R499--Ergonomic Assessment Services

Reply to Questions 1.           Many of our clients are exploring software assisted approaches to managing their ergonomics programs. Would your team like for us to incorporate information on our ergonomics software platform as a first line of response to ergonomic requests?  No. 2.           For the proposed maximum volume of assessments of 935 or ~78 assessments/month, are you looking for multiple ergonomists to be conducting assessments to handle such volumes?  No. the contract is set up with 935 hours total. Each assessment with report should ~ 2 hours. 467 assessments per year/ 38 per month. 3.           Do you only accept Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) to conduct services or would other equivalent credentials be accepted such as Occupational/Physical Therapist; Certified Industrial Ergonomist; Certified Associate Ergonomist; Associate Ergonomic Professional with BCPE? Only a CPE. 4.           It is understood as per 3.1 Ergonomic Assessments and Evaluations - No more than 2 labor hours may be billed for completion of one ergonomic assessment and associated report. Would it be appropriate to include follow-up contact, and equipment installation as an additional time requirement? If so, is a written approval required for every such scenario?  No. This contract is for ergonomic assessments only. 5.           Is there an opportunity to include an administrative hourly rate for metrics tracking and monthly reporting on the pricing proposal?  No. 6.           Is a written report required for Follow-Up Assessments? Just needs to be documented, along with any recommended actions. Included in weekly progress reports. 7.           Out of 935 assessments, what is approximate % of cases that will require ergonomic equipment delivered by the Contractor?  All equipment will be provided by VASDHS. 8.           The Format of offer section references using the sequence and format instructions provided when completing response to this solicitation, but no instructions have been provided. Can you provide/clarify references sequence and format instructions please? (not sure about this one) 9.           We are a SBA verified SDVOSB and are partnering with Humanscale to fulfill the services under this requirement. We are over the $19.5M size standard for this requirement, and Humanscale is not an SDVOSB, as we reported in our sources sought response. The services provided by Humanscale in the fulfillment of this requirement are vital and will exceed the 50% required under the 852.219-75 certification.  This creates an impossible compliance scenario where no SDVOSB can truthfully execute the certification. We'd very much so like to still submit a proposal because we're best suited to fulfill the services required by VA under this contract, but if we do submit, can our proposal be considered for award? Humanscale was the prime vendor on our last contract and they did not adhere to the 50% requirement.  They also went over budget months ahead of the end of the PoP, 2 years in a row, both times resulting in a suspension of services.Â