# Presentation: 717678

## What’s Going on with the Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing FSS Program?

- Speakers:
- Dore Fessler, Assistant Director
- Linda Smith, Program Manager
- Shawn Davis, Contract Specialist

## A Look Forward at FY 2009

**A Look Forward at FY 2009**

**Recurring Issues**

**Recent Program Enhancements**

## A Look Back at FY 2008

- R3 Refresh issued 10/1/07
- FSS 621I Help Desk Homepage launched in June 2008
- Contract extensions for up to 5 years
- Insurance certificate collection streamlined
- SCA Wage Determinations for FY2009 incorporated into 621I on 10/1/2008.
- Sales through 3rd quarter of FY2008 were $389,647,649.

## A Look Back at FY 2008

- Top Selling Physician SINs:
- 621-003: Internal Medicine ($8.4 mil/quarter)
- 621-020: Physician, Radiology ($8 mil/quarter)
- 621-002: Emergency Medicine ($ 6 mil/quarter)
- 621-001: Family Practice ($4.8 mil/quarter)
- 621-006: Anesthesiologist ($4.7 mil/quarter)
- (Sales approximate through the 3rd quarter of FY 2008.
- Sales rounded to the nearest hundred-thousand.)

## A Look Back at FY 2008

- Top Selling Allied Healthcare SINs:
- 621-025: Registered Nurse ($31.3 mil/quarter)
- 621-038: LP/VN ($ 6.7 mil/quarter)
- 621-040: Nurse Assistant ($6.5 mil/quarter)
- 621-027: Pharmacist ($6.1 mil/quarter)
- 621-050: Radiologic Technology ($5.9 mil/qtr)
- (Sales approximate through the 3rd quarter of FY 2008.
- Sales rounded to the nearest hundred-thousand.)

## Observations Made in FY 2008

- Contract Performance Issues:
- Working out of contract scope
- Insurance updates and sales report delays
- Failure to provide notification of administrative changes
- GSA Advantage / eBuy outdated

## Observations Made in FY 2008

- Customers need better education
- Contractors and customers need improved access to program information
**Help Desk Home Page**
**Increased Training  **
- Change is forthcoming
**Business size standard (13.5 million)**
**Commercial Sales Practice (CSP) **
**Gateway to Success**

**Notes:**
Customers need to be better educated. 
Contract holders need improved access to marketing materials, SCA information, and other program related information.
This was the driving force behind the new FSS Help Desk Home Page.  
Change is forthcoming
Business size standard
Commercial Sales Practice (CSP) 

## A Look Forward at FY 2009

- R4 Solicitation Refresh Estimated Release in January 2009
**Time and Materials**
**Improved Instructions to offerors**
- Increased Training
**Web conferencing**
- GSA Regulation Updates
- Continuous Program Improvement

## Recurring Issues

- Medical Liability Insurance
**No shared coverage**
**$1mil occurrence / $3mil aggregate**
**No lapse in coverage**
**Reminders will be issued 15 days before the expiration of current policy**
- Over 5 business days late = Past Performance
- Over 30 days from 1st notice = Cancellation
**VA/NAC as Certificate Holder**
**Insurance Certification Letter **

## Recurring Issues

- Service Contract Act (SCA)
**Wage Determinations (WD’s) Updated Annually (October 1)**
**Contractors Obligation**
**Applicable under all orders**
**Current Task Orders: Updated at the Time Options are Exercised **

## Recurring Issues

- Service Contract Act (SCA), Con’t
**Labor category classification is set forth in solicitation Exhibit 7**
- Now includes Federal General Schedule (GS) rates.
**SCA Information is available on the FSS 621I Homepage**
**Unsure what to do? Contact DOL**

## Recurring Issues

- Contract Options
**1-5 years at the Gov’t discretion**
**Over $3 million per year requires a Inspector General (IG) Audit**
**Economic Price Adjustments**
**Government analysis:**
- Financial Responsibility
- Price Reasonableness
- Past Performance
- Contractor Compliance

## Recurring Issues

- Contract Options, Con’t.
**Subcontracting Plans**
- Large Business
- Over $550,000 (estimated value)
**For Online Training Webinar Contact: **
**Veronica Hazen**
**Veronica.Hazen@va.gov**
**708-786-5145**

## Recurring Issues

- Contract Options, Continued
- 	Minimum Information:** **
- Offeror Representations and Certifications
- Commercial Sales Practice (CSP) Disclosures
- Justification (if required)
- Additional supporting information
- Pricing Validations / Price Build-Ups
- Governments Rights:
- Decline/Approve option
- Delete states/labor categories
- Enter into negotiations

## Recurring Issues

- Contracting Issues
**Conflicting Clauses  **
**Small business set-asides under FSS 621 I**
- FAR provisions do not support this
- _AFMC FAR Supplement 5308-405_
**SCA Applicable Task Orders**
**Price Adjustments Due to SCA**
**Options on Orders**
**Credentialing Delays**

## Recurring Issues

- VA’s Electronic Invoicing Initiative
**No VA/NAC requirement currently**
**VA Customers may request contractors to use OB10 in future orders**
**Will keep industry informed**

## Recent Program Enhancements

- FSS 621 I Help Desk Home Page
**Ordering guidance**
**Marketing assistance**
**Instant access to 621 I related documents **
**Quick Links**
- FSS 621 I Modification Request Form
**Data collection for routine modifications**
**Minimum essential information**
**Universal format**

## Tips for Success

- Use the FSS 621 I Help Desk Home Page
- Keep GSA Advantage/eBuy current and accurate
- Make sure your firms Authorized FSS Price List is neat and properly formatted
- Check GSA eBuy often
- Market directly to your potential customers
- Check out the GSA Center for Acquisition Excellence

## Tips for Success

- Get to know the ordering procedures for your contract
- Check out the GSA Center for Acquisition Excellence
- Consider Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA’s) that can help small businesses to meet large requirements
- Submit sales reports and insurance updates promptly to maintain a good past performance history

## 621 I Program Assistance

- FSS 621 I Help Desk
- 708-786-7722 (Phone)
- Helpdesk.fss621i@va.gov
- HOMEPAGE URL:
- (http://www1.va.gov/oamm/oa/nac/fsss/fssproftrain.cfm)

## Questions?

## Thank You

***See you at the roundtable discussion!***