MODIFICATION
65 -- 160 hospital beds answer questions
- Notice Date
- 6/20/2017
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 339999
— All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VISN/18PHX;777 E. Missouri, Suite 300;Phoenix AZ 85014
- ZIP Code
- 85014
- Solicitation Number
- VA25817Q0507
- Response Due
- 6/23/2017
- Archive Date
- 6/28/2017
- Point of Contact
- 602-795-4217
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Specifically, within the Statement of Work, section 1; Subsection 1.3.1 Hospital Bed Quantity (160) Specification: Must have dual castors for ease of transport. Question: Will this specification be expanded to allow for double wide single casters that achieves the same goal of ease of transport? RESPONSE: The push pull requirements for bed transport are the emphasis for the dual caster request. Yes, the double wide single casters that still minimize the forces and provide exceptional performance are acceptable. Please include estimated push-pull forces as evidence of vendor statement. Rationale: Double wide single casters are available for purchase by the government. The thicker caster allows for better mobility and is less susceptible to debris getting caught in between the wheels of dual casters which can cause the wheel to malfunction and become immobilized over time. Allowing for double wide single casters will increase opportunity for competition while providing exceptional performance. Specification: The bed exit alarm must have minimum 3 sensitivity levels i.e. out of bed, perimeter of bed, and patient sitting. Question: Will the specification be expanded and be interpreted to accept a system that incorporates an optimal zone for fall prevention with additional unique alarm features to help reduce falls and prevent caregivers from forgetting to reset the bed alarm? RESPONSE: The specification stands as written. Rationale: Products with these systems are available in, and being successfully used in the commercial market to prevent patient falls. Some manufactures believe that having multiple zones may create confusion for the nursing staff, leading to the nursing staff setting the bed exit alarm on the least sensitive zone. This least sensitive zone is not sufficient for preventing falls. A bed that has an optimal fall prevention zone, in conjunction with an auto-reset alarm feature, ensures the alarm is always engaged. An auto-alarm shut off helps to prevent alarm fatigue. Specification: Must have capability to weigh patients to +/- 1% standard deviation of error. Question: Will the specification be expanded to allow for bed scales that meet +/- 3% standard deviation of error? RESPONSE: The specification stands as written. Rationale: There is no regulatory standard for the testing of bed scales. A claim by a manufacturer of 1% does not provide an indication of how the testing of bed scale accuracy, precision and repeatability is conducted. Beds with scales that have the capability to weigh patients to +/- 3% standard deviation of error in any bed position/configuration are used successfully in the commercial market, and these beds are available for purchase by the government. Specification: Must have custom fitted trapeze specifically manufactured for this bed (20% of beds). Question: Will this specification be expanded to allow beds that possess removable trapeze adaptors that fit all major manufacturers of trapeze patient helper bars? RESPONSE: The specification stands as written. Rationale: Traditionally, trapeze bars are an additional purchase, outside of the commercially available medical bed manufacturers. A wide assortment of trapeze bars from third party suppliers that are clinician-preferred items are commercially available to the government. Furthermore, most facilities already own trapeze bars so it would be wasteful and cost prohibitive to require the facility to purchase a bed specific trapeze bar. Purchasing a bed that includes a trapeze bar adapter that works with all major manufacturer s trapeze bars will allow the trapeze bars to be utilized across the hospital on ICU beds, specialty beds, and future bed purchases allowing for increased clinical and financial flexibility. Specification: Bed frame must have integrated no tools required deck frame and deck plate extension lengthening capability beyond 84 inches to a minimum of 90 inches to accommodate the taller patient. (integrated decking/plate extension to minimize time requirement to shorten bed for fitting into the elevator during emergency transport) RESPONSE: The specification stands as written. Question: Will this specification be expanded to allow for beds that expand to 84 ? Rationale: Some manufacturers have opted to include indentations in the headboard and footboard which provides an expanded 86 patient surface without the need to add extra mattress pads. Adjusting all beds beyond 86 requires the use of external extenders and/or mattress pads to fill in the gaps. This can create an issue for storage as well as become an issue in the event of an emergency. Beds with extender pads added will not shrink in to fit on the elevators. VA Phoenix has always used beds that are 84 and they have chosen not to extend them beyond that due to room sizes, elevator size and up to 6 beds per room. The average height of a male in the US is 69.3 and less than.5% of males are taller than 77. Patient s requiring a bed longer than 86 is unlikely. VA is requesting: Must have dual castors for ease of transport. & Must have a minimum clearance height of 6 (below the bed) to allow access for under-bed tables and lift equipment. Our bed, under bed clearance with dual castors is 5. Would the VA accept 5 inch twin wheel caster with 10 inch low height and 5 inch under bed clearance or 5 inch standard single wheel caster with 11.5 inch low height and 6.5 inch under bed clearance RESPONSE : Yes. Dual castors with 5 inch under bed clearance and 10 inch low deck height is preferred to maintain deck height < 11 inches, minimize push pull forces and still mainatain cleanability. VA is requesting: Must have footboard with staff controls on an angled surface for ergonomics with an LED display, backlit for ease of reading. Our bed offers staff controls on an angled surface with an LED display as per VA requirements, however motion controls buttons are not backlit, only the screen is. Should we understand that the backlit feature applies only for the screen? RESPONSE : Yes. VA is requesting: Must have brake status indicator (locked/unlocked). Our bed is equipped with clearly marked pedals and brake status. However there are no light indicator. Is a clearly marked brake status an acceptable equivalent to VA requirement? RESPONSE : CLEARLY visible from the doorway is acceptable. VA is requesting: Must have removable deck cover, footboard and headboard for cleaning/replacement Our bed offers removable deck covers with the exception of the knee section. Knee section of the deck has no removable cover, it requires to be removes as a complete assembly. Could this be considered an acceptable equivalent to VA requirements? RESPONSE : Acceptable IF the knee section can clearly and easily be cleaned under and around for infection prevention. Please provide evidence. 1.3.2 Mattresses: VA is requesting: Must have a maximum mattress height of 6 for easy ingress and egress of patients. Our proposed powered surfaces are all 7 in height. Could 7 be considered an acceptable equivalent? RESPONSE : The mattress height specification of 6 inches relates to the height of side rails for fall prevention during patient in bed activities. 16 inch minimum side rail height from mattress deck to the top of the rail with a 6 inch mattress allows for 10 inches of protective rail height. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (20-JUN-2017); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT 877-472-3779 or fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link To Document
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/PhVAMC/HMC/VA25817Q0507/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Zip Code: 85012
- Record
- SN04551340-F 20170622/170620234327 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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