Notice to All Offerors

January 10, 2006

NOTICE TO ALL OFFERORS

REFERENCE: AMENDMENT NO. 1 IFB DOL061RB20063

Additional information has been requested by prospective offerors and it has been determined by the Contracting Officer that this information is made available to all bidders. The bid opening date has been extended to January 20, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. local time.

Keith A. Bond

KEITH A. BOND Contracting Officer BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1 6

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable) 0001 January 10, 2006 18-061A-2701 6. ISSUED BY ‍‍ ETA 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE CODE ETA Division of Contract Services ETA Office of Job Corps U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW 200 Constitution Ave, NW Rm N-4655 RM N-4464 Washington DC 20210 Washington DC 20210

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO. DOL061RB20063 To all Offerors/Bidders 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11) X

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE 11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

x The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers x is extended, is not extended. Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning ______copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR AC- KNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified. 1/20/2006, 2:00pm est 12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS, IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14. (X) A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor X is not, is required to sign this document and return ______0 copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(See Attachment)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) KEITH A. BOND Contracting Officer 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15 C. DATES SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16 C. DATES SIGNED

BY (Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83) 14. RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. We are interested in the following information; Copy of old contract or provide the following info from the old contract; Bidders list; Current or last person/entity who performed the contract./project; Any differences between old and new statement of work; Old contract amount/price or current budget.

a. Please see Section B of the IFB.

2. Is fax or e-mail bid submission ok?

a. No.

3. Can you please tell who the current provider of Chlamydia testing services is and what the current fee for testing is?

a. Please see Section B of the IFB.

4. Regarding Attachment J, do we have to fill out all of these documents?

a. Attachments J.3 and J.5 need to be completed with the submission package.

5. In what specific category does the lab have to be authorized to do Chlamydia testing? i.e. Serology, Virology or Microbiology?

a. Please see Section C of the IFB.

6. Does the contract specify the methodology to be used in performing the Chlamydia testing? i.e. DNA probe, PCR or TMA, or Elisa test for screening?

a. No.

7. Is an accompanying letter necessary with the bid and if so, what aspects of the laboratory should be included in the letter?

a. No.

8. Is the methodology PCR or DNA for the screening of females?

a. Amplified technology

9. What is the methodology and media for testing symptomatic males and females? a. Methodology – amplified technology Media -urine and amplified technology swab

10.Section C under Scope of work #2. (approximately 3,000) --please explain the origin of this figure. Is this the total number of specimens we are to receive? Also, how does this figure differ from the enrollees’ figures on page B-2?

a. This figure is for TOC and diagnosis. It is different from the figure for new enrollees and it is not the total number of specimens.

11.Please give the "LOCATIONS" from where the specimens will originate.

a. All Job Corps centers nationwide, plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

12.Will you reimburse us for the $7,000 to $10, 00 application and inspection fee that NY charges for new labs? How much does the other state charge for application and yearly inspection?

a. No.

13.Will you reimburse us for the yearly inspection fees that WV, PA, CA and NY charge?

a. No.

14.After contacting some of your sites we learned that they damage about 10-15% of the supplies the current lab provides. We were told that you separately reimburse the contracted lab for the cost of these extra supplies, is this correct?

a. No.

15.Sites have told us that they sometimes run out of supplies because of damage or inaccurate inventory tracking and that they have the current lab overnight supplies. We were told that you separately reimburse the contracted lab when they ship via overnight courier, is this correct?

16.Your sites tell us that the current contractor provides telephone technical service for the test request and result delivery system. They also told us that the current lab has sent out technicians to fix any problems the sites have had with printers, computers, other equipment or the program. Are we required to provide the technicians to maintain our system at all 118 of your sites? If the answer is yes to the above, are you going to reimburse us for this cost or should we build it into the cost of the tests?

a. Yes you are required to maintain your reporting system. There is no reimbursement

17.We have a test request system that works over the internet. We need access to the internet all day long. Can you provide us with unimpeded access to the internet?

a. No, this would not be possible at all sites.

18.Our test request system needs access to the internet all day. Your sites tell us that your internet connection is down a lot of the day. How do you expect us to operate our system if your internet connection goes down?

a. This is an issue the bidder must address.

19.According to many of the sites, they have a need to get copies of old results on a constant basis. Apparently your current lab provides old results within minutes of the request. This requirement is not mentioned in the bid package, will you reimburse us for this extra service?

20.Pages B-2 and B-3. Test quantities are listed, but you do not list which specific test technology should be used for each of the categories. We have been told that the current lab uses Amplified technology. Should we use a different technology for each category or should we apply the Federal standard and use Amplified for all the testing?

a. Use amplified technology.

21.Page C-10. Specimens should be picked up on a weekly basis. The FDA clearly mandates that Amplified urine specimens must be tested no later than 4 days after collection. After contacting your sites they tell us that they ship Chlamydia specimens to the current contractor several times per week because of this limitation. Since we must allow your sites to ship to us at least twice a week are you willing to reimburse us for FDA mandated additional shipping in excess of the one per week requirement?

a. No 22.Page C-10. The successful bidder must have an electronic test request and result delivery system, it goes on to list various requirements for the system. Our system meets all of the requirements and we provide all of the computers, printers and monitors to make it work. We just want to confirm that we will be responsible for supplying all equipment, installations of equipment, software, training, technical assistance and maintenance of the system and that we need to include this cost in the prices we charge for the testing.

a. Yes

23.Page C-11. There are to be 7 site and or educational visits/trips per year. We must assume a day of air travel, a day there and a day to travel home plus hotel stays and educational material. We estimate that each trip will cost about $1,000. Is the Job Corps going to pay for all of this or are we expected to pay for this and include it in the price of the testing?

a. It must be included in the price of the testing.

24.Page C-11. We have seen a copy of the monthly statistic report the current lab provides. It shows all information broken down monthly, quarterly and yearly by sex, age, race and other demographic information. If we supply a copy of our report with our bid, is this proof enough that we can provide this kind of report?

a. Yes

25.On Page C-9 section C.2 you write that the contractor must be licensed in any of the states where specimens originate. In order to comply with this requirement besides the NY license, a lab would also have to have licenses from the states of California, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Do we need to submit all of our licenses (CLIA, CAP, NY, CA, WV and PA) with our bid in order for it to be compliant?

a. Yes

26.On Page C-9 section C.2 you write that the contractor must have a HIPAA compliant electronic test request and result system. We have a letter of compliance from our HIPAA consultant indicating that our electronic test request and result system is HIPAA compliant. Do we need to provide a copy with our bid in order to be compliant?

a. Yes

27.On Page C-9 section C.2 you write that the contractor must specify which test will be used and the cost in the “Basic Requirement Section”. The Bid package also has an Attachment J.5 titled CONTRACTOR’S BID PRICING SHEET. Are we to ignore and not use the CONTRACTOR’S BID PRICING SHEET and use the BASIC REQUIREMENT sheet instead?

a. Offerors are to use Attachment J.5 when submitting bids.

28.On Page C-10 section 2 you write that specimens will be shipped on a weekly basis. Amplified urine specimens need to be transported to the laboratory and tested by the 4th day. Currently the sites send specimen to us more than once per week so that they don’t go over the time limit. Is the once per week shipping requirement listed in the Bid correct?

a. Centers are encourage to arrange clinics and physicals of new students so specimens only need to be shipped once a week, but if necessary specimens will be shipped more that once a week.

29.On Page H-1 section H-1 para. 1. Because patient demographic and result information is considered “Sensitive” company personnel will need to comply with the “Noncritical-Sensitive” Background Investigation Requirement portion of the RFQ. Most of our staff (account manager, customer service, data entry, laboratory and receiving personnel) has already been cleared because of other work we do for the Federal government, but we will have the uncleared ones investigated if we win. We have always been required to pay for this service (about $2,500 per person) in the past. Are you going to pay for this service or are we required to pay?

a. Contractors are to incur this cost.