HIV TESTING (IFB-DCS-03-13) Amendment 2, Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

PAGE OF PAGES
1	\|	1

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION. NO.

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

April 22, 2003

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. dw

03-916

5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

CODE

U.S. Department of Labor, ETA/OGCM

Division of Contract Services

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Room S-4203

Washington DC 20210

7. ADMINISTERED BY
(If other than Item 6)

CODE

U.S. Department of Labor, ETA

Division of Contract Services

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Room S-4203

Washington DC 20210

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)



To all Offerors/Bidders






CODE		FACILITY CODE

(X)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

IFB-DCS-03-13

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

03-14-2003

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 12)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATION

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

is extended,

is not extended. Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior

to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 0 copies of the amendment;(b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment of each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified. ** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to: 2:00 p.m. est 4/28/03

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

N/A

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

(X)

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in payng office, appropriation date, etc.)

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103 (b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor

is not,

is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

See attached for responses to technical questions.
The bid opening date has been extended to May 5, 2003, 2:00 p.m. local time.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)
KEITH A. BOND	Contracting Officer

15B. CONTACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE

SIGNED

04-22-2003

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

April 22, 2003

NOTICE TO ALL OFFERORS

REFERENCE: AMENDMENT NO. 2
IFB-DCS-03-13

Additional information has been requested by prospective offerors and it has been determined by the Contracting Officer that this information be made available to all bidders. The bid opening date has been extended to May 5, 2003, 2:00 p.m. local time.

Keith A. Bond
KEITH A. BOND
Contracting Officer

Attachment(s)

14. RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. What was the volume of testing on the previous bid specification?

A. The estimated number of tests per year on the last contract was 65,000 for the Elisa and 500 for the Western Blot.

2. Is Job Corps currently using an electronic system provided by the incumbent contractor?

A. Yes.

3. Does the incumbent contractor currently have equipment installed at your sites?

a. Yes.

4. Is the incumbent contractor providing technical assistance for the software as well as the hardware?

A. Yes.

5. What price does the current contractor charge?

A. The current contractor charges $2.84 for the Elisa and $15.OO for the Western Blot Confirmation.

6. When the current price was bid was the electronic system part of the requirement?

A. No.

7. What level of security and/or encryption does the current system offer?

A. The current level of security and/or encryption that the current system offers is 128 bit SSL, 3DES.

8. Our system uploads test requests, prints out specimen labels and downloads test results, reports and statistics on a computer via encrypted internet communications. Is this what you mean by "fully electronic"?

A. Yes.

9. Section C, page C-3, paragraph C-2, #3: We take this to mean that the "secure online system" will need to generate a bar coded label that will be attached to the specimen at the site. Is this correct?

A. Yes.

10. Should we include the cost of our equipment in the cost of the test or on a separate line?

A. Costs for equipment should be included in the price of the test.

11. For the last few years, in order to ensure that we have no problems when we install our system, we always provide the program, computer, laser printer, label printer and on site installation/training. We do this at no added cost to you or your sites. Are we allowed to offer this service for your contract?

A. Yes. All equipment and programs will need approval by our Job Corps Data Center.

12. Will a letter from our HIPAA compliance consultant be enough to prove our system is HIPAA compliant?

A. Yes.

13. We understand that the requirement to transmit data to the CDC is quite complex and subject to audit and inspection. Will the CDC or Job Corps reimburse us for this added cost?

A. No.

14. Is the DOL/JC going to pay for the equipment we will need to install at your sites or must this be included in the testing price?

A. This must be included in the testing price.

15. Is the DOL/JC going to pay for the software installation costs or must this be included in the testing price?

A. This must be included in the testing price.

16. Is the DOL/JC going to pay for on site training on our electronic system at your 125 sites or must this be included in the testing price?

A. This must be included in the testing price.

17. If our current system is not compatible with your systems, will the DOL/JC pay to make them compatible?

A. No.

18. What if we don't have any experience with the CDC data requirement, will DOL/JC personnel set this up for us?

A. Technical assistance can be provided by CDC and the National Office of Job Corps.

19. The IFB specifies blood testing and I would like to know if other methods of testing will be acceptable?

A. No.

20. Is there an additional charge for Shipping or Pick up of specimens?

A. The charge for shipping and picking up of specimens must be included in the price per test.

21. How much money was actually spent per year on this historical contract?

A. As of January 31, 2003, the total amount of funds spent on the incumbent contract was $730,935.96, inclusive of options.

22. We don't have a fully automatic system, our clients call us, and then we mail the result a few days later, will this be OK?

A. No.

23. We have a system that requires our clients to fill out paper test request forms and then we fax the results back to them several days later. Does this meet the requirements of your electronic system?

A. No.

24. Currently the states of West Virginia, New York and California require that any laboratory performing HIV testing on any specimens originating from those states, whether the laboratory is located in the state or not, must be certified/licensed by those states. Will the DOL reimburse us for the cost to get certified by those states?

A. No.

25. Do we need to include in the bid our laboratory certifications from CLIA, CAP and states like California and New York?

A. Bidders should submit documentation (i.e., a letter from the HIPAA compliance consultant) that they are HIPAA compliant, along with their CLIA certificate, CAP, and that they are licensed in New York.

26. FAR 52.217-5 is the rule that will be used to judge the bids, correct?

A. Yes.

27. In section J, the following items were not included in the proposal package: J1, J2, J3 and J5. When will these be made available?

A. Offerors can download these forms from our webpage - http://www.doleta.gov/sga/rfp.cfm.

28. As per page C-4, para 5: The winning bidder is required to perform all testing in their own lab. This section prohibits subcontracting out work, correct?

A. No. The contractor has to perform what is stated and the rest can be subcontracted out.

29. The IFB does not state exactly what HIV tests the US DOL is looking for in regards to whether they want HIV I or HIV I and II. Could you please let us know whether DOL wants HIV I or HIV I and II?

A. The Department of Labor's Office of Job Corps wants the HIV I to be performed.

30. We would like a list of all DOL locations that will be participating in this contract. We need this information for shipping/receiving as well as a number of centrifuges to be provided. Can you please provide us a list of these locations?

A. Offerors can download this form, Attachment J.4 Job Corps Directory, from our webpape - http://www.doleta.gov/sga/rfp.cfm.

31. It states in the IFB that DOL wants a "Category" listed on the report form for Demographics. Could you please expand on this?

A. The Department of Labor's Office of Job Corps wants to know whether the test is for entrance, pregnancy, STD, other medical indication or prior indeterminate.

32. Under the Freedom of Information Act, we request to know what was the previous contract price per sample for the final option year was.

A. The final option year contract price per sample is $2.84 for ELISA testing and $15.00 for the Western Blot Confirmation.

33. Concerning the reports, it is standard to print the results of the HIV tests out on a report sheet containing numerous samples from an individual location. It is unclear from the IFB if this standard procedure is acceptable or do you need one page per individual?

A. Reports will need to be printed one page for each individual, to facilitate filing in the medical folders.

34. Section C 7.Laboratory Qualifications / Requirements Section C, b: Lab participates in New York Proficiency Program. Does it still required to participate with CAP proficiency program?

A. No.

35. Section C 7.Laboratory Qualifications / Requirements Section C, c.2: If the Laboratory Information System has all the features mentioned here, does the contractor still suppose to provide a separate information system to meet this requirement?

A. The system must be capable of providing secure dedicated data processing, providing individual results as well as statistical and demographic analyses and reports.

36. Section C 7.Laboratory Qualifications / Requirements Section C, c.6: Will only three centers require this technical assistance. Do you have the names of those centers or these will be at random and if this will be one time per year at each of the three centers?

A. The centers shall be selected based on need, and it would be no more than three centers per year.

37. Section C 7.Laboratory Qualifications / Requirements Section C, c.10: During period of transition what relevant material and records the prospective contractor has to collect from CDC (incumbent contractor)?

A. The information that the prospective contractor would need is the contact person and phone number for each Job Corps Center. This information is provided in Attachment J.4 Job Corps Directory.

38. Is the CDC servicing all 128 centers on weekly pick up basis?

A. Yes.

39. Is the current contractor paying for the shipment of the specimen from the centers to the testing site and if yes, then is that price included in the contract amount as mentioned in the solicitation, or it is being reimbursed separately for that?

A. The current contractor is paying for shipping and shipping must be included in the contract amount (Will not be reimbursed for shipping).

40. Is the current contractor paying for the supplies associated with the collection and that cost is included in the contract amount as mentioned in the solicitation, or it is being reimbursed separately?

A. The current contractor is paying for supplies. The cost for supplies must be included in the contract amount (Supplies will not be reimbursed separately).

41. Do you have any approximate number, from the statistics that, how many samples were picked up on each pick up day from each center?

A. No- The number of specimens could be from 1 to 70 depending on the size of the center. On an average, 1438 specimens are shipped each week.

42. Can the prospective contractor out source for western blot test to the government facilities or private facility?

A. No.