Q--NEW - Neuromonitoring Services FY19

Page 30 of 30 Combined Synopsis Solicitation RFQ 36C25720Q0044 Neuromonitoring Equipment and Technician Services North Texas Veterans Health Care System (VANTHCS) 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, Texas 75216 RFQ Issue Date: 11/21/2019 Department of Veterans Affairs NCO17 North Texas Healthcare System NCO 17 Network Contracting Activity 4500 S. Lancaster Road Dallas TX 75216 PCS - Product Service Code: Q999 NAICS - North American Industry Classification System Code: 621399 RFQ - Request for Quotation: 36C25720Q0044 RFQ Issue Date: 11/21/2019 RFQ Closing Response Date: 12/10/2019 Closing Response Time: 1:00 PM Hours Central Time RFQ Point of Contact Robert Moffett Email: Robert.moffett@va.gov Combined Synopsis Solicitation This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number for this requirement which is being issued as an RFQ is: RFQ - Request for Quotation: 36C25720Q0044 The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This solicitation is Unrestricted. The associated NAICS for this solicitation is: NAICS - North American Industry Classification System Code: 621399 Price Cost Schedule - Line Items: Table of Contents B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 4 B.2. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES 5 B.3. DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK 9 B.4. IT CONTRACT SECURITY VA INFORMATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY/PRIVACY 9 SECTION C - CONTRACT CLAUSES 15 C.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 15 SECTION D - CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, OR ATTACHMENTS 21 ATTACHMENT 1 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT NEUROMONITORING SERVICES 21 ATTACHMENT 2 - WAGE DETERMINATION 2015-5227 Rev. 7 21 SECTION E SOLICITATION PROVISIONS 22 SECTION B B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA (continuation from Standard Form 1449, block 18A.) B.1.1. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION: All contract administration matters will be handled by the following individuals: B.1.1.1. CONTRACTOR: B.1.1.2. GOVERNMENT: Robert Moffett Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO17) 124 E. Hwy 67 Suite 100 Duncanville TX 75137 B.1.2. CONTRACTOR REMITTANCE ADDRESS: All payments by the Government to the contractor will be made in accordance with: [X] 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer System for Award Management, or [ ] 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party B.1.3. INVOICES: Invoices shall be submitted in arrears: a. Quarterly [] b. Semi-Annually [] c. Other [X] Monthly (in arrears) B.1.4. GOVERNMENT INVOICE ADDRESS: All Invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests. B.1.5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS: The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the Solicitation numbered and dated as follows: AMENDMENT NO DATE B.2. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES Under the authority of 38 USC 1703, the Contractor shall provide Scarce Medical Services, Neuromonitoring Services, for Veteran beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) North Texas Veterans Health Care System (VANTHCS) in accordance with terms and conditions of this contract. Services shall be performed at North Texas Veterans Health Care System (VANTHCS) located at the following address: North Texas Veterans Health Care System (VANTHCS) 4500 S Lancaster Rd Dallas, TX 75216 The contract effective period of performance shall be for a twelve (12) month base period and four (4) Twelve (12) Month Option Periods. NOTE: The price quoted shall be an all-inclusive Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) rate. Price Cost Schedule - Line Items: Base Year January 1st, 2020 December 31st, 2020 Item Number Description of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 0001 Provide Neuro Monitoring Equipment/Technician Services to Include Intraoperative, Preoperative, Postoperative and Operating Room Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services by a Technical Monitor 200 Each 0002 Hourly Rate for Each Additional Hour of Surgery Beyond Initial 7 Hours 7 Each 0003 Late Scheduling Fee for Surgeries Scheduled After 3 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery 7 Each 0004 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After 5 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery and Before Surgery Time 7 Each 0005 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After the Boarded Surgery Time 7 Each Total Base Year Amount $ Option Year One (OY1) January 1st, 2021 December 31st, 2021 Item Number Description of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 1001 Provide Neuro Monitoring Equipment/Technician Services to Include Intraoperative, Preoperative, Postoperative and Operating Room Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services by a Technical Monitor 200 Each 1002 Hourly Rate for Each Additional Hour of Surgery Beyond Initial 7 Hours 7 Each 1003 Late Scheduling Fee for Surgeries Scheduled After 3 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery 7 Each 1004 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After 5 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery and Before Surgery Time 7 Each 1005 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After the Boarded Surgery Time 7 Each Total Option Year One Amount $ Option Year Two (OY2) January 1st, 2022 December 31st, 2022 Item Number Description of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 2001 Provide Neuro Monitoring Equipment/Technician Services to Include Intraoperative, Preoperative, Postoperative and Operating Room Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services by a Technical Monitor 200 Each 2002 Hourly Rate for Each Additional Hour of Surgery Beyond Initial 7 Hours 7 Each 2003 Late Scheduling Fee for Surgeries Scheduled After 3 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery 7 Each 2004 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After 5 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery and Before Surgery Time 7 Each 2005 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After the Boarded Surgery Time 7 Each Total Option Year Two Amount $ Option Year Three (OY3) January 1st, 2023 December 31st, 2023 Item Number Description of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 3001 Provide Neuro Monitoring Equipment/Technician Services to Include Intraoperative, Preoperative, Postoperative and Operating Room Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services by a Technical Monitor 200 Each 3002 Hourly Rate for Each Additional Hour of Surgery Beyond Initial 7 Hours 7 Each 3003 Late Scheduling Fee for Surgeries Scheduled After 3 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery 7 Each 3004 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After 5 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery and Before Surgery Time 7 Each 3005 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After the Boarded Surgery Time 7 Each Total Option Year Three Amount $ Option Year Four (OY4) January 1st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 Item Number Description of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 4001 Provide Neuro Monitoring Equipment/Technician Services to Include Intraoperative, Preoperative, Postoperative and Operating Room Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services by a Technical Monitor 200 Each 4002 Hourly Rate for Each Additional Hour of Surgery Beyond Initial 7 Hours 7 Each 4003 Late Scheduling Fee for Surgeries Scheduled After 3 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery 7 Each 4004 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After 5 P.M. of the Day Preceding Surgery and Before Surgery Time 7 Each 4005 Cancellation Fee if Services are Cancelled After the Boarded Surgery Time 7 Each Total Option Year Four Amount $ B.3. DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK B.3.1 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT: See Attachment One Performance Work Statement: Neuromonitoring Services B.4. IT CONTRACT SECURITY VA INFORMATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY/PRIVACY B.4.1. GENERAL: Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA directives and Handbooks. B.4.2. CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: B.4.2.1. All Contractor employees having or requiring access to the Department of Veterans Affairs' computer systems or to sensitive data (to include patient or beneficiary records), shall be the subject of a background investigation and must receive a favorable adjudication from the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement prior to contract performance. This requirement is applicable to all subcontractor personnel requiring the same access. B.4.2.2. The Contracting Officer will provide the appropriate number of Background Investigation packages to the Contractor for completion. The complete package must be submitted by the Contractor will all employee information within five (5) calendar days of receipt. B.4.2.3. Contractor staff shall not begin performance until notification is received from the Contracting Officer that the Security Package has been received and is considered a complete package. It is not necessary that the full investigation be complete prior to commencement of work. However, if the investigation is not completed prior to the start date of the contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for the actions of those individuals they provide to perform work for VA. B.4.2.3.1 Position Sensitivity - The position sensitivity has been designated as Low Risk. B.4.2.3.2 Background Investigation - The level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access is Minimum Background Investigation. B.4.2.3.3. Contractor Responsibilities B.4.2.3.3.1. The Contractor shall bear the expense of obtaining background investigations. The VA is responsible for payment to the Security Investigations Center; however upon final payment, the VA will submit a Bill of Collections to the contractor. The Contractor is responsible for reimbursement to the VA within 30 calendar days. The current cost for a low risk background investigation is $231 per case. B.4.2.3.3.2. The Contractor, when notified of an unfavorable determination by the Government, shall withdraw the employee from consideration from working under the contract. B.4.2.3.3.3. Failure to comply with the contractor personnel security requirements may result in termination of the contract for default. B.4.2.3.4. Fingerprinting Requirements Contractor/subcontractor employees will be required to have fingerprints taken as part of the background Investigation process. The preferred method of obtaining fingerprints is to have them taken electronically at the Human Resources Service at a VA facility. If fingerprints cannot be obtained at a VA facility, the Contracting Officer will provide the Contractor with a Form FD258 fingerprint chart, which can be taken to any local police station for fingerprints. However, local entities may assess a fee for this service. B.4.3. ACCESS TO VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEMS B.4.3.1. A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order. B.4.3.2. All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program. The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures. B.4.3.3. The contractor or subcontractor must notify the Contracting Officer immediately when an employee working on a VA system or with access to VA information is reassigned or leaves the contractor or subcontractor s employ. The Contracting Officer must also be notified immediately by the contractor or subcontractor prior to an unfriendly termination. B.4.4. VA INFORMATION CUSTODIAL LANGUAGE B.4.4.1. Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/ subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data - General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1). B.4.4.2. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management and its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract. B.4.4.3 The contractor/subcontractor must receive, gather, store, back up, maintain, use, disclose and dispose of VA information only in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable Federal and VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies. If Federal or VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies become applicable to the VA information or information systems after execution of the contract, or if NIST issues or updates applicable FIPS or Special Publications (SP) after execution of this contract, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to implement the information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies in this contract. B.4.4.4. The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement. B.4.4.5. If VA determines that the contractor has violated any of the information confidentiality, privacy, and security provisions of the contract, it shall be sufficient grounds for VA to withhold payment to the contractor or third party or terminate the contract for default or terminate for cause under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12. B.4.4.6. The contractor/subcontractor must store, transport, or transmit VA sensitive information in an encrypted form, using VA-approved encryption tools that are, at a minimum, FIPS 140-2 validated. B.4.4.7. Except for uses and disclosures of VA information authorized by this contract for performance of the contract, the contractor/subcontractor may use and disclose VA information only in two other situations: (i) in response to a qualifying order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) with VA s prior written approval. The contractor/subcontractor must refer all requests for, demands for production of, or inquiries about, VA information and information systems to the VA contracting officer for response. B.4.5. SECURITY INCIDENT INVESTIGATION B.4.5.1. The term security incident means an event that has, or could have, resulted in unauthorized access to, loss or damage to VA assets, or sensitive information, or an action that breaches VA security procedures. The contractor/subcontractor shall immediately notify the COR and simultaneously, the designated ISO and Privacy Officer for the contract of any known or suspected security/privacy incidents, or any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including that contained in system(s) to which the contractor/subcontractor has access. B.4.5.2. To the extent known by the contractor/subcontractor, the contractor/ subcontractor s notice to VA shall identify the information involved, the circumstances surrounding the incident (including to whom, how, when, and where the VA information or assets were placed at risk or compromised), and any other information that the contractor/subcontractor considers relevant. B.4.5.3. With respect to unsecured protected health information, the business associate is deemed to have discovered a data breach when the business associate knew or should have known of a breach of such information. Upon discovery, the business associate must notify the covered entity of the breach. Notifications need to be made in accordance with the executed business associate agreement. B.4.5.4. In instances of theft or break-in or other criminal activity, the contractor/ subcontractor must concurrently report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement entity (or entities) of jurisdiction, including the VA OIG and Security and Law Enforcement. The contractor, its employees, and its subcontractors and their employees shall cooperate with VA and any law enforcement authority responsible for the investigation and prosecution of any possible criminal law violation(s) associated with any incident. The contractor/subcontractor shall cooperate with VA in any civil litigation to recover VA information, obtain monetary or other compensation from a third party for damages arising from any incident, or obtain injunctive relief against any third party arising from, or related to, the incident. B.4.6. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR DATA BREACH B.4.6.1. Consistent with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. - 5725, a contract may require access to sensitive personal information. If so, the contractor is liable to VA for liquidated damages in the event of a data breach or privacy incident involving any SPI the contractor/subcontractor processes or maintains under this contract. However, it is the policy of VA to forgo collection of liquidated damages in the event the contractor provides payment of actual damages in an amount determined to be adequate by the agency. B.4.6.2. The contractor/subcontractor shall provide notice to VA of a security incident as set forth in the Security Incident Investigation section above. Upon such notification, VA must secure from a non-Department entity or the VA Office of Inspector General an independent risk analysis of the data breach to determine the level of risk associated with the data breach for the potential misuse of any sensitive personal information involved in the data breach. The term 'data breach' means the loss, theft, or other unauthorized access, or any access other than that incidental to the scope of employment, to data containing sensitive personal information, in electronic or printed form, that results in the potential compromise of the confidentiality or integrity of the data. Contractor shall fully cooperate with the entity performing the risk analysis. Failure to cooperate may be deemed a material breach and grounds for contract termination. B.4.6.3. Each risk analysis shall address all relevant information concerning the data breach, including the following: B.4.6.3.1. Nature of the event (loss, theft, unauthorized access); B.4.6.3.2. Description of the event, including: B.4.6.3.2.1. Date of occurrence; B.4.6.3.2.2. Data elements involved, including any PII, such as full name, social security number, date of birth, home address, account number, disability code; B.4.6.3.2.3. Number of individuals affected or potentially affected; B.4.6.3.2.4. Names of individuals or groups affected or potentially affected; B.4.6.3.2.5. Ease of logical data access to the lost, stolen or improperly accessed data in light of the degree of protection for the data, e.g., unencrypted, plain text; B.4.6.3.2.6 Amount of time the data has been out of VA control; B.4.6.3.2.7. The likelihood that the sensitive personal information will or has been compromised (made accessible to and usable by unauthorized persons); B.4.6.3.2.8. Known misuses of data containing sensitive personal information, if any; B.4.6.3.2.9. Assessment of the potential harm to the affected individuals; B.4.6.3.2.10 Data breach analysis as outlined in 6500.2 Handbook, Management of Security and Privacy Incidents, as appropriate; and B.4.6.3.2.11 Whether credit protection services may assist record subjects in avoiding or mitigating the results of identity theft based on the sensitive personal information that may have been compromised. B.4.6.4. Based on the determinations of the independent risk analysis, the contractor shall be responsible for paying to the VA liquidated damages in the amount of $37.50 per affected individual to cover the cost of providing credit protection services to affected individuals consisting of the following: B.4.6.4.1. Notification B.4.6.4.2. One year of credit monitoring services consisting of automatic daily monitoring of at least 3 relevant credit bureau reports; B.4.6.4.3. Data breach analysis; B.4.6.4.4. Fraud resolution services, including writing dispute letters, initiating fraud alerts and credit freezes, to assist affected individuals to bring matters to resolution; B.4.6.4.5. One year of identity theft insurance with $20,000.00 coverage at $0 deductible; and B.4.6.4.6. Necessary legal expenses the subjects may incur to repair falsified or damaged credit records, histories, or financial affairs. B.4.7. SECURITY CONTROLS COMPLIANCE TESTING On a periodic basis, VA, including the Office of Inspector General, reserves the right to evaluate any or all of the security controls and privacy practices implemented by the contractor under the clauses contained within the contract. With 10 working-days notice, at the request of the government, the contractor must fully cooperate and assist in a government-sponsored security controls assessment at each location wherein VA information is processed or stored, or information systems are developed, operated, maintained, or used on behalf of VA, including those initiated by the Office of Inspector General. The government may conduct a security control assessment on shorter notice (to include unannounced assessments) as determined by VA in the event of a security incident or at any other time. B.4.8. TRAINING B.4.8.1. All contractor employees and subcontractor employees requiring access to VA information and VA information systems shall complete the following before being granted access to VA information and its systems: B.4.8.1.1. Sign and acknowledge (either manually or electronically) understanding of and responsibilities for compliance with the Contractor Rules of Behavior, Appendix E relating to access to VA information and information systems; B.4.8.1.2. Successfully complete the VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training and annually complete required security training; B.4.8.1.3. Successfully complete the VA Privacy and HIPPA (10203) training and annually complete required privacy training; and B.4.8.1.4. Successfully complete any additional cyber security or privacy training, as required for VA personnel with equivalent information system access [to be defined by the VA program official and provided to the contracting officer for inclusion in the solicitation document e.g., any role-based information security training required in accordance with NIST Special Publication 800-16, Information Technology Security Training Requirements.] B.4.8.2. The contractor shall provide to the contracting officer and/or the COR a copy of the training certificates and certification of signing the Contractor Rules of Behavior for each applicable employee within 1 week of the initiation of the contract and annually thereafter, as required. B.4.8.3. Failure to complete the mandatory annual training and sign the Rules of Behavior annually, within the timeframe required, is grounds for suspension or termination of all physical or electronic access privileges and removal from work on the contract until such time as the training and documents are complete. SECTION C - CONTRACT CLAUSES C.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/ C.2 FAR CLAUSES BY REFERENCE: 52.203-16 Preventing Personal Conflicts of Interest (DEC 2011) 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights (APR 2014) 52.204-4 Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper (MAY 2011) 52.204-9 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel (JAN 2011) 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (OCT 2018) 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (OCT 2018) 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders Commercial Items 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification (APR 1984) 52.224-2 Privacy Act (APR 1984) 52.227-14 Rights in Data-General (MAY 2014) 52.228-5 Insurance-Work on a Government Installation (JAN 1997) C.3 FAR CLAUSES BY FULL-TEXT: 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999) The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 Days (End of Clause) 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000) (a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 Days; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 45 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension. (b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause. (c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 53 (months). (End of clause) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html (FAR) http://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/index.asp(VAAR) (End of Clause) 852.203-70 Commercial Advertising (MAY 2008) The Contractor shall not make reference in its commercial advertising to Department of Veterans Affairs contracts in a manner that states or implies the Department of Veterans Affairs approves or endorses the Contractor s products or services or considers the Contractor s products or services superior to other products or services. (End of clause) 852.211-72 Technical Industry Standards (NOV 2018) (a) The Contractor shall conform to the standards established by: American College of Radiology (b)The Contractor shall submit proof of conformance to the standard. This proof may be a label or seal affixed to the equipment or supplies, warranting that the item(s) have been tested in accordance with the standards and meet the contract requirement. Proof may also be furnished by the organization listed above certifying that the item(s) furnished have been tested in accordance with and conform to the specified standards. (c) Offerors may obtain the standards cited in this provision by submitting a request, including the solicitation number, title and number of the publication to: American College of Radiology at info@acr.org (End of Clause) 852.228-71 Indemnification and Insurance (MAR 2018) (a) Indemnification. The contractor expressly agrees to indemnify and save the Government, its officers, agents, servants, and employees harmless from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, injury, and liability, however caused, resulting from, arising out of, or in any way connected with the performance of work under this contract. Further, it is agreed that any negligence or alleged negligence of the Government, its officers, agents, servants, and employees, shall not be a bar to a claim for indemnification unless the act or omission of the Government, its officers, agents, servants, and employees is the sole, competent, and producing cause of such claims, loss, damage, injury, and liability. At the option of the Contractor, and subject to the approval by the Contracting Officer, insurance coverage may be employed as guaranty of indemnification. (b) Insurance. Satisfactory insurance coverage is a condition precedent to award of this contract. In general, a successful bidder must present satisfactory evidence of full compliance with State and local requirements, or those below stipulated, whichever are the greater. More specifically, workers compensation and employer s liability coverage will conform to applicable State law requirements for the service defined, whereas general liability and automobile liability of comprehensive type shall, in the absence of higher statutory minimums, be required in the amounts per vehicle used of not less than $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage. State-approved sources of insurance coverage ordinarily will be deemed acceptable to the Department of Veterans Affairs, subject to timely certifications by such sources of the types and limits of the coverages afforded by the sources to the bidder. (End of clause) 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (NOV 2018) a) Definitions. As used in this clause (1) Contract financing payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001; (2) Designated agency office means the office designated by the purchase order, agreement, or contract to first receive and review invoices. This office can be contractually designated as the receiving entity. This office may be different from the office issuing the payment; (3) Electronic form means an automated system transmitting information electronically according to the accepted electronic data transmission methods and formats identified in paragraph (c) of this clause. Facsimile, email, and scanned documents are not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests; (4) Invoice payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001; and (5) Payment request means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment submitted by the Contractor under this contract. (b) Electronic payment requests. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests in electronic form. Purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial purchase card are considered to be an electronic transaction for purposes of this rule, and therefore no additional electronic invoice submission is required. (c) Data transmission. A Contractor must ensure that the data transmission method and format are through one of the following: (1) VA's Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System at the current website address provided in the contract. (2) Any system that conforms to the X12 electronic data interchange (EDI) formats established by the Accredited Standards Center (ASC) and chartered by the ...