36C77619Q0043-0001001.docx

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 02-04-2019 None 00776 Department of Veteran Affairs

PCAC-ST. LOUIS

11152 South Towne Square Saint Louis

MO

63123 00776 Department of Veterans Affairs

PCAC-ST. LOUIS

11152 South Towne Square St. Louis

MO

63123 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C77619Q0043

X X X

X

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO ADD THE STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) TO THE RFQ.

1. Title of Contract: Standardized Patients/Standardized Clinicians for Motivational Interviewing and Clinician Coaching, Facilitation and Presentation Skills Courses.

2. Scope of Work: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Employee Education Systems (EES), in conjunction with the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) is hosting training programs using simulations (i.e., actors to play the roles of standardized patients and standardized clinicians) for:

1) Motivational Interviewing (MI) Facilitator Training

2) Clinician Coaching, Facilitation and Presentation Skills (Clinician Coaching)

Participants in these training programs are health care professionals who come to training with considerable clinical communication and supervisory skills, but who need to deepen these skills so as to become more effective trainers and coaches of other clinicians. During each of the MI Facilitator and Clinicians Coaching training programs, two 4-hour sessions are devoted to exercises that require participants to work with “standardized patients” or “standardized clinicians” that will enable training program participants to practice and deepen clinical communication and coaching skills.

The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision and other resources required to deliver 8 actors for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions that will occur during the Clinician Coaching training programs; and 8 actors for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions that will occur during the MI Facilitator training program. The Clinician Coaching program will require actors to play the role of standardized patients for 1 of the 4-hour training sessions, and the role of standardized clinicians during the second 4-hour session. For the MI Facilitator training program, both 4-hour sessions will require actors to play the roles of standardized patients.

The contractor must ensure that actors have been adequately prepared and trained to provide:

1) realistic and reproducible portrayals of patients and clinicians based on specific and detailed simulated “case vignettes” that will be provided to contractor by NCP

2) detailed learner-centered and behaviorally specific feedback to participants on their use of the specific communication and counseling skills that are featured in the VHA-EES training programs; 3) portrayals that accurately reflect the characteristics, culture and behaviors of Veteran patients and VHA clinicians.

The contractor must meet the following requirements as well as all the requirements specified in Section 7 (Objectives) below:

1. Specific and extensive experience in recruiting, training and supervising actors to serve as standardized patients and standardized clinicians for training programs in clinical communication skills for health care professionals. Membership in the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) and adherence to ASPE standards is desirable;

2. Specific experience in training and providing standardized patients for VHA EES-supported clinical education programs. Specific experience in providing standardized patients and standardized clinicians for VHA-supported Clinician Coaching training and MI training is desired;

3. Only professional actors may serve as standardized patients/clinicians; actors must have previous experience in portraying simulated “patients” as well as “clinicians” in medical education training programs.

3. Background: Employee Education System (EES) is the largest VHA provider for employee education services. As a recognized leader and trendsetter in education, EES delivers the highest quality instructional programming to meet customer expectations. Face-to-face conferences/workshops are but one means of meeting the educational needs of VHA employees.

EES is seeking to provide the highest quality of care to Veterans of our nation through personalized, proactive patient-driven whole health care. This approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients, and families.

VHA seeks to assist VHA clinicians to deliver Veteran-centered whole health care by providing training in Veteran-centered communications skills, including skills in health education, health coaching, health behavior counseling and motivational interviewing. In order to provide VHA clinicians with effective and accessible training in Veteran-centered communication skills, NCP has adopted a train-the-trainer model that prepares staff from each facility to serve as local MI facilitators and clinician coaches. Clinician Coaching training prepares facilitators of NCP’s MI program, as well NCP’s other core communication skills program (i.e., TEACH for Success (TEACH)), to offer Clinician Coaching, a method of assisting clinicians to successfully apply MI and TEACH skills in actual encounters with Veterans.

4. Period of Performance: The period of performance is for a total of four (4) years; a base year with three (3) additional government one-year option periods.

4.1. Government Recognized Holidays. Unless specifically authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer, no services will be provided and no charges will be incurred and/or billed to any order on this contract on any of the Federal Holidays listed below.

5. Place of Performance: All pre-planning activities shall be performed at the contractor’s site. Contractor shall participate in all EES pre-planning conference calls on which the EES Project Manager requires contractor attendance. Conference calls will be provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs National Teleconference communication system (commonly referred to as VANTS). Contractor must provide actors who serve in the roles of standardized patients/standardized clinicians for training sessions held in a training site to be determined in the Washington, DC, Columbia, MD, or Baltimore, MD vicinity for both the Motivational Interviewing Facilitator and Clinician Coaching, Facilitation and Presentation Skills training sessions.

6. Type of Contract: The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed-Price contract.

7. Objectives: The contractor must meet all of the requirements related to prior experience in recruiting, training and preparing standardized patients as listed in Section 2 (Scope of Work) above, as well as meet all the requirements of the objectives outlined below:

7.1. The contractor shall provide preparation of actors to serve as standardized patients/standardized clinicians to portray specific simulated cases (provided by NCP) to ensure both realistic and reproducible portrayal of cases as well as provision of learner-centered balanced feedback to learners that includes specific feedback on use of the skills targeted in the VHA-EES training program; each actor should be prepared to portray at least 1 “case” for each training session. The contractor must collaborate with NCP to design and conduct the preparation of actors and include NCP staff in actor preparation sessions. Preparation of actors must include a session with NCP staff to rehearse patient and clinician roles as well as the feedback strategy that will be employed during the training programs.

7.2. The contractor shall provide quality control and supervision of actors to ensure reliable portrayal of specific simulated cases and provision of balanced effective feedback to learners; contractor must make provisions to provide onsite supervision of standardized patients/clinicians during the specified training sessions;

7.3. The contractor shall recruit, train and supervise enough actors to provide 8 standardized patients/standardized clinicians for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions at the Clinician Coaching training program, and 8 standardized patients for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions at the Motivational Interviewing Facilitator training program. The 4-hour sessions will be held on 2 of the days of the 3-day training programs during the Clinician Coaching training requires actors to play the roles of standardized patients during the first 4-hour training session and standardized clinicians during the second 4-hour training session on the following day. The MI Facilitator training features standardized patients for both of the 4-hour training sessions, held on consecutive days.

7.4. The contractor shall provide a mechanism for responding to onsite NCP feedback regarding simulated patient/clinician performance.

8. Specific Mandatory Tasks and Associated Deliverables: The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision and other resources required to deliver 8 actors for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions that will occur during the Clinician Coaching training program listed above; and 8 actors for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions that will occur during the Motivational Interviewing Facilitator training program listed above. The contractor must ensure that actors have been adequately prepared and trained to provide: 1) realistic and reproducible portrayals of patients and clinicians based on specific and detailed simulated “case vignettes” that will be provided to contractor by NCP; 2) detailed learner-centered and behaviorally specific feedback to participants on their use of the specific communication, counseling and coaching skills that are featured in the VHA-EES training programs; and 3) portrayals that accurately reflect the characteristics, culture and behaviors of Veteran patients and VHA clinicians.

Task 8.1: The contractor shall provide preparation of actors to serve as standardized patients/standardized clinicians to portray specific simulated cases (provided by NCP) to ensure both realistic and reproducible portrayal of cases as well as provision of learner-centered balanced feedback to learners that includes specific feedback on use of the communication and coaching skills targeted in the VHA-EES training program; each actor should be prepared to portray at least 1 “case” for each training session.

Task 8.2: The contractor shall collaborate with NCP to design and conduct the preparation of actors and include NCP staff in actor preparation sessions.

Task 8.3: The contractor shall provide quality control and supervision of actors to ensure reliable portrayal of specific simulated cases and provision of balanced effective targeted feedback to learners; contractor must make provisions to provide onsite supervision of standardized patients/standardized clinicians during the specified training sessions. This supervision should include direct observation of actors during learning sessions and provision of feedback to actors regarding their performance as standardized patients/standardized clinicians and regarding the specificity and quality of their feedback to learners.

Task 8.4: The contractor shall recruit, train and supervise enough actors to provide 8 standardized patients/standardized clinicians for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions at the Clinician Coaching, training program, and 8 standardized clinicians for each of 2, 4-hour training sessions at the Motivational Interviewing Facilitator training program. The 2 4-hour sessions will be held on 2 consecutive days of the days of the 3-day training programs (to be determined). The Clinician Coaching training requires actors to play the roles of standardized patients during the first 4-hour training session and standardized clinicians during the second 4-hour training session on the following day. The MI Facilitator training features standardized patients for both of the 4-hour training sessions, held on consecutive days.

Task 8.5: The contractor shall provide and utilize a mechanism (i.e., questionnaire/survey/feedback, etc.) for responding to onsite NCP feedback regarding the performance of the actors serving as standardized patients/standardized clinicians

9. Deliverables Table:

As specified by the Program Manager

Task 8.3

10. Contract Award Meeting: The contractor shall not commence performance on the tasks in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) until the Contracting Officer has conducted a kick off meeting or has advised the contractor that the kick off meeting requirement has been waived.

11. General Requirements:

11.1. For every task, the contractor shall identify in writing all necessary subtasks (if any), associated costs by task, and associated sub-milestone dates. The contractor's subtask structure shall be reflected in the contractor’s technical proposal and supported by a detailed work plan.

11.2. All written deliverables shall be phrased in layperson language. Statistical and other technical terminology shall not be used without providing a glossary of terms.

11.3. Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this Performance Work Statement (PWS). The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, correct, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means that the work complies with the requirement of the contract.

The COR will utilize the QASP as the tool to ensure quality of rendered services are adhered to.

Task 8.1 Preparation of actors to serve as standardized patients/standardized clinicians to portray specific simulated cases

Task 8.2 Provide quality control and on-site supervisor of the actors serving as standardized patients/standardized clinicians during each training session Contractor demonstrates ability to collaborate with client to design and conduct the preparation of actors and include client in actor preparation sessions.

Contractor demonstrates ability to provide quality control and on-site supervisor of the (8) standardized patients/standardized clinicians (actors) during each training session Three or more instances where significant errors or omissions were identified

Three or more instances where significant errors or omissions were identified

80%

80%

Contract deliverable

Contract deliverable

Task 8.3 Provide quality control and supervision of actors to ensure reliable portrayal of specific simulated cases and provision of balanced effective feedback to learners

Task 8.4 Recruit, train and supervise appropriate actors to serve as standardized patients/standardized clinicians for each of the training sessions

Task 8.5 Provide and use a mechanism (i.e., questionnaire/survey/feedback, etc.) for responding to onsite NCP feedback regarding the performance of the actors serving standardized patients/standardized clinicians.

Contractor demonstrates ability to provide quality control and supervision of actors to ensure reliable portrayal of specific simulated cases and provision of balanced effective feedback to learners

Contractor demonstrates ability to recruit, train and supervise the standardized patients/clients (actors) for each of the training sessions

Contractor demonstrates ability to provide and use a mechanism (i.e., questionnaire/survey /feedback, etc.) for responding to onsite NCP feedback regarding the performance of the actors serving standardized patients/standardized clinicians Three or more instances where significant errors or omissions were identified

Three or more instances where significant errors or omissions were identified

Two or more instances where significant errors or omissions were identified 80%

During specified scheduled training sessions

Within two months of specified scheduled training sessions

Within two weeks after conclusion of training

12. Formal Acceptance or Rejection of Deliverables: The Government will review each deliverable and provide feedback/comments. The contractor shall have five business days to incorporate feedback/comments and make appropriate revisions. The contractor shall provide the revised version of each deliverable to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The COR will review and determine final acceptance by the Government. The COR will notify the contractor of final acceptance within five business days.

13. Changes to the PWS: 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.

14. Government Responsibilities:

14.1. The Government will provide: any audio/visual equipment and any resources or stage set-up required by the contractor at the training site.

14.2. The Government will provide; background information about the VHA NCP training objectives, provision of the specific case vignettes to be used by the contractor to prepare actors, background and guidance regarding the specific coaching and motivational interviewing skills and strategies that the participants will be applying during training sessions, and guidance on how the actors will provide balanced and effective feedback to participants.

15. Contractor Experience Requirements – Key Personnel

15.1. Key Personnel: Certain skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel are essential for accomplishing the work to be performed. These individuals are defined as "Key Personnel" and are those persons whose resumes are submitted and marked by the vendor as "Key Personnel." Substitutions shall only be accepted if in compliance with “Substitution of Key Personnel" provision identified below.

The Contracting Officer may notify the Contractor and request immediate removal of any personnel assigned to any task by the Contractor that are deemed to have a conflict of interest with the Government or if the performance is deemed to be unsatisfactory. The reason for removal shall be documented and replacement personnel shall be identified within three (3) business days of the notification. Employment and staffing difficulties shall not be justification for failure to meet established schedules.

15.2. Substitution of Key Personnel: All Contractor requests for approval of substitutions hereunder shall be submitted in writing to the COR and the Contracting Officer at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the effective date, whenever possible, and shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution, a complete resume for the proposed substitute, and any other information requested by the Contracting Officer necessary to approve or disapprove the proposed substitution. New personnel shall not commence work until all necessary security requirements, have been fulfilled and resumes provided and accepted. The COTR and the Contracting Officer will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the Contractor of approval or disapproval in writing.

15.3. Contractor Personnel Requirements: Key Personnel proposed shall have knowledge in the following:

15.3.1. Specific and extensive experience in recruiting, training and supervising actors to serve as standardized patients and standardized clinicians for training programs in clinical communication skills for health care professionals. Membership in the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) and adherence to ASPE standards is desirable.

15.3.2. Specific experience in training and providing standardized patients and standardized clinicians for VHA EES-supported clinical education programs is strongly desired. Specific experience in providing standardized patients for VHA-supported Motivational Interviewing Facilitator training and Clinician Coaching training is desired.

15.3.3. Only professional actors may serve as standardized patients/standardized clinicians; actors must have previous experience in portraying simulated “patients” in medical education training programs and previous experience in providing learners with balanced effective feedback regarding their use of communication skills. Specific experience in portraying simulated “clinicians” in medical education training programs is desired.

16. Confidentiality and Disclosure:

16.1. It is agreed that:

16.1.2. The preliminary and final deliverables, and all associated working papers, application source code, and other material deemed relevant by VA which have been generated by the contractor in the performance of this contract, are the exclusive property of the U.S. Government and shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer at the conclusion of the contract.

16.1.3. The Contracting Officer will be the sole authorized official to release, verbally or in writing, any data, draft deliverables, final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this contract. No information shall be released by the contractor. Any request for information relating to this contract, presented to the contractor, shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for response.

16.1.4. Press releases, marketing material, or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project shall not be publicized without the written approval of the Contracting Officer.

17. Information Security: Contractor shall not have access to any government Information Systems. Contractor shall not have access to any sensitive Personnel Information.