R408--Worship Pianist at the Erie VA Medical Center

Statement of Need

Erie VA Medical Center Musical Leadership for Worship Services

Purpose: This is a Sources Sought Notice issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs to conduct market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. This notice is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for proposals, a Request for Proposal (RFP), or a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

Background: The Department of Veterans Affairs, Erie VA Medical Center, has a need for a worship Pianist to provide musical leadership for our Roman Catholic and Protestant Worship Services. This contract will be for 5 years (one year base with 4 1-year options). POP will be September 1, 2026 August 30, 2031.

Required Skills and Experience:

1. The Pianist will provide piano or keyboard accompaniment for Protestant and Roman Catholic Worship Services, as requested and needed.

2. The Pianist will have experience with either a VA chapel or a religious congregation.

3. The Pianist will possess the skills to perform all the hymns in the chapel hymnal with a high level of accuracy. The pianist will also need to provide one piece of special music for each service, if requested by the offices of the Chaplain.

Schedule of Services:

1. The Pianist is expected to arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to any scheduled service or special event they are expected to be at, and to provide ten minutes of appropriate prelude music that will be coordinated with the officiating Chaplain. As of the beginning of FY26, the current times and locations for worship services are normally:

Protestant Worship Sunday morning at 10 AM, 2nd floor chapel

Protestant Worship Sunday morning at 11:15AM, Alpha CLC

Roman Catholic Mass Wednesday afternoon at 1PM, 2nd floor chapel

2. Based upon the needs of the Veterans and available staffing, there may be only one Sunday Service, however the Pianist will need to be available for two services when scheduled. Any changes to the time of the weekly service will be coordinated with the pianist.

3. If the Pianist is unavailable for a regular service, the chaplain who will be leading the service should be notified as soon as possible. The Pianist can designate a substitute for worship services that he or she cannot lead, however the Pianist must be able to be present and play at 65% of the scheduled services that they are expected to attend.

4. Special services will be announced as needed and in coordination with the schedule of the Pianist.

Training

The pianist will complete mandatory trainings required by VHA.

Requested Information: Interested vendors are requested to provide the following information

Company name, address, and website

Point of contact name, phone number, and email address

DUNS/UEI number and CAGE code

Business size and socioeconomic status (e.g., Small Business, SDVOSB, WOSB, 8(a),HUBZone)

All interested parties must submit the above requested information NLT Monday, June 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST via email to Contract Specialist, Derrick L. Maruski at Derrick.Maruski2@va.gov. Phone calls will not be accepted.