Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Pre-determined, routine stops: Existing courier service pick-up sites/days are identified on the following Courier Client List provided by the RISHL. It is estimated that there are 4,000 routine clinical stops annually and 500 routine environmental stops annually. a. Please note that some sites’ operating days/hours are varied. b. If needed, the RISHL may alter pick-up/delivery timesto accommodate specific testing requirements, particularly during the holiday season. c. While infrequent, the RISHL may adjust the courier schedule during the contract period, including the addition and/or deletion of routine pick-up sites. A one-week notification will be given to the courier if an adjustment is to occur. d. Specimens should be received by the RISHL twice per day. The first drop off to the RISHL shall occur between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and all remaining specimens must be received at the RISHL no later than 2:30 PM on the day retrieved. e. The courier is responsible for creating a daily route that is both cost and time effective and will limit the number of return trips to the RISHL. The daily route(s) will be provided to the RISHL with estimated arrival times at each stop. 2. On-demand: a. On occasion, the RISHL may request a pick-up from a client in an emergency/stat Page 2 of 8 capacity or the RISHL may request supplies to be delivered to a client in an emergency/stat capacity (i.e., within two hours). Since this is a time sensitive situation, courier must be able to fulfill this request as quickly as possible. The RISHL will attempt to give a minimum of 90 minutes notice via phone call to vendor; however, on rare occasions, there may be no advance notice. These situations occur during normal M-F business hours, not after hours or on weekends. b. During the flu season (estimated November through February), the courier will pickup containers/supplies from the RISHL and deliver to the influenza sentinel testing sites AND pick up specimens on an as-needed basis from the approximately 15 sentinel testing sites (list to be provided). Total number of stops, including the initial supply pick-up and delivery, are estimated at 150 annually. (These influenza sentinel sites are usually not the same as the predetermined, routine sites.) The RISHL will notify courier and request pick- up from the site as needed. The RISHL will also schedule pick-up of containers/supplies to be returned to the sentinel sites. Influenza sentinel testing sites will vary according to season and the anticipated scope of an outbreak. If a routine pickup and delivery schedule is needed and established for any sentinel site receiving this service during flu season, then the RISHL reserves the right to transition this function to the pre-determined schedule where one week’s notice will be afforded to the vendor.
