R420--Brand Name Only - American Nurses Credentialing Center - Pathway to Excellence. Four (4)-Year IDIQ Contract Unrestricted

Active

Contract Opportunity

Erie VA Medical Center
Pathway to Excellence
STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)
1. Contract Title.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation for the Erie VA Medical Center, 135 E. 38th Street, Erie PA 16504.

2. Background.
The Erie VA Medical Center (EVAMC) desires the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Pathway to Excellence (PTE) designation. Pathway to Excellence continually strives to stay relevant with the evolving healthcare landscape. The Commission on PTE ensures that the Pathway Standards and Elements of Performance integrate new concepts, knowledge, evidence-based practices, and healthcare trends.
Definitions or Acronyms:
ANCC American Nurses Credentialing Center
EOP Element of Performance elements of the PTE standards that are essential to an ideal nursing practice environment.
ODF Organizational Demographic Form
OO Organizational Overview
PAR Pathway Applicant Registration
PTE Pathway to Excellence
VA Department of Veterans Affairs
EVAMC Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center

3. Scope.

The PTE Program recognizes healthcare organizations and long-term care institutions for positive practice environments where nurses excel. Pathway-designated organizations create and sustain this positive practice environment by nursing involvement in interprofessional collaboration and shared decision-making at all levels. To qualify, organizations meet six practice standards essential to an ideal nursing practice environment and optimal patient outcomes: Shared Decision-Making, Leadership, Safety, Quality, Well-Being, and Professional Development.

Applicants conduct a review process to fully document the integration of those standards in the organization s practices, policies, and culture by writing to these six standards and submitting them for review and approval. Pathway designation can only be achieved if nursing staff validate that their organization meets the Pathway Standards via data and evidence submitted and an independent, confidential survey. This critical element exemplifies the theme of empowering and giving nurses a voice.

Pathway to Excellence Program s appraisal process, as indicated in the Pathway Manual, incorporated herein by reference, controls the review, decision-making, and designation processes for the PTE Program designation (if awarded). All PTE requirements must be maintained through the application phase, the review phase, and designation, including all payment of fees when due. Failure to pay fees as outlined in this solicitation or arrangement to pay fees will result in action against applicant or Pathway-designated organization s credential, up to and including denial of application or revocation. Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information is grounds for denial of the application at any point during the review process or whenever this information is discovered.

Nurses trust that Pathway-designated organizations respect nursing contributions, support professional development, and nurture optimal practice environments. Communities desire satisfied nurses because they are better equipped to deliver high quality care.
4. Specific Tasks.

ANCC s PTE program office staff manages and coordinates all aspects of the registration and appraisal process. At an assigned date, the EVAMC will submit to ANCC the following documents:
Phase 1: Pathway Applicant Registration (P.A.R.). June 1, 2025
The Pathway Program Office will assign a Senior Analyst.
ANCC will grant EVAMC access to the ANCC Pathway Portal and Learning Community database.
Submission of an application or completion of processes outlined in the Pathway manual does not, in and of itself, guarantee Pathway to Excellence designation.
Phase 2: Document Submission and Appraisal June 1, 2026
EVAMC completes Organizational Demographic Form (ODF)
EVAMC completes Organizational Overview (OO)
Submit evidence that all Elements of Performance (EOP) are met, a Table of Contents and Glossary.
Phase 3: Pathway Nurse Survey Summer/Fall 2026
Upon successful document review and approval by ANCC, a confidential online survey is administered by ANCC to EVAMC Nursing staff to validate the data and evidence submitted in the Document Submission. ANCC shall review such survey information and the Commission on PTE makes the final decision regarding designation.
ANCC will provide written confirmation of the online Nurse Survey dates with additional instructions for completion.
ANCC shall review such online survey information and provide the EVAMC with the PTE designation if the submitted information is validated.
EVAMC Nursing staff will access the online survey via a link provided to the organization by the PTE office. The link will be accessible only through the confirmed survey dates.
The PTE program office will provide access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey.
Phase 4: Designation Decision Summer/Fall 2026
After the designation decision, the Commission on PTE will provide a summary report of the results of the online Nurse Survey.
Program designation of the EVAMC is awarded by ANCC over a four-year period after completion of a successful Document Submission and Appraisal and online Nurse Survey.
Contract will include 3 additional option years to maintain the designation if awarded for the period.
The EVAMC understands and agrees that the applicant registration fee and optional fees such as the extension fee (if applicable), appraisal preparation cancellation fee (if applicable), and re-administration of survey fee (if applicable) will continue to be separate and in real time in addition to the general appraisal fee indicated. In the event EVAMC opts to appeal an adverse action, EVAMC shall follow procedures outlined by ANCC Commission on Pathway to Excellence (COPE) appeals process.
5. Performance Monitoring (if applicable).

The VA PTE Subject Matter Expert and the Associate Director, Patient Care Services will monitor vendor performance throughout the contract period of performance. The following performance metrics must be met:
ANCC will provide the EVAMC access to the Pathway Portal and Learning Community database.
A confidential survey is administered by ANCC to EVAMC Nursing staff with written confirmation of the Nurse Survey dates and additional instructions for completion.
A Survey link is to be provided to the EVAMC by the Pathway to Excellence office during confirmed survey dates.
ANCC will provide access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey
ANCC shall review such online survey information and provide the EVAMC with the PTE designation if the submitted information is validated by the agreed timeline and thresholds.
ANCC shall provide a summary report of the results of the online Nurse Survey.
6. Privacy and Security Requirements.
The contractor employees shall not have access to VA sensitive or computer information and will not require routine access to VA Facilities. No background investigation is required. No equipment will be furnished to the contractor as part of this contract.

7. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).

Not applicable

8. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations.

Not applicable

a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work.

Not applicable

b. Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI).

Not applicable

c. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.

Not applicable
9. Risk Control
There are no identified safety, patient safety, or infection control risks to be addressed.

10. Place of Performance.

Work shall be performed at the Erie VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOC) - (Crawford, Warren, Venango, and Ashtabula). This contract does not apply to the McKean CBOC as it is a contracted site and is ineligible for this designation.
Erie VA Medical Center
135 East 38th Street
Erie, PA 16504

Ashtabula Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
2044 Lambros Lane
Ashtabula, OH 44004

Crawford Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
11200 Perry Highway
Meadville, PA 16335

Venango Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
125 Home Depot Drive
Franklin, PA 16323

Warren Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
3 Farm Colony Drive
Warren, PA 16365

No contractor travel is required for this contract.
11. Period of Performance.
The IDIQ contract will be for four (4) ordering Periods. The period of performance shall be: 06/01/2025 thru 05/31/2029.

Year
Period Begins
Period Ends
Ordering Period 1
06/01/2025
05/31/2026
Ordering Period 2
06/01/2026
05/31/2027
Ordering Period 3
06/01/2027
05/31/2028
Ordering Period 4
06/01/2028
05/31/2029

The period of performance/due date is an estimate and may be altered based on the submission of written documentation or submission cycle, and date of designation (if awarded).

12. Delivery Schedule.

ANCC will provide online access to the confidential online Nurse Survey.
ANCC will provide the EVAMC access to weekly progress reports in the Pathway Portal for the first three weeks of the Nurse Survey.
After the designation decision, ANCC will provide a summary report of the results of the Nurse Survey.
Pathway to Excellence Designation Decision

End of Statement of Work

Attachments/Links