VA Medical Center, Attn: Contracting Officer (90C), 7305 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33410-6400

R -- TEMP. DATA ENTRY/WORD PROCESSING CLERKS SOL RFQ # 548-98-SB-19 DUE 090998 POC Suzanne Byrne 561-882-6508 or Donna Nelson 561-882-6510 (1)This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in the notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotations are being requested and written solicitations will not be issued. (2) This solicitation is issued as a Request For Quotation RFQ 548-98-SB-19. (3) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-05. (4) This solicitation is 100% set aside for small business with SIC Code: 7363 with a size standard of $ 5 million. (5) [Line Item One]: The Contractor shall provide five (5) data entry clerks/word processors for the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Medical Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, Cost Recovery Pre-Registration Implementation Program. Contractor to provide temporary staffing of 5 (five) data entry clerks/word processors to work in the Medical Care Cost Recovery Section at the VA Medical Center, West Palm Beach, 7305 N Military Trail, West Palm Beach Florida 33419. In accordance with the terms and conditions, provisions and schedule of this solicitation. TOUR OF DUTY: Monday thru Friday 5PM-9PM, and Saturday, 9AM-5PM, excluding Sunday's and National holidays for a period of fifty four hundred (5400) hours with the possibility of one option to extend the time for another fifty four hundred (5400) hours, not to exceed ten thousand eight hundred (10800) hours. The ten (10) holidays observed by the Federal Government are as follows: New Years Day, January 1: Martin Luther King Day, 3rd Monday in January: President's Day, 3rd Monday in February: Memorial Day, Last Monday in May: Independence Day, July 4 (Date Varies): Labor Day, 1st Monday in September: Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October: Veterans Day, November 11: Thanksgiving Day, Last Thursday in November: Christmas Day, December 25. DUTIES: The Contractor's personnel shall perform the following duties: A. Obtain current patient specific information via telephone interview (approx. 15 min per connected call), regarding demographics, patient data, emergency contacts, and insurance coverage; prior to scheduled appointments, for patients of the VA Medical Center utilizing a pre-established call list and script of questions. A coding system will also be utilized to record the result of each call, i.e., C=connected, B=busy, K=call back, etc. B. Up-date and record all patient specific information onto pre-established patient information screens in VA VISTA menu-driven data bases using Pentium 486 and 586 computers. C. Complete and record a pre-determined percentage of contacts per work day. D. Immediately refer, to the MCCR Service Representative, for further follow-up, any questions raised during the interview process which cannot be answered (no later than the close of business on the date informed. E. Provide general phone numbers for VA services to veterans if veterans so request. The Medical Centerwill provide the Contractor with a general list of central contact points and their phone numbers. F. PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: All Contractor's personnel are required to complete and submit a Patient Confidentiality Form, included in this package, certify that they will not divulge any patient specific information. G. ADP SECURITY: The Contractor and their employees shall use the VA computer system for official purposes only in connection with the assigned duties and responsibilities. Contractor's personnel shall treat all information, including access and verifier codes, in a confidential manner. Users in the operation of the computer equipment shall properly log off the system upon task completion and report any apparent breach of security to the appropriate supervisor. QUALIFICATIONS: MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: All Contractor's personnel are required to furnish evidence of Tuberculosis (TB) screening; a negative Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) (results must be within one year and/or chest x-ray (results must be within one year). Upon request by the VA, Contractor may be required to submit evidence of medical screening. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Contractor's personnel must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language, The contractor personnel must effectively and clearly communicate verbally and in writing. Spanish speaking personnel may be required in certain geographic areas. COMPUTER LITERACY: Contractor's personnel must possess the ability to type a minimum of 45 words per minute typing will be in VA VISTA menu driven database on Pentium 486 or 586 computers. CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS: Contractor's personnel must be chosen on the basis of their customer service skills. Staff must speak clearly and enthusiastically, be polite, cordial, patient and listen attentively to the individuals interviewed. Courteous and professional treatment of the veteran and or family members is a primary concern. The VA will furnish all tools, equipment, and supplies necessary for the performance of required tasks. All work performed by the Contractor's employees will be monitored by each VA Medical Care Cost Recovery Service representative for accuracy and completeness. This action must not be interpreted as the supervision of contract's employees by the VA. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor shall ensure that all employees working under this contract are aware of and comply with VA regulations regarding patient confidentiality, due process, the Freedom of Information Act and the terms and conditions of the Privacy Act of 1974. Any individual making unauthorized disclosure may be criminally liable for violations of the act. The Contractor will assure that data is directly, accurately and completely entered into the VA database and no "double-entry" of information takes place. The Contractor, not the VA, must recruit, test, hire, train, assign, pay, provide benefits and leave to the individuals performing the required tasks and, as necessary, address performance problems, discipline and terminate its employees. Among other employer obligations, the Contractor is responsible for payroll deductions, and payment of income taxes, social security (FICA), unemployment insurance, workers compensation and shall provide the required liability insurance and bonding. Prohibitions on Employer-Employee Relationships: No employer-employee relationship is created by any contract resulting from this solicitation. Services furnished by the contractor shall be performed by the contractor's employees and shall not be considered or treated as Federal employees for any purpose; shall not be regarded as performing a personal service, and shall not be eligible for civil service employee benefits, including retirement. Contractor employees will attend orientation not to exceed one day to be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. TIME AND ATTENDANCE: Contractor is responsible for providing a method for time and attendance. At the end of each invoicing period, the Contractor will provide documentation showing the number of hours worked by the employee. This documentation will be provided to the MCCR representative for verification. PAYMENT: Payment will be made on a monthly basis in arrears, upon submission of a proper invoice, which has been verified by the VA Medical Center. Invoice must include: Employees name and Period of coverage. The Department of Labor Wage Rate Determination being used for this quotation is No. 94-2111 Revision No. 12 dated 6/1/98. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE MONTHLY IN ARREARS. 6. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial. All offerors are to include, with their proposal, a completed copy of provision 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items; 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, along with the following additional FAR clauses, cited in clause 52.212-5: 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (15 U.S.C. 637 (d) (2) and (3)); 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212), 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers (29 U.S.C. 793), 52.225-19, European Union Sanctions for Services (E.O. 12849), 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (5 U.S.C..552a), 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As amended (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.), 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). The following FAR clauses and provisions are added by addendum: 52.217-8 Option to extend Services; 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification; 52.224-2 Privacy Act; 52.232-22 Mandatory Information for Electronic Funds Transfer Payment; 52.242-13 Bankruptcy; 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order; 52.232-18 Availability of Funds; 52.243-1 Changes, 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small business set aside. The following VAAR clauses and provisions are added by addendum: 852.270-1 Representatives of Contracting Officers; 852.270-4 Commercial Advertising. Award will be based on price and past performance. In accordance with FAR subpart 9.104-1, each offeror is required to provide information on a reasonable number of recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items, as well as the offerors primary financial institution, to include contract numbers, points of contact, telephone numbers and any other relevant information which will be used by the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination about a prospective offeror. FAR provision 52.213-3 Offeror Representation and Certification -- Commercial Items, shall be completed and submitted with the proposal The VA intends to award a single contract and reserves the right to make multiple awards if in the Government's best interest. The contract base period will be for fifty four hundres (5400) hours, with the possibility of one (1) option to extend the time for another fifty four hundred (5400) hours, not to exceed ten thousand eight hundred (10,800) hours. The period of acceptance for quotations is 30 calendar days. The closing date for all proposals is September 9, 1998 at 2:00pm local time. Offers in original and two copies should be sent to: Contracting Officer (04B), VA Medical Center, Room 2C-260, 7305 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33410. Posted 08/12/98 (W-SN236222). (0224)

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