Inactive

Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center Statement of Work (SOW) Contract Title. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation for the Erie VA Medical Center, 135 E. ... Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center Statement of Work (SOW) Contract Title. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation for the Erie VA Medical Center, 135 E. 38th Street, Erie PA 16504. 2. Background. The Erie VA Medical Center (EVAMC) desires the Brand Name or Equal to American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation. Pathway to Excellence continually strives to stay relevant with the evolving healthcare landscape. The Commission on PTE ensures that the Pathway Standards and Elements of Performance integrate new concepts, knowledge, evidence-based practices, and healthcare trends. Definitions or Acronyms: ANCC American Nurses Credentialing Center EOP Element of Performance elements of the PTE standards that are essential to an ideal nursing practice environment. ODF Organizational Demographic Form OO Organizational Overview PAR Pathway Applicant Registration PTE Pathway to Excellence VA Department of Veterans Affairs EVAMC Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3. Scope. The PTE Program recognizes healthcare organizations and long-term care institutions for positive practice environments where nurses excel. Pathway-designated organizations create and sustain this positive practice environment by nursing involvement in interprofessional collaboration and shared decision-making at all levels. To qualify, organizations meet six practice standards essential to an ideal nursing practice environment and optimal patient outcomes: Shared Decision-Making, Leadership, Safety, Quality, Well-Being, and Professional Development. Applicants conduct a review process to fully document the integration of those standards in the organization s practices, policies, and culture by writing to these six standards and submitting them for review and approval. Pathway designation can only be achieved if nursing staff validate that their organization meets the Pathway Standards via data and evidence submitted and an independent, confidential survey. This critical element exemplifies the theme of empowering and giving nurses a voice. Pathway to Excellence Program s appraisal process, as indicated in the Pathway Manual, incorporated herein by reference, controls the review, decision-making, and designation processes for the PTE Program designation (if awarded). All PTE requirements must be maintained through the application phase, the review phase, and designation, including all payment of fees when due. Failure to pay fees as outlined in this solicitation or arrangement to pay fees will result in action against applicant or Pathway-designated organization s credential, up to and including denial of application or revocation. Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information is grounds for denial of the application at any point during the review process or whenever this information is discovered. Nurses trust that Pathway-designated organizations respect nursing contributions, support professional development, and nurture optimal practice environments. Communities desire satisfied nurses because they are better equipped to deliver high quality care. 4. Specific Tasks. ANCC s PTE program office staff manages and coordinates all aspects of the registration and appraisal process. At an assigned date, the EVAMC will submit to ANCC the following documents: Phase 1: Pathway Applicant Registration (P.A.R.). June 1, 2025 The Pathway Program Office will assign a Senior Analyst. ANCC will grant EVAMC access to the ANCC Pathway Portal and Learning Community database. Submission of an application or completion of processes outlined in the Pathway manual does not, in and of itself, guarantee Pathway to Excellence designation. Phase 2: Document Submission and Appraisal June 1, 2026 EVAMC completes Organizational Demographic Form (ODF) EVAMC completes Organizational Overview (OO) Submit evidence that all Elements of Performance (EOP) are met, a Table of Contents and Glossary. Phase 3: Pathway Nurse Survey Summer/Fall 2026 Upon successful document review and approval by ANCC, a confidential online survey is administered by ANCC to EVAMC Nursing staff to validate the data and evidence submitted in the Document Submission. ANCC shall review such survey information and the Commission on PTE makes the final decision regarding designation. ANCC will provide written confirmation of the online Nurse Survey dates with additional instructions for completion. ANCC shall review such online survey information and provide the EVAMC with the PTE designation if the submitted information is validated. EVAMC Nursing staff will access the online survey via a link provided to the organization by the PTE office. The link will be accessible only through the confirmed survey dates. The PTE program office will provide access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey. Phase 4: Designation Decision Summer/Fall 2026 After the designation decision, the Commission on PTE will provide a summary report of the results of the online Nurse Survey. Program designation of the EVAMC is awarded by ANCC over a four-year period after completion of a successful Document Submission and Appraisal and online Nurse Survey. Contract will include 3 additional option years to maintain the designation if awarded for the period. The EVAMC understands and agrees that the applicant registration fee and optional fees such as the extension fee (if applicable), appraisal preparation cancellation fee (if applicable), and re-administration of survey fee (if applicable) will continue to be separate and in real time in addition to the general appraisal fee indicated. In the event EVAMC opts to appeal an adverse action, EVAMC shall follow procedures outlined by ANCC Commission on Pathway to Excellence (COPE) appeals process. 5. Performance Monitoring (if applicable). The VA PTE Subject Matter Expert and the Associate Director, Patient Care Services will monitor vendor performance throughout the contract period of performance. The following performance metrics must be met: ANCC will provide the EVAMC access to the Pathway Portal and Learning Community database. A confidential survey is administered by ANCC to EVAMC Nursing staff with written confirmation of the Nurse Survey dates and additional instructions for completion. A Survey link is to be provided to the EVAMC by the Pathway to Excellence office during confirmed survey dates. ANCC will provide access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey ANCC shall review such online survey information and provide the EVAMC with the PTE designation if the submitted information is validated by the agreed timeline and thresholds. ANCC shall provide a summary report of the results of the online Nurse Survey. 6. Privacy and Security Requirements. The contractor employees shall not have access to VA sensitive or computer information and will not require routine access to VA Facilities. No background investigation is required. No equipment will be furnished to the contractor as part of this contract. 7. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI). Not applicable 8. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations. Not applicable a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work. Not applicable b. Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI). Not applicable e. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria. Not applicable 9. Risk Control There are no identified safety, patient safety, or infection control risks to be addressed. 10. Place of Performance. Work shall be performed at the Erie VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOC) - (Crawford, Warren, Venango, and Ashtabula). This contract does not apply to the McKean CBOC as it is a contracted site and is ineligible for this designation. Erie VA Medical Center 135 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16504 Ashtabula Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 2044 Lambros Lane Ashtabula, OH 44004 Crawford Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 11200 Perry Highway Meadville, PA 16335 Venango Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 125 Home Depot Drive Franklin, PA 16323 Warren Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 3 Farm Colony Drive Warren, PA 16365 No contractor travel is required for this contract. 11. Period of Performance. The contract will be for four (4) Ordering Periods. The period of performance shall be: Year Period Begins Period Ends Ordering Period 1 06/01/2025 05/31/2026 Ordering Period 2 06/01/2026 05/31/2027 Ordering Period 3 06/01/2027 05/31/2028 Ordering Period 4 06/01/2028 05/31/2029 Exercise of Ordering Periods will be made at Government s discretion based on continued need for services, Contractor performance, and availability of funds in a given fiscal year. The period of performance/due date is an estimate and may be altered based on the submission of written documentation or submission cycle, and date of designation (if awarded). 12. Delivery Schedule. ANCC will provide online access to the confidential online Nurse Survey. ANCC will provide the EVAMC access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey. After the designation decision, ANCC will provide a summary report of the results of the Nurse Survey. Pathway to Excellence Designation Decision End of Statement of Work (SOW) Instructions to Vendors: The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, of the Brand Name or Equal to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation, to indicate the quality of the supplies/services that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications mentioned above. Responses to this RFI should include company name, address, point of contact, phone number, and point of contact e-mail, DUNS Number, Cage Code, size of business pursuant to North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 813920. Please answer the following questions: Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)? Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI? Are you an equivalent solution to the items being referenced above? (4) If you are a large business, do you have any authorized distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of Contact and size status (if available). (5) If you intend to subcontract any work on this contract, what portion of the total cost will be self-performed/will be performed by your organization? Please provide estimated detailed percentage breakdowns related to subcontracted work and completion of job. (6) Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract number. (7) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the items/solution you are providing information for available on your schedule/contract? (8) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award. (9) Please submit your capabilities regarding the Services required above. (10) Please review salient characteristics/performance of work (if applicable) and provide feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A. This RFI will be conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13. Responses must be received via e-mail to david.santiago2@va.gov no later than, 4 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on February 3, 2025, this notice will help the VA in determining available potential sources only. Reference 36C24425Q0307 in the subject of the email response. Do not contact VA Medical Center staff regarding this requirement, as they are not authorized to discuss this matter related to this procurement action. All questions will be addressed by the Contract Specialist, David Santiago at david.santiago2@va.gov. All firms responding to this Request for Information are advised that their response is not a request for proposal, therefore will not be considered for a contract award. If a solicitation is issued, information will be posted on the beta.SAM web site for all qualified interested parties at a later date and interested parties must respond to this Source Sought Notice to be considered for a set-aside. This notice does not commit the government to contract for any supplies or services. The government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Request for Information. Information will only be accepted in writing by e-mail to Contract Specialist at david.santiago2@va.gov. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. End of Document