RFI - Peace Corps - Medical Evacuation Services

This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes only and it not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this sources sought will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The US Peace Corps will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative as a result of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. President Kennedy formed the Peace Corps with an executive order on March 1, 1961 and in 1979, it was made a fully independent federal agency. Since its founding, more than 200,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in 139 developing countries that request assistance. The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship through service to others. Peace Corps Volunteers live and work within the community they serve abroad, learning the local language, and contributing skills. This technical assistance is one of three goals of the Peace Corps. The other two revolve around cross-cultural understanding gained as the people of other countries begin to understand an American as well as the cultural experience brought back and shared when the Volunteer returns home. More information about Peace Corps can be found on our web site at www.peacecorps.gov. The US Peace Corps is performing market research for a "Medical Evacuation Services" activity. The Peace Corps Office of Medical Services (OMS) has an ongoing requirement for the services of air-ambulance service provider to provide assistance in the event of a medical emergency for Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) who are either working or traveling abroad. Emergency medical evacuation is used for acute, life- limb- and organ-threatening emergencies that require emergency medical evacuation by a chartered aircraft to ensure timely delivery of care. In the case of these emergencies, Peace Corps OMS will request the services of an air ambulance contractor to evacuate a Volunteer. Emergency air evacuations require a coordinated effort between the overseas Peace Corps post, OMS, and the air ambulance contractor. The contractor must accept referrals for such services 24 hours per day 7 days per week via telephone or other secure electronic means. The Peace Corps is seeking information from the current commercial air ambulance providers as part of ongoing market research. We are requesting responses, via email or Windows compatible attachment, on or before February 15, 2013 2 PM ET to the following inquiries as part of market research. If necessary, please include any marketing materials as a windows compatible email attachment. 1. What is your business name, address, point of contact, web site address, DUNs number? 2. What is your business size classification (i.e. small, veteran owned)? 3. What is your NAICS code? 4. Does your business maintain any relevant accreditation related to medical evacuation services? If so, please provide additional information. 5. Does your company have access to aircraft hubs located outside the US? If so, please provide a brief explanation of how you would provide a global response to a medical evacuation of a Peace Corps Volunteer. 6. Is your company the sole provider of the air ambulance services, or do you sub contract/partner with other organizations? 7. Does your company have experience doing worldwide emergency medical evacuations? Does your company have experience doing regional emergency medical evacuations? Can you company perform both global and regional emergency medical evacuations? 8. Does your company take medically evacuated patients to accredited (i.e. Joint Commission International) hospitals and facilities? If so, which accreditation standard if followed for the hospitals and facilities? 9. Do the companies only use accredited aircrafts/flight crews/medical personnel for emergency medical evacuations? 10. Have you provided these services to other Government agencies or private sector organizations? If so, what type of contractual vehicle was utilized? 11. Please provide any additional feedback or comments to the Peace Corps regarding this notice. Please provide a written response via email and windows compatible attachments to Kathleen Reidy, Procurement Analyst at KReidy@peacecorps.gov on or before February 15, 2013 2 PM EST.