The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to provide services to expand technical assistance and data collection support to the State Partnership Initiative (SPI) projects in Iowa and New York and add an additional SPI project in Mississippi that will be providing transition services to youth. VCU has a contract with SSA to provide technical assistance and data collection support to SPI and Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) projects throughout the country. SSA will be expanding two of the projects to add one additional group of target participants, youth ages 11 to 21, the transition/employment interventions needed for that group, and one more state dealing solely with the youth population. These services for a new target population and State are an extension of the services currently being provided. VCU is the only known organization with the subject expertise and familiarity with the issues to provide the required technical assistance and data collection support. VCU is providing data collection support and conducting process evaluations for the SPI project. They have created a database for the data collection. All projects are reporting with the same format and database. VCU is fully versed in all the tasks required by this request as they are currently providing technical assistance to the SPI/RSA projects throughout the country. The period of performance will be through the expiration of the contract which is September 28, 2003. SSA knows of no other source that has the capability to satisfy all of the requirements for this modification. Interested parties that believe they have the capability to perform the services required should submit a capability statement to Barbara F. Hands or Loretta Hawley by mail to: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21207; by email to
[email protected] or
[email protected]; or by fax to 410-966-9310. All responses shall be marked CAPABILITY STATEMENT - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DATA COLLECTION FOR SPI PROJECTS, and shall be received no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) AUGUST 6, 2002. 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 VCU. All questions must be submitted in writing to the mailing address or email address listed above and marked to the attention of Barbara F. Hands or Loretta Hawley. Telephone calls will not be accepted.