Q1) In Section 4.4 Task List; 2. Activities, j. The developed module shall remain the property of the Florida Department of Health. Question: Is it correct to assume that only the module is the property of the Florida Department of Health, not the site on which the module is hosted or delivered? Answer: Yes, only the training module is the property of the Florida Department of Health, not the site on which the module is hosted or delivered. Q2) In Section 3.1 Statement of Purpose The Department is seeking a respondent who can organize the effort and begin implementation by January 28, 2011. In Section 4.4 Task List; 2. Activities,j. The training module shall be operational and available for users via the provider s chosen web server no later than January 14, 2011. Q3) In Section 4.4 Task List; 2. Activities, k. The successful respondent shall beta test the training module with sufficient time to make any corrections prior to the go live date of January 28, 2010. Question: Based on the dates above, please clarify the implementation date for the beta test site and the go live site. Answer: The correct operational date is January 28, 2011 and the respondent shall provide for sufficient time to make any corrections prior to the go live date of January 28, 2011.
Q4) What is the anticipated budget for the second and third year of operation? Answer: Anticipated budget is based on the cost proposal submitted by the respondent, see Section 4.4 Task List, Item 2.h and Section 4.21 Cost Proposal of the RFP. Q5) Will the DOH project manager be responsible for reviewing and approving milestones in the development process? Answer: Yes Q6) Will DOH supply the list of registrants for the module or will it be open enrollment with learners self-registering? Answer: The course will be available to Florida residents who are hospital planners, emergency department personnel, emergency management personnel, emergency medical response personnel (including Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics), County Health Department personnel, pre-hospital and other community partners who would be involved in helping with hospital medical surge situations. Q7) How many learners do you expect to take the module each year? Answer: This module shall be available for an unlimited number of people to take the course and to have earned a certificate of completion, however, the vendor is not required to issue CUE/CME's in excess of 2000 per year. Additionally, the training module is to be available for Florida residents in the described healthcare fields only. Q8) Could you please explain why and how the successful respondent must comply with applicable laws, etc. (Section 4.2)? Answer: Because published decisions of the courts uniformly establish that all persons are presumed to be on notice of the requirements of law, both federal and state, as well as the regulations, contracts and programs which are based on those laws.
Q9) What existing materials are available to aid in development of the course? Is there currently a classroom course on this topic? Answer: Part a. Please refer to Section 4.4 Task List, 2.i. The training module shall reference and complement the Florida Department of Health s AMTS planning guidance which can be found at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/demo/php/pdfs/amtsplan2008.pdf. It is up to the respondent to identify if other existing materials are available to aid in development of the course. It is the Florida Department of Health s expectation that the respondent will do a literature search on the subject for current information. Answer: Part b. The Florida Department of Health does not currently offer any course work on this topic. Q10) Regarding Section 4.13 Reports, what will constitute acceptance of reports by the department, if mere receipt does not? Answer: Please refer to Section 4.13 where it reads as follows: The department reserves the right to reject reports as incomplete, inadequate or unacceptable according to the parameters set forth in the resulting contract. The department, at its option, may allow additional time where the successful respondent may remedy the objections noted by the department. Q11) Regarding Section 4.17, will the DOH designate partners that will provide subject matter expertise? Answer: The department will provide a project manager who will work with the successful respondent in developing the training module. Q12) Is the Florida DOH approved by ACCME to offer CME credit designation? Answer: No
Q13) If not, are you requiring that the vendor be an approved ACCME provider? Answer: No Q14) Do you just want names and contact information from references as shown in Attachment II, or do you need actual letters of reference as stated in Section 5.3? Answer: Please provide both, as stated in Section 5.3. Q15) Has the DOH discussed this project with any potential respondents prior to the issuance of the RFP? Answer: The general concept for this type of project has been discussed in a number of meetings and forums, prior to the issuance of the RFP. Q16) For what specific positions and/or professions must we be able to provide CME s or CEU s? Answer: The respondent must be able to provide for those professions that require certification or license. The target audience for the training module will be Florida residents that are hospital planners, emergency department personnel, emergency management personnel, emergency medical response personnel (including Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics), County Health Department personnel, pre-hospital and other community partners who would be involved in helping with hospital medical surge situations.
Q17) Is the awardee organization responsible for obtaining CME and CEU status on this 2-hour course for each and every profession that is required to take this course? Is this a matter of seeking approval through CEBroker for each and every profession? More detailed guidance on this aspect of the RFP would be appreciated. Answer: A) Yes, if the profession requires certification or license. Please see the answer for question number 16 above. It is up to the respondent to provide these details in their proposal on how they plan to achieve the activities/tasks described in the RFP. Q18) Will you provide additional subject matter experts to serve as resources for content? Answer: No. It is the responsibility of the successful respondent to provide subject matter experts to assist in the development of the course content. Q19) Please provide a listing, timeline and any other requirements regarding the kinds and extent of the marketing activities in which you wish the vendor to engage. Answer: It is up to the respondent to provide these details in the response to the RFP. Q20) Will you provide the cadre of individuals who will beta test the training? Answer: Yes Q21) What are the expectations regarding technical support? What is the scope of activities technical support will be required to provide? Answer: The respondent will provide timely technical support (no longer than 48 hours from receipt of the request) for module users, via telephone support, Monday Fridays 8 am 5 pm, thus enabling the registrant to complete the course.
Q22) Would you be interested in an additional brief (5 min) navigation module to provide users with ability to work within the module? Would you be willing for the navigation module to be mandatory. Answer: The Department would entertain value added ideas but this not a requirement of the RFP. Q23) Is a listing of target audience member groups and individuals statewide, including their contact information, available to the selected vendor? If not, are legal requirements involved for the vendor to acquire these names? Answer: There may be a listing available through Medical Quality Assurance (850) 488-0595 and the email address is: medicalqualityassurance@doh.state.fl.us Q24) Beyond this document (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/demo/php/pdfs/amtsplan2008.pdf), what relevant training materials are already in existence? If so, will we have access to these materials and if that is the case, is there a charge to obtain these materials? Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 9. Q25) What other documents, curricula, information, videos, animations, trainings, checklists, etc. are available beyond this document that should be included within the content of the online course? Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 9. Q26) Is there any pre-established curriculum available that the DOH wishes to be used to develop this online course? Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 9.
Q27) What are the knowledge and attitude outcomes you wish to see in individuals who take this online course. What are the behavioral outcomes you wish to see in individuals who take this online course? Answer: In order to meet the objectives to understand the purpose, implementation, and operation of an AMTS, as stated in Section 4.1 Scope of Service and to foster awareness and knowledge, in the pre-hospital and hospital communities, of AMTS used for hospital medical surge operations during emergencies. Q28) Will we have access to individuals who will be able to define this scope of the content to be trained? What expectation is there in terms of a needs assessment to determine the specific parameters of this training? What guidance will we receive from DOH in terms of content scope? Answer: The department will provide a project manager to work with the successful respondent in developing the training module. The project manager will provide guidance on the contents of the training module, will work with the successful respondent to provide guidance in the development of the final product, and will identify what participant registration information will be collected within the training website. Q29) Are there currently any videos, instructional or otherwise, that depict the purpose, implementation and operation of an AMTS as one of the solutions to handle hospital medical surge throughout Florida? Will they be made available to us, and if so, will there be a charge associated with that provision? Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 9. Q30) What are the assumptions we should make of the audience members taking this online course in terms of their knowledge, skills and abilities to implement an AMTS? Answer: The Department is unable to determine what the intended audience s knowledge, skills, and abilities are.
Q31) You state: Submit a first draft of developmental materials for the web-based application, including web-pages, slides, graphics, video clips, voice over information, and pre and post course assessments, within ninety (90) days of execution of the contract resulting from this RFP. Does voice-over information mean print-based voice-over or narrated voice over? Answer: For the first draft, print-based voice over is acceptable. Q32) Please describe the typical individual who will take this course in terms of baseline knowledge they would have about how to establish and run an AMTS, as well as what the requirements are for doing such. What are your expectations in terms of an audience analysis? Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 30 and also Section 4.4 Task List where the RFP describes the target audience. Q33) For each of the major AMTS positions, are there already detailed job descriptions, or is this part of what you expect us to create? Answer: Please see the referenced guidance on page 7. Section 4.4 Task List, 2.i. Q34) Do you expect that this course be tailored to each audience type, or is one online course that targets all end audiences what you want? Answer: No job specific training; However, the training must meet the objectives as listed in the Scope of Service. Q35) What specific subjects must be addressed in the online course? The vagueness of the RFP seems to leave open the possibility of the kitchen sink in terms of content. It would be helpful to have more focus as far as what the expectations are for content. Answer: Please refer to the answer for question 27 and Section 4.1 Scope of Service.
Q36) 4.1.g Task list/objectives states: OBJECTIVE: To provide and make available the module that enables the health professional to earn CEU and CME credits, covering the purpose, implementation and operation of an AMTS as one of the solutions to handle hospital medical surge throughout Florida. The target audience for the training module will be hospital planners, emergency department personnel, emergency management personnel, emergency medical response personnel (including Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics), County Health Department personnel, pre-hospital and other community partners who would be involved in helping with hospital medical surge situations. and 4.1.g Task list/activities states: Provide a certificate of completion that includes name, date, and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) / Continuing Medical Education (CME) recognized credit hours as appropriate for designated (agreed upon) participants, in compliance with Florida Administrative Code 64J-1.0202. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=64j-1.0202 64J-1.0202 EMS Recertification Training Programs. (1) Commencing with the effective date of this rule and expiring December 1 of even numbered years thereafter, entities not licensed as an emergency medical services provider or a department approved Florida training program shall be approved to conduct EMT or paramedic recertification training providing they meet the requirements contained in Section 401.2715, F.S., and this section.
36) Question: The Florida Administrative Code 64J-1.0202 only refers to EMT or paramedic recertification training. Do the CME credits referred to in the RFP pertain to Physician CMEs (Physicians not addressed in RFP)? Answer: The respondent must be able to provide for those professions that require certification or license. The target audience for the training module will be Florida residents that are hospital planners, emergency department personnel, emergency management personnel, emergency medical response personnel (including Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics), County Health Department personnel, pre-hospital and other community partners who would be involved in helping with hospital medical surge situations. (An Addendum to the RFP removes the specific Florida Administrative Code language). Q37).42.i Task list/activities states: The training module shall reference and complement the Florida Department of Health s AMTS planning guidance which can be found at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/demo/php/pdfs/amtsplan2008.pdf Question: Will the Department of Health be providing specific content or will the respondent be responsible for developing program content based on the Florida Department of Health s AMTS planning guidance? Answer: The respondent is responsible for developing program content based on the FloridaDepartment of Health s AMTS planning guidance.
Q38) 4.42.j Task list/activities states: The training module shall be operational and available for users via the provider s chosen web server no later than January 14, 2011. Thereafter, the module shall be available for a two year period on the provider s website, contingent upon negotiated agreements for the continuing service, subject to the availability of funds. The developed module shall remain the property of the Florida Department of Health. And 4.42 Task list/activities states: The successful respondent shall beta test the training module with sufficient time to make any corrections prior to the go live date of January 28, 2010. The web-based course and secure CEU and CME credit for appropriate pre-hospital staff and hospital staff. The module will facilitate Continuing Education Units and Continuing Medical Education credits for the course along with the issuance of certificates of successful completion for each participant, not to exceed 2000 participants in year one. Q 38) Question:Is there a specific date when the beta test needs to be completed? When is the actual operational go live date: January 14 or January 28, 2011? Answer: The correct operational date is January 28, 2011 and the respondent shall provide for sufficient time to make any corrections prior to the go live date of January 28, 2011.
Q39) Is the proposal for delivery of the two additional years part of the original proposal due on September 23, 2010? Answer: The estimated costs for two more years shall be submitted as part of the original proposal. The due date, per the addendum regarding the new timeline, is now October 5, 2010.