S222--VISN 5 Regulated Medical Waste and Sharps Disposal Services All VISN 5 VAMCs & CBOCs (Includes 8 VAMCs & 29 CBOCs) AMENDMENT 0002

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation 36C24526Q0099 for VISN Wide RMW BPA.

• Tiered Evaluation: Award will be made to the lowest priced technically acceptable offeror within the highest eligible tier (SDVOSB first). If only one quote is received in a tier and cannot be determined fair and reasonable, the next tier will be considered.

• Evaluation Method: Comparative assessment of relative strengths and weaknesses will be used if multiple technically acceptable quotes are received within the same tier.

• Task Order Structure: Task orders are likely to be issued individually for each medical center due to independent funding management.

• RFP Deadline Extension: The RFQ response deadline has been extended to February 3, 2026, 10 AM ET, via Amendment 0001.

• Transition Time: The government anticipates at least 30 days for transition time for the new vendor.

• Award: A single award is anticipated for this opportunity.

• Bidding Scope: Vendors must bid on all VISN 5 facilities to be compliant.

• Incineration Preference: The VA is clarifying whether incineration-based treatment is preferred or required at certain facilities, especially for regulated medical waste, non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste, and trace chemotherapeutic waste.

• The RFQ deadline has been extended.

• Clarifications have been provided on evaluation criteria, task order structure, and award approach.

• Further clarification is needed on specific treatment preferences and facility requirements.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment (0001) provides vendors with questions received and their corresponding government responses (version 1).

• The due date for RFQ responses has been extended to February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET.

• The due date for offers/responses is extended.

• A new document, "36C24526Q0099_VISN Wide RMW BPA Q_A_v1," containing vendor questions and government responses, is attached.

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET.

• Bidders should review the attached Q&A document for clarifications.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment provides vendor questions received with government responses.

• The response due date for the RFQ has been extended to February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.

• The RFQ response deadline has been modified.

• Vendor Questions & Answers (v1) have been provided.

• The proposal submission deadline is extended to 02-03-2026 10:00 EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA.

• Bidders should review the attached Q&A document for clarifications.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document lists the Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determinations for various facilities within VISN 5. It serves as a reference for contractors to understand the applicable wage rates for service employees working on contracts at these locations.

• Facility Name
• Address
• City, State, Zip Code, County
• SCA WD (Service Contract Act Wage Determination number)

Bidders should consult this document to identify the correct SCA Wage Determination applicable to the specific facility or facilities where services will be performed under a government contract. This information is crucial for accurately calculating labor costs and ensuring compliance with federal labor laws when preparing proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) and Sharps Disposal Services for VISN 5 facilities. The contract will be a Single Award Firm Fixed Unit Price Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with an ordering start date of April 1, 2026. The services are required for facilities in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center.

• Provision of all labor, packaging, collection, removal, transportation, equipment, and supplies for RMW and sharps disposal.

• Services include various types of waste: Cultures and Stocks, Pathological Waste, Research Waste, Human Blood and Blood Products, Sharps, Isolation Waste, Trace Chemotherapy Waste (TCW), Category A Waste, and Scintillation Fluid.

• Contractor must provide dedicated medical waste containers, red bags, labels, and tape.

• Contractor must provide DOT licensed haulers and vehicles.

• Contractor must provide training on US DOT HAZMAT Employee requirements.

• Contractor must develop and implement a safety plan and an emergency preparation and spill response plan.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Unit Price Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

• Period of Performance: BPA award through March 31, 2027, with option years.

• Estimated Value: Individual BPA Orders may reach $1,000,000.00 per Order.

• Questions Due: January 13, 2026, 10:00 AM ET.

• Quotes Due: January 29, 2026, 10:00 AM ET.

• Quotes must be submitted via email.

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

• Evaluation Method: Comparative evaluations will be conducted in accordance with FAR 12.203.

• Award Basis: Best-valued quote based on comparative evaluations.

• Tiered evaluation: SDVOSB (Tier 1), VOSB (Tier 2), Small Business (Tier 3).

• Quotations from non-SDVOSB/VOSB small businesses will only be considered if fewer than two responsible quotations are received from SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM and meet SBA size standards.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and VAAR clauses related to contract terms, conditions, representations, and certifications.

• Specific facility locations and estimated quantities are provided in Appendix A and Table A.4.

• The attached documents include: VISN 5 VAMCs_CBOCs Locations_WDs FINAL, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan RMW Disposal VISN 5_v1, Solicitation Attachment_VISN5 RMW_Sharps RFQ Price Sheet, and Solicitation Attachment - Past Performance Questionnaire.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 3: Past Performance Questionnaire. It is designed to collect information from assessors regarding a contractor's past performance on previous contracts. This information will be used by the government to evaluate potential offerors for future opportunities.

• Section A: Contractor Information: To be completed by the contractor, this section collects details about the solicitation, project, customer agency (Department of the Veteran Affairs, NCO 5), contractor's name and address, point of contact, contract award number, description of services, contract award date, and period of performance.
• Section B: Assessors Information: To be completed by assessors, this section includes a rating scale (Acceptable 'A', Unacceptable 'U') with definitions for evaluating past performance. It covers Quality of Service, Schedule, and Business Relations, with specific questions and space for rationale. It also includes a section for general comments and the assessor's role and period of involvement.

Bidders should be aware that this questionnaire will be used to assess their past performance. Contractors will need to provide accurate information in Section A for their past contracts. The ratings and comments provided by assessors in Section B will directly impact the evaluation of their proposals for this opportunity. Understanding the criteria and questions within this questionnaire can help contractors prepare to provide relevant information and potentially brief their past performance references.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a price sheet for regulated medical waste (RMW), sharps, and related containment materials and equipment, as well as DOT training services. It details the quantities and units of measure for various items required for different VA facilities and CBOCs.

• Services: Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Collection Services, Sharps Collection Services, DOT Training (Online and Onsite), and Emergency Response services.
• Materials: Various sizes of RMW and TCW containment boxes, totes, carts, and yellow bags; Sharps containers (disposable and reusable, counter and wall-mount, with or without cabinets/dollies).
• Locations: Services and materials are itemized for multiple VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) across different regions.
• Quantities & Units: Specific quantities and units of measure (e.g., YR, EA, LB, HR) are provided for each item.
• Pricing: The sheet includes columns for Base Year Unit Price, Base Year SLIN Total, Base Year CLIN Total, and similar for Option Years 1-4. All provided prices are $0.00, indicating this is a template for pricing submission rather than a finalized price list.

This price sheet is crucial for bidders to understand the scope and estimated quantities of services and supplies required. Bidders must use this template to provide their pricing for each line item, which will be a key factor in proposal evaluation. The detailed breakdown by location and item type helps in assessing the overall contract requirements and preparing a competitive bid.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document provides a detailed schedule of line items for various services and materials related to regulated medical waste (RMW) and trace contaminated waste (TCW) collection, containment, and disposal, as well as DOT training. It outlines quantities, units of measure, and contract periods for each item across multiple locations.

• Services: Includes RMW and TCW collection, sharps collection, DOT training (online and onsite), and emergency response services.
• Materials: Lists various containment materials such as RMW overpack boxes, totes, carts, and yellow bags/containers.
• Locations: Services are specified for Baltimore MD VAMC, Baltimore VAMC Annex, Loch Raven VAMC, Fort Meade CBOC, E. Balt. County CBOC, Glen Burnie CBOC, Perry Point VAMC, Pocomoke City CBOC, Cambridge CBOC, Washington DC VAMC, Charlotte Hall CBOC, Montgomery County/Gaithersburg CBOC, Lexington Park CBOC, Southern PG County CBOC, Southeast CBOC, Fort Belvoir CBOC, Martinsburg VAMC, Cumberland CBOC, Fort Detrick CBOC, Franklin CBOC, Hagerstown CBOC, Stephen City CBOC, Harrisonburg CBOC, Petersburg CBOC, Huntington VAMC, Charleston CBOC, Gallipolis CBOC, Lenore CBOC, Eastern Kentucky CBOC, and Wood County CBOC.
• Contract Periods: Base period (2026-04-01 to 2027-03-31) and multiple option periods (Option 1: 2027-04-01 to 2028-03-31, Option 2: 2028-04-01 to 2029-03-31, Option 3: 2029-04-01 to 2030-03-31, Option 4: 2030-04-01 to 2031-03-31).
• Quantities and Units: Specific quantities and units of measure (e.g., YR, EA, LB, HR) are provided for each line item.

This schedule is crucial for bidders to understand the scope of services and materials required, the estimated quantities, and the various locations where services will be performed. It forms the basis for pricing proposals and assessing the overall scale and complexity of the opportunity.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for VISN 5 Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) and Sharps Disposal Services. The contract will be a Single Award Firm Fixed Unit Price Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with an ordering start date of April 1, 2026. The services will cover all VISN 5 Medical Facilities, including 8 VAMCs and 29 CBOCs across multiple locations in MD, DC, WV, VA, KY, and OH.

The primary deliverable is the disposal of Regulated Medical Waste and Sharps. Specific details regarding tasks, technical requirements, and compliance obligations are expected to be found in the referenced SOW (Section B.1) and Price/Cost Schedule (Section B.2).

• Contract Type: Single Award Firm Fixed Unit Price Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

• Ordering Start Date: April 1, 2026.

• Questions Due: No later than January 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET.

• Quotes Due: January 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET.

• Evaluation: Tiered evaluations will be conducted (SDVOSB -> VOSB -> SB) in accordance with VAAR 819.7010. Comparative evaluations will follow FAR 12.203. Refer to Section E.8 for supplemental instructions to quoters regarding evaluation information and response requirements.

This opportunity is set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Tiered evaluations will also consider Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Small Businesses (SB).

Key points of contact are Darren Morris (darren.morris2@va.gov) and Dan Feng Lu (DanFeng.Lu@va.gov). Several documents are attached for detailed review, including the main RFQ, Schedule, Locations, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, Price Sheet, and Past Performance Questionnaire.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for a Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) and Sharps Disposal Contract for VISN 5. It outlines the systematic method the government will use to evaluate contractor performance.

This QASP details how the government will monitor and evaluate the contractor's performance, including:

• What will be monitored: Specific tasks related to RMW disposal and container exchange.
• How monitoring will take place: Methods include periodic inspections and validated user/customer complaints.
• Who will conduct the monitoring: Primarily the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• How monitoring efforts and results will be documented: Through reports, Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs), and semi-annual performance assessment meetings.

Key performance standards and acceptable quality levels are defined for tasks such as:

• Exchange of sharps containers: Ensuring timely exchange for safe working environments.
• Removal of waste: Adhering to specified timeframes for waste removal.
• Monthly Reports/Manifests: Providing accurate proof and methodology of RMW disposal.
• Monthly Invoices: Ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Daily Reports: Verifying container servicing according to the SOW schedule.

This plan also outlines government roles (Contracting Officer, COR) and procedures for addressing both acceptable and unacceptable performance, including the use of incentives based on performance standards.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Regulated Medical Waste and Sharps Removal Services for all 8 VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and 28 associated Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) within the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5). VISN 5 serves Veterans across Maryland, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and portions of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.

• Regulated Medical Waste and Sharps Removal Services.

• Contract Type: Single Award Firm Fixed Unit Price Blanket Purchase Agreement.

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

• Structure: 1 Base Year + 4 Option Years.

• Response Date/Time: November 20, 2025, 10:00 AM Eastern Time.

• The Government may award based on the initial quote without discussion.

• This requirement will be set aside as a Tiered Evaluation including Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), and Small Business (SB) in accordance with VAAR 819.7010.

• Tier 1: SDVOSB

• Tier 2: VOSB

• Tier 3: All other small business concerns.

• SDVOSB/VOSB/SBs must be listed and viewable in the Small Business Administration (SBA) database at https://search.certifications.sba.gov. The SBA database will be checked at the time of offer submission and prior to award.

• All contractors must be registered in the SAM Database (https://www.sam.gov) prior to contract award.

• Prospective offerors are encouraged to register prior to submitting quotations.

• NAICS Code: 562211

• Product Service Code: S222