Department of Veterans Affairs, Chief, ASC VISN 9/90, Alvin C, York, VA Medical Center, 3410 Lebanon Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

R -- ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OF INSURANCE VERIFICATION/VALIDATION SOL 249-05-99 DUE 022299 POC Sherri-Lyn Teeters, 615-867-6026 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This procurement is processed under the authority of 38 U.S.C 8153 Sharing of HealthCare Resources with non-VA entities. This Solicitation No. 249-05-99 is being issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). All RFQ responses are due on or before, February 22, 1999, 4:00p.m., local time. If mailed submit to Acquisition Service Center (VISN 9/90), Alvin C. York VAMC, 3410 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. If hand carried deliver to: Contracting Officer, Acquisition Service Center, Alvin C. York VAMC, Building 5, 2nd Floor, Room 231. This is an RFQ with an estimated dollar amount anticipated to be below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $100,000.00. The SIC Code for this procurement is 7363 and the small business size is $5.0 mil. POC: Sherri-Lyn Teeters, Contracting Officer, 615-867-6026. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-09. U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division, Wage Determination No. 94-2497, Rev 13 appropriate Clerical Occupational Code will apply. Upon receipt of the Specific Wage Determination an amendment will be issued if necessary. Description, Quantity, Unit, Unit Price, Total: Contractor is to furnish two employees to provide general information system administrative support including database management at the Mid South Customer Accounts Center (MCAC), located at the Alvin C. York VAMC, in building 5, 2nd floor, 3400 Lebanon Road, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Service to begin March 1, 1999 through February 29, 2000, with a one year optional renewal period for March 1, 2000 through February 28, 2001. Price is to include all personnel, services, travel and any costs incurred in providing the two employees on an hourly basis. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Hours per week will not exceed 40 hours. Service will not be required on Federal Holidays or Weekends. Payment will be made for the actual number of hours worked as determined by time sheets kept by the MCAC staff and reported monthly to the Contractor. Payment will be made monthly in arrears. If at any time the trained employees provided by the contractor are no longer available to MCAC the Government has the option not to fill that position. BASE YEAR Bid Item 1: Per employee the hourly rate of _________ will apply for the base year period. OPTIONAL RENEWAL PERIOD Bid Item 2: Per employee the hourly rate of __________will apply for the optional renewal period. REQUIREMENTS: The employees shall be responsible for providing general information system administrative support including database management. Employees shall provide MCAC with computer operator support to include dataverification and validation support consisting of verifying and validating Veterans information in the databases from seven VA Medical Centers. The employees shall obtain, review, search and extract data existing from records. Employees will also contact Veterans at home to obtain insurance and demographic information. Employees will also contact Third Party Reimbursable Insurance Carriers in order to verify coverage on new or existing policies. The verification coverage will be accurately entered into the insurance file database. The employees shall provide office automation support including handling all incoming and outgoing correspondence and preparing insurance bills for distribution. Insurance and patient checks will be opened, identified by Medical Center and distributed to Accounts Receivable personnel within a three hour timeframe. QUALIFICATIONS: Contractor shall supply employees that have a high school diploma and the following skills: a) Windows 95 expertise; b) Excellent oral and written communication skills; c) Professional demeanor (i.e., ability to communicate with customers (Veterans) in a professional manner) and d) Knowledge of insurance data verification and validation and ability to maintain database information. The qualifications of the Contractor employees shall be subject to review by the Director of MCAC. Employees assigned by the Contractor must be U.S. citizens. PERSONNEL POLICY: The contractor shall be responsible for protecting the personnel furnishing services under this contract. To carry out this responsibility the contractor shall provide the following for those personnel: worker's compensation, professional liability insurance, health examinations, income tax withholding and Social Security withholding. Payments for sick leave, vacation time, or any other fringe benefits are the responsibility of the contractor. The Government has the right to determine whether or not an individual is suitably qualified. Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition, NOTE: Offeror must submit criteria in accordance with 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, is applicable. The evaluation of criteria is as follows: A. Past Performance/Prior Experience: Employee experience: Offeror must provide at least three references for verification of past performance which demonstrates the employees ability to meet the qualifications required herein, inclusive of point of contact information and current phone numbers. B Pricing; The hourly rate to be submitted per employee to provide the services required herein. Factor A is of less value than Factor B. Offerors should submit a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with its quotation. Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and Addendum applies as follows: The following Clauses are applicable VAAR 852.219-70 Veteran Owned Small Business, 852.270-1 Representatives of the Contracting Officers; 852.270-4 Commercial Advertising and FAR Clauses 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification, 52.224-2 Privacy Act, 52.237-2 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation, 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference; 52.232-19 Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year; 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services; 52.217-9 Option to extend the term of the contract-(a) is completed as follows "10 calendar days prior to expiration"; (c) is completed as follows "24 months". Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders Commercial Items, is applicable to this acquisition. The following clauses in (b) are also applicable: 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans, 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers, 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era, 52.225-19 European Union Sanction for Services; the following clauses in (c) are also applicable: 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965, 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts). The Government intends to award a firm-fixed price contract to the offeror that is determined most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The technical documentation shall contain in sufficient detail information in order to enable government personnel to make a thorough and sound determination based on the evaluation factors listed and demonstrates that the prospective contractor has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the requirements. Statements that paraphrase the specifications or qualification criteria are inadequate to demonstrate this. If any offeror fails to meet the minimum stated requirements, that offeror will be disqualified for consideration of award. Posted 02/05/99 (W-SN295678). (0036)

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