Q505--Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services MSO-2026-COM-0017

Amendment / Modification

This amendment extends the due date for Solicitation 36C25726Q0159.

• The deadline for receipt of offers has been extended from June 12, 2026, to June 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

• The due date for offers.

• The proposal submission deadline is extended to June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.

• All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies Solicitation 36C25726Q0159. The primary changes include:

• Removal of SDVOSB Set Aside: The previous Small, Disadvantaged, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside has been removed, making the solicitation unrestricted.
• Update to Schedule of Services: The Schedule of Services has been revised.
• Update to FAR and VAAR Clauses and Provisions: Applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) clauses and provisions have been updated.

• Solicitation and attachments have been updated.
• Schedule of Services.
• FAR and VAAR Clauses and Provisions.

• Receipt of Offers Extended: The deadline for the receipt of offers has been extended to June 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT.
• Updated Documents: Bidders should refer to the updated solicitation and attachments, including:
  • S02 36C25726Q0159 - Locum GI Physician Services - Unrestricted Insufficient Small Businesses
  • S02 D.1 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan - Locum GI Physician Services
  • S02 D.3 Fillable Schedule of Services - Locum GI Physician Services
  • S02 D.4 Past Performance Questionnaire Worksheet - Locum GI Physician Services
  • S02 D.5 Contractor Rules of Behavior
  • S02 D.6 Contractor Certification - Immigration and Nationality Act
  • S02 D.7 Organizational Conflicts of Interest
  • S02 D.8 VHA Bookable Hour and Appointment Length Standards Memorandum

All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain in full force and effect.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire Worksheet designed to gather information from entities that have previously contracted with the Quoter for Gastroenterology Physician Services. It is used to assess a Quoter's likelihood of successful performance on the current contract by evaluating past performance based on relevancy, recency, and confidence/success.

• Contracted Entity: Legal name(s) of the entity with whom the Quoter held the contract.
• Service Similarity: Confirmation if the contract involved providing the same or similar services as required in the solicitation within the last three years.
• Verification Contact: Name, phone number, and email of a contact person at the contracting entity who can verify the Quoter's information.
• Contract Number(s): Identification of the contract(s) under which services were provided.
• Period of Performance: Dates during which the Quoter performed the services.
• Geographic Location: Location where the services were provided.
• Quality Control Plan: Description of the Quoter's plan for meeting contract requirements and performance standards.
• Contingency Plan: Plan for replacing key personnel to ensure service continuity.

Bidders must use this worksheet to collect and submit past performance information. This data will be used by the government to evaluate the bidder's experience and capability to successfully perform the required Gastroenterology Physician Services. Completing this form accurately and thoroughly is crucial for the past performance evaluation factor.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for Board Certified/Board Eligible Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center. Services include on-site, on-call, and callback support for VA beneficiaries.

• Provide on-site, on-call, and callback GI physician services.

• Services must adhere to state-of-the-art healthcare standards, including guidelines from the American College of Physicians and the American College of Gastroenterology.

• Key personnel must be Board Certified/Board Eligible in Gastroenterology and possess current BLS/ACLS certifications.

• Strict adherence to VA Directives, policies, and procedures regarding credentialing, privileging, patient care, medical records, and IT security is required.

• Mandatory training includes ACLS/BLS, Active Threat, Blood Administration, EHR, Government Ethics, Hospice and Palliative Care, Military Sexual Trauma, Moderate Sedation, Patient Abuse, Patient Rights, Patient Safety, Violence Prevention, Harassment Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Infection Control, MRI Safety, and VA Core Values.

• Compliance with HIPAA and other privacy regulations is essential.

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

• Period of Performance: Base Year (08-01-2026 to 07-31-2027) with four Option Years.

• Estimated Contract Value: Minimum $17,500.00; Maximum $17,500,000.00.

• Quotes must be submitted via email to carlos.jaquez@va.gov by 5:00 PM EDT on June 12, 2026.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price. Technical Capability and Past Performance combined are approximately equal in importance to Price.

• Offerors must submit CVs for physicians, licenses, certifications, and letters of intent.

• This acquisition is unrestricted.

• NAICS Code: 621111.

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

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and VAAR clauses by reference.

• Offerors must register in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) information and mitigation plans are required.

• The VA reserves the right to conduct exchanges with offerors if deemed necessary.

Memorandum

This memorandum establishes enterprise-wide bookable hour and appointment length standards for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to improve access to care and workload equity among providers. Facilities must adhere to these standards by November 30, 2022.

• Bookable Hours Standard: A minimum of 80% of a provider's total outpatient clinically mapped time worked must be bookable for in-person, telephone, or telehealth care. Exemptions may apply.

• Provider Exceptions: Facility-level decisions for provider-specific modifications require approval by the Facility Chief of Staff using the VHA Bookable Hours Provider Exceptions LEAF Form. A point of contact for this form is due by September 9, 2022.

• Appointment Lengths: Standardized appointment length ranges are to be applied for high-volume stop codes. Clinics operating effectively with shorter lengths may continue.

• Annual Clinic Review: Confirmation of meeting standards is required through the FY22 Annual Clinic Review process, extended to November 30, 2022.

• Provider Labor Mapping: Successful implementation relies on accurate provider labor mapping and Account Level Budget Cost Center (ALBCC) assignments, which must be reviewed.

• SharePoint Site: Resources are available on the "Bookable Hours and Appointment Lengths Standards" SharePoint site.

• Q&A Database: A database is available for submitting questions or viewing FAQs.

• Microsoft Teams Resource Room: Available August 15-26, 2022, for live support.

• Office Hours: A five-week series of office hours with subject matter experts will be held on Microsoft Teams on select dates from August 31 to September 28, 2022.

• Facilities adopting Cerner Millennium Electronic Health Record are exempt for 8 weeks prior to go-live and 6 months post-implementation.

• Bargaining obligations with National unions have been met; local bargaining related to these standards will not occur.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Contractor Conflict of Interest Certification Statement required for Solicitation 36C25726Q0159, "Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services." It requires contractors to certify that individuals listed in the Key Personnel section have no current or planned organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) related to the services to be provided to the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

• Certification Option 1: The contractor can certify that no listed individuals have any present or planned OCI. This option requires checking a box.
• Certification Option 2: If an OCI exists, the contractor must attach a statement describing all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or planned interest or OCI. This statement should also be provided for any consultants and subcontractors. The contractor may also include information on how their systems will avoid or mitigate OCIs.
• Signatory Information: Requires the name, title, signature, and date of the certifying official.

Bidders must complete and submit this certification statement with their quote. Failure to properly address potential organizational conflicts of interest as outlined in this document could impact the bid's eligibility or evaluation. It is crucial for bidders to carefully review their personnel, consultants, and subcontractors for any potential conflicts and provide the required certification or detailed mitigation statement.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a contractor certification form related to compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952, as amended. It requires contractors to certify their adherence to legal provisions concerning foreign nationals working under contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• Compliance with INA: Contractors must certify compliance with all legal provisions of the INA and related laws enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as they pertain to non-immigrant foreign nationals working on VA patient referral services.
• Prohibition of Illegal Aliens: Contractors must not knowingly employ or subcontract with illegal aliens or foreign nationals who are in violation of their U.S. admission status.
• E-Verify Requirements: Contractors must comply with "E-Verify" requirements consistent with Executive Order 12989 and related amendments, as well as applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to comply may result in the VA prohibiting the non-compliant foreign national from working at the contractor's VA-servicing location, and may form the basis for contract termination due to breach.
• Subcontractor Certification: Contractors must obtain similar certifications from their subcontractors.
• Certification Fields: The form includes fields for signature, date, typed name and title, and company name.
• False Certification Warning: A statement warns that making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may subject the maker to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Bidders must understand and be prepared to complete and submit this certification. It outlines critical compliance obligations regarding foreign national employment for any contractor performing services for the VA, particularly those involving patient referrals. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to significant penalties, including contract termination. Bidders should ensure their hiring practices and subcontractor agreements align with these INA and E-Verify mandates.

Other / Unclassified

This document outlines the "Contractor Rules of Behavior" for individuals performing services under a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It details the terms and conditions regarding access to and use of VA data, information systems, and sites. Key areas covered include:

• General Terms and Conditions: Emphasizes no expectation of privacy in VA systems, consent to monitoring and reviews by VA personnel and law enforcement, and prohibition of unauthorized access or misuse of Federal Government systems, with potential for criminal, civil, or administrative penalties.
• General Rules of Behavior: Establishes standards for contractors, including:
  • Proper account access and usage.
  • Authorized use of systems, software, databases, and data.
  • Restrictions on using non-contractor-owned equipment (OE) for VA sensitive information without approval.
  • Prohibition of exploiting system controls or accessing information for non-contractual purposes.
  • Limitations on overriding security controls.
  • Strict adherence to contract terms for system, information, or site usage, with no personal use authorized.
  • Granting access only to those with a need-to-know.
  • Password protection and creation requirements.
  • Protection of information and systems from unauthorized disclosure, modification, or destruction, including FIPS 140-2 validated encryption.
  • Compliance with VA's Electronic Media Sanitization policies.
  • Approval requirements for public dissemination of VA information.
  • Prohibition of hosting or running unauthorized internet servers.
  • Protection of government property.
  • Mandatory use of VA-authorized anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software.
  • Requirement to complete information security and privacy training.
• Additional Conditions for Non-VA IT Resources: Specifies requirements for direct connection to the VA network, use of approved remote access software, prohibition of remote access from public computers, and restrictions on dual network connections.
• Subcontracting: States that subcontractors must adhere to the same security requirements.

This document is critical for potential bidders as it defines the security, data privacy, and acceptable use policies that contractors must adhere to when working with the VA. Understanding and agreeing to these rules is a prerequisite for performing services under the contract. It highlights the stringent security measures and compliance obligations expected, which may influence a bidder's operational planning and resource allocation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "D.3 Fillable Schedule of Services - Locum GI Physician Services - 05-28-2026.xlsx", provides a detailed breakdown of the services required for Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician services. It outlines the estimated quantities, units, and pricing structure for both the base year and four option years.

• Base Year (08-01-2026 to 07-31-2027):
  • LIN 0001: On-site Board Certified/Board Eligible GI Physicians (Estimated 9181 Hours)
  • LIN 0002: On-Call GI Physician (Estimated 3868 Hours)
  • LIN 0003: Call-Back GI Physician (Estimated 180 Hours)
• Option Years One through Four (08-01-2027 to 07-31-2031): Each option year mirrors the structure of the base year with identical estimated quantities for on-site, on-call, and call-back GI physician services.
• Pricing: All Unit Prices and Estimated Total Annual Prices are listed as 0.0 for all Line Items (LINs) across all years.

This schedule of services is crucial for bidders to understand the scope and estimated volume of GI physician services required by the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. While the provided pricing is zero, it serves as a template for bidders to input their proposed rates for on-site, on-call, and call-back services. Bidders should carefully review the descriptions of services, particularly the definitions of on-call and call-back coverage, to ensure their proposals accurately reflect the requirements outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for Locum GI Physician Services. It outlines the systematic methods the government will use to evaluate contractor performance against contract terms. The QASP details what will be monitored, how monitoring will occur, who will conduct it, and how results will be documented.

• Purpose: To provide a framework for evaluating contractor performance, not to dictate how the work is done.
• Government Roles: Identifies the Contracting Officer (CO) Carlos Jaquez and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Ricardo J. Rodriguez, detailing their responsibilities in contract oversight and surveillance.
• Contractor Responsibilities: The contractor is responsible for managing quality control and meeting contract terms. Specific contractor representatives (Program Manager) are to be identified.
• Performance Standards: Outlines specific performance requirements and acceptable quality levels (AQLs) related to physician quality, qualifications, scope of practice, patient access, patient safety, licensing, training, and privacy/HIPAA.
• Surveillance Methods: Details methods such as direct observation, periodic inspection, validated customer complaints, random sampling, and verification of contractor-provided documentation.
• Performance Ratings: Defines the CPARS rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory) used to assess contractor performance.
• Documentation: Explains how performance will be documented, including the use of Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) for performance deficiencies.

This QASP is crucial for potential bidders as it clearly defines the performance standards and quality metrics by which the contractor's services will be evaluated. Understanding these requirements is essential for developing a compliant and competitive proposal and for managing contract performance effectively if awarded. It highlights the government's expectations regarding the quality, timeliness, and compliance of the Locum GI Physician Services.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment addresses vendor questions and updates Section E.1.G.1.a and E.1.G.1.b.

• Section E.1.G.1.a and E.1.G.1.b have been updated.

• The requirement for Letters of Intent (LOIs) has been removed (see updated Section B.c.iii).

• The solicitation due date has been extended due to the removal of the LOI requirement and to accommodate the credentialing and privileging process.

• The start date is now flexible and will be updated based on the credentialing and privileging process, rather than a hard June start date.

• Patient Volume: Approximately 10 outpatient procedures per day per provider. Inpatient consults range from 5-10, with 1-10 procedures.

• Endoscopic Procedures: Daily average of 10 procedures per provider.

• Advanced GI Procedures: Not a requirement, but a desirable skill.

• Consult Mix: Predominantly inpatient care, with no specific outpatient/inpatient ratio provided.

• Call-Back Events: Approximately four per month, with an average of once per week requiring on-site attendance for urgent/emergent endoscopies.

• Credentialing Timeline: Estimated at two to three weeks.

• Physician Privileges: Active IM board certification is not required, but GI board certification is necessary. Case logs in Gastroenterology are sufficient.

• CV Submission: Personal contact information on CVs should not be redacted, as it may be used for patient review lookup.

• Caseload: Anticipated Gastroenterology caseload is 10 outpatient procedures per day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks per month.

• Anesthesia vs. Sedation: Approximately 60% of procedures require anesthesia, and 40% require moderate sedation. This may vary based on anesthesia provider availability.

• All formal communications, including requests for clarification, must be submitted in writing via email to Carlos Jaquez, Contracting Officer, at carlos.jaquez@va.gov by 2:00 PM ET on March 31, 2026. Telephone, fax, and oral questions will not be accepted.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment addresses questions and answers submitted by potential offerors regarding solicitation 36C25726Q0159.

Specifically, it clarifies the following:

• Incumbency: This is a new contract; there is no incumbent.
• Contract Value: The minimum and maximum contract values will be updated post-award to better reflect market rates for Gastroenterologists.
• Current VA Staffing: There are currently three (3) full-time VA Gastroenterologists at the Audie Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital.
• Call Rotation: Inpatient attendings will be assigned to the inpatient service for one-week intervals. The frequency will depend on the number of physicians secured, potentially ranging from every four weeks to more frequent.
• Daily Schedule: The anticipated daily schedule for locums includes both consults and procedures. The volume of procedures will vary based on the type of consult.
• Typical Procedures: Procedures include EGD (diagnostic, biopsies, banding, foreign body removal, PEG placement, bleeding treatment, dilation), flexible sigmoidoscopies, and colonoscopies (diagnostic, bleeding treatment, polypectomy, colonic decompression).
• Inpatient Rounding: Provider will be responsible for inpatient rounding.
• ERCP/EUS: These procedures are not required.

This amendment primarily provides clarification through a Questions & Answers format. The original solicitation terms and conditions remain in full force and effect, except as modified by these answers.

No changes to proposal deadlines or submission requirements are indicated. Offerors are reminded to acknowledge receipt of this amendment.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Board Certified/Board Eligible Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services to be provided on-site, on-call, and callback to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center. The acquisition is unrestricted.

• Provision of comprehensive Gastroenterology services, including clinic appointments, inpatient consultations, and endoscopic procedures (e.g., colonoscopy, EGD).

• Services must meet or exceed national standards set by the American College of Gastroenterology and the American College of Physicians.

• Key personnel must be Board Certified/Board Eligible in Gastroenterology and possess current BLS/ACLS certifications.

• Strict adherence to VA Directives, policies, and procedures regarding patient care, medical records, privacy (HIPAA), and infection control.

• Contractor personnel must undergo credentialing and privileging by the VA.

• Specific training requirements include ACLS/BLS, Active Threat, Blood Administration, EHR, Government Ethics, Hospice and Palliative Care, Military Sexual Trauma, Moderate Sedation, Patient Abuse, Patient Rights, Patient Safety, Violence Prevention, Prevention of Workplace Harassment, Suicide Prevention, Infection Control, MRI Safety, and VA Core Values.

• Standard infection control measures (TB, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Influenza) are required.

• Compliance with IT security and privacy regulations is mandatory.

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

• Period of Performance: Base Year (06-01-2026 to 05-31-2027) with four (4) Option Years.

• Estimated Maximum Contract Value: $17,500,000.00.

• Guaranteed Minimum Contract Amount: $17,500.00.

• Quotes must be submitted via email to carlos.jaquez@va.gov by the closing date and time.

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

• Technical Capability and Past Performance are considered equal in importance to Price and equal to each other.

• Key deadlines: Questions due by March 31, 2025, 2:00 PM ET.

• NAICS Code: 621111.

• Size Standard: Not explicitly stated but implied to be for small businesses based on typical solicitations.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and VAAR clauses by reference.

• Key attachments include Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, Schedule of Services, and Contractor Rules of Behavior.

Memorandum

This memorandum establishes enterprise-wide bookable hour and appointment length standards for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to improve access to care and workload equity among providers. Facilities must adhere to these standards by November 30, 2022.

• Bookable Hours Standard: A minimum of 80% of a provider's total outpatient clinically mapped time worked must be bookable for in-person, telephone, or telehealth care. Exemptions may apply.

• Provider Exceptions: Facility-level decisions for modifications to the bookable hours standard require approval by the Facility Chief of Staff using the VHA Bookable Hours Provider Exceptions LEAF Form. A point of contact for this form is due by September 9, 2022.

• Appointment Lengths: Standardized appointment length ranges are to be applied for high-volume stop codes. These are maximums, and clinics may maintain shorter lengths if effective.

• Annual Clinic Review: Confirmation of meeting standards is required through the FY22 Annual Clinic Review process, extended to November 30, 2022.

• Provider Labor Mapping: Accurate provider labor mapping and Account Level Budget Cost Center (ALBCC) assignments are crucial for successful implementation.

• SharePoint Site: Resources are available on the "Bookable Hours and Appointment Lengths Standards" SharePoint site.

• Q&A Database: A database is available for submitting questions or viewing FAQs.

• Microsoft Teams Resource Room: Available August 15-26, 2022, for live support.

• Office Hours: Five-week series with subject matter experts beginning August 31, 2022, on specific dates and times (see document for details).

• Facilities adopting Cerner Millennium Electronic Health Record have an 8-week exemption prior to go-live and a 6-month exemption post-implementation.

• Bargaining obligations with National unions have been met; local bargaining related to these standards will not occur.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Contractor Conflict of Interest Certification Statement related to Solicitation 36C25726Q0159 for Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services. It requires contractors to certify whether they have any organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) concerning the services to be provided to the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

• Contractors must indicate by checking a box whether:
  • Key personnel listed in the solicitation have no present or planned interests or conflicts of interest.
  • None of the employees listed have had a past interest or conflict of interest.
  • OR, a statement is attached describing all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or planned interests or potential OCI.
• If an OCI statement is attached, it must concisely describe all relevant facts and may include information on how the contractor's system or actions will avoid or mitigate conflicts.
• The statement requires the name, title, signature, and date of a certifying official.
• Quoters must also provide similar statements for any consultants and subcontractors identified.

This form is critical for bidders to complete and submit with their quote. Failure to properly address potential organizational conflicts of interest as required by this statement may impact the bid's eligibility or evaluation. Bidders must carefully review their organizational relationships and potential conflicts related to this solicitation and provide the required certification or detailed statement.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a contractor certification related to compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended. It requires contractors to certify their adherence to laws enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Labor concerning non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• Compliance: Contractors must certify they will not knowingly employ illegal aliens or foreign nationals in violation of their U.S. admission status.
• E-Verify: Contractors must comply with "E-Verify" requirements per "Executive Order 12989" and related regulations.
• Subcontractor Certification: Contractors must obtain similar certifications from their subcontractors.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to comply may result in the prohibition of non-compliant foreign nationals from working at contractor sites servicing VA patient referrals, and may form the basis for contract termination for breach.
• Legal Disclaimer: False certification may subject the maker to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
• Certification Fields: Includes spaces for signature, date, typed name and title, and company name.

Bidders must understand and be prepared to complete and submit this certification. It outlines critical legal and compliance obligations related to employment eligibility for personnel working on VA contracts, particularly concerning foreign nationals. Failure to comply with these requirements can have significant consequences, including contract termination.

Other / Unclassified

This document outlines the "Contractor Rules of Behavior" for individuals performing services under contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It details the terms and conditions regarding access to and use of VA data, information systems, and sites. Key areas covered include:

• General Terms and Conditions: Emphasizes no expectation of privacy in VA systems, consent to monitoring and audits by VA personnel and law enforcement, and prohibition of unauthorized access or misuse of Federal Government systems, with potential for criminal, civil, or administrative penalties.
• General Rules of Behavior: Establishes standards for contractors, including proper account management, authorized system and data usage, restrictions on using non-VA equipment for sensitive data, prohibition of exploiting system controls, and requirements for password protection and information security (e.g., FIPS 140-2 validated encryption).
• Additional Conditions for Non-VA IT Resources: Specifies requirements for connecting to the VA network, prohibits remote access from public computers, and restricts simultaneous VA and non-VA network connections unless authorized.
• Subcontracting: States that subcontractors must adhere to the same security requirements.

This document is critical for potential bidders as it defines the security, privacy, and acceptable use policies that contractors and their personnel must adhere to when working with VA data and systems. Understanding these rules is essential for compliance and successful performance under any VA contract. It highlights the strict security protocols and potential consequences for non-compliance, which bidders should consider when assessing their capabilities and resources for this opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a worksheet for collecting past performance information from references for the Gastroenterology Physician Services opportunity. It is designed to help assess a quoter's likelihood of successfully performing on the contract.

• Factor 2 – Past Performance: Assesses relevancy, recency, and confidence/success.
• Contract Details: Requires legal name(s) of the entity, contract number(s), dates of performance, and geographic location.
• Reference Information: Asks for the name, phone number, and email of a verifier at the reference entity.
• Service Verification: Confirms if the contract involved providing the same or similar services within the last three years.
• Quality Control Plan: Description of the quoter's plan for meeting contract requirements.
• Contingency Plan: Details the plan for replacing key personnel to maintain services.

Bidders must use this worksheet to gather detailed information from their references. This information will be used to demonstrate their past performance capabilities to the government. Completing this accurately and thoroughly is crucial for the evaluation of this factor.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a fillable Schedule of Services for Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services, associated with RFQ 36C25726Q0159. It outlines the estimated quantities and types of services required over a five-year period, including a base year and four option years.

• Services: Includes on-site GI Physician services, on-call GI Physician coverage, and call-back GI Physician services.
• Locations: Services are to be performed on-site at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
• Time Period: Covers Base Year (04-01-2026 to 03-31-2027) through Option Year Four (04-01-2030 to 03-31-2031).
• Quantities: Estimated annual hours are provided for each service type (e.g., 9181 hours for on-site services, 3868 hours for on-call, 180 hours for call-back).
• Key Personnel: Fields are included for identifying key personnel, though no specific names or details are provided in this template.
• Costing: Columns for Unit Cost and Total Annual Cost are present, but all cost fields are currently populated with 0.0, indicating this is a template for bidders to fill in their pricing.

Bidders must use this schedule to provide their pricing for Locum GI Physician Services. It details the expected volume of services and the structure for pricing on-site, on-call, and call-back coverage. Bidders should carefully review the service descriptions and PWS (referenced within) to accurately complete the unit costs and total annual costs for each line item and option year.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for Locum GI Physician Services (RFQ 36C25726Q0159). It outlines the systematic methods the government will use to evaluate the contractor's performance.

• Purpose: To detail what will be monitored, how, by whom, and how results will be documented.
• Government Roles: Defines responsibilities for the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Contractor Roles: Identifies placeholders for the contractor's Primary and Alternate Program Managers.
• Performance Standards: Lists specific performance requirements derived from the PWS, including clinical standards, qualifications, scope of practice, patient access, patient safety, licensing, training, and privacy/HIPAA compliance.
• Surveillance Methods: Details methods such as direct observation, periodic inspection, validated customer complaints, random sampling, and verification of contractor-provided documentation.
• Performance Ratings: Explains the CPARS rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory).
• Documentation: Describes how performance will be documented, including the use of Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) for unacceptable performance.

This QASP details how the government will measure and evaluate the contractor's performance against the contract requirements. Bidders should review the performance standards, acceptable quality levels (AQLs), and surveillance methods to understand the expected quality of service and how their performance will be assessed. This includes understanding the criteria for CPARS ratings and the process for addressing performance deficiencies via CDRs.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document announces a forthcoming solicitation for Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. The services are required for VA beneficiaries and will include on-site, on-call, and call-back duties.

• Provision of Board Certified/Board Eligible Gastroenterology Physician Services.

• Services to be provided on-site, on-call, and call back.

• The intended contract term is for one (1) base year with four (4) one-year option periods.

• Solicitation documents are anticipated to be available by the end of March or beginning of April 2026 via SAM.gov.

• Prospective quoters must obtain all amendments from SAM.gov.

• Quoters are responsible for reading the entire solicitation to understand the scope of work and terms.

• The solicitation will provide specific instructions for quote submission.

• Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest on SAM.gov.

• Questions will only be answered after the solicitation is posted and within the specified timeframe; telephone requests will not be accepted.

• This requirement is anticipated to be a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.

• Quotes from all capable and responsible SDVOSB sources will be considered.

• Firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database (https://www.sam.gov/).

• The applicable NAICS code is 621111 (Offices of Physicians, except Mental Health Specialists) with a size standard of $16 Million.

• The Product Service Code (PSC) is Q505.

• This is not a solicitation; it is a pre-solicitation notice.

• This is a new procurement; there is no incumbent contractor.

Sources Sought Announcement

This is a Sources Sought announcement, not a solicitation. Its purpose is to gather information on the capabilities of potential sources to provide Locum Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, and potentially the Kerrville VA Medical Center. The VA is conducting a market survey to determine if small business concerns (HUBZone, 8(a), SDVOSB, Woman Owned, etc.) can fulfill this requirement.

• Provision of four (4) to five (5) Board Certified/Board Eligible Gastroenterology (GI) Physician Services.

• Services must be provided on-site at VA facilities.

• Services are for beneficiaries of the VA and STVHCS.

• If a solicitation is issued, the government intends to award a Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

• The performance period is anticipated to be one (1) base year plus four (4) one-year options.

• Interested parties must submit a capability statement (Word or PDF, max 10 pages).

• The submission deadline is December 19, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET.

• Submissions should be emailed to Carlos Jaquez at carlos.jaquez@va.gov.

• Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

• The VA is specifically looking to identify potential small business concerns.

• Firms must identify their business size under NAICS code 621111 (Office of Physicians, except Mental Health Specialists).

• Firms must provide socio-economic status and verification if claiming SDVOSB or VOSB.

• Organization Name, Address, SAM Unique Entity ID

• Point of Contact (name, title, contact details)

• Business size and socio-economic status

• Verification of SDVOSB/VOSB status if applicable

• Experience providing GI physician services to Federal, State, or private entities.

• This announcement does not obligate the government to award a contract or pay for information provided.

• No proprietary, classified, or sensitive information should be included.

• Respondents must be registered in SAM.gov.

• Monitor Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov for future solicitations.