Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF AUGUST 23, 2015 FBO #5021
DOCUMENT

Q -- Request for Information for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services - Chapter 36. This modification adds more detail to the previous RFI and requests additional information from responding vendors. - Attachment

Notice Date

8/21/2015
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

624310 — Vocational Rehabilitation Services
 

Contracting Office

Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick;Department of Veterans Affairs;321 Ballenger Center Drive, Suite 125;Frederick MD 21703
 

ZIP Code

21703
 

Solicitation Number

VA119A15N0208
 

Response Due

8/27/2015
 

Archive Date

9/10/2015
 

Point of Contact

Kevin Armillotti
 

E-Mail Address

ne
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI). This is not a solicitation; the agency does not intend to award a contract, but rather gather capabilities and market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The responses to this RFI will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement should a solicitation be forthcoming. Written responses to this RFI will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition planning decisions. After review of the responses to this RFI, a solicitation announcement may be published on the FedBizOpps website. Responses to this RFI are not considered adequate responses to the solicitation announcement. This does not constitute a notice that a solicitation is forthcoming nor does it take the place of a solicitation or award document. INSTRUCTIONS The page limit for your response is 15 pages. Page size shall be no greater than 8 1/2" x 11". The top, bottom, left and right margins shall be a minimum of one inch each. Font size shall be no smaller than 12-point. Times New Roman fonts are required. Characters shall be set at no less than normal spacing and 100% scale. Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size not less than 8-point and may be landscape. Line spacing shall be set at no less than single space. Each paragraph shall be separated by at least one blank line. Page numbers, company logos, and headers and footers may be within the page margins ONLY, and are not bound by the 12-point font requirement. Footnotes to text shall not be used. The use of hyperlinks in your response is prohibited. BACKGROUND The Department of Veterans Affairs Education and Career Counseling program (Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 36), through the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment office (VR&E) provides opportunities for transitioning Service members and Veterans to get personalized counseling and support to guide their career paths, ensure most effective use of their VA benefits, and achieve their goals. VR&E provides Chapter 36 services and assistance necessary to enable Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap to become employable and obtain and maintain suitable employment, and to the maximum extent possible, educational counseling to eligible Veterans and dependents. To succeed with this mission, VR&E is striving to: "Support a Growing Chapter 36 Veteran population "Improve VA education and outreach programs to engage and support eligible Servicemembers, Veterans, and Beneficiaries "Enhance Service Delivery models that maximize support to Veterans "Deliver a quality experience to Veterans in a consistent, timely and accurate manner VR&E uses contracted Vocational & Educational services to supplement existing VA staff when Veteran demand exceeds employee's ability to meet this need in a timely manner. RFI QUESTIONS Please respond to the following questions: 1.Please describe your organization's expertise in the areas of vocational rehabilitation and employment counseling. Also, indicate the relationship to expertise areas and skills listed above as they relate to providing vocational rehabilitation and employment services or support to service-connected disabled Veterans. Provide any examples that are similar to those of this RFI. 2. Please describe relevant certifications that your organization possesses which are specific to the requirement as described above (i.e., initial evaluations, case management and employment services. 3. Please describe your organization's experience and capability to recruit and retain Program managers, Certified Rehabilitation Counselors and Employment Specialists. Please discuss how your organization would prepare for and respond to referrals issued by VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors specifically the timelines to contact Veterans for sessions and submit reports to the VA based on those counseling sessions. 4. On average, how many full-time equivalent (FTE) staff have been employed by your company? (Please provide best estimate available) 5. What is your company's primary NAICS of operation? 6. How long has your company been in business? 7. Is your company currently operating as a certified small business for the provision of VR&E services under the NAICS 624310? If not 624310, please identify the NAICS you are certified under to be a certified small business for the services outlined above. 8. Please indicate any small business certifications that describe your business (Check all that apply): Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) 8(a) Business Development Small Business Certification Alaskan Owned Corporation Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Native American Minority Owned Small Business Native Hawaiian Owned Corporation Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Other, please specify 9. If SDVOSB or VOSB is your firm verified by VA OSDBU as indicated in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP)? 10. Which of the following phases are included in your company's Employment Services (Check all that apply)? Job Readiness Assessments Interview Skills Training Resume Preparation Services Training to Understand Local Labor Markets Training to Identify Suitable Job Openings Training to Schedule Interviews Disability Awareness Training Self-Advocacy Training Provide Follow-Up Services with Employers Accompany Clients on Interviews Recommend VR&E Supplies/Services Face-to-face Client Meetings Provide Follow-Up Services with Clients Reporting Other, please specify: None of the above 11. Which of the following key personnel does your company have on staff (Please indicate educational levels for each to include HS Diploma, Assoc. Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctorate Degree)? Please notate all that apply HS DiplomaAssoc. DegreeBachelor's DegreeMaster's DegreeDoctorate Degree Contract Administrator Program Manager Occupational Therapists Employment Specialists Rehabilitation Counselors Job Placement Counselors 12. What rate of success does your company have for placing clients into suitable employment? Please identify the range that best reflects the percentage of your company's clients that have been placed to the total number of company clients on an annual basis. (i.e., 60 clients placed in employment out of 100 total annual clients = 60% 0 1% to 10% 11% to 20% 21% to 30% 31% to 40% 41% to 50% 51% to 60% 61% to 74% 75% to 80% 81% to 85% 86% to 90% > 90% 13. How many hours a week can your company provide work skills training at the identified locations? 0 1 to 2 3 to 5 6 to 8 9 to 11 12 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 > 40 hrs. 14. In which District locations (see attachments A & B) can your company provide educators for to conduct four 3-hour training sessions four times per week for 52 weeks? 14.a. If you cannot provide educators by District, which states in each District can you cover? 15. How many instructors have a minimum of 3 years of experience in teaching job skills training/computer education? 16. Is your company currently listed in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov? 19. The following question is to be answered as it relates to the company's past three (3) completed fiscal tax years. If your company has not been in business for three years please provide the response best suited. For whom has your company provided VR&E services, and in what capacity (select all that apply and notate whether the services were provided as a Prime Contractor or Subcontractor)? Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense Other Federal State Government Local Government Commercial Other None 18. What is your typical retention rate (year-over-year) for special skills staff? 19. Does your company have in-place teaming agreements for current or future VR&E services contracts? 20. Please indicate the District(s) of the country your company is capable of conducting Chapter 36 services in. If the Government were to solicit for these services, individual contracts would be awarded to each of the 5 Districts outlined in Attachment A. Further, the Contractor would be responsible for all of the military installations that fall within these Districts. A list of the military installations is outlined in Attachment B. 21. How would your company best provide VR&E Service coverage for the VA if the contract would designate any of the following? Teaming Arrangements, Organic Capability Local Service Area Only Small Regional Service Area (1 to 3 connected States) Designated Regional Areas provided National Service Area (all Continental US States) 22. In what role would your company consider submitting a proposal for the type of work detailed in this RFI? Prime Contractor Teaming Arrangement Approved Joint Venture Subcontractor Approved Mentor/Protégé Agreement Not interested in bidding to support VR&E Other 23. In which Districts has your company supported Chapter 36 services? 23.a. If services were not provided by District, which states have Chapter 36 services been provided?
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/AFMLOVASS/VASSMD/VA119A15N0208/listing.html)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA119A-15-N-0208 VA119A-15-N-0208_2.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2268409&FileName=VA119A-15-N-0208-005.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2268409&FileName=VA119A-15-N-0208-005.docx

 

File Name: VA119A-15-N-0208 Ch 36 RFI Attachment B.pdf (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2268410&FileName=VA119A-15-N-0208-006.pdf)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2268410&FileName=VA119A-15-N-0208-006.pdf

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN03849866-W 20150823/150821235344-6d96bcf0e1a3388f4b7810bc53845cdf (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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