Q999--Executive Order

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0006) to solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4, dated 10-01-2021, announces a class deviation to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 22.8, Equal Employment Opportunity. This deviation is in response to the revocation of Executive Order 11246 and the enactment of Executive Order 14173, which ended illegal discrimination and restored merit-based opportunity.

Pages 2-13 of the document provide a summary of changes and updated clauses related to this deviation. Key changes include:

• FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services: Updated to (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025).
• FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Products and Commercial Services: Updated to (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025).
• The document lists numerous other FAR clauses that are incorporated by reference, with specific checkboxes indicating which are applicable. These cover a wide range of topics including small business concerns, labor standards, foreign purchases, and payment terms.

This amendment primarily addresses regulatory changes related to Equal Employment Opportunity. While it updates several FAR clauses and provides a detailed list of applicable clauses, it does not explicitly state any changes to proposal submission deadlines or evaluation factors. Offerors should review the updated clauses and their implications for their proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation (RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4) issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Acquisition Center. The contracting office is located in Hines, IL (ZIP code 60141).

Product Service Code: Q999 NAICS Code: 561320 (Staff and Other Personnel Related Services)

• Response Date/Time/Zone: 03-19-2030 12:00 CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

• Archive: 30 days after the response date.

• The response date is March 19, 2030.

• No specific set-aside information is provided in this excerpt.

• The document references an attached document: RFP-797-00-0115-R4_0006_2025-03-11.

• Contact Specialist: Brian O'Connell (Brian.O'connell@va.gov, (708) 786-5816).

• Place of Performance details are not specified in this excerpt.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 0004 to the solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4.

This amendment adds to the currently published solicitation.

No specific impact on proposal deadlines or requirements is detailed in this amendment notice, but it modifies the existing solicitation.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies Solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4 to incorporate revisions related to order-level pricing flexibilities under I-FSS-969.

Key changes include:

• Extending authority to the order-level Contracting Officer (CO) to make economic price adjustments (EPAs) to hourly ceiling/Not-To-Exceed (NTE) rates, with appropriate documentation and justification, based on unforeseeable major changes in market conditions.

• Incorporating revisions to the following sections:

  • I-FSS-969 Economic Price Adjustment - FSS Multiple Award Schedule (Oct 2014), with a note added at (c) on page 2.
  • Scope of Solicitation (Jan 2024), specifically regarding Hourly Ceiling/Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Rates (pg. 4) and Task Order Level (pg. 7-8).
  • Proposed Pricing & Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) (Jan 2024), specifically Section 3 - Proposed Pricing (pg. 9-10).

• I-FSS-969 Economic Price Adjustment - FSS Multiple Award Schedule (Oct 2014)

• Scope of Solicitation (Jan 2024)

• Proposed Pricing & Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) (Jan 2024)

This amendment does not explicitly state a change to the hour and date specified for receipt of offers. Offerors are reminded to acknowledge receipt of this amendment.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment incorporates revisions to clause 552.238-80 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (July 2020, Tailored – December 2023).

Clause 552.238-80 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (July 2020, Tailored – December 2023) has been revised.

No impact on proposal deadlines or submission requirements is indicated by this amendment.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies Solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4 to incorporate revisions to clause 552.238-80, "Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (Jul 2020, Tailored – Dec 2023)". The primary change is the reduction of the grace period for reporting sales and remitting the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) from 60 days to 30 days after the close of the quarter. Fiscal Year 2023 Quarter 1 sales reporting must adhere to this new 30-day timeframe.

• Clause 552.238-80, "Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (Jul 2020, Tailored – Dec 2023)"

• Bidders must be aware of the shortened 30-day period for reporting sales and remitting the IFF. This impacts financial reporting and remittance timelines.

• Sales Reporting: Contract sales must be reported quarterly within 30 calendar days after the end of each reporting quarter.

• IFF Remittance: The Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) must be remitted within 30 calendar days after the end of the reporting quarter.

• IFF Rate: The current IFF rate is 1.0% (one percent) of total quarterly sales.

• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to report sales or remit the IFF on time can result in contract debt, interest accrual, or termination for cause.

Amendment / Modification

This document, Amendment 0003, revises Solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4. The primary change is a correction made to Form SF1449 within Vendor Response Document 02.

• Form SF1449 in Vendor Response Document 02

This amendment makes a correction to a form. Bidders should ensure they are using the corrected version of Form SF1449 for their response. No changes to proposal deadlines or evaluation factors are indicated by this amendment.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0003) corrects the solicitation number on Form SF1449 within Vendor Response Document 02.

• Form SF1449 (in Vendor Response Document 02)

No impact on proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors is indicated by this amendment. It serves solely to correct a document reference.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment corrects an error in the solicitation number on Form SF1449, which is located in Document 02 - Vendor Response.

• Form SF1449 (Document 02 - Vendor Response)

• The solicitation number in block 5 of Form SF1449 has been corrected from "RFP-797-FSS-00-0015-R4" to "RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4".

• No changes are made to offer receipt deadlines or other submission requirements.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment revises the solicitation to incorporate updated versions of two key clauses:

• 52.222-55 Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers under Executive Order 14026 (Jan 2022): This clause mandates a minimum hourly wage of $15.00 for contractor workers performing in the United States, effective January 30, 2022. It also outlines procedures for annual wage adjustments, price adjustments for increased labor costs, and recordkeeping requirements.

• 52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave under Executive Order 13706 (Jan 2022): This clause requires contractors to allow employees to earn at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. It details accrual, use, and payment requirements for paid sick leave, as well as recordkeeping and anti-discrimination provisions.

• Clause 52.222-55

• Clause 52.222-62

The full text of these revised clauses is provided on continuation pages 2-9 of this amendment.

No changes to proposal deadlines or submission requirements are indicated by this amendment. Bidders should ensure their proposals and subsequent contract performance comply with the updated wage and paid sick leave requirements, which become effective January 30, 2022.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment incorporates clause 52.223-99, "Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (Oct 2021) (Deviation)," into the solicitation.

• Clause 52.223-99 is added to the solicitation.

• No changes to proposal deadlines or submission requirements are indicated. Bidders should review the incorporated clause for compliance requirements related to COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Group Q999, specifically FSS Schedule 621 I for Professional & Allied Healthcare Staffing Services. The Department of Veterans Affairs, National Acquisition Center, is issuing this as a refresh to a previous solicitation.

This solicitation covers Professional & Allied Healthcare Staffing Services under FSS Group Q999.

• Contract Type: Multiple award, fixed-price, indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) with Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) provisions.

• Period of Performance: Contracts will expire five years from the date of award, unless canceled, terminated, or extended.

• Response Date/Time: September 13, 2026, 12:00 PM Central Time, Chicago, USA.

• Submission: This is a standing solicitation issued on an open and continuous basis. New offers may be submitted at any time.

No specific set-aside information is detailed in this summary.

• This solicitation (RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4) replaces the previous solicitation RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R3.
• Associated documents include: 621I-R4_01_Solicitation_20211101, 621I-R4_02_VendorResponse_20211001, and 621I-R4_03_ProposedPricingAndCSP_20211001.
• Point of Contact: FSS Helpdesk, 708-786-7737 or HelpDesk.ammhinFSS@va.gov.
• Agency URL: https://www.va.gov/opal/nac/fss/schedule621I.asp

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "02 - VENDOR RESPONSE DOCUMENT," is a comprehensive form that all offerors must complete. It serves as the primary response vehicle for vendors submitting proposals for the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program, specifically for allied and professional healthcare staffing services. It guides offerors through providing essential company information, signatory authority, business details, pricing, contractor qualifications, and past performance.

• Signatory Authority: Forms for identifying individuals authorized to sign contract documents.
• SF1449: The standard form for soliciting commercial items, including details on solicitation number, issue date, and award information.
• Schedule of Items: A detailed list of Special Item Numbers (SINs) for various healthcare professions (e.g., Physicians, Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants) with estimated annual sales figures.
• Pricing & Commercial Sales Practices (CSP): Instructions and templates for submitting proposed pricing, including hourly rates, discounts, concessions, and cost build-ups. Requires detailed disclosure of commercial sales practices.
• Contractor Qualifications: Sections for demonstrating corporate experience, geographic coverage, management plans (recruitment, retention, substitution), and personnel credentials.
• Past Performance: A section for new offerors to provide references for similar services provided.
• Small Business Subcontracting Plan: Required for "other than small businesses."
• Proposal Checklist: A guide for offerors to ensure all required documents and steps are completed.

This document is critical for any vendor wishing to bid on this opportunity. It outlines the specific information required for a compliant and competitive proposal, including detailed pricing structures, required qualifications, and submission procedures. Offerors must carefully complete all sections to be considered for award.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel file contains several sheets related to pricing and sales disclosures for potential bidders. It includes sections for proposed pricing, billing disclosures, cost build-ups, sales disclosures, labor category descriptions, and tracking customer information.

• 1- ProposedPricing&BillingDiscl: Requires bidders to enter dates for data currency and date ranges for transactional data. It outlines columns for Special Item Numbers (SINs), labor categories, proposed FSS ceiling prices (with and without IFF), most frequently billed (MFB) commercial prices, and differences between proposed and commercial prices.
• 2-PricingValidation-CostBldUp: Details the cost build-up for labor categories, including earnings, employer-paid fringe benefits, total direct costs, overhead/G&A, total direct & indirect costs, profit margin, and proposed FSS prices (with and without IFF). It also includes a validation check against Tab 1.
• 3- Sales Disclosures: Requires bidders to provide a 12-month time frame for sales disclosures and an explanation of their methodology for projected annual government sales. It asks for actual annual government sales, actual annual commercial sales, and projected annual sales under the contract by SIN.
• 4- LaborCategoryDescriptions: Provides a table to detail labor categories, including education, experience, licenses, certifications, CPR, and other requirements.
• Tracking Customer: This sheet appears to be for internal government use or for tracking awarded contracts, detailing SIN, labor category, tracking customer name and location, TC rate, proposed and awarded rates, TC ratio, and rationale.
• Award: This sheet seems to be a summary of awarded contracts, listing SIN, labor category, tracking customer information, TC ratio, and FSS ceiling prices.

Bidders must use the 'ProposedPricing&BillingDiscl', 'PricingValidation-CostBldUp', and 'Sales Disclosures' sheets to input their pricing and sales data as required by the solicitation. The 'LaborCategoryDescriptions' sheet provides details on the required labor categories. Understanding these sections is crucial for preparing an accurate and compliant proposal.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation for Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services (621I) under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program. It establishes a standing solicitation (RFP-797-FSS-00-0115-R4) for worldwide federal supply schedules, with a NAICS code of 561320 (Temporary Help Services) and Service Code Q (Medical). The solicitation is open and continuous with no set due date.

This solicitation details the terms, conditions, and instructions for vendors to obtain a VA FSS contract. It outlines contract terms and conditions, vendor instructions for proposal submission, and evaluation factors for contract award. Specific requirements include:

• Minimum of two years of corporate experience in providing relevant services.

• Ability to demonstrate firm responsibility.

• Completion of GSA "Pathway to Success" education seminar.

• Compliance with all solicitation requirements and contract obligations.

• Adherence to various FAR and GSAR clauses covering contract terms, conditions, representations, certifications, and reporting.

• Contract Type: Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) Multiple Award Schedule contracts.

• Period of Performance: Contracts are typically awarded for 5 years, with options to extend up to 10 years total.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated for the overall solicitation, but minimum sales criteria of $25,000 within the first two years and annually thereafter are mentioned.

• Submission: Offers must be submitted electronically via email to FSSOffersandExtensions@va.gov. Specific formatting and subject line requirements apply. Digital signatures are accepted; scanned wet signatures are also acceptable.

• Evaluation: Offers will be evaluated based on "best value" determination, considering factors such as price, special features, past performance, quality, expertise, and socioeconomic status. A pre-award review may be conducted for offers exceeding $3,000,000 per year.

• Deadlines: Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis. Specific deadlines for responses to requests for clarification or additional information will be provided.

• Open to all responsible offerors.

• Various small business set-aside clauses are incorporated by reference, indicating potential for orders to be set aside for HUBZone, small business, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, and women-owned small business concerns.

• Offerors must read the entire document and are accountable for compliance with all provisions and clauses.

• All documents must be 508 compliant.

• Electronic invoicing is mandatory.

• Significant changes from previous solicitations are detailed in CP-FSS-2.