Q501--Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Services MRN (VA-22-00050887)

Amendment to origianal Sources Sought 36C25522Q0204 with Original Response Date: Mar 25, 2022 04:00 pm CDT. The new Response Date now reads: April 26, 2022 04:00 pm CDT. Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 15 intends to issue Request for Quotations (RFQ) 36C25522Q0204. The Veterans Health Care System of Marion VAMC, Illinois has a requirement for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Services. The Contractor shall provide 2 FTE CRNA personnel on an as-needed basis. The contract personnel will have access to and the use of all required patient care equipment, supplies, and computer access for performing services required by this contract to veterans who require anesthesia services at the Marion, IL VAMC, 2401 West Main, Marion, IL 62959. The duration of the requirement is anticipated to be a five-year term 08/31/2022 07/30/2027 (using Ordering Periods). The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code applicable to this acquisition is 561320. The Small Business Size Standard for this acquisition is $30.0M. The Product Service Code (PSC) is Q501 Medical- Anesthesiology. The solicitation will be issued as unrestricted. The solicitation is projected to be issued on or around April 26, 2022. Potential offerors may obtain a copy of solicitation on-line at https://beta.sam.gov/ Please hold questions until the actual release of the solicitation. All potential offerors are encouraged to read over the entire solicitation package including attachments before submitting questions. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All responsible offerors are invited to submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. All interested companies must be registered in SAM (http://www.sam.gov/) to be eligible for award of government contracts. Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) must be registered in VETBIZ (http://vip.vetbiz.gov). It is the responsibility of the offerors to check the website periodically for any amendments/notices to the solicitation. No individual notification of amendments/notices will be provided. SOURCE: https://beta.sam.gov/. Telephone requests for information or questions will NOT be accepted. The point of contact is Stephen Showers; Stephen.showers@va.gov. Contracting Office Address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15, 3450 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048. The Contractor shall provide 2 FTE CRNA personnel on an as-needed, basis for the Marion VAMC. The contract personnel will have access to and the use of all required patient care equipment, supplies, and computer access for performing services required by this contract. All services shall be provided in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein. The Contractor shall provide care at the Marion VAMC, 2401 West Main Street, Marion, IL 62959 and must actually be performing the required services for the period specified in the contract for services to be reimbursed. Services performed at other than the VA site assigned will not be reimbursed. Hours of service must be documented on time and attendance records and attached to the invoice for review and certification by the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) in order for the Contractor to be compensated. The Contractor employee shall not receive compensation from the VA of any hours such as sick leave, holiday leave or annual leave. The Contractor employee may be required to perform work on federal holidays. The Contractor s CRNA assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this BPA shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia) when services are performed onsite on VA property. All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contractor s CRNA(s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this BPA. The Contractor s CRNA assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this BPA shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia) when services are performed onsite on VA property. All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contractor s CRNA(s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this BPA. Contractor s CRNA(s) shall be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or equivalency. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance. Credentialing and Clinical privileges/scope of practice must be recommended by the Chief of Staff and Professional Standards Board and granted by the Director of VAMC, prior to the provision of any service under this contract. The contractor and provider working under this contract must provide complete credentialing and privileging information in a timely, expeditious way to the VA Network Credentialing Office. The task order is contingent on the ability of the CRNA to be credentialed by the VA Network Credentialing Office. The Medical Center s Professional Standards Board and the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff must recommend the provider for approval of clinical privileges. Prior to the start of the credentialing process, the provider shall insure that the credentialing package received by VISN 15 is complete. When applicable, this shall include verification of VISA status. The credentialing process will not begin until a complete package is received by VISN 15 credentialing. The credentialing process shall be considered complete only upon final approval of the credentialing package by the Professional Standards Board of the VA facility where services are to be provided. Clinical privileges must be facility specific, according to The Joint Commission and VA regulations. It is understood that a provider will only be privileged (and) thus permitted to work) for the specific VISN 15 facility that conducted the Professional Standards Board and approved the provider s credentials and request for clinical privileges. Contractor s CRNA(s)is not credentialed and privileged or has credentials/privileges suspended or revoked, the Contractor shall furnish an acceptable substitute without any additional cost to the government. All contract personnel will have a minimum of one-year direct patient care experience within the last three years in the field. Contractor s CRNA(s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all Contractor s CRNA(s)and Contractor s CRNA(s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations (referenced herein) that govern medical staff behavior. Contractor shall provide the COR copies of current CMEs as required or requested by the VAMC. Contractor s CRNA(s) registered or certified by national/medical associations shall continue to meet the minimum standards for CME to remain current. These documents are required for both privileging and re-privileging. Failure to provide shall result in loss of privileges for Contractor s CRNA(s). Contractor shall meet all VA educational requirements and mandatory course requirements defined herein but not limited to; all training must be completed by the contractor s CRNA(s) as required by the VA. Other training may become required. VA will communicate any changes to the training requirement to the contractor. Standard Personnel Testing (PPD, etc.): Contractor shall provide proof of the following tests for CNRA(s) within five (5) calendar days after contract award and prior to the first duty shift to the COR and Contracting Officer. Tests shall be current within the past year. Contractor shall provide proof of a negative Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for all Contractor s CRNA(s). A negative chest radiographic report for active tuberculosis shall be provided in cases of positive TST or IGRA results. The TST or IGRA testing shall be repeated annually. Quaufopheron Test. Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor CRNA. Contractors shall provide proof of immunity for all Contractor CRNA. Contractors shall provide proof of 1 dose of Tdap vaccination for all Contractor CRNA. Contractors shall provide proof that all Contractor CRNA(s) have received the annual Influenza vaccine unless it is contraindicated. If the Contractor CRNA has a medical contraindication to the vaccine, they shall be required to wear a mask during the Influenza season. Contractor shall provide evidence of completing and passing generic self-study blood-borne pathogen training for all Contractor s CRNA(s); provide their own Hepatitis B vaccination series and hepatitis B surface antigen test results following the hepatitis B vaccination series; maintain an exposure determination and control plan; maintain required records; and ensure that proper follow-up evaluation is provided following an exposure incident. Contractor employees who work in or travel to VHA locations must comply with the following: If fully vaccinated, contractors shall show proof of vaccination. NOTE: Acceptable proof of vaccination includes a signed record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy, a copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (CDC Form MLS-319813_r, published on September 3, 2020), or a copy of medical records documenting the vaccination. If unvaccinated, contractors shall show negative COVID-19 test results dated within three calendar days prior to desired entry date. Test must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use or full approval. This includes tests available by a doctor s order or an FDA approved over-the-counter test that includes an affiliated telehealth service. Documentation cited in this section shall be digitally or physically maintained on each contractor employee while in a VA facility and is subject to inspection prior to entry to VA facilities and after entry for spot inspections by Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) or other hospital personnel. Documentation will not be collected by the VA; contractors shall, at all times, adhere to and ensure compliance with federal laws designed to protect contractor employee health information and personally identifiable information. Contractor employees are subject to daily screening for COVID-19 and may be denied entry to VA facilities if they fail to pass screening protocols. As part of the screening process contractors may be asked screening questions found on the COVID-19 Screening Tool. Check regularly for updates. Contractor employees who work away from VA locations, but who will have direct contact with VA patients shall self-screen utilizing the COVID-19 Screening Tool, in advance, each day that they will have direct patient contact and in accordance with their person or persons who coordinate COVID-19 workplace safety efforts at covered contractor workplaces. Contractors shall, at all times, adhere to and ensure compliance with federal laws designed to protect contractor employee health information and personally identifiable information. Contractor must immediately notify their COR or Contracting Officer if contract performance is jeopardized due to contractor employees being denied entry into VA Facilities. The VAMC shall notify the Contractor of any significant communicable disease exposures as appropriate. Contractor shall adhere to current CDC/HICPAC Guideline for Infection Control in health care personnel (as published in American Journal for Infection Control- AJIC 1998; 26:289-354 http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/InfectControl98.pdf) for disease control. Contractor shall provide follow up documentation of clearance to return to the workplace prior to their return. The Contractor shall have or obtain appropriate NPI and if pertinent the Taxonomy Code confirmation notice issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) be provided to the Contracting Officer with the proposal. Inherent Government Functions: Contractor and Contractor s CRNA(s) shall not perform inherently governmental functions. This includes, but is not limited to, determination of agency policy, determination of Federal program priorities for budget requests, direction and control of government employees (outside a clinical context), selection or non-selection of individuals for Federal Government employment including the interviewing of individuals for employment, approval of position descriptions and performance standards for Federal employees, approving any contractual documents, approval of Federal licensing actions and inspections, and/or determination of budget policy, guidance, and strategy. The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting Contractor s CRNA(s) furnishing services. To carry out this responsibility, the Contractor shall provide or certify that the following is provided for all their staff providing services under the resultant contract: 2.10.1 Workers compensation 2.10.2 Professional liability insurance 2.10.3 Health examinations 2.10.4 Income tax withholding, and 2.10.5 Social security payments. The VA Full Time Equivalency (FTE) for the services required is 2.0 (number of VA FTE that the resultant contract will provide hours of service coverage for example 2080 hours= 1.0 VA FTE). FTE is defined by VA as a minimum of 80 hours every two weeks and does not include holidays. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing coverage to the VA during periods of vacancies of the Contractor s personnel due to sick leave, personal leave, vacations and additional coverage as required.