Inactive

Questions and Answers QUESTION: Do they need these meals individually boxed or family style in tins? ANSWER: Either option is acceptable. All meals shall be up to temperature and ready to be served. Q... Questions and Answers QUESTION: Do they need these meals individually boxed or family style in tins? ANSWER: Either option is acceptable. All meals shall be up to temperature and ready to be served. QUESTION: I know these meals are for veterans so is it a particular type of meal that you are looking for as in food being prepared daily? ANSWER: Per PWS 3.8 The contractor shall provide a variety of hot, quality meals in accordance with USDA standards: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-guidelines. QUESTION: With the veterans that need meal accommodations based on their medical history, when and how would the contractors be notified about the specialized diets? What day/time will meals be ordered for a particular day and when will the quantities of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners be sent us? ANSWER: The Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) shall notify the contractor of any meal accommodations by email with 24-hour notice. QUESTION: What kind of snacks, fruits, protein bars and cookies are you expecting? ANSWER: Per PWS 3.8 The contractor shall provide a variety of quality snacks, fruits, protein bars and cookies in accordance with USDA standards: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-guidelines QUESTION: Is this contract under the Net 30 terms? ANSWER: Yes QUESTION: The CLINs don t seem to show accurate meal counts. The 51K numbers seem to only encompass one meal. Shouldn t the annual meal count be closer to 150K plus snacks? ANSWER: The Contractor shall provide an all-inclusive price per veteran per day (includes all 3 meals and 2 snacks). QUESTION: If we utilize a mobile kitchen, would there be a place to park it onsite? ANSWER: Yes, the VA would consider the contractor utilizing a contractor owned mobile kitchen. Space would be provided onsite. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining liability insurance coverage. QUESTION: Are there any standards for meal quality? Nutritional standards, serving size, etc? The solicitation mentions malnourished vets, so wanted to see if there was any guidance or specifics that are required to meet the standard? ANSWER: Per PWS 3.8 The dietary needs of Veterans shall be met in accordance with sound nutrition consistent with USDA standards: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-guidelines QUESTION: Is there an expectation to serve food in the dining facility or should the individual meals be packaged ahead of time? ANSWER: The meals shall be delivered to the site ready to be served. Either option is acceptable. All meals shall be up to temperature and ready to be served. QUESTION: Is there a cost range per meal that the VA is looking for with this project? ANSWER: Contractor shall provide an all-inclusive price per veteran per day (includes all 3 meals and 2 snacks). QUESTION: Could you provide the last purchase price and name of the contractor.? ANSWER: This is a new requirement no previous pricing or contractor information available. QUESTION: Would you allow price fluctuations? How often would you allow price change within a 12-month period? With The current market price of food (unstable) locking in the price of 3 meals a day would be very risky. ANSWER: This is a firm fixed price contract. Contractor shall provide an all-inclusive price per veteran per day (includes all 3 meals and 2 snacks). QUESTION: Do you require the meals to be individually prepacked? If individually pre-packed it will be dropped shipped to the dining facility, with all cutleries, plates and drinks; allowing self-serve by each veteran. or catered style delivery with servers ready to serve each veteran? at mealtime, (Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner) ANSWER: The meals shall be delivered to the site ready to be served. QUESTION: Is there a kitchen on site for this project? ANSWER: No. Per PWS 2.2 All food/meal preparation shall be done at vendor s offsite location. The meals shall be delivered to the site ready to be served. CTRS has an appx. 800 square foot dining hall where meals will be served; the dining hall has electrical, and the site has waste disposal. Other option is a mobile food truck per Q7 above. QUESTION: Did not see any food option guidelines in the proposal, protein, starch, vegetable, etc. ANSWER: The dietary needs of Veterans shall be met in accordance with sound nutrition consistent with USDA standards: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-guidelines QUESTION: The details reflect 3 meals and 2 snacks per day, but the initial information reflected only 3 meals? ANSWER: Per PWS 3 General Responsibilities: 3.1 3 meals daily; 3.2 2 snacks daily; and 3.3 drinks. QUESTION: I just wanted to confirm for your meal request You are looking for a caterer to cook the meals at their facility and bring them to your facility to serve to the patients, is that correct? ANSWER: YES. QUESTION: You want the caterer to stay and serve the meals? Or is the caterer just dropping off the meals and you will serve? ANSWER: No, VAGLAHS will have VA staff who will serve the meals. QUESTION: Also, with breakfast at 7am, how long do you predict the caterer will stay and serve the meals? ANSWER: VA staff will serve the meals. QUESTION: For the snacks, is that something the caterer just drops off in the morning and you will provide snack to the patients? ANSWER: Yes. QUESTION: Do you require clean-up services including dining room area or service area or both? Neither? ANSWER: VA staff will do cleanup QUESTION: Do you require an inventory of condiments and paper goods to be kept at the dining room or will it be delivered according to census, each day? ANSWER: The contractor shall deliver the necessary paper goods and condiments each day. QUESTION: How many weeks shall the cycle have before rotation? ANSWER: Unsure of your question, However, Per PWS 3.7 Menus shall be written at least one week in advance and copies of the menus as served shall be dated and kept on file for at least 30 days. These records shall be made available for review by Veterans and/or VA staff. QUESTION: How many main course choices, assuming one starch, one vegetable? ANSWER: For each meal, at least one main course choice. Other options may be requested based on medical recommendations/ dietary restrictions and will be coordinated with the vendor. QUESTION: Shall desserts be served at dinner only or not at all? ANSWER: Desserts may be served but it is not a requirement. QUESTION: Exactly how many juice choices are required at each meal service? ANSWER: At least one variety of juice at each meal. QUESTION: Are there specific condiments or items that shall be available at each and every meal service? ANSWER: Contractor shall provide all necessary condiments/items appropriate for each meal. QUESTION: Will there ever be instances of "to-go" or sack lunches requested? ANSWER: Yes, "to-go" or sack lunches may be requested and will be coordinated prior by the COR. QUESTION: The delivery schedule has been interpreted that someone can deliver anywhere between a half hour before and a half hour after meal time. This is vague. Can you be more precise? ANSWER: We require the meals to be delivered and ready to eat at the assigned times below. However, Per PWS 3.4 Contractor shall provide meals no sooner than 30 minutes prior to the meal start time and no later than 30 minutes after the meal start time. Predetermined hours as requested: o Breakfast (7am) o Lunch (11am) o Dinner (5pm) QUESTION: Will we be able to bill the government weekly? ANSWER: Government pays monthly in arrears QUESTION: Does the Government expect to award one or more contracts to cover this requirement? ANSWER: one contract. QUESTION: Can all meals be catered by one or more Subcontractors? ANSWER: The prime contractor shall be responsible for all contract requirements.

Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

36C26223Q0607 This is not a solicitation announcement. This is a pre-solicitation notice only. The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Se... 36C26223Q0607 This is not a solicitation announcement. This is a pre-solicitation notice only. The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22, Network Contracting Office (NCO) is seeking contractors interested in providing a proposal for a firm fixed price contract for Meal Services for up to 140 Veterans per day VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System s Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitative Services (CTRS) program. 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073. Solicitation shall be issued on or about March 17, 2023, with proposals due no later than March 31, 2023 at 3:00 PM PST. Synopsis: The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS) Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitative Services (CTRS) program is a low barrier entry point to other VA and community partner initiatives that focuses on stabilization of Veterans clinical needs, while moving homeless Veterans toward permanent housing solutions. The program is comprised of 140 tiny shelters and provides high-risk homeless Veterans with access to health care, social services, meal services, a clean environment, and assistance with transitional and/or permanent housing assistance on the West Los Angeles (WLA) campus. The Contractor shall serve Veterans three (3) meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year to 140 veterans residing in the Tiny Homes on VAGLAHS campus. NAICS CODE: 722310 Food Service Contractors PSC CODE: S203 Housekeeping - Food TOTAL SET ASIDE: SMALL BUSINESS (SB) MUST BE REGISTERED IN SAM https://sam.gov/. All interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement. A response to this notice is not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Point of Contact for this announcement is Mona Nimmo at mona.nimmo@va.gov .