Q--CBOC Westmoreland County

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) anticipates issuing a solicitation for a contractor to provide primary care services in a private hospital, office or clinic environment to veteran beneficiaries at contractor's Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) located within Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania. The contractor shall provide a community-based outpatient clinic solely dedicated to Veterans. VAPHS requires that the Westmoreland County Contractor's facility be located within Pennsylvania 18th Congressional District. VAPHS prefers that the Westmoreland County Contractor's facility be located within the city limits of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Veteran enrollment is estimated to be 7,096 members by the date of performance for the Westmoreland County CBOC. A single contract award with a base year and four option years in contemplated. It is anticipated that the solicitation will be issued on or about 10/1/12. Proposals will be due 30 days after issuance of the solicitation. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not a request for proposals. The Government is not obligated to issue a solicitation as a result of this notice. Payment under the contemplated contract will be made on a capitated-rate basis. The company awarded the contract will be required to have a fully operational clinic up and running 89 days after award. Contract award is estimated on or before 12/01/12. Primary care services will provide a continuum of care from prevention to diagnosis and treatment, to appropriate referral and follow-up. Those patients needing specialty or follow-up care shall be referred to VAPHS. The CBOC must have the necessary professional medical staff, diagnostic testing and treatment capability, and referral arrangements needed to ensure continuity of health care. Primary care services include longitudinal outpatient medical care for the purposes of prevention and detection of disease and subsequent management of medical conditions, for Veterans deemed eligible. The care will be provided by primary care providers who may be general practitioners or general internists or their authorized designees. The proposed CBOC, at a minimum, shall provide one standard of care that must be consistent, safe and of high quality. Additionally, the proposed CBOC is expected to comply with all relevant VA policies and procedures, including those related to quality, patient safety and performance. The CBOC must be poised to respond quickly to VA policy and procedure changes. The contractor shall be qualified to provide primary care services, such as, but not limited to: medical history, physical exam, clinical assessment diagnosis, treatment, Level 1 laboratory services (as specified in the solicitation), ECGs, x-rays (excluding invasive procedures, MRIs, CT and ultrasound), podiatry services, dietitian services, mental health services provided by a licensed social worker (LSW), and various telehealth offerings. Physicians providing primary care services under this contract shall demonstrate evidence of education, training, and experience in Internal Medicine and/or Family Practice. All contract employees must be United States citizens or permanent residents. Personnel assigned by Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall be licensed in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia. All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be current, full and unrestricted licenses. No physician assigned by Contractor shall have ever had a medical license suspended, revoked or limited by a State, Territory, Commonwealth or the District of Columbia. VHA is implementing a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model at all VHA Primary Care sites which is referred to as Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). This initiative supports VHA's Universal Health Care Services Plan to redesign VHA healthcare delivery through increasing access, coordination, communication, and continuity of care. PACT provides accessible, coordinated, comprehensive, patient-centered care, in team based environment including the active involvement of other clinical and non-clinical staff. PACT allows patients to have a more active role in their health care and is associated with increased quality improvement, patient satisfaction, and a decrease in hospital costs due to fewer hospital visits and readmissions. CBOC staff must participate in various PACT training events, such as VISN04 and national teleconferences and educational forums and other off-site training opportunities that may arise, (e.g., Transformational Learning Centers of Excellence).