Protection and Advocacy Training and Technical Assistance Project

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), is seeking a performance-based contract to provide coordinated, comprehensive, and specialized training and technical assistance to 57 Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) nationwide. The contractor will support P&As in delivering legal advocacy services to individuals with disabilities, with particular emphasis on ensuring access to the electoral process, covering six main functional areas: Project Management and Evaluation, Knowledge Development, Peer-to-Peer Networking, Collaboration, Financial Management, and Systems Information Management. Key deliverables include developing a five-year strategic plan, providing monthly reporting, creating a password-protected website, delivering web-based and in-person trainings, and conducting on-site visits to P&As across multiple program areas including developmental disabilities, assistive technology, traumatic brain injury, mental health, and voting access. The solicitation has undergone two amendments, with the final proposal submission deadline extended to September 23, 2025, at 12:00 pm Eastern Time. Questions regarding the solicitation were required to be submitted by August 29, 2025, to Robyn.Dobard@hhs.gov, with government responses posted on SAM.gov Contract Opportunities.

This solicitation operates under NAICS code 813319 (Other Social Advocacy Organizations) with a small business size standard of $18 million and is designated as unrestricted with no set-aside provisions. The contract structure is Time and Materials with a base period of 12 months beginning September 29, 2025, followed by four 12-month option periods, potentially extending through September 28, 2030. The solicitation documents do not specify the total contract value or budget ranges, as these details will be determined through the competitive bidding process. The contractor will be responsible for supporting all 57 P&As across the United States, indicating a nationwide scope of services. The primary place of performance is listed as Washington, DC 20201, though the nature of the work supporting P&As nationwide suggests services will be delivered across multiple locations. The contract award is anticipated to occur shortly after the September 23, 2025 proposal deadline, with performance beginning on September 29, 2025.