Statement of Work Professional Court Reporting Services for Hearings and Appeals Introduction 1.1 VISN 1 is requesting professional court reporting/transcription services for a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for Court Reporting of Hearings and Appeals. The services would be for the facilities listed below. Togus VA Medical Center Manchester VA Medical Center 1 VA Center 718 Smyth Road Augusta, ME 04330-6719 Manchester, NH 03104-7007 White River Junction VA Medical Center Northhampton VA Medical Center 215 N. Main Street 421 N. Main Street White River Junction, VT 05009-0001 Leeds, MA 01053-9764 Bedford VA Medical Center Providence VA Medical Center 200 Springs Road 830 Chalkstone Avenue Bedford, MA 01730-1114 Providence, RI 02908-4734 Brockton VA Medical Center West Haven VA Medical Center 940 Belmont Street 950 Campbell Avenue Brockton, MA 02301-5596 West Haven, CT 06516-2770 Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center West Roxbury VA Medical Center 150 S. Hungtington Avenue 1400 VFW Parkway Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-4817 West Roxbury, MA 02132-4927 1.2 THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY. This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the VA is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Sources Sought; all costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought will be solely at the interested party s expense. Not responding to this Sources Sought does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the GSA or the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential quoters to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Background Professional court reporting services are required to permit Regional Counsel to represent the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its officers or employees in litigation for hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Appeals before the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB), Administrative Board Investigation (ABI) proceeding before or associated with any of the aforementioned hearings, appeals, proceedings, involving VA Healthcare System employees or former employees, applicants or veterans. Court reporting/Transcription services are required by Regional Counsel s office to prepare, litigate, and settle cases involving the VA Healthcare System. Scope A requirement includes but is not limited to: Litigation in any state or federal court within the territorial boundaries of the United States; Hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Appeals before the Merit Protections Board; Proceedings not already mentioned before or associated with any federal agency, regardless of whether such proceedings are before an administrative judge or other decision-maker; Hearings before an Administrative Judge of a federal or state agency; Administrative proceedings within the VA Healthcare System; Depositions or interview associated with any of the items listed above. Locations of hearing will vary dependent on type of case. Cases will continue to completion. Performance Requirements Professional Court and Transcription services as required by to prepare, litigate, and/or settle cases involving VA Healthcare System. Vendor to provide requested services as required by Administrative judge or VA attorney representing VA Healthcare System. Required services will ordinarily include actual court reporter appearance at events such as but not limited to litigation in any state or federal court located within the territorial boundaries of the United States; Hearings before the EEOC; Appeals before the MSPB, Administrative Board of Investigations regardless of whether proceeding are before an Administrative judge or other decision maker; Hearings before an Administrative Judge of a federal or state agency; or their administrative proceedings within the VA Healthcare System; Depositions or interviews associated with any of the items listed above. Location of hearings will vary dependent on type of case. Cases will continue to completion. In cases where professional services are requested by Regional Counsel, the assigned attorney will make HR arrangements for the vendor, providing them with the specific requirements to prepare the case. Services normally include court reporter appearance at event listed above to transcribe testimony, accurate record exhibits, create hearing transcripts, provide full and condensed hard copy transcripts and e-transcripts of testimony including all exhibits as required. Pages are to be numbers and each line within each page to be numbered. Hard copies will normally be provided on 8 ½ X 11 paper and bound. Fee for Services Fees for services are based upon cost per page, number of copies required, fees for condensed versions, postage and handling. Complainant shall bear the cost of their own copies, except that the Agency will cover cost to provide transcripts of the hearings before the EEOC to both the Administrative Judge and the Complainant. If pricing structures vary based upon the individual who receives the transcript (judge, agency or plaintiff) such differences should be noted. The individual court reporter will be requested to provide required services/copies within strict timeline as dictated by the Administrative Judge or assigned attorney. Vendor id responsible for Court Reporter travel to and from hearing or case location Responses 6.1 All potential sources are invited to submit, in writing, a capability statement with sufficient information to substantiate your business is reasonably capable of performing the work. The capability statement must clearly demonstrate a business s ability to fulfill the requirement. The burden of proof rests with the contractor; therefore, written responses must provide clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate capabilities appropriate to satisfy this need. 6.2 Responses shall be in Microsoft Word compatible format and are due no later than Monday, February 14, 2022 3:00 PM EST. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Responses shall be sent to
[email protected]. 6.3. Responses shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum: 6.3.1 Company Name, DUNs number, Company mailing address, phone number, fax number, name of designated point of contact and e-mail of designated point of contact. 6.3.2 Company business size and status (i.e., Large Business, Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business, etc.), the number of years in business, affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners. 6.3.3 If you are on GSA Schedule to provide this product or service, provide GSA Contract Number. Industry Discussions VA representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be for market research purposes and the intent would be to obtain further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks. Delivery The individual court reporter will be requested to provide required service/copies within strict timeline as dictated by Administrative Judge or assigned attorney. Transcripts are to be provided within 10 days following hearing, deposition, or administrative proceedings. 9.0 Summary THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY to provide professional court reporting/transcription services. The information provided in the Sources Sought is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The VA has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this Sources Sought should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.