U009--INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE New Contract - Building Better Caregiver Online Workshops

This intent to sole source announcement is posted in accordance with FAR 5.2Â - Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions.

Background -

The mission of the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) is to honor America s Veterans by providing exceptional care that improves their health and well-being. The VA will continue to be the benchmark of excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary services that are both patient-centered and evidence-based.

In accordance with the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, (Pub. L. No. 111-163), the VA is responsible for the development of training, the implementation of training, and additional support programs for caregivers of Veterans. As part of this training initiative, the incumbent contractor and the VHA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) has deployed the Stanford developed, evidence based, Building Better Caregiver workshop. Together they have adjusted the content to meet the training needs for caregivers of Veterans. To accommodate caregiver schedules, the online workshop is conducted as a feedback forum that allows caregivers the ability to login at any hour to view and submit their input. This online workshop allows caregivers to share their experiences, increase their skills in problem solving, and develop skills and confidence in managing difficult behaviors. The workshop guides enrolled caregivers through an educational formant with focused facilitators. Each caregiver will be enrolled into an alumni community for additional support following workshop completion. Currently, the incumbent contractor has an established workforce, website, equipment, business processes, and know-how in order to provide the services and support function to government.

Objective

The Contractor shall provide the resources necessary to accomplish the tasks as described in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) (See attached copy of PWS). The Contractor shall provide and deploy the Stanford University clinically designed, evidence based, Building Better Caregivers (BBC), web-based, 6 8-week, online workshop that allows caregivers to share their experiences and increase their skills in problem solving and managing difficult behaviors, with a goal of improving caregiver self-care. The Contractor shall provide, maintain, and update core workshop content which shall be used as the basis for the workshop. The core workshop content shall be maintained and updated in accordance with VA approval. The workshop will be conducted online and shall provide core workshop content and facilitators available in both English and Spanish. Each workshop will cover a series of topics and be conducted over a 6-to-8-week period that allows caregivers the ability to login at any hour. The Contractor shall regularly monitor the forums and follow protocols developed during the initial implementation. The Contractor will staff the workshops with trained facilitators that will provide input and feedback to caregivers who participate in the workshops. All personnel, workshop content, services, and workshops will be provided by the Contractor to CSP enrolled caregivers.

Unique Qualifications

The Contractor shall provide and deploy the Stanford University clinically designed, evidence based, Building Better Caregivers (BBC), web-based, 6 8-week, online workshop.

The Contractor shall design, build, host and maintain an online workshop following the guidance provided in VA 6102 Handbook which can be found at www.va.gov/vapubs and the VA Web Best Practices Guide found at VA Section 508 Office which will provide specific direction for the establishment, management, and maintenance of all VA websites as well as all external websites that represent the VA.

Award information -

Solicitation No. 36C24523Q0706 will be presented to the contractor in accordance with the sole source authority at FAR 6.302-1 as a fixed-price Indefinite Delivery Requirements Contract. The Government anticipates the solicitation response and Independent Cost Estimate to be comparable with the follow-on Contract No 36C24519D0018 to justify fair and reasonable pricing. The period of performance shall be for one base year ordering period and four, 12-month optional ordering periods. Option ordering periods are exercised as required and are not guaranteed. The anticipated Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Ordering Period (Est. Award date): 9/30/2023 9/29/2024

Est. Option Ordering Period 1: 9/30/2024 9/29/2025

Est. Option Ordering Period 2: 9/30/2025 9/29/2026

Est. Option Ordering Period 3: 9/30/2026 9/29/2027

Est. Option Ordering Period 4: 9/30/2027 9/29/2028

If anyone requests additional information or would like to obtain a copy of the solicitation, please contact: Robert O Keefe Jr. Robert.Okeefejr@va.gov