36C10X24Q0184.docx

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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.

UEI:

EFT:

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. NOV 2021)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

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

04/05/2024

36C10X24Q0184

05-06-2024

1:00 PM

EDT

36C10X Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

X

624410 $9.5 Million

N/A

TBD

36C10X Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs

TBD

VAFSC

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center

PO BOX 149971

(see Section B.3 invoicing/payment) Austin TX 78714-8917 1-(877)-489-6135

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) The Office of Women’s Health (OWH)

Veteran’s Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP)

Veterans Affairs Kids Care Services

Response date May 6, 2024, 1:00 PM EST

Jaime Bennett Contracting Officer

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 21703

Department of Veterans Affairs

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Michael Stevens Michael.Stevens5@va.gov

Contracting Officer Jaime Bennett Jaime.Bennett@va.gov

INTRODUCTION:

This RFI is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Strategic Acquisition Center, Frederick, MD (SAC-F), for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation no does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Pursuant to FAR Part 10.002(b)(2)(iii) and (viii) (Market Research), the purpose of this RFI is to understand industry capabilities related to Childcare Services and to collect information to enable further development of a future acquisition strategy to include socio-economic consideration and methods.

Any information received from a contractor in response to this RFI may be used in creating a solicitation. Any information received which is marked with a statement, such as “proprietary” or “confidential,” intended to restrict distribution will not be distributed outside of the Government, except as required by law.

The Government is not responsible for any cost incurred by industry in furnishing this information. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future Request for Proposal (RFP), if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions will become Government property and will not be returned. Interested vendors are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response.

RFI RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: The capability package must be clear, concise, and complete. VA is under no obligation to provide feedback to the company, or to contact the company for clarification of any information submitted in response to this RFI.

Responses are due by 1:00 PM EST, March 6, 2024. Submit your responses directly to Michael Stevens; Michael.Stevens5@va.gov and Jaime Bennett Jaime.Bennett@va.gov.

All responsible sources may submit a response in accordance with the following:

All proprietary/company confidential material shall be clearly marked on every page that contains such.

Please keep your response to no more than 30 pages.

RFI responses must include:

A. Company Information:

1. Company Name;

2. Company Address;

3. Point of contact name;

4. Telephone number;

5. Email address/Website URL;

6. Contact Email;

7. DUNS/CAGE/SAM UEI under which the company is registered in the System For Award Management (SAM);

8. Small Business Administration (SBA) VetCert certification (if applicable);

B. Brief summary describing your company’s technical approach to meeting the requirements, to include:

1. List any previous or existing contracts you have with the VA where similar work was performed to this requirement. Also, is there an existing contract vehicle you recommend be used for this procurement?

1. Responses to questions 1 – 12.

1. If your company is a Small Business, also include the following:

2. The intent and ability to meet set-aside requirements for performance of this effort.

2. Information as to proposed team members, the percentage of work each is to perform, and which PD requirements would be subcontracted.

Is your company currently providing Child Care Service Contract services to (Federal or State) government agencies?

No

Yes. Please specify which agencies/offices:

With the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) providing the space and furnishing the facility, can your company provide childcare services nationwide with multiple facilities?

No

If Yes, how many facilities?

Does your company currently have a VA BPA or other VA contract for Child Care Service Contract services?

No

Yes. Please provide the contract number:

Does your company currently have a GSA contract for Child Care Service Contract services? (Schedule, SIN, NAICS etc.)

No

If Yes, how many facilities?

Have you provided childcare service in the past?

No

If Yes, how many years?

If you are not licensed in a particular state, are you willing to obtain and sustain respective state licensure before submission of a proposal if requested?

No

If Yes, which states do you have existing licensure with, and which states would you need to obtain licensure in?

If one or more of your caregivers is absent or experienced an increased workload, can you provide additional caregivers?

No

If Yes, how many caregivers?

Please identify the maximum daily operational availability of Child Care Service Contract services offered by your company:

5 days/week (Monday - Friday, including extended hours)

6 days/week (Monday - Saturday, including extended hours)

7 days/week (Sunday - Saturday, including extended hours)

None of the above

Please identify the maximum daily operational service hours of Child Care Service Contract services offered by your company:

< 4 hours per day

4 - 8 hours per day

9 - 12 hours per day

13 - 16 hours per day

17 - 20 hours per day

21 - 23 hours per day

24 hours per day

None of the above

Does your company currently have teaming arrangements in place to support Child Care Service Contract services coverage?

Yes

No

Does your company have a project manager on staff who is responsible for project scheduling, coordination, and technical assistance to the VA representative, throughout the contract term, for each VA site location?

Yes

No

We welcome your comments and suggestions on this topic:

(open-ended comments area). Thank you for previewing this company's ability to scale and provide quality childcare service with qualified staff members at each location. Being in the Education industry for over 3 decades and providing childcare for almost 20 years, we feel extremely confident and eager to partner with the VA to immediately begin deployment of services to include proper licensing procedures applicable to each states guideline. We are very interested in learning more about the timelines to full deployment of providing childcare as long as proper timeline for the contract to finalize applicable license for the states identifed in the RFI? Looking forward to supporting and making this an excellent and rewarding experience.

36C10X24Q0184

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

The Office of Women’s Health (OWH)-Veteran’s Child Care Assistance Program (VCAP)

PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK

Veterans Affairs (VA) Kids Care Services

1. Background The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, Deborah Sampson Act of 2020, Section 5107(a): Under section 5107(a) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315; codified at 38 U.S.C. § 1709C), the Department of Veterans Administration, (VA) Office of Women’s Health (OWH) Veterans Child Care Assistance Program has a requirement to provide drop-in child care services to veterans who have mental health appointments or intensive healthcare medical appointments at any VA facility. The services shall include flexible scheduling options for ad hoc childcare while veterans are receiving medical appointments at the VA medical center.

2. Mission:

It is the intent of the OWH to provide hourly, drop-in childcare services for qualified Veterans during their VA medical appointments at VA medical facilities.

3. Scope of Work:

The Contractor shall provide hourly drop-in childcare services for children ages six (6) weeks through twelve (12) years old, and up to eighteen years of age for those children with special needs, during hours that align with the outpatient clinic hours of the facility in accordance with the respective state where VA Kids Care resides and Federal laws pertaining to childcare centers. Any child that is less than 6 weeks old will not be accepted into VA Kids Care. The Contractor shall provide at least one childcare attendant on site at all times who has experience in taking care of special needs children.

The Program consists of temporary care (not to exceed 3 hours) that offers children a variety of activities. The current maximum capacity is dependent on the space available at each facility. However, the daily operational capacity is determined by the age of the children, childcare attendant/child ratios, and veteran needs.

The Contractor shall provide all the manpower, resources, and services necessary to meet the following objectives:

a) Shall provide a minimum of three staff at each VA Kids Care, one of which must be a Child Care Clerk or the equivalent of a supervisor responsibility.

b) Shall provide a childcare attendant clerk who must have experience in caring for special needs children when a childcare center has a special needs child on-site.

c) Shall provide a program manager who is responsible for the entirety of the program from compliance to staffing. For example, one program manager can be a regional director of VA Kids Care where this person can have the oversight of several VA Kids Care in a region.

d) Direct support of the VA Child Care Assistance Program (VCAP).

e) Safe, developmentally appropriate environments and quality care for young children with strict adherence to health, sanitation, safety, fire, and risk management requirements.

f) The Contractor shall have respective state-qualified requirements and experienced management, support, and Child Development Staff, who communicate positively and professionally with children and parents.

g) Environments that positively contribute to children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

h) In case of an emergency where an attendant can’t get in touch with the Veteran to come to VA Kids Care to change their child’s diaper, the Contractor shall change the diaper for the children. This information will be provided in a standard operating procedure (SOP) at a local site for staff to use.

The Government will provide the following:

a) Operational infrastructure such as space and furniture for VA Kids Care.

b) Marketing materials such as pamphlets to let the Veterans know the registration process and VA Kids Care contact information.

c) SOP for emergency procedure in case the Veteran is being admitted to the hospital.

d) Diapers, baby wipes to include but not limited to water, disposable books, and crayons for children to use.

e) When needed, snacks will be provided by the government. However, the Veteran or caregiver must give the snack to the child outside of VA Kids Care to avoid potential allergic reaction to other children. Veteran can ask the childcare attendant for a snack for their children.

f) One local VCAP Manager, who is a government employee, works directly with the national COR and has oversight of the operations for the local VA Kids Care and will act as a local Director. This person reports to the national COR, and local leadership and works together with the Contractor, local leadership, and the program office to ensure VA Kids Care is in compliance with childcare regulations.

4. Type of Contract:

This is a non-personnel service contract. The government intends to award a single award Firm Fixed Price, five (5) year base Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract.

5. Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be one (1) 12 month base period and four (4) 12 month option years.

6. Hours of Operation and Outpatient Clinic Hours:

The Contractor shall provide services typically from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours can vary based on the respective outpatient clinic operation hours. Hours over and beyond shall be addressed via project meetings between the Contractor, the Contracting Officer Representative, (COR). Services will not be offered on national holidays. For example, if the outpatient clinic hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. then the VA Kids Care hours of operations will be 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These hours will allow time for the Veteran to drop off their kids before attending the first appointment and it also allows the Veteran to have time to pick up their children from the last appointment.

7. Veterans Requirements to Receive Child Care Services:

Veterans will be informed of the program via on-site signage, promotion through VA websites, mail, Veterans service organizations, clinical provider referrals, and general inquiries. Veterans will be required to sign an attestation that the Veteran has a medical appointment at the time of child drop-off.

Pending final regulations approval, intensive healthcare appointments are defined as follows:

38 U.S.C. § 17.324 Eligible appointments.

(a) VA will furnish childcare assistance under § 17.324 to an eligible veteran who receives at a VA medical facility:

(1) Mental health care (including a mental health-related appointment and an appointment where mental health is discussed); or

(2) An appointment that does not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) when the eligible veteran or the health care provider determines that the presence of the child may impact the effective provision of health care. Examples include, but are not limited to, an appointment where the presence of a child may be inappropriate, unsafe, or uncomfortable for the child or the eligible Veteran and an appointment where it may be difficult for the eligible veteran to adequately supervise the child for the duration of the appointment.

(b) The following are not eligible appointments under paragraph (a):

(1) Emergency room visits; and

(2) Any appointment requiring sedation.

8. Place of Performance:

The following locations are VA facilities that have committed to opening VA Kids Care. Activation date is to be determined by COR. This list is subject to change.

Staffing Ratio Link

Edith Nourse Rogers VAMC 200 Springs Rd.

Bedford, MA 01730 781-687-2000 Bedford, MA

Link

Jamaica Plain 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130 617-232-9500 Boston, MA

Central Western 421 N. Main St.

Leeds, MA 01053 413-584-4040 Central Western, MA

Link

James J. Peters 130 W. Kingsbridge Rd.

Bronx, NY 10468 718-587-9000 Bronx, NY

3495 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215 716-862-3611 Western New York (Buffalo), NY

Link

79 Middleville Rd.

Northport, NY 11768 631-261-4400 Northport, NY

Link

3900 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-823-5800 Philadelphia, PA

Link

1 University Dr.

Pittsburgh, PA 412-688-6000 Pittsburgh, PA

Link

10 N. Greene St.

Baltimore, MD 21201 410-605-7000 Baltimore, MD

Link

200 Veterans Ave.

Beckley, WV 25801 304-255-2121 Beckley, WV

Link

Charlie Norwood 950 15th Street Augusta, GA 30904 706-733-0188 Augusta, GA

Link

700 19th St. South Birmingham, AL 35233 205-933-8101 Birmingham, AL

215 Perry Hill Rd.

Montgomery, AL 36109 334-272-4670 Central Alabama, AL

1826 Veterans Blvd Dublin, GA 31021 478-272-1210 Dublin, GA

Link

10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, FL 33744 727-398-6661 Bay Pines, FL

Link

2215 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 734-769-7100 Ann Arbor, MI

Link

17273 State Route 104, Chillicothe, OH 45601 740-773-1141

Chillicothe, OH

Link

4100 W. 3rd St.

Dayton, OH 45428 937-268-6511 Dayton, OH

Link

Jesse Brown VAMC 820 S. Damen Ave.

Chicago, IL 60612 312-569-8387 Chicago, IL

5000 S. 5th Ave., Hines, IL 60141 708-202-3030 Hines, IL

4801 Linwood Blvd Kansas City, KS 64128 816-861-4700 Kansas City, KS

Robert J. Dole 5500 E. Kellogg Ave., Wichita, KS 67218 316-685-2221 Wichita, KS

2495 Shreveport Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360 800-375-8387 Alexandria, LA

Link

400 Veterans Ave.

Biloxi, MS 39531 228-523-5000 Gulf Coast (Biloxi), MS

Link

John McClellan 4300 W. 7th St.

Little Rock, AR 72205 501-257-1000 Little Rock. AR

Link

2400 Canal St.

New Orleans, LA 70112 800-935-8387 New Orleans, LA

Link

Overton Brooks 510 E. Stoner Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101 318-221-8411 Shreveport, LA

Link

Thomas Creek 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79106 806-355-9703 Amarillo, TX

Link

George O’Brien Jr 300 Veterans Blvd., Big Spring, TX 79720 432-263-7361 Big Spring, TX

Link

4500 S. Lancaster Rd, Dallas, TX 75216 214-742-8387 Dallas, TX

Link

5001 N. Piedras St., El Paso, TX 79930 915-564-6100 El Paso (Main Campus), TX

Link

5001 N. Piedras St., El Paso, TX 79930 915-564-6100 El Paso (Las Cruces), TX

Link

Rocky Mountain 1700 N. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80045 303-399-8020 Rocky Mountain/Eastern Colorado (Aurora), CO Link

921 Northeast 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-456-1000

Oklahoma City, OK

Link

George Wahlen 500 Foothill Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84148 801-582-1565 Salt Lake City, UT

1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108 800-329-8387 Puget Sound (American Lake), WA Link

4815 N. Assembly St., Spokane, WA 99205 509-434-7000

Spokane, WA

2615 E. Clinton Ave., Fresno, CA 93703 559-225-6100 Fresno, CA

Ioannis Lougaris 975 Kirman Ave., Reno, NV 89502 775-786-7200 Reno, NV

Link

4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121 415-221-4810 San Francisco, CA

10535 Hospital Way, Mather, CA 95655 916-843-7000 Northern California (Sacramento), CA

Link

Raymond Murphy 5101 San Pedro Dr.

Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-265-1711

Albuquerque, NM

Link

Note*: Facility number followed by a letter identifies a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)

Federal Holidays:

The Federal Holidays observed by the Federal Government are:

When one (1) of the holidays falls on Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a Federal Holiday. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be observed as a Federal Holiday by U.S. Government Agencies. Also included would be any day specifically declared by the President of the United States of America as a Federal Holiday.

Note:

The Government prohibits any dissemination of religious information, prayer, and program activities within the childcare center that teach or promote religious doctrine.

In addition to following states requirements for operating drop-in childcare centers, the VA is exceeding state requirements. For example, each VA Kids Care center will have multiple cameras that will connect the VA Kids Care to the facility’s police. In addition, each VA Kids Care center will have a vestibule door system where the Veteran will drop off the kids in the area between the two doors and ONLY the kids will be buzzed into the VA Kids Care. No parents are allowed to be behind the 2nd door.

9. Inclement Weather:

Should the VA childcare center not open due to weather conditions; the local leadership will make a determination and will share it on its regular outlets such as the VA facility’s website, local radio and television stations will announce this information, and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will confirm and advise the Contractor of any closure. The childcare center should adjust its operating hours accordingly. The Veteran can call the local medical facility to confirm for childcare center’s closure.

10. Scheduling:

Services will mostly be available between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, the childcare services must be aligned with the outpatient clinic operations hours +/- 30 minutes to allow veteran time to drop off and pick up their kids. Pre- appointments for use of drop-in services are not required. Veteran patients may, however, contact the childcare center in advance of their appointment date. Capacity is dependent on the space availability at the local facility at any given time. However, it is anticipated that general use will not exceed three (3) hours for most users, with, drop-in consideration for the special needs of certain users based on multiple appointments and/or appointment types. The drop-off and pick-up areas are located in the reception area of the childcare center.

11. Childcare attendant to Child Ratio:

The childcare center will operate within the childcare attendant to child ratio per the respective State requirement. For example, for the Washington State Department of Early Learning, Applicable Regulations: RCW 43.215.545; Chapter 170-295 WAC.

Once the maximum capacity is reached for a stated age group, no additional children will be accepted within the stated age group. The Veteran can be put on a waitlist. Once the VA Kids Care has more capacity, the Contractor can contact the Veteran to inform them of the VA Kids Care availability.

Notes: for the actual teacher-to-children ratio, please click on the respective state link in the “Place of Performance” table above.

12. Contractor Responsibilities:

Background Investigations:

The Contractor must submit all prospective employee qualification documents to the COR prior to finalizing employment. This would include, but is not limited to, proof of education, year of pertinent experience, employment history, current health condition, immunization history, references, etc.

The prospective contracted employee may not begin work until the initial VA required Child Care National Agency Check and Inquiries (CNACI) background checks and health requirements are met for taking care of children.

13. Licensure/Regulatory Requirements:

The Contractor must obtain a state license before submission of a proposal. The contractor must retain a license from the respective State Department of Early Learning and must operate in compliance with all State and Federal Laws and Regulations governing childcare centers with all applicable per State and Federal laws and regulations governing childcare centers.

The government will ensure the VA Kids Care centers are licensed with all state regulations.

14. Key Personnel:

Child Care Program Manager A Contractor, who functions as the childcare center program manager, who will act as a regional director for VA Kids Care, will provide program administration and be responsible for the recruitment, hire and supervision of staff and oversight over all aspects of the childcare program. The childcare center program manager must have a minimum education requirement of at least 25 college quarter credits in early childhood education, of which only 8 can be department-approved clock hours, must hold a current child development associated certificate, and must be registered with the respective State training requirements for early care and training education, and must has some experience on providing care to special needs children. The childcare center program manager must have a minimum of two years of experience as a program manager of a childcare center for children ages 6 months through 12 years, and up to 18 years of age for special needs children.

The childcare center program manager will be responsible for providing a contingency plan for emergency and routine leave coverage that meets staffing experience; certification requirements and child/care giver ratios to the local VCAP manager for concurrence. The Contractor is required to provide the following documents to the Contracting Officer Representative and the local VCAP manager for each proposed contractor employee that will be performing under contract at the respective local facility.

1. List of proposed personnel and the job title for the position they will be performing.

2. Professional resumes for all proposed personnel, shall be no more than 3-5 pages.

3. Copy of professional certifications that are current and valid for the positions to be held.

4. Additionally, but not limited, proof of education, year of pertinent experience, employment history, child develop associate, current health condition, immunization history, references, etc.

The childcare center program manager will be responsible for hire and recruitment of staff, The Child Care Center Program Manager will hire for the following positions listed below. Each staff member must have the appropriate credentials and experience listed in the staff member’s position description.

Child Care Clerk:

Child Care Clerk who must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and has documented experience working with children. The childcare clerk must be located at the VA Medical Center for the majority of the hours and readily available to provide guidance; and program direction and function as a supervisor or a leader with VA Medical Center Staff (i.e., Fire; Safety; Executive Leadership; local Veteran Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP) manager; Public Relations etc.). These duties shall not interfere with any assigned provision of childcare. In the event the childcare center clerk is unavailable due to planned administrative leave, emergency, or sick leave the contractor must designate a person to be in charge that meets the minimum qualifications for with the respective State for a lead childcare clerk. The local VCAP manager will be advised in advance of any planned absences that require designation and/or substitution of staffing and provide concurrence.

Child Care attendant:

The childcare attendant must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and operates under the direct supervision of a childcare clerk.

Additional key personnel requirements:

Skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel are essential for successful contractor accomplishment of the work to be performed under this contract. These are defined as key personnel and are those persons whose resumes were submitted. The contractor agrees that such personnel shall not be removed, diverted, or replaced from work upon notification and approval of the COR.

Any personnel the contractor offers as substitutes shall have the ability and qualifications equal to or better than the requirements stated within the contract. Requests to substitute personnel shall be reviewed and approved by the COR. In addition, the substitutes must be trained by the trainer to ensure the replaced childcare attendant is competent to do all tasks assigned. All requests for substitutions in personnel shall be submitted to the COR within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to making any change in key personnel. The request shall be written and provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution. The contractor shall submit a complete resume for the proposed substitute. The COR will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the contractor of the recommendation in writing. Substitute staff should be designated by the contractor well before the need presents itself, as substitute staff will be required to have already completed the required VA background checks (including a CNACI) and mandatory VA training. The Government retains the right to remove personnel from employment at the VA site.

All childcare attendants who will be in attendance at the childcare facility the must be CPR and First Aid Certified and be able to show proof of certifications. This information must be provided when submitting the proposal.

15. Child Care Safety:

Child Care Safety is ensuring freedom from accidental or inadvertent injury during childcare service processes. All adverse events, close calls, or intentionally unsafe acts must be reported immediately (same day) to the national COR or designee for the local VCAP manager. In case of an emergency, the childcare center will dial 911.

Skills, Relevant Experience, and Certification

Child Care Program Manager (CCPM) (Section 14) Certification

• Must possess a current child development associated certificate

• Must be registered with the respective State training requirements for early care and training education

Experience / General Position Description – CCPM shall:

• Have a minimum education requirement of at least 25 college quarter credits in early childhood education, of which “only” 8 can be department-approved clock hours

• Have experience in providing care to special needs children

• Have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a program manager of a childcare center for children ages 6 months through 12 years, and up to 18 years of age for special needs children

• Act as a regional director for VA Kids Care

• Provide program administration and be responsible for recruitment, supervision of staff, hiring, supervision of staff, and oversight of all aspects of the childcare.

program

• Be responsible for providing a contingency plan for emergency and routine leave coverage that meets staffing experience; certification requirements and child/ care giver ratios to the local VCAP manager for concurrence

• Required to provide the following documents to the COR and the local VCAP manager for each proposed contractor employee that will be performing under contract at the respective local facility:

1. List of proposed personnel and the job title for the position they will be performing

2. Professional resumes for all proposed personnel

3. Copy of professional certifications that’s current and valid for all positions

4. Additionally, but not limited, proof of education, year of pertinent experience, employment history, child develop associate, current health condition, immunization history, references, etc.

Child Care Clerk (CCC) (Section 14) Certification

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and has documented experience working with children.

Experience / General Position Description – CCC shall:

• Be located at the VA Medical Center for the majority of the hours and readily available to provide guidance and program direction.

• Function as a supervisor or a leader with VA Medical Center Staff (i.e., Fire; Safety;

Executive Leadership; local Veteran Childcare Assistance Program (VCAP) manager; Public Relations etc.) Such duties shall not interfere with any assigned provision of childcare.

• Designate a person to be in charge that meets the minimum qualifications for the respective State for a lead childcare clerk, in the event the childcare center clerk is unavailable due to planned administrative leave, emergency, or sick leave.

• Advised the local VCAP manager in advance, of any planned absences that require designation and/or substitution of staffing and provide concurrence

Child Care Attendant (CCA) (Section 14) Certification

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age, completed a high school education or equivalent and operates under the direct supervision of a childcare clerk.

Experience / General Position Description – CCA shall:

• Be a skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel essential for successful contractor accomplishment of the work to be performed under this contract

Additional Key Personnel Requirements (Section 14)

• In terms of key personnel, and those persons whose resumes were submitted to the COR, the contractor agrees that such personnel shall not be removed, diverted, or replaced from work without the notification and approval of the COR

• Any personnel the contractor offers as substitutes shall have the ability and qualifications equal to or better than the requirements stated within the contract.

Requests to substitute personnel shall be reviewed and approved by the COR.

In addition, the substitutes must be trained by the trainer to ensure the replaced childcare attendant is competent to do all tasks assigned.

• All requests for substitutions in personnel shall be submitted to the COR within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to making any change in key personnel. Request shall be written and provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution. The contractor shall submit a complete resume for the proposed substitute. The COR will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the contractor of the recommendation in writing. Substitute staff should be designated by the contractor well before the need presents itself, as substitute staff will be required to have already completed the required VA background checks (including a CNACI) and mandatory VA training. The Gov’t retains/reserved the right to remove personnel from employment the VA site

16. Adverse Events:

Adverse events may result from acts of commission or omission (e.g., negative outcomes from the childcare services provided). Examples of more common adverse events include child falls, procedural errors or complications, and missing children events. Contractor shall submit in technical proposal how they would address adverse events.

17. Close Calls:

A close call is an event or situation that could have resulted in an adverse event but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. Such events have also been referred to as "near miss" incidents. An example of a close call would be when a child was almost picked up by an unauthorized adult, but the error was caught and corrected prior to the child being given to an unauthorized adult for pickup. Close calls are opportunities for learning and afford the chance to develop preventive strategies and actions; they receive the same level of scrutiny as adverse events that result in actual injury. Contractor shall submit in technical proposal how they would address close calls events.

18. Intentionally Unsafe Acts:

Intentionally unsafe acts, as they pertain to children, are any events that result from:

-A criminal act -A purposefully unsafe act -An act related to alcohol or substance abuse by an impaired adult/provider and/or staff member, or events involving alleged or suspected child abuse of any kind.

19. Notification of adverse actions:

The beneficiary will be notified of any adverse action which occurred the same day of the action. The notification will be given to the beneficiary following the VHA Issue Brief. The beneficiary will sign receipt of an acknowledgement, which does not relieve the contractor's responsibility for ramifications of such adverse action. Per Incident Report SOP: Incidents must be reported as soon as the situation allows, not to exceed one hour, to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) local VCAP Program Manager. The local VCAP Program Manager must submit the VA Kids Care mandatory incident report in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidance on Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Operations (15) Guide to VHA Issue Briefs. The local VCAP Program Manager must notify the Veterans Child Care Assistance Program (VCAP) Director and the VA medical facility Director of all reportable incidents.

20. Reporting Requirements:

The Contractor shall be responsible for providing and implementing security procedures that ensure both children and adults are safely and properly identified prior to childcare drop off and pick up. Identification of both child and adult shall include, but not be limited to, first and last name, phone number where an adult can be reached, State or Government issued ID of the parent or guardian, address, appointment time and place, and emergency contact. The Contractor will also be responsible for obtaining emergency points of contact for each child, who is not the parent or guardian of the child during drop off so that another designated responsible individual may pick up a child in the event that the Veteran is unable to return to pick up the child after the child has been dropped off for childcare. An emergency Point of Contact (POC) shall be identified by first and last name and a phone number where the emergency POC can be reached.

Identification of children, adults, and emergency POC shall be recorded and provided to the local VCAP Manager monthly or as requested.

The Contractor shall keep a paper log of Veteran use of the childcare center as well as materials used during that period of care. The daily log should contain but not be limited to the Veteran's full name, time and location of appointment(s), age of child/children, name of child/children, and emergency contact name and cell phone number. The information recorded in the log shall be determined via project meetings between the Contractor and local VCAP manager/VA Central Office designees before the actual start date of the program. Once the OI&T infrastructure is built, it will be transferred to an electronic log by VA employee.

The Contractor shall implement a quality assurance program to ensure that VA requirements are being met. The Contractor shall take corrective action when deficiencies are identified and return any corrective/additional information to the local VCAP manager within 14 calendar days.

The local VCAP manager/VA Central Office will have ultimate oversight, review, and rejection/acceptance of all performance related to this program/acquisition.

Under no circumstances should veterans receive billing from the contractor.

The contractor shall appoint a program manager to be responsible for effective liaison with local VA /VA Central Office coordinators and the contract Contracting Officer Representative.

21. Facility Access and Control:

The Contractor and the local VCAP manager will work together to ensure the policies and checklists regarding safety; security and emergency procedures address opening and closing of the facility and checking that all doors and gates to the outside areas are secure. During emergencies, families or designated family representatives are notified by the Contractor or the local VCAP manager via telephone, Medical Center emergency notification system, radio, or television broadcast. Local facility emergency SOP will be followed in full force and effect.

The Contractor shall ensure that its employees working at the childcare center display his/her identification badge while on VA grounds. Employees are required to show their valid identification badge to gain access to the facility. If an employee's identification badge becomes lost or stolen, it must be reported to the local VCAP manager within one workday.

22. Physical Security:

Theft/Loss/Damage:

In cases of theft, the Contractor shall notify the local VCAP manager in writing within one hour upon discovery. The contractor shall provide the necessary security and precautions to safeguard and protect all Government equipment, property, and supplies. The contractor, at no cost to the Government, will replace any lost or stolen items. Replacement equipment shall be identical in quality to that which was originally furnished by the Government and shall meet all Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.

Lock and Key Control:

The local VCAP manager shall sign for and receive from the Government the initial keys and locks for Government furnished facilities. The contractor is responsible for securing the physical facility and grounds which includes all equipment and furnishings both indoors . The contractor shall reimburse the Government for replacement of locks and keys when the contractor loses or duplicates a master key, all locks will be replaced at the contractor's expense. The contractor shall report the occurrence of a lost, stolen, or misplaced key to the VA Security Office and local VCAP manager within 24- hours after discovery of such a loss, theft, or misplacement.

23. Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA) Requirements:

The Contractor shall adhere to and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements found in Public Law, Government Policy and National Standards, Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA) Guideline 1910, and Washington State Licensing.

24. Phase-In Operations:

Phase-In: To minimize any decreases in productivity and to prevent possible negative impacts on additional services, the Contractor shall have personnel on board during the seven (7) business day phase in period. The phase in period will commence upon each facility’s opening date. During the phase in period, the Contractor shall become familiar with performance requirements to fully satisfy performance requirements identified within the PWS.

25. Confidentiality and Nondisclosure:

It is agreed that press releases, marketing material or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, shall not be publicized by the Contractor without the written approval of the COR and the designated VA Childcare Assistance Program Director. The Contractor shall not use its involvement with the childcare program in any publicity arena nor any contractor advertisements.

26. Penalty for Non-Performance:

If the Contractor does not conform to contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no additional cost to the Government. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by performance, the Government may:

Require the contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements.

27. Quality Assurance and Control:

The Contractor must provide a quality control plan that addresses the Quality Assurance aspects below. Such plan will be furnished to the Contracting Officer and the COR within 15 calendar days of the date of award of the contract. The Contracting Officer or the COR will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of the plan whether the plan is acceptable. If the plan is not found acceptable, the Contracting Officer and/or the COR will identify those areas requiring clarification or correction, and the Contractor will have 15 calendar days to provide corrected plan. The plan must include:

· A description of the methods to be used for identifying and preventing defects in the quality of service performed; and

· A description of records to be kept to document inspections and corrective or preventive actions taken.

Records of inspections must be kept and made available to the Contracting Officer and/or the COR, when requested, throughout the contract performance period and for a period of seven years after the contract is closed out.

The performance measurements under the proposed contract shall be based on the timeliness and quality of the services provided. These measurements are defined as:

1) Timeliness - Required services and reports are provided in accordance with the stated period of performance, scheduled timelines, and hours of operation as set forth within this solicitation package.

2) Quality - Services provided under the proposed contract will be measured based upon the Government's determination of the validity, accuracy, clarity, and usefulness of the service or if the work performance has met the requirements listed within the PWS and as communicated to the contractor by the Government.

The Contracting Officer may require the contractor representative to meet with the Contracting Officer, COR, and other Government personnel as deemed necessary. The Contractor may request a meeting with the Contracting Officer when he or she believes such a meeting is necessary. Written minutes of any such meetings must be recorded and signed by the contractor representative and the Contracting Officer or contract administrator. If the Contractor does not concur with any portion of the minutes, such nonoccurrence must be provided in writing to the Contracting Officer within 14 calendar days following receipt of the minutes.

The contractor shall adhere to and maintain compliance with State and nationally recognized standards including the requirements listed below and other requirements from the respective state.

1) Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA) Guideline 1910

2) Respective State’s licensing (if applicable) where VA Childcare resides.

3) Each State Department of Early Learning where VA Childcare resides.

At any given time, the COR will monitor performance by reviewing the contractor's paper or electronic log. Any questions or concerns regarding offer or performance regarding these reports will be immediately addressed with an offer of verbally and in writing.

The VA may provide a questionnaire to survey Veteran feedback regarding the use of the childcare assistance program.

Local VCAP manager will verify staff training; certifications and performance by reviewing Contractor's records. Any questions or concerns regarding performance in regard to these reports will be immediately addressed verbally and in writing. Government personnel, such as Inspector General, VA, COR or other personnel designated by the Contracting Officer (CO), are authorized to observe/review/assess contractor operations. The Government reserves the right to conduct and oversee announced and unannounced observations and inspections of the child development programs.

The Contractor shall prepare a health care screening plan that protects and promotes the health of children using the drop-in center. A health screening of each child must be carried out by a person who is trained to recognize symptoms of illness and communicable diseases upon arrival to the program. A health screening of each child must be performed with a quick evaluation of a child's body, mood, and behavior to identify possible symptoms of illness and communicable diseases. This health screening must be done when a child arrives.

The health screening must be completed any time a change in the child's behavior is apparent. The following rules for exclusion must be followed for both child center staff and children: fevers of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea, unidentified skin rash, diaper rash, excessive productive cough, or…