486-27-2-3980-0006 - Wall-to-Wall Pharmacy Inventory

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION VISN 09 Annual Pharmacy Wall-to-Wall Inventory | Base Period and Four Option Years Solicitation: 36C24927Q0021 | RFQ | Firm-Fixed-Price | Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside 1. Notice This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6. Quotations are requested; no separate written solicitation will be issued. Applicable Federal Acquisition Circular: 2027-01. 2. Requirement VISN 09 requires annual wall-to-wall physical inventory services for pharmacy medications and applicable pharmacy supplies at six VA medical center campuses. Contractor provides qualified labor, supervision, equipment, inventory tools, travel, section-level controls, product identification, pricing and electronic reporting in accordance with Attachment 1, Statement of Work. 3. Classification and acquisition strategy NAICS: 541614, Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services. SBA Size Standard: $20 million in average annual receipts. PSC: R706, Logistics Support. Total Small Business Set-Aside. Applicable set-aside provisions and clauses are subject to Contracting Officer review before issuance. 4. Base Period and Four Option-Year Periods The Government anticipates awarding one firm-fixed-price contract consisting of a base period and four separately exercisable option periods. Annual wall-to-wall physical inventories at all designated VA pharmacy locations shall occur between January 1 and February 28 of each applicable year. Base: January 01, 2027 February 28, 2027; Option 1: January 01, 2028 February 28, 2028; Option 2: January 01, 2029 February 28, 2029; Option 3: January 01, 2030 February 28, 2030; Option 4: January 01, 2031 February 28, 2031. A separate report for each pharmacy inventory is due within seven (7) calendar days after its physical inventory. 5. Places of performance The contractor shall provide annual wall-to-wall pharmacy inventory services at the following six (6) VA medical center campuses. The services include the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy inventories identified in the Statement of Work and pricing schedule. VA Facility / Campus Physical Place of Performance Memphis VA Medical Center 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (Mountain Home) Veterans Way at Lamont Street, Mountain Home, TN 37684 Tennessee Valley HCS Alvin C. York (Murfreesboro) 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Tennessee Valley HCS Nashville Campus 1310 24th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212 Lexington VA Medical Center Cooper Drive Campus 1101 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40502 Robley Rex VA Medical Center (Louisville) 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 The contractor shall coordinate access, scheduling, and pharmacy-specific work areas with the designated VA points of contact at each campus. Facility addresses identify the work locations; the Government will identify the specific pharmacy areas for inventory. 6. Controlled substances Authorized VA Pharmacy personnel shall physically count controlled substances. The contractor shall incorporate VA-provided controlled-substance inventory data in its final reports; the contractor shall not independently count, handle, move or reconcile controlled substances unless specifically authorized by the Government in accordance with VA requirements. 7. Price schedule and quotation instructions Provide firm-fixed prices for each inpatient and outpatient inventory at each of six locations for the base period and each of four option years (60 separately priced sub-CLINs). Pricing must include all labor, travel, supervision, tools, reports and incidental costs. Submit technical and price quotations and required representations by 11/15/2026 at 11:59 P.M. to mario.russell@va.gov. Questions due 11/05/2026 by 11:59 P.M. 8. Evaluation and award Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Factor 1 Technical Acceptability (Acceptable/Unacceptable), Factor 2 Past Performance (Acceptable/Unacceptable, with Neutral where relevant past performance is unavailable), and Factor 3 Price. Minimum technical qualifications and the neutral past-performance treatment are confirmed as described in Attachment 1, Statement of Work. 9. Contract provisions and attachments Include applicable commercial-services provisions and clauses, including FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-3, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5, as appropriate, together with applicable small-business set-aside provisions and clauses and any required option provisions. Contracting Officer to verify the final clause matrix before issuance. No wage determination or additional security provisions are requested in this working draft; applicability remains subject to required acquisition review. 10. Solicitation Point of Contact Mario Russell, Contract Specialist | Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 09 | Email: mario.russell@va.gov | Telephone: 615-226-6774 SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS PROPOSED FOR CO APPROVAL Submission of quotations shall be received no later than November 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (CST) via email to mario.russell@va.gov. The solicitation number 36C24927Q0021 and VISN 09 Pharmacy Wall-to-Wall Inventory must be referenced in the email subject line and on the cover page of the quotation. Failure to comply may result in the quotation not being considered. Late submissions shall be handled in accordance with FAR 52.212-1(f), as applicable to this solicitation. Quotations shall include the completed pricing schedule for the base period and four option periods, technical response demonstrating compliance with the SOW minimum qualifications, and past performance information as required by this solicitation. POINT OF CONTACT / QUESTIONS Questions or concerns regarding this solicitation shall be submitted in writing only by email to Mario Russell, Contract Specialist, at mario.russell@va.gov. The subject line shall state 36C24927Q0021 VISN 09 Pharmacy Wall-to-Wall Inventory Questions. Questions shall be received no later than 11/05/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (CT). Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Responses affecting solicitation requirements will be provided through an appropriate solicitation amendment or other authorized written communication. ATTACHMENT 2 PRICE SCHEDULE Enter unit and extended firm-fixed prices. Parent CLINs are organizational only. All quantities = 1 job (JB). CLIN Period Facility / service Qty FFP Price 0001AA Base Lexington Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0001AB Base Lexington Outpatient 1 JB $________ 0002AA Base Louisville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0002AB Base Louisville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 0003AA Base Memphis Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0003AB Base Memphis Outpatient 1 JB $________ 0004AA Base Mountain Home Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0004AB Base Mountain Home Outpatient 1 JB $________ 0005AA Base Nashville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0005AB Base Nashville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 0006AA Base Murfreesboro Inpatient 1 JB $________ 0006AB Base Murfreesboro Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1001AA OY 1 Lexington Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1001AB OY 1 Lexington Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1002AA OY 1 Louisville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1002AB OY 1 Louisville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1003AA OY 1 Memphis Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1003AB OY 1 Memphis Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1004AA OY 1 Mountain Home Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1004AB OY 1 Mountain Home Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1005AA OY 1 Nashville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1005AB OY 1 Nashville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 1006AA OY 1 Murfreesboro Inpatient 1 JB $________ 1006AB OY 1 Murfreesboro Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2001AA OY 2 Lexington Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2001AB OY 2 Lexington Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2002AA OY 2 Louisville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2002AB OY 2 Louisville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2003AA OY 2 Memphis Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2003AB OY 2 Memphis Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2004AA OY 2 Mountain Home Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2004AB OY 2 Mountain Home Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2005AA OY 2 Nashville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2005AB OY 2 Nashville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 2006AA OY 2 Murfreesboro Inpatient 1 JB $________ 2006AB OY 2 Murfreesboro Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3001AA OY 3 Lexington Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3001AB OY 3 Lexington Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3002AA OY 3 Louisville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3002AB OY 3 Louisville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3003AA OY 3 Memphis Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3003AB OY 3 Memphis Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3004AA OY 3 Mountain Home Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3004AB OY 3 Mountain Home Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3005AA OY 3 Nashville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3005AB OY 3 Nashville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 3006AA OY 3 Murfreesboro Inpatient 1 JB $________ 3006AB OY 3 Murfreesboro Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4001AA OY 4 Lexington Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4001AB OY 4 Lexington Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4002AA OY 4 Louisville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4002AB OY 4 Louisville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4003AA OY 4 Memphis Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4003AB OY 4 Memphis Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4004AA OY 4 Mountain Home Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4004AB OY 4 Mountain Home Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4005AA OY 4 Nashville Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4005AB OY 4 Nashville Outpatient 1 JB $________ 4006AA OY 4 Murfreesboro Inpatient 1 JB $________ 4006AB OY 4 Murfreesboro Outpatient 1 JB $________ Total Evaluated Price (Base + All Four Options): $________________ ATTACHMENT 1 STATEMENT OF WORK The requirement consists of a base period plus four option periods. All physical inventories at the six facilities shall be completed no later than February 28 of the applicable contract year. A separate report for each pharmacy inventoried shall be delivered within seven (7) calendar days after that pharmacy s physical inventory. The Contracting Officer must confirm how reports due after February 28, any corrections, and Government acceptance will be administered before issuance. 1. PURPOSE The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 9, requires the services of a qualified contractor to conduct annual wall-to-wall physical inventories of pharmacy medications and applicable pharmacy supplies at designated VA Medical Centers. The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, supplies, software or inventory tools, travel, and other resources necessary to perform the required services. 2. BACKGROUND VISN 9 requires an annual physical inventory of pharmacy medications and applicable pharmacy supplies at the facilities identified in this Statement of Work (SOW). The inventory shall support the VA's financial, pharmacy management, and inventory-control requirements by establishing an accurate record of inventory quantities and replacement costs. The Contractor shall perform the inventory in a manner that minimizes disruption to pharmacy operations and patient-care activities. 3. PLACES OF PERFORMANCE The services shall be performed at the following VA Medical Centers: Facility Address VA Medical Center Memphis 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 VA Medical Center Mountain Home Veterans Way at Lamont Street, Mountain Home, TN 37684 VA Medical Center TVHS Murfreesboro Campus 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 VA Medical Center TVHS Nashville Campus 1310 24th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212 VA Medical Center Lexington 1101 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40502 VA Medical Center Louisville 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The contract shall consist of one base period and four option periods identified below. Each period requires one complete wall-to-wall physical inventory at each designated facility, conducted between January 01 through February 28. All physical inventories at the six facilities shall be completed no later than January 31 of the applicable contract year. A separate report for each pharmacy inventoried is due within seven (7) calendar days following its physical inventory. Contract Period Dates for Physical Inventory Performance Base Period January 01, 2027 February 28, 2027 Option Year 1 January 01, 2028 February 28, 2028 Option Year 2 January 01, 2029 February 28, 2029 Option Year 3 January 01, 2030 February 28, 2030 Option Year 4 January 01, 2031 February 28, 2031 The Government is not obligated to exercise any option. Inventory reports are due within seven (7) calendar days after each pharmacy inventory. Because an inventory performed on February 28 may generate a report due after the stated period, the Contracting Officer shall confirm applicable post-period delivery, correction, and acceptance terms before issuance; this draft does not extend the annual inventory period beyond February 28. 5. ANNUAL INVENTORY REQUIREMENT The Contractor shall perform one complete wall-to-wall inventory at each designated facility during each contract period. Unless otherwise approved in advance by the Contracting Officer or authorized VA representative, the physical inventory at each facility shall: Begin at 8:00 a.m. local time on the scheduled inventory date. Be completed within one business day. Be scheduled on a Saturday or Sunday, when operationally feasible, to minimize disruption to patient-care activities. Include all applicable pharmacy areas and inventory categories identified in this SOW. The Government will establish the final inventory schedule in coordination with the Contractor and affected VA Medical Center personnel. Any deviation from the one-day requirement must be coordinated with the affected pharmacy and approved by the Contracting Officer or authorized representative. The Contractor shall provide a database with accurately formatted National Drug Code (NDC) and McKesson item numbers that correspond to the applicable products. All physical inventories at the six facilities shall be completed no later than February 28 of each applicable contract year. 6. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS The Contractor shall demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience performing wall-to-wall pharmacy inventory services. The Contractor shall also demonstrate experience involving pharmacy inventory operations, medication and pharmacy-supply identification, NDC identification and validation, replacement-cost determination, McKesson Prime Vendor data where applicable, and electronic inventory reporting. Experience performing similar services for VA pharmacies and experience with McKesson as a Prime Vendor are preferred. 7. INVENTORY SCOPE The Contractor shall inventory applicable medications and pharmacy supplies located within areas under the direct control of the pharmacy. Unless specifically excluded by this SOW, the inventory shall include: Products purchased through the McKesson Prime Vendor. Eligible direct purchases having a total dollar value of $100 or more per line item. Applicable prosthetic items in unopened containers having a cost exceeding $100. Inpatient pharmacy inventory. Outpatient pharmacy inventory. Bulk intravenous solutions. Unit-dose repackaged medications. Medications located within applicable automated dispensing and packaging equipment. Other medications and supplies meeting the definition of inventory under this SOW. 8. EXCLUDED ITEMS The following items shall not be included unless specifically directed by the Government: All Hazards Pharmaceutical Cache inventory. Equipment. Prescription labels. Empty prescription vials and containers. Items not under the direct control of the pharmacy. Patient-dispensed inventory that is no longer pharmacy stock. Controlled substances, which shall be physically counted by authorized VA Pharmacy personnel. For purposes of determining whether an item is included or excluded, the Contractor shall request clarification from the designated VA Pharmacy representative. Questions affecting contract scope, price, or other contractual requirements shall be referred to the Contracting Officer. 9. INPATIENT PHARMACY INVENTORY The Contractor shall inventory applicable items located within the inpatient pharmacy, including medication and inventory maintained within automated dispensing, packaging, or unit-dose equipment. Applicable systems may include Talyst, Omnicell, AutoMed, ATC, OS-PAC, unit-dose packaging systems, and other automated dispensing or packaging systems identified by the facility. The VA Pharmacy shall provide the Contractor with available inventory data from applicable automated systems. The Contractor shall incorporate the VA-provided automated-system data into the applicable inventory report. 10. OUTPATIENT PHARMACY INVENTORY The Contractor shall inventory applicable items located within the outpatient pharmacy, including inventory maintained within automated dispensing or fulfillment equipment. Applicable systems may include Baker APS, ScriptPro, Optifill, and other automated dispensing or fulfillment systems identified by the facility. The VA Pharmacy shall provide available inventory data from applicable automated systems for incorporation into the final inventory report. 11. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Controlled substances shall be physically counted by authorized VISN 9/VA Pharmacy personnel. The VA Pharmacy shall provide the Contractor with the applicable controlled-substance inventory data necessary for inclusion in the final inventory report. The Contractor shall not independently count, handle, move, reconcile, or otherwise perform a physical inventory of controlled substances unless specifically authorized by the Government in accordance with applicable VA requirements. 12. PARTIAL CONTAINERS Opened bottles of medication, other than medication used for compounding, shall be estimated to the nearest one-tenth of a bottle unless otherwise specified by the Government. For higher-cost medications where a more precise quantity can reasonably be established, the Contractor shall have a methodology capable of recording whole-unit quantities for partial containers. The Contractor shall document the methodology used and apply it consistently throughout the inventory. 13. INVENTORY IDENTIFICATION AND SECTION CONTROL The Contractor shall establish a method for identifying each inventory section before counting begins. The method shall clearly identify the beginning and end of each section, identify the inventory specialist responsible for counting the section, prevent duplication or omission when multiple inventory specialists work simultaneously, allow VA personnel to determine which areas have been completed, and support final reconciliation of all inventory areas. The Contractor shall remove all temporary inventory markers at the completion of the inventory after confirming that all applicable areas have been counted. 14. INVENTORY DATA AND PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION The Contractor shall maintain an inventory database capable of identifying applicable products using accurate NDC, UPC, UPN, and McKesson item-number information, as applicable. The Contractor shall use current and accurate product and pricing information to determine the replacement cost of inventoried items. Where McKesson Prime Vendor information is used, the Contractor shall ensure that product identification corresponds to the applicable McKesson item and associated VA pricing information. The Contractor shall not alter or manipulate VA-provided costing files for the purpose of correcting Government-provided data. If the Contractor identifies an apparent discrepancy, it shall document the discrepancy and obtain clarification from the VA Pharmacy before making any adjustment attributable to Government-provided information. Contractor-caused inventory errors shall be corrected at no additional cost to the Government. 15. VA-FURNISHED INFORMATION The VA facility shall provide, as applicable: Current Prime Vendor pricing information. Current costing information for direct-purchase items. Automated dispensing and packaging system data. Controlled-substance inventory data. Access to pharmacy areas necessary to perform the inventory. Knowledgeable pharmacy personnel to answer inventory questions. Current shelf labels for Prime Vendor products, to the extent available. McKesson Mobile Manager units or equivalent Government-provided pricing information, when applicable. Other information reasonably necessary to perform the requirement. The Contractor shall promptly notify the VA Pharmacy representative of missing or apparently inaccurate information. 16. CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED RESOURCES The Contractor shall furnish sufficient qualified personnel to complete each facility inventory within the required performance period. The Contractor shall provide inventory specialists, on-site supervision, inventory equipment and supplies, data-processing and reporting capability, required travel, transportation, temporary identification or tagging materials, and all other resources necessary to perform the requirement. 17. ON-SITE INVENTORY PROCEDURE The Contractor shall: Meet with the designated VA Pharmacy representative before beginning the inventory. Confirm the areas included in the inventory. Confirm receipt of applicable VA-provided data. Establish section markers or other inventory controls. Mark the beginning and end of each inventory section and identify the specialist responsible for the count to prevent duplication or omission. Perform the physical inventory. Record product identification and quantities. Reconcile questions and apparent discrepancies with VA Pharmacy personnel. Produce section-level inventory information as sections are completed. Review applicable inventory information with VA Pharmacy personnel. Perform required recounts or corrections. Conduct a final facility-wide walkthrough. Verify that all applicable sections have been counted. Remove inventory markers. Complete the on-site closeout with the designated VA Pharmacy representative. 18. SECTION-LEVEL VERIFICATION For each inventory section, the Contractor shall provide sufficient inventory information to permit review by the Contractor's representative and VA Pharmacy personnel. At least one detailed inventory printout or electronic equivalent shall be reviewed for each inventory specialist or counter working on the facility inventory. VA personnel may request additional printouts, recounts, or supporting information when necessary to validate the inventory. The Contractor shall correct Contractor-caused errors identified during the on-site verification process before departing the facility whenever practicable. 19. FINAL FACILITY CLOSEOUT Before leaving a facility, the Contractor shall verify that: All required sections have been counted. Required recounts have been completed. Known discrepancies have been addressed or documented. Automated equipment data has been incorporated as required. VA-provided controlled-substance data has been incorporated. Inventory markers have been removed. The final inventory status has been reviewed with the designated VA Pharmacy representative. Any outstanding issue requiring Government action has been documented. 20. INVENTORY REPORT The Contractor shall provide a separate final inventory report for each pharmacy or facility inventoried. The Contractor shall submit a separate final inventory report for each pharmacy inventoried within seven (7) calendar days following completion of that pharmacy s physical inventory. All physical inventories at the six facilities must be completed by February 28 of the applicable contract year. Each report shall contain, at a minimum: Facility and pharmacy/section. Item name and strength. Package description. NDC, UPC, or UPN, as applicable. McKesson item number, when applicable. Quantity. Current package price. Extended replacement cost by item. Section/location. Total replacement cost for the inventory. The report shall be provided in an electronic format that can be opened, reviewed, and transferred into Microsoft Excel or an equivalent Government-approved spreadsheet application. 21. REPORT FORMAT The Contractor shall provide data in a structured electronic format. The Contractor shall ensure that each inventory item is represented by a discrete record; quantities and prices are numeric and usable for calculation; product identifiers are not truncated or improperly formatted; extended costs can be independently calculated from quantity and unit price; section/location information is retained; and facility and pharmacy totals reconcile to the underlying item-level data. 22. QUALITY CONTROL The Contractor shall maintain an internal quality-control process sufficient to ensure the accuracy and completeness of each inventory. The Contractor shall review inventory data for duplicate entries, missing product identifiers, missing quantities, missing prices, incorrect package descriptions, invalid or inconsistent NDC information, arithmetic errors, duplicate sections, omitted sections, and other apparent data-quality problems. The Contractor shall correct Contractor-caused errors at no additional cost to the Government. 23. GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE The Government will review each deliverable for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with this SOW. A deliverable may be rejected when it: Omits required inventory areas or items. Contains material data inaccuracies. Contains unsupported or unexplained pricing information. Does not contain the required data elements. Contains duplicate or omitted inventory records. Cannot be reconciled to the physical inventory. Otherwise fails to meet a material requirement of this SOW. If a deliverable is rejected because of Contractor-caused deficiencies, the Contractor shall correct and resubmit it within three (3) business days after notification, unless the Contracting Officer establishes a different period. Contractor-caused corrections shall be completed within three business days of notification unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer must confirm contractual handling of corrections requested after the February 28 inventory period. Corrections required because of Contractor error shall be performed at no additional cost to the Government. 24. PERFORMANCE STANDARD The Contractor shall deliver a complete and accurate inventory for each facility. The Government's determination of successful performance shall be based on completion of all required inventory areas, accurate identification of inventoried products, accurate quantities, accurate pricing and replacement costs, complete incorporation of applicable Government-furnished data, timely submission of required reports, and successful correction of Contractor-caused discrepancies. 25. SCHEDULE AND COORDINATION The Government and Contractor shall coordinate the annual inventory schedule before each inventory cycle. The Contractor shall submit an implementation plan identifying proposed inventory dates for each facility, expected arrival and start times, estimated completion times, number of inventory personnel, Contractor on-site supervisor, report submission dates, and any information or facility support required before the scheduled inventory. The final schedule shall be approved by the Government. All physical inventories at the six facilities shall be completed no later than February 28 of the applicable contract year. The Contractor shall submit a separate inventory report for each pharmacy inventoried within seven (7) calendar days of that pharmacy s physical inventory. The Contractor shall provide sufficient time for Government review and required corrections. The Contractor shall submit deliverables on the schedule specified in this SOW to support Government review and acceptance. 26. CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel capable of performing pharmacy inventory services. The Contractor shall submit the names of personnel proposed to perform on-site services in accordance with applicable VA security and access requirements. Personnel shall satisfy all applicable VA background-investigation, fingerprinting, privacy, security, training, and access requirements before receiving access to VA facilities or VA information. The Contractor shall provide sufficient personnel to meet the one-business-day performance requirement. 27. SECURITY, PRIVACY, AND HIPAA The Contractor and all Contractor personnel shall comply with all applicable VA security, privacy, information-security, HIPAA, and information-protection requirements incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract. The Contractor shall execute the required Business Associate Agreement (BAA), when applicable, before performance requiring access to protected health information or other information covered by the BAA. The applicable VA security and privacy provisions contained elsewhere in the solicitation are incorporated by reference and remain controlling. 28. BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT When required, the Contractor shall execute the applicable VA Business Associate Agreement before beginning performance. Failure to satisfy mandatory BAA requirements may prevent the Contractor from beginning performance and may result in the Government taking appropriate contractual action. 29. INSURANCE AND BONDING The Contractor shall maintain all insurance and bonding required by the solicitation, resulting contract, and applicable Federal requirements. Evidence of required insurance shall be provided to the Government when requested. 30. CONTRACTING OFFICER AUTHORITY The Contracting Officer is the only Government official authorized to make changes to the contract that affect price, quantity, quality, schedule, or other contractual terms. The Contractor shall not rely upon instructions from VA personnel that constitute a change to the contract unless the change is authorized in accordance with the contract. Routine coordination with VA Pharmacy personnel regarding performance does not constitute authorization to modify contractual requirements. 31. SERVICE CONTRACT ACT The Service Contract Act, when applicable, shall apply to this requirement. The Contractor shall comply with the applicable Department of Labor wage determination incorporated into the solicitation or resulting contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for complying with all applicable wage, fringe-benefit, and labor requirements. 32. EVALUATION CRITERIA LOWEST PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE (LPTA) The Government will use a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation methodology. Award will be made to the responsible offeror submitting the lowest evaluated price whose quotation is technically acceptable and whose past performance is acceptable, provided the price is fair and reasonable and award is otherwise in the Government's best interest. The Government will evaluate quotations under the following factors: Factor Evaluation Method Factor 1 Technical Acceptability Acceptable / Unacceptable Factor 2 Past Performance Acceptable / Unacceptable, with Neutral treatment where applicable Factor 3 Price Total evaluated price No tradeoffs will be made between price and non-price factors, and no additional credit will be given for exceeding the minimum technical requirements. The Government may evaluate price before non-price factors and may limit further evaluation to the lowest-priced quotation(s), consistent with the solicitation. 33. TECHNICAL ACCEPTABILITY Technical quotations will be evaluated on an Acceptable/Unacceptable basis against the following minimum requirements. To receive an Acceptable rating, the quotation must demonstrate all of the following: At least three years of experience performing wall-to-wall pharmacy inventory services. Experience performing inventory services for at least three pharmacies. Experience sufficient to demonstrate the ability to perform the requirements of this SOW. Capability to identify pharmaceutical products using NDC or equivalent identifiers. Capability to determine replacement cost. Capability to produce the required electronic inventory reports. Capability to staff all six facilities as required. Ability to comply with VA security, privacy, and BAA requirements. Ability to complete each facility inventory within the required performance period. Technical Ratings Rating Definition Acceptable The quotation demonstrates compliance with all minimum technical requirements. Unacceptable The quotation fails to demonstrate compliance with one or more minimum technical requirements. A quotation that does not demonstrate every stated minimum technical requirement will be rated Unacceptable and will not be eligible for award. VA or McKesson experience identified elsewhere as preferred will not be an additional unstated minimum requirement. 34. PAST PERFORMANCE The offeror shall provide information for three prior pharmacy inventory contracts or orders of similar scope and complexity, or identify that fewer relevant references are available. Past performance will be evaluated as Acceptable or Unacceptable using relevant information furnished by the offeror and information reasonably available to the Government. Past Performance Ratings Rating Definition Acceptable Relevant performance information supports a reasonable expectation of successful performance. Unacceptable Performance information establishes an unreasonable risk of unsuccessful performance. Neutral No relevant past performance exists, or relevant performance information is unavailable. A Neutral rating will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably and will not, by itself, make a quotation ineligible for award. VA pharmacy or McKesson experience is not required for an Acceptable rating. For each reference, the offeror shall provide: Contractor name. Customer/facility name. Facility address. Contract/order number. Contract/order value. Period of performance. Description of services. Customer point of contact. Telephone number. Email address, if available. Identification of subcontractors, if applicable. Description of the offeror's responsibilities. The Government may contact references to verify the information provided. The Government may also use other reasonably available performance information, including Government performance databases, to assess relevance and quality. Past-performance considerations may include accuracy, timeliness, technical quality, management of discrepancies, and adherence to contract requirements. Past performance will not be comparatively ranked or used to justify paying a higher price under LPTA. 35. PRICE EVALUATION Offerors shall submit firm-fixed prices for the base period and each option period in the Schedule of Supplies/Services. The Government will evaluate total price by adding the base-period and all option-period prices, including any other price elements identified in the solicitation. The lowest evaluated price will be determined from the total evaluated prices of quotations eligible for award. The Government will assess price reasonableness and may consider unbalanced pricing in accordance with applicable acquisition requirements. The Government may reject an offer if it determines that materially unbalanced pricing poses an unacceptable risk. The Government may request clarification or other information as permitted by the solicitation and applicable acquisition procedures. Evaluation of options does not obligate the Government to exercise them. Award will not be based on a price/technical tradeoff. 36. PRICING STRUCTURE The pricing schedule should identify a separate firm-fixed price for each required facility/service combination. Each price shall include all costs necessary to perform the requirement, including labor, supervision, travel, transportation, equipment, supplies, data processing, reporting, administrative costs, and any other costs necessary for complete performance. Unless specifically identified elsewhere in the solicitation, the Contractor shall not separately bill the Government for ordinary costs associated with completing the required inventory. 37. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION The offeror shall submit its proposal in two parts. Part 1 Technical Proposal The technical proposal shall address the requirements of this SOW and include the required experience and past-performance information. Part 2 Price Proposal The price proposal shall include pricing for the base period and all option periods in accordance with the Schedule of Supplies/Services. The offeror shall submit all required representations, certifications, signed solicitation documents, BAA documentation, insurance documentation, and other documents identified in the solicitation. 38. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The offeror shall provide an implementation plan demonstrating how it will accomplish the annual inventory requirement. The plan shall identify: Staffing approach. Number of inventory specialists. Supervisory structure. Proposed facility sequence. Proposed inventory dates. Approach to automated dispensing equipment. Approach to pricing validation. Quality-control procedures. Report-generation process. Approach to discrepancy resolution. Method for ensuring completion of all facilities and reports within the required schedule. 39. DELIVERABLES The Contractor shall provide: An approved inventory schedule and implementation plan. Section-level inventory data during counting. Facility closeout verification before departure. A separate final inventory report for each pharmacy inventoried, due within seven (7) calendar days after its physical inventory. Corrected reports within three (3) business days after notification, unless otherwise directed. A separate final inventory report for each pharmacy inventoried is due within seven (7) calendar days following completion of that pharmacy s physical inventory. Contractor-caused corrections are due within three business days after notification, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer. 40. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND INFORMATION Any VA equipment, information, data, access credentials, or other Government resources provided to the Contractor shall be used solely for performance of this contract and shall be protected in accordance with applicable VA requirements. The Contractor shall return or dispose of Government information and property as directed by the Contracting Officer and applicable VA requirements. 41. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE In the event of an inconsistency between this SOW and other portions of the solicitation or resulting contract, the applicable contract order-of-precedence provisions shall control. The Contracting Officer shall resolve questions regarding contractual requirements. 42. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS Nothing in this SOW shall be construed to limit any rights, remedies, inspection rights, audit rights, or other authorities available to the Government under the resulting contract, applicable Federal law, FAR, VAAR, or incorporated provisions.