Inactive

Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this RFI/Sources Sought in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e). The Veterans ... Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this RFI/Sources Sought in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e). The Veterans Benefit Administration s (VBA) is soliciting information and compiling market research for the potential procurement of a Longitudinal Study, collecting data each fiscal year on a statistically valid sample of Veterans participating in the Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Chapter 31 program and prepare written annual reports on the short and long-term outcomes of Veterans in this program. Background This project originated with the passage of Public Law 110-389, Section 334. The longitudinal effort will center on individuals who began participation in a vocational rehabilitation program under Chapter 31, for fiscal years 2010, 2012, and 2014. Each cohort will be followed for 20 years. The scope of this requirement is to collect the data on nearly 50,000 Veteran participants and provide analysis that will provide useful demographics and trends relating to the targeted veteran customer within VR&E s Chapter 31 program. This RFI is to determine if Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) or any other Socio-Economic businesses are capable of providing the Longitudinal Study capabilities. Scope Description of Tasks and Associated Deliverables: 1.0 Task One: Project Management Plan and Briefing Task 1A: The Contractor shall provide a detailed PMP and briefing for the project team, which presents the Contractor s plan for completing the tasks and deliverables of this contract within ten (10) business days after contract award effective date. The detailed PMP shall describe the technical approach, management plan, organizational structure and resources, and management controls that will meet the objectives of this contract. The detailed PMP shall include a proposed format for VR&E s Annual Reports based on previous annual reports. The Contractor shall keep the PMP up to date throughout the period of performance. Further, the Government may, at any time, request additional updates that will be completed by the Contractor and delivered to the government no more than ten (10) days after the request. These updates may include the addition of activities not included in the initial plan. For example, the Government may require project changes that will require prior approval from the CO. Contractor shall provide recommended changes to PM, COR, and CO. Any recommended changes that impact the price shall be identified with price impact and shall not implemented until and unless approved by the CO through a modification. Deliverable 1A: Project Management Plan (PMP) Task 1B: The contractor shall attend a project kick-off briefing with the Government project team, and project advisory group comprised of key stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The kick-off briefing shall be held within ten (10) calendar days after contract award or as agreed upon between the Government PM, COR, and Contractor. At the kick-off meeting, the Contractor shall brief the details of the PMP, which shall include the Contractor s intended approach, work plan, and project schedule including deliverables, tasks, and subtasks, with major milestones. The project kick-off briefing may be waived as the discretion of the Government with approval by the CO. Deliverable 1B: Project Kick-Off Briefing 2.0 Task Two: VR&E Chapter 31 Mockup Reports Task 2A: Contractor shall provide a mock-up on a VR&E Annual Report representing how the data gathered will be analyzed and displayed in the report to Congress as well as how the data elements of the public law will be explained. Deliverable 2A: Annual Report Mockup 3.0 Task Three: VR&E Chapter 31 Monthly Progress Reports Task 3A: The Contractor shall provide monthly written progress reports to the Government. Progress reports shall cover all the completed work completed during the preceding month and include all work completed during the prior months. The report shall also present the work to be accomplished during the subsequent month. The monthly report shall identify any problems that have arisen, and a statement explain how the problem was resolved or an explanation why it has not been completely resolved. The monthly report shall also include the number of survey response completions by web, mail, and telephone and survey response rates for each cohort. Deliverable 3A: Monthly progress reports 4.0 Task Four: Survey Collection and Distribution Task 4A: The Contractor shall print and distribute approved survey and consent forms to Veterans participating in the VR&E Longitudinal Study through the form of mail, web, and telephone. The Contractor shall follow the survey and sampling methodology as approved by the VA to meet the requirements for a statistically viable response rate. The Contractor shall provide recommendations to the survey letter and survey questions. Respondents will initially be invited to complete the survey online. The invitation shall include a cover letter and the internet address to complete the survey. Participants who do not complete the assessment online may be subsequently mailed an assessment packet containing a cover letter, scannable paper survey, and postage-paid return envelope. For those participants who do not complete the assessment by web or mail, may complete the survey by telephone. The Contractor shall be required to host the website required to complete the survey. The Contractor shall ensure the website meets the Government s data security requirements and is 508 compliant. For the duration of the survey and collection period, the Government requires 95% up-time for the website. Complex matters and/or technical difficulties which could affect the access and use of the survey shall be reported to the Government on the same business day reported/discovered. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that 95% up-time requirements are met, and for rectifying any technical or accessibility issues related to this task. For the duration of the survey period, the contractor shall provide both toll-free phone and Internet-based assistance to survey respondents who require it on business days Monday through Friday from 0900-1800. The web helpdesk shall be staffed so that all requests for assistance are responded to within one business day. The toll-free telephone lines shall also have voicemail capabilities, which allow for leaving of messages so that inquiries can be responded to no more than one business after receipts. The Contractor shall log all received calls and web-based inquiries and record the disposition of each caller. The Contractor shall notify the Government on the same business day with the caller s participant ID and summary of the call or e-mail if the participant is expressing distress or requires the Government to follow-up directly with the respondent (for example, if the participants requests assistance with re-applying for VR&E benefits). The Contractor shall receive all completed assessment materials and paper-based responses for processing of data results. Image/Scan all returned assessment instruments, with quality assurance check (manual) for 10% of instruments returned a maximum of 100,000 paper assessment instruments shall be sent out annually for the cross-sectional study. The Contractor shall receive, and review all completed responses. Deliverable 4A: Survey Distribution and Collection Deliverable 4B: Live, Contractor-hosted website, which hosts the survey for participants to answer the approved survey Deliverable 4C: Toll-free telephone assistance line, web helpdesk assistance and corresponding call/inquiry logs. 5.0 Task Five: VR&E Chapter 31 Annual Report and Briefings Task 5A: The Contractor shall commence analyzing data and will prepare the annual report for submission to Congress, summarizing the short and long-term outcomes on the available and requested data reporting elements. The report will include analysis on all three VR&E cohorts (2010, 2012, and 2014) utilizing administrative data provided by the VA, survey data, and other data sources. The report shall include key outcomes, recommendations, and an integration of current trends of vocational rehabilitation compared with results from available reporting data and previous reports. The report will be made available electronically to the Government and include hyperlinks and search capabilities. The Contractors shall work with the Government to ensure all edits are incorporated into the final report. The Contractor shall provide a briefing to the Government on the annual report and previous report findings to the Government. The briefing may be waived at the discretion of the Government with approval by the CO. Deliverable 5A: VR&E Longitudinal Study Annual Report to Congress Deliverable 5B: VR&E Longitudinal Study Annual Briefing 6.0 Task Six: Internal Documentation Task 6A: The Contractor shall work with the Government staff to develop any documentation required for internal government approval of the survey instruments and sampling methodology. The Contractor shall follow all requirements in accordance with the guidance set forth by the government. The contractor shall prepare the instrument coordination and approval package which will be submitted to the Government leadership for approval. VR&E will provide all the appropriate information pertaining to the government process and any necessary support to help facilitate the concurrence process and approval through the government internal process. This task will also cover any required OMB review/approval of any revisions the survey instrument and sampling methodology. Deliverable 6A: Internal Government coordination and approval package; both draft and final version signed by the Government s leadership. 7.0 Task Seven: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Documentation Task 7A. The Contractor shall work with the Government staff to develop supporting documentation for OMB approval of the survey instrument and sampling methodology. The Contractor shall follow all requirements in accordance with the guidance set forth in OMB guidance pertaining to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 https://www.opm.gov/about-us/open-government/digital-government-strategy/fitara/paperwork-reduction-act-guide.pdf. The contractor shall prepare Supporting statement for the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, including Part A, Justification, and Part B, Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods, which shall be submitted to OMB for approval. VR&E will provide all the appropriate information pertaining to the OMB process and any necessary support to help facilitate the concurrence process and release to OMB. This task shall also cover any OMB review/approval of any revisions as required throughout the period of performance. The Contractor shall: 1. Conduct cognitive labs or field testing of assessment questionnaires prior to OMB Submission 2. Complete the Generic Clearance Package for Cognitive Labs/Field Testing as required 3. Complete Cognitive Lab/Field Testing and develop findings 4. Develop an Analytical Map regarding the purpose for each submitted question for OMB 5. Prepare the Supporting Statement for the Paper Reduction Act (PRA) Submission, including Part A, Justification, and Part B, Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods. for OMB Submission 6. Develop a 60-day Federal Register Notification 7. Develop a 30-day Federal Register Notification 8. Provide support to the government in answering any public comments from either the 60- or 30-days notification 9. Provide responses and guidance to the government regarding inquiries from OMB during the approval process 10. Provide program management services for the OMB approval process 11. Any additional work that may be required for the OMB approval process Deliverable 7A1: Generic Clearance Package for Cognitive Labs/Field Testing if required Deliverable 7A2: Cognitive Lab/Field Testing Findings Deliverable 7A3: Analytical Map for assessment questionnaires Deliverable 7A4: Federal Register Notifications Deliverable 7A5: PRA Supporting Statement Part A. Justification Deliverable 7A6: PRA Supporting Statement Part B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods 8.0 Task Eight: Survey and Sampling Design and Methodology Task 8A: The Contractor shall review the VA s survey and sampling design for feasibility to determine if the design will yield a statistically valid sample and provide a meaningful analysis at the end of the 20-year period. Upon review and analysis, the Contractor shall provide a detailed plan outlining recommendations to improve upon or replace the current survey and sampling design. Once the design has been approved by the VA, the Contractor shall utilize the new design and recommendations on future reports. The detailed plan shall address, but is not limited to the following: Statistically valid survey and sampling design including survey methodology and weighting procedures Response Rates What is the number of responses required to have a valid response for analysis? Plans to achieve response levels including following up with participants and sending out survey s multiple times through different communication methods Survey Fatigue How to keep participants active and engaged throughout the 20 years? Non-Response Bias Method for tracking response Survey risks Deliverable 8A: Written survey and sampling design with recommendations. A formal Request for Quote (RFQ) and ensuing procurements may or may not result from this RFI/Sources Sought. Performance Details Period of Performance: The Period of Performance (PoP) shall be (1) one-year from the date of award, plus four (4) (1) one-year option periods. Work at government site(s) shall not take place on Federal Holidays or weekends unless directed by the assigned Contract Officer. Type of Contract: Firm-fixed price Place of performance: The work shall be performed at the contractor s place of business. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME This request for capability information, socio-economic, FSS contract information and does not constitute a request for quote; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, business size, NAICS code; DUNS, socio-economic category, SIN Category and GSA Schedule; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of manufacture and/or authorized distribution. The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) Provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated. 2) Secure and apply the full range of technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements. 3) Provide Longitudinal Study services under a firm-fixed priced acquisition contract. Structure of Responses Contractors should respond to this RFI by 15 June 2021, 2:00 PM MT via e-mail to shellie.murphy@va.gov. Limit all responses to 5 pages.          DISCLAIMER This RFI/Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI/Sources Sought 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/Sources Sought.