Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF MARCH 16, 2014 FBO #4495
DOCUMENT

R -- VHA Homeless Employment Coordinator Training - Attachment

Notice Date

3/14/2014
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

611430 — Professional and Management Development Training
 

Contracting Office

Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick;Department of Veterans Affairs;321 Ballenger Center Drive, Suite 125;Frederick MD 21703
 

ZIP Code

21703
 

Solicitation Number

VA119A14I0152
 

Response Due

3/19/2014
 

Archive Date

4/18/2014
 

Point of Contact

Lora Gross
 

E-Mail Address

ross@va.gov<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) in accordance with FAR 15.201(e). The agency does not intend to award a contract but rather gather capabilities and market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The responses to this RFI will contribute to the development of either a Request for Quotes (RFQ) utilizing the appropriate GSA Federal Supply Schedule, or Request for Proposals (RFP). BACKGROUND of VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION HOMELESS PROGRAM OFFICE The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made ending Veteran homelessness a top priority, undertaking an unprecedented campaign to dramatically increase resources as well as awareness of VA services available for homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk of homelessness. While permanent, stable housing is the benchmark of these efforts, housing alone may not be sufficient to mitigate a current episode of homelessness or prevent future episodes. Employment is also a key element in helping Veterans climb out of homelessness permanently or avoid it all together. Employment provides an improved quality of life, increased self-confidence and independence, opportunities for socialization and a decreased reliance on institutional care. Research has shown that employment is also likely to result in decreases in substance use and improvements in mental health. Conversely, unemployment increases the likelihood of isolation, social withdrawal and disengagement from the community. As part of its Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans, VA seeks to increase the emphasis on competitive employment as a strategy for preventing homelessness and sustaining permanent housing and to insure that a full range of employment services is available to all homeless, chronically homeless and at-risk Veterans. The Homeless Program Office will emphasize Employment and Permanent Housing as equally important to ending and preventing Veteran homelessness. PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT Contractor staff will be identified to perform education and training across the homeless continuum, supported by targeted, time-limited mentoring to newly hired VHA Community Employment Coordinators (CEC) at approximately 160 medical center sites over an initial 12 month period. Contract staff will travel to each of the medical center sites as identified by VHA. The training will lay a foundation to increase the emphasis of competitive employment as a strategy to assist homeless Veterans obtain and maintain permanent stable housing and to improve competitive employment outcomes among homeless Veterans. It is expected that all deliverables will be completed in collaboration with the CECs. It is intended that this training will be consultative rather than evaluative. Successful analysis, promotion, and integration of employment services for homeless Veterans requires knowledge of VHA programs and community resources; experience in networking with federal, state, and community agencies and employers; and extensive academic or practical experience with identifying the conditions needed for successful job placement for individuals who are homeless, chronically homeless or at-risk of homelessness, and who may have poor or incomplete employment histories. The Contractor is required to have: "Experience managing a national project of this scope; "Demonstrated knowledge of VHA homeless programs; "Demonstrated experience with a broad array of community-based competitive employment models for homeless individuals including supported employment; "Demonstrated experience guiding agency transformation resulting in improved integration of services and clinical care; "Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and experience creating linkages with these resources; "Experience in networking with federal, state, and community agencies and employers; "Demonstrated ability to communicate program milestones and progress both orally and in writing; "Extensive experience with specialized homeless Veteran populations such as Female Veterans, Veterans in rural communities, and chronically homeless Veterans. TASKS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE CONTRACTOR Task 1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT Kick-off Meeting/ Contractor Project Management Plan The contractor shall coordinate with the COR within five business days from date of award to schedule a Project Kick-Off Meeting with the VA Project Manager (PM) and project advisory group comprised of key stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to be identified by the VA PMs. At the Kick-Off Meeting, the Contractor shall deliver a Contractor Project Management Plan (CPMP) that lays out the Contractor's approach for training and orienting contract staff to VHA's homeless programs and project scope, timeline and tools to be used in execution of the contract. The CPMP should take the form of both a narrative and graphic format that displays the schedule, milestones, risks and resource support. The CPMP shall also include how the Contractor shall coordinate and execute planned, routine, and ad hoc data collection reporting requests as identified within the PWS. The initial baseline CPMP shall be concurred upon and updated monthly thereafter. The Contractor shall update and maintain the VA PM approved CPMP throughout the period of performance. The CPMP shall also include tentative assignment of contractor staff to the VAMC sites (i.e., staffing plan) and a schedule for the initial site visits with CEC's and related homeless Program Leadership. A pre-visit plan is also required, which will include a list of local VHA homeless programs, a schedule of meetings with individual program staff, and a preliminary list of available competitive employment services and resources. The final staffing plan, site visit plan and site visit schedule are due 30 days from the date of award. Task 1 Deliverables 1.1Contractor Project Management Plan 1.2Staffing Plan 1.3Site Visit Plan 1.4Site Visit Schedule Task 2: On-Site Analysis Conduct an on-site analysis at each VAMC or VA facility with a CEC, of the emphasis and timeliness of employment services as part of housing solutions and community integration across VHA homeless programs. (It is expected that the initial analysis and consultation will require 2-3 days on-site). Task 2 Deliverables 2.1Provide site specific reports on the availability and implementation of competitive employment services for homeless Veterans across all local (as defined by the VAMC service area) VHA outpatient and residential homeless programs, which includes gaps in services, a time-line describing when employment services are introduced into housing plans and recommendations for improvements. Task 3 Identification of Competitive Employment Resources Assist CECs to identify available competitive employment resources and support for homeless, chronically homeless, and at-risk Veterans through the development of employment toolkits. Employment toolkits are intended for use by the CECs/VHA staff and shall include: "Templates for concise, individualized Veteran-centered assessments to determine the needed intensity level of employment supports for homeless Veterans. "Competitive employment resources that are currently available for homeless and chronically homeless Veterans both at the medical center and in the community, including but not limited to services provided by: the Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT); HCHV and HUD-VASH Employment Specialists; Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and GPD grantees that target employment; Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)/Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E); Department of Labor grantees such as the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP); State Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and local non-profit community employment services, including faith-based organizations. "Services that require a referral and those for which the Veteran can self-present. "Services targeting chronically homeless Veterans who may benefit from an individualized job development and placement model, such as supported employment, as well as Veterans who may request and require only a singular service (e.g., résumé preparation or job leads) in order to achieve an improved employment outcome. The types of employment services available for homeless Veterans should include: oAccess to job listings; oRésumé preparation; oCounseling regarding the impact of employment income on both VA and non-VA benefits and entitlements; oNegotiations with employers for reasonable accommodations; oAssistance with completion and submission of job applications; oCoordination of and transportation to job interviews; oInterview skills training; oJob development; oJob placement; and oOngoing support for job retention. Task 3 Deliverables 3.1 Site specific Employment Tool Kit for use by CECs/VHA staff Task 4: Identification of Gaps in Current Competitive Employment Services Assist CECs with identifying gaps in current competitive employment services targeting homeless Veterans and with developing a plan to augment existing services as needed. In collaboration with CECs, develop a site-specific written plan for accessing additional competitive employment services, including the development of linkages to community-based employment services and resources, which may include direct communications and in-person meetings with community, state and federal agencies. "Conduct an individual meeting at each identified VAMC with designated homeless program staff to review identified local gaps in available employment services to homeless Veterans. "Develop a written report, in collaboration with CECs, which describes both available services, services that are being developed and any employment service needs that cannot be met with existing VA and/or community resources. "Develop an implementation plan for the VA's consideration to augment existing services as needed. Task 4 Deliverable: 1.1Written report, which includes an implementation plan for each VAMC. Task 5: Individualized Training and Consultation Provide individualized training and consultation to CECs on methods for promoting the role and timeliness of employment planning as part of permanent housing solutions for homeless Veterans in order to improve competitive employment outcomes. "Identify staff in each homeless program at the local site who will be the recipients of training. "Consultant to provide at least one training for homeless program staff in developing Veteran specific plans with direct observation by CEC. Plans to include: oBrief assessment strategies to identify Veterans' strengths, interests, skills, and employment related background factors, potential barriers to employment, and concerns related to VA and/or other disability benefits. oAn initial employment plan. oRecommendations for medical center and/or community based competitive employment services. oSpecific information and linkages to appropriate services including a referral or consult, if needed (e.g. CWT and VR&E). Task 5 Deliverables 5.1Roster of recommended Homeless Program staff per local site to receive training. 5.2 Documentation of training provided by consultant and observed by CEC. Task 6: Follow-Up Mentoring Calls Provide follow-up mentoring calls to CECs for a six month period after the initial visit. Contract staff will schedule bi-weekly phone calls or web-based meetings with CECs to provide follow-up support and mentoring to assist with the implementation plans to increase the emphasis and timeliness of employment services as part of housing solutions and to assess progress with the augmentation of competitive employment services as indicated. Task 6 Deliverable: 6.1 Weekly log of phone contacts including brief summary of training topics. Task 7: Follow-Up Visits Provide follow-up visits to each site six months after the initial visit to assess progress with the integration of employment services into homeless programs. Schedule visit with CECs at each medical center where training and consultation were previously provided. "Meet with CECs. "Review implementation of competitive employment in the initial stages of developing housing solutions for homeless Veterans across local programs. "Review implementation of plans to augment competitive employment services where gaps previously existed. "Document improvements. "Provide written site specific recommendations for further improvements in the availability and integration of competitive employment services into housing plans in collaboration with the CEC. Task 7 Deliverables: 7.1 Written follow-up report for each site documenting level of implementation of the plan outlined in Deliverable 4. Task 8: Documenting and Reporting Contractor Activities. Contractor will provide a written project summary which documents all training, education and mentoring activities as described above. The final report will be completed in close collaboration with designated homeless program office (HPO) staff. Contractor services documentation will include the following information: "The VA Medical Center Names and Locations of training sites; "Names of CECs who participated in planning, mentoring and consultation services; "Dates mentoring and consultation services were provided; "Specific mentoring and consultation services provided; "Names and titles of additional VAMC staff who participated in mentoring and consultation services; "Number of in-person and phone contacts made with non-VA employment programs and resources increase available services for homeless Veterans; "Dates of follow-up mentoring calls and name (s) of staff receiving consultation; "Recommended follow up steps for CECs based on mentoring and consultation services. Task 8 Deliverable: 8.1Written project summary. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposals. Submission of any information in response to this RFI is purely voluntary. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Please respond to this RFI as follows: Please provide answers to the questions below (please include question number along with the responses) not later than March 19, 2014 at 12:00 pm ET to lora.gross@va.gov. Limit response to the following questions to not more than five pages total, Arial 12 pitch, one-inch margin. 1.Please provide your interest in the performance of the requirements outlined herein. 2.Please describe your capability of performing the tasks outlined herein. 3.Please describe your familiarity and specific experience in the following areas: a.Experience managing a national project of this scope. b.Knowledge of VHA homeless programs. c.Experience with a broad array of community-based competitive employment models for homeless individuals including supported employment. d.Experience guiding agency transformation resulting in improved integration of services and clinical care. e.Knowledge of community resources and experience creating linkages with these resources. f.Networking with federal, state, and community agencies and employers. g.Ability to communicate program milestones and progress both orally and in writing. h.Extensive experience with specialized homeless Veteran populations such as Female Veterans, Veterans in rural communities, and chronically homeless Veterans. 4.What GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) SIN would work best for this requirement? Does your organization have a GSA FSS in this SIN? 5.What North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code would work best for this requirement? What level is your organization certified for this NAICS code? DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI 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 RFI.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/AFMLOVASS/VASSMD/VA119A14I0152/listing.html)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA119A-14-I-0152 VA119A-14-I-0152.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=1255594&FileName=VA119A-14-I-0152-000.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=1255594&FileName=VA119A-14-I-0152-000.docx

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN03311189-W 20140316/140314234506-6ba3c2c8e172cab7c423954bde1a9fa8 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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