Education Development for ognitive Processing Therap

Letter of Intent to Sole Source for Educational Development Center (EDC) for CPT services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, has a requirement for educational experts to perform educational development services as part of an ongoing training effort sponsored by VACO, Office of Mental Health Services, the VA National Center for PTSD, Womens Health Sciences Division (WHSD). They have received funding to develop additional training materials to be used to train clinicians in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and to be used on an interactive website on the VA intranet.



It is the Governments intention to solicit and negotiate only with this source. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement.



Inquires/information received after established deadline of 3pm EST on August 28, 2009 shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.



JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:



1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

VA Boston Healthcare System, National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), Womens Health Sciences Division, Boston, MA



2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.



Sole source procurement of Educational Development Center educational development services.



Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value)

The Educational Development Center was awarded a contract in FY07-FY09 for work on the first three phases of the Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) project for the NCPTSD. The contractor has been responsible for developing all CPT training materials to be used to train clinicians in the implementation of CPT and to be used on the interactive COLLAGE website. The contractor has completed a significant amount of tasks since they were awarded the contract, including producing interactive video clips demonstrating key teaching points from each of the 12 CPT therapy sessions for training workshops and an online CPT course.



As part of an ongoing training effort sponsored by VACO, Office of Mental Health Services, the VA National Center for PTSD, Womens Health Sciences Division (WHSD) has received funding to develop additional training materials to be used to train clinicians in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and to be used on an interactive website on the VA intranet. Online CPT course materials will be augmented to include improved graphics and Spanish translation. Since the EDC successfully performed the initial work, it is our desire to continue using this federal contract. Our new deliverables are within the scope of our existing contract and are designed to provide training materials to clinicians implementing CPT.



For this contract, the contractor will continue to negotiate the subcontract with Mile End Studios, which is the company that has filmed and produced previous training videos for the project. We anticipate that work will be completed by March of 2010. We are requesting that the current EDC contract be extended until that time.



Specific Mandatory Tasks and Deliverables:

a. Enhance CPT educational materials including implementation resources and Spanish translation patient materials to be used to facilitate implementation of CPT.

These materials will be developed for use on an interactive website on the VA intranet and during training workshops.

Deadline: March 1, 2010.

b. Augment online CPT course materials including improved graphics

Deadline: March 1, 2010.



The estimated amount of the contract is $59,381.



4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other

than full and open competition.



FAR 6.302-1, USC 253(c)(1)



5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority sited.



The Educational Development Center (EDC) brings unique expertise with regard to the content of interest to this program development effort, organizational knowledge of the VA system and specific expertise in learning design and materials development for clinicians. The EDC has a demonstrated track record in program development and dissemination projects. Therefore, after three years of working with the CPT project staff and trainers, the EDC is very well-versed in the overarching goals of this project. Because of their integral involvement in the CPT project thus far, the EDC has developed expertise in developing appropriate training and educational materials specifically for this project.





6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are Solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Commerce Business Daily notice was or will be published.



FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This procurement is under VA Healthcare Resources Sharing Authority Law Title 38 USC secionts 8151-8153.



7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.



The proposed price for individuals with this level of education, expertise and related experience is fair and reasonable.



8. Description of the market survey conducted (i.e., names, of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted.



Requirements for development and of CPT education and training materials are very specific in nature and frequently there is only one responsible source. EDC has the necessary expertise and experience with this product.



9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.



The vendor has been providing services for this program for the past two years. They are knowledgeable in providing contract services to the VA. A constructive working relationship has been established which provides for optimal outcome in delivery of services



10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.



Because of past experience and the detailed specific requirements no other sources have been solicited



11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.



The contracting activity will continue to encourage full and open competition whenever possible.