H266--Annual Physicist Testing

Page 3 of 3 This is a sources sought announcement only. This is not a solicitation announcement. The purpose of this announcement is to gain knowledge of current market conditions relative to NAICS 811219 Equipment and Materials Testing-Instruments and Laboratory Equipment with a size standard of $22 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), Network Contracting Office 23 (NCO 23), on behalf of Black Hills VA Health Care System (BHVAHCS) with two campuses located at Fort Meade (FM) and Hot Springs (HS) is seeking to identify any vendors capable of providing a board certified diagnostic radiological physicist to test and perform monitoring of the radiology programs, quality programs and equipment once a year in the month of June in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the DVA and BHVAHCS. The period of performance will be one (1) twelve-month base period, and four (4) twelve-month option years; estimated start date is October 30, 2020 through October 29, 2021. The Black Hills Veterans Affairs Medical Center is looking for responses from contractors regarding their capability to provide the following mentioned services. Services to be provided include: 1.) The Vendor will provide a board certified diagnostic radiological physicist to test and perform monitoring of the radiology programs, quality programs and equipment at Ft. Meade (FM) VAMC and Hot Springs (HS) VAMC once a year in the month of June. 2.) Testing and monitoring will conform to current VHA National Health Physics Program (NHPP) guidelines as noted in the references below. 3.) Testing will include but not be limited to the following; a.) Measurement of radiation output parameters, including beam filtration. b.) Testing of automatic control systems such as automatic exposure controls of radiographic systems and automatic exposure rate controls of fluoroscopy systems. c.) Assessment of image quality d.) Measurement of appropriate indices of patient doses or dose rates at clinical technique factors with comparison to national standards. e.) Measurement of minimum detectable activity of the Thyroid Uptake unit. f.) A review of the quality control monitoring performed by technologists. The design will conform to the ACR - Technical Standard for Diagnostic Medical Physics Performance Monitoring of Radiologic and Fluoroscopic Equipment and the ACR - Technical Standard for Diagnostic Medical Physics Performance Monitoring of Computed Tomography (CT) Equipment , available from the American College of Radiology. 4.) Appropriate indices of doses to patients, as estimated by the diagnostic radiological physicist for the technique factors used at the facility, must be posted at or near the control console for each x-ray imaging device. a.) For radiographic equipment, the entrance skin exposure, air kerma, or dose for a patient of typical size must be posted for common radiographic procedures. b.)For fluoroscopic equipment, the entrance skin exposure rate, air kerma rate, or dose rate must be posted for a typical range of patient sizes for common modes of operation, including various image magnification factors, boost mode, if available, continuous fluoroscopy, and for pulsed fluoroscopy at the available pulse rates. For fluoroscopic equipment, the dose per image for each mode of image recording shall also be posted for a patient of typical thickness. 5.) Leak testing of sealed sources. a.) Testing and recordkeeping requirements. Each licensee who uses a sealed source shall have the source tested for leakage periodically. The licensee shall keep a record of leak test results in units of micro curies and retain the record for inspection. b.) Method of testing. The wipe of a sealed source must be performed using a leak test kit. The wipe sample must be taken from the nearest accessible point to the sealed source where contamination might accumulate. The wipe sample must be analyzed for radioactive contamination. c.) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be tested at intervals not to exceed 6 months. The Radiation Physicists will provide the wipe test kits, the analysis and the required report. Responses: If you are interested and can provide the required services please provide the requested contact information. Responses to this notice should include a company name, address, point of contact (Name, Phone Number and e-Mail Address), DUNS number, business size, Socioeconomic Status (Veteran Owned, SDVOSB, HUBZONE, 8(a), etc.) and a capability statement. Responses to this market survey shall be e-mailed (only) to the attention of Anna Leitzke, anna.leitzke@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. Responses must be received no later than 11:59 pm EST August 10, 2020. No solicitation document is available currently; this notice is to acquire information only. Vendors interested in providing an offer will have to respond to a solicitation announcement that shall be published separately.