NEW CARDIOLOGY & VASCULAR SERVICES - 621 Competed MSO-2026-COM-0008

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation 36C24926R0006 serves two primary purposes:

1. Answers Vendor Questions: Provides responses to questions submitted by vendors. No further questions will be accepted.
2. Updates Performance Work Statement (PWS): Modifies Section 4.4.1 of the PWS within the Request for Proposal (RFP).

• Section 4.4.1 of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) has been updated and replaced.

• Proposals must be emailed to olivia.cloutier@va.gov.

• No extension to the submission due date is anticipated.

• Service Coverage: Services required are strictly on-call and call-back only. There is no standing onsite requirement; any onsite presence is solely in response to a callback.

• Provider Requirements: One provider per specialty is required to be on-call at any given time. The Government requests two providers be proposed per specialty to ensure adequate coverage.

• On-call Frequency: On-call coverage is required every week, including nights, weekends, and holidays for cardiothoracic services, and as needed for vascular services.

• Callback Frequency: Callback hours are minimal as surgical procedures during on-call shifts are rare.

• Staffing: Currently, there is one full-time vascular surgeon available for on-call coverage. There is no cardiothoracic surgeon on staff for call at this time.

• Specialty Scope: Cardiothoracic surgeons are not expected to provide vascular services; these are covered by a separate vascular surgeon.

• Hours Interpretation: Annual hours listed for CT surgery (approx. 5,020) and vascular surgery (approx. 1,930) reflect cumulative on-call availability, not direct onsite coverage time.

Contractor physicians will provide cardiothoracic and vascular services, including consultation, operative intervention, and perioperative management. This includes:

• Thoracic Surgery: Procedures involving the chest cavity, lungs, esophagus, mediastinum, and chest wall.
• Vascular Surgery: Procedures involving arterial and venous systems (excluding intracranial and coronary vessels), including open and endovascular interventions for peripheral vascular disease, aneurysms, and vascular access.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for On-Call and On-Site Cardiology Services to be provided at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Mountain Home, TN. The services are to be performed in accordance with state-of-the-art civilian medical treatment facility standards and The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Guidelines.

• Board Certified/Eligible Cardiovascular Thoracic and Vascular Physician Services.

• Services include on-call and on-site care, covering a range of cardiology services.

• Minimum of 4 key personnel to be credentialed and available.

• Physicians must possess current, full, and unrestricted licenses in any U.S. state or territory.

• Physicians must be Board Certified/Eligible by the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified in BLS/ACLS or equivalency.

• Adherence to VHA Directives, facility By-Laws, rules, and regulations.

• Compliance with standard infection control measures, including tuberculosis testing, immunizations, and OSHA bloodborne pathogen training.

• Physicians must have current DEA certificates.

• Physicians must not have had licenses restricted, suspended, revoked, or denied.

• Contract Type: Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (FP-IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Five (5) years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.

• Contractual Minimum: 1,000 hours per year.

• Contractual Maximum: 50,000 hours over 5 years.

• Place of Performance: James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN 37684.

• Proposals are due by 10:00 AM EST on February 26, 2026.

• Proposals must be submitted electronically via email to olivia.cloutier@va.gov.

• Proposals must be in PDF or Microsoft Word format, structured into five parts: Administrative, Past Performance, Technical Capability, Price, and Small Business Participation.

• Evaluation Factors: Past Performance, Technical Capability, Price, and Small Business Participation.

• Best Value determination will be used, with Past Performance and Technical Capability being more important than Price.

• NAICS Code: 621111 (Offices of Physicians).

• Size Standard: $16 Million.

• The acquisition is UNRESTRICTED.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and VAAR clauses covering contract terms, conditions, reporting, billing, security, and other requirements.

• Specific training requirements are detailed, including ACLS/BLS, Active Threat Training, EHR, Government Ethics, and more.

• Contractors must provide proof of insurance, including Workers' Compensation, General Liability, and Automobile Liability.

• The contract includes provisions for Quality Assurance and Performance Standards.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (Number 1) to Solicitation 36C24926R0006 is issued to correct technical issues with the original Request for Proposal (RFP).

• The corrected RFP is attached and replaces the original RFP in its entirety.

• Original RFP attachments remain applicable and should be referenced.

• The proposal due date has been extended to February 26, 2026.

• The entire Request for Proposal (RFP) is replaced by the attached corrected version.

• The deadline for proposal submission has been extended to February 26, 2026.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a template for a Small Business Subcontracting Plan, as required by FAR 52.219-9. It provides a model outline for contractors to detail their plans for subcontracting with small businesses and other small business categories. Bidders may need to complete and submit this plan as part of their proposal or upon contract award.

• Plan Type: Differentiates between an "Individual Plan" (for a specific contract) and a "Commercial Plan" (company-wide or division-wide).
• Subcontracting Goals: Requires detailed dollar and percentage goals for subcontracting with various small business categories (Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Small Business, HUBZone Small Business).
• Excluded Categories of Spend: Lists specific costs (e.g., employee salaries, utilities, taxes) that should not be included in subcontracting spend calculations.
• Products/Services: Section to list the types of products and services to be subcontracted.
• Goal Development & Source Identification: Outlines methods for developing goals and identifying potential subcontractors.
• Indirect Costs: Specifies whether indirect costs are included in subcontracting goals.
• Program Administrator: Identifies the individual responsible for administering the subcontracting program.
• Equitable Opportunity: Details good faith efforts to ensure fair competition for subcontractors.
• Reporting & Recordkeeping: Outlines requirements for reporting subcontracting achievements (e.g., via eSRS) and maintaining records.
• Prompt Payment: Agreement to pay small business subcontractors on time.

This template is crucial for bidders who will be required to submit a subcontracting plan. It outlines the specific information and goals the government expects regarding small business utilization. Understanding this template will help bidders prepare accurate and compliant subcontracting plans, which can be a significant factor in proposal evaluation and contract performance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) that outlines the systematic method the government will use to evaluate contractor performance for a stated contract. It details what will be monitored, how monitoring will take place, who will conduct it, and how efforts and results will be documented.

• Government Roles: Defines responsibilities for the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Contractor Representatives: Identifies the contractor's Primary and Alternate Program Managers.
• Performance Standards: Lists specific performance requirements and acceptable quality levels (AQLs) for various measures, including:
  • Provider Quality Performance
  • Qualifications of Key Personnel
  • Scope of Practice/Privileging
  • Patient Access
  • Patient Safety
  • Licensing, Registration, and Certification
  • Mandatory Training
  • Privacy, Confidentiality, and HIPAA
• Methods of QA Surveillance: Outlines surveillance methods such as direct observation, periodic inspection, validated user/customer complaints, random sampling, and verification of contractor-provided documentation.
• CPARS Ratings: Explains the CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory) and criteria.
• Documenting Performance: Details the process for documenting performance, including the use of Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) for unacceptable performance.

This QASP provides potential bidders with insight into how their performance will be evaluated if awarded the contract. It highlights the specific standards, metrics, and surveillance methods the government will employ, allowing bidders to understand the expected level of performance and the government's quality assurance approach.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Contractor Certification" related to the "Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, As Amended." It requires the contractor to certify compliance with all relevant laws and regulations concerning non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while providing services to VA patient referrals.

• Compliance: The contractor must certify compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, related laws, and regulations enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Labor.
• Prohibition: The contractor shall not knowingly employ, contract, or subcontract with an illegal alien or a foreign national non-immigrant violating their status.
• E-Verify: The contractor must comply with "E-Verify" requirements as per Executive Order 12989 and related amendments and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to comply may result in the prohibition of the foreign national from working on VA contracts and may be grounds for contract termination.
• Subcontractor Requirement: The contractor agrees to obtain similar certifications from its subcontractors.
• Certification Fields: The form includes spaces for Signature, Date, Typed Name and Title, and Company Name.
• Legal Disclaimer: A statement warns that false or fraudulent certification may lead to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Bidders must understand and be prepared to complete and submit this certification as part of their proposal or contract obligations. It outlines specific legal and regulatory requirements related to employment and immigration status for personnel working on the contract, particularly those interacting with VA patient referrals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "D.3 Attachment 3 - Organizational Conflicts of Interest," provides the mandatory provision VAAR 809.507-1(b) regarding Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) for healthcare contracts. It outlines the government's interest in avoiding situations that could create an OCI or provide an unfair competitive advantage. Bidders are required to address this provision as part of their offer.

• Definition of OCI: Explains what constitutes an organizational conflict of interest, including situations where an offeror cannot render impartial assistance, objectivity is impaired, or an unfair competitive advantage exists.
• Offeror Statement Requirement: Bidders must provide a concise statement detailing all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or currently planned interests (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) that relate to the services under this solicitation. This includes information for consultants and subcontractors.
• Mitigation: Offerors may also provide information on how their organizational or management systems would avoid or mitigate potential OCIs.
• Government Determination: The Contracting Officer will review the provided information and may determine if an OCI exists, potentially leading to disqualification unless the OCI can be mitigated or a waiver is granted.
• Consequences of Non-Disclosure: Misrepresentation or nondisclosure of OCIs can result in contract termination at no expense to the government.
• Appendix A: This appendix provides a "Contractor Conflict of Interest Certification Statement" form. Bidders must either certify that key personnel and temporary emergency substitutions have no conflicts or attach a detailed statement as described above. The form requires the name of the certifying official, title, signature, and date.

This document is critical for bidders to understand their disclosure obligations regarding potential organizational conflicts of interest. Failure to properly address and disclose OCIs, as required by this attachment and Appendix A, could lead to disqualification from award or contract termination. Bidders must carefully review their interests and those of their proposed subcontractors and consultants to ensure compliance.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the procurement of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Thoracic, and Vascular Physician Services for the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. The services are required to provide on-site physician care to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Provision of Board Certified/Board Eligible Cardiology, Vascular, and Thoracic Physician Services.

• Services must meet or exceed currently recognized national standards.

• Contractor must propose a minimum of three (3) key personnel to be credentialed and available.

• Specific training and certifications are required (e.g., ACLS, BLS, EHR, VA MANDATORY training).

• Compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, and VA policies and directives.

• Adherence to strict security and privacy requirements, including HIPAA.

• Contract Type: Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FP/EPA), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Five (5) years, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030.

• Estimated Maximum Contract Value: $16 Million.

• Guaranteed Minimum Contract Amount: 1,211 hours.

• Contractual Maximum Hours: 90,862 hours.

• Offers are due by February 26, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST.

• Evaluation factors are not detailed in this section but will be based on price and other factors as outlined in FAR 52.212-2.

• Proposals must include technical descriptions, pricing, representations, and certifications.

• The acquisition is unrestricted.

• Principal NAICS Code: 621111 - Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists).

• Size Standard: Not specified in this document, but typically associated with NAICS code 621111.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference, including 52.212-1, 52.212-3, and 52.212-4.

• A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is included, detailing specific duties, qualifications, and performance standards.

• Attachments include QASP, Contractor Certification, Organizational Conflicts of Interest, and Subcontracting Goals and Plan Template.