Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chief, Acquisition and Materiel Management (90C), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417

D -- TELEPHONE TRIAGE SYSTEM SOL RFQ 618-68-00 DUE 120899 POC Janice M. Byrd 612-725-2188 RFQ 618-68-00 D -- Telephone Triage System This is a combined synopsis/solicitation. Request for Quotation #RFQ 618-68-00 for Telephone Triage System is hereby issued for commercial items to be used by the VA and is prepared in accordance with the format under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, subpart 12.6 and Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, subpart 13.5 test program; and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. Simplified acquisition procedures apply and the VA will conduct the procurement according to a combination of Parts 12 and 13. This CBD announcement constitutes the only solicitation issued. A separate written solicitation document will not be issued. Incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-14 and VAAR 97-7. The Standard Industrial Code (SIC) is 4813 and the small business size standard is 1,500 employees or less. Contractor's proposals are hereby being requested in response to requirements under a firm fixed price contract, to provide and deliver telephone triage protocol's software and training as listed in the schedule and shall be submitted on contractor's letterhead or bid form, must address all requirements listed, and contain the name, title and signature of person authorized to submit proposals/bids on behalf of the contractor for Network 13, (which includes the following Medical Centers: Fargo ND, Hot Springs SD, Fort Meade SD, Sioux Falls SD, Minneapolis MN, St. Cloud MN, Twin Ports Outpatient Clinic, Superior, WI and also including Community Based Outreach Clinics located in the territory covered by Network 13) in strict accordance with all specifications, provisions, terms and conditions of this solicitation and any resulting contract. Delivery is to be FOB Destination to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417. Criteria for telephone triage protocols to be utilized at all Network 13 locations: (A) General System: (1) System runs in Windows NT environment and available on a WAN (Wide Area Network); (2) Built-in system back-up function; (3) System has multi-levels of system security; (4) Is capable of providing aggregated data from multiple workstations. (B) Basic call handling: (1) User able to process more than one call at a time within the same desktop application; (2) System can be set-up to prompt agent for required steps in the call (e.g. if referral made, prompt agent to send a letter before closing out call); (3) System performance supports real-time call management (e.g. less than 2 second delay from one screen to another); (4) All calls can be tracked in system and linked to encounter form data. (C) Clinical requirements: (1) Protocols will be available for general patients, as well as, geriatric adults, children and infants that cover medical symptoms, injuries, and environmental exposures; (2) Age-specific triage protocols available; (3) Protocols can be customized/modified; (4) Database available for general health information; (5) Database available for medication information (both prescription and OTC); (6) System has the ability to document recommendations given to caller by nurse; (7) Protocols include home care measure to support the recommended plan of action; (8) System utilizes standard word processing features such as cut/paste, word wrapping etc. in documentation/notes sections; (9) Will contain specific protocols for chronic disease management; (10) System accommodates searching for health care facilities (hospitals, urgent care centers, etc.); (11) System can initiate a text or digital page directly from software. (D) Software Support: (1) Vendor has multi-year development plan for software upgrades and enhancements, including training and maintenance of same; (2) Vendor provides 24 x 7 software support; (3) Vendor provides on-site installation support, if requested; (4) Vendor provides dial-in technical support. (E) Reporting and Data management: (1) System provides mechanism for outcome studies and customer satisfaction data collection (2) System supports both manual entry and electronic data downloads/updates of eligible caller demographics; (3) System has online query options for simple counts (e.g. how many referral calls during time period xx/xx/xx to yy/yy/yy); (4) Ability to document multiple categories for type of call for single caller presenting multiple requests/concerns; (5) System has survey creation capability (survey questions and responses stored in system). (F) System shall be Y2K compliant. The Government intends to make award to the offeror that is most advantageous to the Government's criteria. Evaluation factors will include, but not be limited to: (1) Technical acceptability as determined by the information submitted which demonstrates understanding of the protocols criteria. (2) Management Capabilities and Approach: Describe management methods used to assure the provision of prompt and quality service, including a description of a quality assurance and customer service plan tailored towards a unique client base of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) Price. Identify all Federal, State and Local government contracts and private contracts of similar type, scope, size and complexity that are ongoing, or have been completed within the past 3 years. Provide a list of references pertaining to those contracts. In addition, information must be provided that evidences customer satisfaction with an offeror's products and services, and demonstrates an offeror's compliance with the fulfillment of the requirements of previous contracts. The technical criteria and Management capabilities when combined are more important than price. Award will be made to the offeror determined to be the "best value" to the Government. Evaluation may be made with or without discussions with the offeror(s). All responsible sources that can meet the requirements and provide items as listed above may respons to this solicitation by submitting cost and technical proposals on their company letterhead or bid form. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998). This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address (es): http://www.arnet.gov/far (FAR) and http://www.va.govoa&;mm/vaar/ (VAAR); FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offers Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation of Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-3 Representations and Certifications Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders Commercial Items; FAR 52.216-18 Ordering; FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations; FAR 52.216-21 Requirements; VAAR 852.270-4 Commercial Advertising; VAAR 852.219-70 Veteran-owned business; 852.219-70 ProtestContent; 852.236-76 Correspondence; 852.237-70 Contractor Responsibilities; 852.270-1 Representatives of Contracting Officers; and 852.233-71 Alternate Protest Procedure. Proposals shall include all information required in 52.212-1, Schedule of Prices Offered, a copy of published price list for the protocol system proposed, a completed copy of provision 52-212-3, and be submitted to the attention of Janice Byrd, VA Medical Center Room 4G-107 One Veterans Drive Minneapolis MN 55417. For further information contact Janice Byrd at 612-725-2188 or Fax 612-725-2072. All offers must be received no later than close of business (4:30PM CST) on December 8, 1999. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Posted 11/18/99 (W-SN401914). (0322)

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