MODIFICATION
R -- Hearings and Decision Transcription Service
- Notice Date
- 3/11/2008
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 561410
— Document Preparation Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Central Office;Acquisition Operations Service (049A3);810 Vermont Avenue, NW;Washington DC 20420
- ZIP Code
- 20420
- Solicitation Number
- VA-101-08-RQ-0122
- Response Due
- 3/14/2008
- Archive Date
- 5/13/2008
- Point of Contact
- Stephanie Fogg 810 Vermont Ave, NW 765AA Washington, DC 20420 Voice: 202-461-6804 Fax: 202-273-7448 stephanie.fogg@va.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(stephanie.fogg@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This RFQ VA-101-08-RQ-0122 is hereby amended as follows to: 1. Extend the Response/RFQ due date 2. Incorporate changes to the Statement of Work (SOW) 3. Post Questions and Answers RFQ DUE DATE: The due date for responses to this RFQ, both technical and price quotes, shall be via email at the addresses specified below, on or before 2:00pm Eastern Time, no later than March 14, 2008. Also, the email submission MUST be followed up with an original hard copy at the address specified for receipt of offers below. Statement of Work GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Title of Project: BVA Hearing Transcription Court Reporting Services Background: Hearings before a Veterans Law Judge of the BVA are for the purpose of receiving testimony and evidence in support of an appellant's claim. Generally, the appellant and representative appear and present argument in support of an appeal. In some circumstances a witness or witnesses may also be present. Hearings are informal and non-adversarial. Parties are permitted to ask questions, including follow-up questions of all witnesses but cross-examination is not permitted. The majority of the hearings are less than 60 minutes in length and are recorded on audiocassette tape or digital media The Board's projection for transcription contract services for fiscal year 2008 is 13,235 hearings, at approximately 1103 per month as needed. Types of Hearings: Scope: Contractor(s) shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the deliverables described in this SOW. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the accurate transcription of BVA hearings and decisions. Work Orders: Upon request by authorized BVA personnel, the Contractor shall accurately transcribe each hearing or decision in MS Word 2000 format and provide one paper copy, a corresponding 3.5&&& diskette, and return the original audiocassette tapes. All hearings and decisions per work order will be transcribed and returned in the same bundle as received. Period of Performance: The period of performance is one base period (6) months beginning the date of award of contract, along with three (3) twelve (12) months option years that may be exercised at the Government's discretion based on availability of funds and the Government's needs for services. DELIVERABLES Deliverable Two - Electronic Hearing Transcript and Decision: Corresponding electronic copy of the transcript and decision, stored on a 3.5" double sided, high density diskette in MS Word 2000 format shall be prepared and delivered with the paper copy of the transcript and decision. In lieu of a 3.5" diskette, where applicable, an electronic copy can be submitted by means of the VA virtual private network utilizing the hearing transcript and decision management software in use at the Board. The Contractor(s) shall be responsible for their connectivity to the VA computer network and ensure that any connected computer equipment meets VA standards relating to security. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF DELIVERABLES The Government will review finalized deliverables within 7 calendar days of receipt and will notify the Contractor of acceptance or rejection. The Government will not issue notice of acceptance until all required deliverables associated with the work order are received. In the event of rejection of any deliverables, the Contractor(s) shall be notified in writing and shall have up to 14 calendar days to correct the deficiencies at no cost to the Government. The Government shall have 7 calendar days to review subsequent submissions of the same deliverables. PENALTIES If the Contractor(s) fails to furnish to the BVA; an accurately transcribed paper copy of each hearing, the corresponding 3.5" diskette in MS Word 2000 format (where applicable, an electronic copy can be submitted by means of the VA virtual private network utilizing the hearing transcript management software in use at the Board), and the original audiocassette tapes or digital media for the entire work order within the specified time limit, the payment shall be reduced by 3% for each calendar day of delay in receipt. If it is necessary to have the hearing(s) transcribed by another Contractor, the original Contractor will have no claim for payment for the transcription of the unsatisfactory hearing(s) or decision(s). INVOICE REQUIREMENTS Invoices shall be submitted per work order for services performed under this agreement. Invoices received prior to the receipt of all associated deliverables shall be returned to the Contractor(s) with no action taken by the Government. Invoices will only be accepted from the Contractor(s). Requests for payment for any work performed by a subcontractor(s) must be billed to the Contractor(s) for payment. The Contractor(s) will then be responsible for billing the BVA in accordance with the above. The Contractor shall submit an original and one copy of all invoices to the following address for payment: Department of Veterans Affairs Board of Veterans' Appeals - Rm. 116 Attn: Chief, BVA Hearing Unit 811 Vermont Ave, NW Washington, DC 20420 E-Mail address: bvahearingteamhotline@mail.va.gov (202) 565-5616 Fax: (202) 565-4652 The Contractor's invoice shall include: Contractor's name, address, and telephone number; invoice date, Federal ID number, GSA number, and a copy of the associated work order. CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONDISCLOSURE All audiocassette tapes will be returned to the BVA. Once a transcript or decision is accepted by BVA, the Contractor(s) will purge all paper and electronic systems of the hearing transcript or decision. The Contractor(s) will not retain any information or personal identifiers that are subject to the Privacy Act. Questions and Answers in reference to the Hearing Transcription Court Reporting Services solicitation Question #1: Unable to register at http://www.vets100.cudenver.edu/ because of an apparent error that exists at this web site address. Answer: Try using the email address below to get help with registration error issue or to get to a Customer Service Representative. verify@VETS100.com Question #2: Company performs this type of work but never for the government and never in a "traveling" situation. Is actual travel to different sites to record the proceedings a required component for the transcription service provider? Answer: There is no travel involved for the vendor. The Board accomplishes the recording of hearing proceedings. Question #3: As a transcription service for 14 years we have many client referrals but none that required exactly what seems to be needed here. In your opinion, would that automatically disqualify us from being awarded a portion of this RFQ? Answer: A primary need of the Board is to receive quality transcripts from media devices that are provided. Having 14 years of transcription service justifies the ability to perform the tasks. The Statement of Work clearly identifies all requirements. Question #4: Is there a template (or example) available that includes all the required components for a response to the RFQ? Answer: Templates/examples will be provided via email request or to the awardee(s) at time of award. Question #5: Does the contracting company record the hearings for transcription? Answer: The contracting company does not record the hearings. A media device is provided, via cassette tape or wav file (digital recording). The company will have to access the BVA VPN Server to download the digital recordings. Instructions on gaining access to the server will be provided once award is granted. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (11-MAR-2008); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/VAAOAS/VADC/VA-101-08-RQ-0122/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Department of Veterans Affairs;Board of Veterans' Appeals - RM 116;Attn: Chief, Hearing Unit 811 Vermont Ave, NW;Washington, DC. 20420 (202) 565-5616;bvahearingteamhotline@mail.va.gov
- Zip Code: 20420
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20420
- Record
- SN01530181-F 20080313/080311230429 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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