DOCUMENT
D -- Federal Workers’ Compensation Library-Online Subscription - Attachment
- Notice Date
- 7/28/2016
- Notice Type
- Attachment
- NAICS
- 519130
— Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;Health Administration Center;3773 Cherry Creek Drive North, Suite 450;Denver CO 80209
- ZIP Code
- 80209
- Solicitation Number
- VA74116N0167
- Response Due
- 8/11/2016
- Archive Date
- 8/26/2016
- Point of Contact
- Pedro Arritola
- E-Mail Address
-
8-7157<br
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs Office: SAO East, Program Contract Office Notice Type:Posted Date: Sources SoughtJuly 28, 2016 Response Date: August 11, 2016 Classification Code: D317 - IT and Telecom-Web-Based Subscription NAICS Code: 519130 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals Synopsis: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This is a Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought notice issued in accordance with FAR 15.201(e) to conduct market research. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) - or a promise to issue a RFQ in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or services whatsoever. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions become Government property and will NOT be returned. This announcement is based upon the best information available and is subject to future modification. Contracting Office Address Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) PCOE Denver Contracting 3773 Cherry Creek Dr. North, Denver, CO, 80209 Point of Contact: Pedro Arritola, Pedro.Arritola2@va.gov Overview: The VHA National Workers' Compensation Program (WCP) seeks to acquire access to a subscription-based, online resource library and analytic support services specific to Federal workers' compensation laws, regulations, policies, precedent setting decisions and professional interpretations to assist the VHA local WCP personnel to perform administrative case management of Federal workers' compensation. "In chargeback year 2015, VHA employees filed more than 12,000 workers' compensation claims to the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) for injuries and illness sustained in the performance of duty. "Cost incurred by OWCP, and charged back to VHA, in the same period for medical care and disability compensation was $201,182,711. "Additionally, VHA-paid leave to injured workers for time lost during the first 45 days after a traumatic injury cost an additional $6,282,638 in the same period. Please respond to this RFI if your company can perform this requirement in accordance with FAR Part 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontraction (Nov 2011). As prescribed in 19.508(e) or 19.811-3(e), insert the following clause: Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2011) (a) This clause does not apply to the unrestricted portion of a partial set-aside. (b) Applicability. This clause applies only to- (1) Contracts that have been set aside or reserved for small business concerns or 8(a) concerns; (2) Part or parts of a multiple-award contract that have been set aside for small business concerns or 8(a) concerns; and (3) Orders set aside for small business or 8(a) concerns under multiple-award contracts as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). (c) By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Offeror/Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for- (1) Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern. (2) Supplies (other than procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies). The concern shall perform work for at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies, not including the cost of materials. (3) General construction. The concern will perform at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees. (4) Construction by special trade contractors. The concern will perform at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees. (End of clause) Specific Response Instructions: Please submit your RFI response in accordance with the following: 1) No more than 25 pages (excluding transmittal page). Include the name, email address and phone number of the appropriate representative of your company; 2) a response may be submitted via email to Pedro.Arritola2@va.gov; 3) Submit your response by 3:00 P.M. (EST) on August 11, 2016; 4) Mark your response as "Proprietary Information" if the information is considered business sensitive. 5) NO MARKETING MATERIALS ARE ALLOWED AS PART OF THIS RFI. The government will not review any other information or attachments included, that are in excess of the page limit. Information Requested from Industry: In response to the RFI, interested contractors shall submit the following information: 1.Company Information / Socio-Economic Status 1.Provide the company size and POC information. 2.VA has identified the appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 519130 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals, which has a size standard of 500 Employees for this RFI. Please identify and explain any other NAICS codes your company believes would better represent the predominated work included in the attached SOW. 3.Indicate whether your company, subcontractors, teaming partners, joint ventures have a Federal Socio-Economic Status, e.g., Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small business, Women-Owned Small Business, Disadvantaged Small business, and Hub Zone. If Service Disabled or Veteran Owned Small business, is your company and or partners registered in VA's VetBiz repository? 2.Background/Past Experience - Provide the following information on a maximum of three similar projects dealing with the services listed in the SOW. All projects referenced must have been completed within the last three years for which the responder was a prime or subcontractor. 1.The name, address, and value of each project. 2.The Prime Contract Type, Firm Fixed-Price, Cost Reimbursement or Time and Material 3.The name, telephone and address of the owner of each project 4.A description of each project, including difficulties and successes 5.Your company's role and services provided for each project. 3.Capabilities/Qualifications - Overview of proposed solution(s). Include a description of the capabilities/qualification/skills your company possesses for each of the below statements: 1.Assessment of capabilities to perform requirements noted in the RFI. 2.Assessment of the types of changes required to accomplish the goals. 3.Approach to be utilized to develop necessary changes to the systems to meet the organizational goals 4.Draft schedule to complete necessary changes. 4.Teaming Arrangements - Description of Teaming Partners, Joint Ventures that your company would consider to perform work. 5.Price Information - Provide your commercial price history and rough order of magnitude for the same or similar products/solutions. 6.Other Market Information - Provide any other relative information, this information must be included within the page limitation. 7.Other Federal Experience - Identify the federal contract vehicles 8.GSA Contract information, if applicable - Provide GSA contract number with dates of contract. DRAFT SOW Below: Statement of Work Federal Workers' Compensation Library-Online Subscription Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Workers' Compensation Program 1.Project Title: Federal Workers' Compensation Library-Online Subscription 2.Project Contact: Bryan Richardson, Program Manager VHA Patient Care Services, Occupational Health Services (10P4Z). Email address bryan.richardson2@va.gov 3.Funding Source: 101-16-4-3829-0019 4.General Information The VHA National Workers' Compensation Program (WCP) seeks to acquire access to a subscription-based, online resource library and analytic support services specific to Federal workers' compensation laws, regulations, policies, precedent setting decisions and professional interpretations to assist the VHA local WCP personnel to perform administrative case management of Federal workers' compensation. "In chargeback year 2015, VHA employees filed more than 12,000 workers' compensation claims to the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) for injuries and illness sustained in the performance of duty. "Cost incurred by OWCP, and charged back to VHA, in the same period for medical care and disability compensation was $201,182,711. "Additionally, VHA-paid leave to injured workers for time lost during the first 45 days after a traumatic injury cost an additional $6,282,638 in the same period. Program Mission: "The VHA Workers' Compensation Programs (WCP) is responsible for ensuring that employees who experience work-related injuries and illnesses clearly understand their rights and responsibilities in applying for and obtaining workers' compensation benefits to which they are entitled under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). "VHA WCP also has a fiduciary responsibility to assess program integrity through financial and operational oversight, and continuously evaluate and improve processes as the trusted agent for VHA workers' compensation management. "The program goal is to return injured or ill employees back to productive work within their medical limitations as soon as they are medically able, and monitor improvements in medical condition so that they may ultimately return to their pre-injury status. This goal ensures that employees injured on the job may continue serving our Veterans during their recovery process, when able. Intended User Community "The intended user community is comprised of VA and VHA workers' compensation professionals at all levels of the organization. The user community serves as subject matter experts in the VA Workers' Compensation Program and is responsible for having the necessary tools and resources to hone their knowledge and skills so that they may provide superior customer service and program support. "VHA National WCP Manager, under the direction of Occupational Health Services (10P4Z), is responsible for developing policy, processes and tools necessary to manage the WCP at all levels of VHA. In 2014, the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management delegated authority to 10P4Z to perform oversight and compliance of the VHA WCP. As such, the VHA National WCP Manager must research, evaluate and acquire tools and technologies proven to improve case management and data integrity. "VHA Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) WCP Coordinators are responsible for providing professional guidance, training, and oversight for VHA local WCP personnel through leadership, coaching, and mentoring. This role requires that VISN WCP Coordinators have access to a comprehensive repository of Federal Workers' Compensation information to assist them in their responsibilities. "VHA local WCP personnel are responsible for ensuring that injured workers receive benefits for which they are entitled, that supervisors and managers understand their roles and responsibilities in the workers' compensation process and that each stakeholder involved in the process performs their respective role so injured workers may return to productive duty as soon as medically able to perform work. 5.Background The VA has subscribed to cyberFEDS ®-WC online for more than a decade as the definitive Federal Workers Compensation library for WCP Specialists. The VA Library, VA Office of Human Resources and Administration (HR&A), and VHA Office of General Counsel (OGC) subscribe to the cyberFEDS ® Workers' Compensation Library as a necessary reference. As such, Occupational Health Services determined that cyberFEDS ®-WC online is a necessary tool for VHA local WCP personnel in support of their daily work activities. "In 2008, Occupational Health Services negotiated the first VA-wide user license for the cyberFEDS ® Workers' Compensation Library, replacing more than 60 separate user contracts. In September 2012, VHA acquired a follow-on subscription through September 2016. "Beginning in October 2016, Occupational Health Services seeks to acquire licenses to a subscription based online Federal Workers' Compensation Library as a means to consolidate and eliminate the inefficiency of hundreds of separate subscription-based reference library acquisitions that would otherwise occur by VA agencies, programs and offices. 6.Statement of Work The VHA National Workers' Compensation Program seeks to acquire licenses to access a subscription-based, online resource library specific to Federal workers' compensation laws, regulations, policies, precedent setting decisions and professional interpretations to assist the VHA local WCP personnel to perform administrative case management of Federal workers' compensation. The subscription should include the following at no additional cost to Subscribers who have registered and received a subscription license to the Contractor's services. 1.The Contractor shall provide professional interpretation of FECA laws and regulations, and OWCP rules and procedures. 2.The Contractor shall provide timely access to precedent setting Employees Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) decisions to support the workers' compensation staff. 3.The Contractor shall provide online accessibility to guidance for WCP personnel with exclusive Federal Government WCP content. 4.The Contractor shall provide resource material to assist WCP personnel in determining the entitlements an injured worker may have under FECA. 5.The Contractor shall provide a comprehensive glossary of Federal workers' compensation terms 6.The Contractor shall provide a complete and current list of DOL/OWCP forms and tools 7.The Contractor shall provide access to FECA Bulletins, Circulars, Transmittals, and the DFEC Procedure Manual 8.The Contractor shall provide access to daily, weekly or monthly new articles relevant to the Federal workers' compensation programs 9.The Contractor shall provide practical, systematic guidance to Subscribers to thoroughly and effectively research workers' compensation claims. 10.The Contractor shall provide a search capability to provide efficient access to library content using keywords, wildcards, and Boolean string so that WCP personnel can access comparable case interpretations and precedent setting decisions. 11.The Contractor shall provide capability to research specific topics and present concise overviews and links to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations and additional resources. 12.The Contractor shall provide capability for Subscribers to receive newsletters via email that contain targeted updates of the latest news and trends in federal employment law. 13.The Contractor shall provide systematic guidance to carry out specific workers' compensation tasks most efficiently and effectively. 14.The Contractor shall provide capability to initiate information gathering on key workers' compensation issues. 15.The Contractor shall provide access to latest case interpretations and significant decisions by the EEOC, MSPB, FLRA and other related courts. 16.The Contractor shall provide VHA National WCP with 200 subscription licenses to the online reference subscription service. 17.The Contractor shall provide each VA user (Subscriber) with unlimited access, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year for the specified subscription term. 18.The Contractor shall provide each Subscriber with a copy of the Contractor's licensing agreement. Each Subscriber must read and acknowledge the vendor's license agreement before the Contractor provides a username and password. 19.The Contractor shall assign a username and password to each Subscriber. Each Subscriber must enter the assigned username and password into the online system to access the Contractor's Web server 20.The Contractor shall provide Subscribers with online access to current and updated product and service user manual(s). 21.The Contractor shall provide a toll free telephone number to Subscribers to schedule and receive telephonic training and for customer support. 22.The Contractor shall provide toll-free phone support to Subscribers on Monday through Friday (business days) from 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST. 23.The Contractor shall be available to Subscribers to schedule training support and for telephonic training on Monday - Friday (business days) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm eastern standard time (EST). 24.The Contractor's online products provided to Subscribers shall be compliant with Section 508 in accordance with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's (Access Board's) Electronic and Information Technology Accessible Standards under 36 CFR 25.The Contractor shall provide an online registration page specifically for potential VA Subscribers (Requestors) to register for access. The Requestor must complete and submit registration and licensing information to the Contractor. The Contractor shall provide a username and password to the Requestor within two business days from receipt of a completed registration. 26.The Contractor shall synchronize usernames and passwords (single sign-on) for Subscribers who have access to other online tools provided by the Contractor. 27.The Contractor shall provide invitation to current Subscribers one month prior to the end of each contract period (yearly) to re-register for the next Contract year. Subscribers must re-register each year. The Contractor shall remove access for those Subscribers that do not re-register within 30 days after Contractor invitation. 28.The Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with an active list of VA Subscribers on the last business day of each quarter. The Contractor shall remove or disable Subscriber access from service within two business days from the date when the COR requests removal of specific Subscribers. 29.The Contractor shall not require Subscribers to download or place any software on Government or personal computers to access the online Workers' Compensation Library. 30.The Contractor shall allow users to copy and use accessed and referenced information obtained from this subscription in performance of their duties. 31.The Contractor shall publish the minimum technical requirements necessary for Subscribers to access the online Workers' Compensation Library. 7.Period of Performance The Contractor shall perform these services upon award for one year, and for four option years, when exercised in sequence. 8.Type of Contract Fixed Price 9.Place of Performance The Contractor, acting as an independent Contractor and not as an agent of the Government, shall furnish all necessary personnel, facilities, materials, equipment, support, and management to provide the scope of services identified in this SOW. 10.Reporting Requirements The Contractor shall provide the COR with a list of Active Subscribers on the last business day of each quarter per (See Item 28 above). The list of Active Subscribers shall include one row for each Subscriber and columns to include the Subscriber name, Subscriber username, Subscriber VA email address, and the Subscriber last login date. 11.Security & Electronic Informational Technology Standards The Contractor shall provide a web-based secure user access that does not require the Subscriber or VA to install any application or program files on the Subscribers' computers. DVA Informational Technology Security requirements are not applicable. 12.Delivery Schedule The Contractor shall provide continuous uninterrupted service to current Subscribers. A September 30, 2016 Award minimizes the interruption of service to the Government. VHA plans to use FY16 funds for this acquisition under 41 C.F.R. §101-25.108: "Subscriptions for periodicals, newspapers, and other publications for which it is known in advance that a continuing requirement exists should be for multiple years rather than for a single year where such method is advantageous for the purpose of economy or otherwise. Where various bureaus or offices in the same agency are subscribing to the same publication, consideration shall be given to consolidating these requirements, to the extent practical on an agency-wide basis and on a multiyear basis. Payment covering issues to be delivered during the entire subscription period may be made in advance from currently available appropriations." The order date, not delivery date, controls which fiscal year funds are charged under 23 Comp. Gen 326 (1943), "The accounting officers consistently have held that the cost of publications for one year or less may be charged to the appropriation current when the subscription was ordered, notwithstanding that it may cover deliveries extending into the subsequent year. 2 Comp. Dec. 474".
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