Combined Sources Sought_NOI.pdf

NOTICE TYPE: Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent

CENTER OFFICE: Defense Suicide Prevention Office

REQUIREMENT: Connect Program for Suicide Prevention

1. The Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), Acquisition Management Directorate (AMD) is issuing a combined Sources Sought Notice with a Notice of Intent to Sole Source.

2. The Sources Sought Notice seeks to identify parties having an interest in, capability and resources for, providing the Connect Program in accordance with the attached, draft Performance Work Statement

(PWS).

3. The Government is specifically performing Market Research to see if there are potential vendors who can tailor, expand, and validate the existing Connect Program to the Department of War (DoW) and all Military Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, National Guard Bureau, and Coast Guard). The Contractor shall validate the implementation of the Connect Program and provide a report that includes evaluation findings and recommendations for sustained program implementation and evaluation.

The Connect Program was initially developed as Wingman-Connect through a 10-year collaboration between the University of Rochester and the Department of Air Force. The Connect Program (Wyman et al 2020; 2022) provides group interactive training for military personnel, followed by text messages and base-wide activities to embed concepts into culture and peer networks. The Connect Program’s interactive group design progresses from individual engagement (e.g., each participant shares career goals and values) to building group-level skills and norms (e.g., mapping group strengths). Specifically, participants learn together about and model skills to each other to grow and sustain “Four Cores” supportive of mental health and essential to job success: (1) Healthy relationships and accountability spanning military and family/intimate relationships (Kinship); (2) Meaning and value in work and life (Purpose), (3) Informal and formal help-seeking (Guidance); and

(4) Activities that give strength and balance emotions (Balance).

4. This notice shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In addition, it does not guarantee that a subsequent solicitation will be issued. Submission of any information in response to this Sources Sought notice is voluntary and will assist in selecting the appropriate solicitation type/method. Costs associated with any submission shall not be reimbursed by the Government. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT

SEEKING PROPOSALS AND WILL NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS.

5. The proposed NAICS for this effort is 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services Research. The small business size standard is $24.5M. Comments on this NAICS and suggestions for alternative codes must include supporting rationale. The Product Service Code (PSC) is R425, Support- Professional: Engineering/Technical.

6. Interested parties must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). A business must be a current participant and certified by SBA if responding as an 8(a) firm and HUBZONE small businesses must be certified by SBA by the time of proposal. A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) must represent to the contracting officer that is it certified as such at the time of offer submission. Women-owned small business (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged

WOSB (EDWOSB) should indicate if their certification is a self-certification or if they are formally certified by SBA (or will be by time of any proposal).

7. Interested parties are requested to submit an unclassified capability statement, limited to 5 pages, that includes:

a) Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. Include Unique Entity Identifier from the System for Award Management (UEI (SAM)), CAGE Code and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.)

b) Type of business, including small business socio-economic category if applicable (e.g. Other than Small, 8(a) s, HUBZone, Non-Profit)

c) Small businesses shall specify if any kind of teaming arrangement will be involved and “other than small” businesses shall address subcontracting opportunities that exist.

d) If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule, Multiple Award IDIQ contract number (e.g.

OASIS, NITAAC).

e) Indicate if you are interested as a Prime contractor or subcontractor.

f) Describe any teaming or subcontracting that you may use to fulfill a requirement such as this.

g) Describe how you will comply with any copyright restrictions

8. Only capable contractors are encouraged to respond. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the sources sought evaluation. The results of this sources sought notice will assist the Contracting Officer in determining whether an 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Certified HUBZone Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Small Business set-aside, or full and open competition is a possible strategy for this procurement.

9. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Sources Sought; all costs associated with responding will be solely at the interested party’s expense. All information received in response to this submission that is clearly marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made and submissions to this Sources Sought will not be returned.

10. The information provided in this Sources Sought is subject to change and is not binding on the

Government.

11. The Government requests that all responses be returned by the date listed in SAM. All responses shall be submitted electronically to the DHRA, AMD point of contacts listed in SAM. Anne Ditch, Contract Specialist, anne.t.ditch.civ@mail.mil and Contracting Officer, Melissa Tamayo, melissa.s.tamayo.civ@mail.mil.

mailto:anne.t.ditch.civ@mail.mil mailto:melissa.s.tamayo.civ@mail.mil

12. Interested vendors may additionally contact the DHRA, office of Small Business Programs, Point of Contact: Ms. Natalie S. Rosa, natalie.s.rosa.civ@mail.mil.

NOTICE OF INTENT

The Defense Human Resources Activity, Acquisition Management Directorate, intends to negotiate and award a sole-source, firm fixed price contract for the Connect Program for Suicide Prevention, if the Sources Sought Notice does not identify other vendors who can meet the Government’s requirement.

Safeside Prevention LLC is identified as a sublicensee for the Connect Program.

This sole source procurement will be conducted in accordance with FAR 6.103-1(d) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The period of performance will include a base period and two, 12-month option periods beginning on or about November 2, 2026. The place of performance is at the vendor’s facility and various military installations.

The Requirement:

The vendor shall tailor/update, expand, and validate the existing Connect Program to the Department of War (DoW) and all Military Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, National Guard Bureau, and Coast Guard). The vendor shall validate the implementation of the Connect Program and provide a report that includes evaluation findings and recommendations for sustained program implementation and evaluation.

This announcement constitutes the only public notice, proposals are not being requested from other parties and a written solicitation will not be issued. The approved Justification and Approval (J&A) will be posted in accordance with FAR 6.301.

The following attachments are included in this notice:

Attachment 1: Draft Performance Work Statement mailto:natalie.s.rosa.civ@mail.mil