SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Training for SSA Disability Hearing Officers
- Notice Date
- 2/23/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 611310
— Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Contracting Office
- Social Security Administration, Office of Budget, Finance, and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1st Floor, Rear Entrance, 7111 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21244
- ZIP Code
- 21244
- Solicitation Number
- SSA-RFQ-09-1290
- Point of Contact
- Kevin P. Muniz, Fax: 410-966-9310
- E-Mail Address
-
kevin.muniz@ssa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- VENDOR: <U>Sole Source Synopsis to establish an Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements Contract for the planning and delivery of training related to SSA’s Disability Hearing Officer (DHO) Training requirements.</U> The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate a sole-source, follow-on, Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements contract to include a base year, and four 1-year option periods, if exercised, with the McGeorge School of Law for the continuation of services for the planning and delivery of training related to SSA’s HO Training requirements. The anticipated contract will allow the incumbent to continue to provide the services for the period of performance of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014. SSA has developed and implemented a process whereby disability beneficiaries who have been notified that their disability has ceased, did not exist, or is no longer disabling are provided a face-to-face due process evidentiary hearing at the reconsideration level of SSA’s appeals process. This due process hearing, commonly referred to as a disability hearing, is generally the responsibility of the Disability Determination Specialists (DDS); however, a Federal process has been established for States that have declined the process and for cases in which the initial determination was made. The decision maker at this face-to-face hearing is referred to as the DHO. BACKGROUND: On July 1, 2004, SSA awarded a five-year, Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements contract to the McGeorge School of Law for these services. McGeorge was instrumental in the initial design for the training program for SSA’s disability hearing officers (DHO’s). They have been conducting this training for SSA for over 20 years. REQUIREMENTS: To maintain the disability hearings process, SSA must provide for the training of non-attorney type employees involved in the disability hearing process. These hearings are conducted under the guidance of the Goldberg vs. Kelly, US Supreme Court decision that mandates how and in what manner such a hearing is to be conducted to ensure the claimant receives due process. This contract will allow SSA to continue to obtain the necessary services of a qualified contractor who can provide high quality classroom training in due process requirements. The responsibilities of the SSA DHO Training contractor would be: 1) Provide a minimum of two and a maximum of 4 eight day training classes per year for a maximum of 25 trainees (the number of training classes per year is SSA’s option); 2) Provide a 3-day “overview” class for SSA administrators once a year; 3) Conduct training classes in a suitable facility conducive to classroom instruction with facilities for conducting mock hearings; 4) The training facility should be connected with a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; 5) Provide a suitably qualified and trained faculty to provide the training; 6) The training facility will be in close proximity to establishments providing food and lodging for the trainees; 7) The contractor will be flexible in accommodating additional training needs that may arise; 8) The contractor will present a plan for training Disability Hearing Officers, demonstrating knowledge of the SSA Continuing Disability Review (CDR) process and the Goldberg vs. Kelly requirements for due process; 9) Provide for the use of up to 25 laptop computers for the use of trainees during the class; 10) Maintain an electronic case bank for instruction of the trainees; 11) Provide additional training as the need arises (such as the production of DVD training or IVT broadcast at SSA headquarters); 12) Document all training to ensure accurate SSA performance audits; 13) Provide a means of surveying student satisfaction with the training; and 14) Ensure the security of all information in accordance with SSA-established requirements. SSA will provide electronic case files for training purposes. These case files will be purged of all personal identifiable information (PII). The contractor must also be available to meet with SSA staff in Baltimore, Maryland for a 1-day meeting, to be briefed on the duties of the DHOs/Disability Experts (DE) and to obtain information concerning the precise goals, concepts and plans developed for the DHO course. The contractor must be able to provide all personnel, materials, supplies, and services required to support the training. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with the McGeorge School of Law. This contract action is pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.501(a) (1) (ii) under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996). Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes. The Government does not intend to reimburse for any information or materials submitted in response. Responses must provide sufficient information for SSA to determine that a contractor other than the McGeorge School of Law can provide the required services as described above. The Government will consider all responses received within five Government workdays after date of publication of the synopsis. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive acquisition. The response time is five government workdays as allowed by FAR 5.203(a) (1). Interested sources that believe they have the capability to perform the services required, should submit a capability statement to Kevin P. Muñiz via e-mail at Kevin.muniz@ssa.gov. Responses shall be marked CAPABILITY STATEMENT, and shall be received no later than February 27, 2009, 4:30PM EST. All responsible sources will be considered. If no responses are received by the cutoff date, the SSA anticipates negotiating solely with the McGeorge School of Law for the services cited above. All questions must be submitted in writing to Kevin Muniz via the e-mail address listed above.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=912faa7ad78fd2b3a221b7c5c8b0c46f&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Special Note: For regular DHO classes, the training will be conducted at the Contractor’s training facility. For SSA's Interactive Video Teletraining (IVT) classes, the Contractor shall be responsible for providing training at SSA Headquarters located at:, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21235, United States, Baltimore, Maryland, 21235, United States
- Zip Code: 21235
- Zip Code: 21235
- Record
- SN01754933-W 20090225/090223214149-912faa7ad78fd2b3a221b7c5c8b0c46f (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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