G009--Commercial Third Party Insurance Program

The Department of Veteran Affairs, National Acquisition Office (NAC), Commodities, Services, and Acquisition Services (CSAS) in conjunction with Veteran Health Administration (VHA), Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, is issuing a Request for Information and Sources Sought Announcement for the Driver’s Rehabilitation Program for Commercial Automobile Third Party Insurance. The sole purpose of this announcement is for market research purposes and does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP). This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Furthermore, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this notice. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A central tenet of acquisition reform is to significantly improve the quality of market research by conducting a market and industry survey. One of the main benefits of solid market research is to materially improve the government’s understanding of the current state of the marketplace, including commercial/government best practices, industry capabilities, innovative delivery approaches, commercial market service levels, and performance strategies and measures. NAICS: 524210 – Insurance Agencies and Brokerages and or NAICS 524126 Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers PSC: G009 For upcoming recompete for Commercial Third-Party Liability Insurance Program, a special emphasis of the market research is being placed on market/industry infrastructure, practices and product availability. We are also interested in identifying performance criteria that differentiate between and among high-quality firms in this field. We believe this information will dramatically improve the quality of the forthcoming acquisition, including the solicitation and resulting contract. Public Law (P.L.) 93-538, mandated VA to provide opportunities for driver education and training for all eligible Veterans with disabilities and certain military personnel. Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities are entitled to have the opportunity to learn to drive a motorized vehicle on the Nation’s public highways. Depending upon the severity of the disability and the available adaptive equipment designed for utilization in today’s motor vehicles, the disabled individual should enjoy the independence and freedom of mobility offered all citizens. Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 3903(e) authorizes the Secretary of the VA to obtain insurance on automobiles and other conveyances used in conducting the special driver training courses and to obtain, at the Government expense, personal liability and property damage insurance for all persons taking such courses, hereafter such persons shall be referred to as clients. Client training will occur on a daily basis at each of the driver rehabilitation centers. A VA employee, who is a trained drive rehabilitation specialist, accompanies program participants (clients) during each training session. The only incidence in which the drive rehabilitation specialist is not in the vehicle with the client is during a time when a driving test is being administered by the local (state) Motor Vehicle Department. The state examiner is the only person allowed in the vehicle with the client during the test, and coverage will extend to the client and vehicle during those times. The Government estimates the total number of clients referred during each policy year is to be 10,000 eligible veterans, but this could increase to approximately 15,000 over the term of the contract and includes both veteran and non-veteran clients. Non-Veteran Client’s would be language interpreters, service animals, caregivers as appropriate. Roughly a 120 Veterans are scheduled weekly for training services by the clinical staff at VA. Currently there are 32 National Sites, to include Puerto Rico who provide this training. All sites train within a radius of 20 miles around the facility. All the vehicles used in the VA Driver Rehabilitation Program are equipped with specially adapted equipment for use by the disabled driver trainee. At a minimum all GOV’s have been adapted to include an instructor brake. These adapted vehicles are owned or leased by VA, referred to as GOV, are insured (“primary insurance”) by VA under GSA Fleet management practices. VA will contract with qualified Automobile Insurance Broker or Insurance Carrier to provide commercial automobile third party liability insurance coverage to eligible clients for the Driver Rehabilitation Program vehicles at all participating VA medical facilities. This policy will cover any new or replacement driver training vehicles purchased or leased by any existing or new VA facility added to the program during the policy period. This specific insurance policy offers coverage against claims of damages and losses incurred by the client who is at the time driving who is not considered the insured and therefore not covered under the Government Federal Tort Claims Act. The liability coverage shall cover bodily injury and property damage to the third party caused by the driver trainee (client) while operating a specially adapted vehicle in the program. Coverage type for the vehicles under this contract will be for third party bodily injury (BI) of $500,000 and property damage (PD) of $500,000. For the combined BI and PD total of $1,000,000 per each accident. Bodily Injury liability covers the cost resulting from injuries to the person. These injurie’ costs could include but not limited to hospital care, lost wages, and pain or suffering due to the accident. Property damage liability covers costs resulting from damages to or loss of property. Examples of property damage include the payment to replace landscaping or mailbox and compensation for loss of use of a structure. Coverage for Automobile Insurance services will be provided in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico. B.1.1.4 CUSTOMER CONTACT AND CLAIM SERVICES The insurance provider shall operate a customer service claims service program to provide customer support through toll free telephone number, facsimile, mail and or electronic media 24 hours a day seven days a week. The insurance provider shall respond to VA inquires via telephone, facsimile, mail and electronic media within 24 hours. Carrier must carry an A.M. Best Rating of B or higher. AM Best rating is a rating assigned to insurance companies that have the ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations. AM Best ratings are based on the carrier’s historical ability to pay out claims, the amount of debt a carrier holds and the amount of other financial obligations. AM Best completes this analysis by looking at the balance sheet, operating performance, business profile and debt obligations of the insurance company. AM Best ratings have four different categories: financial strength, credit ratings, issue ratings and national scale ratings. Most online reviews feature a company’s financial strength ratings (FSR). The following is the minimum service requirements that the contractor shall provide during the period of performance of this contract. Task 1 - GOV and POV Coverage: The contractor shall at a minimum provide the insurance policy coverage for the GOV’s and POV’s under this contract as Commercial Automobile Third-Party Insurance bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD). The policy should offer coverage against claims of damages and losses incurred by a driver who is not the insured and is therefore not covered under the insurance policy. The policy coverage is for the Driver Rehabilitation Program GOV’s at all participating VA medical facilities in the program. The liability coverage shall cover BI and PD that is caused by the driver trainee (client) while operating all vehicles specially adapted in the program. The provided automobile insurance that will indemnify the insured if another driver causes damage to the insured's car. Coverage type for the government-owned vehicles under this contract will be for commercial automobile third party liability of BI of $500,000 and PD of $500,000 each. For the combined BI and PD total of $1,000,000 per each accident. At a minimum this policy will also cover any new or replacement driver training vehicles purchased or leased by any existing or new VA facility added to the program during the policy period without exceeding the $1,000,000 total coverage. Coverage shall be from contract award to the end of period of performance, with the allowance of adding and removing vehicles from program as required. The contractor shall provide the required insurance cards to include and not limited to hard copy with the minimum required information printed on them: Commercial Insurance Brokerage Identification Name of Company Proving Insurance Policy Number Policy Effective and Expiration Date of Service Vehicle Identification Number Vehicle Make, Model, and Year Insurance Coverage Amounts Claims Contact Information These insurance cards shall be provided electronically upon issuance of policy or modification of policy or as requested by CO or COR. Commercial Automobile Third-Party insurance cards must be received electronically within 5 days after receipt of modification. Task 2 – Customer Service and Claims Processing: The contractor at a minimum shall offer a customer contact and claims center. The customer service support should be through a toll-free number, facsimile, mail and or electronic media on a twenty-four (24) hour and seven (7) days a week basis. Task 3 – Important Document: Contractor at a minimum shall provide the Government run loss, insurance policy, and a certificate of insurance document on a yearly basis. Run/Loss Reports shall be provided via email to COR and CO annually. Insurance Policy shall be provided on annual basis via email to COR, and CO. Contractors Broker Certification or License provided annually. We ask that industry and or interested parties respond to the following questions: Please explain your company’s position in the marketplace and under what NAICS you qualify. Please explain your parent–subsidiary relationship with respect to the Commercial Third-Party Insurance Industry. Are you underwritten by another entity? Is the industry regulated? If so at what levels? Are you licensed in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico? If not licensed in all 50 states which states are licensed in? Can you company support provide commercial third-party insurance to all 50 United States, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico? What is you AM Best Credit Rating? Do you subcontract? If so, explain the nature of these subcontracts? To what extent are you currently subcontracting with small business and at what percentages? What is your Socio-Economic Indicator if defined as a Small Business? Are you registered and certified through Small Business Administration as a Women-Owned Small Business, 8(a) Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business or Historically Underutilized Business Zone Business? What are the significant commercial practices within the industry? If you are covering more than one vehicle in more than one state, what is the best practice to provide vehicles insurance cards? What information should VA provide for these cards? (VIN, Make, Model, etc.) How often are insurance cards sent out? What are you customer service claims practices? Do you have a contact center phone number? Web Link to do claims? What are the hours of operation? Are there any special practices, regulations or other, VA should be aware of for certain states? What is your current nationwide policy recommendation for commercial business coverage for bodily injury and property damage? Do you recommend any other coverage? Can you cover non- government furnished vehicles, like individually owned operated personal vehicle of the veteran? Are there any areas of concerns for consideration for insuring a non-government vehicle? Can you provide a quote without a run loss reports or policy for the past five year? Would this increase cost to the government? Would it benefit the government doing equitable price adjustments yearly to meet market changes in pricing? What is the percent of increase yearly for insurance rates? Please explain in detail. Would it benefit the contract to provide insurance by regions or states instead of national? Provide your complete listing of covered states and your NAICS Code. I do want to emphasize that this RFI and any subsequent requests are solely for market research and are not competitions. The information obtained from the sessions will be used to improve the government’s knowledge of private industry’s capabilities. No evaluation of participating parties will occur and your participation in these RFI’s is not a promise of future business with Department of Veteran Affairs. No contract will be awarded from these requests. Electronic/emailed responses are due no later than June 25, 2024. Responding parties should take additional precautionary measures to prevent proprietary information from disclosure by marking the documentation being submitted with labeling sensitivities such as confidential and proprietary. Information provided in response to this RFI and future RFI’s that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please submit the information to [email protected],. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. B.1 Vehicle Listing. Attachment 1 Vehicle Listing Garaged Location Make Model Year VIN 1 Albany, NY VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2009 2G1WC57M291154341 2 Albuquerque, NM VAMC Toyota Sienna 2019 5TDYZ3DC4KS991394 3 Albuquerque, NM VAMC Ford Fusion 2010 3FAHPOHG1AR103712 4 Ann Arbor, MI Chrysler Pacifica Sport Touring 2020 2C4RC1FG6LR223579 5 Atlanta, GA VAMC Chevrolet Malibu 2020 1G1ZC5STOLF153023 6 Augusta, GA SCI Program Chevrolet Malibu 2022 1G1ZC5ST7NF139008 7 Augusta, GA VAMC Mercury Marquis 2010 2MEBM7FV7AX603957 8 Augusta, GA VAMC Toyota Sienna XLE 2022 5TDJRKEC5NS081364 9 Augusta, GA VAMC Toyota Sienna XLE 2021 5TDYRKEC3MS061966 10 Baltimore, MD (Loch Raven site) VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2010 2D4RN4DE7AR167360 11 Boston, MA HCS (Brockton/W. Roxbury) Chevrolet Impala 2010 2G1WA5EKXA1132406 12 Boston, MA HCS (Brockton/W. Roxbury) Chrysler Voyager 2022 2C4RC1CG6NR153959 13 Boston, MA HCS (Brockton/W. Roxbury) Dodge Grand Caravan 2009 2D8HN44E39R564537 14 Bronx, NY VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2010 2G1WA5EK5A1130028 15 Butler, PA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 2008 2D8HN54PX8R779046 Castle Point, NY VAMC Hyundai Elantra GLS 2023 KMHLL4AG1PU556078 16 Castle Point, NY VAMC Hyundai Sonata 2015 KMHEC4A46EA118038 17 Cleveland, OH VAMC Chevrolet Malibu 2020 1G1ZC5ST8LF004200 18 Cleveland, OH VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2019 2C4RDGCG9KR557494 19 Columbia, SC VAMC Chevrolet Malibu Silver 2020 1G1ZC5ST4LF001231 20 Dallas, TX VAMC Hyundai Sonata 2021 KMHL24JJ2MA028433 21 Dallas, TX VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2015 2G1WA5E3XF1112687 22 Dallas, TX VAMC Toyota Sienna 2019 5TDKZ3DC9KS014287 23 Denver, CO VAMC Dodge Caravan 2013 2C4RDGCG8DR626212 24 Denver, CO VAMC Toyota Sienna 2019 5TDYZ3DC4KS011842 25 Denver, CO VAMC Saturn Vue 2009 3GSCL93Z99S640611 26 Denver, CO VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2019 2C4RDGEG3KR511317 27 Denver, CO VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 2010 2D4RN5DX8AR371091 28 Des Moines, IA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2011 2D4RN3DG7BR616274 29 East Orange, NJ VAMC Ford Crown Victoria LX 2009 2FAHP74V49X131370 30 Hampton, VA VAMC Chevrolet Malibu 2008 2G1WB58K981208927 31 Hampton, VA VAMC Toyota Sienna LE 2020 5TDKZ3DC8LS081190 32 Hines, IL VAMC Ford E 150 2008 1FDNE14L88DB56711 33 Hines, IL VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 2016 2C4RDGCG0GR202527 34 Honolulu, HI VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2012 2C4RDGCG3CR366820 35 Houston, TX VAMC Chrysler Town and Country 2007 2A8GP64LX7R315169 36 Indianapolis, IN VAMC Ford Taurus 2004 1FAFP55214G162512 37 Indianapolis, IN VAMC Chrysler Voyager LX 2022 2C4RC1CG8NR204555 38 Lexington, KY VAMC Chrysler Grand Caravan 2008 2D8HN54P48R809254 39 Lexington, KY VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2008 2G1WT58K281333247 40 Little Rock, AR VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2008 2G1WC583781348870 41 Little Rock, AR VAMC Toyota Sienna LE 2008 5TDZK23C18S193531 42 Long Beach, CA VAMC Ford E 150 2013 1FMNE1BL3DDA92185 43 Long Beach, CA VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2014 1G11Y5SL9EU100964 44 Long Beach, CA VAMC Chrysler Town and Country 2014 2C4RC1BG4ER285913 45 Long Beach, CA VAMC Dodge Charger 2019 2C3CDXBG7KH630900 46 Long Beach, CA VAMC Dodge Charger 2019 2C3CDXBG4KH630899 47 Long Beach, CA VAMC Chrysler Pacifica 2019 2C4RC1BG3KR597524 48 Memphis, TN VAMC Ford Fusion 2010 3FADP0L30AR171423 49 Memphis, TN VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2016 2C4RDGCG3GR368640 50 Miami, FL VAMC Chevrolet Malibu 2020 1G1ZC5ST5LF000282 51 Milwaukee, WI VAMC Chevrolet Malibu 2010 1G1ZF5EZ9AF110658 52 Milwaukee, WI VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SE 2009 2D8HN44E39R625949 53 Minneapolis, MN VAMC Hyundai Tucson 2023 5NMJA3AEXPH260817 54 Minneapolis, MN VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 2009 2D8HN54149R564467 55 Minneapolis, MN VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2017 2C4RDGCG0HR749413 56 Minneapolis, MN VAMC (GRECC) Chevrolet Impala 2008 2G1WB58K681321573 57 New Orleans, LA VAMC Hyundai Elantra SE 2019 5NPD74LF9KH467475 58 New Orleans, LA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2019 2C4RDGBG4KR634886 59 Palo Alto, CA VAMC Pontiac Bonneville 2002 1G2HX54K424158736 60 Palo Alto, CA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2002 2B4GP44392R515381 61 Palo Alto, CA VAMC Ford Ranger 2008 1FTYR44E88PA57989 62 Palo Alto, CA VAMC Chrysler Town and Country 2007 2A4GP54L27R316036 63 Palo Alto, CA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 2016 2C4RDGCG4GR355945 64 Philadelphia, PA Chevrolet Impala 2009 2G1WB57NX91145575 65 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Grand Caravan 2014 2C4RDGCG7ER296662 66 Richmond, VA VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2010 2G1WASEK4A1119943 67 Richmond, VA VAMC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2006 2G1WK161369276089 68 Richmond, VA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2013 2C4RDGCG3DR772629 69 Richmond, VA VAMC Ford Fusion 2019 3FA6POHD7KR163461 70 Richmond, VA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SE 2019 2C4RDGBG0KR754569 71 Richmond, VA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SE 2019 2C7WDGBG1KR566472 72 Richmond, VA VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan SE 2010 2D4RN4DE0AR363530 73 Salisbury, NC VAMC Chrysler LXI FWD Voyager 2021 2C4RC1DG2MR601854 74 Salisbury, NC VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2012 2C4RDGDGXCR281312 75 Salt Lake City, UT VAMC Dodge Caravan 2009 2D8HN44E19R701023 76 San Antonio, TX VAMC Toyota Sienna 2018 5TDKZ3DC6HS892283 77 San Antonio, TX VAMC Ford Fusion Hybrid 2018 3FA6P0UU6JR100596 78 San Juan, PR VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2019 2C7WDGBG5KR573358 79 Seattle, WA Puget Sound Mercury Grand Marquis 2006 2MEFM74W56X601614 80 Seattle, WA Puget Sound Honda Odyssey 2009 5FNRL38439B020166 81 Seattle, WA Puget Sound Toyota Sienna LE 2018 5TDKZ3DC9JS935892 82 Seattle, WA Puget Sound Chevrolet Impala 2010 2G1WA5EK1A1135677 83 Sepulveda, CA VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2010 2G1WA5EK3A1122011 84 St. Louis, MO VAMC Nissan Maxima 2023 1N4AA6CV6PC507124 85 St. Louis, MO VAMC Toyota Sienna XLE 2019 5TDYZ3DC5KS013468 86 Syracuse NY VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2009 2D8HN44E79R613836 87 Syracuse NY VAMC Ford Fusion Hybrid 2020 3FA6P0LU2LR200599 88 Tampa, FL VAMC Chrysler Town and Country 2012 2C4RC1CG5CR287424 89 Tampa, FL VAMC Chevrolet Impala 2007 2G1WC58R979329080 90 Tampa, FL VAMC Chrysler Pacifica 2020 2C4RC1H78LR184488 91 Tampa, FL VAMC Chrysler Pacifica 2019 2C4RC1GGXKR575366 92 Tucson AZ VAMC Ford Crown Victoria 2009 2FAHP74V69X131368 93 Tucson AZ VAMC Dodge Caravan 2009 2D8HN44E19R619633 94 Washington DC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2007 2G1WK16N379357873 95 Washington DC Dodge Grand Caravan 2019 2C4RDGCGXKR693696 96 Washington DC Nissan Maxima 2021 1N4AA6CV1NC504354 97 West Los Angeles, CA Dodge Grand Caravan 2010 2D4RN4DE4AR377821 98 West Palm Beach, FL VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2017 2C4RDGBG4HR736570 West Palm Beach, FL VAMC Dodge Grand Caravan 2014 2C7WDGCG9ER422168