Contracting Officer (90C), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Texas Health Care System, 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, TX 75216

Q -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS/PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS SOL RFP 549-80-98 DUE 041598 POC Warren L. Ector, CPCM, Contracting Officer, (214) 302-7523 E-MAIL: click here to contact the Contracting Officer via e-mail, warren.ector@med.va.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation WILL NOT be issued. Solicitation 549-80-98 is issued as a Request For Proposals (RFP) which incorporates provisions and clauses through FAC 97-03. Award will be made using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Source Selection Process described in FAR 15.101-2. This solicitation is a total set-aside for small business with an applicable SIC code of 8049. This will be an Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity contract award for a Base Period (5/1/98-4/30/99) with four options of one-year each; the contract will have a minimum guarantee of $25,000 during the life of the contract (inclusive of options) and a maximum (Not to Exceed) threshold of $1,000,000. Individual orders may be between $1,000.00 and $1,000,000.00. All Contract Line Item Numbers (CLIN) shall be proposed in the form of an hourly labor rate for the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area only; actual quantities and delivery shall be as indicated on individual task orders. CLIN 1 is for Physical Therapist (Base Period 5/1/98-4/30/99); CLIN 2 is for Physical Therapist Assistant (Base Period 5/1/98-4/30/99); CLIN 3 is for Physical Therapist (Option I, 5/1/99-4/30/00); CLIN 4 is for Physical Therapist Assistant (Option I, 5/1/99-4/30/00); CLIN 5 is for Physical Therapist (Option II, 5/1/00-4/30/01); CLIN 6 is for Physical Therapist Assistant (Option II, 5/1/00-4/30/01); CLIN 7 is for Physical Therapist (Option III, 5/1/01-4/30/02); CLIN 8 is for Physical Therapist Assistant (Option III, 5/1/01-4/30/02); CLIN 9 is for Physical Therapist (Option IV, 5/1/02-4/30/03); CLIN 10 is for Physical Therapist Assistant (Option IV, 5/1/02-4/30/03). Statement of Work is as follows: (a) Basic Requirement. The successful offeror shall provide personnel (as described by CLINs) to perform medically prescribed therapy at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, Texas 75216 (Main Physical Therapy Clinic, Spinal Cord Injury Clinic, and Transitional Care Unit Clinic), or the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, 300 West Rosedale Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104 [the Government reserves the right to modify the awarded contract to include other elements of the Federal Government; however, orders for elements and/or locations other than those described above shall be subject to negotiation of terms and conditions as such requirements arise]. Such medically prescribed therapy shall be for the purpose of restoring functions; preventing disability following disease, injury, or loss of a body part; and assisting the patient in achieving maximum performance and assuming a place in society while learning to live within the limits of his/her capabilities. All therapy shall be conducted in accordance with Department of Veterans Affairs regulations, and the guide for conduct of physical therapists and/or Physical Therapist Assistants shall be as set forth by the American Physical Therapy Association. The successful offeror shall monitor the performance of the Physical Therapists and/or Physical Therapist Assistants to assure compliance with all contract requirements. (b) Working Relationships. (1) Physical Therapists and/or Physical Therapist Assistants will be under the general supervision of the Chief, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. (2) Physical Therapists and/or Physical Therapist Assistants shall consult with physicians regarding treatment, and assist in scheduling patients for treatment in accordance with available personnel and equipment. (c) Clinical Elements. PHYSICAL THERAPISTS shall: (1) Plan a therapy program for each patient, involving physical means, such as exercise, massage, heat, water, light, and electricity as prescribed by physicians; (2) Apply diagnostic and prognostic muscle, nerve, joint, and functional ability tests; (3) Direct and aid patients in active and passive exercises, muscle reeducation, and gait (walking) and functional training, utilizing pulleys and weights, steps, and inclined surfaces; (4) Make use of equipment, such as ultraviolet and infrared lamps, low-voltage generators, diathermy, and ultrasonic machines; (5) Give whirlpool and contrast baths and apply moist packs; (6) Direct patient in care and use of wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, and prosthetics and orthoptic devices; (7) Give instruction in posture control and therapeutic procedures to be continued by the patient; (8) Adapt conventional physiotherapeutic techniques to meet the needs of patients unable to comprehend verbal commands or voluntarily carry out a regime of therapeutic exercise; and (9) Evaluate, record, and report patients' progress for review by other members of the rehabilitation team. PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS shall: (1) Provide physical therapy treatments as specified in the written plan of care developed by the Physical Therapist; (2) Prepare patients, treatment areas, and equipment; (3) Implement treatment programs that include therapeutic exercises, gait training and techniques, administration of therapeutic modalities (heat, cold, ultrasound, ultraviolet, traction), application of intermittent venous compression, application of external bandages, dressings, and support, and performance of goriometric measurements; (4) Modify treatment as indicated in the plan of care; (5) Respond to acute changes in patient physiological state and be able to identify architectural barriers; (6) Instruct other health care providers, patients, and families to perform selected treatment procedures and functional activities; (7) Demonstrate appropriate and effective written, verbal, and nonverbal communication with patients, families, colleagues, and the public; (8) Gather information on patients screened and report findings to the Physical Therapist; and (9) Include the name of the supervisory Physical Tharapist in each progress note recorded on a patient's chart. (d) Consistent Treatment. (1) The successful offeror shall maximize the consistency of patient treatment by ensuring that no scheduled patient treatments are missed due to Physical Therapists and/or Physical Therapist Assistants being away on vacation, illness, or other personal reasons; (2) The successful offeror shall commit to providing a backup Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant, who possesses the same qualifications as those required for the primary Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant, in such cases when the Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant is not available; (3) A log, providing a written record of all treatments performed shall be maintained by the Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant to ensure that, in such cases when a backup Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant is required no treatments are duplicated or omitted. The log shall be maintained in the office of the Chief, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. (e) Duty Hours shall be 8:00 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. Monday -- Friday (with the exception of federal holidays). All offerors must include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3, Representations and Certifications of Offerors -- Commercial Items, with its offer. The following clauses and provisions are applicable and are hereby incorporated by reference: 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5. Addenda for 52.212-1 is as follows: offeror must provide its DUNS number, 52.215-11, 52.222-46, 52.233-2, and VAAR 852.233-70. Addenda for 52.212-2 is as follows: EVALUATION FACTORS -- (1) Price -- Offeror shall submit a price separate of its technical proposal; (2) Education -- All proposed Physical Therapists (PTs) performing work under this contract shall have as a minimum a Baccalaureate degree in Physical Therapy, or an equivalent certificate in Physical Therapy from an accredited college or university AND completion of a physical therapy clinical practice program. All proposed Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) performing work under this contract shall have as a minimum an Associates degree in Physical Therapy, or an equivalent certificate in Physical Therapy from an accredited college or university AND completion of a physical therapy clinical practice program. Both the education and clinical practice program should have been approved by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) or by the American Medical Association (AMA), and have been completed at an accredited college or university. Submit proof of such for each PT/PTA proposed. Any PT or PTA providing contract treatments should have completed the necessary Texas state CME requirements; such CME expenses should not/are not the responsibility of VA. (3) Licensure -- Provide proof of a current license to practice physical therapy in the State of Texas for each PT/PTA the offeror proposes to utilize for this contract. (4) Work Experience -- Provide work history for each PT/PTA the offeror proposes to utilize for this contract. As a minimum, each PT/PTA shall have two years of experience in the practice of physical therapy in the areas of acute care, inpatient and outpatient care, wound care, orthopedics, neurology, pain management, and MFR. (5) Past Performance -- Offeror shall submit a list of contracts pertaining to physical therapy services performed in the past year from the date of this solicitation. As a minimum, one (1) must be submitted. Contracts listed may include those entered into with the Federal Government, State or local agencies, or commercial customers. For each contract listed, provide the name of customer organization; contract number; contract value; and the name, address, and phone number of the customer POC. (6) Insurance -- Offeror guarantees that its malpractice insurance coverage for all PT/PTA is adequate, and that malpractice insurance premiums for all its (contract) providers are fully paid for the complete duration of period when treatments are rendered. Prior to performing services under this contract, the successful offeror shall obtain the required insurance as specified in VAAR clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance: (a) It is expressly agreed and understood that this is a nonpersonal services contract, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.101, under which the professional services rendered by the Contractor or its health-care providers are rendered in its capacity as an independent contractor. The Government may evaluate the quality of professional and administrative services provided but retains no control over professional aspects of the services rendered, including by example, the Contractor's or its health-care providers' professional medical judgment, diagnosis, or specific medical treatments. The Contractor and its health-care providers shall be liable for their liability-producing acts or omissions. The Contractor shall maintain or require all health-care providers performing under this contract to maintain, during the term of this contract, professional liability insurance issued by a responsible insurance carrier of not less than the following amount(s) per specialty per occurrence: $1,000,000.00. However, if the Contractor is an entity or a subdivision of a State that either provides for self-insurance or limits the liability or the amount of insurance purchased by State entities, then the insurance requirement of this contract shall be fulfilled by incorporating the provisions of the applicable State law. (b) An apparently successful offeror, upon request of the Contracting Officer, shall, prior to contract award, furnish evidence of the insurability of the offeror and/or of all health-care providers who will perform under this contract. The submission shall provide evidence of insurability concerning the medical liability insurance required by paragraph (a) of this clause or the provisions of State law as to self-insurance, or limitations on liability or insurance. (c) The Contractor shall, prior tocommencement of services under the contract, provide to the Contracting Officer Certificates of Insurance or insurance policies evidencing the required insurance coverage and an endorsement stating that any cancellation or material change adversely affecting the Government's interest shall not be effective until 30 days after the insurer or the Contractor gives written notice to the Contracting Officer. Certificates or policies shall be provided for the Contractor and/or each health-care provider who will perform under this contract. (d) The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer if it, or any of the health- care providers performing under this contract, change insurance providers during the performance period of this contract. The notification shall provide evidence that the Contractor and/or health-care providers will meet all the requirements of this clause, including those concerning liability insurance and endorsements. These requirements may be met either under the new policy, or a combinationof old and new policies, if applicable. (e) The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts for health-care services under this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for compliance by any subcontractor or lower-tier subcontractor with the provisions set forth in paragraph (a) of this clause. (End of Clause); and (7) Consistency of Treatment -- The successful offeror should maximize the consistency of patient treatment by ensuring that no scheduled patient treatments are missed due to PT/PTA being away on vacation, illness, or other personal reasons; The successful offeror shall commit to providing a backup PT/PTA who possesses the same qualifications as those required for the primary PT/PTA in such cases when the primary PT/PTA is not available. Addenda for 52.212-3 is as follows: offeror must submit completed 52.215-4, VAAR 852.219-70, 852.203-70. Addenda for 52.212-4 is as follows: paragraph (p) is hereby deleted, 52.215-1, 52.216-18, 52.216-19, 52.216-22, 52.217-8, 52.217-9, 52.232-18, 52.232-19, 52.237-7, 52.242-13, VAAR 852.270-1, and 852.270-4. All referenced clauses and provisions are available for downloading on the Internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far; applicable specifications, FAR/VAAR clauses/provisions may be obtained from the Contracting Officer by e-mail request or by faxed request (214-372-7066). Only written offers, complete and prepared in accordance with this solicitation and received by the Contracting Officer prior to 5:00 p.m. CDT, 4/15/98, will be considered for award. (0086)

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