S02 36C24925Q0036 Presolicitation Notice Veteran Transitional Housing Services.docx

Presolicitation Notice Presolicitation Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

CONTACT INFORMATION

Network Contracting Office 9 NCO9 (90C) 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 204 Murfreesboro TN 37129

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Preston Gerretse preston.gerretse@va.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICIATION NOTICE The Department of Veterans Affairs, Lexington, KY VA Medical Center is preparing to issue a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for: Veteran Transitional Housing Services for the Lexington VA Medical Center SET-ASIDE: Unrestricted NAICS: 623220 Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STANDARD: $19 Million Type of Contract: A firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a period of performance of 07/01/2025 through 6/30/30 with 5 ordering periods. The anticipated contract type will be a Firm Fixed-Price IDIQ. The solicitation will be posted to SAM.gov Contract Opportunities website https://sam.gov/ on or about March 15, 2025. This date is subject to change. Furnish transitional housing for the beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center near the location of the VA Health Care System, 1101 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40502-2235. Provide safe housing, food, and basic living skills to homeless Veterans. Contract is for 5 Ordering Periods. The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center ("VA") requires contractors to provide services as part of its Community Based Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program. The goal of the HCHV program is to remove homeless Veterans from the street or other habitation unfit for Veterans and place them in community-based, residential environments with sufficient therapeutic services to meet the needs of each Veteran. The HCHV program is vital for providing a gateway to VA and community-based supportive services for eligible Veterans who are homeless. This includes ensuring that chronically homeless Veterans or Veterans experiencing homelessness can be placed in community-based programs that provide quality housing and support services. Through the HCHV program, VA provides support services to Veterans and facilitates their ongoing access to a broad range of medical, mental health, and rehabilitative services. The contractor’s facilities shall provide transitional housing. The price for these services must be based on an all-inclusive rate and must be located within .3 miles of a Lextran KY bus stop. The contractor shall furnish services only to VA beneficiaries from whom such care is specifically authorized by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at the VA Health Care System, Lexington, KY. It is understood that the type of Veterans to be cared for under this contract will normally require direct care and personal services over and above basic room and board. Homeless Veterans frequently suffer ongoing mental illness, substance abuse, and other medical issues. The contractor will be required to provide a low-barrier therapeutic milieu and attendant services targeting the underlying factors contributing to each individual’s homelessness. The facility will not be used for detoxification or other hospital level treatment. The Facility must be ADA compliant for at least six residents, along with meeting all other applicable state and federal regulations applicable to residential programs. The contractor shall furnish to each Veteran authorized care under this contract with the following basic services: Full room and board- Including adequately sized room with a bed, mattress, pillow, bed linens (Including sheets, pillowcases, and mattress cover) along with-other appropriate furnishings, including a dresser and storage. Bathroom shower and all personal care necessities, including but not limited to towels, wash cloths, toilet paper, toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, lotion, shaving materials, and menstruation supplies. The contractor shall provide all necessary food and drinks each day to provide 3 full meals per day, 7-days per week which meet the FDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, released December 2020. In addition to the daily meals, the contractor shall ensure the ongoing availability of a variety of nutritious snacks between meals and at bedtime for those requiring or desiring additional food, when it is not medically contraindicated. The addition of nutritious snacks to the requirements for room and board is particularly indicated for homeless patients. Many of these Veterans are either undernourished or have developed poor eating habits or both, often due to chronic psychiatric disorder and/or substance abuse behaviors. (The local VA dietitian may consult with the initial inspection team and the team making subsequent assessments and may evaluate not only the printed weekly/monthly menus but also the Veteran’s satisfaction with meals and the actual consumption of food offered. Menus must be submitted monthly, not less than 10 business days before month’s end for the coming month to the COR electronically.) For definition of “nutritionally adequate” and guidance on amounts of each food group per Veteran provided, see http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ Access to a clean refrigerator and microwave. Contractor will develop a receipt of food provided to the Veterans and have it signed upon delivery by one resident, with a basic list of what was provided. This receipt will be presented upon request by the COR/Case Manager. Laundry facilities, including a washer and dryer, for residents to do their own laundry or to have laundry done, which shall include baskets, laundry detergent and dryer sheets/fabric softener. The number of beds required is a minimum of 16 and not to exceed 20. The contractor shall have at least 16 available beds at all times. The contractor shall include at least 4 beds that are able to be utilized by veterans who are on the sex offender registry, but not exclusive to those veterans. Contractor may utilize a secondary location for those 4 beds if necessary but not required. Case management service goals should be clearly documented in an Individual Service Plan (ISP) developed by the contractor with input from the Veteran and the VA HCHV caseworker or designee. For-each individual resident based on that resident’s individual needs and interests. The ISP must include a screening of each veteran “Social Determinants of Health”. The Social Determinants of Health screening results, along with the Veteran’s medical needs, shall inform the ISP. The ISP will be developed within 72 hours of admission. The ISP shall include permanent housing goals and objectives to reach the goal. It is the responsibility of the contractor to assist the Veteran in their housing search and to make referrals to the community to obtain housing. A daily individual progress report detailing the health status, unique emergent needs and progress activities for each Veteran shall be maintained (signed and dated by individual’s caregivers on that date). There will be an expectation that proper daily documentation verifying services and case management efforts with the caregiver’s name shall be placed in each Veteran’s secure personal file. The notes are to be written professionally in a format that comports with the Social Determinants of Health and the Veteran’s unique medical considerations. Services, which the contractor shall include: A comprehensive Individual Service Plan (ISP): Structured group activities and individual instruction must be provided daily and documented in the Veteran’s “Daily Activity Record” of services provided. A “Daily Activity Record” which is developed based on the ISP goals shall be maintained for each participating Veteran and shall be signed by the individual who provided each day’s supports and services. Examples include but are not limited to group therapy, social skills training, emotional skills development, Alcoholics, Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Vocational Counseling, Occupational Training and Physical Activities. Every other week a collaborative meeting with VA program staff shall be held to review each Veteran’s work and progress, to include all elements listed in letter “h” above as well as supportive psychosocial services and review of goals from the ISP. The Contractor’s staff shall provide each Veteran with assistance to develop responsible living patterns, to maintain an acceptable level of personal hygiene and grooming, and to achieve a more adaptive level of psychosocial functioning, improved social skills, and improved personal relationships. The Contractor shall provide support to each Veteran as they adopt an alcohol/drug abuse-free lifestyle provided in an environment conducive to social interaction, group support work and the fullest development of the resident's rehabilitative potential. Each veteran shall be provided daily assistance to develop and to apply knowledge of their unique illness/recovery process in an environment inclusive of supportive recovery models. The Contractor shall provide a program that promotes regular typical community interaction. New residents shall be provided upon admission with an orientation to the facility, its programs, and daily routines. Orientation shall include Showing Veterans where laundry services are located, introduction to facility staff, dissemination of important phone numbers to contact the Program Manager and a phone to be used by Veterans to talk with family and friends. Program requirements and community rules shall also be disseminated and carefully reviewed and explained (e.g., no alcohol/drugs on grounds, no violence, no threats, no stealing, etc.), how a Veteran will receive food during mealtimes and at other times, location of supplies, bedding, towels, transportation, and a discussion of the Veteran’s part in participating in treatment services. Develop clear rules regarding behavior of residents with an avenue to discuss any disputes. Written residential rules are to be developed by the contractor and reviewed and agreed upon by VA contract staff. Ensure all house rules are in writing. Language must be in English and Spanish for explanations during orientation. A Pest management plan shall be developed and submitted which includes the following specifications: A scheduled plan of routine pest management, a monthly treatment schedule, routine prevention measures, and responsibilities of the contractor to address pest control issues immediately when they arise. The Contractor shall designate a staff member(s) to enroll and complete the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) training. Designated staff person will enter Veteran information as required into HMIS database (Once Veteran signs Release of Information). Contractor must participate in Continuum of Care and be an active member of the Continuum of Care Team. Residents will be made aware of the use of security cameras to include residents signing documentation that explains what rooms security cameras are monitoring/recording with residents signing the document acknowledging their awareness. Sleeping areas are prohibited from having cameras monitoring/recording. In order to enter transitional housing, veterans will sign documentation, agreeing to participate in random drug screens and breathalyzers as needed. If a veteran refuses to participate in a random drug screen or breathalyzer, this may prompt their discharge from transitional housing. If the results of a drug screen or breathalyzer indicate a positive for substance use, this may result in discharge from the transitional housing. No further information will be provided prior to posting of the RFQ. The point of contact for this pre-solicitation notice is Preston Gerretse, Contract Specialist, at preston.gerretse@va.gov.

Presolicitation Notice