R608--On-Site Sign Language Interpreter Services for the Wilkes Barre VAMC and associated CBOCs

Could you please tell me if the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation posted as solicitation number 36C24420Q0772 will be a follow-on requirement to any work performed currently or in the past, or will this be a new requirement? The services requested under this solicitation is a new requirement. If possible, can you please provide the most recent contract or task order number? N/A, not a previously awarded requirement. Can companies from Outside USA apply for this? (like,from India or Canada) Foreign offerors that submit a quote shall not be a prohibited source as identified in FAR 25.7 Whether we need to come over there for meetings? Meetings relating to the resulting award would, to the extent practicable would be held by phone. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada) All interpreter services under this contract shall be performed on-site, in-person. Can we submit the proposals via email? Yes, quotes may be submitted electronically via email in accordance with the instructions listed in the combined synopsis/solicitation document. Which countries are eligible to participate? Foreign offerors that submit a quote shall not be a prohibited source as identified in FAR 25.7 What are the tendering procedures and guidelines? All instructions for submitting a quote for this requirement can be found in the Instructions to Offerors section of the combined synopsis/solicitation document. Will there be an extension to the bidding deadline? Should there be an extension to the deadline to submit quotes for this requirement it will be identified via amendment to the original synopsis/solicitation document. Is there an incumbent vendor for this bid? If so, please name the incumbent(s). There is no incumbent for this requirement, the requirement is new. If there is an incumbent, at what rates are services being offered? - N/A, this is a new requirement. If there was a previous vendor did rates vary by location or was there one rate for the entire state? If no previous vendor would VA consider rates varying by location? For the purposes of this requirement the VA is looking for a single fixed rate for these services. Can Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) provide us with volume estimates for interpreting services that will be required as part of any contract resulting from this RFP? The estimated volume is 46 visits per year where one (1) visit equals one (1) hour of services. The price schedule attachment has been updated to reflect this information which was improperly marked in the original document. Approximately how many hours of interpreting will be required, broken down by location? This service will be performed on an as needed basis, the date/time/location where the services will be required will not be determined until the need arises though the course of the contract. Can the VAMC provide us with historical usage data for the interpreting services requested as part of this RFP, broken down by location? This is a new requirement, historical data is not available. Would the VAMC be interested in Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) either as a supplement to or substitute for on-site interpreting services? No, the VA will only accept on-site, in-person interpreter services. Your pricing schedule uses the abbreviation MO for the unit of measure. Can VAMC clarify what MO stands for? ASL is normally billed by the hour. Will the VAMC accept alternative pricing such as pricing by the hour? This should be listed as hour (HR) and is listed as such in the updated price schedule document attached to this amendment. Would VAMC allow for transportation costs and time in transit in their pricing? Pricing should be quoted as a single fixed rate. If these prices are factored into the fixed price a separate document may be provided in order to help justify fair and reasonable pricing during evaluation. ASL is normally billed with a two-hour on-site minimum. Would this be acceptable to VAMC? Price proposal shall be all inclusive to perform services on-site for periods that are typically an hour long. If the cost of transportation is included in that cost a breakdown of the fixed price is requested. What in lieu of ASLPI level for measuring proficiency is acceptable? For example, what RID test level is considered equivalent? Equivalencies are not being accepted for the purpose of this contract. All requirements listed in the PWS shall be adhered to. In your solicitation there is the following factor: 852.215 70, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factors. - Can VAMC clarify the meaning of same or similar value in the requirement that vendors should substitute one or more SDVOSBs or VOSBs for subcontract work of the same or similar value. Does this refer to competitive pricing of subcontractors? This refers to the fact that the VA would like contractors to utilize VOSBs or SDVOSBs to the maximum extent practicable if they are able to provide the same or similar value service to a non-VOSB/SDVOSB subcontractor.