Q524--On-site Cardiothoracic Physician Services | San Juan Extend RFP Close Date and Time

Amendment / Modification

• The due date and time for receipt of quotations for the referenced Request for Proposals (RFP) has been extended.

• The new due date and time is Friday, June 26, 2026, at 4:30 PM EST.

• An amendment addressing vendor questions will be provided separately.

• The period for acceptance of questions closed on May 27, 2026, and no further questions will be addressed.

• Item 9A (Solicitation Number) and associated due dates for offers.

• Proposal submission deadline extended to June 26, 2026, 4:30 PM EST.

• The period for submitting questions has closed.

Amendment / Modification

• The Request for Proposals (RFP) date and time has been extended.

• The deadline for proposal submission has been changed.

• The new deadline for proposal submission is Friday, June 26, 2026, at 4:30 pm.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) for the "Cardiothoracic Physician Services" opportunity. It is designed to collect feedback from assessors regarding a contractor's performance on previous, similar contracts. This information will be used to help establish the performance history of potential offerors.

• Assessor Information: Fields for the name, title, company, and contact details of the person completing the questionnaire.
• Contractor Information: Fields for the Name of Contractor, Contract #, Title/Description of Services, and Location of performance.
• Performance Details: Prompts for the Period of Performance (POP), Total contract value, and a brief description of the scope of work performed.
• Specific Questions: Inquiries about terminations, discrepancy reports, and the contractor's ability to provide specific services (e.g., On-site Cardiothoracic Physician Services, use of specific medical equipment, staffing continuity).
• Rating Scale: A standardized assessment scale (Outstanding, Above Average, Satisfactory, Unacceptable) for various performance aspects, including timely service completion, compliance, quality control, problem resolution, and documentation.
• Overall Assessment: A section for an overall quality rating and a space for detailed explanations and additional comments.

Potential bidders should be aware that this questionnaire will be sent to their past performance references. The responses will directly impact the evaluation of their past performance, which is a critical factor in the selection process for this opportunity. Bidders should ensure their references are aware of the services provided and are prepared to provide accurate and detailed feedback. The questionnaire also provides insight into the specific services and performance metrics the government values for this type of contract.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment D.3 to RFP #36C24826R0072, titled "Contractor Certification Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, As Amended." It requires the contractor to certify compliance with all legal provisions related to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended, and associated regulations enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Labor. This applies to non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while providing services to VA patient referrals.

• Compliance Certification: The contractor must certify they will not knowingly employ illegal aliens or foreign nationals in violation of their U.S. admission status.
• E-Verify Requirement: The contractor must comply with "E-Verify" requirements consistent with "Executive Order 12989" and related amendments.
• Subcontractor Certification: The contractor agrees to obtain similar certifications from their subcontractors.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to comply may result in the prohibition of the foreign national from working on VA contracts and may form the basis for contract termination.
• Legal Disclaimer: Making a false certification is subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
• Signature Block: Includes fields for Signature, Date, Typed Name and Title, and Company Name.

Bidders must complete and submit this certification as part of their proposal. It outlines critical compliance requirements regarding the employment of foreign nationals and the use of E-Verify, which are essential for fulfilling the contract's obligations.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for On-site and On-call Board Certified/Board Eligible Cardiothoracic Physician Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), San Juan VA Medical Center (VAMC), and VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) in Puerto Rico. The services are to be provided in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Provide comprehensive Cardiothoracic Surgery services, including but not limited to VATs, Lobectomy's, thoracotomy, diaphragm plication, chest wall hernia repair, decortication, pleurectomy, chest tube management w/tPA, and other complex Cardiothoracic surgery procedures.

• Key personnel must include a minimum of two (2) Board Certified/Board Eligible Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians.

• On-site coverage for elective procedures and patient evaluations on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, and Friday meetings from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.

• On-call coverage for evenings/overnights on Mondays and Wednesdays (3:30 pm to 7:00 am) and 24-hour coverage on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, weekends, and holidays.

• Key personnel must be available on-site within one hour for back-up and/or emergency cases.

• Physicians must be Board Certified/Board Eligible by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and hold current BLS and ACLS certifications.

• Minimum of four (4) years of continuous work experience within the last five (5) years.

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: One (1) base year plus four (4) one-year option periods.

• Minimum Order: $2,500.00.

• Maximum Order: $12,000,000.00.

• Proposal submission deadline: June 10, 2026, at 4:30 pm EDT.

• Questions deadline: May 27, 2026, at 12:00 pm EST.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Capability (Qualifications & Experience, Staffing Plan), Past Performance, Socioeconomic Status, and Price. Technical, Past Performance, and Socioeconomic Status are significantly more important than Price.

• This acquisition is set aside for UNRESTRICTED.

• NAICS Code: 621111 (Offices of Physicians)

• Size Standard: $16 Million

• All questions must be submitted via email to Jayne Messer (jayne.messer@va.gov).

• Proposals must be submitted electronically via email to the contracting officer.

• The period for acceptance of offers is extended to 120 days.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for the contract. It outlines the systematic method the Government will use to evaluate contractor performance.

• Purpose: To define what will be monitored, how monitoring will take place, who will conduct it, and how efforts and results will be documented.
• Government Roles: Identifies the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) responsible for surveillance.
• Contractor Representatives: Fields for the contractor's Primary and Alternate Program Managers.
• Performance Standards: Details specific measures, PWS references, performance requirements, standards, acceptable quality levels, and surveillance methods for various aspects of the contract (e.g., Provider Quality Performance, Qualifications of Key Personnel, Patient Safety, Documentation).
• CPARS Ratings: Defines the criteria for assigning performance ratings (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory).
• Documenting Performance: Outlines the process for documenting performance and issuing Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) if performance does not meet acceptable quality levels.
• Acknowledgement: Sections for COR and Contractor acknowledgement of the QASP.

This QASP details how the contractor's performance will be evaluated. Bidders should review the performance standards and acceptable quality levels to understand the Government's expectations for successful contract execution. This information is crucial for developing a compliant and competitive proposal and for understanding post-award performance requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment D.4 Contractor Rules of Behavior," outlines the mandatory rules and conditions for contractors accessing and using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) information assets, resources, systems, and sites. It serves as a user agreement that contractors must acknowledge and accept before performing services under a contract.

• General Terms and Conditions: Covers understanding of no expectation of privacy, consent to monitoring and reviews by VA personnel, and acknowledgment of prohibitions against unauthorized access or misuse of Federal systems.
• General Rules of Behavior: Details specific actions contractors must adhere to, including:
  • Following procedures for account access and usage.
  • Using only authorized systems and software.
  • Prohibiting personal use of government systems.
  • Granting access only to authorized personnel.
  • Protecting passwords and information from unauthorized disclosure.
  • Using FIPS 140-2 validated encryption for sensitive information.
  • Complying with VA directives on electronic media sanitization and public dissemination of information.
  • Protecting government property and not removing VA sensitive information without authorization.
  • Using only VA-authorized anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software.
  • Completing required security and privacy training.
• Additional Conditions for Use of Non-VA IT Resources: Specifies requirements for connecting to the VA network, remote access limitations, and prohibitions on dual network connections.
• Subcontracting: States that subcontractors must adhere to the same security requirements.
• Statement on Litigation: Clarifies that the agreement does not create rights enforceable by parties in litigation with the U.S. Government.
• Acknowledgement and Acceptance: Requires contractors to print their name, sign, and provide other identifying information to acknowledge receipt and agreement to the terms.

This document is critical for any bidder seeking to perform work under this contract. It establishes the security and behavior standards that all personnel accessing VA systems and data must follow. Failure to comply can result in penalties. Bidders should ensure their proposed personnel understand and agree to these rules as part of their contract performance obligations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment D.2 - RFP #36C24826R0072 - ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST," provides the required clause and a certification form related to organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) for the solicitation. It outlines the government's policy to avoid situations that could create an OCI or provide an unfair competitive advantage. Bidders must address potential OCIs as part of their offer.

• VAAR 852.209-70 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (OCT 2020): This clause defines OCI and requires offerors to disclose any relevant past, present, or planned interests (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) that could constitute an OCI. It also mandates disclosure for consultants and subcontractors.
• Appendix A - CONTRACTOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST CERTIFICATION STATEMENT: This form requires the offeror to certify that key personnel and temporary emergency substitutions have no present or planned OCI, or to provide a detailed statement describing any such interests and how they will be avoided or mitigated. It also requires statements for consultants and subcontractors.

Bidders must carefully review this document to understand their obligations regarding organizational conflicts of interest. Failure to properly disclose or address potential OCIs, or misrepresentation, may result in disqualification or contract termination. The provided certification statement must be completed and submitted with the offer.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document references several attachments related to Solicitation 36C24826R0072. These attachments provide crucial information for potential bidders.

• S02 - Request for Proposals 36C24826R0072: The primary solicitation document.
• S02 - Attachment D.1 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QASP: Outlines how the government will monitor contractor performance.
• S02 - Attachment D.2 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Addresses potential conflicts of interest.
• S02 - Attachment D.3 Certification of Immigration and Nationality Act: Requires certification related to immigration and nationality laws.
• S02 - Attachment D.4 Contractor Rules of Behavior: Specifies expected conduct for contractors.
• S02 - Attachment D.5 Past Performance Questionnaire: A form for collecting past performance information.

Bidders must review all referenced attachments to fully understand the requirements, submission guidelines, evaluation criteria, and compliance obligations for this opportunity. The Request for Proposals document itself will contain the core details of the procurement, while the attachments provide supplementary but essential information for proposal preparation and contract execution.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains responses to vendor questions submitted prior to the presolicitation notice.

• The document provides answers to specific questions raised by potential vendors regarding the upcoming opportunity.

• These clarifications aim to provide further detail and address ambiguities related to the presolicitation notice.

• Bidders should review these Q&As to ensure a complete understanding of the requirements and expectations for the solicitation.

• The information provided may impact how vendors prepare their proposals and approach the opportunity.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the presolicitation notice for RFP 36C24826R0072, which concerns cardiothoracic surgeon services.

• Contract Type: This will be a new contract; there is no incumbent contractor.
• Licensing Requirements: Physicians assigned to this contract must hold a current medical license in any U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, for services performed onsite at VA property. An active Puerto Rico medical license is not required.
• Procurement Method: The formal solicitation will be competed on the open market as a full and open unrestricted procurement and will be posted on SAM.gov.
• Contract Structure: The requirement is anticipated to be solicited as an Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract.
• Service Details: The contract will include Line-Item structures for:
  • On-site Board Certified/Eligible Cardiothoracic Surgeon Services for elective procedures and patient evaluations (Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, excluding holidays).
  • On-call coverage for evenings/overnights on Mondays & Wednesdays (3:30 pm - 7:00 am).
  • 24-hour on-call coverage for Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays, weekends, and holidays during non-clinical days (7:00 am - 7:00 am).

This Q&A clarifies key aspects of the upcoming solicitation, including the contract type, licensing, procurement approach, and detailed service requirements, which will aid bidders in preparing their proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is an unrestricted, full, and open competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for On-site Cardiothoracic Physician Services at the San Juan VA Medical Center (SJVAMC). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) requires these services to care for eligible beneficiaries.

• Provide comprehensive Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician services, meeting or exceeding national standards (e.g., AATS).

• Services include initial patient evaluation (inpatient, outpatient, ED), surgical procedures in the Operating Room, post-operative care, Cardiothoracic Surgery Consults, Permanent Pacemaker Implants (emergency), Pacemaker Lead Extraction (back-up), Pericardial Window/Pericardiectomy Procedures, and back-up for Interventional Cardiology (PCI) cases.

• Provide on-site and on-call coverage as detailed in the Performance Work Statement.

• Minimum of two (2) key personnel, Board Certified/Board Eligible Cardiothoracic Surgeons, must be credentialed and available for simultaneous scheduling.

• One surgeon required on-site for scheduled elective procedures and clinic evaluations on Mondays and Wednesdays (7:00 am - 3:30 pm).

• One surgeon required on-call during weeknights (Mon/Wed 3:30 pm - 7:00 am) and weekdays (Tue/Thu/Fri), weekends, and holidays (7:00 am - 7:00 am) for emergencies and Cath Lab procedures.

• Key personnel must be available on-site within one (1) hour for back-up/emergency cases.

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Base year plus four (4) one-year option periods, expected from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.

• Solicitation Number: 36C24826R0072.

• Response Date: April 3, 2026, 4:30 pm Eastern Time.

• The solicitation document will be issued on or about April 9, 2026.

• Interested contractors must download the solicitation and amendments from SAM.gov; no hard copies will be provided.

• Prospective contractors should register their interest on SAM.gov to receive notifications.

• Procurement Type: Unrestricted, full and open competitive.

• NAICS Code: 621111 (Offices of Physicians).

• Product/Service Code: Q524 (Medical-Cardiothoracic Surgery).

• Business Size Standard: $16 million.

• Registration in SAM.gov is required for award eligibility.

• Physicians must possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.

• Physicians must be Board Certified/Board Eligible by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

• Must be currently certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or equivalency.

• Credentialing and privileging must comply with VHA Directives 1100.20 and 1100.21.

• Contracting Officer: Jayne Messer (jayne.messer@va.gov, 239-373-9064).

• Questions should be directed via email to Jayne Messer, including the solicitation number in the subject line.