Q--EAP Program Services Base plus 4 year Option

Questions and Answers as of 11/26/2014: 1. Who is the current EAP provider? It was a large business locally. 2. What is the current contracted cost for EAP services? 12,000-40,000 range 3. What was the utilization for the EAP for the past 2 years? FY 2014 thru 6/2014 (3rd qtr - 118 new & pre-existing; FY 2013 - 72; FY 2012 - 120 4. Page 3 (Statement of Work, Location Where Services Will be Performed). We are a national EAP provider and use a network model. While we do not physically have an office in Tuscaloosa we have several providers in our network of master's and doctorate-level licensed mental health professionals with private practices in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas that would provide face-to-face EAP counseling services. Also, because we use a network of providers in private practice, we do not have offices with class rooms or conferences rooms as mentioned in with SOW. When we conduct trainings/seminars for our customers, we send a local trainer onsite to the workplace, which generally would be much more convenient for the VA than having employees go offsite. Is this acceptable? EAP facility must have classrooms, conference rooms and play areas for child services and multiple, secure, private offices to accommodate several clients at one time. Also must be able to provide workshops for all shifts, day, evening and nights. Contractor staff must be available 24/7 to provide onsite crisis management services. 5. Page 10 of the RFP (Scope of Work) mentions the Program Coordinator notifying the COR if drug testing is needed. Please clarify if and how the EAP is to be involved in the VAMC's alcohol and drug testing beyond an employee who tests positive being referred to the EAP for assessment, referral, counseling and case management. An employee who test positive for illegal drugs must be referred to an Employee Assistance Program for assessment, counseling and referral for treatment or rehabilitation. EAP provides to the employee written verification of attendance, completion of counseling and if needed, referral to a treatment or rehabilitation center. The employee should provide the verifications to his/her supervisor and the supervisor should forward a copy of the verification to the Drug Free Workplace Coordinator to ensure the employee's attendance and compliance with the program. If EAP determines that the employee requires treatment or rehabilitation beyond counseling, the treating facility should provide verification to the employee to provide to his/her supervisor who should forward this information to the Drug Free Workplace Coordinator to ensure compliance with EAP's recommendation to seek further assistance from a treatment or rehabilitation center. Once an employee completes an EAP and/or treatment/rehabilitation program, he/she is subject to unannounced follow-up testing for a period of one year at a frequency of at least six times per year or per an amount stipulated in any applicable abeyance agreement. If there is an abeyance agreement the Drug Free Workplace Coordinator should be notified of the specifics. Follow-up testing is completed through a separate random pool maintained by the agency's Drug Free Workplace Coordinator and is carried out in the same manner as any other random test of employees. I do not know of any reason for the COR to be notified and EAP does not order any drug testing. 6. Page 44 of the RFP, can you please clarify the evaluation criteria? There seems to be some information missing from section (a) under E.1 52.212-2. PRICE , TECHNICAL AND PAST PERFORMANCE 7. Can the deadline of 11/28 be extended, given 11/27, is a federal holiday to ensure there is enough time to prepare proposals in accordance with any questions and answers that have not yet been posted? I extended to 12.05.2014 Thank you,