Q999--Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (FTH) Base with 4 one year options

EQUINE FACILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPY PROGRAM

Fort Harrison VA Medical Center

Fort Harrison, Montana

SCOPE OF WORK

Montana VA Health Care System is requesting a contract of an indoor horse arena with the use of a minimum of six horses/equines (up to two can be donkeys, and/or miniature equines) for the purpose of MTVAHCS employees to provide patient-centered mental health care in the form of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy to MTVAHCS Veterans receiving Behavioral Health Services.

This contractor shall provide space and horses/equines that shall be used to provide individual and group Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy to Veterans. This will be staffed within the current full time equivalent employee (FTEE) in Behavioral Health Services. This program will need the contracted space for three to five, eight to ten-hour days per week to conduct group and individual therapy. The contracted space will be staffed by MTVAHCS staff in order to provide high quality care by specially trained mental health care providers and equine specialists, to assure meeting performance measures/standards. The psychotherapy that will be provided is a billable service.

General Conditions for the Space:

Availability to utilize a minimum of 6 equines/horses for each group therapy appointments for patients, and a minimum of 2 horses for individual therapy appointments for patients.

Must have veterinary records for all horses, all horses must be good with new people as well as multiple people at a time.

Facility must be kept between 45-75 degrees at all times patients are utilizing the facility.

Facility must be sanitary including all feces removed prior to patients arriving.

Facility must have indoor heated bathrooms with running water that are cleaned weekly.

Facility must provide office space during scheduled times. Office must be sanitary and kept between 60-75 degrees at all times that it is scheduled

Horses must be parasite and injury free.

Access to reliable wireless internet.

An indoor arena, minimum size of 60 feet by 100 feet, free of hazardous conditions such as loose wires, loose boards, protruding materials that could cause an impaling danger, etc.

Sand floor in the arena with dust kept to a minimum.

Adequate lighting in the barn and office areas.

Office space, minimum size of 10 feet by 10 feet, with electrical outlets, work surface to accommodate at least three people and computer equipment, with a separate space that can be used for confidential counseling (such as a meeting room or other office space).

Adequate parking spaces for a minimum of 8 vehicles.

Metal panels that could be used to section off parts of the arena.

Facility must provide minimum equipment needed for grooming, appropriate tack for riding including helmets, and other materials needed for therapy such as halters, lead ropes, feed buckets, obstacles, plastic or metal folding chairs (at least 8), etc.

Located within one mile of a paved, maintained road, with well-maintained paved or unpaved drive to parking area.

Drive, parking lot, and area immediately surrounding facility must be free of snow, excess water, or other hazards for safety of patients and staff.

Located within 10 miles of the Helena city limits.

Facility will be closed to the general public during days/hours of contracted use.

The contract holder will be responsible for the set-up of the facility by 8 am on the days of use. Days of used will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday excluding holidays. Changes to scheduled days will be notified 30 days in advance.

General Conditions for the Horses:

VA staff will determine if a horse demonstrates aggressive behavior including biting, kicking, or abrupt movements for the safety of patient horse will be removed from service.

Horses in sound, healthy condition.

Horses will be halter trained with good ground manners, to include being easily and safely walked on a lead rope, worked in a round pen and/or on a lunge line, groomed, etc.

At least two horses that are suitable for riding by beginner riders.

Equine Specialist and/or Program Manager has the final authority to determine what horses are allowed in the program and can at any time discharge a horse from the program and request a proper replacement be provided within one month.

Responsibilities of the party providing the contracted property and horses:

Shall assume the expense and work required to maintain all contracted space to the standards of the contract.

Shall remove snow and maintain, the parking area, the driveway from the main road, and the walking paths.

Shall provide enough feed for horses to maintain a healthy weight; water, in clean water troughs; enough shelter/cover for all program horses to be protected from extreme weather; routine and as needed veterinary care; routine, at least every other month and as needed, farrier services; and any other care or expense that arises for all of the equines under contract agreement.

Shall clean and remove excess manure from area where horses are housed on a regular basis.

If an equine/horse becomes unusable it shall be replaced with a horse that meets the stipulation of the contract within one month.

All individuals working or volunteering at the contracted space when in use by the VA shall complete VA Privacy training annually.

6) Holidays: The Government observes the following holidays, also included would be any other day specifically declared by the President of the United States to be a National Holiday:

New Year s Day Labor Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s Birthday Columbus Day

George Washington s Birthday Veterans Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving

Juneteenth Christmas

Independence Day

The Government will not be responsible for contract of facility on observed holidays.

Contract holder will not bill the Government for non-use days.