SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

The East Services Branch, Health Readiness Contracting Office (HRCO), Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for this Equine Training Course. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 611430 Professional and Management Development Training.

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, Website address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

[Note: In accordance with FAR 10.001(b), agencies should not request potential sources to submit more than the minimum information necessary.]

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, contractor transportation, tools, materials, supervision, other items and non-personal services necessary to perform a Equine Care Training Course for the Army Veterinary Services as defined in this APPENDIX 1, except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, but will be awarded as a single award. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by September 2, 2025 at 2:00PM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to cotrena.y.brownjohnson.mil@health.mil

APPENDIX 1: Purpose and Objectives (Draft Excerpt from Para 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Performance Work Statement)

1. General: This is a non-personal services contract to provide an equine care course for the Army Veterinary Service (AVS). The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the Government.

1.1 Description of Services: The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, Contractor transportation, tools, materials, supervision, other items, and non-personal services necessary to perform the Equine Care course for the AVS as defined in this Performance Work Statement, except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: A congressional investigation highlighted gaps in the Army’s equine care practices, to include a lack of specialized equine veterinary care training and education amongst Veterinary Corps Officers (VCO - civilian equivalent “Veterinarian”) and Animal Care Specialists (MOS 68Ts – civilian equivalent “Veterinary Technician”). This contributed to occasional suboptimal clinical case outcomes and erosion of confidence in care provided by AVS personnel. The Secretary of the Army directed the development of a program for sustaining equid veterinary proficiency. The AVS requires a 5-day, 40-hour course designed to address these skill gaps and enhance the competencies of VCOs and 68Ts.

1.3 Objectives: The purpose of this training is to equip up to 20 participants (VCOs and 68Ts) annually with essential equine veterinary care skills, focusing on preventive care, medical treatment, and handling of military working equids (MWEs). The course will consist of 40 hours of a combination of hands-on and didactic training, with a competency-based evaluation process to ensure proficiency in these areas.

1.4 Scope of Work: The Contractor shall provide a comprehensive 40-hour course in equine veterinary care, tailored to the unique needs of the AVS and its personnel. The course will cover the following areas:

a. Husbandry and basic handling skills including nutrition, preventive care, behavior, physical examinations, and restraint

b. Colic: recognition, diagnosis, and treatment

c. Lameness: lameness exams, nerve blocks, join injections, and radiology

d. Surgery/wound management: laceration repair, wound management, and bandaging

e. Dentistry: dental floating, dental blocks, and radiology

f. Miscellaneous including: ophthalmology, large animal emergency rescue, and euthanasia procedures, etc.

The course will consist of didactic lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences, where students will demonstrate proficiency in the outlined areas. Proficiency will be assessed through a hands-on, competency-based evaluation, in alignment with the attached Terminal Learning Objectives (TLOs) and Enabling Learning Objectives (ELOs). The course will consist of hands-on laboratory experiences which is not less than 60% of the course with at least 40% of the course content working with live animals. The competency assessment will include evaluation of hands-on, practical demonstration by attendees and may contribute to 60% of course time.

1.4.1 The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel, services, materials, equipment, supplies and facilities, and live equid animals necessary to conduct a comprehensive training program for no greater than 20 students per course selected by the U.S. Army for enrollment.

1.4.2 The Equine Care course will be conducted in 5 consecutive days, typically following regular working hours (0900-1700) with adjustments made as necessary for logistics and mission accomplishment. The daily course schedule may be broken down in a manner to facilitate clinical rotation hours. The annual course should be offered from November to April to deconflict with PCS season for maximum attendance.

1.4.3 The Contractor shall ensure all instruction is led by and/or overseen by licensed veterinarians, with and without sub-specialization, and that Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and/or the American College of Veterinary Surgeons are available. In addition to veterinary qualifications, instructors must have experience in instruction and relevant specializations in equine treatment. The Contractor shall provide the detailed instructor qualifications for review.

1.4.4 The Contractor shall provide all necessary facilities, equipment, and logistical support to facilitate the training course. This includes classroom and laboratory facilities, as well as access to live animals for hands-on training.

1.4.4.1 The Contractor shall ensure adequate food is available to participants during normal meal hours within the course daily schedule.

1.4.4.2 The Contractor shall provide for all requirements for access to all facilities

1.4.4.3 The Contractor shall provide for adequate parking for attendees at the facility or provide transportation service to and from a hotel within 30 miles of the course location.

1.4.5 The course curriculum shall be in accordance with the guidelines set forth by U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Chief/Army Equid Enterprise/Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General. The Higher Learning Institution can tailor the curriculum based on the ELOs/TLOs. The course material must be kept confidential therefore a “non-disclosure statement” will be required.

1.4.6 The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be for Base plus four option years:

Base Year: 1 Nov 2025 - 31 Oct 2026 Option Year 1: 1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2027 Option Year 2: 1 Nov 2027- 31 Oct 2028 Option Year 3: 1 Nov 2028 - 31 Oct 2029 Option Year 4: 1 Nov 2029 - 31 Oct 2030

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control Plan (QCP): The Contractor’s existing quality assurance system shall be utilized in accordance with FAR 12.208.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The Government shall evaluate the Contractor's performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the Contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied and the frequency of surveillance.

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: The following provides information on recognized holidays for the purpose of the PWS. If submittal of any documentation (e.g., deliverables, submittals, etc.) deadlines fall on a holiday, the closest workday prior to the holiday will apply as the deadline for submittal.

Juneteenth June 19th Independence Day July 4th Labor Day 1st Monday in September Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October Veteran’s Day November 11th Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25th

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The Contractor is responsible for conducting business between the hours of 0800-1800 Monday through Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar government-directed facility closings. The contactor shall facilitate the Equine Care course in live environments. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the Contractor will not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The Contractor must always maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at Contractor-owned and coordinated facilities.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The Government will award a firm fixed price contract.

1.6.7 Special Qualifications: The Contractor shall be an Institution accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education for Veterinary Medical Education and maintain all necessary accreditations and state-approvals to conduct an Equine Care Course.

1.6.8 The Contractor will have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) with oversight of the Equine Care Course. The contractor will provide evidence of an IACUC review of the Equine Care Course and meet all requirements of the IACUC during conduct of the course.

1.6.9 Post award conference/ Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer (KO), Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the KO will apprise the Contractor of how the Government views the Contractor's performance, advise of required changes to the curriculum, and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative: The COR will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, and specifications; monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the KO and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property; and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

1.6.12 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the KO immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the KO to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor's mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the KO and in the event the KO unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the KO may affect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

1.7 Required Training: None.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

1. Government Furnished Property and Services

0. Services:

0. Ensure approved students have passed a background check, as required, and otherwise meet standards for training prior to the student being selected for attendance.

0. Provide a COR to monitor students in the Equine Care course.

0. Provide transportation for all soldiers to and from lodging if outside 30 miles radius of the location of the Equine Care course.

0. Materials: Enabling and Terminal Learning Objectives.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

1. Contractor Furnished Property and Services:

0. General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

0. Facilities: The Contractor shall provide for student use all normally available facilities with student privileges such as, but not limited to, classroom, laboratory facilities, study hall space, student lounge space, and ready room/locker facilities.

0. Contractor Responsibilities:

2. Provide all student identification badges.

2. Contractor ID.

2. Individual training facility ID, if required.

2. Security entry ID and or fingerprint cards, if required.

2. Provide all documentation, as required by training facilities, for student access to necessary facilities.

2. Conduct all training facility required student training prior to clinical rotations.

2. Allow select VIP training facility tours with prior coordination.

0. Materials:

3. The contractor shall provide all required references, texts, workbooks, study materials, study guides and access to online resources required for course completion.

4.4.2 Shall provide a curriculum in alignment with the TLOs and ELOs and in accordance with the guidelines set by the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Chief/Army Equid Enterprise/Office of the Surgeon General to the COR no less than 14 days before the start of the course.

0. Equipment:

4. The contractor shall provide all medical equipment required to conduct training, testing and evaluation of student performance.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

0. Basic Services. The contractor shall execute Equine Care Training as described in this PWS. The contractor shall provide to the US Government an Equine Care Training course in accordance with the minimum terminal objectives for personnel as defined by the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Chief.

0. The contractor's Educational Program shall meet the following criteria:

1. Shall maintain an affiliation with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons and/or, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

1. Shall be a post-secondary educational institution.

1. Shall be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

1. Shall comply with all state requirements for conducting veterinary training.

1. Shall be able to establish educational Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement.

1. Shall provide continuing education credits through the American Association of State Veterinary Board’s Registry of Approved Continuing Education program for all students completing the coursework.

1. Shall coordinate set-up and assume all fees associated with laboratory experiences for all classes.

1. Shall provide reporting to the COR regarding any student test or examination failure, within 24 hours of occurrence.

1. Shall coordinate schedule changes/concerns with the COR within 48 hours of discovery.

1. Shall extend and secure all medical training agreements with medical facilities and supplemental agencies for the purpose of clinical and field rotations in accordance with course objectives and at the Contractor's expense.

1. Shall coordinate with the COR on scheduling for students during clinical and field rotations in accordance with course objectives.

1. Shall provide access to all clinical and field rotation sites, including, but not exclusive to, licensing and any necessary support/preceptor staff.

1. Shall ensure U.S. Army students receive the same priority/consideration for scheduling as host institutions' students.

1. Shall provide detailed curriculum remediation in the area of failure for students failing benchmark exams/exercises.

1. Shall provide an after action report from each course within 14 days after the course to the COR.

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES (TLOS) AND

ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES (ELOS)

TLO1: Evaluate an individual and herd health program.

ELO1: Identify and discuss the U.S. Army Veterinary Medical Standardization Board (VMSB) and American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) core vaccines.

ELO2: Identify and discuss risk-based vaccinations for an equine patient. ELO3: Identify and discuss the AAEP principles of anthelmintic treatment at the individual and herd levels.

ELO4: Evaluate a nutrition program and be able to make recommendations to an owner. Discuss U.S. Army Staff Assistance Visit evaluation criteria for nutrition/diet.

ELO5: Evaluate a boarding facility’s safety, biosecurity, and welfare programs and be able to make recommendations to an owner. Discuss U.S. Army Staff Assistance Visit evaluation criteria for facilities.

MODULE 2 – HUSBANDRY TECHNIQUES TLO (1) ELO (5)

TLO2: Safely handle, restrain, and lead an equine patient.

ELO6: Approach, capture, and attach a halter. ELO7: Tie a quick-release knot.

ELO8: Apply a lip twitch.

ELO9: Elevate and examine a forelimb. ELO10: Elevate and examine a hindlimb.

MODULE 3 – EXAMINING THE EQUINE PATIENT TLO (5) ELO (33)

TLO3: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform a thorough physical examination on an equine patient.

ELO11: Estimate weight and determine Body Condition Score (BCS). ELO12: Recognize clinical signs associated with systemic and localized pain. ELO13: Estimate the presence and degree of dehydration.

ELO14: Demonstrate proper thoracic auscultation and obtain heart and respiratory rates and identify normal and abnormal heart and lung sounds. ELO15: Demonstrate proper abdominal auscultation identify the presence/ absence/quality and location of borborygmi.

ELO16: Safely obtain a rectal temperature on an equine patient. ELO17: Recognize clinical signs associated with colic.

ELO18: Recognize clinical signs associated with laminitis.

ELO19: Recognize clinical signs associated with choke.

TLO4: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform an ophthalmic examination on an equine patient.

ELO20: Identify relative anatomy and describe the technique and supplies needed to perform an auriculopalpebral and supraorbital nerve blocks.

ELO21: Perform a complete ophthalmic examination with direct or indirect ophthalmology.

ELO22: Perform fluorescein staining of the cornea. ELO23: Perform an ultrasonic examination of the eye.

ELO24: Identify relative anatomy and describe the technique and supplies needed a nasolacrimal duct flush TLO5: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform an oral examination on an equine patient.

ELO25: Utilize the modified-Triadan system of dental numbering and properly complete a dental chart.

ELO26: Perform an examination of the extra-oral structures, occlusion, periodontal and endodontic structures or oral soft tissues.

ELO27: Recognize common dental and oral pathology.

ELO28: Perform a routine odontoplasty procedure to manage sharp enamel points and occlusal abnormalities ELO29: Understand the management of persistent or mal-erupted deciduous teeth.

TLO6: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform a neurologic examination on an equine patient.

ELO30: Evaluate an equine patient’s cranial nerves for indications of neurologic disease.

ELO31: Evaluate an equine patient’s gait at the walk for indications of neurologic disease (tail pull, circles, maze, small hill, backing, etc.).

ELO32: Evaluate an equine patient's neck, thoracic limbs, thorax/abdomen, pelvic limbs, tail and anus for indications of neurologic disease.

ELO33: Identify and recommend additional testing modalities (CSF analysis, myelography, computed tomogram) and make recommendations to an owner for referral.

TLO7: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform a musculoskeletal examination on an equine patient.

ELO34: Identify the major osseous, soft tissue, and synovial structures of the equine thoracic and pelvic limbs.

ELO35: Identify the major structures of the hoof.

ELO36: Perform a musculoskeletal exam of a horse presented for lameness issues.

ELO37: Demonstrate proficient use of hoof testers and use them to examine a patient’s hoof.

ELO38: Perform a lameness examination and determine the degree of lameness and be able to identify the affected limb.

ELO39: Discuss the indications and locations of basic and advanced diagnostic nerve blocks.

ELO40: Make a diagnostic plan and execute appropriate basic nerve blocks to diagnose a horse presented for lameness.

ELO41: Know the basics of therapeutic joint therapy options.

ELO42: Discuss therapeutic shoeing recommendations with the client and farrier.

MODULE 4 – DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTICS TLO (1) ELO (8)

TLO8: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, perform the necessary diagnostic techniques to develop a differential diagnosis list or to achieve a definitive diagnosis for an equine patient.

ELO43: Administer medication PO (paste or liquid).

ELO44: Perform parenteral (IV, IM, SQ) injections.

ELO45: Collect and process venous blood samples using equipment outlined in the VMSB Equine Equipment guidelines.

ELO49: Place a nasogastric tube (NGT).

ELO50: Via an NGT, create a siphon and perform appropriate gastric lavage.

ELO51: Calculate net reflux and identify spontaneous reflux. ELO52: Administer liquid medication with a nasogastric tube. ELO53: Place and secure a catheter in the jugular vein.

MODULE 5 – ANESTHESIA TLO (1) ELO (9)

TLO9: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, identify, develop and perform appropriate general and regional sedation techniques, induce anesthesia, monitor, and recover an adult equine patient.

ELO54: Identify and discuss the basic medications used to sedate an adult equine patient.

ELO55: Develop an appropriate sedation protocol for an adult equine patient. ELO56: Perform local anesthetic blockade of the upper eyelid: blocking for motor and/or sensation.

ELO57: Perform local anesthesia of the foot and distal portion of the limb.

ELO58: Perform local anesthesia of the carpus and tarsus.

ELO59: Perform arthrocentesis and local anesthesia of the carpus, hock, fetlock, and pastern.

ELO60: Identify and discuss the basic medications used to anesthetize and adult equine patient.

ELO61: Develop an appropriate anesthesia protocol for an adult equine patient. ELO62: Recognize and discuss the basic principles of anesthesia monitoring and recovery for an adult equine patient.

MODULE 6 – RADIOLOGY TLO (1) ELO (5)

TLO10: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, identify, develop, perform and interoperate an appropriate radiographic or ultrasonic technique and study to pursue a differential diagnosis or to achieve a definitive diagnosis for an equine patient.

ELO63: Perform and interpret ultrasound of tendons, abdomen, and thorax using equipment outlined in the VMSB Equine Equipment guidelines.

ELO66: Make and interpret radiographs of the carpus, tarsus, stifle, fetlocks, pasterns, and coffin joints using equipment outlined in the VMSB Equine Equipment guidelines.

ELO67: Have an understanding of diagnostic imaging techniques in the equine patient such that specialized views of an area of interest could be discussed and considered when appropriate.

ELO68: Take and interpret dental images.

ELO69: Identify, diagnose with radiographs, and create an appropriate treatment plan for a sinus infection.

MODULE 7 – SURGERY/WOUND MANAGEMENT TLO (1) ELO (7)

TLO11: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, assess a wound, develop an appropriate therapeutic plan, apply a bandage(s), choose an appropriate antimicrobial agent, perform a regional limb perfusion (if indicated), and discuss with the owner the requirements for long term wound management.

ELO70: Apply a wound dressing.

ELO72: Repair an uncomplicated skin laceration. ELO73: Place drain appropriately for a soft tissue lesion. ELO74: Apply a bandage to a foot.

ELO75: Apply a bandage to a limb.

ELO76: Identify and discuss the antimicrobials that can be used to perform a regional limb perfusion.

ELO78: Repair an eyelid laceration

MODULE 8 – EUTHANASIA TLO (1) ELO (5)

TLO12: Given an expeditionary or non-expeditionary setting, ELO79: Identify and discuss clinical conditions and situations where an equine patient may require euthanasia.

ELO80: Identify the AVMA approved methods of euthanasia for an equine patient and discuss their individual benefits and challenges.

ELO81: Identify the anatomic structures, the necessary equipment and medications necessary to euthanize an equine patient via intrathecal lidocaine administration.

ELO82: Perform euthanasia via intrathecal lidocaine administration. ELO83: Determine death following euthanasia via intrathecal lidocaine administration.