MODIFICATION
R -- Request For Information / VA Supply (Value) Chain Transformation.
- Notice Date
- 3/22/2010
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Center Acquisition Innovation Frederick;Department of Veterans Affairs;7485 New Horizon Way;Frederick MD 21703
- ZIP Code
- 21703
- Solicitation Number
- VA798-10-RI-0068
- Response Due
- 3/31/2010
- Archive Date
- 5/30/2010
- Point of Contact
- Russell Grabill
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(russell.grabill@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Department of Veteran Affairs Supply (Value) Chain Transformation Program Notice Type: Sources Sought The proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY (as defined in FAR 15.201(e)), this is not a solicitation. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates and manages procurement systems responsible for the procurement of approximately $34 billion in goods and services per year. Currently the VA's enterprise information systems and process are outdated and are not able to efficiently manage current procurement demand. The VA is therefore requesting information regarding the availability and feasibility of attracting healthcare supply chain management contractors to provide integrated enterprise supply (value) chain management support services to the VA. These services will support and increase the efficiency of current VA enterprise supply chain management systems. The VA requires procurement information systems that provide purchasing information in near real time. These data systems should be capable of capturing and displaying the analytics required for informed decision making at key VA organization levels. Key VA organization levels include (but are not limited to VA Medical Centers (VAMC), Veteran Integrated Services Networks (VISN), Regional/National Acquisition Centers, VA Health Administration (VHA) and the VA Central Office (VACO). The contractor would conduct a VA Enterprise Supply (Value) Chain Assessment for the purposes of identification and documentation of performance improvements and increased procurement system effectiveness. The assessment will include a recommendation for the professional services, information systems and any associated tools required to support VA Enterprise purchasing management. The contractor would focus its evaluation on the VHA procurement program for Medical Surgical and Prosthetics Equipment. Upon VA approval of the assessment the contractor may be tasked to execute the recommendation. If a material solution is implemented the contractor may be tasked to provide the professional services required to operate the material solution in support of VA procurement staff. The VA Enterprise Supply (Value) Chain Assessment is important so that all areas of potential non-compliance are identified, documented, and priced. The contractors' implementation methodology will provide best industry practices for the following services: (a) A recommendation for the most efficient organization and methodology for the operation of the VA Medical Surgical products and Prosthetics devices supply chains. (b) A recommendation for world class transformation methodologies, including but not limited to, the equipment, software, firmware and hardware required to facilitate VA enterprise supply chain management. (c) A recommendation for the Professional enterprise supply chain management "back office" support. (d) A recommendation for providing data analytics of VA enterprise procurement data. (e) A recommendation for the methodology for conducting product and data standardization. (f) A recommendation for establishing, updating and optimize the VA's E-Catalog. To execute the above services, the contractor would perform the following activities: (a) The contractor would review current VA Policy and Handbooks concerning the procurement of Medical Surgical and Prosthetics Commodities. Review VHA Handbooks 1173.1 through 1173.15 and 1173.17 (Prosthetics and Sensory Aid Service policy), VHA directives 1660.1 and 1660.3), VA Directive 7002 (Logistics Management Policy) and VA Directive 1663 (Health Care Resources Contracting - Buying Title 38 U.S.C. 8153). The contractor would develop a recommendation for improved Enterprise procurement business rules that could be programmed into the VA procurement system software that will provide improved procurement compliance. (b) The contractor would review VA enterprise compliance with VHA Directive 2006-029 ensuring accurate prosthetics data entry throughout the enterprise for prosthetics orders into the National Prosthetics Patient Database (NPPD), i.e. surgical implants, audiology, etc.; ensuring appropriate use of prosthetics cost centers and budget object codes; and managing inventory through the Prosthetics Inventory Package (PIP) to maximize appropriate resource utilization. (See note at end of #5.). (c) The contractor would review the current VA medical surgical and prosthetics commodities data identification standards, including the National Item File. The contractor would recommend a process for data standardization to enhance the appropriate capture, use and dissemination of procurement data. (d) The contractor would review current process for the prosthetics organizational functions within the VISN including use of mandatory contracts and contract development. The contractor would develop a recommendation for improved procurement system rules that could be programmed into the VA procurement systems software that will provide improved procurement compliance including providing near real time data capture to provide a basis for data analytics. (e) The contractor would review VA Prosthetics and Orthotic Laboratory/Services including inventory, workload capture, and relationships with other clinical services, determination of consistent compliance with forwarding all contractor quotes to a certified Prosthetist/Orthotist for review to ensure accurate invoicing. The contractor would develop a recommendation for improved business rules that will provide for improved compliance including providing near real time data capture to provide a basis for data analytics. The contractor would also develop and provide recommendations for the development of process metrics and compliance management techniques. (f) The contractor would review the current process for enterprise supply chain management and develop a recommendation for the professional services and equipment (if any) required to establish a centralized data warehouse that will provide the data required to perform procurement data analysis at the VA Medical Center, Veteran Integrated Service network (VISN), region, VA Administration and Central Office levels. The Data Warehouse must capture information from current VA databases and provide a platform for data analytics. The contractor would create enterprise procurement dashboards that can be displayed at procurement analysts' work stations. (g) The contractor would review the current VA E-Catalog, and develop a recommendation for update, upgrade and methods for automated maintenance and utilization of a new VA E-Catalog capability. (h) The contractor would review VA processes for clinical product standardization. The contractor shall recommend policy and practice updates that can be integrated into the enterprise supply chain to introduce greater efficiency into both the product standardization process and the procurement process for those systems. (i) The contractor would review competency assessments, training, and education, for essential areas such as procurement, inventory management, consult management, and other compliance areas for enterprise procurement and clinical staff. (j) The contractor would review VISN-wide training plans and evaluate plan effectiveness, its effectiveness and oversight. As stated above, The VA may also request the contractor to implement all approved recommendations resulting from their initial review and assessment of current VA operations and practices. Upon successful implementation the VA may also request that the contractor support the operation of the new systems to support VA enterprise procurement operations. It is anticipated that only contractors with current commercially available or adaptable systems will be eligible for this effort. Contractor recommendations based on the use of proprietary equipment, systems and processes shall be identified as such. The VA is in the process of planning a market research conference in Crystal City, Virginia April 20-21, 2010. The conference will discuss the VA's requirement for these services. The conference will give contractors the opportunity to present their latest approaches to Enterprise Healthcare Supply (Value) Chain Management. More details about the market research conference will be posted via an amendment to this RFI as they become available. Submit expressions of interest electronically in Microsoft Word format (no more than 10 pages in length, single spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font minimum) to include documentation of corporate capabilities in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary expertise and experience in analysis, evaluation and implementation which would be utilized to improve the VA Enterprise Supply (Value) Chain Management. In addition, submit any lessons learned and best commercial practices that would be utilized for the VA Enterprise Supply (Value) Chain Management requirement. Since this is a Sources Sought Announcement, no evaluation letters will be issued to the participants. This announcement is not a solicitation and does not bind the Government to award any contract. No solicitations exist at this time. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. Respondents shall not be obligated to provide the services described herein and it is understood by the United States Government that any cost estimates provided as a result of this RFI are "best" estimates only. The response time and date to this RFI is no later than 3:00 PM (est.) on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. All submissions must be submitted electronically, via email, to Mr. Russell Grabill at russell.grabill@va.gov. 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. As prescribed in 15.209(c), insert the following provision: Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: Information. (End of provision)
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