SOLICITATION NOTICE
65 -- VISN 23 Eyeglasses (VA-18-00144399)
- Notice Date
- 7/16/2020 10:34:44 AM
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 339115
— Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 23 (36C263) Saint Paul MN 55101 USA
- ZIP Code
- 55101
- Solicitation Number
- 36C26319R0053
- Archive Date
- 09/14/2020
- Point of Contact
- Richard H Leistiko, Contracting Officer, Phone: 319-688-3168
- E-Mail Address
-
Richard.Leistiko@va.gov
(Richard.Leistiko@va.gov)
- Awardee
- null
- Description
- 5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable) CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY 2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER CODE 6. ISSUED BY 8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER 9B. DATED PAGE OF PAGES 10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER 10B. DATED BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE FACILITY CODE CODE Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers E. IMPORTANT: is extended, (a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended. 12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (REV. 11/2016) is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office. is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A. 15C. DATE SIGNED B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b). RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified. C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF: D. OTHER Contractor 16C. DATE SIGNED 14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect. 15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR STANDARD FORM 30 PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.) (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) (If required) (SEE ITEM 11) (SEE ITEM 13) (X) CHECK ONE 13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS, IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14. 11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT (Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 1 7 0003 36C263-18-AP-1968 None Department of Veterans Affairs NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE 1303 5th St, Suite 300 Coralville IA 52241 Department of Veterans Affairs NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE 1303 5th St, Suite 300 Coralville IA 52241 To all Offerors/Bidders 36C26319R0053 07-16-2020 X X 0 will be provided after award This amendment is to add the attached Questions to the Request for Proposals Please read the attached questions and answers All other terms and conditions are in full effect Richard Leistiko Contract Specialist Solicitation 36C26319R0053 6 Page 6 of 7 Solicitation Questions List Will the Government consider changing the requirements in the solicitation from calendar days to business days? Doing so will ensure the contractor is not held accountable for delays when the VA itself is closed, including on Federal Holidays. In some circumstances, the contractor will not be able to meet this standard through no fault of its own, when the VA itself is closed. For example, p16 Statement of Work (SOW) section 19 A. mentions Contractor errors in filling Rx's will be corrected within 72 hours after notification from the VA or beneficiary, at no cost to the VA or beneficiary and includes all upgrades and add-ons. We suggest changing the requirement to the response time of three business days. P16 SOW section 19 B. also mentions Prescribing errors made by the VA and detected by the contractor shall be called to the attention of the prescribing VA facility within 48 hours of identification of the error. We suggest changing the requirement to the response time of two business days. Additionally, p17 SOW section 21 A. mentions All eyewear furnished under this contract shall be delivered within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the order, unless otherwise specified, regardless if they have upgrades and/or add-ons that are paid for by the beneficiary. We suggest changing the requirement to the response time of seven business days. P17 SOW section 21 I. mentions Failure by the Contractor to provide a written notification within twenty-four (24) hours as specified above constitutes a performance failure and the COR shall notify the CO, who in turn shall undertake any action authorized pursuant to the contract agreement or otherwise in accordance with applicable statues and regulations. We suggest changing the requirement to the response time of one business day. Similarly, we suggest changing SOW section 22 to business days. Agree to change to business days. Please provide the address including room number for each optical shop that anticipates contractor opticians. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please provide the maximum occupancy for each contractor optical shop, in accordance with ADA and HIPAA requirements. Occupancy information is required in order for offerors to plan to meet the VA s optical shop hours and coverage requirements. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please provide the annual estimated number of patients for each optical shop that requires contractor opticians. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please provide the annual number of estimated eyeglasses orders, for each optical shop that requires contractor opticians. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please clarify CLINs 0006-0010 OPTICIAN AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE. Should the CLINS include a unit of measure and wage rate? If so, please adjust the schedule. Please also provide detail on how the contractor should expect to invoice these CLINS. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please confirm contractor optical shops with only one required optician will be allowed to close for mandatory break periods, including lunch. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. P6 SOW section 2. Contractor Requirements. H. mentions The Contractor personnel must actively cooperate with the VA facility opticians and CORs. Please confirm if the VA will be providing opticians as well, and how will the work be divided between contractor opticians and VA opticians? Please also define which locations will utilize VA opticians. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. P8 SOW section 4. Optician Qualifications B. iii. mentions Contact no-show beneficiaries to determine if the beneficiaries will be obtaining eyeglasses through the VA Optical Shop and advise the facility COR when a beneficiary declines service. Assuming the contractor optical shops will see patients on a walk-in basis (i.e. no appointments), please provide details on how this process will work for the contractor staff at each optical shop. Each V23 site will determine whether or not to include an optical shop, these will be established with a separate VCS contract. Please provide clarification on the purpose of the Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Can SDVOSBs that plan to meet all contractual requirements with their own assets disregard this portion of the solicitation? Please provide a statement stating that there is no subcontracting plan required Please clarify how the Progressive CLIN volumes on lines 000#AC work in conjunction with the progressive volumes listed on other CLINS (including lines 000#AE and 000#AF). Similarly clarify the volumes under the Miscellaneous CLINS for single vision, bifocal, trifocal, etc, as those items are also included elsewhere in the price schedule. If the noted items are duplicated, please make a not in the bid schedule to reflect the duplication P12 SOW section 12 D. mentions Glass ophthalmic lenses shall be chemically strengthened for impact resistance only. Please confirm that glass lenses can be heat strengthened for impact resistance (as an alternative to chemically strengthened), as this method is also approved by the FDA. Heat treatment will be allowed. P12 SOW section 12 discusses high index lenses and mentions Upon request will be available in 1.67 to include single vision, Bifocal D28 and progressive. Will VA consider revising the price schedule to include an add on CLIN for 1.67 high index? No, 1.67 will need to be included with 1.74 allowed as an add-on. P13 SOW section 13. Frames. A. i. discusses Medicaid Frames. Please clarify the term Medicaid frames or remove it. The term is not used on other VISN eyeglasses contracts. Removal of this term is fine. Within Section L3. Contract Terms and Conditions. Please confirm if the following clauses should be checked: 52.225-1, Buy American Supplies Any of the Service Contract Act Clauses If checked please provide applicable wage determinations. 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order The Buy American Act Supplies will be checked; All of the Service Contract Act clauses will not be needed as there will be a future contract with VCS if the need arises for contract personnel to be supplied to the individual sites In reference to the Performance Measures on page 19 of the Statement of Work, will VA adjust the acceptable quality level (AQL) to 95% (Objectives 1-5), in order to be consistent with other VISN contracts and customary commercial practice? No, this will remain at 98% or better. Schedule of Items Questions: CLIN 0001AF lists lens only; however, it doesn t show the breakdown of lens materials under each lens type (see the example shown the complete pairs). Please provide a breakdown of the lens materials under each lens type for lens only orders. CLIN 0001AF also lists slab off single and slab off multifocal. We believe these items should be under CLIN 0001AG or 0001AH instead. Please confirm. Please confirm the unit of measure, Pair (PR) or Each (EA) for all CLINS. The term transitions and transitional are used in multiple areas including CLIN 0001AH. Please confirm that all brand name items can be provided on an or equal basis. Generic transitional lenses are fine, does not need to be name brand. Please confirm that the proposal submission can be emailed. Email submission is acceptable, if there is a need to submit multiple emails please label as 1of ? Please also confirm that a frame selection chart is required, and physical frames are not required to be mailed with the submission of this proposal. Physical frame selection and chart required to be mailed. There is no detail on what classifies as a Deluxe Frame other than features that make them more durable than standard frames. Are there any specific guidelines that can be given as far as frame material, etc? Material, extras including polarization, antiglare, transitions extra active, premium progressive lens style. Etc. Titanium is mentioned in 3(B)(i). Do titanium frames count towards the Deluxe Frame requirement? It is customary commercial practice, and consistent with other VISN eyeglasses contracts, to include an add on CLIN for titanium frames. Will VA consider making this adjustment to the price schedule? At this point, we have titanium frames and there is no additional cost. Cable temples are mentioned in 3(B)(i). It is unclear whether specific cable temple styles are acceptable as inclusions, or if cable temples must be available on any frame style if requested. Please clarify. A few frame options with comfort cables would be welcome in the optical Reference SOW paragraph (d). DELIVERY ORDERS, particularly sub-paragraph (2) and (3): Does the VA plan to use the 4-Sight Automated Eyeglasses Ordering system within the VISN? If so, how will that program work with the process described in this section of the SOW? If the process will be different throughout the VISN, please provide details on the process at each location. Yes, we will be using 4-sight. Can contractors use an online customer satisfaction survey, in conjunction with the requirements of the SOW? Using multiple methods to gather customer feedback has shown to be effective on VISN eyeglasses contracts. Yes, we are in favor of this option. Please clarify L.1 52.212-2 EVALUATION COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014), on page 22 of 56 of the solicitation. Please list all documents are required for submission. This is a listing of how the submitted packages will be evaluated. Please submit all documents that are deemed appropriate for bid submission
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