Q -- OPERATING ROOM NURSES

Notice Date

December 4, 2000

Contracting Office

Contracting Officer (90C), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1970 Roanoke Blvd., Salem, VA 24153-5483

ZIP Code

24153-5483

Solicitation Number

RFP 658-21-01

Response Due

December 22, 2000

Point of Contact

Christopher J. Grubbe, Contracting Officer (540) 983-1049

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This procurement is conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) in accordance with FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) and a written solicitation WILL NOT be issued. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition 97-20. RFP 658-21-01 should be referenced on all proposals. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 621999, and the small business size-standard is gross annual receipts NTE $7.5 million. This procurement is unrestricted. The VA Medical Center, Salem, Virginia has an emergent need for Two (2) Locum Tenens Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurses (RN) to provide surgical, administrative and clinical operating room services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia 24153. Contractor's personnel shall perform an assigned 40 hour work week. In accordance with the terms, conditions, provisions and specifications of this proposal the Government intends to enter into a contract for a period of six (6) months, with an option to extend for an additional six (6) months. Offeror should thoroughly review the specifications and become familiar with the areas of coverage prior to submitting proposal, in order to be fully aware of the scope of the services required. Failure to understand the contract's requirements shall not relieve the Contractor from performing in accordance with the strict meaning and intent of the specifications. This is an all-inclusive contract. The Government shall not reimburse any cost not incorporated into the resultant contract. Contractor shall provide nurses to perform the requirements in order to provide a continuity of patient care to VA beneficiaries. Additionally, Contractor shall provide the same professional level of care to VAMC patients and/or beneficiaries as to any other patient under his/her care. Contractor's employee(s) shall be present at the VAMC, Salem, VA and shall be actually performing the required services as specified in the contract in order to receive reimbursement. Payment to the Contractor shall be made monthly, in arrears, upon receipt of a properly prepared invoice. Payment for any leave, including sick leave, holiday, or vacation time, shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. Copies of Board Certifications, Current License(s), Curriculum Vitae, documentation of education and training, and documentation of experience of Contractor's employee(s) shall be submitted with the Contractor's proposal. Special Contract Requirements include the following: The services to be performed by the Contractor shall be under the direction of the Chief, Surgical Care Service, VAMC, Salem, Virginia. Contractor shall perform required services in accordance with established principles and ethics of the medical professional established by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO), the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) regulations, and the policies, procedures, and the regulations of the Medical Staff bylaws of VAMC, Salem. Contract Health Care Provider's personnel shall be subject to the same quality assurance standards of a quality meeting or exceeding current recognized national standards as established by the JCAHO. Persons provided by the Contractor shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the Government's requirements, to include the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently, and shall be United States Citizens. Contract personnel shall be responsible for compliance with all procedures in accordance with applicable VA Medical Center written policies and procedures. They shall not introduce new procedures or services without prior recommendation to, and approval of the VA Medical Center or authorized representative and the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR). Personnel assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall have a current unencumbered licensure in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia. A review of individual education and professional qualifications shall be available for the Medical Center's review to assure placement in an area where competent to care for patients. The Operating Room Nurses (RN's) shall be graduates of a National League for Nursing (NLN) approved school of nursing. Contractor personnel shall be able to demonstrate competency in providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and have current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification. Evidence of BLS and ACLS Certification shall be submitted with the offeror's proposal. Contractor personnel shall have no health or physical disability restrictions, which would interfere with the performance of duties. Contract nursing personnel shall have a minimum of three year's operating room experience. Functions of the Operating Room RN's: In area of assignment within the Operating Room, the two RN's provide direct and indirect nursing care by contributing to the patient's assessment, determining priorities, identifying nursing measures and therapeutic objectives and evaluating outcomes. The position requires independent judgment and nursing actions, flexibility, organizational skills, and the ability to utilize an interdisciplinary approach in the provision of nursing care. The two RN's are subject to the professional direction of the VA Operating Room Nurse Manager. The two Operating Room RNs shall provide services in accordance with the policies of Salem, VAMC and shall have professional and legal responsibility to the patient and shall be required to have achieved the following standards of nursing practices. Provide care for the surgical patient during the preoperative period. The focus of the care is based on the individualized patient care needs as directed by the surgical procedure and the needs of the patient. Have the ability to problem solve utilizing the nursing process and to apply human behavior theory as a scientific basis for practice. Ability to be self-directed in clinical practice and to show professional expertise with staff, patient and families in the formal and informal environment. Have the ability to effectively collaborate with other departments/services in the provision of care for the surgical patient. Utilizes the nursing process and an inter-disciplinary approach to provide direct, continuous, comprehensive patient care. Performs nursing functions related to physician-prescribed treatments. Performs the functions of a scrub nurse. Assists patients with activities of daily living. Performs the functions of circulating nurses. Administers medications and IV therapies. Obtains patient history and pertinent family histories. Assesses patients and plans appropriate nursing care. Documents plan of care and care provided in patient's medical record. Verifies transcriptions of physician's orders, no verbal orders shall be accepted. Carries out prescribed physician orders and documents in patient's medical record. Communicates pertinent patient data to charge nurse and/or physician as appropriate. Reassesses patient's condition and revises plan of care based on identified nursing problems. Assesses and documents patient's response to medications and treatments administered. Recognizes and initiates appropriate measures in emergencies and assist with surgical/diagnostic procedures. Instructs patient/family regarding prescribed medications/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures. Assesses patient/family knowledge level, implements plan of instructions, and records patient/family demonstrated level of understanding. Cares for patients with a variety of catheters and prostheses. Participates in discharge planning. Contractor RNs' shall be able to initiate life saving measures in the absence of a physician. Maintains neat and clean personal appearance with professional decorum. Consistently applies VA customer service standards, demonstrating helpful, courteous, and respectful conduct at all times. Respects patient rights including, but not limited to, visual and auditory privacy. Functions as staff nurses and clinical nurses, role models as viewed by peers and supervisory personnel. Demonstrates responsibility for medical center and Nursing Service policies/procedures/standards/protocols by following these and interpreting to others as appropriate. Collects and analyzes data that provides a basis for nursing care. Develops and documents an individual nursing plan of care which includes patient/family in establishing realistic, measurable goals and revises/updates plan. Assesses learning needs of patient/family, documenting both teaching and outcomes. Follows nursing care at varying levels of complexity. Follows established safety practices, respects unsafe conditions and unsafe practices, and/or any occupational illness or injury, which may be encountered. Uses proper protective equipment as required. Consistently records and reports patients care. Accurately documents patient files in a timely and concise manner. In the performance of the official duties, the employee has regular access to the printed and electronic files containing sensitive data which shall be protected in the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA Statutes, and policies. The employee is responsible for (1) protecting the data from unauthorized release or loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion and (2) following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access codes, etc., as set out in a computer access agreement which the employee signs. Contractor personnel shall seek appropriate assistance for resolution of problems. Establishes and maintains a positive work climate that contributes to group goals with a focus on effectiveness and efficiency. Implements medical center policies and procedures for patient self-determination practices (Advance Directives and Do Not Resuscitate policies). Shares clinical knowledge and skills with other staff. Establishes collegial relationship with staff and other health care disciplines. Maintains and enhances open communication channels with personnel in other Services using effective interpersonal skills. Collaborates with appropriate resources to assess the needs of patient, makes judgment about integrating consultation recommendations into the plan of care, and evaluates the implementation of those recommendations. Promotes cooperative working relationships among health care workers by maintaining a positive attitude. Uses tact and effective interpersonal skills when interacting with others, even in potentially volatile situations. Is receptive to ideas and suggestions from staff. Circulates and/or scrubs for major and minor cases efficiently and effectively following established standards. All Registered Nurses are cross-trained regarding the OR Technician functions, and provided direct supervision to assure performance at the level of competence of the position description. Registered Nurses provide patient care during the preoperative and intra-operative period. This includes the monitoring by the nursing staff of: (1) Verification of preoperative preparation; assessment and evaluation of the patient; and maintenance of infection control procedures; (2) Follows safety procedures for patient and staff, which may include equipment safety, safe patient movement, and appropriate patient placement to avoid skin pressure problems, nerve damage or muscular-skeletal injury. Documentation identifies who provided and supervised the patient nursing care. Demonstrates nursing preparedness in provision of patient care by maintaining aseptic techniques during procedures, monitoring patient for hypothermia, monitoring fluid balance, and protecting patient dignity and privacy. In an emergency situation, pending the arrival of a physician, appropriate ACLS protocols shall be initiated. An emergency is defined as a condition in which serious or permanent harm would result to a patient, or in which the life of the patient is in immediate danger, as any delay in administering treatment would add to that danger. Provides appropriate patient education regarding the preoperative, interoperative and postoperative periods of care. Contractor shall be required to submit an "Employment Packet" with proposal for each contract employee within five (5) calendar days of his or her first duty shift. The CO shall notify the Contractor of acceptance or unacceptability of proposed employees within two (2) business days of receipt of packets, based on the contents evidencing that all qualification requirements are met. The Contractor shall ensure that all contract personnel have met the qualifying criteria outlined above, to include current and valid licenses and certifications. The packet shall consist of name, social security number, and copy of the curriculum vitae, PPD Tests, Hepatitis B Vaccination, Copy of license which includes number and expiration date, copy of certification card (ACLS or BCLS as required), and completed mandatory review tests. The Contractor shall designate a Point of Contact (POC) responsible for overall conduct of the contract within five (5) calendar days of award. The name and telephone number of the POC shall be provided to both the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR). The Contractor's POC shall not be one of the care providers rendering service under this contract. The COTR or the Operating Room Nurse Manager shall contact the Contractor's designated Point of Contact concerning personnel staffing problems or other issues requiring immediate attention. Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of contract personnel whose 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 patients or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. The Contractor and COTR shall deal with issues raised concerning contract personnel's conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall provide at no charge to the VA sixteen (16) hours orientation time for each Register Nurse. This orientation time shall include completion of the required Mandatory Review modules. The VA shall provide the Modules. The contractor shall provide the Test Answer Sheets to the VA for each registered nurse participating in the program. The VA shall provide eight (8) hours of orientation for each registered nurse. This orientation shall include completion of the competency checklists required for the position and training of the Registered Nurse on the Operating Room Electronic Record. Contractor personnel shall not be required, except in case of emergency, to furnish such services on a National Holiday or during off-duty hours. Contract personnel shall required to work the following shifts on a rotational basis: Normal Workday Shift (7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), and On-Call Workday Shift (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (on-call shall extend until 7:00 a.m. the following day)). Off-duty hours consists of National Holidays: The holidays observed by the Federal Government are: New Year's Day (1 January), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Third Monday in January), Presidents Day (Third Monday in February), Memorial Day (Last Monday in May), Independence Day (4 July), Labor Day (First Monday in September), Columbus Day (Second Monday in October), Veteran's Day (11 November), Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (25 December). Or any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a National Holiday. Off-duty Hours: Are 3:31 p.m. -- 6:59 a.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday. VAMC Salem, Virginia intends to solicit proposals and award a firm fixed price contract under the authority of Title 38 USC Section 8153. Offerors shall provide a completed set of provisions with their offer found at FAR 52.212-3 -- Offeror Representation and Certifications Commercial Items. Provisions and clauses found at 52.212-1, 52.212-4, 52.212-5 apply. The following FAR and VAAR clauses and provisions are added by addendum 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification; 52.224-2 Privacy Act; 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services; 852.237-7 Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance; 852.270-1 Representatives of Contracting Officers; 852.270-4 Commercial Advertising and 852.271-70 Services Provided Beneficiaries. Offerors may find the FAR provisions and clauses on the Internet at www.arnet.gov/far/. Proposals will be accepted immediately, but no later than Friday, December 22, 2000 at close of business (4:30 p.m. local time). Due to the critical need of these services, award may be made prior to December 22, 2000. The anticipated starting date for these nursing services shall be on or about Monday, January 8, 2001. An official authorized to bind the offeror's organization must sign all offers. All proposals should be submitted to Contracting Officer (90C1), VA Medical Center, 1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia 24153 or faxed to Contracting Officer (90C1) at (540) 983-1065. The Government is not responsible for the legibility of any faxed documents.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001206/QSOL003.HTM (W-339 SN5079Q3)