AN22--General R&D Project Support in support of VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following in support of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS):

VAPSHCS has a need for general project support for the VA Health Systems Research (HSR) Center of Innovation (COIN) for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care.

Scope.

Vendor will provide temporary support services to COIN investigators on as needed basis for ongoing quality improvement projects.

VAPSHCS anticipates a non-personal service contract for one vendor staff member for the first year and up to two vendor staff members for the second year for general project support. Support staff shall have an advanced level of education. Effort may be split between master s level and PhD level coordinators who will provide administrative project support and project management.

Vendors may be required to support costs for training, project-related travel, and local project supplies (e.g., printing, software purchase for data analysis), as identified by the Investigator throughout the project period. This work is expected to span over 3 years. Travel and conference may be required.

Tasks.

Contractor will be responsible for the ongoing support of the deliverables listed below. Tasks and deliverables will range and depend on specific projects but may include the following:

Task 1: Conducting literature reviews as required by projects.

Task 2: Participating in designing and developing data collection tools as required by projects. Data collection tools may include surveys and interview guides.

Task 3: Conducting project surveys and interviews. Mail out surveys, enter survey data, and conduct interviews as required by projects.

Task 4: Conducting outreach to project participants as required by projects.

Task 5: Following project protocols for enrolling study participants as required by projects.

Task 6: Coding and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data as required by projects.

Task 7: Managing database maintenance as required by projects.

Task 8: Tracking study outcomes as required by projects.

Task 9: Assisting with administrative approval processes as required by projects.

Task 10: Participating in dissemination of study findings, including writing reports, manuscripts and/or summaries of findings for varying stakeholders. Staff can be listed as co-authors on manuscripts but must be notated with their non-VA affiliation.

Task 11: Providing general project and clerical support to the Core Investigators at the HSR&D Center of Innovation.

Task 12: Participating in proposal development as required by projects.

Deliverables.

Deliverables will vary by project.

Item

Deliverable description

Delivery Date

1

Conduct literature reviews.

As needed.

2

Participating in designing and developing data collection tools.

As needed.

3

Conducting project surveys or interviews.

As needed.

4

Conduct outreach to project participants.

As needed.

5

Follow project protocols for enrolling project participants.

As needed.

6

Code and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.

As needed.

7

Manage database maintenance.

As needed.

8

Track study outcomes.

As needed.

9

Assist with administrative approval processes.

As needed.

10

Participate in dissemination of study findings.

As needed.

11

Provide general project support.

As needed.

12

Participate in proposal development.

As needed.

Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated supplies at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov no later than June 12, 2023, 5PM PST. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, SAM UEI and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; whether services are presently offered on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract. Prospective vendors shall provide a letter from the University of Washington on dated, signed, university letterhead stating that they have access to data or provide information on their preexisting equal or better healthcare access and quality index that includes existing estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study. NAICS Code 541715 Size Standard: 1,000 employees is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.