Questions and Answers for enter Support Services Mental Health Consultant for Pine Ridge JC.pdf

Questions and Answers for enter Support Services Mental Health Consultant for Pine Ridge JC, Solicitation 12318727Q0003 – 10/22/2026

1. Hours. The Schedule of Items (page 1) lists 520 hours for each period. PWS 5.2.1 (page 22) describes a reasonable schedule as 20 hours per week, and the QASP performance requirements table (Section 4, page 5) refers to personnel for 40 hours of work per week. Please confirm that quotes should be priced at 520 hours per period.

Please follow the schedule of items 520 hours – (PWS and QASP are hours of range and COR may need to adjust those hours as needed)

2. Period of performance. The Award Type paragraph (page 11) states that the total duration of the contract shall not exceed one year, while the Schedule of Items shows a base year and four option years through October 31, 2031. Please confirm the intended term, whether all option years will be evaluated, and whether FAR 52.217-9 will be included.

Updated to state 5 years and the Government is not obligated to exercise options.

52.217-8 and 52.217-9 added in the solicitation and uploaded to SAM.GOV

3. Quote contents. Page 12 states that offerors must provide the following minimum information and documentation with their quotations, but no list follows. Please list the required contents of the quote, for example a technical narrative, the proposed Center Mental Health Consultant's resume and license, references, page limits, and required forms.

Please follow the acceptable and unacceptable requirements; in addition - Attachment 5- The CMHC provider must have an active, unrestricted license as a Clinical Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker and must be an independent practitioner in the State where services are provided. All services provided must be in accordance with state regulations.

The Center Mental Health Counselor is considered key personnel and must meet these minimum requirements. The job corps program is run by the Department of Labor (DOL).

Key personnel shall be approved by DOL prior to award or replacement:

7.1.1. Have an active, unrestricted license to practice as an independent practitioner in the state where the center is located and does not require supervision to practice.

7.1.2. Minimum 1 year of experience as a licensed independent practitioner providing assessment and treatment services to adolescents and young adults.

7.1.3. Maintain licensing requirements/certification/accreditation and required insurance coverage at a minimum of $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate during the entire performance period with proof being submitted to the CO upon request

7.1.4. Agree to a criminal background check, and drug testing, as a prerequisite for contract performance, if determined necessary by the CO.

7.1.4.1. Information obtained through the background check may be used in determining contractor’s qualification for this contract. Information regarding a person’s race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), or age will not be evaluated or have any impact on the determination of qualifications for this contract.

7.1.4.2. Government may terminate the contract if the background check is determined to be unacceptable or if any aspect would jeopardize the health and safety of the students.

Key personnel timing. PWS 7.1 (page 23) states that key personnel shall be approved by DOL prior to award or replacement. Should the proposed consultant be named in the quote, or will the selected offeror submit the candidate for DOL approval after evaluation?

If after, how many days will be allowed?

The Government may utilize any references provided by the Contractor, along with information available from past contracts/orders with the USDA and any information found using sources such as Federal Government sources or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to determine if the Contractor has acceptable or neutral Past Performance.

Dept. of Labor has to review all candidates before working on center. This process can take anywhere between 24 hours and a week.

4. Start date. The base period begins November 1, 2026. If DOL approval, the background check and PIV enrollment are not complete by that date, will performance begin on the date the approved consultant is cleared to report?

Dept. of Labor has to review all candidates before working on center. This process can take anywhere between 24 hours and a week.

Timeline for acquiring a PIV card can take up to a month. However, it is not a requirement to start work.

Proof of insurance is needed at time of award.

Schedule flexibility is limited but not restricted. The center needs come first. If the center can meet the student needs with a slight change in schedule, it will be considered.

However, constant changing of schedule is not permitted.

5. Requirement history. Is the Center Mental Health Consultant requirement currently included in purchase order 12318726P0069, awarded under Solicitation 12318726Q0147? If so, will an award under this solicitation replace that portion? If the position is currently vacant, please confirm the anticipated start date.

No it is not; this is a new requirement. Anticipated start date is 11/1/26, as indicated in the schedule of items.

6. Substitute personnel. PWS 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 (page 22) require an approved substitute for extended or planned absences, approved by the national and regional offices before work is performed. Should a substitute be identified in the quote, and how long does that approval normally take?

Upon award, the company POC must provide the favorable background check information for those contracted individuals that are being considered. The company POC will work with the on-site POC to ensure required actions are taken to provide the contractor employee access to specific areas or access cards are requested for those contractor employees who will require access to the government network.

7. Required documentation: The Technical Capability section states that offerors "must provide the following minimum information and documentation," but no list follows. What documents must the quote include for the proposed CMHC (for example, resume, license, proof of insurance, letter of commitment)?

The Center Mental Health Counselor is considered key personnel and must meet these minimum requirements. The job corps program is run by the Department of Labor (DOL).

Key personnel shall be approved by DOL prior to award or replacement:

7.1.1. Have an active, unrestricted license to practice as an independent practitioner in the state where the center is located and does not require supervision to practice.

7.1.2. Minimum 1 year of experience as a licensed independent practitioner providing assessment and treatment services to adolescents and young adults.

7.1.3. Maintain licensing requirements/certification/accreditation and required insurance coverage at a minimum of $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate during the entire performance period with proof being submitted to the CO upon request

7.1.4. Agree to a criminal background check, and drug testing, as a prerequisite for contract performance, if determined necessary by the CO.

7.1.4.1. Information obtained through the background check may be used in determining contractor’s qualification for this contract. Information regarding a person’s race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), or age will not be evaluated or have any impact on the determination of qualifications for this contract.

7.1.4.2. Government may terminate the contract if the background check is determined to be unacceptable or if any aspect would jeopardize the health and safety of the students.

Key personnel timing. PWS 7.1 (page 23) states that key personnel shall be approved by DOL prior to award or replacement. Should the proposed consultant be named in the quote, or will the selected offeror submit the candidate for DOL approval after evaluation?

If after, how many days will be allowed?

The Government may utilize any references provided by the Contractor, along with information available from past contracts/orders with the USDA and any information found using sources such as Federal Government sources or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to determine if the Contractor has acceptable or neutral Past Performance.

Dept. of Labor has to review all candidates before working on center. This process can take anywhere between 24 hours and a week.

8. License type: PWS 7.1.1 requires an active, unrestricted license to practice independently without supervision. Attachment 5 lists a Clinical Psychologist or LCSW and states other licenses may be considered with a waiver. Is a Nebraska Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) acceptable? If a waiver is required, how and when should it be requested?

Please see the answer to question#1 and DOL will make the determination on qualification.

Upon award, the company POC must provide the favorable background check information for those contracted individuals that are being considered. The company POC will work with the on-site POC to ensure required actions are taken to provide the contractor employee access to specific areas or access cards are requested for those contractor employees who will require access to the government network.

9. Hours and term: The Schedule of Items lists 520 hours per year (about 10 hours per week), while PWS 5.2.1 describes a reasonable schedule as 20 hours per week.

Please confirm the required weekly hours. Also, the solicitation states the total duration shall not exceed one year, while the Schedule includes four option years.

Please confirm whether the option years apply and should be priced.

Please follow the schedule of items 520 hours – (PWS and QASP are hours of range and COR may need to adjust those hours as needed).

Updated to state 5 years and the Government is not obligated to exercise options.

52.217-8 and 52.217-9 added in the solicitation and uploaded to SAM.GOV

10. Award date and DOL approval: Quotes are due October 26 and performance begins November 1, and PWS 7.1 requires DOL approval of the CMHC prior to award. What is the anticipated award date? If DOL approval of the proposed CMHC is still pending on November 1, will the start date be adjusted?

Dept. of Labor has to review all candidates before working on center. This process can take anywhere between 24 hours and a week. Start date is 11/1/2026.

Timeline for acquiring a PIV card can take up to a month. However, it is not a requirement to start work.

Proof of insurance is needed at time of award.

11. Service Contract Labor Standards: FAR 52.222-41 is included, and 52.222-42 lists an equivalent federal rate of $32.42 for a Center Mental Health Counselor.

Does the Service Contract Labor Standards apply to a licensed CMHC performing as an independent subcontractor, or is the position considered exempt as a bona fide professional? If it applies, which wage determination classification should be used, and is the health and welfare fringe benefit ($5.92 per hour) required?

Yes, the Service Contract Labor Standards apply to a licensed CMHC and the Wage Determination is attached.

DOL will determine if the health and welfare fringe benefit ($5.92 per hour) is required.

12. Substitute personnel: PWS 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 require an approved substitute during extended or planned absences. Must the quote name a substitute CMHC, or may a substitute be submitted for approval after award?

Upon award, the company POC must provide the favorable background check information for those contracted individuals that are being considered. The company POC will work with the on-site POC to ensure required actions are taken to provide the contractor employee access to specific areas or access cards are requested for those contractor employees who will require access to the government network

13. Prior contract history: Is there an incumbent or a previous contract for this requirement? If so, can you share the previous contract number or historical hours used?

No it is not; this is a new requirement. Anticipated start date is 11/1/26, as indicated in the schedule of items.

14. Remote work: Can any tasks, such as applicant file reviews or required DOL trainings and webinars, be performed remotely, or must all 520 hours be performed on site? Onsite

15. Quote format: Other than the signed Schedule of Items, are any specific forms, page limits, or formats required for the quote? Also, the pricing instructions refer to "pickup from and delivery back to the specified locations." Please confirm this language does not apply to this requirement.

• The maximum size of any individual file attachment must not exceed 20 Megabytes (20 MB).

• Total cumulative email size (including all attachments and email server encoding overhead) must not exceed 25 Megabytes (25 MB).

• Pick up and delivery do not apply to this requirement.

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