I-PAG RFI edits updates 6-14-23 (002).docx

U.S. Army Reserve Command Program Evaluation, Research, & Metrics Request for Information

This request for information is issued for market research purposes only. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) to award a contract. The intent of this RFI is to seek responses from industry with specialized capabilities to meet all the requirements defined in the attached draft performance work statement (PWS) with the intent of assessing the extent to which expertise and competition exists in the marketplace.

Background: In March 2021, President Biden directed the Secretary of Defense to establish a 90-day Independent Review Commission (IRC) on Sexual Assault in the Military. The IRC’s report, published in June 2021, found “a near total lack of a true prevention capability” across the DoD. Among its more than 100 recommendations and sub-recommendations, the IRC report recommended (2.2c) that “The Services should determine the optimum full-time prevention workforce, and equip all echelons of active duty, reserve, and guard organizations”. To implement this guidance, the Secretary of the Army directed a phased implementation of an Integrated Primary Advisory Group (I-PAG) workforce. The I-PAG serves as an added capability to USARC Prevention Programs Portfolio to help improve policies, programs, and prevention activities that increase shared protective factors and decrease shared risk factors. The I-PAG will use a public health approach to work with USARC Army commanders to prevent harmful behaviors and implement integrated measures within USARC for Soldiers and their Family members.

Scope: The Contractor shall provide C2 analysis research, data, and program evaluation to fulfill USARC’s goal of obtaining evidenced based data that supports addressing two or more harmful behaviors within USAR. The Contractor shall accomplish an analysis of all USARC Prevention Programs Portfolio to include prevention efforts, task, challenges, and gaps.

USARC is seeking sources for the proposed I-PAG contract for the following:

1. Provide community-level data, research, and development that help to understand the unique challenges with USAR focused on decreasing two or more harmful behaviors.

2. Provide overviews of existing evidence-based programs and trainings that are designed to address one or more shared protective and risk factors in the civilian sector and/or in military populations that could guide new prevention activities and programs or integrate with existing programs within USAR.

3. Review current USAR prevention activities and programs to ensure programs are standardized and evidence based, or evidence informed. Provide and/or review program evaluation to measure effectiveness of programs.

4. Conduct and provide a literature review(s) that addresses the following questions:

a. What are common protective factors that cross two or more of the harmful behaviors I-PAG is tasked to increase (i.e., suicide, sexual assault and harassment, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, retaliation)?

b. What are common risk factors that cross two or more of the harmful behaviors I-PAG is tasked to reduce (i.e., suicide, sexual assault and harassment, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, retaliation)?

c. What effective evidence-based or evidence informed prevention activities or programs exist (focused on either civilian or military-specific populations) that increase common protective factors or reduce common risk factors?

NOTE: The C2 Analysis shall not go below Brigade-level for research and analysis.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services and Product Service Code (PSC), B541 – Special Studies/Analysis – Defense are selected for this requirement.

Large and Small businesses capable of providing the services described in this RFI and that are interested in providing evidence of having the knowledge, expertise, and abilities to support the C2 Analysis as described in this RFI should provide a detailed capability statement to the information and questions indicated below:

1. Company name, address, and contact information:

2. Indicate the size status and representations of your business such as a Large Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VSOB), HubZone, Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), SBA Certified 8(A) firms, etc.

3. Provide Representations IAW Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions 52.204-24 and 52.204-26. The Representation must state that potential offerors do not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as outlined in Section 889 of the FY19 National Defense Authorization.

4. List all relevant contracts where your firm is listed. If your firm would like to provide another NAICS that might be suited to projects like this may list it, in response to the RFI with an explanation for the proposed substitution.

5. Submit detailed evidence of having the capability to support the successful execution of Army or DoD research and analysis or studies of efforts related to this RFI in the past five (5) years. Examples provided should demonstrate experience and capacity with the skills and abilities listed in this RFI.

6. Provide no less than three (3), but no more than five (5), past performance references that describe the type of contract, the work performed under the contract, the value of the contract, current point of contact name, including email addresses and telephone number.

7. Business Unique Entity ID number and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

“Disclaimer and Important Notes”: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the company’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

Submissions received in response to this RFI must not exceed 10 pages in length. Please submit your RFI Capability Packages to Valencia Woods at usarmy.usarc.usarc-hq.mbx.g1-ipag@army.mil no later than 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 31 July 2023. Telephone calls will not be accepted.