News/Bids/Classifieds
Report: VA Failing to Provide
Timely Mental Health Care
By Kevin Freking
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal investiga-
tors reported Monday that nearly half of the
veterans who seek mental health care for the
first time waited about 50 days before receiving
a full evaluation, a much longer lag-time than
cited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The VA has been saying that 95 percent of
new patients seeking mental health treatment
get a full evaluation within the department’s
goal of 14 days. But an inspector general’s
report said that the department’s tracking is
flawed and that the VA was overstating its suc-
cess when it comes to how quickly veterans get
care.
The department has greatly beefed up staffing
in recent years, but the report also confirmed
that many of the VA’s doctors and other medical
officials don’t believe they have the manpower
necessary to handle the ever-growing veteran
caseload.
“This report confirms what we have long
been hearing, that our veterans are waiting far
too long to get the mental health care they so
desperately need,” said Sen. Patty Murray,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’
Affairs. “It is deeply disturbing and demands
action from the VA.”
The report comes just days after the adminis-
tration announced it was increasing its staff of
mental health workers by roughly 1,900. The
department has been adding staff at a brisk pace
REQUEST FOR BIDS
METRO PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Supplying Steel Drums
RFB 12-2101
The Parks and Environmental Services Department of
Metro, a metropolitan service district organized under the
laws of the State of Oregon and the Metro Charter, locat-
ed at 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736,
is requesting sealed bids for supplying new or recondi-
tioned 55-gallon steel drums.
Bids are due no later than 2:00 p.m., May 1, 2012, in
Metro’s business offices at 600 NE Grand Avenue, Port-
land, OR 97232-2736, Attention: Karen Slusarenko, RFB
12-2101. First Tier Subcontractor and Good Faith Effort
forms are due from all bidders within two (2) hours of the
bid due time or the bid will be considered non-respon-
sive.
The contract contemplated consists of furnishing an esti-
mated 6,000 open top 55-gallon steel drums and 1,700
tight-head 55-gallon steel drums, to be used for bulking
and lab packing hazardous materials received,
processed for disposal, and recycled through two per-
manent facilities and miscellaneous satellite activities.
All bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes which
clearly identify the item(s) as stated in the RFB. Bidding
documents, (including plans and specifications depicting
the work) may be viewed on Metro’s website at
http://www.oregonmetro.gov under “Doing Business
With”, then “Requests for Bids and Proposal”.
All bidders submitting a bid for public improvements over
$50,000 certify that they will pay and comply with the
minimum prevailing wage requirements of ORS
279C.800-279C.870 and if applicable 40 U.S.C.276a.
Metro may accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in
part, or waive irregularities not affecting substantial
rights if such action is deemed in the public interest.
Metro extends equal opportunity to all persons and
specifically encourages minority, women-owned and
emerging small businesses to access and participate in
this and all Metro projects, programs and services.
Metro Code provisions 2.04.100 and 200 require all Bid-
ders to follow and document a specific good faith
outreach effort to State-certified Minority, Emerging and
Women-owned Businesses. Certification of good faith
compliance and a declaration of any actual utilization
pursuant to both programs are required at the time of Bid
Opening.
Metro and its contractors will not discriminate against
any person(s), employee or applicant for employment
based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, religion, physical handicap, political affil-
iation or martial status. Metro fully complies with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and
regulations in all programs and activities. For more infor-
mation, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see
www.oregonmetro.gov.
4-25-12
Page 14 The Portland Skanner April 25, 2012
REQUEST FOR BIDS
METRO PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Electric Utility Carts and Vehicles
RFB 12-2098
The Parks and Environmental Services Department of
Metro, a metropolitan service district organized under the
laws of the State of Oregon and the Metro Charter, locat-
ed at 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736,
is requesting bids for Electric Utility Carts and Vehicles
purchases for the Metro and Metro facilities.
Bids are due no later than 2:00 p.m., May 3, 2012, in
Metro’s business offices at 600 NE Grand Avenue, Port-
land, OR 97232-2736, Attention: Karen Slusarenko, RFB
12-2098. First Tier Subcontractor and Good Faith Effort
forms are due from all bidders within two (2) hours of the
bid due time or the bid will be considered non-respon-
sive.
The contract contemplated consists of the purchase of
electric carts and vehicles. Metro intends to purchase a
minimum of four (4) vehicles with the option to purchase
additional vehicles at a later date.
in recent years. Staffing is up 45 percent since 2005, but
the increase in patients has gone up by almost that
amount. VA officials said the announcement had been
months in the making.
In response to the report, the department released a
statement saying that it was committed to ensuring that
veterans had access to quality mental health care and
that it would review the IG’s findings.
“We have made strong progress, but we need to do
more,” the statement read.
Doctors and other mental health staff told investiga-
tors that they’re particularly having trouble hiring and
‘It is deeply disturbing and
demands action from the VA’
--Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA
retaining psychiatrists. Investigators visited four med-
ical centers. At a medical center in Salisbury, N.C.,
investigators found that patients had to wait an average
of 86 days to see a psychiatrist. Staff told investigators
that the hospital was trying to replace three psychiatrists
who had moved to the private sector within the past
year.
The department plans to add about 1,600 clinicians,
including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social
workers and professional counselors, and about 300
support staff to an existing mental health staff of rough-
ly 20,590. Still, the inspector general is recommending
that the department undertake a comprehensive staffing
analysis to determine just how much vacancies are hurt-
ing its ability to meet its standards for timely mental
health care.
The department says that analysis has been underway
since last year, leading to the decision to increase its
workforce.
Under the VA’s protocol, patients seeking mental
health care are supposed to get an initial evaluation
within 24 hours in case care is urgently needed. Barring
an emergency, the department seeks to provide a full
evaluation within 14 days. However, the VA measures
how long it took to conduct the evaluation, not how long
See VA on page 15
CONSTRUCTION
KICKOFF EVENT
PCC Rock Creek Bond Projects
All bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes which
clearly identify the item(s) as stated in the RFB. Bidding
documents, (including plans and specifications depicting
the work) may be viewed on Metro’s website at
http://www.oregonmetro.gov under “Doing Business
With”, then “Requests for Bids and Proposal”.
All bidders submitting a bid for public improvements over
$50,000 certify that they will pay and comply with the
minimum prevailing wage requirements of ORS
279C.800-279C.870 and if applicable 40 U.S.C.276a.
Metro may accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in
part, or waive irregularities not affecting substantial
rights if such action is deemed in the public interest.
Metro extends equal opportunity to all persons and
specifically encourages minority, women-owned and
emerging small businesses to access and participate in
this and all Metro projects, programs and services.
Metro Code provisions 2.04.100 and 200 require all Bid-
ders to follow and document a specific good faith
outreach effort to State-certified Minority, Emerging and
Women-owned Businesses. Certification of good faith
compliance and a declaration of any actual utilization
pursuant to both programs are required at the time of Bid
Opening.
Metro and its contractors will not discriminate against
any person(s), employee or applicant for employment
based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, religion, physical handicap, political affil-
iation or martial status. Metro fully complies with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and
regulations in all programs and activities. For more infor-
mation, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see
www.oregonmetro.gov.
4-25-12
Date: May 8th, 2012 /
Time: 8:30am – 10:30am
Location: PCC Rock Creek Campus,
Building 9 Event Center
Map: http://www.pcc.edu/about/locations/map/#rc
The session – led by Campus President David Rule
– will take place in the Building 9 Event Center and
will focus on bond-funded improvement projects for
the Rock Creek Campus. This will also be an
M/W/ESB workshop to discuss specific opportuni-
ties. The agenda will include a bond program
overview and Rock Creek projects overview.
CM/GC partners: Fortis Construction, Northwest
Infrastructure, and Faison Construction will discuss
project timelines and opportunities for participation
as well as projects slated for summer construction
starts.
For more information contact:
John Persen at jpersen@pcc.edu OR
Chelle Miller at chellem@fortisconstruct.com
4-25-12