Inactive

Sources Sought Notice 36C24922Q0532 This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information re... Sources Sought Notice 36C24922Q0532 This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources (small and other than small) to perform a potential requirement. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 9, hereby provides notice of its anticipated award of a Healthcare Service Contract to a qualified source. Based on responses received from this notice a determination will be made on the method used to solicit for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The anticipated period of performance shall consist of one (1) base year with four (4) one (1) year options to be exercised at the discretion of the Government beginning upon anticipated award date of 11/1/2022 through 10/31/2027. (See CLIN structure on the Performance Work Statement (PWS) for anticipated Period of Performance with Option Year breakdown) This Contract will provide for the services of an Onsite Board Certified Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist in Radiation Oncology that meets the qualifications outline in Section 2 of the PWS. This requirement is for the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) located at 1030 Jefferson Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104-2127. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities by responding to this requirement no later than August 05, 2022 at 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time (CST). Purpose and Objectives: Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Department of Veterans Affairs will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. Only written responses will be considered. All responses from responsible sources will be fully considered. As a result of analyzing responses to this notice, the Government shall determine if a solicitation will be issued. Any prospective contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award. Interested parties are encouraged to furnish information by email only with RESPONSE TO SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE 36C24922Q0532 ONSITE BOARD CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL PHYSICIST IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY in the subject line. All documents submitted, will not be returned. All interested parties shall submit clear and convincing documentation demonstrating their capabilities to satisfy the requirements listed within this notice to Contract Specialist, Olonzo Haynes by email at Olonzo.Haynes@va.gov. The capability documentation should include general information and technical background describing in detail, the prospective contractor's capabilities, any relative experience that will demonstrate your ability to successfully perform this requirement, and your company s business size. Point of Contact: Olonzo Haynes, Contract Specialist e-mail above. NAICS code: 621111 and SBA Sized Standard is $12M PSC Q527 NOTE: Any respondent claiming SDVOSB and VOSB status must be registered and CVE verified in VetBiz Registry https://www.vip.vetbiz.va.gov/. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES The Contractor shall furnish all personnel to provide services necessary to perform onsite services of a Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist in Radiation Oncology to eligible beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis (hereinafter referred to as VAMC). The contractor s physicist(s) care shall cover the range of Radiation Oncology services as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility and the standard of care shall be of a quality, meeting or exceeding currently recognized national standards. All VHA Radiation Oncology Services are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body contracted through the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP). As such any Contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must adhere to all the policies and procedures; practice standards, guidelines, patient care operations; patient safety; quality assurance and quality management of radiotherapy planning, equipment, and delivery; and continuous quality improvement initiatives promulgated by the American College of Radiology, American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Association for Physicist in Medicine. Place of Performance: Services shall be provided on site in Radiation Oncology Service, VAMC Memphis, located at 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104. Pricing Instructions: The offeror is instructed to edit the number of contract Sub-Line Items (Sub-CLIN) to correspond with the number of key personnel submitted for the contract line item number (CLIN). Health care Offerors shall identify by title/position or level of experience the key personnel submitted. Also, renumber SUB-CLINS if adding or removing Key Personnel. The Contractor shall propose two key personnel to be credentialed and be available for scheduling to meet the requirements of the contract. Period of Performance: This requirement is for 5-years consisting of one (1) base year with four (4) one (1) year options to be exercised at the discretion of the Government. BASE YEAR: 11/01/2022 to 10/31/2023 OPTION YEAR 1: 11/01/2023 to 10/31/2024 OPTION YEAR 2: 11/01/2024 to 10/31/2025 OPTION YEAR 3: 11/01/2025 to 10/31/2026 OPTION YEAR 4: 11/01/2026 to 10/31/2027 Sources Sought Notice 36C24922Q0532 CLIN structure below will be the same for each option. CLIN No. SUB-CLIN Description Estimated Qty/Year Unit of Measure 0001 None Board Certified Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist Radiation Oncology Services 2080 Hours KEY PERSONNEL 0001 AA Board Certified Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist Radiation Oncology NAME: ____________ TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: ____________ DO NOT SEPERATELY PRICE Hours 0001 AB Board Certified Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist Radiation Oncology NAME: ____________ TITLE/LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: ____________ DO NOT SEPERATELY PRICE Hours LIN 0001 TOTAL FOR BASE TERM 2080 Hours ONSITE CHIEF THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL PHYSICISTS RADIATION ONCOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES EXCERPT FROM PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) GENERAL: SERVICES REQUIRED: The VA Radiation Oncology Services are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body contracted through NROP. As such any Contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must adhere to Guidelines & Technical Standards for Radiation Oncology promulgated by the American College of Radiology, American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Association for Physicist in Medicine: A contractor providing on-site radiation oncology services must provide evidence the radiation oncology practice meets or exceeds the established clinical practice guidelines and standards. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Services shall be provided on site in Radiation Oncology Service, VAMC Memphis, located at 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104. Authority: Title 38 USC 8153, Health Care Resources (HCR) sharing Authority QUALIFICATIONS: License: Contract physicist(s) assigned by the Contractor to perform the services covered by this contract shall have a current license to practice medicine in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia. All licenses held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted licenses. Contract physicist(s) who have current, full and unrestricted licenses in one or more states, but who have, or ever had, a license restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered pending action or denied upon application will not be considered for the purposes of this contract. Board Certification: All contract physicist(s) shall be board certified. All continuing education courses required for maintaining certification must be kept up to date at all times. Documentation verifying current certification shall be provided by the Contractor to the VA COR on an annual basis for each year of contract performance. Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicists in Radiation Oncology must be Board Certified in Medical Physics or Therapeutic Medical Physics by the ABR and maintain licensure with the Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists, if applicable. Certification must be maintained throughout the contract POP. In the event that Contractor s medical physicist(s) is/are not directly employed by the treating facility, documentation must be provided to ensure adequate certification. Credentialing and Privileging: Credentialing and privileging is to be done in accordance with the provisions of VHA Handbook 1100.19 and VHA Directive 1100.20 referenced above. The Contractor is responsible to ensure that proposed physicist(s) possesses the requisite credentials enabling the granting of privileges. No services shall be provided by any contract physicist(s) prior to obtaining approval by the Memphis VAMC Professional Standards Board, Medical Executive Board and Medical Center Director. If a contract physicist(s) and/or other contract provider(s) are not credentialed and privileged or has credentials/privileges suspended or revoked, the Contractor shall furnish an acceptable substitute without any additional cost to the government. Credentialing of Health Care Professionals other than Physicists. In accordance with VHA Directive 1100.20, all health care professional who claim licensure, certification, or registration, as applicable to the position (this applies to all who are appointed or utilized on a full-time, part-time, intermittent, consultant , without compensation, on-station fee-basis, on-station contract, or on-station sharing agreement basis) and who are not currently credentialed in accordance with VHA Handbook 1100.19, must be credentialed in accordance with this directive. NOTE: The credentialing requirements are found in Attachment A of this Directive. Qualifications: Board Certified Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist Ph. D Level: Must have at least five (5) years of documented post-board experience after board certification and at least three (3) years of continuous work experience within the last five (5) years to ensure the TMP s experience is current and relevant. Senior TMP must also have the following minimum years of experience, expertise, and knowledge on the following procedures, equipment and software: Five (5) years of experience Documentation detailing experience in performing QA procedures. Three (3) years of experience Documentation detailing Therapeutic Medical Physics in a healthcare system that is ACR certified. Three (3) years of experience - Varian Linear Accelerators: TrueBeam following standards of TG-142 Three (3) years of experience -Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) including Cone Beam CT (following standards of TG-142). Three (3) year of experience - Eclipse treatment planning system; and ARIA record & verify system, including the following treatment modalities: 2D/3D Conformal, SRS, SRT, SBRT, and IMRT/VMAT (following standards of TG-53) Three (3) years of experience - IMRT QA: MapCheck I/II (or equivalent. Three (3) years of experience -Siemens CT Simulator (or equivalent) and following standards of TG-66 Successfully perform one (1) acceptance testing (i.e., work with vendor to ensure proper working condition during installation) on a linear accelerator. Successfully perform one (1) commission of (i.e., gathered necessary measurements or data) a linear accelerator for a treatment planning system. Technical Proficiency: Contract physicist(s) and other contract provider(s) shall be technically proficient in the skills necessary to fulfill the government s requirements, including the ability to speak, understand, read and write English fluently. Contractor shall provide documents upon request of the CO/COR to verify current and ongoing competency, skills, certification and/or licensure related to the provision of care, treatment and/or services performed. Contractor s Physicists and other contract provider(s) shall have knowledge of professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to serve radiation oncology patient population. Contractor s Physicist and other contract provider(s) shall demonstrate knowledge of growth and development, and pathophysiology of disease processes specific radiation oncology patient population. Contractor shall provide verifiable evidence of all educational and training experiences including any gaps in educational history for all contract physicist(s) and other contract provider(s) shall be responsible for abiding by the Facility's Medical Staff By-Laws, rules, and regulations that govern medical staff behavior. VA HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULING: VA Business Hours: Clinic Hours are 8:00 am 4:30 pm Central Standard Time (CST) Work Schedule: Monday through Friday Contract physicist(s) shall be available and present in the Radiation Oncology clinic at the Memphis VAMC during the hours stated in section 3.1 above. The Memphis VAMC may revise clinic hours as deemed appropriate for patient care by the Chief of Staff. In this event contractor will be given seven (7) calendar days advance notice. Contractor shall notify the COR at least monthly about any obstacles to meeting this performance measure. The CTMP may perform work after normal business hours as their calibrations and measurements have to be done after patient treatments. However, the CTMP must be on-site during clinical operational hours at least 90-95% of the time. Federal Holidays: The following holidays are observed by the Department of Veterans Affairs: New Year s Day President s Day Martin Luther King s Birthday Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Any day specifically declared to be a national holiday. Cancellation/Rescheduling: Unless a state of emergency has been declared, the Contractor shall be responsible for providing services of the contract. If unable to provide services due to machine failure (depending on length of down time) treatment will be as follows: If the down for one day, patient treatments will resume the following business day. If down for three or four days, patients will be assessed for changes in fractionation or BID treatment on a case-by-case basis. If the machine is down a week or longer, patients will be sent to local private facilities for treatment as soon as it could be arranged. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES SERVICES REQUIRED: 1 FTE (2080) Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist in Radiation Oncology who meets or exceed the qualification outline in this PWS section 2.4, and can perform all Physicist support duties assigned. Standards of Practice: The medical practice and patient care provided by Contractor shall be evidence based best practices that meet or exceed all standards of professional practice and performance measures applicable to the Memphis VAMC medical professionals, including, but not limited to, NHPP, AAPM and TJC standards and national recognized accrediting body current practice guidelines in radiation oncology. Contractor s care shall cover the range of services as would be provided in a state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility. Contractor shall provide evidence the Contractor s radiation oncology standard of care is of a quality that meets or exceeds currently recognized VA and ACR national standards as established by: Applicable Radiation Oncology practice guidelines and standards promulgated by ACR, ASTRO, and AAPM. The professional standards of the TJC or equivalent accreditation: http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/hap_requirements.aspx The requirements contained in this PWS MEDICAL RECORDS Authorities: Contract physicist(s) providing healthcare services to VA patients shall be considered as part of the Department Healthcare Activity and shall comply with the U.S.C.552a (Privacy Act), 38 U.S.C. 5701 (Confidentiality of claimants records), 5 U.S.C. 552 (FOIA), 38 U.S.C. 5705 (Confidentiality of Medical Quality Assurance Records) 38 U.S.C. 7332 (Confidentiality of certain medical records), Title 5 U.S.C. § 522a (Records Maintained on Individuals) as well as 45 C.F.R. Parts 160, 162, and 164 (HIPAA). HIPAA: This contract and its requirements meet exception in 45 CFR 164.502(e), and do not require a BAA in order for Covered Entity to disclose Protected Health Information to: a health care provider for treatment. Based on this exception, a BAA is not required for this contract. Health records generated by this contract or provided to the Contractors by the VA are covered by the VA system of records entitled Patient Medical Records-VA (24VA10A7). Contractor generated VA Patient records are the property of the VA and shall not be accessed, released, transferred, or destroyed except in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Contractor shall ensure that all records pertaining to medical care and services provided to VA patients are captured in the VA electronic health record system as required by VA policy as discussed in 4.4.4. Disclosure: Contract physicist(s) may have access to patient medical records for the purpose of providing medical care and services to VA patients and performing services under the contract; however, Contractor shall obtain permission from the VA before disclosing any patient information outside VA. VA authorizes the Contractor to discuss patient health information for coordination of care within community health care providers in compliance with VA regulations, HIPAA, and VHA Handbook 1605.1, Privacy and Release of Information. The penalties and liabilities for the unauthorized disclosure of VA patient information mandated by the statutes and regulations mentioned above, apply to the Contractor. Professional Standards for Documenting Care: Care shall be appropriately documented in medical records in accordance with standard commercial practice and guidelines established by VHA Handbook 1907.01 Health Information Management and Health Records: https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=9235 and all guidelines provided by the VAMC. Release of Information: The VA shall maintain control of releasing any patient medical information and will follow policies and standards as defined, but not limited to Privacy Act requirements. Contractor will not release or disclose copies of records and will refer all such requests to the Release of Information Department at the VA facility were assigned. Management for Medical Records: National Archives and Records Administration record disposition requirements are found in RCS 10-1 Chapter 6, 6000 series. DIRECT PATIENT CARE:90-95% of the Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist time will involve direct patient care. Board Certified Radiation Oncology Physicist Services: Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, the following Radiation Oncology Physicist services for Veteran patients in accordance with the terms and standards specified herein Medical Physicist Support: Contract medical physicist(s) are primarily and professionally engaged in the design, optimization and technical evaluation of radiation treatment plans as well as ensuring precise and accurate radiation dose delivery. Contract Physicists are responsible for radiation protection of patients and staff. Conventional Radiation Treatment: Use of the following advanced modalities: IMRT, IGRT, SRS, and SBRT shall be fully justified in accordance with the appropriateness criteria of the American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR Quality-Safety Appropriateness Criteria may be accessed at: http://www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Appropriateness-Criteria/New-and-Revised Peer Review Conferences: Contract Staff shall attend and participate in weekly peer review conferences to discuss the appropriateness of treatment decisions, treatment goals and expected results related to Memphis VAMC Radiation Oncology patients. These conferences may be joint conferences at which Contractor s Radiation Oncology Service patients are also presented. At a minimum, 100% of the following with respect to Memphis VAMC Radiation Oncology patients shall be presented at these conferences: Consultations; re-evaluations; new start treatment fields, including boosts and off cord fields; staging evaluations, to assure that adequate staging and disease localizations have been performed; and patients seen in consultation for whom no treatment is recommended to assure the appropriateness of the decision not to offer radiotherapy. Each conference shall be attended by: the treating Physician whose case is being reviewed; and at least two board certified radiation oncologists with tumor site specific expertise who are not the treating Physician; and at least one medical physicist and one dosimetrist; and resident Physician should actively participate in case presentations in accordance with ACGME training requirements. Contractor peer reviewers must maintain familiarity with VA tumor site specific treatment guidelines. Conference recommendations regarding Memphis VAMC patients shall be documented in CPRS records. Specific documentation of each case review shall include, at a minimum, date of presentation, patient s name, Radiation Therapy Number (RT #), site, dose, fraction size and fields, and treatment recommendations. Changes in treatment technique as a result of a conference (e.g., dose fractionation, field size, treatment modality, etc.) shall be separately documented in CPRS. The Medical Director shall report conference findings and recommendations to the COR to assure adequate documentation of the Physicist peer review process and adherence to other aspects Contractor conference sign in sheets shall be provided to the COR on a monthly basis. Conference findings and recommendations shall be summarized in the quarterly report to the VA RADIATION ONCOLOGY Quality Council in a format and with sufficient content to assure adherence to quality assurance requirements. Documentation Requirements: All patient care documentation including, but not limited to consultations, encounters, weekly progress notes, treatment discharge notes, follow-up notes, continuing physics consultation which covers weekly chart review checks, special physics consultation notes, and other required documentation, shall be recorded in CPRS in accordance with VA Rules and Regulations (see Section D, page 83 for CPRS User Guide and By-Laws and Rules of the Medical Staff of the VA RADIATION ONCOLOGY), including, but not limited to: Inclusion of correct Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and diagnoses codes, and service connection of condition being treated on encounters; resident supervision documentation; electronic signature on all entries; timeframes for electronic signing, completion and closing of entries and encounters. Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist: Each VHA facility with radiation oncology services must have a registration certificate that lists, by name, its Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist (CTMP). These certificates, issued by NHPP, must be requested as follows. The request must describe the training, experience, and certifications of the contracted candidate. Such a request is usually sent by the Facility Director or, with permission of the Director, by the Radiation Safety Officer with concurrence from the Radiation Oncology Service or Section Chief. Qualifications required to meet this mandate include education in medical physics, at least 5 years of experience, experience with particular treatment modalities, and experience with specific equipment and software as detailed below, and board certification in medical physics. Prior to award of contract, the Contractor shall submit its potential candidate s resume/curriculum vita (CV), and with at least two (2) references letters from prior employers with firsthand knowledge of the candidate s performance, to the Contracting Office for submission to the National Radiation Oncology Program for approval as Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist. In addition, the potential candidates shall submit a personal statement stating he/she will be available to perform these services at least 90-95% of the time per week during clinical hours while patients are being treated and when needed to start. The Contractor must provide 1.0 FTE (2080 Hours) Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist to serve as the CTMP to VA radiation oncology service. The CTMP will oversee all physics and dosimetry operations. To ensure the quality of the Radiation Oncology Physics Program, the Contractor s CTMP will be assigned to the VA facility, reporting on-site at least 50% of the time per week during clinical hours. Contractor s CTMP shall provide quarterly Quality Assurance reports for the Quality Assurance Committee and Radiation Safety Committee, as well as attend quarterly Radiation Safety meetings. Contractor s CTMP shall track, evaluate, and document all equipment-related quality assurance data including TLD and credentialing measurements for independent 3rd party analysis. Contractor s CTMP shall also provide shielding surveys, and reports as required by the National Health Physics Program of (NHPP) VA Contractor s CTMP shall also be responsible to ensure licenses are current for radioactive sources at our site. Contractor s CTMP shall ensure Radiation Oncology Service has appropriate licenses for users of all our software applications. Contractor s CTMP shall also be responsible for ensuring continuity of medical physics operations including communication among key personnel. Contractor s CTMP shall develop, implement, supervise, and periodically review all QMP policies and procedures that pertain to radiation therapy equipment. Contractor s CTMP is responsible for the design, implementation and periodic review of all aspects of the QMP that involve the use of radiotherapy equipment. Contractor s CTMP will oversee the technical activities of all other physicists, dosimetrists, and other staff members assigned to the unit; directs the technical aspects of treatment procedures; and performs duties qualifying them as a supervisor. Contractor s CTMP will not perform administrative oversight of federal employees. When newly published techniques or procedures are being implemented for the first time within facility, the Contractor s CTMP shall undertake a systematic literature review, make appropriate site visits, observe procedures, develop standard operating procedures, implement the technique or procedure in clinic, and supervise the training of colleagues who are not familiar with the procedure. The QMP associated with any new procedure should be periodically reviewed and updated. Contractor s CTMP shall develop policies and procedures for continuous quality improvement that involve the use of radiotherapy equipment. Contractor s CTMP shall be responsible for reporting all adverse events in the clinic to NHPP and for the implementation of their follow up recommendations. Contractor s CTMP shall be responsible for reporting and periodically updating facility profile data required by the NROP and NHPP offices. Contractor s CTMP shall be responsible for coordinating electronic submission of adverse events, near misses, and good catches reports into Radiotherapy Incident Reporting and Analysis System (RIRAS) maintained by NROP Medical Physics Support: Contractor shall provide medical physics support to perform the requirements of this contract in the following manner: Contractor s Medical Physicists are primarily and professionally engaged in the design, optimization and technical evaluation of radiation treatment plans as well as ensuring precise and accurate radiation dose delivery. Contractor s Medical Physicists are responsible for radiation protection of patients and staff. The responsibilities of Contractor s Medical Physicists are defined as follows: Availability: Contractor s Medical Physicists shall be available, when necessary, for consultation with the Radiation Oncologist and to provide advice or direction to technical staff when radiation treatments are being planned or when patients are being treated. Where possible, should be present to observe and/or help supervise complicated simulations and/or treatment set-ups. Contractor s Medical Physicist must be present at the machine during patient setup for SBRT/SRS and IGRT. Calculations: Contractor s Medical Physicist shall specify and monitor method(s) to calculate MUs or treatment times and ensure independent review(s) of such calculations. Any individual having appropriate training and experience as defined in this PWS may perform the initial calculation(s). Independent review of said calculation(s) shall be performed within a specified period of time. Chart Review: Contractor s Medical Physicist shall develop and maintain a method for the weekly and systematic review of the charts of all patients under radiation treatment. All methods shall be approved by the VA Chief of Staff or designee. Contractor s Medical Physicist shall perform a final chart review at the end of the course of radiation treatment in order to confirm that the prescribed dose has been delivered, and to document the total doses delivered to critical structures. All charts are subject to quality reviews by the VA Chief of staff or designee. Dosimetry: The modeling of radiation beams for either planning or documentation purposes are generally performed with the aid of a treatment planning computer system. Contractor s Medical Physicists are responsible for data input into the planning system, which should be based upon measured beam data for the radiation beams in question, and for output from the planning system(s). The output should be tested and documented on a regular periodic basis. The output should agree within the manufacturer's specifications for the treatment planning system and/or published standards such as those found in applicable AAPM Reports (https://www.aapm.org/pubs/reports/default.asp). Contractor s Medical Physicists will ensure that the treatment planning software updates and bug fixes are installed, tested, and validated in a timely manner. Contractor s Medical Physicists are responsible for understanding the calculation algorithm and should document those conditions for which the algorithm and measured data are in disagreement by more than 5%. The output of the planning system should be periodically tested by comparisons to direct measurements of the radiation beams. Contractor s Medical Physicists shall ensure that all users of the treatment planning system receive appropriate training. Equipment: Contractor s Medical Physicists shall provide information on specification and selection in support of VA s acquisition of radiation-producing machines, accessories, and computerized treatment planning systems in consultation with the NROP office. Contractor s Medical Physicists shall also provide information to VA staff on timing of required maintenance of this equipment. Contractor s Medical Physicists shall periodically evaluate all equipment for continued utility, appropriateness, reliable performance, age, and condition and make recommendations to VA staff regarding practical life span, obsolescence, and replacement. Specialized Equipment: Medical Physicists shall determine the need for, specify, and have access to dosimetry and treatment planning equipment including, but not limited to, the following: Measurement instruments to calibrate all treatment equipment and patient monitoring devices. Such instruments shall include ioni...