Veterinary Technician Services
1. Introduction/ Purpose
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is issuing this Sources Sought to identify qualified and capable industry sources (from both large and small businesses) for Veterinary Technician Services.
This Sources Sought is being conducted for market research purposes only. Responding to this Sources Sought does not guarantee an award of a contractual agreement, nor does the Government guarantee that a solicitation will be issued as a result of this Sources Sought.
2. Technical Requirements
The Veterinary Technicians shall perform the following requirements:
2.1. Medicine Clinic:
(a) Duties include examination, evaluation, and vaccination of patients. This includes obtaining an accurate patient history from the handler, succinctly relaying the information to the veterinarian, and determining vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, hydration status, attitude, etc) of animals presented for sick call or medical evaluation clinics. Distinguishes normal from abnormal anatomical and physiological findings such as pathological heart and respiratory sounds, ataxic gait, and abnormal behavior. Triages patient as stable or unstable based on overall appearance, hydration, behavior, pulse quality, and vital signs. Cleans and disinfects exam room and treatment areas between patients or as needed.
(b) Replaces and maintains correct position of bandages, splints, casts, and other devices designed to prevent further damage to an injured extremity. Monitors condition of wounds under bandages, removes sutures and surgical drains, and administers topical medications.
(c) Administers medications topically, orally, or by parenteral injections (subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous).
(d) Calculates drug dosage based on accurate body weight (converts English to metric units as needed) and administers medication as prescribed by the attending veterinarian. Administers vaccinations and dewormer under indirect veterinary supervision according to established protocols.
(e) Obtains blood (venipuncture), urine ("clean catch" and cystocentesis), fecal sample, and other clinical specimens from animals for laboratory diagnosis. Performs fecal flotation for detection of internal parasites, heartworm and other point-of-care tests (filtration and immunologic), automated blood gas analysis, complete blood count by manual and automated methods, urinalysis and clinical chemistry by automated and "dipstick" methods. Prepares and submits samples for analysis by commercial or centralized military laboratory. Visually evaluates slides for fecal parasite evaluation, skin or ear cytology, and urine sediment examination.
(f) Places intravenous (IV) catheters and initiates fluid therapy as directed by veterinarian. Operates fluid pump for accurate intravenous delivery of drugs based upon calculation of drug concentration, body weight, and desired fluid delivery rate.
(g) Administers tranquilizers and sedatives under supervision of the attending veterinarian and according to established protocols. Monitors vital signs and condition of sedated or anesthetized animals. Operates monitoring equipment.
(h) Initiates and maintains medical records for the MWDs and GOAs. Assures standard nomenclature and chronological order of the medical records. Utilizes computers, word processing, databases, the electronic medical records system, and spreadsheet software in order to perform data entry and generate reports and schedules relating to the clinical care of patients. Knowledge of an alphanumeric keyboard.
2.2. Surgery Department:
(a) Administers sedation and anesthetic induction agents under veterinary supervision. Intubates trachea and initiates gas anesthetic administration. Operates and performs operator level maintenance on gas anesthesia machine. Monitors and interprets vital signs and anesthetic depth. Initiates invasive/non-invasive anesthetic monitoring procedures. Adjusts anesthetics level as determined by heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, muscle tone, and patient condition, while notifying veterinarian.
(b) Prepares incision site for aseptic surgery (clip hair, applies disinfectant skin prep). Acts as circulating operating room non-sterile assistant (opens packs, sets up, and adjusts equipment).
(c) Scrubs-in as surgical assistant. Performs sterile surgical scrub and dons sterile gown and gloves. Under sterile conditions, prepares various surgical instruments and equipment for use and assists the surgeon as directed.
(d) Performs dental cleaning and prophylactic dental care. Assesses overall oral health. Operates and performs operator level maintenance on dental equipment and instruments.
(e) Cleans, sterilizes, and maintains surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, and premises.
(f) Monitors patient recovery following surgery by observing respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, tissue perfusion, hydration, body temperature, state of consciousness, and reflexes. Cleans surgery room, treatment areas, and patient holding areas.
(g) Recognizes post-operative complication (shock, hemorrhage, respiratory distress, hypothermia, etc.) and notifies veterinarian. In the absence of professional staff, performs emergency treatment/life support procedures such as initiation of fluid therapy for shock or hemorrhage control. Under the supervision of the surgeon, calculates dosage and administers post-operative analgesic medications. Applies bandages, splints, or casts.
2.3. Radiology Department:
(a) Restrains canines for radiographic studies. Calculates dosage and administers tranquilizer/sedative (according to established protocol) as needed to minimize patient motion and limit radiation exposure of personnel and patients. Monitors vital signs of patients undergoing radiological procedures.
(b) Calculates exposure factors (kVp, mAs, and exposure time) for the efficient production of diagnostic and radiological studies. Operates and performs operator level maintenance on x-ray machines. Initiates and maintains radiological records for MWDs and GOAs. Assures standard chronological order of radiographic files. Utilizes computers, word processing, databases, the electronic medical records system, and spreadsheet software in order to perform data entry and generate reports and schedules relating to the clinical care of patients. Knowledge of an alphanumeric keyboard.
2.4. Training:
(a) Trains Veterinary Technician students on Military Working Dog (MWD): equipment, procedures, positioning, and safety procedures; invasive and non-invasive anesthetic monitoring procedures; operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting, diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment techniques as needed. Instructs new personnel on techniques; Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment.
Veterinary Technicians shall possess a Licensed Veterinary Technician or Registered Veterinary Technician certification.
3. Response Information
3.1. Cover Letter (1 Page)
The cover letter must clearly identify the following information:
1) Company's Name
2) Company's Address
3) DUNS Number
4) CAGE Number
5) Point of Contact(s) (Name, title, email, and phone number)
6) Identify your business size - large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged, HUBZone small, woman-owned small, veteran-owned small, service-disabled veteran-owned small - based upon NAICS Code 541940 - Veterinary Services, which possesses a Small Business Size Standard Threshold of $7,500,000.00.
3.2. Contractor's Capabilities Statement (2 Pages)
In order for TSA to improve its understanding of market capabilities and identify qualified vendors that are capable of providing Veterinary Technician Services; the Contractor's response must, through a narrative description, identify their firm's capabilities to meet the requirements identified under Section 2, and what experience you have providing similar and/or same services to other State and Federal Agencies. When identifying current or past experience, please identify the following:
1) Name of Agency
2) Point of Contact (name, title, phone, and email)
3) Contract/Task Order Number
4) Contract Type
5) Period of Performance
6) Total Contract Dollar Value
7) Scope of the Contract/Task Order
8) Brief Description of the Work completed within the Scope of the Contract/Task Order
4. Submission of Information
Please send responses with a subject heading of "Vet Tech Services - Sources Sought". Send your capability statements and any questions to Jose Picon at Jose.Picon@tsa.dhs.gov and Kurt Allen at Kurt.Allen@tsa.dhs.gov by 10:00 AM Eastern Time on 13 August 2018.
Telephone responses will not be accepted. Future information about this acquisition, including issuance of a solicitation and/or applicable amendments, will be issued through FedBizOpps (www.fbo.gov). Interested parties are responsible for ensuring they have the most up-to-date information regarding this acquisition.
This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes only and is not a solicitation. A Government requirement for this service is being developed, and a contract may or may not result. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.
Please note: All contractors doing business with the Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. The website for registration is www.sam.gov.
Jose A Picon, Email jose.picon@tsa.dhs.gov - Kurt Allen, Email kurt.allen@tsa.dhs.gov
