36C24525C0018.docx

Special Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SOLICITATION NUMBER*

VAMC (613)

VISN 5 Contract Satellite Office 510 Butler Avenue, Building 306A Martinsburg WV 25405

POINT OF CONTACT*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Special Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS

Department of Veterans Affairs VA Martinsburg WV Network Contracting Office 05 510 Butler Ave Martinsburg, WV 25405

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Amy Ritchey Amy.ritchey@va.gov Contract Specialist Tara Davis Tara.davis4@va.gov

EMAIL ONLY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHAMWVIntranet

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

This intent to sole source announcement is posted in accordance with FAR 5.2 - Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions.

Background –- The mission of the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) is to honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional care that improves their health and well-being. The VA will continue to be the benchmark of excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary service. There are approximately 25 million Veterans in the United States and 5 million Veterans who receive care within VHA. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate suicide rates among men between the ages of 20 and 65 at approximately 22 per 100,000 persons per year. VHA mental health officials estimate 6,400 suicides per year among Veterans, and 1,600 - 1,800 among Veterans receiving health care from VHA. Recent reports have suggested that Veterans may be at an increased risk for conditions and behaviors associated with poor mental health including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and increased rates of substance use; all of which are established risk factors for suicide. For many Veterans in emotional crisis, their first contact with VHA is though the VCL. In an effort to reduce the number of suicides among the Veteran population, a texting program has been established to provide another access point-of-care for the Veteran population. Text messaging is a useful tool for reaching specific audiences. Services that are both patient-centered and evidence-based.

Objective — This requirement is to provide a texting platform that will allow Veterans and family members, who are in crisis and/or having thoughts of suicide with qualified, caring VA responders, to communicate with the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), via short message service (SMS) messaging, by way of a vanity short codes VETALK (838255) & 98801. It is crucial that there are zero gaps in service as any interruptions have the potential to put veterans or their families at a loss of life.

Unique Qualifications — VHA DIRECTIVE 1503 specifically identifies policy for the business and clinical operations of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) and delineates the responsibilities of Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility Directors, VCL administrative leadership, VCL staff members, and staff of the VHA Suicide Prevention Program within OMHSP. To ensure Veterans have immediate access to trained crisis intervention responders, the VA has established a 24-hour, Veterans Crisis Line, Text, and Chat Service. By maintaining these services, the VA will ensure that all Veterans, to include the ones returning from combat zones, have immediate, uninterruptable, and accessible crisis intervention services.

Award information –- Solicitation No. 36C24525Q0039 will be presented to the contractor in accordance with the sole source authority at FAR 6.302-1 as a fixed-price contract. The period of performance shall be for one base year, one option year, and 6 months option(2.5 years). Option ordering periods are exercised as required and are not guaranteed. The anticipated Period of Performance reads as follows:

If anyone requests additional information or would like to obtain a copy of the solicitation, please contact: Amy Ritchey – amy.ritchey@va.gov & Tara Davis- tara.davis4@va.gov

Special Notice

Page 1 of

Special Notice