VA Medical Center, 4801 8th St N, St Cloud, MN 56303-2099

Q -- RESPIRATORY THERAPIST SOL 656-12-00 DUE 012600 POC Wendy Hoeschen (320)255-6307 E-MAIL: Wendy Hoeschen, VA Medical Center, St. Cloud, MN, wendy.hoeschen@med.va.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial item services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, a written solicitation will not be issued; written proposals are being requested.. This document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through FAC 99-14. SIC 8049 applies. Size Standard is $5 Million in average revenues over the last three years. 1. Responsibilities and duties: a. Contractor to provide a Registered or Certified Respiratory Therapy Practitioner to perform clinical duties between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday, excluding Federal Holidays. The ten holidays observed by the Federal Government are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a national holiday. Initial coverage will be provided at 32 to 40 hours per week after date of award while a permanent respiratory therapist is recruited. Once permanent VA Staff is assigned, the contractor will provide ongoing flexible coverage for annual or sick leave. Here is the projected staffing needs during recruitment of permanent VA Staff: February 1-29, 2000 and March 1-31, 2000. Additional dates may be established that are mutually acceptable to both parties. On-call coverage will not be required. b. The contractor will provide 2-hour notice if the personnel furnishing services under this contract cannot make their shift. c. The services to be performed by the contractor will be performed within the VA policies and procedures of the VA facility. d. The results of all Quality Improvement activities performed by the contractor involving VA patients will be shared with the VA. This will include but not be limited to quality improvement plans, indicator data reports, report of findings, conclusions, recommendations and written plans for action taken in response to such conclusions and recommendations. e. The contractor shall be responsible for protecting the personnel furnishing services under this contract. To carry out this responsibility, the contractor, shall provide the following for these personnel: worker's compensation, professional liability insurance, health examinations, income tax withholding, and social security payments. The parties agree that such personnel shall not be considered VA employees for any purpose and shall be considered employees of the contractor. f. The contractor shall be responsible for providing the personnel furnishing services under this contact with appropriate attire (i.e. scrub suits and lab coat). g. The services specified may be changed by written modification to this contract. Upon agreement with the contractor, the modification will be prepared by the VA Under-Secretary for Health or designee. h. Other necessary Personnel for the operation of the services contracted for at the VA will be provided by the VA at levels mutually agreed upon which are compatible with the safety of the patient and personnel and with quality medical care programming. i. The services to be performed by the contractor will be under the direction of the Chief of Staff or his designee, VA Medical Center, 4801 8th Street North, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303. 2. Respiratory Therapy Practitioner Qualifications: a. Documentation shall be provided to prove the individual(s) is a Registered or Certified Respiratory Therapy Practitioner. The individual(s) will be required to maintain their Registered or Certified status through the length of the contract. b. Documentation shall be provided to prove the individual(s) is credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. c. Documentation shall be provided to prove the individual(s) is registered with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice as a Respiratory Therapy Practitioner. d. Documentation shall be provided to prove the individual is current in BCLS and ACLS (optional). e. The individual(s) performing services must possess basic proficiency with spoken and written English in accordance with Public Law 95-201. 3. Procedures: a. Clinical duties performed include, but are not limited to the following list of procedures: 1. Provision of respiratory treatments. 2. Provision of patient airway management (i.e. suctioning, tracheotomy care and change, airway adjuncts excluding intubation). 3. Provision of ventilator support. 4. Oxygen Therapy. 5. Assessment related to the provision of home oxygen therapy. 6. Consultation relating to the provision of therapeutic modalities. 7. Provision of diagnostic procedures including EKG, ABG and pulse oximetry. (ABG puncture is subject to authorization by the Supervisor RT/ECG). 8. Patient education relating to self-administration of inhaled medication, smoking cessation and respiratory therapy adjuncts. 9. Provision of respiratory therapy devices and consultation on the use of these devices to nursing care units. 10. Documentation, including electronic progress notes, pertinent to the care provided. 4. Point of Contact: a. A VAMC technical representative of the Contracting Officer will be designated to represent the contracting officer in furnishing technical guidance and advice or generally supervise the work being performed under this contract. The foregoing is not to be construed as authorization to interpret or furnish advice and information to the contractor relative to the financial or legal aspects of the contract. Those matters are the responsibility of the contracting officer and shall not be delegated. 5. Monitoring of Contractor's Performance: a. The Government may evaluate the quality of professional and administrative services to be provided. 6. Payment: a. The VA agrees to reimburse the contractor on a monthly basis for service provided in accordance with the prices/costs of the contract. b. Sums due the contractor will be paid monthly in arrears upon receipt of a properly prepared invoice submitted by the contractor. c. Bills rendered by the contractor to the VA for services furnished a VA beneficiary under the terms of this contract shall be in full. Neither the beneficiary, his insurer, or any other third party shall be billed by the contractor. 7. Terms of Contract: a. This contract is effective for one year from date of award with one pre-priced option year. This contract is subject to the availability of VA funds. All offers will be reviewed based on the following: Personnel Qualifications, Cost, Past Performance and Availability of Service. Estimated Quantity Base Year: 675 Hours, Option Year One 675 Hours. Solicitations are being requested under Public Law 104-262 The Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 and Title 38 United States Code Section 8153, with a commercial item format of terms, conditions, and provisions/clauses. This procurement is being conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.5 test procurement; simplified acquisition procedures apply. VA will conduct the procurement according to a combination of FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Faxed quotes are urgently requested from date of publication of this and through January 24, 2000. Contact Wendy Hoeschen at telephone (320)255-6307 or by fax at (320)255-6341. Posted 01/12/00 (W-SN415304). (0012)

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