Erie VAMC Phone Answering Services

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Wage Determination from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It lists occupational classifications and their corresponding minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for contracts in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The document is identified as Wage Determination No. 2015-4223, Revision No. 33, with the last revision date of May 13, 2026.

This document is crucial for any bidder responding to a federal contract opportunity in Erie County, Pennsylvania, that is subject to the Service Contract Act. It specifies the minimum wage and fringe benefits that must be paid to various categories of employees performing work under such a contract. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor costs align with these mandated rates to be compliant and competitive. The document also outlines general fringe benefits (health & welfare, vacation, holidays) and specific notes regarding Executive Orders 13706 and 13658, as well as the process for conforming additional classifications not listed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Phone Answering Services for the Erie VAMC, requiring 24/7 coverage for all shifts. The services include switchboard operations, receiving and placing calls, transferring calls, providing information, monitoring emergency calls and alarm systems, paging, reporting equipment failures, maintaining logs, and conducting telephone traffic studies.

• 24/7/365 switchboard service coverage, including all federal holidays and emergency situations.

• Answering incoming calls within five rings with a specific four-part greeting.

• Handling of emergency calls and alarm system monitoring.

• Use of the Erie VAMC SharePoint Directory for call transfers.

• Access to and use of the telephone paging system for announcements.

• Maintaining logs of "on call" doctors, key employees, and unusual happenings.

• Compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws regarding information protection.

• Personnel must wear government-issued identification badges.

• Contractor personnel must comply with facility immunization policies.

• The contract period includes a base period and three option periods.

• Base Period: 6 months (10-01-2026 to 03-31-2027)

• Option 1: 12 months (04-01-2027 to 03-31-2028)

• Option 2: 12 months (04-01-2028 to 03-31-2029)

• Option 3: 12 months (04-01-2029 to 03-31-2030)

• NAICS Code: 561421 - Telephone Answering Services

• The contract type is Firm-Fixed-Price.

• Quotes are due by 04:00 PM EST on 06/18/2026 via email to ralph.mielnik@va.gov.

• Questions are due by 12:00 PM EST on 06/10/2026 via email to ralph.mielnik@va.gov.

• Quotes must be firm for at least 90 days from the closing date.

• Technical content must be provided as a single document (not to exceed 20 pages).

• Past performance examples (3) are required.

• Evaluation factors include Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price.

• The Government will use a comparative evaluation process.

• This acquisition is a Small Business Set-Aside.

• NAICS Code: 561421

• Size Standard: $19 Million

• Government will provide facilities and some equipment (desks, chairs, Cisco Operator Consoles, refrigerator, IT equipment, etc.).

• Contractor is responsible for personnel, background investigations, and compliance with security and privacy requirements.

• Liquidated damages may apply for data breaches.