SOURCES SOUGHT
U -- Rapid Response on-site Training Modeland ongoing training model
- Notice Date
- 11/30/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Midwest Health Care System;Attention: Network Contract Manager;One Veterans Drive, Building 68;Minneapolis MN 55417
- ZIP Code
- 55417
- Solicitation Number
- VA-263-08-RI-0095
- Response Due
- 12/28/2007
- Archive Date
- 2/26/2008
- Point of Contact
- Lindsay Roop Contract Specialist 612-467-2176
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Contract Specialist
(lindsay.roop@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI). This is not a request for proposal and no award will be made as a result of this announcement. The information received as a result of this announcement will be used for market research purposes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23) is seeking information from prospective contractors to provide simulation-based cross-disciplinary team training in Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Code Team scenarios ("event-based" training), and to create, assist or consult in the development of a VISN 23-based in-situ critical-event team training program. The overall goal is to measurably improve team-based skills and performance in critical event management and to facilitate the system-wide development of a culture of safety and teamwork by implementing a uniform and systematic multi-disciplinary team training process across the Network. The emphasis in this RFI is to acquire information pertaining to RRT training. Training should include "hands-on," real time practice in both common and rarely-performed critical skills in acute inpatient clinical crises. There are two components to this RFI. Appropriately experienced potential contractors may respond to one or both components. The first component is a request for information regarding simulation-based team training in both rapid response and code scenarios at an established simulation team-training center. The scope of this component includes seven Medical Centers within VISN 23: Des Moines, IA; Fargo, ND; Fort Meade, SD; Iowa City, IA; Minneapolis, MN; Omaha, NE; and Sioux Falls, SD. Rapid response and code teams from each site vary in size from two to eight members. Team composition varies between sites and there is some overlap between code team and rapid response team members. It is anticipated that an average of four team members from each of the seven sites would participate in the simulation based training exercise. The VA is seeking centers that have extensive experience in simulation-based team training in both rapid response and code team scenarios. The VA is looking for information on training that incorporates technical and cognitive skills as well as teamwork skills applicable to the management of critical events. Training would explicitly include the following elements: differential diagnosis for each training scenario, definition and explanation of critical roles and the roles and responsibilities of each team member (including taking and ceding leadership, leadership and cross-disciplinary communication skills and tools, the appropriate sequence of response for each team member in each scenario), realistic replication of the "look and feel" of the relevant critical event environment, "hands on" practice of relevant clinical skills, introduction of environmental or other distractions, recognition of communication failures, examples of effective and ineffective team performance and system-level impediments to optimal performance. The VA is also seeking information on RRT scenarios that include: altered mental status, respiratory distress, and hypotension, and may also include: tachypnea, bradycardia, tachycardia, increasing oxygen requirements, chest pain and acute inpatient myocardial infarction, major blood loss in an inpatient setting, acute inpatient stroke, and acute inpatient severe sepsis. Code scenarios would include respiratory arrest, ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity and asystole, and may include others. The second component is a request for information regarding the ability to formulate an ongoing training program for use in all VISN 23 sites on an ongoing basis. The objective is to create or procure a fully developed and comprehensive program for ongoing in-situ simulation-based education and training in team-based management of critical events (acute clinical deterioration in the inpatient setting), specifically including typical RRT and code scenarios. Since "team" membership is fluid and travel to a remote location is not often practical, and since skills and knowledge are continuously evolving, VISN 23 sites need to be able to continue to train RRT and Code Teams of continuously varying composition and personnel on their own campus and on a flexible time schedule on an ongoing basis. The VA is interested in information regarding a training program that will most realistically simulate the RRT or code scenario in the actual environment at that site, and that can ensure a level of training that approaches or exceeds the level available at a high fidelity clinical simulation center. This includes training in team dynamics, interaction, roles and responsibilities, and critical communication skills. Potential contractors would develop and/or consult and/or assist VISN 23 in the development of this training program. This RFI requests information to explore the full range of options to accomplish this objective. Possible options may include in-situ or mobile high fidelity wireless mannequin centered training, and/or computer-based team simulation/teaching programs in both RRT and code scenarios, and/or self-guided and primarily cognitively based learning modules. A successful program may incorporate a stepped educational and training approach in more than one of these modalities. The final plan should be applicable to VA sites of widely varying size, type, and geographic location. Respondents are asked to provide information on each of the following points: 1) Information on the capability to provide a high fidelity simulation-based team training experience in RRT and code scenarios, with an emphasis on RRT team training for all VISN 23 RRT and Code Teams at an established simulation center. In addition, provide information on developing a comprehensive in-situ simulation-based team training program as described above. Provide information on how you would meet the objectives and what capabilities you have to respond to one or both components of this request. 2) If applicable, describe your team training process in detail. Provide information regarding whether the training process includes live vide feed to observer-participants, feedback and debriefing following each simulation exercise, video recording of the exercise training made available to the teams, education to include explanation and definition of team roles and responsibilities, differential diagnoses of specific RRT and code scenarios, and analysis and critique of team performance. 3) If applicable, describe how your team training has been applied in the past. 4) If applicable, describe the development and applications of any projects for in-situ or mobile simulation-based team training programs for RRT and code scenarios, such as high fidelity, wireless mannequin-based team training, or personal computer-based software programs in team training. Describe whether these programs require on-site and/or remote training experts to organize and guide the training experience or whether they are self-guided learning experiences. 5) Describe any existing software and/or equipment and/or learning devices or other products or applications that you have developed to provide a personal computer-based and/or in-situ simulation-based team training experience in RRT or code scenarios or other similar inpatient critical event scenarios. 6) Describe how you would propose to develop, assist or consult in the development of a comprehensive in-situ or mobile simulation-based team training program for VISN 23 sites, meeting the objectives described above. Describe your proposed implementation process and anticipated time duration for implementation of this program. 7) Describe any qualifications of trainer(s) that you require for your programs. 8) Describe any industry innovative practices and/or products concerning simulation-based team training in RRT and Code Team scenarios or other similar inpatient critical event scenarios. 9) Describe the application of your programs and products to any projects similar in size and scope that have been completed. 10) Provide any cost estimate available to assist in the development of the VA's plan. The requested information is for planning purposes, and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action may be issued. However, the VA will utilize the information for technical and acquisition planning. It is recognized that any cost information provided by the contractor is a preliminary estimate for planning purposes and may be marked as proprietary; the contractor will not be bound to these estimates. The VA invites comments related to possible purchase or acquisition strategies. If there is a FSS, GSA or other contract vehicle already available for the products being proposed, please include this information in the response. All data received in response to this RFI marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from release outside the government. It is not the intent of VA to reimburse contractors for the cost of submitting information in response to this RFI. The VA will not return pictures, documents, graphs or interrelated requested information. Please direct any questions to Lindsay Roop, Contracting Officer, at e-mail lindsay.roop@va.gov. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their information as soon as possible. The deadline is 12/28/07. However, information received beyond this date may still be considered. Interested parties can submit information via the following sources; mail, email or fax. All requests for clarification or information must be submitted via emails or fax to Lindsay Roop. Please send all information to: Lindsay C. Roop, Contracting Officer, VA Medical Center (90C), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
- Record
- SN01461105-W 20071202/071201074233 (fbodaily.com)
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