Request for Information Air Force Medical Service Commodity Council (AFMSCC) Temporary Medical Staffing

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the government to acquire any product or services. It does not guarantee a subsequent solicitation will be issued. Submission of any information in response to this RFI is completely voluntary, and costs associated with any submission shall not be reimbursed by the Government. The information requested will be used by the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) to facilitate decision making. The Air Force Medical Service Commodity Council (AFMSCC) is seeking sources and relevant data to strategically procure temporary medical staffing (TMS) services in military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) at geographically-dispersed Air Force installations in the 50 United States and its territories. The work will supplement clinical services provided by DoD military personnel, DoD civilian employees, or other contract staff. The mission of the AFMSCC is to strategically acquire AFMS requirements by defining common specifications and leveraging resources. The Government has not reached a firm definition of the time period for temporary medical staffing and seeks input to determine how best to align its requirements with industry capabilities. Currently the Government has temporary requirements for less than a month, but that do not exceed 364 days. The majority of the requirements are in the 180-210 day range. Our requirements are in the area of Clinical Support Services. Clinical Support Services can be any occupation that engages in direct patient care activities such as physicians, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists and laboratory professionals. They will be sought to meet temporary staffing needs. In accordance with DFARS 237.104, agencies may acquire personal services contracts for health care as authorized by 10 U.S.C. 1091 include the following: (1) Direct health care services provided in medical treatment facilities; (2) Health care services at locations outside of medical treatment facilities (such as the provision of medical screening examinations at military entrance processing stations); and (3) Services of clinical counselors, family advocacy program staff, and victim's services representatives to members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries who require such services, provided in medical treatment facilities or elsewhere. Persons with whom a personal services contract may be entered into under this authority include clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other comparable professionals who have advanced degrees in counseling or related academic disciplines and who meet all requirements for State licensure and board certification requirements, if any, within their fields of specialization. Currently, these services are typically procured, when needed, by each facility using; a local base contracting office, other contracting offices at other bases, centralized contracts, and other non-agency contracts. By leveraging resources, defining common requirements and specifications, we will simplify the acquisition process and reduce the lead time in the ordering process for the requesting location. There has not been any determination concerning the number, scope and geographic coverage of requirements associated with this area of interest. The AFMSCC seeks to learn from industry the unique aspects or procedures mandated for recruiting, placing and retaining clinical support services to meet temporary staffing needs across the AFMS. Preliminary research suggests that the scope of the contracts might exceed the capabilities of small business; however, we seek large and small business respondents who are currently conducting business or providing similar services. The input will help us ascertain the interest, capability, and capacity of all potential offerors. Reviews of available North American Industrial Classification (NAICS) codes/ spend (3 year average annual receipts) suggest these are potential classifications: - 561311 - Employment Placement Agencies/$7M - 561320 - Temporary Help Services/$13.5M - 621111 - Office of Physicians/$10M - 621112 - Office of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists/$10M - 621210 - Office of Dentists/ $7M - 621330 - Office of Mental Health Practitioners, except Physicians/$7M - 621399 - Office of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners/$7M - 621493 - Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers/$10M - 621999 - All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services/$10M - 622110 - General Medical and Surgical Hospitals/$34.5M We are seeking comments on our NAICS code selection as well. If you are an interested large or small business, please complete the attached questionnaire http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CL6JRY7 . Completing this survey will provide the name, phone number, and e-mail address of a company representative that the Government may contact for additional information. Notice: The Air Force has non-government employees (i.e. contractor employees) assisting with its market research. These non-government employees, who have all signed nondisclosure agreements, will have access to industry responses. Information gained through this RFI will be used to further define the AFMS requirements. Individual capability briefs will not be accepted at this time. Interested parties are urged to monitor the official Government Point of Entry at www.fedbizopps.gov for future announcements regarding AFMS needs. It is the responsibility of interested parties to check this site regularly for any changes or updates. Vendors can subscribe to the FedBizOpps Vendor Notification Service to receive emails notifying them of all notices for a particular solicitation number, all notices from selected organizations and product service classifications (NAICS codes) or all procurement notices. To register for this service, click on "Vendor Notification Service" at the FedBizOpps home page. Then click on the subscription option desired and follow the instructions. This service is provided for convenience only and does not serve as a guarantee of notification. Subscribers to this list service are ultimately responsible for reviewing the Federal Business Opportunities site for all information relevant to desired acquisitions. Please note that the government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this RFI. Please complete the survey no later than 25 May 2011 and address any questions with the listed POCs.