200 year 2007, 4,500 year 2008, 4,700 year 2009 and 5,100 year 2010. The RFP states in page 18 VAMC has only 1,200 CPAP/BIPAP Patients. Also, in Section 2, Scope of Services reads: "CPAP/BIPAP Patients with No backup Rate will be visited 30 days after initial set up, 90 days later for compliance verification and then twice a year thereafter (with no more than 180 days from one evaluation to the next)." Are these figures correct, since the schedule of visits exceeds the 1,200 total patients? No. Total oxygen patient visits increased to 1,600 as corrected in the scope of work, paragraph 2, page 19. The Schedule of Supplies/Services, pages 6 through 18 corrected. Can VAMC provide us with a list of patients by CPAP's and BIPAP's and its demographic distribution, if possible assorted by municipality, town or city? No, information is protected by HIPPA. Can we provide two (2) different prices for patients serviced in Puerto Rico's main island like: Patients in Metropolitan Area and Patients off the Metropolitan area? Yes, for items 0001 through 0004 and 0037 through 0042. Schedule changed to reflect both areas. Page 19, Sec 8, Emergency Services. "The cost of backup systems, backup oxygen and backup equipment shall be borne by the contractor. If H Tanks are used for backup, the contractor shall furnish an H Tank stand for each H Tank at no cost to the government." Does the contractor will provide free backup on any VAMC oxygen concentrator property without receiving any reimbursement for it? Yes. If so, if the contractor provides their own oxygen concentrator, can we charge VAMC for the backup provided to VAMC's patients? Yes. Does VAMC have a definition of Emergency Service? Can you provide us with a more specific definition? Emergency Services must be provided on continuous power failure, equipment malfunction and during natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, etc.). Only refills will be paid. Page 20, Sec 10 (c), Infection Control. Can VAMC provide us with a statistical report of the Home Oxygen Service patients, compromised with infectious diseases and if possible its classification? None. Page 22, item 17, Contractor-Owned Concentrators. "The contractor shall furnish, install and service all oxygen equipment to dispense oxygen and supplies ordered under the contract. All equipment is to be current state-of-the-art model and all supplies are to be new. A label with the contractor's name and emergency telephone number where they can be reach 24 hour's/day will be affixed to all equipment." Also, maintenance on equipment shall be done by a manufacturer's checklist. Can VAMC provide us with the amount of concentrators servicing the 350 oxygen patients, brand and model? Answer provided above. In case contractor provides VAMC its own concentrators, we observe there is no provision for submitting rental prices in the II SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES (BLOCK 20) spreadsheet. What has VAMC forecasted for the contractor to supply this equipment? No cases reported. Does the contractor will provide this equipment only if its part of the backup system as stated in the emergency services? Yes. If the contractor provides this equipment as in substitution of any equipment proprietary of VAMC, can the contractor invoice VAMC for it? Yes. Page 23, item 25, Cylinders. "All patients who are receiving home oxygen via oxygen cylinder must be issued an oxygen conserving device and page 24, item 29 (j). Clinical Evaluations." Does VAMC will issue the medical prescription covering this area for every patient in order to comply with JCAHO standard LD.1.30, PC.5.20 of the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual 2006-2007? Yes. Page 24, item 29(i). "The VA will provide the Contractor with two (2) owned computers ." Do the computers have an equipment tracking software? This requirement is deleted from the solicitation. Page 28, item 50.1, "Disposable supplies." Can subsequent supplies be delivered by mail? Yes, but only if it's a replacement. In reference to the Liquid O2, are the "refills" going to be paid or the refills are being considered within the rental of the reservoir? Refills are being considered within the rental of the reservoir. The Conserving Device Item #0029, will rent be paid for H & E type oxygen tanks? No because devices are Government-owned. Items numbers 0008 & 0010, do you want to know the cost if sold? Yes. The supplies that are provided during the initial set-up, are they billed separately or not? Yes. In "Emergency Services", page 19, #8-9 states "that the Emergency Services shall be provided within 2 hours of a call." Are the US Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra included within this statement? Yes, but contract specifies 2 hours to a maximum of 6. Page 21, 14-C, during home evaluation it is noted that its physical structure does not conform to safety standards, the COTR must be notified. What happens in the mean time? Patient must be informed to visit VA and document the incident to the COTR. Within the Schedule Price listing for the US Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra, are travel tickets considered within the price listing? Yes. Preventive Maintenance is done in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. What will happen if the equipment breaks down and needs replacement, is the repair of such equipment included within the price or VA does the necessary repairs/replacements (i.e. CPAP)? Broken equipment must be replaced immediately and returned to COTR. Equipment is Government-owned and will be provided to Contractor. Page 8, Item 0037, in this item are you considering the preventive maintenance or it is just the visit? Preventive maintenance must be performed at the frequencies recommended by the manufacturer and schedule within the visits. VA or Contractor's equipment that was issued to the patient and the same damages it or shows an abusive pattern of equipment use, who is responsible for the repair or replacement of the equipment? Contractor must replace the equipment and report the incident to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative. Damaged equipment is returned to VA. What are the process/steps involved in the use of the Government's Purchase VISA Credit Card? Contractor's only requirement is to have the credit card system. Page 20, Paragraph 10, ltr.c & d. - What is the frequency of these reports? Monthly or Quarterly? Quarterly Page 20, Paragraph 12, ltr. a - I need clarification on the first two sentences. VA beneficiary must be notified with sufficient time. Page 20, Paragraph 12, ltr. c.- I need clarification on this item. This paragraph does not have letter c. Page 20, Paragraph 10, ltr. d. - What is the frequency of the Performance Improvement report? Quarterly Page 22, Paragraph 17- The contractor owns the Concentrator, in these cases, will VA pay for the rent of these concentrators or other type equipment that were delivered in order to replace other same type equipment? Yes. General Question: Will VA Home Oxygen Dept. schedule training to MC Medical personnel reference to all the contract procedures and norms to include billing? Yes. Page 22, paragraph 20- Transition Period: What is the time frame in order to execute this transition period? 45 days as per page 20, paragraph 7. Page 23, paragraph 28- Scope of Work: Is the COTR assigning the frequency of visits? No, see the schedule. Page 23, paragraph 29- Reassessment is done every 12 months, are these paid separately? How? No, information was corrected. Page 18, #3 - In the case of the back-up systems for the oxygen cases, how many tanks you are approving as backup? On regular cases, we approve one (1) additional "H" tank. During hurricane season, depends on patient liters per minute in prescription. The solicitation makes reference to a presentation. Is this presentation via Power Point or its in writing or both? Oral presentations can be made via Power Point or any other means. A written document will help to follow the presentation and document the file. In reference to our Infection Control and Quality Control Manuals - they are available in Spanish. All the literature that we provide to our patients is in Spanish. Now granted, with the contract information provided has to be in English or the patient's language. But in your case, since you have to evaluate the aforementioned manuals, is there a requirement for the same to be in English or you will accept the same as we currently have them? Manuals must be provided in English. Page 28, Item 0003, what you mean is the refill of the contents, H tank and the tank itself? Means purchase of the tank. Page 38, letter c, if we have a conventional policy of the General Liability and Property Damage Liability (in reference to medical equipment), do we need to have an endorsement like the one expressed in letter c? Yes. If there are no subcontracts, do we always have to include the same in the endorsement? No. Page 39, letter d - need an explanation of the same. The incumbent contractor is required to perform during the transition of the contract, if awarded to a new contractor even that his contract has expired. Therefore, he will be reimbursed for cost incurred during this transition period. Page 42, number IV-8 - need an explanation of the same. Regarding damage to Government property, the Contractor shall not include in the price any charge or reserve for insurance to cover loss, destruction or damage to Government property. Page 78, letter b#10 - In the area of past performance, when you make reference to "include contract", does it mean you want a copy of the same? No. Page 82, 4th paragraph, did you take in consideration the definition from the Small Business Administration (SBA) versus a large company in order to provide the maximum available points in order to evaluate the prices? For example, big companies/businesses will buy large volumes, which mean lower prices; small businesses will buy small volume which means higher prices. Paragraph heading "Price Proposal" was revised by deleting the requirement for narrative basis for price and assignment of points to price, page 79. Page 90, letter (f)(1) and (2) - need a simple explanation of this particular clause/regulation. This section does not apply as FAR clause 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies was not included in the solicitation. 4. Revised solicitation package will be mailed or must be pick up at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Procurement Business Division, 6th Floor, Tres Rios Building, 27th J. Gonzalez Giusti Avenue, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968.
 

Place of Performance

Address: 10 Casia Street;San Juan, Puerto Rico

Zip Code: 00921

Country: United States
 

Record

SN01259149-W 20070328/070326220307 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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