V--Courier Service for CBOC Laboratory Specimens, RFI

V - Courier Service for Laboratory Specimens, RFI NAICS Code: 492210 Couriers and Messenger Solicitation Number: VA263-11-RI-0152 Notice Type: Request for Information (RFI) or Solicitation for Planning Purposes Synopsis: This is a request for information; Courier Services for the transportation of Laboratory Specimens THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATON (RFI) IS SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SOLICITATION. ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), WILL BE USED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND WILL NOT BE RELEASED. ANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION SUBMITTED WILL BE PROTECTED. Per the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (OCT1997): a. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. b. Although "proposal" and "Offeror" are used in the Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. c. This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: To provide safe and timely Courier Services to transport laboratory specimens from community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) to the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services. The Fargo Veterans Affairs Acquisition Office requests your response to this Request for Information (RFI), for courier services to transport laboratory specimens from Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), to the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services. Place and period of Performance: Courier services are to be provided for all designated community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) located in the state of North Dakota and western Minnesota. The contract is anticipated to have a one (1) year base period with four (4) option years. Background: The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services is interested in solutions to ensure laboratory specimen integrity and adequate turn-around times. The Government envisions a solution where the contractor will provide the scheduled pick-up laboratory specimens and deliver the specimens to the designated office within the Fargo VA Medical Center or VA Hospital within the required timeframe. A. The suggested scheduled pick-up of laboratory specimens would be between the hours of 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM (Central Standard Time) Monday through Friday, unless specific guidance for a particular site is provided. B. The suggested delivery schedule to the Fargo VA Medical Center or VA Hospital is between the hours of 4:00 PM (Central Standard Time) and 7:00 AM (Central Standard Time - the next day). Please note for security reasons the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services cannot accept deliveries between the hours of 2:00 AM till 5:00 AM (Central Standard Time). C. The Fargo VA Medical Center or VA Hospital currently operates nine (9) Community Based Outpatient Clinics throughout the state of North Dakota and western Minnesota are listed below: " 705 5th Street, Bemidji, MN 56601 " 1821 N. Park Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 " 2700 State Street, Gateway Mall, Ste. G-1 Bismarck, ND 58503 " 419 5th Street NE, Jamestown, ND 58401 " 701 W. 6th Street, Grafton, ND 58237 " 3221 32nd Avenue S., Ste. 700, Grand Forks, ND 58201 " 10 Missile Avenue, Minot AFB, Minot, ND 58705 " 528 21st Street W., Ste F, Dickinson, ND 58601 " 205 Main Street, Williston, ND 58801 D. Contractor's shall comply with all local, state, and federal transportation regulations for transportation of Hazard Materials - Class VI (6), Division 6.2, as defined in 49 CFR Part 173.134, additionally, Contractor's shall ensure their vehicles and drivers are insured at minimum state levels. E. The Contractor, their personnel, and their subcontractors shall be subject to the Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks regarding information and information system security as delineated within potential/future contracts. The Fargo Veterans Affairs Acquisition Office encourages all interested parties to provide possible solutions or recommendations that enhance the Government ability to develop into a final solicitation. This Request for Information is to assist the Fargo VA Acquisition Office in identifying an appropriate acquisition strategy only. Written communication received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining current market capabilities for the services identified within this notice. A solicitation is not currently available. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced and posted on this website at a later date, and interested parties must respond to the solicitation to be considered for award. Interested parties should respond to the Contracting Specialist, John D. North III by e-mail at contact@example.gov. All interested parties should include the following information: 1. A company profile, including name of business, DUNS number, and other pertinent information 2. A description of capabilities. 3. Past performance data for similar size facilities, multiple locations which demonstrate your capability to satisfactorily execute a contract to provide safe and timely laboratory courier services as described in this notice. Data shall include customer name, address, contract number, and point of contact information (name, phone number, and e-mail address.) 4. The business size and business socioeconomic category; such as Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Hub Zone Small Business, etc… Please note, all SDVOSB's and VOSB's must be verified by the office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization's Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) prior to receiving any award. Interested parties should respond not later than Friday, February 18, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. Central Time. Request for Information received after the time and date specified may not be considered in the final solicitation. Additionally, the Fargo VA Acquisition Office request responses to the following questions: 1. Is your company and drivers trained to handle and transport bio-hazardous materials (i.e. patient specimens)? 2. Is your company and drivers trained in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 104-191, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and the National Standards to Protect the Privacy and Security of Protected Health Information (PHI)? NOTE(S): a. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as required by HIPAA, has promulgated rules governing the security, use, and disclosure of protected health information by covered entities, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In accordance with HIPAA, the Contractor may be required to enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with VA. b. The threat of a data breach, compromise or loss of VA Sensitive Information or Protected Health Information (PHI) the Contracting Officer has determined that VA Clause 852.273-75, Security Requirements for unclassified information Technology Resources and the requirements, policies and procedures prescribed within VA Handbook 6500.6 are applicable to this solicitation. The contractor, their personnel, and their subcontractors shall be subject to the Federal Laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks regarding information and information system security as delineated in this contract. This notice does not commit the government to contract for any supply or service. The government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes.