PRESOL | Q | QA NURSE SPECIALIST - FAR provision 52.212-3

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 20, 2011 FBO #3556
SOLICITATION NOTICE

Q -- QA NURSE SPECIALIST - FAR provision 52.212-3

Notice Date: 8/18/2011
Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
NAICS: 621399 — Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners
Contracting Office: Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Billings Area Office, 2900 4th Avenue North, PO Box 36600, Billings, Montana, 59107
ZIP Code: 59107
Solicitation Number: RFQ-10-11-046-REL
Archive Date: 9/16/2011
Point of Contact: Rita E Langager, Phone: 406.247.7293
E-Mail Address: rita.langager@ihs.gov
(rita.langager@ihs.gov)
Small Business Set-Aside: Total Small Business
Description: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (MAY 2011) that must be completed and submitted with the offer. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This procurement is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition procedures pursuant to the authority of FAR Subpart 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items (10 U.S.C. 2304(g) and 2305 and 41 U.S.C. 253(g) and 253a and 253b); FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items (Title VIII of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355)); and FAR 37.104, Personal Services Contracts (Public Law 103-332, Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, Title II, September 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2530 as implemented by 25 U.S.C. 1638c). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; therefore, a written solicitation will not be issued. The Billings Area Indian Health Service (IHS) intends to award a fixed-price commercial item contract in response to Request for Quotation (RFQ) 10-11-046-REL. This solicitation is restricted to 100% Small Business concerns. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-53. The associated North American Industry Classification System code is 621399 and the small business size standard is $7.0 million. PRICE SCHEDULE - QA NURSE SPECIALIST: 2080 hours @ $____________________ = $________________________. Potential contractors are asked to propose an all-inclusive hourly rate. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT: The purpose of this acquisition is to contract for a Quality Assurance (QA) Nurse Specialist at the Northern Cheyenne Service Unit, PHS Indian Health Center, Lame Deer, Montana. The work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m., to 4:30 p.m., or as scheduled by the supervisor. STATEMENT OF WORK: (A) PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT: (1) Plans, organizes, coordinates and executes an acceptable Performance Improvement (PI) Plan. The PI plan is directly linked to the risk management plan and utilization review activities for the Northern Cheyenne Service Unit, all of which meet the standards of accreditation agencies, and Indian Health Service. (2) Develops, implements, and evaluates by providing direction for ongoing processes to improve organizational performance (IOP). This direction is collaborative and completed through an interdisciplinary process with PI committee including the Executive PI Committee. (3) Assures processes are established and in place that assess how effectively the Service Unit measures performance in relation to patient outcomes; collects data and information used to identify opportunities for organizational improvement. (4) Assists the Service Unit PI Committee to actually implement improvements when such opportunities are identified and to assist the PI Committee(s) to determine the effectiveness of these improvements. (5) Demonstrates PI functions through review and revision of the PI plan, written PI plans for each committee, risk management reports, utilization review reports, and departmental PI reports. (6) Provides continuous and practical technical assistance to PI teams assuring that the teams use scientific processes to improve systems and/or processes. (7) Assures PI team decisions are based on systematic processes of data collection, data analysis and considers all customers of the clinic in planning and implementing actions. (8) Helps PI teams function and communicate effectively. Attends committee meetings, maintains a neutral position, and is alert to opportunities to help teams succeed in efforts to break down barriers and improve communications. (9) Serves as a consultant to PI team leaders and other PI team members regarding total quality management processes and tools. (10) Continuously evaluates all aspects of the PI plan. Provides written and verbal comment to committees on group dynamics and process issues on the team meetings that impeded to assist progress toward goal achievement; i.e., group process analysis. (11) Provides continuing education for staff and volunteers in order to keep current JCAHO/AAAHC standards, agency and organizational policies and regulations. (B) RISK MANAGEMENT/PATIENT ADVOCACY: (1) Plan, organizes, coordinates, executes and evaluates an acceptable Risk Management system that reduces the incidence of Service Unit adverse occurrences. (2) Implements appropriate avenues of action to assure maximum health, safety and satisfaction for patient, employees, and visitors through established policy and procedures and coordinated with department heads, the Clinical Director, and the PI committee. (3) Provides ongoing staff development and education in the risk management process to facilitate an understanding of the risk management program. (4) Collaborates with the safety officer and the infection control officer to assure a safe, functional, and effective environment for patients, staff members and other individuals in providing patient care and achieving good outcomes. (5) Develops, implements, participates in and monitors methods of risk control. (a) Risk Avoidance: (1) Maintains a current listing of activities or procedures that are considered to prevent such a potential loss to the institution that they are avoided. (b) Risk Prevention: (1) Monitors loss prevention and loss control mechanisms. (2) Assures staff development concerning all risk management activities. (3) Monitors clinical risk management activities concerning informed consent and safety assessments. (c) Risk Shifting: (1) Keep a listing of all off-site services for certain clinical procedures performed on Northern Cheyenne Service Unit (NCSU) patient; i.e., radiation therapy, hemodialysis, etc. Maintains a current copy of PI/QA activities performed by the off-site services. (2) Establish and maintain quarterly reports concerning all risk management activities. (3) Participates in various service unit committees as required to fulfill obligations of the position. (4) Monitors and assures medical credentialing is being properly performed and in a timely manner. (C) COMPLIANCE: (1) Overseeing and monitoring the implementation of Compliance Plan. (2) Leading the Compliance Committee, including establishing agendas and a calendar of reviews of major program areas. Responsible for maintaining minutes of Corporate Compliance Committee. (3) Annually reviewing and updating the Compliance Plan, especially the designation of risk areas, in light of the annual OIG Work Plan, identification of risk areas, Billings Area Office compliance priorities, and audit and monitoring results. (4) Developing an annual audit and monitoring plan that addresses risk areas identified in the Plan. (5) Reporting to the CEO and Compliance Committee any material noncompliance with laws and regulations and any investigations that could result in a non-routine repayment obligation. (6) Reporting at least quarterly to the Executive Committee on the activities of the compliance program, risk areas, investigations that could identify material noncompliance, and the adequacy of the resources available to implement the compliance plan. (7) Reporting to the Governing Body on material noncompliance with law or as otherwise requested by the Governing Body or Area Director. (8) Developing, coordinating, and participating in a multi-faceted educational and training program, designed to give employees the tools they need to comply with relevant laws, regulations, and policies. (9) Coordinating with human resources personnel on discipline and on assuring employees are not on the list of persons who are excluded from working with federal health programs. (10) Establishing a method to document compliance complaints, follow-up, and resolution. (11) Responds to areas of identified potential noncompliance, including investigating and acting on matters related to compliance. (12) Assuring corrective action is implemented, working with the appropriate operational staff. (13) Developing policies and programs that encourage reporting of suspected fraud and other improprieties without fear of retaliation. (14) Coordinating with the Billings Area Compliance Officer on the compliance activities of the Billings Area Office IHS. (15) Establishing work groups, described below, to assist in the implementation of this plan. (D) UTILIZATION REVIEW: (1) Conducts outpatient and emergency room utilization reviews in a timely manner using appropriate screening criteria. (2) Identifies actual and potential delays in service or treatment and refers to appropriate resource person. (3) Obtains additional information from attending physicians when documentation does not support need for transfer or admission to a referring hospital. Refers cases not meeting criteria to the Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Room Committee physician after notifying medical and nursing of the situation. (4) Checks all cases against high-risk screens for discharge planning and refers high-risk patient for intensive discharge planning work-up. (5) Reports trends of inappropriate resource utilization to the medical staff, ER committee, and the Executive committee on a quarterly basis. (6) Serves as a liaison between provider and professional review organizations. Is the focal person with expertise on "Pro" requirements. (7) Is responsible for providing the NCSU business office with all pertinent information that affects the billing process concerning Medicare (DRG) and other third party billing as needed. Relative to outpatient and ER utilization review criteria. (8) Responsible for providing Contract Health Care committee with reports concerning utilization review and the "Pro" liaison activities. (9) Attends CHS meeting every week. Chairs risk management review committee. (10) Maintains and updates all utilization review program procedures, and maintains confidentiality logs, forms, and makes quarterly reports. (E) CLINICAL NURSING: (1) Provides direct patient care utilizing Outpatient and ER visit planning including triage, and the nursing process as indicated. (2) Responds to emergencies, disasters, and other crises appropriately through the NSCU established emergency plans of actions. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: (1) Knowledge of wide range of professional health care theories, procedures and techniques used to determine quality of care. Working knowledge of/and ability to provide leadership in carrying out functions related to AAAHC accreditation, Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, and the utilization review process. (2) Knowledge of licensing regulations and procedures for professionals and for clinical and emergency facilities. (3) Knowledge of accreditation process, and application process through AAAHC. (4) Knowledge of wide range of professional nursing theories and procedures used to determine quality of care and treatment of patient. (5) Technical Skills: (a) An understanding of proficiency in a special kind of activity involving methods, processes, procedures and techniques. (b) Knowledge of Total Quality Management and statistical/analytical concepts. (c) Knowledge of how to conduct training for a variety of effective/efficient meetings, ability to develop and maintain a link between and for each team/committee. (d) Working knowledge of use of statistical quality management tools; e.g., control chart, slow charts, general statistical analysis, brainstorming, and force-field analysis. (e) Detailed and process oriented with analytical capabilities. (f) Interested in learning new skills or refining existing ones. (g) Knowledge of and skill in applying the use of clinical indicators as a tool for monitoring quality of nursing care provided. (6) Human Factors: (a) Individual ability to build teams. Promote flexibility and cooperation to members of a project or PI team, to unite and form effective group(s). Ability to management team behavior during team interactions. This skill is demonstrated in the way an individual perceives and recognizes the perception of team members. (b) Promotes interactive goal-orientated communication using and teaching of active-listening skills. (c) Understanding of group behavior and group dynamics to address interpersonal issues and build team commitment. (d) Ability to articulate, give constructive feedback, comments and to follow-up and promote collaborate team support. (7) Conceptual: (a) Ability to see the entire organization as a whole, recognizing how the various functions of the organization interact and how changes in one part affect the other part. (b) Ability to use theories and stages of team development to promote team development, group cohesiveness, and problem solving. (c) Ability to analyze group process, applies management theory concepts, and promotes positive interdepartmental interactions (d) Ability to use system theory, data management theory concepts, variance analysis concepts, and effectively communicate complex concepts and principals to other departments, either verbally and/or in writing. (8) Nursing: (a) Professional knowledge of nursing process including, principles, practices, and procedures of nursing care required to assess and care for acute and chronic nursing needs of ambulatory care. (b) Knowledge of, and ability to implement, outpatient/ER visit planning/industrial strength triage (IST), to ensure smooth clinic flow and continuity of patient care and to assist in disasters, traumas, and transfers to ER. (c) Ability to effectively communicate, verbally, and/or in writing with all members of the health care team, patients, families, public, etc., through formal and informal mechanisms. (d) Maintain skills in ACLS, TNCC, ENPC, and BLS to ensure quality of care to patients of the NCSU. (e) Skills in the safe operation, management, and use for specialized medical equipment and ability to evaluate new equipment for potential use. (f) Knowledge of principles and methods of continuous quality improvement ability to apply. (g) Knowledge of and ability to incorporate, cultural impact on health care provision. SUPERVISION: Is under the direct supervision of the Chief Executive Officer. The QA nurse works independently to assure that the QA program objectives and goals are being met and serves as a member of the executive staff representing the QM program. Work is normally accepted as technically authoritative and is reviewed for adherence to key principals for management, soundness of conclusions, and continued accreditation by AAAHC. SUPERVISOR: Debby Bends, Chief Executive Officer; ALTERNATE: Laura Herbison, R.N., Director of Nursing/Clinical Director. GUIDELINES: Guidelines include regulations and policies governing Indian Health Service, Standards of AAAHC, rules of the Health Care Financing Administration, federal legislation and regulations, Service Unit and clinic policy, nursing, and other standards. The nurse exercises judgment in analyzing needs, developing and implementing plans and approaches, when more than one course of action may be appropriate. COMPLEXITY: QM work includes a wide variety of national consultants, health care professionals and paraprofessionals in the health setting. Work requires design, development and implementation of PI and quality assurance monitors and indicators. This includes motivating individuals and committees to collect and analyze data to detect trends, patterns of performance, or potential problems that affect the quality of patient care. Work includes a variety of AAAHC, PI, QA, Risk Management activities simultaneously. It requires continues effort to stay abreast of changing standards to gain the compliance of field staff. SCOPE AND EFFECT: Responsibility is for the development of effective QM Program that will meet all Indian Health Service and AAAHC accreditation requirements. The effectiveness of this position directly effects the quality of patient care, the positive or negative outcomes of accreditation process, and the ability to collect third party reimbursements. Responsibility includes identifying and resolving problems that hinder effective performance improvement and quality assurance. PERSONAL CONTACTS: Personal contacts are varied and numerous and include health care professionals, national consultants from AAAHC, HCFA, Billings Area employees, Tribal Health Officials, clients and families, and other health care and non-health care personnel. PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: Purpose of contacts is to assess, plan and implement an effective QA program that will meet all IHS and AAAHC accreditation requirements. Also to obtain, exchange, and provide clinical and patients care information. Contacts with patients and their families are to assess, plan, and evaluate patient's needs and outcomes. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work requires moderate walking, standing, bending, and lifting. May require overtime on occasion. Stress related to dealing with complex interpersonal relations and disciplinary issues are common. Travel is required 10% of the time in order to attend meetings, to provide training, and to conduct QM studies and consultations. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work environment includes exposure to communicable disease. Personal protective equipment and guidelines to prevent disease transmission are provided. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY: The IHS shall provide all necessary equipment and supplies. The Northern Cheyenne Service Unit will be responsible for getting the Contractor access and clearance to all computer services necessary to carry out his/her duties. COMPUTER SECURITY: Pursuant to the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), the contractor will be required to complete a course in Computer Security Awareness Training (CSAT). This training must be completed annually by all employees including contractors, volunteers, students, and summer externs. The Contractor will be required to comply with the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) Number 201, "Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors," and the associated Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementation guidance for personal identity verification for all affected contractor and subcontractor personnel. Access/clearance to all pertinent computer systems, including completing a Business Partner Interconnection Security Agreement (BPISA), should be coordinated with the Site Manager. CONTRACTING OFFICER AUTHORITY: Authority to negotiate changes in the terms, conditions or amounts cited in this contract is reserved for the Contracting Officer. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE (COTR): The COTR shall be responsible for: (1) Monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending technical changes; (2) Interpreting the Statement of Work; (3) Technical evaluation as required; (4) Technical inspections and acceptance; and (5) Assisting the Contractor in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance of this contract. INVOICE SUBMISSION AND PAYMENT: The Contractor shall submit its invoice to the Supervisor at the Northern Cheyenne Service Unit, PHS Indian Health Center, P.O. Box 70, Lame Deer, Montana 59043. The Contractor agrees to include the following information on each invoice: (1) Contractor's name, address and telephone number; (2) Contract Number; (3) Invoice number and date; (4) Cost or price; (5) Dates of Service including the number of hours worked; and (6) Remit to address. Payment shall be made by the Billings Area Financial Management Branch, P.O. Box 36600, Billings, Montana 59107. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer with evidence that payment of employment taxes have been made 15 days after each quarter. PRO-CHILDREN ACT OF 1994: The Contractor certifies that it will comply with the provisions of Public Law 103-227, Pro-Children Act of 1994, which imposes restrictions on smoking where Federally funded children's services are provided. CHILD CARE NATIONAL AGENCY CHECK AND INVESTIGATION (CNACI). A CNACI must be completed for all Indian Health Service (IHS) contractor personnel within the Billings Area. Public Law (P.L.) 101-630, Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act and P.L. 101-647, Crime Control Act of 1990, require the IHS to conduct a character and criminal history background investigation on all contractors performing services in IHS facilities. The Administrative Officer at the Service Unit will conduct the character and background investigations. Fingerprints must also be taken as part of the pre-employment process and must be completed before the QA nurse specialist is allowed to work. The fingerprint check should be coordinated with the Administrative Officer. SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: Contractors cannot serve as expert witnesses in any suit against the Federal Government. Many of the IHS patients receiving services may only speak a native language and/or reside on a Native American Reservation, therefore, the Contractor must demonstrate sensitivity to cross-cultural and language differences. The Privacy Act of 1974 mandates that the Contractor maintain complete confidentiality of all administrative, medical and personnel records, and all other pertinent information that comes to his/her attention or knowledge. The Privacy Act carries both civil and criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure of records. Violation of such confidentiality shall be cause for adverse action. The IHS shall provide training on the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. All IHS regulations and policies applicable to these Acts shall be enforced. The Contractor shall comply with IHS facility infection control and safety procedures, practices, and standards. Federal Tort Claims Act coverage for medical related claims is extended to the individual providing QA nurse specialist services. However, the services must have been performed within the scope of the personal services contract. PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES: The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition. The FAR provision 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items; and 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items are incorporated by reference. The provision at 52.212-2 applies to this acquisition and is provided in full text. FAR 52.212-2 EVALUATION - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999): (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (1) REGISTERED NURSING LICENSE = 35 POINTS. Potential contractors must submit a copy of State license with the price quote; (2) RESUME = 35 POINTS. Potential contractors must submit a copy of resume with the price quote. Resumes must include information relating to: (a) Professional Education; (b) BLS/ACLS/TNCC/ENPC Certifications; and (c) Previous jobs; and (3) PAST PERFORMANCE = 30 POINTS. The offeror must demonstrate its record of successful performance in past contracts and/or jobs, Government and/or commercial. Each offeror will be evaluated on its performance under existing and prior contracts/jobs. The offeror must list at least three contracts/jobs and include the following information. (1) Name of Government agency/Company; (2) Contract number, if applicable; (3) Dates of Service/Employment; (4) Total contract value/Hourly wage; (5) Description of contract work/Job duties; (6) Contracting Officer/Company Manager and telephone number; (7) Program Manager and telephone number, if applicable. Technical and past performance, when combined, are considered approximately equal to cost or price. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. The following FAR and Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) clauses are applicable: 52.204-4, 52.204-9, 52.212-4, 52.212-5, 52.215-5, 52.217-8, 52.223-5, 52.223-6, 52.224-1, 52.224-2, 52.227-14, 52.227-17, 52.228-5, 52.229-3, 52.232-3, 52.232-18, 52.237-2, 52.237-3, 52.242-15, 52.242-17, 52.245-1, 52.249-12, 352.201-70, 352.202-1, 352.203-70, 352.222-70, 352.223-70, 352.224-70, 352.227-70, 352.231-71, 352.237-70, 352.237-71, 352.237-72, 352.239-73, 352.242-71, 352.242-72, 352.242-73, 352.270-2 and 352.270-3. The following FAR clauses cited in 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6 with Alternate I, 52.209-6, 52.219-6, 52.219-8, 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-40, 52.222-54, 52.223-18, 52.225-13 and 52.232-33. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will provide full text copies of the FAR and HHSAR provisions and clauses. The provisions and clauses may also be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/ and http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=3524d214210697effd2fd5c77848a806&rgn=div5&view=text&node=48:4.0.1.8.33&idno=48. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: The Contractor shall provide evidence of, or submit a written response to, the technical evaluation factors in FAR 52.212-2. In addition, the Contractor shall submit a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3 with its offer. Contractors intending to conduct business with the Federal Government must register with the Department of Defense Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award. The CCR is the primary Government repository, which retains information on Government contractors. You may register via the Internet at https://www.bpn.gov/CCR/default.aspx or by calling (888) 227-2423 or (269) 961-5757. All responsible offerors may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the Agency. Offers shall be submitted to the Billings Area Indian Health Service, 2900 Fourth Avenue North, Room 304, Billings, Montana 59101, no later than 2:00 p.m., on September 1, 2011. The offer must be submitted in a sealed envelope, addressed to this office, showing the time specified for receipt, the solicitation number, and your company's name and address. Offers will also be accepted by e-mail at Rita.Langager@ihs.gov or by fax at (406) 247-7108. ACCEPTANCE PERIOD: Your proposal must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFQ. In addition, it must contain a statement to the effect that it is firm for a period of at least 90 days from the date of receipt by the Government.
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Q -- QA NURSE SPECIALIST - FAR provision 52.212-3