R -- TEMPORARY STAFFING FOR CODING SERVICES

Notice Date

March 19, 2001

Contracting Office

VA Medical Center (04-90C), 1201 N.W. 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125

ZIP Code

33125

Solicitation Number

RFQ 546-43-01

Response Due

March 28, 2001

Point of Contact

Gwendolyn C. Moore, (305) 324-3221

E-Mail Address

Gwen.moore@med.va.gov (Gwen.moore@med.va.gov)

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation prepared and formal solicitation documents are not available. The VA Miami has a requirement for four (4) temporary certified coders, to provide coding and review of coding for patient care for inpatient and ambulatory care. Coders must be certified on the following: RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CPC or CCS-P and have at least two (2) years coding experience. Proof of certification will be presented with offer. The contract period is from April 1, 2001 through August 30, 2001. Contractor shall provide service eight (8) hours per day, at a minimum of five days (5) per week to provide enough coverage to keep the coding current. Workload is estimated to be 100% review/coding of medical records in designated clinics and inpatient units including nursing home care services. Contractor will be required to provide a monthly statement of hours worked by the contract coding staff, which will be kept by a designated individual. Coders must sign in and out with the designated COTR in order to be paid. Upon award of the contract, contractor will provide a roster indicating names and certifications of coders who will be providing service to the VA. All contracted staff are required to attend a VA sponsored mandatory computer orientation training and general VA orientation to include: Fire and safety policy and procedures, infection control policy and procedure, Emergency Preparedness/Disaster policy and procedures and are/program/unit specific orientation. Contractor is responsible to ensure that employees providing work on this contract are fully trained and completely competent to perform the required work. Contractor is also required to maintain records that document competence/performance level of Contractor employees working on this contract in accordance with JCAHO, VHA and other regulatory body requirements. The Contractor will provide a current copy of the competence assessment checklist and annual performance evaluation to the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) for each Contract employee working on this contract. The VA will monitor the Contractor employees' work to ensure contract compliance. Notwithstanding other contract requirements, upon request of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor will remove from the work site, any Contractor employee who does not comply with orientation requirements or meet competency requirements for the work performed. When changes in Contractor personnel are approved in accordance with the contract, the Contractor must provide evidence of orientation, the current competency assessment and current performance evaluation. The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for the protection of its personnel furnishing services under this contract; in accordance with the personnel policy of the Contractor, such as providing worker's compensation, professional liability insurance, health examinations, income tax withholding, and social security payments. The parties agree that such personnel shall not be considered a VA employee for any purpose and shall be considered employees of the Contractor. The Contractor is required to comply with applicable Federal and State workers' compensation and occupational disease statues. If occupational diseases are not compensable under those statues, they shall be covered under the employer's liability, except when contract operations are so commingled with the contractor's commercial operations that it would not be practical. Employer's liability coverage of at least $100,000 is required with the exception of states that do not permit workers' compensation to be written by private carriers: 1. General Liability: $500,000 per occurrence, 2. Automobile Liability: $200,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage. It is not anticipated that contractor employee will be working on paid Federal Holidays and will not be compensated on these days. Payment for any leave, including sick leave, holiday or vacation time is the responsibility of the Contractor. Before commencing work under this contract, the Contractor shall furnish certification to the Contracting Officer that the coverage required has been obtained and such policy shall state "This policy may not be changed or canceled without written notice to the VA." Said policy must bear an appropriate "loss payable clause" to the United States as its interest may appear. Such evidence of insurance will not be waived. The Contractor must possess all licenses, permits, accreditation and certificates as required by law. The Contractor understands and agrees as a contracting agency for coding medical records for the VA Medical Center, that the information in the medical records of all patients is confidential. Strict confidentiality is to be maintained, Rules of Confidentiality expected to be conformed with are delineated in 38 U.S.C. 3301, 38 U.S.C. 4132 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) et.seq. Agency employees accessing the VA Vista computer system will sign a computer security access agreement and will abide by the agreement. Contract personnel performing work under this contract shall satisfy all requirements for appropriate security eligibility in dealing with access to sensitive information systems belonging to or being used on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Contractor personnel who obtain access to hardware or media which may manipulate or store drug or alcohol abuse data, sickle cell anemia treatment records, records or tests or treatment for or infection with HIV, medical quality assurance records, or any other sensitive information protected under 38 U.S.C. Para 4132 or para 3305, as defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall not have access to the records unless absolutely necessary to perform their contractual duties. The following provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial and addendum 52.203-3, Gratuities; 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services; 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract;52.224-1, Privacy Act Notification; 52.224-2, Privacy Act; 52.237-17 Interest; 52.232-38, Submission of Electronic Funds Transfer Information With Offer; 52.242-13, Bankruptcy; 852.203-71, Display of VA Hotline Poster, 852.212-2; 852.217-70, Estimated Quantities; 852.237-70, Contractor Responsibilities; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and conditions required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial, including clauses incorporated by reference under Section b (1)(5)(11-16) (23-24); 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items. Offeors responding to this announcement shall submit a cost proposal, a list of all employees who will be providing work on this contract and their experience, evidence of liability coverage, references with points of contact for jobs that are ongoing or have been completed with the past three years. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the requirements of the contract. The Government intends to evaluate offers and award without discussions; however, the information required in provisions 52.212-1, 52.212-2, a completed copy of provisions 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications; Commercial Items; 852.219-70, Veterans Owned Small Business certification must be submitted with offer. Offerors may find the FAR provisions and clauses on the internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far/ or http://www.va.gov/oa&mm/vaar/. Quotes are required no later than March 28, 2001 at 3:00 PM, local time. NOTE: Contractor must provide proof of VETS-100 Compliance Report. The VETS 100 form can be accessed electronically at:http://www2.dol.gov/, Click on DOL Agencies, Click on Veterans Employment Training Services, Click on VETS-100. Proof of submission submission of the VETS-100 report must be provided to the Contracting Officer prior to award. The NAICS Code is 561110, $5.0 Million. .

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010321/RSOL002.HTM (W-078 SN50G6C8)