V225--Urgent & Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (VA-26-00001836)

Amendment / Modification

This amendment notifies interested parties that the solicitation (36C26326Q0315) will be cancelled.

This cancellation impacts the entire solicitation.

Offerors were previously required to provide copies of insurance documents and business licenses/credentials to operate in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, or documentation of the ability to obtain them with a detailed timeline. These requirements were not met by any offerors, leading to the cancellation of the solicitation.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides answers to technical questions submitted by potential bidders regarding Solicitation 36C26326Q0315 for Urgent & Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport services.

• Price Escalation & SCA Compliance: Quotes will be evaluated by total cost, not by individual option years. Programmed escalation factors for option years to account for mandatory annual SCA wage revisions will not be separately evaluated.
• Mileage Estimate Accuracy: The estimated 18,500 annual ground miles are not restricted to local/urban transports only, though a majority are within a 60-mile radius. Longer distance transports may occasionally occur.
• Simultaneous Capacity & Asset Sustainability: The government will not incorporate a "Ready-State Fee" or standby minimum for specialized transport capabilities due to a lack of additional funding beyond base trip requirements.
• SCT/CCT Medication Compliance: Vehicles do not need to physically stock every listed medication at all times. Compliance is based on the capability to continue therapy per facility orders, with the VA providing medication reports prior to transport.
• Specialized Equipment Management: The contract vendor must have specialized CCT equipment. However, the PWS addresses the use of government equipment when the vendor does not have it, including the return of VA staff and equipment.
• Investigative Requirements (Fingerprinting): Fingerprints must be completed by the VA and cannot be accepted from other agencies, even if providers have been previously fingerprinted by state agencies.
• Urgent Transport Arrival Time: Ambulances must arrive on scene within 15 minutes of being contacted for urgent transports.
• Not Scheduled in Advance Arrival Time: Ambulances must arrive on scene within 45 minutes of being contacted for unscheduled transports.

These clarifications do not appear to alter the submission deadline (02-20-2026) or the fundamental requirements of the solicitation, but they provide critical details for bidders to accurately estimate costs and capabilities.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-5351, Revision No. 29) for the Service Contract Act, applicable to the area of Nebraska County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska. It lists various occupational codes and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and required fringe benefits.

• Occupational Codes and Titles: A comprehensive list of job classifications, ranging from administrative support and clerical roles to technical, health, and maintenance occupations.
• Wage Rates: Minimum hourly rates for each listed occupation.
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies that "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing." The document details specific benefits such as Health & Welfare ($5.55 per hour or $222.00 per week) and Paid Sick Leave (EO 13706: $5.09 per hour or $203.60 per week).
• Executive Orders: Notes the applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage adjustments).
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines paid vacation accrual based on years of service and a list of eleven paid holidays.
• Conformance Process: Details the procedure for contractors to request additional classifications and wage rates if a required occupation is not listed.

This document is crucial for bidders as it establishes the minimum wage and benefit rates that must be paid to laborers and mechanics employed on covered contracts. Bidders must use these rates when calculating their labor costs for proposals to ensure compliance with the Service Contract Act and relevant Executive Orders. It helps determine the overall cost of labor for the opportunity and ensures fair compensation for employees.

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, Wage and Hour Division. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations when performing contract work subject to the Service Contract Act in specific geographic areas.

• Area Covered: Iowa Counties of Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie, and Nebraska Counties of Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington.
• Occupational Listing: A comprehensive list of job titles with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific benefits like Health & Welfare ($5.55/hour) and Paid Sick Leave (EO 13706) are detailed.
• Executive Orders: Notes the applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage) for federal contractors.
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines requirements for paid vacation and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Conformance Process: Details the procedure for classifying and determining wage rates for occupations not explicitly listed in the determination.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing services under a federal contract in the specified geographic area. It directly impacts the pricing of proposals by establishing mandatory wage and benefit rates for covered employees. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages meet or exceed these minimums to be compliant.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-5771, Revision No. 28) for the Service Contract Act, applicable to the state of Nebraska, specifically the counties of Hall, Howard, and Merrick. It lists various occupational codes and titles along with their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and required fringe benefits.

This document is crucial for any bidder responding to a government contract in the specified area that is subject to the Service Contract Act. It provides the legally mandated minimum wage and fringe benefit rates that must be paid to employees performing work under such contracts. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor costs align with these rates to be compliant. The document also includes important notes regarding Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (minimum wage adjustments), as well as details on vacation and holiday pay, and a process for conforming unlisted classifications.

Key information includes:

• Minimum hourly wage rates for a wide range of occupations.
• Required fringe benefits (Health & Welfare).
• Applicability of Executive Orders for paid sick leave and minimum wage.
• Details on vacation and holiday entitlements.
• Procedures for classifying and determining wages for occupations not explicitly listed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is a Request for Quote (RFQ) for Ground Ambulance Services for the Omaha VA Medical Center (VAMC) and its associated facilities. The services are required on an as-needed basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. The contractor will provide Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), and Specialty Care/Critical Care Transport (SCT/CCT) services.

• Provide Urgent & Non-Emergent stretcher transportation services.

• Services include BLS, ALS, and SCT/CCT tiers.

• Availability 24/7, including weekends and holidays.

• Transport of patients, luggage, medical records, and comfort items.

• Personnel must meet specific qualifications (EMTs, Paramedics, Drivers) and undergo background checks and TB testing.

• Vehicles must meet federal, state, and local regulations and be maintained.

• Utilize the VetRide Vendor Portal or VA-approved transportation software for all transports.

• Adherence to COVID-19 and other infectious disease protocols, including PPE usage and vehicle cleaning.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price.

• Period of Performance: Ordering periods from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031.

• Place of Performance: Variable within Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, including specific VA facilities and local airports.

• Quotes must be submitted electronically via email to amanda.patterson-elliott@va.gov.

• Deadline for questions: February 6, 2026, 5:00pm CST.

• Deadline for quotes: February 20, 2026, 5:00pm CST.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on technical submission, past performance, SDVOSB/VOSB status, and price.

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

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• Offerors must be registered as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) to receive full credit in the evaluation factor.

• A price quote must be provided for all data elements shaded in yellow in the Schedule of Services – Price Schedule.

• Failure to follow submission instructions may result in an unacceptable quote.

• The solicitation includes various FAR and VAAR clauses related to contract terms, conditions, security, and reporting.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6 and conducted using FAR Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking quotes for urgent and non-emergent ambulance transport services to support the NWI Omaha VA Health Care System.

• Provision of urgent and non-emergent ambulance transport services.

• Specific contract line items, quantities, and units of measure are detailed within the attached solicitation documentation.

• The VA anticipates awarding one firm-fixed-price contract.

• The Place of Performance is the NWI Omaha VA Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, NE 68105.

• This solicitation (RFQ 36C26326Q0315) is issued as a request for quotes.

• Quotes must be emailed to amanda.patterson-elliott@va.gov.

• Technical questions are due via email by 5:00 PM CST on February 6, 2026.

• Quotes are due by 5:00 PM CST on February 20, 2026.

• FAR provisions 52.212-1, 52.212-2, and 52.212-3 apply and are detailed within the attached solicitation document.

• This procurement is unrestricted.

• Prospective offerors must be registered and current in the System for Award Management (SAM) database at the time of offer.

• Quotes will only be accepted from responsible contractors.

• The applicable NAICS code is 621910 with a size standard of $22.5 million.

• The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-26 (10/01/2025).

• Attached documents include the RFQ, Wage Determination 2015-5771, Wage Determination 2015-5005, and Wage Determination 2015-5351.