36C10X19Q0080-0002001.docx

36C10X19Q0080 A0002

PAGE 1 OF

1. REQUISITION NO.

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NO.

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NO. (No Collect Calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME

9. ISSUED BY

CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

UNRESTRICTED OR

SET ASIDE:

% FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

8(A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ

IFB

RFP

15. DELIVER TO

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY

CODE

17a. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

DUNS:

DUNS+4:

PHONE:

FAX:

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

ITEM NO.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

QUANTITY

UNIT

UNIT PRICE

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only) 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _______________

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________________________ OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DATED ________________________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

SET FORTH HEREIN IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER) 30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR PRINT) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

(REV. 2/2012)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

101-19-2-1977-0001

36C10X19Q0080 03-29-2019 Vincent Bender (vincent.bender@va.gov) 240-215-0697 04-22-2019

8:00 AM ET

Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Frederick MD 21703

X

541611 $15 Million

X

N/A

See B.4 Performance Work Statement (PWS)

21703

Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Frederick MD 21703

See B.2 Invoicing Instructions

See CONTINUATION Page The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration Homeless Program

See Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and B.4 Performance Work Statement (PWS) for details.

All quotes and questions shall be submitted in accordance with Section E below.

Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price

TIERED EVALUATION - set-aside based on an order of priority as established in 38 U.S.C. 8127.

Tiers:

1. Verified SDVOSBs

2. Verified VOSBs

3. Other Small Businesses

4. Large Businesses

See CONTINUATION Page

101-3680152-1977-805600-2580-SP3CBPFA1

Christina Heller Contracting Officer

Table of Contents

SECTION B - CONTINUATION OF SF 1449 BLOCKS

B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

1. Contract Administration: All contract administration matters will be handled by the following individuals:

a. CONTRACTOR: TBD

b. GOVERNMENT: Contracting Officer 36C10X Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

Contracting Officer (CO):

Christina Heller Christina.Heller@va.gov 240-215-1719

Contracting Specialist (CS):

Vincent Bender vincent.bender@va.gov 240-215-0697

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR):

TBD

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS: The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the Solicitation numbered and dated as follows:

B.2 INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Submission - In accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests, all invoices shall be submitted electronically. A copy of all invoices shall be provided to the contracting POC identified in section B.1.

Tungsten (fka OB10) ELECTRONIC INVOICE SUBMISSION FSC e-INVOICE PROGRAM THRU AUSTIN PORTAL

FSC MANDATORY ELECTRONIC INVOICE SUBMISSION FOR AUSTIN PAYMENTS

Contracting POC: TBD COR (Contracting Officers Representative): TBD Contract/Task Order Number: TBD Purchase Order Number: TBD

Vendor Electronic Invoice Submission Methods:

Fax, email and scanned documents are not acceptable forms of submission for payment requests. Electronic form means an automated system transmitting information electronically according to the accepted data transmissions below.

· VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System – The Financial Services Center (FSC) in Austin, TX uses a third-party contractor, Tungsten, to transition vendors from paper to electronic invoice submission. Please go to this website: http://www.tungsten-network.com/US/en/veterans-affairs/ to begin submitting electronic invoices, free of charge.

· A system that conforms to the X12 electronic data interchange (EDI) formats established by the Accredited Standards Center (ASC) chartered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The X12 EDI Web site is http://www.x12.org.

Vendor e-invoice Set-up information:

Please contact Tungsten at the phone number or email address listed below to begin submitting your electronic invoices to the VA Financial Services Center in Austin, TX for payment processing. If you have questions about the payment status of a properly submitted invoice, the e-invoicing program, or Tungsten, please contact the FSC at the phone number or email address listed below.

· Tungsten e-Invoice setup information: 1-877-489-6135

· Tungsten e-Invoice email: VA.Registration@tungsten-network.com

· FSC e-Invoice contact information: 1-877-353-9791

· FSC e-Invoice email: vafsccshd@va.gov

· http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp

COMMUNICATIONS:

· https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/11/27/2012-28612/va-acquisition-regulation-electronic-submission-of-payment-requests

· http://fcw.com/articles/2012/11/27/va-epayments.aspx?s=fcwdaily

1. Submission of Proper Invoice - The following data must be included in an invoice for it to constitute a proper invoice:

a. Name and address of the contract

b. Invoice date and number

c. Item number, description, quantity, unit of measure, price, extended price and a total of supplies delivered or services performed.

1. Cumulative billing (per line item and total)

1. Final invoices must be marked ‘FINAL INVOICE’

1. Proof of supplies delivered or services performed MUST also be provided. Signature, printed name and title of Government receiving official and date of delivery or performance period must be included.

INVOICES THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE REJECTED.

1. Contractor Remittance Address -

All payments by the Government to the contractor will be made in accordance with:

[X] 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Other than System for Award Management

1. Invoice shall be submitted in the arrears -

a. Other [X] Upon completion and acceptance by COR

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B.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

Base Period

Option Period 1

Option Period 2

B.4 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Program Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Project –Based Vouchers (PBV) Technical Assistance (TA)

1. BACKGROUND

In November of 2009, the Secretary of VA (Secretary Shinseki) announced a plan to end homelessness among Veterans. The following June of 2010, Opening Doors, the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, was also announced to end Veteran homelessness. Both plans include provisions for affordable housing and the use of permanent supportive housing using a Housing First approach as a part of the primary solution. This plan is also designed to address gaps in the use of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) in homeless services provision, such as Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Trauma-Informed Care. These approaches are key in ensuring access for many chronically and vulnerable homeless Veterans who are often lost to care. This contract is in direct support of meeting the goal of ending Veteran homelessness by ensuring that staff working with project-based Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) have the available resources to provide the best possible care to chronically and vulnerable homeless Veterans. Through HUD-VASH, VA provides case management services to Veterans and facilitates their placement into subsidized housing through the Housing Choice Voucher program administered by HUD. VA’s goals and objectives for this program include housing placement and the provision of supportive services designed to enhance the housing stability and independent living skills of homeless Veteran families occupying permanent housing nationwide. At a minimum, VA case management staff working in HUD-VASH are expected to provide the following supportive services to program participants: housing placement services, case management services, assistance in obtaining VA benefits, and assistance in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits in order to obtain and sustain permanent housing. HUD-VASH case managers are expected to assess each Veteran’s acuity and engage Veterans regarding needed clinical services, which may require progressive engagement.

Project-based HUD-VASH vouchers are a component of HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program. The voucher is associated with the rental unit and does not move with a Veteran when he or she moves to a new unit. The VA has supported the development of project-based HUD-VASH to guarantee housing stock, address the needs of specialized populations, such as Veterans with chronic mental illness, substance use disorder, and chronic health problems that may benefit from a more communal environment, additional case management, and supportive services that are available with multiple HUD-VASH participants living in one location.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Contractor shall assist VA with training, implementation, and dissemination of EBPs in project based HUD-VASH settings. The delivery of community-based case management and supportive services will support the VA’s continued transition to the Housing First model of addressing homelessness by providing support to first house Veterans and then combine housing with supportive services, employment, and treatment.

The Contractor shall provide VA Medical Center (VAMC) HUD-VASH project-based staff with training on case management services, providing a detailed overview of best practices in community based case management. Interventions are also focused on addressing threats to housing stability and on achieving personal goals. The technical assistance provided should be designed to promote VA staffs’ proficiency in delivering services that will enhance the housing stability of Veterans served by the HUD-VASH project-based vouchers. In addition, training will help participants employ CTI techniques designed to prevent homelessness among Veterans who have severe mental illness and histories of homelessness. This is a time-limited intervention that bridges the gap in services during transition from homelessness to permanent housing and full community integration. Technical assistance will focus on how the provision of community based case management in a tenant-based HUD-VASH program differs from that in a project-based one, as well as emphasize the importance of social integration that is often critical for the success of Veterans in HUD-VASH. Training objectives will be consistent with HUD-VASH program goals. Contract staff will travel to each of the medical center sites as identified by VHA. It is intended that this training will be consultative rather than evaluative.

The selected Contractor must have experience managing a national project of this scope; demonstrated knowledge of VHA homeless programs, demonstrated experience in networking with federal, state, and community providers; experience with specialized homeless Veteran populations such as Veterans in rural communities and chronically homeless Veterans; experience with assisting homeless individuals gain competitive employment; experience with community-based housing programs; and experience with project-based housing case management and how it differs from community-based housing programs. In addition, the Contractor must have demonstrated experience guiding agency transformation resulting in improved integration of clinical care and supportive services. The Contractor shall be a professional advisory services agency whose mission is to translate research into transformative human services toward the goal of finding solutions to society’s most difficult social problems such as homelessness, mental illness, and substance use. The Contractor shall employ skilled clinicians, researchers, writers, trainers, and advocates that can translate the newest research into real-world tools, training, and technical assistance. They shall have a history of work with clients in Government, business, and the social services who required training via in-person, and through remote capabilities, such as web-based solutions and innovative products that are practical, accessible, and adaptable to any homeless service setting.

The Contractor shall have experience in, and be capable of performing, the following:

· Experience managing a national project of this scope;

· Demonstrated knowledge of VHA homeless programs;

· Develop Web-based training available on the VA’s network;

· Create program materials including a manual and educational materials to support use of the web-based application;

· Provide site-based technical assistance;

· Provide technical assistance to project-based HUD-VASH sites as requested;

· Work with VA staff, community providers, and other stakeholders to identify barriers to successful application to benefits for eligible Veterans;

· Demonstrated experience guiding agency transformation resulting in improved integration of services and clinical care;

· Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and experience creating linkages with these resources;

· Demonstrated knowledge of project-based housing and the specialized supportive services that are needed to support the success of this type of housing;

· Experience in networking with federal, state, and community agencies and employers;

· Demonstrated ability to communicate program milestones and progress both orally and in writing;

· Extensive experience with specialized homeless Veteran populations such as Female Veterans, OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, elderly Veterans, Veterans in rural communities, Veterans with substance use disorders, and chronically homeless Veterans.

3. PERFORMANCE PERIOD

The period of performance shall be 12 months from date of award, including two 12-month option periods, should it be determined that it’s in the best interest of the Government to exercise them.

4. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Contract performance will be conducted at any of the selected 152 VA Medical Center facilities.

(NOTE: The VA estimates up to 15 on-site analyses, 15 site visits, and up to 7 follow up visits, per year, see Travel)

5. TYPE OF CONTRACT

This is a Firm-Fixed Price task order.

6. SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

A. Tasks and Associated Deliverables

Any references to a quantity of days appearing in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) shall represent calendar days unless specified otherwise. The Contractor shall perform the following:

Task 1: Project Management

Kick-off Meeting/ Contractor Project Management Plan (CPMP)

The Contractor shall coordinate with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) within five business days from date of award to schedule a Project Kick-Off Meeting with the VA Project Manager (PM) and project advisory group comprised of key stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to be identified by the VA PMs. During the kick off meeting, there will be a discussion of the updates required associated with the CPMP.

The Updated CPMP shall include a tentative assignment of Contractor staff to the VAMC sites (i.e., staffing plan) and a schedule for the initial site visits with homeless program staff. A pre-visit plan is also required, which will include a list of local VHA homeless programs, expected participants, a schedule of meetings with individual program staff, and a preliminary list of available competitive employment services and resources. The final staffing plan, site visit plan, and site visit schedule are due 30 days after the date of award.

Task 1 Deliverables

1.1 Updated Contractor Project Management Plan

1.2 Site Visit Plan

1.3 Site Visit Schedule

1.4 One Report of proposed actions with all elements included

Task 2: In Person Analysis

The Contractor shall conduct an on-site analysis at each identified PBV site with an emphasis on the implementation of case management and supportive services in a project-based HUD-VASH setting, Housing First, to what extent there are clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and integration of property management and clinical services.

Please note: Housing First is an evidence-based clinical practice that centers on rapid housing for homeless people with high service needs, and then provides case management and supportive services to sustain housing. What differentiates a Housing First approach from other strategies is that there is an immediate and primary focus on helping individuals and families quickly access and sustain permanent housing.

Task 2 Deliverables

a. The Contractor shall provide recommendations to be included at each site on the implementation and provision of case management and supportive services in a project-based HUD-VASH setting, the implementation of Housing First in a project-based HUD-VASH setting; the definition of roles and responsibilities for the clinical and property management staff; and the integration of property management and clinical services. This will include the implementation of the principles of Housing First in a project-based setting; the role of suicide prevention for clinicians and non-clinicians; how the provision of case management differs in a project-based setting given the focus on higher acuity, higher need Veterans; how to define roles and responsibilities; and how team structure may differ in a project-based setting. There will be one report per site (15 sites) with different sections for individual program recommendations.

Task 3: Site-Based Technical Assistance:

The Contractor will develop specific housing case management and property management/service team collaboration approaches for sites that require intensive targeted assistance to address service delivery barriers. VA does not have authority over the property managers, so collaborative approaches will be dependent on the extent that the property management company wishes to participate. However, if there are non-VA service providers that are also working with Veterans in the project-based settings, they should be invited to participate in all parts of this contact, from the analysis to follow-up. These sites will all be project-based HUD-VASH and may have specialized populations such as Veterans with chronic mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or chronic health conditions.

Topics for site-based technical assistance may include any or all of the following:

· Overview of Housing First and how project-based HUD-VASH should apply principles of the model

· Overview of CTI and how it can be applied to various homeless programs

· How to work with active substance users

· Suicide prevention, including the role of non-clinicians

· Motivational Interviewing to increase engagement in employment services

· How to successfully work with Veterans being served concurrently in multiple homeless programs

· Coordination and communication across all providers, including clinical staff and property management, to best meet Veteran needs

· Coordination and communication with the larger VA system to best advocate for the needs of homeless Veterans

· Collaboration with the community to best meet Veteran needs

· Service delivery plans for specific targeted populations

· Outreach and engagement plans for Veterans coming into and currently admitted to project-based HUD-VASH

· Development of a Tenant Selection Plan

· Development of a Tenant Leadership Plan

· Development of a coordinated management plan that includes the clinical staff, community service providers, and property management

· Development of operating policies and procedures between clinical staff, service providers, and property management

Task 3: Deliverables:

a. The Contractor shall provide site-based technical assistance for up to 15 project-based HUD-VASH sites to ensure that the provision of case management is adequate to meet the needs of the Veterans being served.

b. At least 15 business days prior to the site-based technical assistance, the Contractor will provide a detailed agenda, any presentation materials, and talking points. All site-based technical assistance is expected to be tailored to the needs identified during the in-person analysis already conducted.

c. Within 15 business days after site-based technical assistance, the Contractor will provide a written report of the technical assistance provided specifically as it relates to the development of specific housing case management and property management/service team collaboration to address service delivery barriers. The written report shall provide a summary of the technical assistance topics addressed, how they were addressed, and suggested improvements.

d. The Contractor shall develop recommendations for program changes based on feedback from participants in the technical assistance. Recommendations will be made in writing and cite identified program needs and/or deficiencies.

e. The Contractor shall administer an evaluation survey for the site-based technical assistance that includes the following parameters.

· Questions on Participant satisfaction – on a scale from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree.

· Questions concerning content - Fair and Unbiased

· Questions on how participant was notified about the learning activity

· Questions on how much was learned as a result of participation in the activity

· Questions on if you feel you can be successful applying what you learned from this activity

· Questions on what was most useful about the activity

· Questions on what was least useful about the activity

· Questions on how this activity can be improved to make it more relevant to your job

f. The Contractor shall provide a summary of the survey results with the written report for the site-based technical assistance.

Task 4: Project-Based HUD-VASH Voucher Calls

The Contractor shall provide HUD-VASH project-based staff, and community partners and property managers to the extent they wish to participate, with a monthly call providing a detailed overview of best practices in project-based housing case management and retention. Best practices may include, but are not limited to, staffing models, provision of case management, application of Housing First principles, crisis management, social integration, and employment. In addition, the calls will help participants learn techniques designed to prevent seriously mentally ill Veterans from becoming homeless again as they transition from homelessness to permanent housing. It is important to know that some HUD-VASH project-based staff may work with scattered-site projects, while others may work with single-site so calls should address the differences between these two types of project-based housing and how clinical case management may differ. The assistance provided in the delivery of these calls should be designed to promote VA staffs’ proficiency in delivering services to Veterans in project-based housing that will enhance housing stability. All web-based trainings must be 508 compliant.

a. The Contractor shall provide virtual training to all HUD-VASH project-based staff, and community partners and property managers to the extent they wish to participate.

b. The web-based training will occur on a monthly basis and will be available through the Adobe Connect/VA Employee Education Series (EES) process. The Contractor shall meet all EES development requirements for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) cred and will work with a VA accreditation team.

c. The Contracted shall host up to 12 web-based training on the provision of project-based HUD-VASH case management. Content may include, but is not limited to:

· Safety in the Field

· Suicide Prevention

· Team Structure

· Working with community partners and property managers

· Sustainment in HUD-VASH

· Housing First

Task 4: Deliverables:

a. The Contractor shall be responsible for planning and coordinating all pre-work requirements (purpose statement, target audience, outcome and objectives, pre-test and post-test items, learning objectives, etc.) and responses to questions/follow up actions after each event.

b. The Contractor shall work with VA staff to identify appropriate times and dates, preparing handouts and materials, and providing all needed documentation to EES including Disclosure forms, Consent to Use Picture and/or Voice (VA10-3203), brief bio to be read as introduction, and CV or resume meeting the accreditation requirement to demonstrate the appropriate background and/or expertise.

c. The contractor shall conduct 12 webinars on project-based HUD-VASH best practices and other relevant topics approved by VA.

Task 5: Follow-Up Visits

During the base year of performance, Contractor shall provide one follow-up visit to selected sites six months after the technical assistance visit to assess progress with specialized project-based case management services as well as integration of collaborative services between the case management team and the property management team.

Schedule visits with HUD-VASH project-based staff at each medical center where training and consultation were previously provided.

· Meet with all staff involved in HUD-VASH project-based services and property management.

· Review implementation of Outreach and engagement plans for Veterans coming into and currently admitted to project-based HUD-VASH.

· Review implementation of service delivery plans for specific targeted populations.

· Review implementation of a Tenant Selection Plan.

· Review implementation of a Tenant Leadership Plan.

· Review implementation of Housing First principles.

· Review the implementation of suicide prevention practices for clinical and non-clinical providers.

· Review implementation of a coordinated management plan that includes the clinical staff, community service providers, and property management to the extent that community service providers and property managers are willing to participate.

· Review implementation of operating policies and procedures between clinical staff, service providers, and property management to the extent that community service providers and property managers are willing to participate.

· Document improvements.

· Provide written site-specific recommendations for further improvements in the provision of case management, supportive services, and integrated property management to Veterans in project-based HUD-VASH.

During the Option Period, all sites having been identified as likely to benefit from additional in-person training will receive one site visit followed by mentoring phone calls or web-based meetings.

Task 5 Deliverables:

a. Written follow-up report for each site visited, documenting level of implementation of the plan outlined and any outstanding recommendations.

Task 6: Documentation and Contractor Status Reports

Contractor shall provide a written project summary which documents all training, education and mentoring activities as described above. The final report will be completed in close collaboration with designated homeless program office (HPO) staff.

The Contractor shall be responsible for providing VA with documentation demonstrating that technical assistance objectives are being met throughout the contract period. VA intends to conduct both periodic fiscal and performance reviews of the selected Contractor.

Contractor services documentation shall include the following information:

· The VAMC names and locations of training sites;

· Names of all staff who participated in planning, mentoring and consultation services;

· Dates mentoring, and consultation services were provided;

· Specific mentoring and consultation services provided;

· Names and titles of additional VAMC staff who participated in mentoring and consultation services;

· Number of in-person and phone contacts made with non-VA employment programs and resources increase available services for homeless Veterans;

· Dates of follow-up mentoring calls and name(s) of staff receiving consultation;

· Recommended follow up steps for the homeless services continuum at the medical facility based on mentoring and consultation services.

· Summary of identified best practices or promising practices at the medical facility.

Task 6 Deliverables:

The Contractor shall be responsible for submitting monthly status reports describing activities completed to date and immediate next steps.

a. The Contractor is required to provide the COR monthly written progress reports. These are due to the COR by the second workday following the end of each calendar month throughout the project's duration.

b. The progress reports must cover all work completed during the preceding month and must present the work to be accomplished during the subsequent month. The report will also identify any problems that arose during that period and will include a statement explaining how the problems were resolved. The report must also identify any problems that have arisen but have not been completely resolved and include an explanation/resolution.

c. Written Project Summary

7. DELIVERABLES

Note: Days used in the table below refer to business days unless otherwise stated. Deliverables with due dates falling on a weekend or holiday shall be submitted the following Government work day after the weekend or holiday.

If for any reason a deliverable cannot be delivered as scheduled, the Contractor is required to submit a written request for a time extension to the Contracting Officer (CO) and the COR. The request must include the reason(s) for the delay, the impact on the overall project, and the impact on the cost of the project. The CO, after consultation with the COR, will consider each request on the basis of its merits. The Contractor is required to proceed as originally scheduled until such modification (if required) is issued. The CO is the only official authorized to make changes to the contract.

The Contractor shall provide the specific deliverables described below within the performance period stated in this PWS. Where a written milestone deliverable is required in draft form, the VA Program Manager will complete a review of the draft deliverable and provide feedback within ten business days from date of receipt, unless otherwise specified. If feedback is not received within this window, the Contractor shall contact the COR to verify receipt of the draft deliverable and request this feedback in order to address concerns and prepare the final deliverable. The VA Program Manager will provide approval for each final deliverable, or rejection of the final deliverable with summary reasons, in writing within five business days. Following notification of Government rejection, the Contractor has five days to resubmit the revised deliverable.

A. Schedule of Deliverables

All written deliverables and work products shall be phrased in layperson language. Statistical and other technical terminology shall not be used without providing a glossary of terms. All deliverables, including reports, white papers, memos, and meeting notes; shall be within acceptable professional standards. All deliverables shall be well-written, have a proper layout, and be professional in quality. Deliverables pertaining to acquisitions shall be thoroughly researched utilizing documents from professional and trade journals when applicable.

All deliverables listed in the Schedule of Deliverables are draft deliverables and shall be submitted to and accepted by the COR for invoicing before completion of the final deliverable. The VA Project Manager (PM) or designated VA manager will concur with the content of the deliverable and notify the COR of concurrence prior to the COR accepting the deliverable for invoicing. Unless otherwise stated, the VA will complete its review of the first draft of a deliverable within seven business days from date of receipt. If the VA does not provide comments to the first draft within seven business days, then the deliverable will be accepted for invoicing.

Counting of business days starts on the business day following the due date; if a business day falls on a federal holiday as published on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website, then the following business day is used. The COR will track the dates of all deliverable submissions. The Contractor shall not invoice a deliverable until email confirmation from the COR accepting the deliverable has been provided.

If a deliverable listed in the Schedule of Deliverables is rejected by the VA PM or designated manager for quality issues, then the VA PM or designated manager must notify the COR of the reason(s) for rejection. Then the COR must state in writing to the Contractor the reason(s) for rejection.

(per deliverable) Delivery Date (per deliverable)

1.2 Site Visit Plan

1.3 Site Visit Schedule

1.4 Report of Proposed Actions

1; electronic copy

1; electronic copy

Due one week after award

Due 10 business days after award

Due 20 business days after award

Due 30 business days after award

2. In-Person Analysis

Due 10 business days after site visit

2. Written summary of TA topics, how they were addressed, and suggested improvements after TA.

3. Recommendations for program changes.

4. Conduct Survey

5. Evaluation Survey Summary 15; electronic copy

15; electronic copy

15 business days prior to TA

15 business days after TA

15 business days after TA

5 business days after TA

15 business days after TA

2. Pre-Work for Calls 1; electronic

12; electronic Within 10 business days of award

3 weeks prior to call

8. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SURVEILLANCE

A. Method and Distribution of Deliverables

The Contractor shall deliver documentation in electronic format, unless otherwise directed in Section B of the solicitation/contract. Acceptable electronic media include MS Word 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS Excel 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS PowerPoint 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS Project 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS Access 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS Visio 2000/2002/2003/2007/2010, AutoCAD 2002/2004/2007/2010, and Adobe Postscript Data Format (PDF).

File Packaging: Do not compress (zip) files. VA Network Security Operations Center (NSOC) has temporarily blocked email attachments with the “.zip” extension as a mitigation measure against the ongoing world-wide ransomware event impacting many organizations. During this time, .zip file extensions will be permanently stripped from email traffic and will not be recoverable. Due to VA email file size restrictions, the contractor is encouraged to logically separate deliverables into separate emails. If this is necessary, the contractor should attempt to contain complete deliverables within single email transmissions (and not split deliverables). The Contractor is encouraged to review and ensure that sufficient bandwidth is available on their end of the transmission.

9. CONTRACT SURVEILLANCE

The COR will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions:

a) Ensure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract;

b) Perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance;

c) Maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract;

d) Issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications;

e) Monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; and,

f) Coordinate availability of Government furnished property and provide site entry of Contractor personnel.

A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

10. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION (GFI):

The GFI required in the performance of this PWS are email addresses of potential survey respondents that the COR will provide to the Contractor.

11. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE):

The Government will provide the facilities and necessary equipment (computer and projection system) for the work to be performed at the Government site.

12. CHANGES TO THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Any changes to this PWS shall be authorized and approved only through written correspondence from the Contracting Officer. A copy of each change will be kept in a project folder along with all other products of the project. Costs incurred by the Contractor through the actions of parties other than the Contracting Officer shall be borne by the Contractor.

13. TRAVEL

VA estimates that up to 37 official overnight travel trips (from the Contractor’s location), each up to five business days, will be required to be completed by the Contractor. The site-based technical assistance that the Contractor is expected to provide will be conducted in several locations nationwide. The exact locations, at which technical assistance and other activities will occur, will be determined once an award is made.

Costs incurred by Contractor personnel for official company business in performance of this contract are allowable, subject to the limitations contained in FAR 31.205-46. All travel must be performed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and the limitation of funds (not to exceed amounts) specified in this contract. Reimbursement of travel costs, to include per diem, shall not exceed the rates and conditions of reimbursement set forth in the FTR and will be reimbursed based on actual expenses (receipts must be provided). Government per diem rates can be found on the website at www.gsa.gov. All travel requires Government approval/authorization and notification to the COR. No General and Administrative (G&A) fees or costs, and no other fees or costs shall be added to travel expenses. Local travel within a 50-mile radius from the Contractor’s facility is considered the local cost of doing business and will not be reimbursed. This includes travel, subsistence, and associated labor charges for travel time. Travel performed for personal convenience and daily travel to and from work at the Contractor’s facility will not be reimbursed.

The Contractor shall process invoices in accordance with Section B.2 of the solicitation.

14. PERSONNEL

The Contractor shall assign to this contract personnel that by education and training (and, when required, certification or licensure) are qualified to provide the services as denoted in the PWS. The Contractor must identify each labor category to be utilized for each specified CLIN for this effort and provide a description of the skills and experience required per labor category, along with resumes.

1. During the first ninety (90) calendar days of performance, The Contractor shall make NO substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the CO, in writing, within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (3) below. After the initial ninety (90) calendar days period of the contract, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (3) to the CO at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

2. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the CO. Proposed substitutes shall have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The CO shall notify the Contractor within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decisions on the proposed substitutes.

3. For temporary substitutions where the key person will not be reporting to work for three (3) consecutive work days or more, the Contractor shall provide a qualified replacement for the key person. This substitute shall have comparable qualifications to the key person.

4. Contractor is to have a contingency plan in place to be utilized if personnel leave Contractor’s employment or are unable to continue performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

5. The Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of Contractor if personal or professional conduct jeopardizes patient care or interferes with the regular and ordinary operation of the facility. Breaches of conduct include intoxication or debilitation resulting from drug use, theft, patient abuse, dereliction or negligence in performing directed tasks, or other conduct resulting in formal complaints by patients or other staff members to designated Government representatives. Standards for conduct shall mirror those prescribed by current federal personnel regulations. The Contractor and COR shall deal with issues concerning Contractor personnel conduct. The final arbiter on questions of acceptability is the CO.

6. The CO will resolve complaints concerning Contractor relations with the Government employees or patients. The CO is the final authority on validating complaints. If the Contractor is involved and named in a validated patient complaint, the Government reserves the right to refuse acceptance of the services of such personnel. This does not preclude refusal in the event of incidents involving physical or verbal abuse.

A. HHS/OIG

To ensure that the individuals providing services under the contract have not engaged in fraud or abuse regarding Sections 1128 and 1128A of the Social Security Act regarding federal health care programs, the Contractor is required to check the Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, List of excluded individuals/entities on the OIG website (www.hhs.gov/oig) for each person providing services under the contract. Further the Contractor is required to certify in its proposal that all persons listed in the Contractor’s proposal have been compared against the OIG list and are not listed. During the performance of this contract the Contractor is prohibited from using any individual or business listed on the List of Excluded Individual/Entities.

B. Qualifications

1. The Contractor shall assign to this contract personnel that by education and training (and, when required, certification or licensure) are qualified to provide services IAW this PWS (see Section 16 Key Personnel).

2. The qualifications of such personnel shall also be subject to review by the Program Office.

3. The presenters of the training materials to the PM designated audiences shall be licensed clinical professionals.

C. Government Responsibilities

The Government will assure that the Contractor has access to reference materials, program documentation and VA websites as appropriate.

D. Work Hours

Contractor shall provide services covered by this contract as defined herein. The following terms have the following meaning:

1. Contracted services shall be provided for during normal working hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) at intervals that are mutually agreeable to the Contractor, the Program Office and the prospective applicants.

2. Federal Holidays: The Federal Holidays observed by the Federal Government are:

When one (1) of the holidays fall on Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a Federal…