American Native Medical Transport, L.L.C., B-276873, August

B-276873 Aug 05, 1997 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Protester was not prejudiced by the agency's failure to conduct discussions. The contractor is required to provide fixed-wing and rotor aircraft to meet the contract requirements. Advised offerors that the contractor must have sufficient personnel and equipment to perform the services. The required response time for fixed-wing aircraft was set at 45 minutes for both the Whiteriver and San Carlos Units. Level II services were defined to include "Basic Life Support (BLS) monitoring required (Non-acute Stable)" and "Air Ambulance: Specialty care monitoring required (Non-acute Stable).". Level III services were for "any person not requiring at least BLS monitoring.". Offerors were required to submit prices for Level I and Level II air transport based upon the Medicare reimbursement formula in effect at the time the services are rendered. View Decision Matter of: American Native Medical Transport, L.L.C. File: B-276873 Date: August 5, 1997 * Redacted Decision DIGEST Attorneys DECISION American Native Medical Transport, L.L.C. protests the award of a contract to Native American Air Ambulance, Inc. (NAAA) under request for proposals (RFP) No. 794, a total set-aside for Indian-owned firms, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Phoenix Area Indian Health Service (IHS), Phoenix, Arizona, for medically necessary air transportation services. We deny the protest. The RFP, issued November 18, 1996, contemplated the award of a fixed-price requirements contract for air transportation services for eligible IHS beneficiaries in IHS' Whiteriver Service Unit and San Carlos Service Unit in Arizona for a 1-year base period with four 1-year options. The contractor is required to provide fixed-wing and rotor aircraft to meet the contract requirements. The RFP did not specify a minimum number of aircraft necessary to perform the services, but advised offerors that the contractor must have sufficient personnel and equipment to perform the services, or arrange to subcontract for the services. [1] The RFP established minimum response times for the various aircraft; for example, the required response time for fixed-wing aircraft was set at 45 minutes for both the Whiteriver and San Carlos Units. The RFP services include "Level I," "Level II", and "Level III" air medical transport. The RFP defined Level I services to include "Critical Care Life Support: Acute Conditions"; "Advanced Life Support: Acute or Non-acute Conditions"; "Specialty Care Missions (Neonatal, Obstetric)"; and "Scene Response Rotor Craft (Acute Conditions/Situations)." Level II services were defined to include "Basic Life Support (BLS) monitoring required (Non-acute Stable)" and "Air Ambulance: Specialty care monitoring required (Non-acute Stable)." Level III services were for "any person not requiring at least BLS monitoring." Under the RFP's pricing format, offerors were required to submit prices for Level I and Level II air transport based upon the Medicare reimbursement formula in effect at the time the services are rendered--an offeror could price its proposal directly at the Medicare reimbursement rate or offer a percentage discount off the rate. [2] Level III services were required to be offered at a per unit price for an estimated quantity of 350 Level III transports. The proposal instructions advised that the technical proposal should include a detailed work plan indicating how each aspect of the statement of work was to be accomplished to include present or proposed facilities and equipment which would be used in the performance of the contract. Award under the RFP was to be made under a best value evaluation scheme, considering price and the following technical criteria: Corporate Experience/Customer Support (35 points), Required Rotor Craft Documents (20 points), and Required Fixed Wing Documents (45 points). Each technical criterion required the offeror to furnish various licenses, certificates, corporate policies, and experience. Under Corporate Experience/Customer Support, among other things, was the requirement to furnish Department of the Interior Office of Aircraft Services (OAS) certification. Under Required Rotor Craft Documents, among other things, offerors were required to furnish a copy of each pilot's commercial rotor craft airman's certificate; to list each rotor craft by type, model, year, and time in use; and to describe the medical configuration of the rotor craft. Under Required Fixed Wing Documents, among other things, offerors were required to furnish a copy of each pilot's commercial multi-engine certificate and years of experience; to list each aircraft by type, model, year, and time in use; and to describe the medical configuration of the aircraft.