R -- MONITOR AND EVALUATE STATE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (SPI) PROJECTS

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to provide technical assistance and project monitoring services to 9 State Partnership Initiative (SPI) Projects and sponsor a comprehensive evaluation of the net-outcomes produced by 18 SPI Projects. The SPI projects promote employment of individuals with disabilities who receive disability benefits under the disability insurance (DI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. SSA has decided to extend the period of performance for 9 SPI projects. VCU currently has a contract with SSA to provide monitoring/technical assistance, data collection support and to conduct process evaluations to these SPI projects and Rehabilitation Services Administration projects throughout the country. VCU has created a database for the data collection. All projects are reporting with the same format and database. This new contract is to provide for services that will conclude the SPI projects, finish activities that are concurrent with the grants for the SPI Projects, finalize data collection for each project and finish the State and National evaluations. The period of performance for this requirement will be for a base year beginning September 29, 2003 through September 28, 2004 with two 1-year options to extend the term of the contract. VCU is the only organization uniquely qualified to implement all the tasks required under this contract. SSA knows of no other source that has the capability to satisfy all of the requirements for this contract. Interested parties that believe they have the capability to perform the services required should submit a capability statement to Barbara F. Hands by mail to: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21207; by email to [email protected] or by fax to 410-966-9310. All responses shall be marked CAPABILITY STATEMENT - EVALUATING AND MONITORING SPI PROJECTS, and shall be received no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) April 7, 2003. 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. Telephone calls will not be accepted.