Inactive

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNI... THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). 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. IAW FAR 15.201(e), 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. SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a sources sought/RFI only. The purpose of this sources sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 238220 Responses to this sources sought will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this sources sought, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 7 Regional Procurement Office East (RPO-7), is seeking sources that can provide and install two (2) new Heating Water Pump assemblies that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics with a brand name or equal product for the Charlie Norwood Veteran s Affairs Medical Center, Bldg. 110, 1 Freedom Way, Augusta GA 30904.VA Birmingham Healthcare System: Provide and Install two (2) new Heating Water Pump Units Project Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center Uptown Division OBJECTIVE The Department of Veteran s Affairs has a requirement to Provide and Install two (2) new Heating Water Pump assemblies at Bldg. 110, Charlie Norwood Veteran s Affairs Medical Center, located at 1 Freedom Way, Augusta GA 30904. The objective of the project is to replace Pump units and other associated parts. All contractor-provided system components shall be provided to optimize performance and require low-maintenance. The affected building is occupied and in use. The work may require the removal and reinstallation of mechanical equipment which shall be coordinated with the Facilities Management Services (FMS). Equipment down-times shall be kept to a minimum and be scheduled with applicable departments and the project COR in writing two (2) weeks in advance for equipment downtime. STATEMENT OF WORK Tasks the contractor shall complete include but are not limited to: Heating Water All work shall be performed during the days and times approved by the COR pending user approval. Any deviations or conflicts in schedule must be rescheduled and submitted in writing to the COR and CO for approval. All work shall be turned over continuously as completed. Work shall be performed in such a manner to keep the areas being worked to a minimum while maximizing productivity and turnover of areas being worked on. No areas should remain down. Install new rotating assembly in location specified. Install new equipment in locations specified; using approved UL listed equipment. All locations shall be reviewed and approved by VA-Safety dept. and the COR. Remove current pump assemblies in location specified. All new equipment shall be free from defect. Building 110, GG100 Provide and Install two new Heating Water Pump assemblies. GENERAL The Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires strict adherence to the Code of Federal Regulations 29, Part 1926. This includes the requirement that the contractor have a Competent Person on the job at all times (must have a 30-hour OSHA card), and that all contractor employees have received a minimum of ten (10) hours of OSHA construction safety training. Documentation of these requirements shall be submitted and approved prior to performing the work. Contractor must submit a company Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) that must be approved by VA Safety prior to work beginning. This plan shall detail fire, construction, and health-related safety measures, in addition to listing Training Records for all employees for the previous year. A company standard or boilerplate safety plan will not be acceptable plan should contain a detailed hazard analysis for each element of construction to be performed such as an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) or Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). This entire project shall conform to 100% of all VA standards and specifications, OSHA, AIA Construction Guidelines, Joint Commission Environment of Care Standards, and applicable building codes. The Contractor shall be responsible for the health and safety of their own employees. The VA will inform the Contractor of any hazards such as designated permit confined spaces, electrical hazards, etc. which may affect Contractor employees. The Contractor must take precautions appropriate for the safety of their employees as well as provide equipment necessary for these actions. Contractor employees will notify the VA Representative before entering a designated permit required confined space, so precautions can be taken in advance of the work. The Contractor shall hold harmless and indemnify the Government against any and all liability, claims, and costs of whatsoever kind and nature for injury to or death of any person or persons and for loss or damage to any property occurring in connection with, in any way incident to, or arising out of the occupancy , use, service, operation or performance of work under the terms of the contract, resulting in whole or in part from the negligence acts or omissions of the Contractor, any subcontractor, or any employee, agent, or representative of the Contractor or subcontractor The Contractor is responsible for protection of existing finishes, and VA property (FF&E), located in the areas preventative maintenance and repair work is being performed, as well as along paths of travel to and from these areas. Both exterior and interior finishes and property must be maintained. The contractor is liable for any damage to VA property during the course of the contract. Any damage to existing finishes must be repaired by the Contractor to equal or greater quality than existing finishes. All tasks accomplished by the Contractor personnel will be performed to preclude damage or disfigurement of government-owned furnishing, fixtures, equipment and architectural or building structures. Contractor will report any damage or disfigurement to these items when caused by the Contractor s personnel and will perform repairs or replace government-owned equipment, fixtures, furnishings, grounds and architectural or building structures to their previously existing condition. 4.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT Based on the above list of work items the, general contractor selected must complete, maintain, and submit the following documentation and managerial requirements: Construction schedule including sequencing and durations. The schedule will be provided to the COR ten (10) working days prior to the start of work. Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) with an emphasis on, but not limited to, plumbing demolition, installation and safety. The SSSP must: Include a detailed description of how the work will be performed and be submitted with sketches, supporting documents, submittals etc. Include a Job-Safety-Analysis (JSA) for all tasks associated with Statement of Work (SOW) Be approved by VA-Safety prior to commencement of work. Maintain site supervision by a competent individual(s) with OSHA-30 certificates. OSHA-30 certified technician shall be onsite anytime work is being performed. Obtain VA identification PIV badges for all employees. Contractor to consider lead-time for badge procurement. Manage job-site access and security. Implement and maintain required ICRA and ILSM measures. 5.0 CODE & REGULATION COMPLIANCE The Contractor shall comply with the public laws and statutes including all changes and amendments of federal, state and local environmental statutes and regulations in effect of date of issuance of this delivery order, including, the applicable portions of the documents cited in the basic contract and below. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 99-2015 Healthcare Facilities Code NFPA 101 Life Safety Code International Code Council (ICC): IBC: International Building, 2015 Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), 1999 International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO): UBC 1997: Uniform Building Code 29 CFR 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards 29 CFR 1926 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Underwriters Laboratories 6.0 SUBMITTALS Contractor shall submit the following prior to beginning scope of work: Project schedule Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) SSSP to be submitted to VA Safety staff for review 10 working days after issuance of NTP. SSSP to be approved by VA Safety staff prior to start of construction activities. Penetration permits as necessary. Manufacturer warranties. Project Schedule including sequencing and durations. SOV Schedule of Value Technical literature and/or descriptions of all materials, equipment and tools proposed for use by the Contractor shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer or his/her designee for approval prior to contract start and whenever a change is required. All Contractor-furnished materials, equipment and tools used shall be standard products all manufacturers regularly engaged in the production of such items. The Contractor shall secure all materials. The Government assumes no liability for loss of or damage to Contractor-owned property held upon Government premises. 7.0 RESOURCES The Government will not furnish any resources for the fulfillment of the work required under this contract other than electricity for area where work is being conducted. Under this contract, the contractor must provide all tools, equipment, materials, transportation, professional expertise, personnel, supervision, and for testing and maintenance required for completion of this contract. Contractor shall provide all necessary parts and equipment to complete the objective of this contract in accordance with manufacturer specifications. All new equipment including parts and labor shall be preapproved by the COR. including shipping and handling. Contractor shall provide all necessary equipment to perform the work required. Technical literature and/or descriptions of all materials, equipment and tools proposed for use by the Contractor shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer or his/her designee for approval prior to contract start and whenever a change is required. All Contractor-furnished materials, equipment and tools used shall be standard products all manufacturers regularly engaged in the production of such items. The Contractor shall secure all materials. The Government assumes no liability for loss of or damage to Contractor-owned property held upon Government premises. The Contractor shall instruct his/her personnel in utilities conservation practices. The Contractor shall be responsible for operating under conditions which preclude the waste of utilities which shall include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Lights shall be used only in areas where and at the time when work is actually being performed unless otherwise directed. 2. Contractor s personnel will not adjust mechanical equipment controls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. 3. Government telephones shall not be used for personal reasons or for any toll or long-distance calls. 8.0 TECHNICIAN The Contractor will ensure their personnel and subcontractor personnel meet the privacy standards as set forth by HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) with respect to personal and confidential information that they may come upon, while contract work is being performed. 9.0 PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS The Contractor shall assign the appropriate quantity and type of personnel to successfully complete all functions specified in this SOW. The Contractor shall maintain throughout the life of this contract, a current list of technicians and their credentials available for inspection by the Government at any time. 10.0 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS The VA reserves the right to dispute completion of contract scope if contract work is found not in accordance with manufacturer recommendations, is not satisfactorily executed, or if the system is not properly tested and inspected to achieve certification. All work completed by the Contractor must be reviewed and approved by the VA. Work must be approved for one location of each type of fixture prior to proceeding with all other locations specified. If conditions that exist that are not like the location previously approved the contractor shall get approval prior to proceeding with work in locations with similar conditions. 11.0 SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION a. In the performance of this contract, the contractor shall take such safety precautions as necessary to protect the lives and health of occupants of the building. b. The Contractor shall immediately correct any fire and safety deficiencies caused by his/her personnel. If the Contractor fails or refused to correct deficiencies promptly, the Contracting Officer may issue an order stopping all or any part of the work and hold the contractor in default of the contract. c. The Contractor shall comply with applicable Federal, State and local safety and fire regulations and codes which are in effect at the beginning of the contract. The contractor shall keep abreast of and comply with changes in these requirements and codes applicable to the contract. The requirements include but are not limited to, those found in Federal and State Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) statutes and regulations, such as applicable provisions of Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1910 and 1926. Contractor is solely responsible for determining the legal requirements that apply to activities, and shall ensure safe and healthful working conditions for its employees d. The Contractor s personnel shall follow applicable facility policies concerning fire/disaster programs. e. All materials and equipment will be removed from the facility or stored properly at the end of the workday and secured during the workday. Under no circumstances will the Contractor allow for any equipment to be left unattended for any length of time. f. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local legal requirements regarding workers health and safety. g. Contractor shall assume the responsibility to guard against causing of fires and/or explosions and to protect Government Property. h. The Contractor shall perform the work in a manner consistent with the area security and fire safety regulations especially with regard to exits and exit way access. Utility shutdowns shall not compromise security, communication or fire safety for occupants. i. No flammable liquids shall be stored or used in the medical center. j. The necessary number and appropriate types of portable fire extinguishers are required per National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 10 and NFPA 241. Contractor shall keep certification on site at all times of extinguisher inspections. k. The Contractor shall receive from the COR a permit for all cutting, welding, and soldering 24 hours in advance. All permits shall be prominently displayed during all construction. l. All necessary precautions shall be taken by the contractor to prevent accidental operation of any existing smoke detectors or sprinkler heads. m. The Contractor shall assume responsibility of environmental protection of all material storage. 11.1 ACCIDENT PREVENTION Precaution shall be exercised at all times for the protection of persons (including employees) and property. These shall include, but not be limited to, the installation of adequate safety guards and protective devices for all equipment and machinery, whether used in the performance of work or permanently installed as part of the work. Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws relating to safety precautions, including the safety regulations of the Division of Industrial Safety, Department of Industrial Regulations of the state. 11.2 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: a. In order to provide for abatement and control of all environmentally hazardous materials arising from demolition and/or construction activities, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable environmentally hazardous material control and abatement and all applicable provisions of the Corps of Engineers Manual EM 385-1-1, General Safety Requirements as well as the specific requirements stated elsewhere in the Contract Documents. b. The Contractor is responsible for daily cleanup of all areas affected by its work. Areas in use or affected shall be returned to condition in which they were turned over or initially found. VA Housekeeping shall not be dispatched for cleaning associated with contractor work. c. The Contractor shall take every precaution in preserving flooring, finishes, equipment, and furniture in areas of work. The Contractor shall repair or replace any damage incurred during its work at their expense. d. Contractor shall use freight elevators for transmission of materials and personnel. Contractor shall take every precaution in preserving the elevators, including the hoist way and lobby doors, interior finishes, and shall conduct all good practices in observing lifting and motor components tolerances. Any damage incurred to any elevator component due to negligence will be repaired at expense of the contractor, within the workday of incurred damage. 12.0 WORK STANDARDS AND ICRA/ILSM Work site shall be free of debris and returned to original condition upon completion of preventative maintenance or repairs. All work is to be performed in areas used daily by facility clients and staff. Contractor will take suitable measures to control all material and equipment to produce a minimum of interference in facility routine. All work shall be performed in a safe and prudent manner. Contractor shall so perform all work as to offer the least possible obstruction and inconvenience to staff and the public and shall have under construction no greater amount of work than can be completed promptly and properly with due regard to the rights of staff and the public. Any person the COR may deem incompetent or disorderly shall be promptly removed from the facility and not be allowed to return for the duration of the agreement. 13.0 - HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REPORTING: a. The Contractor shall maintain hazardous material inventories and material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous materials (as defined in CFR 1910.120, 40 CFR s 355, 370, & 372) to be stored and used on this Medical Center. Hazardous materials must be inventoried when received and at the project s completion. The amounts used shall be maintained for the project duration, and for the calendar year (ending 31 December). b. Hazardous Materials Inventories, Material Safety Data Sheets and material quantities used shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for approval. c. In the event of a spill, Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer s Technical Representative (extension 5138) as well as the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for the expense of any cleanup of such spill, and the cleanup shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of 40 CFR Part 761. d. Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) is not present in the workspace. If contractor locates suspected ACM in addition to material noted in report, they shall contact the COR immediately for further direction. If any ACM is disturbed or becomes friable due to contractor actions, the construction site shall be shut down until and contractor shall provide appropriate containment at their own expense. In addition, contractor shall be responsible for all abatement and disposal of affected material at their own expense, only after which the job site shall be reopened for continued work. In the event of an ACM disturbance event, the COR shall be immediately notified and shall provide specifications on asbestos abatement. 14.0 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS The Government reserves the right to accept or reject Contractor s staff for cause. All inspectors/testers shall hold current OSHA 10/30 certification and membership. Documentation of this to be submitted by the Contractor to the COR prior to beginning project work. A competent person with OSHA 30 certification must be on site at all times. The Contractor shall have a back-up technician in the event the primary technician is unable to perform his/her duties. The Contractor will ensure that their personnel and subcontractor personnel meet the privacy standards as set forth by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) with respect to personal and confidential information that they may come upon. All personnel required to hold OSHA 10 certification as a minimum. The Contractor shall ensure that their personnel have Universal technician certification as required by 40CFR Part 82, Subpart F. 14.1 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS Supervision: The Contractor shall specify a Project Manager who will have responsibility for performance of contract services. The Project Manager shall be competent to supervise all aspects of contract and shall be available on-site during performance of contract work. The Contracting Officer shall be notified in writing of the names of the Project Manager and of changes in personnel appointed to fulfill this function or in the absence of the Contractor, act for the Contractor as the Contractor s Representative. 15. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS FOR HOT WATER PUMP Pump Body: Cast Iron body, with Bronze wear ring Impeller: Bronze enclosed impeller Shaft Seal: Type 21 Mechanical Shaft Seal with Buna Elastomers, Carbon Face, Ceramic Seal Seat, Stainless Steel metal parts. Port Size: 4 Inch 150 lb Flanged Discharge Port, 5 Inch 150 lb Flanged Inlet Port. Model: 4K4A RPM: 1750 GPM: 610 16.0 QUALITY CONTROL The Contractor shall have a quality control program to assure the requirements of this contract are provided as specified. The Contractor and COR will inspect the work. Deficiencies will be noted and corrected before beginning work in another area. Any damage done by Contractor will also be noted and corrected by the Contractor within 2 working days. Damage causing an immediate impact on the environment of the hospital shall be corrected immediately. 17.0 PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT The Contractor shall assign the appropriate quantity and type of personnel to successfully complete all functions specified in this SOW within the designated period of performance. The Contractor shall maintain throughout the life of this contract, a current list of laborers, tradesmen, superintendents, etc., and their credentials available for inspection by the Government at any time. 18.0 ACCESS Clearances/Access Controls: Contractor and all personnel shall comply with the security clearances or access controls of areas within the Medical Center. In the event that the Contractor has to obtain access to areas that require special security precautions the COR will notify the contractor prior to access. 19.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of this project is July 6, 2020 August 31, 2020 20.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center Uptown Division, 1 Freedom Way, Augusta, GA 30904 21.0 TYPE OF CONTRACT Firm Fixed Price 22.0 HOURS OF SERVICE Hours of Service: Work is to be done between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, excluding federal holidays. Contractor or representative shall sign in upon arrival to the facility. Contractor shall report to Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Room 1B155, Engineering Department Office, Building 801, 800 Bailey Street, Augusta GA 30904. Contractor shall check in with Engineering Service point of contact, James Jarriel at time of completion of the work. A service ticket shall be provided to the facility point of contact for verification of projection completion. Warehouse Hours: Deliveries are accepted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, excluding federal holidays. Federal Holidays New Year s Day January 1st Martin Luther King s Birthday 3rd Monday in January President s Day 3rd Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Independence Day July 4th Labor Day 1st Monday in September Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October Veteran s Day November 11th Thanksgiving Day Last Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25th When one of the above designated legal holidays falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a legal holiday. When a legal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed as a holiday by U.S. Government agencies. 23.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Performance measures are comprised of performance indicators (some characteristic of a deliverable that can be measured) and performance measures (a mark, measure or benchmark that government personnel use as a point of comparison when evaluating contractor performance). The Government performs surveillance to determine if the contractor exceeds, meets or does not meet these measures. The Performance Requirements Summary Matrix, paragraph in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), includes performance measures. The Government shall use these measures to determine contractor performance and shall compare contractor performance to the Acceptable Quality Level (AQl). Performance Indicators PWS Ref Performance Measure Acceptable Level of Quality Method of Assessment Incentive Dis-incentive Must be able to provide all equipment need to perform job Para 1.0 3.0 shall supply, and install all materials meeting required salient characteristics 95% Periodic Sampling and Validated Customer Complaints Positive Past Performance May not be awarded option years Must have qualified personnel to complete the project of replacing units Para 14.0 Must have qualified personnel that has performed this type work in Hospital 95% Direct Observation and Periodic Inspection Positive Past Performance May not be awarded option years Must be able to perform job as scheduled in a timely manner Para 19.0 MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM WORK WHEN SCHEDULED & TIMELY 95% Direct Observation and Periodic Inspection Positive Past Performance May not be awarded option years Must have valid certifications to perform this type work Para 14.0 Must provide certifications 100% Random and Periodic Sampling Positive Past Performance Will not be awarded contract Must ensure proper system operation and functionality Para 9.0 Must provide written documentation of functionality and proper operation 100% Direct Observation and Periodic Inspection Positive Past Performance May not be awarded option years Clean up at the end of workday Para 11.2 Clean area must be visible at end of day 100% Direct Observation and Periodic Inspection Positive Past Performance May not be awarded option years 24.0 - VA INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY/PRIVACY CLAUSES GENERAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security. ACCESS TO VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEMS: A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order. Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data- General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1). VA information should not be co-mingled, if possible, with any other data on the contractors/subcontractor s information systems or media storage systems in order to ensure VA requirements related to data protection and media sanitization can be met. If co-mingling must be allowed to meet the requirements of the business need, the contractor must ensure that VA s information is returned to the VA or destroyed in accordance with VA s sanitization requirements. VA reserves the right to conduct on-site inspections of contractor and subcontractor IT resources to ensure data security controls, separation of data and job duties, and destruction/media sanitization procedures comply with VA directive requirements. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management and its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract. The contractor/subcontractor must receive, gather, store, back up, maintain, use, disclose and dispose of VA information only in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable Federal and VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies. If Federal or VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies become applicable to the VA information or information systems after execution of the contract, or if NIST issues or updates applicable FIPS or Special Publications (SP) after execution of this contract, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to implement the information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies in this contract. The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state. If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed. If VA determines that the contractor has violated any of the information confidentiality, privacy, and security provisions of the contract, it shall be sufficient grounds for VA to withhold payment to the contractor or third party or terminate the contract for default or terminate for cause under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12. If a VHA contract is terminated for cause, the associated BAA must also be terminated and appropriate actions taken in accordance with VHA Handbook 1600.01, Business Associate Agreements. Absent an agreement to use or disclose protected health information, there is no business associate relationship. T...