Special Notice | Intent to Sole Source | Critical Incident Stress Management Course

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 5 has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to sole source a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training contract to the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF). The notice, identified as solicitation number 36C24525Q0591, seeks to procure specialized training services for CISM team members at facilities within VISN 5. The training will consist of two 2-day remote course presentations: "Assisting Individuals in Crisis" and "Staff Support in the Healthcare Setting," with each course accommodating up to 50 participants. The VA is pursuing this sole source procurement under FAR 6.302-1, asserting that ICISF is the only organization capable of meeting their unique training requirements. The contract is structured as a firm fixed-price arrangement with a performance period from June 30, 2025, to June 29, 2026.

The primary objective of this procurement is to provide essential CISM training to VA medical center staff, building on the success of existing programs that were established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Washington, DC VAMC CISM Team alone has provided crisis support to over 1,900 employees since March 2020, demonstrating the critical need for continued training and support capabilities. Interested contractors must submit responses by 8:00 AM EST on June 27, 2025, though the VA has indicated its intent to proceed with sole source procurement to ICISF. The notice specifically encourages responses from businesses, with Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses receiving preference in accordance with VA procurement policies. Each training course will include an experienced faculty member, digital course materials, and digital certificates for participants, ensuring comprehensive professional development for VISN 5 staff members involved in critical incident stress management activities.