Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Support Services

Purpose: The Defense Health Agency (DHA), Office of the Component Acquisition Executive (CAE) is releasing a source(s) sought to obtain market knowledge, industry best practices, capabilities and comments on a future DHA strategies for clinical investigation support services. This is a request for information (RFI) only; no contract will result from responses. This is not a Request for Proposal, an Invitation to Bid, or a Request for Quotation. Therefore, this RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract nor will the Government pay for information given to the Government in a response.

Background: The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) is a congressionally mandated organization within the Research and Development Directorate (J-9) at the Defense Health Agency. DVBIC promotes access to state-of-the-science-care for service members, veterans and their families, to prevent and mitigate the consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In 1991, Congress created DVBIC through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In 2007, the NDAA authorized DVBIC's 15 year research study, which is still in progress. The study examines the long term effects of Traumatic Brain Injury sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on service members, veterans and their caregivers. In 2012, VA, DOD and HHS jointly developed the National Research Action Plan (NRAP) as a blueprint for enhancing the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of PTSD, TBI and suicide. In 2014, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs named DVBIC as the manager of the TBI Pathway of Care for clinical, research education and training activities.

DVBIC was founded in 1992, largely in response to the first Persian Gulf War, under the name Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program. At the time, its goal was to integrate specialized TBI care, research and education across military and veteran medical care systems. DVBIC now supports a network of 23 sites, operating out of 18 military treatment facilities and 5 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Specific activities vary at each site and can include conducting clinical research, providing clinical support and care to service members, assisting service members and veterans, and their families, locating support services, conducting education and outreach activities and assessing TBI injury data, while command and control exist with the DVBIC Headquarters (HQ) for continuity of services.

Located at the DVBIC HQ, four divisions reflect its mission essential components; research, clinical affairs, education, and mission support. DVBIC works with the TBI Advisory Committee to define and disseminate proven practices, and to develop translation strategy and implementation guidelines. DVBIC HQ has visibility of all TBI clinical and translational research within, or funded by, the Military Health System.

Under the current program, the National Capital Region Contracting Office contracts for administrative/clerical occupations, certified labor categories as well as specialized/technical positions. These include (but are not limited to):

PRODUCT SERVICE CODES

Q4

Q401

Nursing Services

Q5

Q510

Medical Services/ Neurology

Q527

Nuclear Medicine

Q7

Q701

Specialized Medical Support

Q702

Technical Medical Support

R4

R408

Program Management/Support Services

R410

Support- Professional; Program evaluation/review/development

R426

Communication Services

The NAICS code used for the current contract was 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services).

Request: The government is initiating development of a new acquisition strategy. The number, scope and geographic coverage for personnel, as well as the type of contract and acquisition methodology have not been determined at this time. We are seeking large and small business sources as part of market research to ascertain the interest, capability, and capacity that industry can provide for anticipated clinical investigation support service as well as some requirements worldwide. In addition, information is being sought for alternative NAICS used by industry for similar services.

Response: Interested firms may identify their interest via email to the Government point of contact. All responses to this notice must be received no later than 10:00 AM EDST, 12 October 2018. Telephone or facsimile inquiries are not acceptable in response to this notice. The point of contact for this action is John A. Cowgill at john.a.cowgill4.ctr@mail.mil.

Notice: The DHA may have non-Government employees (i.e., contractor employees) assisting with market research and/or analysis. These non-Government employees have all signed non-disclosure agreements and may have access to industry responses. Their companies are contractually bound not to compete for these requirements should it result in contract award(s).