Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

CONTINUATION PAGE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1) In the Product Description, the Evacuation Sled must include everything needed for horizontal and vertical evacuation (preinstalled). Now RFQ says must offe... CONTINUATION PAGE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1) In the Product Description, the Evacuation Sled must include everything needed for horizontal and vertical evacuation (preinstalled). Now RFQ says must offer a stairwell braking system. Does this mean you are now accepting an external braking system using a carabineer and tethering strap versus one that is built directly into the evacuation sled itself, not requiring a carabineer attached to railings/walls? Are not some of your very old VAMC and CLCs unable to support pull force? Please clarify. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: For patient and staff safety, VA is requiring at a minimum that the evacuation sled comes with a stairwell braking system. See Attachment B Emergency Patient Evacuation Sled Product Description. There is no requirement on the specific type of braking system that the product must offer. Furthermore, VA is not required to award additional accessories outside of the five (5) Contract Line Items (CLIN) in Attachment A Emergency Patient Evacuation Sled Price List. Therefore, any device that does not come built standard with a stairwell braking system as indicated in SC 6, shall be deem technically unacceptable and subsequently removed from consideration for award. Q2) The requirement that the sled shall allow a staff member to safely move a patient horizontally and vertically downstairs with no lifting has been removed and not replaced. How will a patient be moved downstairs? If it takes more than one staff member, is that acceptable? Is timing and efficiency no longer a criterion? Please clarify. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, a sled that requires more than one clinician for safe handling is acceptable. In Attachment B Emergency Patient Evacuation Sled Product Description, specifically in Sec.1 Scope of Work, states It allows for the safe evacuation of mobility impaired patients of all sizes using a non-lifting method across any surface. There is no restriction on how many people it takes to operate it. Furthermore, SC 5 of the Product Description states, The evacuation sled must have handles for lifting and/or control. This technical requirement indicates that more than one handle is needed as multiple hospital employees may be involved in evacuating a patient to safety. Q3) RFQ 36C10G20Q0026 states the bariatric sled must hold up to 1000 lbs. Does that mean: i) that the sled must simply accommodate a stationary patient up to 1000 lbs. regardless of girth? ii) that the sled will allow a patient up to 1000 lbs. to be moved horizontally iii) that the sled will allow a patient up to 1000 lbs. to be moved vertically? Or simply iv) that a carabiner has a 1000 lbs. strength? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The bariatric evacuation sled is required to hold up 1000 lbs. That can and may include 1000 lbs. of patient weight and/or patient weight plus life sustaining medical equipment (i.e. oxygen tank, IV pump, etc.). Q4) Is the sled regarded as a COTS item? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, VA s need may be met by a type of item customarily available in the commercial marketplace that would meet the definition of FAR 12.103 Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. Q5) This acquisition is set aside for SDVOSBs. See Clause 52.212-5 box (21). In clause 52.212-5, box (48) 52.225-5 Trade Agreements (October 2019) is checked and incorporated. The Trade Agreements Act does not apply to set asides for small business. See FAR 25.401. Please clarify. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Refer to the prescription for clause FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements provided in FAR 25.1101. The VA has determined that the acquisition is covered by the policies under World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement WTO GPA and Free Trade Agreements. Furthermore, the restrictions of the Buy American statute are not applicable. The Contractor shall deliver under this contract only U.S.-made or designated country end products except to the extent that, in its offer, it specified delivery of other end products in the provision entitled Trade Agreements Certificate. At the time of evaluations of offers, the VA Contracting Officer will make a final determination using the procedures outlined in FAR 25.502 Application. Q6) Why recreate and not use FSS? SDVOSB set aside is not practical under FSS. i) FSS permits SDVOSBs to self-certify. VA requires SDVOSBs to be verified and listed in VetBiz. Don t always have 2 or more verified SDVOSBs. ii) Also, TAA not BAA applies to FSS. So, FSS contract holder may not be able to supply BAAs compliant products. Perhaps CO should have been considered and addressed in market research and write-up. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The market research conducted for this requirement supports the acquisition strategy of a 100% Total SDVOSB set-aside that is being used. As stated in Attachment C - Emergency Patient Evacuation Sled Contract Administration, VA intends to designate Ordering Officers for each facility who are responsible for issuing and administering orders placed under this national Requirements contract. The applicable rules under FAR 8.4 Federal Supply Schedules do not allow for designation of Ordering Officers. Q7) Reportability/storage. One salient characteristic is that sled must offer a wall storage system. And in specs you mention 2,4,6 and 10 packs. Doesn t this replace and substitute for storage in individual carry cases? Are sleds not most efficient when easily accessible either in patient s room or even a mobile cart. Is this not a safety issue for you at the VA? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, the ability to be stored in a wall storage system does not substitute for individual carrying cases. Individual carrying cases are required when clinicians retrieve sled(s) from the hospital s wall storage and are then carried to the patient. VA is requiring storage devices which can accommodate 2, 4, 6, and 10 individual sleds based on the size of each VAMC storage requirement for each department of the hospital. For example, in ICU where space is at a minimum the VAMC may only be able to store 2 sleds. On a larger surgical unit, the VAMC may require 10 units be stored in its wall storage. It s against hospital safety policies to move Emergency Evacuation Sleds on a mobile cart where they can fall off and cause a tripping/fall hazard. Q8) Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) program states that the VHA healthcare system is required to protect VHA healthcare workers and patients from injuries due to patient handling and mobility to ensure that all veterans have equal opportunity to equipment to meet and improve their needs. Does this apply to evacuation sleds in this RFQ? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: VHA policy establishes that a SPHM Program be required in every VHA health care system to protect VHA health care workers and patients from injuries due to patient handling. Therefore, the VA has Salient Characteristics (SC) that identify the minimum level of quality that will satisfy the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics of the equal product(s) specified in the solicitation. The focus of this program is to ensure patients as well as hospital staff are exposed to the least amount of risks when an event requires emergency evacuation. /////////////////////////////////////////END OF AMENDMENT\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\