Description
This is a sources sought notice only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to gain market knowledge of potential businesses to provide (see description of services and qualification requirements below.) The applicable NAICS Code is 621492, with a small business size standard of $38.5 M. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from this response. Responses to this sources sought notice is not a request to be added to a prospective source list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Information received as a result of this notice will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of information or any other costs incurred as a response to this announcement. All businesses currently providing this service are encouraged to reply, as responses will be used by the Government to make determinations about for the appropriate set-aside. No solicitation is currently available at this time. After review of the responses to this sources sought announcement, a synopsis and/or solicitation announcement may be published at a later time. The duration of the services is anticipated to be required for one (1) year. If your firm is currently providing this service, please respond to this Sources Sought notice by Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 3:00 PM PST. Responses must include: (1) Business Name, GSA contract number (if applicable), or other contract number (2) DUNS (3) Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and E-mail Address (4) Business Size SMALL or LARGE (5) Type of Business SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED, VETERAN OWNED, 8A, HUBZone, WOMEN-OWNED etc. (6) Description of your firm s capability in providing these types of services (Include relevant past performance/ contract number and point of contact for services provided) VIP Registration - Veterans First Contracting Program and the VA Rule of Two (Kingdomware v. United States) 38 U.S.C. 8127 - 8128: Service-disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB) or Veteran owned small business (VOSB) concern must be registered and verified in VA's Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database at www.vip.vetbiz.gov to be eligible for award as a SDVOSB or VOSB if/when a solicitation is issued for this requirement as a SDVOSB or VOSB set aside. Possible Requirements Services Required: Furnish qualified personnel to provide on-call inpatient therapeutic apheresis services on location in the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Transitional Care Unit (TCU). Specific on-call inpatient therapeutic apheresis services include leukopheresis (leukocytapheresis), plateletpheresis, and plasmapheresis. Contractor will provide nursing personnel. Equipment and supplies to render these services will also be provided by contracted company, except for blood and blood products. Blood and blood products will be provided internally by the SFVAMC, on call as required. Registered nurses must have current, full and unrestricted state licenses. Ensure that all nursing staff performing the therapeutic apheresis procedure has appropriate and current state licenses, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and be able to perform adequate services as needed, such annual health clearance as may be required by the appropriate state and federal regulatory agencies. Ensure the staff licenses are updated. Once SFVA Medical Center (SFVAMC) makes contact, services must be initiated within 6-18 hours depending on the patient s medical needs. An estimated 37 treatments, each treatment consisting of a minimum of 7 sessions, but no more than 10 sessions, will be rendered in a 12 month period. Equipment Contractor s cell separator and all other equipment used at the SFVAMC will comply with all applicable VA regulatory standards. The contractor will maintain equipment utilized at the SFVAMC in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. All equipment will be available to SFVAMC prior to every use to obtain authorization from the SFVAMC biomedical engineering department for use within the VA Health Care System per national Joint Commission standards. A copy of preventative maintenance documents and records of cleaning equipment per manufacturer s instructions will be supplied to SFVAMC, documentation of maintenance and cleaning of equipment is available upon request. Disposable equipment and supplies - The contractor will provide all disposable equipment and supplies, except for blood and blood products, required for services and will maintain compliance with the VA Health Care System s waste disposal regulations and policies. Scope: a.. On-call, as required Apheresis nursing/s services for the San Francisco VA Health Care System when unusual circumstances arise. b. Standard of Care: Contract provider care shall cover the range of services as would be provided in any hospital and the standard of care be equal that provided by employees of San Francisco VA Health Care System. c. Provide inpatient therapeutic apheresis care to VA patients in accordance with the written orders issued by the patient's ordering physician as documented in the patient's chart. Such written orders may include, without limitation, the treatment schedule, the patient's weight, the amount of blood to be processed, the amount and type of replacement fluid, if required, and instructions for the care of the lines after the procedure, including without limitation, heparinization. d. The apheresis nurse will be required to have the ability to perform the Apheresis service independently. e. Provide direct patient care in all aspects of Apheresis services. f. The quality of medical service shall meet or exceed reasonable standards of professional practice for the required services as determined by the same authority that governs VA medical professionals and will be audited by the Health Care System for that purpose. g. The Apheresis nurse will have responsibility for treating inpatients, completion of notes in CPRS as outlined in this document in section 1.5.2, and consulting with referring providers and inpatient nursing staff. Duties and responsibilities shall include, but not limited to the following: a. The Contractor shall provide apheresis nurses, equipment, and supplies necessary to accomplish the services described. All professionals providing services under the terms of this contract will be appropriately certified and licensed as described herein and possess the requisite skills and experience to perform the services defined in the contract. b. The apheresis nurses agree to provide Health Care Resources in accordance with the terms and conditions stated herein, to furnish to and at the San Francisco VA Health Care System services at prices specified in the contract. c. The contractor will be responsible for ensuring that the apheresis nursing/s providing services under this contract are fully trained and completely competent to perform the required services covered by this contract. Full and unrestricted state licenses are required. d. The Contractor will be responsible for any license and certification required, this includes American Heart Associate Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Competencies will be documented and available upon request. The Apheresis nurse: a. May be required to perform procedures such as Plasmapheresis, Leukocytapheresis, Thrombosytapheresis. This includes but is not limited to the separation and removal of a blood component, reinfusion of the unused portion and the infusion of a suitable replacement fluid, if required. b. Must be a US citizen or provide evidence of eligibility to work in the US including an e-verify report. c. Must be fluent in written and spoken English. d. Must practice within guidelines established by Federal, State, Department of Veterans Affairs, the Medical Director (or designee) and the Service Chief. e. Will provide input to any Peer Review or Process Review directly relating to a patient treatment or incident resulting from actions taken as a result of the consultation. f. Will maintain familiarity and comply with facility infection control policies and procedures. g. Must ensure a safe work environment and safe work habits h. Will receive and give approved handoff after service from/to the SFVAMC primary nurse; i. Will verify patient consent for procedure; j. Will reinforce education of procedure to patient; k. Will verify patient's identity using two identifiers; l. Will verify physician s orders for the treatment; m. Will complete requested documentations. Technical Proficiency: a. All care provided to Veterans is expected to be of the highest quality and is subject to peer review, and quality assurance activities. In addition, the San Francisco VA Health Care System reserves the right to survey Veterans and families for patient satisfaction, evaluate and coordinate action through the contractor to address satisfaction concerns. b. The services to be performed shall be performed in accordance with VA policies, procedures The SFVAMC may evaluate the quality of professional and administrative service provided, but retains no control over the medical, professional aspects of services rendered (e.g., professional judgments, and/or diagnosis for specific medical treatment). An apheresis nurse provided by this contract carries the same responsibility for patient care as a VA nurse appointed under Title 38 U.S.C. 7405. c. The services required in this awarded contract shall be performed in accordance with established principles and ethics of the medical profession. The quality of healthcare provided shall meet or exceed the current recognized standards established by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Joint Commission (JC), http://www.jointcommission.org/standards/ and those of other professional associations, which specify standards of performance for medical and nursing professions. Contractor must not have had a terminated license, registration or certification for cause, or if the provider voluntarily relinquished such license, registration or certification in any state after being notified in writing by a state of potential termination for cause. (The definition for cause is substandard care, professional misconduct, or professional incompetence. ) All contractors shall have a current, full and unrestricted license to practice nursing in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. If required by the State of Licensure, current registration shall also be maintained. 3.0 HOURS OF OPERATION: Contractor shall provide on-call inpatient Apheresis Services seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Once SFVHCS contacts contractor, services must be able to be initiated within 6-18 hours depending on the patient s medical needs.