4/2
Question 1: Does the intake nurse stay stationed in the booking office?
Answer 1: Yes, unless there is an emergency that needs to be responded to.
Question 2: How many dialysis machines are currently being implemented?
Answer 2: One
Question 3: Where do sick calls occur? Can you give more details on how sick calls are handled?
Answer 3: Sick Call occurs in the exam room in the medical unit. Inmates are brought down from the housing units by staff and examined by the Doctor. The inmates can request to see the Doctor by completing requests on the tablet. The Nurses monitor the request and schedule sick call. Emergencies are responded to in the housing units where they occur, they are not part of sick call.
Question 4: What is LCSO’s current staffing level for Correctional Officers?
Answer 4: LCSO has a total of 192 Correctional Officer positions. Currently, there are a total of 132 positions filled and 60 positions open.
Question 5: How many hours is Physical Therapy on site?
Answer 5: There is no set amount; it varies based on the number of inmates receiving therapy and what has been recommended by a Physician.
Question 6: Can tablets in the pods be used to process sick calls?
Answer 6: Yes, sick call requests can be submitted on the tablets provided in the pods by Viapath.
4/7
Question 7: Please provide a copy of the current contract.
Answer 7: Lake County contracts are made available to the public on our website.
Question 8: Please confirm that the annual cost of the current contract is the same as the budget of $4,405,000.00 provided on page 5 of the RFP. If not, what is the current annual cost of the contract?
Answer 8: The current contract cost is $4,316,208.58.
Question 9: What company is currently utilized for on-site/mobile radiology services?
Answer 9: Trident Care
Question 10: What company is currently utilized for on-site laboratory services (specimen pick-up and testing)?
Answer 10: LabCorp
Question 11: Please provide the condition of the Equipment listed in Exhibit C.
Answer 11: All of the equipment is in good working order.
Question 12: RFP pg. 19. Staffing #5: Please clarify whether this requirement refers to the Site Medical Director or the Proposer’s Regional/Corporate Medical Director assigned for oversight on this contract. Our company cannot hire site contract staff, including the Site Medical Director until after the contract is awarded; therefore, we cannot provide a resume for this position within the proposal. Will the County accept the Site Medical Director’s position description instead?
Answer 12: Yes
Question 13: RFP pg. 20. E Implementation Plan states: “Provide information on how you manage the website, software, and transactions.” Please clarify what information the County is requesting here. Is this in regard to the EMR system?
Answer 13: Yes, but this statement refers to any websites, software, and transactions that are required to be utilized during the implementation phase.
Question 14: Will the County offer internet service via a dedicated network or through a shared network?
Answer 14: The county provides PC’s and network logins to the jail medical vendor. Therefore, each person needs to sign the county computer policy and complete security awareness training provided by the county. All network traffic will go through the county network and be subject to county/sheriff policy.
Question 15: We understand that doctor sick call is conducted in the exam room in the medical unit. Is nurse sick call conducted in the medical unit or within the living units?
Answer 15: Nurse sick call is conducted in the Housing Units.
Question 16: Please provide a list of current healthcare and mental health care staff vacancies by position.
Answer 16: RN = 2, LPN = 1, Mental Health Professionals = 2
Question 17: RFP pg. 8. F Medication Administration and Management. The last paragraph states: “In addition, on rare occasions, the Proposer’s medical staff pick up and pay for prescription medication. Provider must specify how these medications will be obtained.” Please clarify what is meant by this requirement. Can you provide an example of such rare occurrence?
Answer 17: In the event that an emergency medication is required that is not in stock at our facility, Walgreens in Waukegan is utilized for emergency prescriptions.
Question 18: Who is responsible for the cost of the AEDs and the PPE/Ready Kits?
Answer 18: The awarded vendor is responsible for the cost of the AEDs and the PPE/Ready Kits.
Question 19: Is the County willing to move all LPNs to 12 hour shifts to match the shifts of the RNs?
Answer 19: We expect the awarded vendor to make the decision on what is required based on our scope of work outlined in the RFP. We do not want to tell vendors what to submit in their proposal. We expect the responding vendors to propose what they feel, in their professional opinion, is the best for the County.
Question 20: In regards to the last two paragraphs on page 37 of Exhibit A Invoice Withholds/Contractual Penalties, we understand and agree with the County’s position on not paying for unfilled hours. If the Contractor is covering all its positions when vacant or the incumbent is absent, however, the Contractor will be double-paying for positions with PRN staff or overtime and also with the required withhold credit for the hours not worked when the position is vacant or when the employee is on authorized time off. Will the County consider changing this wording to requiring withhold credits for hours not covered? Or is this the intent of the current wording?
Answer 20: That is the intent of the language used in the RFP. All shifts must be covered. If the awarded vendor fills a position with someone qualified to cover the shift, no withhold will be assessed.
4/11
Question 21: Is the County willing to comply with new 2025 NCCHC MAT guidelines of offering both continuation and induction of all MAT medications for those with OUD that desire treatment?
Answer 21: Yes, we are willing to comply with the 2025 NCCHC MAT guidelines.
Question 22: The second sentence of the second paragraph of Section F states that the Proposer is responsible for all costs of all required prescribed medications, except HIV, however, the last sentence of the second paragraph on Page 8 it states that the cost of pharmaceuticals, prescription and OTC shall be passed through to the County. Can you clarify this discrepancy?
Answer 22: This is not a discrepancy – these costs should be treated as a passthrough to the County. The awarded vendor will be responsible for initial payment of all pharmaceuticals, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. The cost of those medications would then be passed on to the Sheriff’s Office via an invoice.
Question 23: The RFP states that the Proposer shall assume financial responsibility of hospital costs, and that pharmaceutical costs and some third-party bills for specialty services are passed through to the LCSO. However, the pricing table on page 34 has a line item for offsite and pharmacy and does not include a line item for hospital costs.
To ensure it is fully understood what costs the Proposer is responsible for, could the LCSO please confirm if the services listed below are passed-through, reimbursed, or the responsibility of the Proposer?
- Hospital (as described on page 9, item I)
- Offsite and specialty Care (as described on page 9-10, items I and J)
- Pharmaceuticals (as described on page 7-8, item F)
Answer 23: The awarded proposer would be responsible for all costs, and they would then be passed through to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The pricing table provided was intended to provide data to all interested parties. The awarded vendor can modify the payment tables provided with the invoices.
Question 24: The language contained in Exhibit E appears to imply that the Contractor will be required to indemnify LCJ for their negligence, malpractice, etc., and not solely the actions of the Contractor. Please clarify if that is the intent of the County with this language.
Answer 24: To clarify, the correct language should be “as an additional with respect to any all lawsuits, claim….”. If there are still questions surrounding the insurance language, please consult with your legal representative regarding indemnification and insurance provisions.
Question 25: Please clarify if the County or the successful Contractor will be responsible for contracting for hazardous waste disposal.
Answer 25: The awarded vendor will be responsible for the hazardous waste disposal.
Question 26: Please provide the HIPAA Agreement referenced on RFP page 17 in Section N. HIPAA. Is this Agreement required to be included in Proposal submissions?
Answer 26: Please disregard this statement in Section N. HIPPA: “Proposer will be required to execute the HIPPA agreement included with the RFP”.