R426--Bridge contract for communication and paid media for suicide prevention efforts

Special Notice

Special Notice

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Special Notice

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Special Notice

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION: In accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2, this notice is provided for information purposes only. The Strategic Acquisition Center in Frederick, MD (SAC-F) intends to negotiate a non-competitive award (Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) sole-source) with District Communications Group LLC, for Suicide Prevention Communication Support.

SCOPE OF WORK: The goal of the contract is to implement a variety of communication products and tools, proactive strategies, and effective distribution processes related to suicide prevention to ensure veterans, family members, friends and other veteran stakeholders, VA personnel, including senior leadership at VACO; health care facility directors; clinical staff; and, non-clinical, administrative, and support staff are all well versed in VA s resources for reducing veteran suicide.

Additionally, the contractor will implement a variety of communication products and tools, proactive strategies, and effective distribution processes related to suicide prevention to ensure and support a public health, bundled, community approach to reducing veteran suicide. Of note, VA recognizes that partnering with other Federal agencies in addition to state, community, and local government, non- profits, and other partners is a required element of the campaign.

The contractor shall continue to support outreach on a national level, leveraging VA and partner delivery mechanisms (VA publicly facing webpages, blogs, social media, etc.) in new and creative ways, and ensure that a diverse set of communication tools for Veterans, VA personnel who interact with Veterans as well a multitude of Federal and community organizations, family and friends, and policy makers that support veterans are educated and capable of communicating, with provided tools, VHA s OMHSP to include the Veterans Crisis Line and community resources for preventing veteran suicide. Further, this information will be shared with external audiences, including, but not limited to other Federal agencies; state and local governments; non-governmental entities to include both non-profit and for-profit organizations; faith-based communities, volunteers; non-VA health care systems and providers; and other interested parties with a vested role in furthering the overarching suicide prevention effort, and related mental health activities.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.

THIS SPECIAL NOTICE IS NOT A SOLICITATION or request for competitive offers, quotations or proposals. It does not constitute a commitment or an obligation by the Government. No solicitation package is available. In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(i) all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Interested parties must provide evidence of their capabilities to fulfill the requirement by the date and time specified in this notice to Wanda Y. Edwards, Contracting Officer, at Wanda.Edwards@va.gov with a copy to Dante Ruiz, Contract Specialist, at Dante.Ruiz@va.gov . A determination by the Government not to compete this procurement action, based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Responses to this notice are due on or before Friday, August 25, 2023, by 1:00 PM (EDT) to: Wanda.Edwards@va.gov and Dante.Ruiz@va.gov