Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Services Contract (IONM) - STLVAMC

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 36C25525Q0561 serves two primary purposes:

• Provides facility responses to solicitation questions: Specific answers are provided for two questions regarding IONM cases.

• Extends the solicitation close date: The deadline for offer submission has been moved.

• Solicitation Close Date: Extended.

• Questions & Answers: New information provided on page 2.

• The solicitation close date has been extended from April 27, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT to May 15, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT.

• IONM Cases Since October 2025: Zero cases have been completed since October 2025. Prior to October 2025, an average of 5-9 cases were completed per month.

• Average Length per IONM Case: The average length per case was 4.75 hours.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring (IONM) services, including the provision of necessary personnel, equipment, software, and supervision. The services are to be delivered to beneficiaries of the VA St. Louis Health Care System, John Cochran Division.

• Comprehensive IONM services for surgical procedures.

• On-site technologists and remote neurologist oversight with real-time interpretation.

• 24/7 availability for scheduled and emergency cases, with a 60-minute response time for emergencies and a 2-day response for elective cases.

• Services include various monitoring modalities such as evoked potentials, EEG, EMG, nerve conduction studies, and more.

• Compliance with VA and The Joint Commission standards.

• Personnel must meet specific licensing, board certification (ABPN for neurologists), and certification (CNIM for technologists) requirements.

• On-site personnel require Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Standard personnel testing (TB, Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, COVID-19) and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training are required.

• Personnel must undergo background investigations and possess appropriate identification (PIV cards).

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity, Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Base Year (11/15/2026 – 11/14/2027) with four (4) option years.

• Estimated value is not explicitly stated, but NAICS code 621399 with a size standard of $10 Million is provided.

• Offers are due by 04/27/2026 at 1700 CST.

• Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format, divided into two volumes: Price Response and Non-Price Response.

• Evaluation will be based on Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price, with Technical Capability and Past Performance being more important than Price.

• A best value trade-off approach will be used.

• Offerors must be active in the System for Award Management (SAM) and be verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) to be considered for award.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• Offerors must be verified SDVOSB.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and VAAR clauses incorporated by reference.

• Key attachments include QASP, Contractor Rules of Behavior, Immigration Nationality Act Certification, Wage Determination, and Past Performance worksheets.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for Attachment D.1, related to solicitation 36C25525Q0561. The QASP outlines the systematic methods the Government will use to evaluate contractor performance for the stated contract. It details what will be monitored, how monitoring will occur, 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) and their responsibilities in overseeing surveillance.
• Contractor Representatives: Designates primary and alternate program managers for the contract.
• Performance Standards: Outlines the standards against which contractor performance will be measured, referencing Section 6 for specific Performance Requirements.
• Methods of QA Surveillance: Details surveillance methods including Direct Observation, Periodic Inspection, and Customer Feedback.
• QASP Performance Report: A table specifying measures (e.g., Patient Access, Patient Safety, Medical Records, Privacy/Confidentiality/HIPAA, Billing for Services), performance requirements, standards, acceptable quality levels, surveillance methods, and incentives.
• CPAR Ratings: Defines the rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory) used for assessing performance.
• Documenting Performance: Describes the process for documenting performance, including the use of Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) and corrective action plans.
• Certifications and Signatures: Includes sections for the COR and Contractor to certify their understanding of the evaluation methods.

This QASP is crucial for bidders as it defines the performance standards and evaluation criteria that will be used to assess their performance under the contract. Understanding these requirements will help bidders to structure their proposals and operational plans to meet or exceed the Government's expectations, thereby increasing their chances of a favorable past performance evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "D.2 ATTACHMENT 2 – Contractor Rules of Behavior," outlines the terms and conditions for contractor access to and use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) information assets, resources, data, systems, and sites. It establishes the expected conduct and responsibilities of individuals performing services under a VA contract.

• General Terms and Conditions: Covers understanding of no expectation of privacy, consent to monitoring and reviews by VA personnel and OIG, acceptance of prohibitions against unauthorized access or misuse of Federal systems, and acknowledgment of potential penalties for violations.
• Rules of Behavior: Details specific requirements for contractors, including:
  • Following procedures for account access and closure.
  • Using only authorized systems, software, databases, and data.
  • Restrictions on using non-contractor owned equipment for VA sensitive information without explicit authorization and adherence to VA standards.
  • Prohibitions against exploiting system controls or accessing information for unauthorized reasons.
  • Not overriding security controls unless expressly permitted.
  • Strict limitation of system use to contract fulfillment, with no personal use authorized.
  • Granting access only to those with a need-to-know.
  • Protecting passwords.
  • Creating and changing passwords according to VA guidelines.
  • Protecting information from unauthorized disclosure, use, modification, or destruction, including using FIPS 140-2 validated encryption.
  • Following electronic media sanitization procedures.
  • Ensuring VA information is approved for public dissemination by the COTR.
  • Not hosting or running unauthorized internet servers.
  • Protecting government property.
  • Using only VA-authorized anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software.
  • Completing required information security and privacy training.
• Additional Conditions for Non-VA IT Resources: Specifies requirements for connecting to the VA network, using approved remote access, and restrictions on dual connections.
• Statement on Litigation: Clarifies that the agreement does not create additional rights or benefits enforceable by law.
• Acknowledgement and Acceptance: A section for the contractor to acknowledge receipt and acceptance of the terms.

This document is critical for any bidder seeking to understand the security and behavioral requirements they and their personnel must adhere to when accessing VA systems and data. Compliance with these rules is a condition of performing services under the contract. Bidders should review these rules carefully to ensure their organization and proposed personnel can meet these obligations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a contractor certification form related to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended. It requires the contractor to certify compliance with all legal provisions related to non-immigrant foreign nationals working under contract or subcontract for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly concerning patient referrals.

• Contractor must certify compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act and related laws enforced by Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Contractor shall not knowingly employ illegal aliens or foreign nationals in violation of their status.
• Contractor must comply with "E-Verify" requirements per Executive Order 12989 and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Contractor agrees to obtain similar certifications from subcontractors.
• Fields for Signature, Date, Typed Name and Title, and Company Name are provided for completion.

Bidders must complete and submit this certification to demonstrate compliance with immigration and nationality laws as they pertain to foreign national employees working on this contract. Failure to comply may result in prohibition from working on VA contracts and contract termination.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Register of Wage Determinations Under the Service Contract Act" issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in specific geographic areas. This is relevant for contractors bidding on or performing service contracts subject to the Service Contract Act.

• Geographic Area: Specifies Illinois counties (Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair) and Missouri counties (Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Louis City, Warren).
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles (e.g., Accounting Clerk, Administrative Assistant, Automotive Worker, Electrician, Nurse, Programmer) with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific details on health and welfare benefits, vacation, and holidays are provided in subsequent sections of the document.
• Footnotes: Certain occupations have numbered footnotes referencing specific conditions or exclusions (e.g., computer employees, air traffic controllers, hazardous pay, uniform allowance).

Bidders must use this wage determination to ensure their proposed labor costs comply with the minimum wage and fringe benefit requirements for all service employees working on the contract. Failure to comply can lead to penalties. The document helps bidders accurately estimate labor costs and assess the feasibility of bidding on the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment D.5, a Past Performance Survey, for Solicitation Number 36C25525Q0561. It is designed to collect feedback on a contractor's performance for a previous contract, which will assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in establishing the performance history of an offeror.

• The survey includes a rating scale: 'O' (Outstanding), 'A' (Above Average), 'S' (Satisfactory), 'M' (Marginal), and 'U' (Unacceptable).
• It asks 12 specific questions regarding the contractor's compliance, reporting accuracy, personnel, technical expertise, schedule adherence, flexibility, reliability, responsiveness to technical directions, problem notification, and any issuance of cure notices or similar actions.
• It also includes a question about whether another contract would be awarded and customer satisfaction with the end product.
• Fields are provided for the Offeror's Name, Contract Number, Contract Type and Dollar Value, and a Brief Description of Work.
• Space is allocated for additional comments.
• The survey requires the Name, Signature, Title, Company, and Telephone Number of the Evaluator, along with the Date.

Bidders should be aware that this survey will be used to evaluate their past performance. If this document is being provided to a potential bidder as part of a solicitation package, they may need to provide it to their previous contracting officers or relevant parties to complete and return to the government. The responses will directly impact the evaluation of their past performance for this opportunity.

Pre-Solicitation Notice

This is a pre-solicitation notice for informational and preliminary planning purposes only. It is not a solicitation for quotes, and no proposals are being requested or accepted at this time. The VA NCO 15 Contracting Center intends to solicit for and award an on-site Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Services Contract (IONM) for the VA St. Louis Healthcare System, John Cochran Division.

Potential sources are responsible for the complete performance of the technical aspects of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (neurophysiology) services.

• Contract Type: Anticipated to be a firm, fixed-price requirement.

• Period of Performance: Base period (start and end dates TBD) with four, one-year option periods.

• No proposals or quotes are being requested or accepted with this notice.

• No reimbursement will be made for costs associated with providing information in response to this notice.

• The solicitation will be a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.

• NAICS Code: 621399

• Small Business Size Standard: $10M

• Anticipated Solicitation Date: April 1, 2026.

• Place of Performance: VA St. Louis Healthcare System, John Cochran Division, 915 N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63106, USA.