VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, 2121 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

R -- CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR NUTRITION AND FOOD SERVICES SOL 610A4-10-99 DUE 062199 POC Marjean Litzenberg (219) 460-1411 E-MAIL: Contact the contracting officer at the above e-mail, marjean.litzenberg@med.va.gov. The VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System (VA NIHCS) is seeking to procure consultant services, specifically for healthcare (acute and long-term care) food and nutrition services. Consultant will evaluate cost saving options related to food production and delivery. Recommend options, which would result in cost savings to NIHCS and enhance customer satisfaction. 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 and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation No. 610A4-10-99 is assigned as a Request for Quote. Notice of a total small business set-aside applies to this solicitation. The SIC code is 8742, a small business is classified as $5 million. Quotes shall be submitted on Contractor's letterhead or bid form and contain the name, title and signature of person authorized to submit proposals/bids on behalfof the Contractor. Technical proposal must include detailed information concerning ability to provide specified services, qualifications of consultants to be used on this project, and past performance including five references from similar service and value contracts. Reference information is to include names, phone numbers, contract amount, and contract period. BACKGROUND: The VA NIHCS Fort Wayne campus serves, per quarter, an average of 18,128 inpatients and 544 outpatients, 23-hour patients, or same day surgery patients. This is accomplished with a staff of 20.0 FTEE and at a cost of approximately $40,000 per two-week period. In addition, average quarterly costs for subsistence and supplies are $36,375 and $5,575 respectively. SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY: Explore and evaluate cost saving options to provide food for the above listed patients, currently at 73% modified diets. Options to be reviewed include: (1) Functions and levels of services currently provided, (2) Feasibility of reorganizing current food operation, (3) Feasibility of providing food by cook-chill method from south campus located in Marion, IN, (4) Feasibility of a central food production facility providing food, (5) Feasibility of reorganizing to a nursing home model (food operation is an eight hour or less operation per day, and (6) Feasibility of outsourcing part or all food products from community hospital, nursing homes, or food service operations. GOAL: Recommend a program with implementation data that maximizes services to patients, maintains patient satisfaction, provides operational efficiency and results in lower cost. Within 60 calendar days from date of contract award, consultant will submit six copies of their findings. Findings shall include (1) cost estimates, local organizations contacted, savings projections, and manpower and staffing requirements for each option listed above, and (2) a comprehensive written report to include current patient food service operations and level of service. Consultant will also make a presentation of findings at the VA NIHCS. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-11. The following provisions apply to this acquisition: 852.219-70 Veteran-Owned Small Business; 852.219-70 Commercial Advertising; 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; 52.212-3 Offer Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items; and 52-212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible bidder whose quote conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Past performance and technical capability are approximately equal in weight and when combined, are greater than price. Offerors responding to this announcement shall provide the information required in provisions 52.212-1, a completed copy of provisions 52.212-3, Offer Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; and the certification required in 852.219-70 Veteran-Owned Small Business. Quotations shall be received by June 21, 1999, at 2:00 PM local time. The full text of clauses and provisions referenced may be obtained through the Internet web-site (VAAR) http://www.va.gov/oa&;mm/vaar (FAR) http://www.arnet.gov/far/ Posted 05/28/99 (W-SN337241). (0148)

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