V--BECKLEY VAMC AMBULANCE SERVICE

This is sources sought announcement only. The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research and obtain information from qualified potential offerors. No formal solicitation document exists at this time. The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Beckley, 200 Veterans Ave, Beckley, WV has a requirement for a contractor to provide all personnel and equipment associated with basic and advanced life support Ambulance Services, twenty-four hours per day, 365 days per year, on an as-needed basis for beneficiaries in the service area of the Beckley VA Medical Center. The NAICS code for this procurement is 621910, Ambulance Services. Standard size is $15.0M. THIS IS NOT THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: (a) The VA Medical Center, Beckley, N.C. has 90 beds tertiary care facility also provides ambulatory services to those veterans not requiring hospitalization. (b) The contract will include a requirement for Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and Critical Care Truck Services. The contractor shall furnish 24 hour ambulance service for the beneficiaries of the VAMC on an as needed basis. (c) The contractor shall have all necessary licenses, permits and medical control required by the W.V. Office of EMS to perform all levels of advanced life support services required in order to provide ALS services for the VA Medical Center, Beckley, W.V. before commencing work under this contract. Evidence of this requirement will be provided to the Contracting Officer upon request. B.4.2 MILEAGE THRESHOLD (a) The Mileage Threshold is a distance of twenty-five (25) miles from the VAMC where no additional mileage charge will be added to the base rate. (b) For all one-way trips ordered under this solicitation, the Contractor shall receive the base rate quoted ("Base Rate"). The Base Rate shall constitute full compensation for one-way trips, which do not exceed the Mileage Threshold as defined herein. (c) The Contractor shall also receive the mileage rate quoted ("Mileage Rate") for any one-way trip in excess of the Mileage Threshold. The Mileage Rate is applicable only for mileage in excess of the Mileage Threshold and in no event shall the Contractor receive reimbursement of mileage charges for any mileage less than the Mileage Threshold. (d) Trip mileage shall be determined by the latest edition of the Rand McNally Standard Mileage Guide. Mileage determined will be based on the most direct route. B.4.3 - NUMBER OF PATIENTS It is understood and agreed that only one patient will be transported on a trip unless specifically authorized by the VAMC. When, pursuant to Department of Veterans Affairs authorization, more than one patient is transported concurrently on a trip, reimbursement will be made at the rates contained under Section B for transporting a single patient. Regardless of the number of patients transported concurrently on a single trip beyond the Mileage Threshold, the Contractor shall be reimbursed at the Mileage Rate for only one trip to the longest distance traveled with any one patient on that particular trip. The contractor must ensure that the pick-ups and drop-offs are scheduled so that the total distance traveled will result in the most economical charge to the Government. B.4.4 - WAITING TIME Upon arrival, in response to a service call, a fifteen (15) minute waiting time shall be granted the Government without charge. For time lost in waiting at either end or both ends of a trip due to causes beyond the contractors control, the contractor shall be reimbursed at the rate of one-fourth the hourly rate quoted in the contractors proposal for each quarter hour or fraction thereof in excess of one-quarter hour from the time he reports to the designated person. If the pick-up is other than at the VA Medical Center, the Contractor shall call the Travel Unit or the Administrative Officer of the Day on duty as soon as it is anticipated that a delay may develop for which a claim reimbursement is expected. This call is for the purpose of verifying the arrival time at the pickup point and is not necessary if the Contractor anticipates no delay for which he will claim reimbursement. Any waiting time beyond fifteen (15) minutes must be approved by the Travel Unit or the Administrative Officer of the Day at the VA Medical Center, Beckley, WV. B.4.5 - COMPLETED TRIP When ambulance service under the terms of this contract involve pick-up of a patient who is to be brought to the medical center or to another hospital and/or clinic for hospitalization or treatment, the trip shall be considered complete when the patient is delivered by ambulance personnel to the admitting/evaluation unit, a specified ward or unit, or to the location specified at the time the trip is requested. B.4.6 - ORDERS (a) Requests for services will be made in writing or by telephone, subsequently confirmed in writing as designated by the Chief, Medical Administration Section, or his/her designee. (b) If the contractor fails to furnish ambulance service within a reasonable time (one (1) hour) after receiving a VAMC request for service including messages left on answering machines or service, the VAMC reserves the right to obtain the services from another source and to charge the contractor any excess cost which may result therefrom. The VAMC will be the sole judge in determining when to order service from another source. However, in no instance will the contractor be required to furnish more than two (2) ambulances for basic life support service and one (1) ambulance for advanced life support service at any one time. When the total numbers of contracted vehicles are in use and the VAMC requires additional vehicles, the VAMC will contact the contractor first, before another ambulance carrier is called. (c) The Chief, Medical Administration Section is designated as the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR). NOTE: The contractor shall notify the VAMC of any delays in the transporting of patients. B.4.7 - VEHICLES (a) The ambulances (emergency medical care vehicle) under the terms of this contract will be licensed and meet the minimal vehicle requirements as established by West Virginia Legislative Rule 64 CSR 48 pertaining to the provision of emergency medical services (b) Ambulance Medical Equipment: Each ambulance shall have patient compartment facilities, oxygen and suction systems and equipment, environmental climatic equipment, communications and additional systems equipment accessories and supplies as mandated by State of West Virginia Administrative Code for Ambulance Services (64-48-8). (c) Prior to award, the contractor shall furnish a copy of current state inspection certificate for any vehicle to be used to provide services under this contract. B.4.8 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (a) Emergency Medical Technicians providing emergency services on ambulances in the performance of this contract must be certified, licensed or otherwise officially recognized by the Department of Health and Human services with a minimum curriculum of 81 hours or equivalent including an in-hospital training period. Evidence of the equivalent training program successfully completed by the EMT must be submitted with the offer. (b) The EMT must be enrolled periodically in "refresher" continuing education or advanced training programs as required by the local or state government entity in which the service is rendered to veterans, but in no instance shall this be less frequently than every two years. Evidence of successful completion of refresher training must be submitted to the Contracting Officer if requested. B.4.9 - NON Emergency ATTENDANTS/DRIVER Mustbe capable to administer oxygen and have successfully completed the Standards and Advanced First Aid Courses of the American Red Cross or US Bureau of Mines or equivalent. Proof in the form of a current certificate that such first aid training has been successfully completed must be submitted with offeror's proposal and available upon request. B.4.10 - ADVANCE LIFE SUPPORT PERSONNEL Paramedics providing advance life support services on ambulances serving this Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center must have completed training in accordance with DHHS under PL 93-154. Federal Regulation 24.304 (1974). The paramedic must be enrolled periodically in "refresher" continuing education or advanced training programs as required by the local or state government, but in no instance shall this be less frequent than every two years. Such "refresher" training must be equivalent to that developed by the Department of Transportation National Highway Safety Administration. Such refresher training must be submitted to the Contracting Officer if requested. Responses to this sources sought notice should include the following: name and address of company, business size (large or small); identify whether or not firm falls into any of the following socioeconomic categories-8(a), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned; provide a brief description of qualifications and any other pertinent information, which demonstrates the ability to meet the above requirement. Subject line must reflect: "Ambulance Service Sources Sought". All responses shall be submitted in writing no later than , April 01, 2016 to the attention of: Terry Brooks at contact@example.gov. The Beckley VA Medical Center, Beckley, West Virginia, has a requirement for a contractor to provide all personnel and equipment associated with basic and advanced life support Ambulance Services, twenty-four hours per day, 365 days per year, on an as-needed basis for beneficiaries in the service area of the Beckley VA Medical Center. The NAICS code for this procurement will be 621910. This is a sources sought notice only. No formal solicitation document exists at this time. Responses to this notice should include the following: Name and address of firm, size of business and any pertinent information which demonstrates the firm's ability to meet the above requirements. All response shall be submitted in writing no later than close of business April 01, 2016, 3:00 p.m. est. time to ATTN: Terry Brooks, VAMC Hampton, 100 Emancipation Dr., Hampton, VA 23667. Fax number: +1 (555) 000-0000. E-mail: contact@example.gov.