REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR VHA HOME RESPIRATORY SERVICES THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), BUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN INDUSTRY DAY(S). THERE IS NO COMMITMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA), TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION, MAKE AN AWARD, OR TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MONIES EXPENDED BY ANY INTERESTED PARTIES IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT. THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS NEITHER COMMITTED NOR OBLIGATE TO PAY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED, AND NO BASIS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST VA SHALL ARISE AS A RESULT OF A RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. VHA Home Respiratory Services Industry Day (One-on-One Sessions) Date/Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 - 8:00 M - 5:00PM Thursday, May 19, 2016 - 8:00AM - 5:00 PM Location: Department of Veterans Affairs 1100 First St. NE, Conference Room 601 Washington, DC 20002 Description: The Industry Day(s) is being conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e) as part of market research as a forum to discuss with small and large businesses and to obtain feedback on acquisition strategies related to the VHA Home Respiratory Services program. The objective of the Industry Day is to obtain input from industry representatives with expertise in and knowledge for implementation and management of a Home Respiratory Services program, to obtain information and understanding of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program any negative effects it is having on the industry. In addition the Industry Day Conference is to provide each company the opportunity to express concerns with VHA technical requirements, contractual and procedural concerns, pricing methodologies, competition requirements and other issues or concerns companies have in regard to recent (within the last 3 years) and current Home Respiratory Services solicitations. The Industry Day Conference will also provide an opportunity for companies to ask questions.. One-on-One Sessions: VA will conduct forty-five minute one-on-one sessions with companies. Registration Requirements: Companies of all sizes are invited, registration to attend Industry Day(s) is mandatory. Registration will begin on Friday April 8, 2016 and will end on or before Friday May 6, 2016 by 2:00 pm (CST). Due to budgetary and time restrictions, only the first 12 contractors to register will receive one-on-one meetings. Registration may end prior to Friday May 6, 2016 if full capacity is reached. Registration will be handled on a first come, first served basis. Companies will not be allowed to register on the day of the event or be permitted to attend a session without a reservation. Reservations are not transferable. Registration to attend must be completed via email to
[email protected]. Please provide your name, organization/company, phone number, number of attendees (limited to 4), and email address. Please note, attendance/participation at the Industry Day Conference is encouraged, but is not a prerequisite for participation in any solicitation(s) that may eventually result from the conference. Please do not attend without confirmation of a reservation. The reservation confirmation will only be provided from the above noted email addresses. All questions regarding the Industry Day Conference should be directed in writing via email to Kim Hurt at
[email protected] and/or Jennifer Johnson at
[email protected]. Each confirmed company shall provide one (1) written copy and one (1) CD-ROM of their entire presentation along with responses to questions contained herein to the following address NLT May 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm CST: Department of Veterans Affairs SAO Central Region ATTN: Home Respiratory Services Industry Day Team 708 S. Third Street Suite 108E Minneapolis, MN 55415 Note: Presentation material is not limited but there will be strict enforcement to allotted time for one-on-one sessions. VHA HOME RESPIRATORY SERVICES: Home Respiratory Services: The services for Home Respiratory and HME services include but are not limited to: providing all labor, management, transportation, equipment, supplies, delivery, and materials to provide for Home Respiratory Services and Home Medical Equipment (HME), in accordance with Joint Commission (JC) standards to the Veteran beneficiaries serviced by Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN). Services include but are not limited to new patient assessment, delivery and setups, existing patient reassessment, equipment delivery, setups, repair and storage, and implementation of patient safety goals (e.g. fire safety, fall prevention, etc.);education and re-education; development and distribution of patient education handouts that meet or exceed Joint commission requirements; routine safety inspections (e.g. equipment, home environment, delivery vehicles);development and implementation of quality assurance plan including infection control policy; implementation of delivery staff screening (e.g. criminal back ground check upon hire, valid driver's license, etc.), orientation, and ongoing training plan; home medical equipment preventative maintenance; 24-hour emergency services; data collection and collation with reports to the VA; development/review/revision of care plan on each VA beneficiary; ongoing communication with VA; arrangement of service for traveling patients; maintenance of patient service record. Industry Day Discussion Questions: What is your understanding of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program and what effects is it having on the industry? What effects, if any, it will have or is having on the Department of Veteran Affairs? What are suggestions for strategies to minimize any such effect on VHA? What issues concerns does your company have with recent or current VHA Home Respiratory Services requirements? How much variation do you see in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work Requirements (i.e. CPAP/BiPAP delivery setup, Registered Respiratory Therapist or Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician, reporting requirements, equipment PMI requirements, backup system requirements, and patient travel)? What are the major differences in requirements to provide services to VHA verses providing in the commercial market or other government agencies? What effect, if any, do these have on pricing? How much variation does your company see in the pricing methodologies across the VHA? What effect do these variations have on invoicing and pricing? How do the pricing methodologies and invoicing requirements differ from the commercial market or other government agencies? What contractual and procedural concerns on current and recent solicitation or contract awards does your company have or have experienced? What, if any, contractual and procedural concerns does your company have or has experienced with VHA over reimbursement for lost and/or broken equipment? Are there other concerns, issues and/or information your company would like to discuss concerning Home Respiratory Services?