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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF DECEMBER 02, 2018 FBO #6218
SOURCES SOUGHT

Q -- Psychiatry and Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) St. Cloud VA Heach Care System

Notice Date

11/30/2018
 

Notice Type

Synopsis
 

NAICS

621112 — Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE;316 Robert Street N. STE. 506;St. Paul MN 55101
 

ZIP Code

55101
 

Solicitation Number

36C26319Q0151
 

Response Due

12/14/2018
 

Archive Date

2/12/2019
 

Point of Contact

Lora.Gross@va.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

Page 14 of 20 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Psychiatry and Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY (as defined in FAR 15.201(e)), this is not a solicitation. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted, or respond to any questions or comments that may be submitted in response to this RFI. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government and does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. The purpose of this RFI is to determine the acquisition strategy and vehicles and methods to acquire the services. The Government is interested in determining whether Small Businesses are interested and capable of performing the work. Please identify of your firm s socio-economic status. If you are a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), provide a statement indicating whether you are currently verified in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP). The Government requests that contractors respond to the specific questions provided in this RFI. Responses should demonstrate capability, not just confirm corporate capabilities. Large businesses are invited and encouraged to respond to this RFI. The agency does not intend to award a contract but rather gather capabilities and market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The responses to this RFI will be captured as market research and may contribute to the development of an acquisition strategy. Information provided may be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. SCOPE OF WORK The Contractor shall furnish personnel to provide services necessary to perform on-site, outpatient Psychiatry Physician and Mental Health (MH) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Services to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Cloud, Minnesota (hereinafter referred to as SCVAMC). The Contractor shall provide to be credentialed and available for scheduling to meet the requirements of the contract. Contractor must provide an adequate amount of key personnel necessary to ensure adequate, continual coverage. One (1.0) FTE is defined by VA as a minimum of 80 hours every two weeks per year and does not include holidays. This RFI is for 2.0 FTE Psychiatrists and 2.0 FTE APRNs as described in the PWS. On-Call Psychiatrist Services will not be performed co-current to regular duty day services, on-call hours provide coverage for before or after the duty day or on weekends. On-call contractor s physician(s) must be available at all times for phone consultations with VA physicians. Additionally, the on-call physician may be required to come in to the VA hospital while on-call. On-call coverage is performed on a rotational basis of about one week every two months per FTE. See the PWS for more detail on on-call coverage. Place of Performance - Services shall be provided on-site at SCVAMC, 4801 Veterans Dr., St Cloud, MN 56303. See attached document: Draft Psychiatry and Mental Health APRNs Performance Work Statement (PWS) for reference. INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO THIS RFI CONFIDENTIALITY: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Response Format/Page Limitations: The overall total page limit for responses to this RFI is five (5) pages. Response submissions should be submitted in Microsoft Word format with Times New Roman font, 12 pt. or greater font size. Interested parties should limit marketing material in order to allow sufficient space for adequately, directly, and substantively responding with the information of most interest to the Government. In all correspondence relevant to this RFI please identify it as a response to the Radiology Services RFI and refer to the identifying number of 36C26319Q0151. Any firm responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Respondents are requested to limit responses to the information, and in the format provided below. A - GENERAL INFORMATION Identify your firms socio-economic status. If you are an SDVOSB or VOSB, indicate whether you are currently verified in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) as an SDVOSB/VOSB. A brief description of your company that includes job classifications and number of employees in your company. Identify any GSA schedules you hold that support this work as described in the RFI. B CAPABILITY AND EXPERIENCE INFORMATION Rationale: Responses will be reviewed to determine the vendor s capability to successfully perform a project of a similar size, scope, approach, focus, complexity. B1. Provide certification that the organization can meet all requirements appearing in the PWS, to include qualifications and a capability statement for meeting place of performance requirements. B2. Verify current capabilities of providing 2.0 FTE Psychiatrists and 2.0 FTE APRNs with experience and qualifications appearing in the PWS. Should your organization not have current capabilities of providing the full personnel requirements, provide an expected timeframe that personnel can be available to begin onboarding processes. B3. Describe up to five recent (within the past 2 years) and relevant (similar scope) experience as a contractor (specify prime or sub) where you have supported similar services. Indicate which were specifically with Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Submission Instructions: Responses to this RFI shall be submitted to Lora Gross, Contract Specialist via email (Lora.gross@va.gov) no later than December 14, 2018 at 10:00 AM CT. The subject line of the email shall read SSN Response 36C26319Q0151 Mental Health. Interested vendors should provide a positive affirmation of its capabilities with the type of services specified in the Task section of this RFI. Interested vendors are encouraged to provide information to the Government on what they will need in order to respond to a future solicitation. Failure to respond to this RFI would be viewed as non-interest/non-capable in performing this future requirement. Questions: A submitted to Lora Gross, Contract Specialist via email to Lora.gross@va.gov. Performance Work Statement for Psychiatry and Mental Healh APRN Services GENERAL: Services Provided: The Contractor shall provide Board Certified Psychiatry Physician Services and ANCC Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurses (PMH-APRNs) on site in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the St. Cloud VA Medical Center (SCVAMC). Place of Performance - Contractor shall furnish services at the St. Cloud VAMC, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud MN, 56303. Authority: Title 38 USC 8153, Health Care Resources (HCR) sharing Authority Policy/Handbooks- the contractor shall be subject to the following policies, including any subsequent updates during the period of performance: VA Directive 1663: Health Care Resources Contracting - Buying http://www1.va.gov/vapubs/viewPublication.asp?Pub_ID=347 VHA Directive 2006-041 Veterans Health Care Service Standards (expired but still in effect pending revision) https://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1443 VHA Directive 2010-018 Facility Infrastructure www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2227 VHA Directive 1192 Seasonal Influenza Prevention Program https://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/flu/VHA_Directive_1192_Sep VHA Handbook 1100.17: National Practitioner Data Bank Reports - http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2135 VHA Handbook 1100.18 Reporting And Responding To State Licensing Boards - http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1364 VHA Handbook 1100.19 Credentialing and Privileging - http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2910 VHA Handbook 1400.01 Resident Supervision http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2847 VHA Handbook 1907.01 Health Information Management and Health Records: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2791 Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended http://www.justice.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm Definitions/Acronyms- Terms used in this contract shall be interpreted as follows unless the context expressly requires a different construction and/or interpretation. In case of a conflict in language between the Definitions and other sections of this contract, the language in this section shall govern. ABMS: American Board of Medical Specialties ABPN: American Board of Pyschiatry and Neurology is a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education ANCC: American Nurses Credentialing Center AOD: Admitting Officer of the Day APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse BLS: Basic Life Support CCNE:Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education: www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDR: Contract Discrepency Report CEU: Certified Education Unit CME: Continuing Medical Education CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Contracting Officer (CO) The person executing this contract on behalf of the Government with the authority to enter into and administer contracts and make related determinations and findings. Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) A person appointed by the CO to take necessary action to ensure the Contractor performs in accordance with and adheres to the specifications contained in the contract and to protect the interest of the Government. The COR shall report to the CO promptly any indication of non-compliance in order that appropriate action can be taken. COS: Chief of Staff CPARS: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System CPRS: Computerized Patient Recordkeeping System- electronic health record system used by the VA. Credentialing: Credentialing is the systematic process of screening and evaluating qualification and other credentials, including licensure, required education, relevant training and experience and current competence and health status. DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency DO: Doctor of Osteopathy ED: Emergency Department FSMB: Federation of State Medical Boards HHS: Department of Health and Human Services HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HR: Human Resources ISO: Information Security Officer MD: Medical Doctor Medical Emergency - a sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably result in: Permanently placing a patient's health in jeopardy, causing other serious medical consequences, Causing impairments to body functions, or Causing serious or permanent dysfunction of any body-organ or part. MOD: Medical Officer of the Day PMH_APRN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Advance Practice Registered Nurses National Provider Identifier (NPI): NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPAA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers). NLNAC: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. www.nlnac.org Non-Contract Provider - any person, organization, agency, or entity that is not directly or indirectly employed by the Contractor or any of its subcontractors NP: Nurse Practitioner NPPES: National Plan and Provider Enumeration System PA: Physician Assistant PALS: Pediatric Advanced Life Support POP: Period of Performance PPD: Purified Protein Derivative PWS: Performance Work Statement Privileging (Clinical Privileging): Privileging is the process by which a practitioner, licensed for 8independent practice; e.g., without supervision, direction, required sponsor, preceptor, mandatory collaboration, etc.; is permitted by law and the facility to practice independently, to provide specific medical or other patient care services within the scope of the individual s license, based upon the individual s clinical competence as determined by peer references, professional experience, health status, education, training and licensure. Clinical privileges must be facility-specific and provider-specific. Provider: Physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse QA/QI: Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement QM/PI: Quality Management/Performance Improvement QASP: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan Veterans Health Administration (VHA): The central office for administration of the VA medical centers through throughout the United States. The VHA is located in Washington, D.C. Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) : The regional oversight for the VA medical centers. VISTA (Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture) : A PC based system that will capture and store clinical imagery, scanned documents and other non-textual data files and integrates them into patient s medical record and with the hospital information system. VetPro: a federal web-based credentialing program for healthcare providers. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) : Unless identified with the name of a different VA medical Center, for purposes of this contract, this term shall mean the St. Cloud VA Medical Center. QUALIFICATIONS: Staff/Facility License The Contractor s physician (s) assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia) when services are performed onsite on VA property. All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contractor s physician (s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this contract. Board Certification - All contractor s physician(s) shall be Board Certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)/American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), and be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS). All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance. Credentialing and Privileging Credentialing and privileging is to be done in accordance with the provisions of VHA Handbook 1100.19 referenced above. The Contractor is responsible to ensure that proposed physician(s) possesses the requisite credentials enabling the granting of privileges. No services shall be provided by any contractor s physician(s) prior to obtaining approval by the St. Cloud VA MEDICAL CENTER (SCVAMC) Professional Standards Board, Medical Executive Board and Medical Center Director. If a contractor s physician(s) is not credentialed and privileged or has credentials/privileges suspended or revoked, the Contractor shall furnish an acceptable substitute without any additional cost to the government. Technical Proficiency - Contractor s physician(s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all contractor s physician(s) and contractor s physician(s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations (referenced herein) that govern medical staff behavior. Continuing Medical Education (CME)/ Certified Education Unit (CEU) Requirements: Contractor shall provide the COR copies of current CMEs as required or requested by the VAMC. Contractor s physician(s) registered or certified by national/medical associations shall continue to meet the minimum standards for CME to remain current. Contractor shall report CME hours to the credentials office for tracking. These documents are required for both privileging and re-privileging. Failure to provide shall result in loss of privileges for contractor s physician(s). Psychiatrist shall have experience in the following: Adult patients; Substance use in adults; Geriatrics; Inpatient and Outpatient experience, including triage and disposition of patients in mental health crisis; Teamwork; and Medication management. APRN Certification and Experience All contractor s Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) shall be ANA Certified in Psychiatry-Mental Health from an accredited school by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. www.nlnac.org and be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS). All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance. APRN must have experience in adult or geropsychiatry. Graduate Psychiatric APRN with post-graduate residenceis in adult or geropsychiatry preferred. Training (BLS, CPRS and VA MANDATORY): Contractor shall meet all VA educational requirements and mandatory course requirements defined herein; all training must be completed by the contractor s physician(s) as required by the VA.Other training may become required. VA will communicate any changes to the training requirement to the contractor. Training (The following training is mandatory per VHACO for Contracted Physicians) Frequency (once a year, etc) Annual Hours Age Specific and Cultural Competencies Active Threat Training One time requirement within 90 days 1 hour Blood Administration: Complications n/a do not administer blood products Blood Administration: Administration (all contract employees who administer blood components) n/a do not administer blood products Government Ethics Does not apply to contractors Hospice and Palliative Care for VA Clinicians Military Sexual Trauma (MST) for Medical Providers One time requirement within 90 days 2.50 hours Moderate Sedation In-Service Training n/a Prevention of Workplace Harassment/No Fear Act 90 days and every 2 years 1.50 hours VHA MRI Safety Training Level 1 Training (all who enter MRI suites) n/a VA Core Values Training (ICARE Recommitment) annually 0.50 hour VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior ASAP and annually thereafter 1 hour VHA Privacy and HIPAA Focused Training Within 30 days and annually thereafter 1 hour BLS ASAP and every 2 years 4 hours Patient Safety Annually 0.50 hour Patient Rights Annually 0.50 hour Patient Abuse Annually 0.50 hour Prevention/Management of Disruptive Behavior/Violence Prevention Level I Level II Level III One time requirement within 90 days 90 days of hire and every 2 years 90 days of hire and every 2 years 1.50 hours 4 hours 4 hours Suicide Prevention: Suicide Risk Management Training for Clinicians 90 days and annually 1 hour SUX Infection Control and Bood Borne Pathogens CPRS At time of hire-   as needed Varies based upon skills and knowledge of individual hired VISTA Imaging One time requirement within 90 days 1 hour Other Training per local facility: MH Environment of Care Annually 1 hour Standard Personnel Testing (PPD, etc.): Contractor shall provide proof of the following tests for physicians within five (5) calendar days after contract award and prior to the first duty shift to the COR and Contracting Officer. Tests shall be current within the past year. TUBERCULOSIS TESTING:   Contractor shall provide proof of a negative Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for all Contractor s physician (s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}. A negative chest radiographic report for active tuberculosis shall be provided in cases of positive TST or IGRA results.   The TST or IGRA testing shall be repeated annually. MEASLES, MUMPS, & RUBELLA TESTING: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}. VARICELLA: Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}. ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS: Contractors shall provide proof of 1 dose of Tdap vaccination for all Contractor physicians {This is applicable to all health care workers}. INFLUENZA: Contractors shall provide proof that all Contractor physicians have received the annual Influenza vaccine unless it is contraindicated. If the Contractor physician has a medical contraindication to the vaccine they shall be required to wear a mask during the Influenza season. {This is applicable to all health care workers}. OSHA REGULATION CONCERNING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS:   Contractor shall provide evidence of completing and passing generic self-study blood-borne pathogen training for all Contractor s physician (s) {This is applicable to all health care workers}; provide their own Hepatitis B vaccination series and hepatitis  B surface antigen test results  following the hepatitis B vaccination series; maintain an exposure determination and control plan; maintain required records; and ensure that proper follow-up evaluation is provided following an exposure incident. The VAMC shall notify the Contractor of any significant communicable disease exposures as appropriate.   Contractor shall adhere to current CDC/HICPAC Guideline for Infection Control in health care personnel ( as published in American Journal for Infection Control- AJIC 1998; 26:289-354 http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/InfectControl98.pdf) for disease control.   Contractor shall provide follow up documentation of clearance to return to the workplace prior to their return. National Provider Identifier (NPI): NPI is a standard, unique 10-digit numeric identifier required by HIPAA. The Veterans Health Administration must use NPIs in all HIPAA-standard electronic transactions for individual (health care practitioners) and organizational entities (medical centers). The Contractor shall have or obtain appropriate NPI and if pertinent the Taxonomy Code confirmation notice issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) be provided to the Contracting Officer with the proposal. DEA - Contractor shall provide copy of current DEA certificate. Conflict of Interest: The Contractor and all contractor s physician(s) are responsible for identifying and communicating to the CO and COR conflicts of interest at the time of proposal and during the entirety of contract performance. At the time of proposal, the Contractor shall provide a statement which describes, in a concise manner, all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or currently planned interest (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) or actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest relating to the services to be provided.   The Contractor shall also provide statements containing the same information for any identified consultants or subcontractors who shall provide services.   The Contractor must also provide relevant facts that show how it s organizational and/or management system or other actions would avoid or mitigate any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest. These statements shall be in response to the VAAR provision 852.209-70 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (Jan 2008) and fully outlined in response to the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document. Citizenship related Requirements: The Contractor certifies that the Contractor shall comply with any and all legal provisions contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, As Amended; its related laws and regulations that are enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor as these may relate to non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the Contractor while providing services to Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals; While performing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Contractor shall not knowingly employ, contract or subcontract with an illegal alien; foreign national non-immigrant who is in violation their status, as a result of their failure to maintain or comply with the terms and conditions of their admission into the United States. Additionally, the Contractor is required to comply with all E-Verify requirements consistent with Executive Order 12989 and any related pertinent Amendments, as well as applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations. If the Contractor fails to comply with any requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs or its Agency regulations, the Department of Veterans Affairs may, at its discretion, require that the foreign national who failed to maintain their legal status in the United States or otherwise failed to comply with the requirements of the laws administered by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S Department of Labor, shall be prohibited from working at the Contractor s place of business that services Department of Veterans Affairs patient referrals; or other place where the Contractor provides services to veterans who have been referred by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and shall form the basis for termination of this contract for breach. This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001. The Contractor agrees to obtain a similar certification from its subcontractors. The certification shall be made as part of the offerors response to the RFP using the subject attachment in Section D of the solicitation document. Annual Office of Inspector General (OIG) Statement: In accordance with HIPAA and the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1977, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has established a list of parties and entities excluded from Federal health care programs. Specifically, the listed parties and entities may not receive Federal Health Care program payments due to fraud and/or abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Therefore, Contractor shall review the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities on the HHS OIG web site at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/index.asp to ensure that the proposed contractor s physician(s) are not listed. Contractor should note that any excluded individual or entity that submits a claim for reimbursement to a Federal health care program, or causes such a claim to be submitted, may be subject to a Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) for each item or service furnished during a period that the person was excluded and may also be subject to treble damages for the amount claimed for each item or service. CMP s may also be imposed against the Contractor that employ or enter into contracts with excluded individuals to provide items or services to Federal program beneficiaries. By submitting their proposal, the Contractor certifies that the HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities has been reviewed and that the Contractors are and/or firm is not listed as of the date the offer/bid was signed. Clinical/Professional Performance: The qualifications of Contractor personnel are subject to review by VA Medical Center COS or his/her clinical designee and approval by the Medical Center Director as provided in VHA Handbook 1100.19. Clinical/Professional performance monitoring and review of all clinical personnel covered by this contract for quality purposes will be provided by the VAMC COS and/or the Chief of the Service or his designee. A clinical COR may be appointed, however, only the CO is authorized to consider any contract modification request and/or make changes to the contract during the administration of the resultant contract. Non Personal Healthcare Services: The parties agree that the Contractor and all contractor s physician(s) shall not be considered VA employees for any purpose. Indemnification:The Contractor shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Government against, all actions or claims for loss of or damage to property or the injury or death of persons, arising out of or resulting from the fault, negligence, or act or omission of the Contractor, its agents, or employees. Prohibition Against Self-Referral: Contractor s physicians are prohibited from referring VA patients to contractor s or their own practice(s). Inherent Government Functions: Contractor and Contractor s physician(s) shall not perform inherently governmental functions. This includes, but is not limited to, determination of agency policy, determination of Federal program priorities for budget requests, direction and control of government employees (outside a clinical context), selection or non-selection of individuals for Federal Government employment including the interviewing of individuals for employment, approval of position descriptions and performance standards for Federal employees, approving any contractual documents, approval of Federal licensing actions and inspections, and/or determination of budget policy, guidance, and strategy. No Employee status: The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting Contractor s physician(s) furnishing services. To carry out this responsibility, the Contractor shall provide or certify that the following is provided for all their staff providing services under the resultant contract: Workers compensation Professional liability insurance Health examinations Income tax withholding, and Social security payments. Tort Liability: The Federal Tort Claims Act does not cover Contractor or contractor s physician(s). When a Contractor or contractor s physician(s) has been identified as a provider in a tort claim, the Contractor shall be responsible for notifying their legal counsel and/or insurance carrier. Any settlement or judgment arising from a Contractor s (or contractor s physician(s)) action or non-action shall be the responsibility of the Contractor and/or insurance carrier. Key Personnel: The VA Full Time Equivalency (FTE): FTE is defined by VA as a minimum of 80 hours every two weeks and does not include holidays. The minimum number of Psychiatry physicians and Psych-MH APRNs to staff the Mental Health Service Line locations, located within the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, on a daily basis (be on site) is two Psychiatry M.D./D.O.s and 2 Psych-MH APRNs as defined in paragraph Hours of Operation in this section. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing coverage to the VA during periods of vacancies of the Contractor s personnel due to sick leave, personal leave, vacations and additional coverage as required. In the event a scheduled physician or Psych-MH APRN is unable to complete an assigned shift, the contractor shall provide replacement physician coverage and notify the Contracting Office Representative (COR) at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center immediately of the schedule change. Personnel Substitutions: During the first ninety (90) calendar days of performance, the Contractor shall make NO substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the CO, in writing, within five calendar day(s) after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required below. After 90 days, the Contractor shall submit the information required below to the CO at least 45 calendar days prior to making any permanent substitutions. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the CO. Proposed substitutes shall have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The CO will notify the Contractor within 14 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on the proposed substitutes. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel. For temporary substitutions where the key person shall not be reporting to work for three consecutive work days or more, the Contractor shall provide a qualified replacement for the key person. The substitute shall have comparable qualifications to the key person. Any period exceeding two weeks will require the procedure as stated above. The Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any Contractor personnel at any time after performance begins, if personal or professional conduct jeopardizes patient care or interferes with the regular and ordinary operation of the facility. Breaches of conduct include intoxication or debilitation resulting from drug use, theft, patient abuse, dereliction or negligence in performing directed tasks, or other conduct resulting in formal complaints by patient or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. Should the VA COS or designee show documented clinical problems or continual unprofessional behavior/actions with any Contractor s physician (s), s/he may request, without cause, immediate replacement of said Contractor s physician (s).The CO and COR shall deal with issues raised concerning Contractor s physician (s) conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the CO. Contingency Plan: Because continuity of care is an essential part of the St. Cloud VAMC s medical services, The Contractor shall have a contingency plan in place to be utilized if the Contractor s physician (s) leaves Contractor s employment or is unable to continue performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract. HOURS OF OPERATION VA Business Hours: The general assignment will be five (5) days per week, but may change depending on workload. The normal work schedule will be Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm., with a ˝ hour non-paid lunch break. Federal holidays are excluded from normal work schedule hours of operation. Contract provider will generally work (8) hours per day (40) hours per week. The Clinical Director for Mental Health Services, or designee, will provide the work assignments for these positions and will provide clinical direction. Patients must be seen by a contractor s physician(s) on-site at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center (SCVAMC) in a timely manner in accordance with VA Rules and Regulations on clinic wait times and consult completion. Contractor shall notify the COR at least monthly about any obstacles to meeting this performance measure. Contractor s Physician(s) and Psych-MH APRNs shall be available and present in clinic during normal SCVAMC clinic hours, which will be established, and may be revised, as deemed appropriate for patient care by the Service Line Director or Chief of Staff. Currently, normal clinic hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Off-hours Coverage: The Psychiatrist will provide on-call for off-tour hours, weekends and holiday psychiatric coverage on a scheduled/rotating basis with other psychiatrists on staff. Psychiatry weekend call would begin at 4:30 pm on Friday and run through 8:00 am the following Monday. This would be an estimated one weekend every 1-2 months. Note: No premium payment will be made for working federal holidays. Psychiatrist will provide on-call evening psychiatric coverage on a scheduled/rotating basis with other psychiatrists on staff. This would be from 4:30 pm in the evening to 8:00 am the following day during the business work week (Monday-Thursday). This would be about once a week. When on call, the Psychiatrist is referred to as the Mental Health Medical Officer of the Day (MHOD) and is on duty 24 hours a day. The Psychiatrist scheduled for evening/weekend/holiday call must be available and report on station four (4) hours on Saturday and four (4) hours on Sunday, and eight (8) hours for a Holiday. The patient must be seen and evaluated within 24 hours of admission. The Psychiatrist must also be available by telephone if the Medical Officer of the Day (MOD) has issues/concerns about psychiatry patients. When on-call the contractor s physician(s) must  be available at all times for phone consultations with VA physicians, nursing or the MOD.   Patients must be seen within 30 minutes of the page when medically indicated. Federal Holidays: The following holidays are observed by the Department of Veterans Affairs: New Year s Day President s Day Martin Luther King s Birthday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Any day specifically declared to be a national holiday. Cancellations: Unless a state of emergency has been declared or clinics are otherwise cancelled by the VAMC, the Contractor shall be responsible for providing services. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical Personnel Required: The Contractor shall provide contractor s physician(s) who are competent, qualified per this PWS and adequately trained to perform assigned duties. Contractor s physician (s) shall be responsible for signing in and out when in attendance. These sign in/sign out sheets will be used by the COR to confirm hours/day provided against the contractor s invoices. Standards of Care: The contractor s physician(s) care shall cover the range of Psychiatry services as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility and the standard of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized national standards as established by: American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines, https://psychiatryonline.org/guidelines VA Standards: VHA Directive 2006-041 Veterans Health Care Service Standards (expired but still in effect pending revision) https://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1443 The professional standards of the The Joint Commission (TJC) http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/standards.aspx The standards of the American Hospital Association (AHA) http://www.hpoe.org/resources?show=100&type=8 and; The requirements contained in this PWS Resident Supervision and Teaching: Resident Supervision/Teaching: According to the guidelines dictated by the Residency Review Committee of ACGME, the contractor s physician(s) performing the services shall be responsible for residents. Contractor s physician(s) shall be responsible for: Academic environment: Provide for an academic environment conducive to the training and professional development for residents rotating through the Mental Health Service Line. Resident patient care documentation: Contractor s physician(s) shall be responsible for complying with the Residency review documentation and insuring that all notes and encounters are completed and shall appropriately document medical records in accordance with VA standards, equivalent to TJC compliance guidelines, standard commercial practice and guidelines established by SCVAMC. The Contractor shall also perform any administrative duties relative to documentation of resident training, as required and directed by the VA COS or designated representative. Clinical Direction and Oversight: Contractor s physician(s) shall provide clinical direction to and oversight of residents/fellows consistent with current accreditation guidelines, clinical research, protocol development, data management of protocols, quality assurance conferences and meetings, and affiliate /VA staff meetings. Ensure on-site resident supervision in accordance with the national VHA Handbook 1400.01, Resident Supervision, dated December 19, 2012. http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2847 Attending Physician: Clinics procedures shall not be conducted by residents in the absence of an attending physician. All procedures, inpatient admissions and consults shall be the responsibility of an attending physician. MEDICAL RECORDS Authorities: Contractor s physician(s) providing healthcare services to VA patients shall be considered as part of the Department Healthcare Activity and shall comply with the U.S.C.551a (Privacy Act), 38 U.S.C. 5701 (Confidentiality of claimants records), 5 U.S.C. 552 (FOIA), 38 U.S.C. 5705 (Confidentiality of Medical Quality Assurance Records) 38 U.S.C. 7332 (Confidentiality of certain medical records), Title 5 U.S.C. § 522a (Records Maintained on Individuals) as well as 45 C.F.R. Parts 160, 162, and 164 (HIPAA). HIPAA: This contract and its requirements meet exception in 45 CFR 164.502(e), and do not require a BAA in order for Covered Entity to disclose Protected Health Information to: a health care provider for treatment. Based on this exception, a BAA is not required for this contract. Treatment and administrative patient records generated by this contract or provided to the Contractors by the VA are covered by the VA system of records entitled Patient Medical Records-VA (24VA19). Contractor generated VA Patient records are the property of the VA and shall not be accessed, released, transferred, or destroyed except in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Contractor shall ensure that all records pertaining to medical care and services are available for immediate transmission when requested by the VA. Records identified for review, audit, or evaluation by VA representatives and authorized federal and state officials, shall be accessed on-site during normal business hours or mailed by the Contractor at his expense. Contractor shall deliver all final patient records, correspondence, and notes to the VA within twenty-one (21) calendar days after the contract expiration date. Disclosure: Contractor s physician(s) may have access to patient medical records: however, Contractor shall obtain permission from the VA before disclosing any patient information. Subject to applicable federal confidentiality or privacy laws, the Contractor, or their designated representatives, and designated representatives of federal regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over Contractor, may have access to VA s records, at VA s place of business on request during normal business hours, to inspect and review and make copies of such records. The VA will provide the Contractor with a copy of VHA Handbook 1907.1, Health Information management and Health Records and VHA Handbook 1605.1, Privacy and Release of Information. The penalties and liabilities for the unauthorized disclosure of VA patient information mandated by the statutes and regulations mentioned above, apply to the Contractor. Professional Standards for Documenting Care: Care shall be appropriately documented in medical records in accordance with standard commercial practice and guidelines established by VHA Handbook 1907.01 Health Information Management and Health Records: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2791 and all guidelines provided by the VAMC. Release of Information: The VA shall maintain control of releasing any patient medical information and will follow policies and standards as defined, but not limited to Privacy Act requirements. In the case of the VA authorizing the Contractor to release patient information, the Contractor in compliance with VA regulations, and at his/her own expense, shall use VA Form 3288, Request for and Consent to Release of Information from Individual s Records, to process Release of Information Requests. In addition, the Contractor shall be responsible for locating and forwarding records not kept at their facility. The VA s Release of Information Section shall provide the Contractor with assistance in completing forms. Additionally, the Contractor shall use VA Form 10-5345, Request for and Authorization to Release Medical Records or Health Information, when releasing records protected by 38 U.S.C. 7332. Treatment and release records shall include the patient s consent form. Completed Release of Information requests will be forwarded to the VA Privacy Officer at the following address: St.Cloud VA Medical Center, Attn: Julie Kraus: Mail Code 136P, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud MN 56303 Direct Patient Care: Estimated 95% the time involved in direct patient care. Per the qualification section of this PWS, the Contractor shall provide the following staff: Board Certified Psychiatrists and Psych-Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) Scope of Care: Contractor s physician(s) (as appropriate and within scope of practice/privileging) shall be responsible for providing Psychiatry care, including, but not limited to : Clinic Care: Contractor s physician(s) shall provide clinical psychiatry services, including face-to-face and telehealth consultations. Contractor s physician(s) shall be present on time for any scheduled clinic appointments as documented by physical presence in the clinic at the scheduled start time. Specialty Exams: The contractor shall provide direct patient care including specialty exams such as compensation and pension, as it pertains to Psychiatry conditions only. Medications: Contractor s physician(s) shall follow all established medication policies and procedures. No sample medications shall be provided to patients. Discharge education: Contractor s physician(s) shall provide discharge education and follow up instructions that are coordinated with the next care setting for all Psychiatry clinical patients. Scope of Care: Contractor s Psych-MH Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs) (as appropriate and within scope of practice/privileging) shall be responsible for providing Psychiatry care, including, but not limited to : Clinic Care: Contractor s APRN(s) shall provide clinical psychiatry services, including face-to-face and telehealth consultations. Contractor s APRN(s) shall be present on time for any scheduled clinic appointments as documented by physical presence in the clinic at the scheduled start time. Specialty Exams: The contractor shall provide direct patient care including specialty exams such as compensation and pension, as it pertains to Psychiatry conditions only. Medications: Contractor s physician(s) shall follow all established medication policies and procedures. No sample medications shall be provided to patients. Discharge education: Contractor s APRN(s) shall provide discharge education and follow up instructions that are coordinated with the next care setting for all Psychiatry clinical patients. ADMINISTRATIVE: Estimated 5% of time not involved in direct patient care; performed during normal work tour hours. Quality Improvement Meetings: The contractor s physician(s) shall participate in continuous quality improvement activities and meetings with committee participation as required by the VAMC Chief of Service, Chief of Staff, or designee. List all meetings, associated time and frequency. Meeting Frequency (once a year, etc) Annual Hours Continuous Improvement As needed 6 Staff Meetings: The contractor s physician(s) shall attend staff meetings as required by the VAMC Chief of Service, Chief of Staff, or designee. Contractor to communicate with COR on this requirement and report any conflicts that may interfere with compliance with this requirement. List all meetings, associated time and frequency. Meeting Frequency (once a year, etc) Annual Hours Mental Health Service Line Provider Meeting NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (30-NOV-2018); 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/MiVAMC618/MiVAMC618/36C26319Q0151/listing.html)
 

Record

SN05163646-F 20181202/181130230015 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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