The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Sharon McCarthy, LSW, Ph.D., 190 Grandview Drive South, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, for research and development services for the VA funded research project of the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) entitled, “Getting to Outcomes (GTO) in the VA: Piloting GTO with Pittsburgh Homeless Programs to Enhance Compliance with the Uniform Mental Health Services in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.� Services will include: managing all aspects of the research grant, including consenting participants, scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and keeping records; monitoring all activities required by the Internal Review Board (IRB) for appropriate review and approval of grant activities; assuring all staff are appropriately trained and credentialed for research work; monitoring activities, records, and data as specified by the research protocol and as required for research audit and compliance; working with the VA Domiciliary and Vocational Services staff to implement all phases of the GTO framework; meeting regularly with Homeless Center staff teams to monitor and support GTO activities including identifying projects, setting goals for projects, and evaluating evidence-based practices for specific services; helping teams use the GTO model to evaluate their project outcomes using appropriate tools, models, and outcome measures, as necessary; providing training in the GTO model; collecting and analyzing data relevant to the grant as outlined by the research protocol using statistical packages, qualitative methods, and spreadsheet or database tools; writing up and reporting findings of grant research in a variety of settings including professional meetings, conferences, VA Research programs, and professional publications; assisting in writing manuals, reports, and other technical materials for the project, including a manual for implementing GTO in VA Homeless Services and a Manual for Technical Assistance in the VA using GTO. Dr. McCarthy has served as Project Coordinator for this project since August 2009 under an Interagency Personnel Agreement and has unique qualifications to perform these services. Dr. McCarthy has a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, an MBA, and is a licensed social worker. She has extensive experience with organizational systems, organizational redesign, and organizational change using the GTO framework. She has the specialized interpersonal skills required to assess, plan, and implement an organizational improvement project. Dr. McCarthy has comprehensive experience managing group dynamics, facilitating teams, and coordinating inter-departmental work, all critical to implementing GTO in the VAPHS Comprehensive Homeless Center. She also has in-depth knowledge of VA homeless programs, VA substance use programs, and evidence-based treatment options for homeless Veterans which are all required for this project. She is fully knowledgeable about the VAPHS Comprehensive Homeless Center and its various teams, services and programs. Dr. McCarthy has extensive training and experience in research methods, research design, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis and has high level skills in research writing, research evaluation, and preparing materials for professional publication. She also possesses a good working knowledge of the policies and procedures of the VAPHS. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes; however, all information received by 4:00 P.M. on August 31, 2011, will be considered by the Government. Interested parties may identify your interest and capabilities comparable to the description above by e-mail to Mark Anderson at
[email protected]. No solicitation document exists, and no telephone inquiries will be accepted. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based on responses received as a result of this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. NAICS code is 541720 with a size standard of $7.0M.