U009--AIS Peak Performance Services

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to modify a sole source purchase order that was awarded to HRS Consulting, Inc., 2645 Executive Park Drive, Suite 420, Weston, FL 33331 for Peak Performance services for the VA Acquisition Academy (VAAA), Acquisition Internship School (AIS). The focus of AIS is on transitional support, coaching/mentoring, professional development, foundational career training activities, and technical certification in contracting. Interns receive full-time training during their participation in these programs ranging from 22 months for AIP-only interns, to 30 months for those participating in both the Warriors to Workforce Program (W2W) and Acquisition Intern Program (AIP). Training is comprised of rigorous curricula and involves both in-classroom training provided by AIS, and On-the-Job Training (OJT) conducted at geographically dispersed acquisition offices across the country. Interns complete the programs as cohorts, fortified by a built-in support system provided by AIS staff and Peak Performance services. In rigorous training programs like those in AIS, Peak Performance is the cornerstone tool for intern success, helping them develop supporting skills that will enable them to quickly overcome training hurdles and expedite the transition to become successful contract specialists. Peak Performance services help interns gain independence in their transition to the 1102 career field and are designed to equip them with the skills they need to optimize learning, both in virtual and on-the-job training environments, enhance performance, refine professionalism, and build psychological capital (i.e., resilience, engagement, and confidence).

VA requires the contactor to provide Peak Performance services to enable interns and AIS programs to perform at their maximum potential. The current contract/award provides a holistic training, development and program support approach to include curriculum planning and development to prepare for the next Warriors to Workforce program launch, AIS Program Management support to include reporting and administration of training progress, delivery of group training workshops, conduct of intern performance assessments, program support to improve program performance, direct support for the school’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) Mentorship Program, and serving as the technical expertise and certified technicians for the school’s Bio/Neurofeedback Program. Services will support up to 90 program interns in two programs (W2W and AIP) per 12-month period. Due to changes to the W2W Program for the upcoming period of period of performance, Option Period 2 (August 21, 2024 – August 20, 2025), the contract will be reduced to AIS-OJT Mentorship Program, OJT Coaching for a period of four months, and the W2W Recruitment Solution; there will be no support for W2W program interns. Option Period 3 (August 21, 2025 – August 20, 2026) will be removed in its entirety.

The proposed modification will support a reduced effort to the contract that was awarded for supplies or services for which the Government solicited and negotiated with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statute” and in accordance with VAAR 819.7007 entitled, “Sole source awards to service-disabled Veteran owned small business concerns”. The applicable statute is Public Law 109- 461: “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” specifically, the “Veterans First Contracting Program” outlined in 38 USC § 8127(c). This is a "Modification to a Previous Notice" and not a request for competitive proposals or quotes. Interested parties that feel they can provide the services may respond to the point of contact listed in this notice no later than 10:00 AM EDT on August 8, 2024. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.

Awarded contract 36C10X22C0042 to HRS CONSULTING INC for 332499.36000000 on 2022-08-15.