G004--HUDVASH Housing Placement Case Management

1. Is this a new requirement?

No.

2. Can you supply the contract # and/or award amount?

VA262-17-D-0004 - $6,115,080.00

VA262-17-D-0005 - $7,741,800.00

VA262-17-D-0006 - $1,931,400.00

VA262-17-D-0007 - $4,329,600.00

3. How many veterans will be referred to the contractor?

This information is not known at this time. The Government anticipates making multiple awards in response to this solicitation. Per paragraph 2.6 of the SOW, task orders will be competed amongst all awardees.

4. What does Outreach look like for the VA? Is the contractor expected to go into the community, attend outreach events hosted by the VA or other activities? Will the referrals come for the VA?

The VA will refer veterans from the interest list but it is also the responsibility of the contractor to outreach Veterans and bring them into the program if VA doesn t have enough referrals. Outreach may be both community and by attending outreach events hosted by other Veteran organizations.

5. The RFP says the start date is June 1, 2023. Is this still the case?

Yes.

6. The staffing requirements seem cumbersome. The government is requiring a PM, Supervisors and Leads. Is the government opening to flattening the management structure? We'd propose to eliminate the Supervisors.

No. There will be no changes to the staffing requirements as stated in the solicitation.

7. The RFP says the government prefers the Lead Managers to be masters level. Does that mean they are open to Leads not Masters level? What if they have a degree in something not Social Work but have 2+ years of case management experience? Can the government clarify?

Per paragraph 7.2.3 of the SOW states that The Contractor shall have full-time lead case managers assigned to this contract. The lead case managers shall have a minimum of a bachelor s degree and at least 2 years demonstrated case management experience with high needs/ high intensity of services populations. There is a strong preference by VA for master s level case managers. Lead case managers shall be dedicated full-time to the caseload associated with this contract. A master s degree is preferred from an accredited institution in sociology, psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or family therapy, and at least 1 year of demonstrated case management experience with high needs/high intensity of service populations. The degree doesn t need to be in social work. A masters degree is not required.

8. What are the payment terms?

Is the contractor entitled to compensation upon commencing services to the assigned veteran(s) (to be able to provide unlimited comprehensive services based on the veterans' needs); or Is the contractor entitled to compensation after a veteran is placed into his/her permanent housing unit?

The contractor shall invoice based upon the number of referred Veterans that have been enrolled based upon the state of case management. Please refer to paragraph 13.1 in the SOW

9. Is contractor permitted to submit monthly invoices while still assisting the veteran(s); or Does the contractor have to wait until after all services are render and veteran is permanently housed before being able to submit an invoice?

The contractor submits monthly invoices in arrears each month services are provided to Veteran per the contract terms and conditions.

10. Does the 2,290 vouchers include the current contractors voucher allocation or is this in addition to? Â

No, the current contract ends 6/30/2023.

11. When requesting the unit price do we consider our current voucher allocation or act is if we don t have them?

This is a new procurement and no assumptions should be made about existing contracts.

12. Section E, Solicitation Provisions, item E.1.(b)(4), states that offers must include a technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. Â Since this is not included in the Evaluation Factors (page 77), is this not applicable for this solicitation?

Please refer to section E.3 for proposal evaluation.

13. For Evaluation Factor 1 (page 77), can you clarify if you want a narrative response in addition to the reference worksheets? Or only the reference worksheets?

Please refer to section E.2 Instructions to Offerors and E.3 for proposal evaluation requirements.

14. B.3 Statement of Work. 3.3 Specific Contract Requirements states Contractor shall maintain staffing at a weighted caseload capacity that doesn t exceed 25:1 staff to Veteran ratio. Will the Government please confirm that the staff to Veteran ratio should be 1:25 and not 25:1.

This sentence is modified to say

The contractor shall maintain staffing at a weighted caseload capacity that is a minimum 25:1 staff-to- veteran ratio.

15. B.3 Statement of Work. 3.5 Specific Contract Requirements states Contractor shall provide case management services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Please provide the current scheduling, staffing model, and ratios for each labor category.

The Government does not dictate specific staffing schedules or models. The Contractor shall have sufficient staff to meet all contract requirements including having the ability to provide 24/7 case management support. The contractor shall also have an on-call person who is available after hours and on weekends.

16. Please confirm the unit prices in Section B.2 Schedule of Services and Prices should match the unit prices listed in Section D.2 Price Worksheet.

Yes.

17. Please provide the current unit prices on the contract.

Please see #2

18. How many VASH vouchers are currently allocated to the said agency?

Currently the Government has issued vouchers for 1850 Veterans. This procurement is for 2290 tenant-based vouchers.

19. Is the voucher quantity static, or does the agency receive additional vouchers each year?

It may vary.

20. Has the agency attempted any owner/landlord outreach?

The contractor is expected to develop relationships with landlords/property management, as they are assisting veterans obtaining housing.

21. Will the agency be handling all the HUD-related requirements for each voucher holder, or is the contractor expected to?

The contractor is required to assist the veteran with getting the needed documents needed to obtain the voucher.

22. The hotels that have been identified to accommodate VASH voucher holders, are these for permanent housing (full apartment set-up) or transient/shelter system?

This contract is for tenet-based vouchers not project-based. The Contractor is responsible for assisting the Veterans find housing.

23. What is the current caseload per VA Social Worker/Care Coordinator?

A weighted caseload of 25 veterans to one case manager.

26. Who are the current grantees for VA HUD-VASH in the VAGLAHS area? Grantees?

Current HUD-VASH services are provided by Contractors, not grantees.

28. Are subcontractors allowed in this RFP? Can the amount of vouchers

and total award be split amongst both organizations? Who determines the split?

Awarded contracts and the referred Veterans will only be issued to the prime contractor.

30. Three hotels have been identified that will act as permanent housing, will HUD VASH vouchers be solely

used to lease up the hotels or can they be applied to other regions in the catchment area?

This contract is for tenant-based vouchers.

31. Are HUD-VASH supportive staff responsible for the housing search process?

The contractor is responsible for housing search per the SOW.

32. Can vouchers be applied to previous voucher holders who may have lost their voucher? If so, are there

any criteria that they need to meet?

A veteran can re-apply for another voucher or request an extension for an existing voucher.

33. How long are supportive services set to last for each voucher holder?

It depends on the veteran s needs. Veteran will receive VASH services for as long as needed but the goal is to

move veteran towards independence and graduation from the program.

HUDVASH Housing Placement Case Management

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1.1. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires a contractor to provide housing placement, case management and supportive services for Veterans who would benefit from these services due to the complexity and acuity of their needs. Services will be in support of in the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) (HUD-VASH) program which is a collaborative partnership intended to place and maintain homeless Veterans in permanent, community-based housing using HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers that are paired with ongoing case management and supportive services. Many of these Veterans have co-morbid conditions that include serious mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders, and other serious medical conditions. The contractor shall provide outreach, housing placement, case management, and supportive services as defined herein in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS) catchment area to HUD-VASH eligible Veterans and their families. VAGLAHS s catchment area includes Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.