THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND WITH A PROPOSAL. SEPARATE RFP'S FOR EACH STATE WILL BE RELEASED O/A 8 SEP 2009 MODIFIED TO ALSO REFLECT FULL & OPEN COMPETITION This sources sought notice is issued in an effort to conduct additional market research for informational and planning purposes ONLY. This Notice pertains to separate coverage areas in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.The Government is soliciting information to determine the availability of service disabled veteran owned small businesses capable of providing the below referenced service groups/services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 624310 (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) with a size standard of 7 million dollars. This means that businesses furnishing the counseling services described below, with average annual revenue over the last 3 years under 7 million dollars are generally considered small businesses. The requirement is for vocational rehabilitation and education services including job placement services. The following training, rehabilitation, and employment needs will be provided by the Contractor for service members and Veterans receiving services from the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Education (VR&E) program: A. Service Group A Complete Initial Assessments/Evaluations A-1 Complete Initial Evaluation: The Initial Assessment shall provide the VR&E counselor with sufficient information about the Veterans prior education, work history, military experience, and the vocational impact of disabilities in relation to the work environment/requirements and to support a determination of entitlement. The initial assessment shall also provide collaborative vocational exploration; analysis of transferable skills; evaluation of interests, aptitudes, and abilities; exploration of labor market conditions; and collaboration with the Veteran in the development of a draft rehabilitation plan leading to determination of feasibility to achieve a vocational goal, entry into suitable employment, and/or maximum independence in the community. A-2 Vocational and Medical Assessment: Shall include medical, educational, and vocational history, including identification of functional capacity for work, barriers to employment, and assessment of transferable skills; vocational testing to include assessment of academic functioning, interests, aptitudes, and abilities and review the test analysis, results, and implications with the veteran. A-3 Transferable Skills Analysis Shall include an analysis of the Veterans current physical capacity, along with worker traits, intellectual level and personal characteristics shown by testing as well as the Veterans work and educational history in comparison to the characteristics and demands of specific jobs. The Analysis shall also outline transferable skills for direct employment or skills that may be built upon for future employment. A-4 Vocational Exploration: A collaborative effort between counselor and client that considers transferable skills, impact of disability condition and residual functioning, vocational testing results, labor market conditions and demands, assistive technology and job modifications, need for services to improve independence in the home and community, and other factors. B. Service Group B - Case Management. The Contractor will provide case management services as required to achieve the objectives of the written rehabilitation plan provided by the VA, to include supportive services, such as addressing medical, financial, academic, and community needs, and preparing Veterans to become job ready. Case Management requires frequent and ongoing services that are provided during Veterans participation in rehabilitation plans to continually address and provide supportive services and track progress in the following areas: academic, job readiness, medical, financial, independent living, and community issues. B-I Standard Case Management - This category includes Veterans pursuing long-term training programs who are in need of on-going support toward achievement of employment goals. B-2 Intensive Case Management - This category of services includes Veterans who need substantial assistance to achieve rehabilitation goals and/or those in short term rehabilitation programs, such as certificate training programs, extended evaluation programs, etc. B-3 Interrupted Follow-Up Services This category of services is provided to Veterans who need ongoing follow-up services during a period of medical or other interruption to ensure that service needs are met. Frequency of contact is dictated by Veteran needs and circumstances. C. Service Group C - Employment Services. Employment Services are for those Veterans deemed capable of re-entering the workforce. Services provided are to assist Veterans to obtain and maintain suitable employment consistent with the Veterans rehabilitation plan. This includes job readiness assistance, rsum development, interview skills and job placement services, and post-placement follow-up. D. Service Group D Educational and Vocational Counseling (Chapter 36 and Chapter 35. The Contractor will assist Servicemembers and Veterans to establish employment objectives and outline career counseling/education required to achieve their educational/vocational goals. The training, rehabilitation, and employment needs shall be addressed by the Contractor for Servicemembers and Veterans receiving Chapter 36 services and to Dependents receiving Chapter 35 services. E. Service Group E Discrete Services. This Service Group includes independent living (IL) assessments, job coaching, life skills coaching, and job site analysis. For the independent living assessments, a locally licensed occupational therapist (OT) or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor will be required. Licensed Rehabilitation Engineers, Occupational Therapists, or Assistive Technology Specialists are required to provide specialized Rehabilitation Engineering assessments. These services will be identified on an as-needed basis. Discrete services include short-term, unique services needed for Veterans during the rehabilitation process that are not specified in Service Groups A-D. No final commitment has been made to procure the stated requirement; therefore, this sources sought notice should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of such procurement. Interested parties may submit a Statement of Capability for satisfying this requirement to the contact person(s) listed below. It should include: State(s) for which coverage can be provided; socioeconomic status; number of employees/counselors with CRC certification; location of professional office location(s) available to accommodate counseling sessions for initial assessments, case management, employment services to include job readiness and job placement services, educational vocational counseling, discrete services to include Independent Living Assessments, job coaching, life skills coaching, and job site analysis. Requests must include the Sources Sought Number VA-331-09-RI-0003 in the subject line to ensure an answer. This announcement is not a request for competitive proposals. All responsible sources shall respond by submitting a written narrative Statement of Capability including detailed technical information and/or other technical informational literature demonstrating the ability to perform the above requirements via email to the point of contact(s) below. Include business size in relation to the NAICS code of 624310 in your Statement of Capability. The responses must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. No telephone requests will be honored. Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), accessed via the Internet at http://www.ccr.gov. All information provided will become property of the Department of Veterans Affairs and will not be returned. Responses are requested by August 25, 2009 no-later-than 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time and should include a point of contact, phone number, fax number and email address. Interested parties capable of performing this requirement should send responses by email to
[email protected]. Additional Info: Contractor(s) must have established professional office space in all areas served, within 50 miles of major metropolitan areas and within each 100 mile radius of jurisdictions served. Proof of this space and appropriateness must be submitted with your response to this sources sought notice. Contracting Office Address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, VR&E St. Louis Regional Office 400 South 18th Street St. Louis, MO 63103 Place of Performance: ENTIRE STATES OF MISSOURI, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND KANSAS SEPARATE RFP'S WILL BE ISSUED FOR EACH STATE Point of Contact(s): Susan Mael, Contracting Officer Telephone Number: 314-552-9563 DISCLAIMER This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this Sources Sought Notice that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought Notice