NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate and award a sole source purchase order to Ms. Kim McDonald Wilson for consultant services using the procedures of FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: SSA requires a contractor to perform research, give briefings and public presentations and author a report to support SSA’s Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel. Specifically, the research should answer the following questions: (1) What would a work incentive structure designed specifically to support people with severe mental illness look like? (2) How can SSA disability program rules (both SSI and SSDI) be altered to allow people with mental illness the flexibility they need to make work more attractive than benefits? (3) How would these changes interact with the Ticket Program? (4) What are the implications of the suggestions in this study for people receiving Social Security disability benefits with diagnoses other than mental illness? (5) How will the program changes suggested in this study interact with other Federal support programs (including grant programs administered by States) for people with mental health issues (SAMHSA, CMHS, CMS)? (6) How might the program rules in other Federal programs enhance or hinder the effectiveness of the suggested changes? (7) How will the suggested changes affect other benefits (Federal and State) the person may be receiving (Medicare/Medicaid, HUD, Transportation, Food Stamps, etc)? and (8) Based on all of the above analysis, what would be the top priorities to change in SSA work incentives and program rules to have the greatest impact in supporting the work efforts of people with mental health diagnoses receiving disability benefits? The research shall also include: (1) an explanation of the scope and dimension of the issues or problems stated in the topics (2) an analysis of existing data only (3) a look at previously completed research, best practices and solutions for the topics stated (4) a review of the current policy and situation (5) a comparison of the public policy with other public and private programs at both the Federal and State levels (6) a comparative review with programs in other countries (7)an analysis of relevant policy alternatives and their desirability and (8) recommended course of action. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS: The contractor must possess a Masters degree in rehabilitation counseling, with a focus on psychiatric rehabilitation and must have demonstrated (1) knowledge of the recovery movement and its implications for designing employment supports for people with mental illness (2) ability to evaluate, analyze and write about Social Security work incentives and specifically their applicability to people with mental illness (3) practical experience evaluating programs designed to assist people with mental illness in going to work (4) experience directing projects specifically evaluating the effectiveness of recovery oriented services (5) ability to examine Social Security disability program rules, including the disability determination process and the work incentives, and analyze the effects of changes on people with mental illness. SSA knows of no other source that has the capability to satisfy all of the requirements for this contract. The proposed contract is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. This is not a request for proposals nor an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Interested parties that believe they have the capability to provide SSA the required services may submit a capability statement, inclusive of qualifications and experience, to Bridget Hamel by email to
[email protected] or by fax to 410-966-9310. All responses shall be marked CONSULTANT SERVICES ON EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS TO SUPPORT THE ADVISORY PANEL and shall be received no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) September 16, 2004. 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 requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received by the cutoff date above, the SSA will proceed with sole source negotiations with Kim McDonald Wilson. All questions must be in writing to the email address or fax # listed above and marked to the attention of Bridget Hamel. Telephone calls will not be accepted.