U S Public Health Service, Headquarters West Indian Health Service, 5300 Homestead Road N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110-9999

U -- TRAINING CONFERENCE SERVICES Sol. No. 242-95-0030/JA. Due 062895. Contact Person: Janice Arthur, 505/837-4112, Contracting Officer, Diego Lujan, 505/766-1501. The USPHS, Indian Health Service, Headquarters West, Head Start Project Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico, intends to enter into a sole source contract to provide technical assistance and conduct an annual health conference for the Head Start and Mental Health/Social Services pursuant to FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or Required by Statute, Buy Indian Act Set-Aside 25 USC 47, 41 USC 253 (c)(5). In accordance with the Inter-Agency Agreement between the Head Start Bureau and the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Head Start-IHS Project is responsible for providing technical assistance (TA) to grantees of the American Indian Program Branch (AIPB) Head Start Bureau by condicting an annual health conference to enhance the grantees' skill level. Technical assistance priorities include: (a) providing TA to grantees identified as having difficulty in complying with program performance standards; (b) assisting grantees and tribal governments with the development and implementation of nutrition and health education programs, prevention programs, and planning mental health activities for children, parents, and staff; (c) providing technical assistance to the grantees in the develop;ment and maintenane of child health and dental records; (d) accessing heralth services, including coordination with medical, dental, nutrition, and mental health community resources; and (e) meeting the mental health priority of developmental screening, assessment, and referral of children. The Head Start American Indian Program Branch (AIPB) grantees are required by law to implement mental health performance standards in their programs. On-site monitoring reviews by the Head Start Bureau have revealed grantees have been in non-compliance with this requirement. Head Start is a comprehensive multi-dimensional program addressing the health, mental health, educational and social needs of the children, parents and staff served. The AIPB grantees provide services to families experiencing a wide array of mental health needs: stress, unemployment, substance abuse, behavior disorders, domestic abuse and other needs. The Head Start staff must be trained to effectively meet the needs of the children and families. The Head Start health conference will have a mental health focus. Mental health has a high incidence of non-compliance among AIPB Head Start grantees. The conference will address these areas of non-compliance and assist the programs in developing and planning mental health services appropriate for the children and families served. The mental health conference will provide the opportunity for the grantees to develop the necessary skills to meet the Head Start requirements and develop a comprehensive mental health program. The conference will target AIPB Head Start staff. The conference topics will include workshops appropriate for coordinators, directors, teachers and parents. The Indian Health Service (IHS) will contract for services to facilitate and plan a health conference as defined and approved in the Inter-Agency Agreement. The proposed contractor will provide total conference management, all administrative support, and assistance to an annual three day health conference sponsored by IHS. The conference will be held for the purpose of determining special health needs of Indian children and will seek to develop recommendations for improving and meeting key health needs of the American Indian Health Start population. The Contractor will meet with the Project Officer within ten days of awards of the contract to develop a written workplan and an agenda for the conference. The Contractor shall distribute announcements of the conference to AIPB grantees, IHS personnel and other selected agencies. The Contractor will identify a site for the three day conference in Virginia as agreed upon by the Project Officer and Contractor. The site will provide adequate sleeping space and meeting facilities to accommodate a minimum of 200 participants. The conference will be scheduled by December 1995. The Contractor will provide consultants and keynote speakers for the conference. The consultants will be knowledgeable about American Indian populations and Head Start. The consultants will also have an understanding of the integration of the mental health component throughout the Head Start program. The Contractor will provide participant information conference regisration, provide/arrange for all audio-visual equipment, provide/arrange for facilitators for the conference workshops, and provide a format for participants to evaluate the individual workshops and overall conference. Period of Performance: July 28, 1995 through January 30, 1996. This is not a notice of issuance of a formal solicitation; however, interested concerns may submit a capabilities statement in sufficient technical information which demonstrates its ability to meet this requirement. This information will be considered only if clear and convincing evidence, including technical and pricing data, is provided and that interested concerns can meet the requirements of the Goverment and that it is advantageous for the Government to consider such a concern. Detailed capabilities statement must be submitted to the attention of Janice Arthur referencing solicitation number 242-95-00330. If no affirmative responses are received within 45 days from date of this synopsis is published, the Contracting Officer will proceed with this acquisition to Three Feathers Association. See Numbered Note 22. (139)

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