The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition Operations, Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, to the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for their non-GYN assessment program. ASCP's non-GYN Digital Image program will allow approximately 2000 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pathologists and Cytotechnologists to meet Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) requirements as specified VHA Handbook 1106.01. ASCP is the world's largest medical membership society of pathologists and laboratory professionals and is comprised of pathologists from many sub-specialty disciplines, laboratory scientists, and a host of laboratory professionals. ASCP serves its members and ultimately patients through Board of Certification (the only BOC for lab professionals), Publications, Educational Programs, and Advocacy and Outreach. ASCP's Non-GYN Digital Image Program is a printed image product (not glass-slide) Cytopathology Assessment program of Non-Gynecologic cytology specimens for Pathologists, Cytopathologists, Cytotechnologists, Pathology Residents and Cytopathology Fellows. A summary of the Tasks involved in the scope of work include: 1.0 Task 1 Implement the VA approved process for maintaining and improving the quality of care for VA patients. 1.1. The contractor must have deemed status from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in accordance with VHA Directive 1106 and meet all requirements of 42 CFR, Part 493. 1.2. Master Packet: The contractor shall provide Master Packets of their non-gyn cytopathology program material to the site coordinator in each VA Medical Center on an annual basis. The Master Packet shall consist of all printed materials (i.e., case histories, discussion, response forms for each participant, return envelopes, case images and CD-ROM). In addition to providing the images on CD, the vendor will make the images available online. All Postage and Premium Shipment Costs will be included in the contract costs and will be the responsibility of the contractor. 1.3. Response Copies: The contractor shall provide, to the site coordinator, personalized response forms for each participant per event (usually quarterly). The Contractor will assign a unique identification number to each participant. 1.4. Summary Reponses: Completed response forms will be faxed to the contractor by the site coordinator prior to the event due date provided by the contractor. The contractor shall provide target answers, on-line, within three business days of receipt of response forms. In addition (after due date), participants will receive a printed version of the discussion for each case, key references, and a summary of peer responses. 1.5. Statistical Summaries: The contractor will provide Peer Comparison Statistics reports for Laboratory and Participants, by postal mail, to each Site Coordinator after each event. 1.6. Update Computer File: The contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) electronic reports detailing the performance of each participant and comparison statistics of VA performance versus Non-VA performance. These reports shall be provided at Mid-Year and Year-End. 1.7. The Contractor shall award Continuing Medical Education to each participant for an average of one (1) hour per exercise in Category 1 of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association in Category A1 of the Pathology Continuing Medical Education Award and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Recognition Award for Continuing Medical Laboratory Education for non-physician associate and specialist members who fulfill the program requirements. 1.8. VA Provided Materials: Within 30 days of the contact award, the National Enforcement Office will provide the contractor with an initial list of site coordinators and their respective lab directors, pathologists, and cytotechnologists (used to populate personalized forms). In addition, the National Enforcement office will provide any changes to the participant list to the contractor, via email, as they occur. The Contractor will only accept changes from the National Enforcement Office and not from the any participating facility. The National Enforcement Office will also provide the contractor station numbers for each VA Medical Center. This action will result in a firm-fixed price contract. This Notice of Intent to award a sole source contract IS NOT a request for competitive proposals. There will be no RFP available for competitive proposals. Phone calls will not be accepted. The point of contact for this action is Clarence Harrison, Contract Specialist. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency to the contract specialist via email at
[email protected] no later than 1:00 PM EST on December 02, 2014. A determination not to compete this proposed contract action upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.