Inactive

Source Sought Notice for Peak Performance Services The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is seeking product information and sources capable of providing products described below. The purpose of ... Source Sought Notice for Peak Performance Services The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is seeking product information and sources capable of providing products described below. The purpose of this notice is to gather capabilities and market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The responses to this Sources Sought will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME This Sources Sought does not constitute a request for quotes. Submission of any information in response to this Sources Sought is purely voluntary. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The Government is interested in gaining knowledge of potential businesses that would be able to provide an on-site, non-clinical performance-based service geared towards helping disabled Veterans enter the civilian workforce. The program serves up to 60 Veterans per program cycle (Annually) and improves Veteran s ability to overcome physical, psychological, or emotional challenges using personal performance-enhancing skills and tools to include biometric feedback, individual coaching, and group training in core areas such as time management, information management, self-management, personal qualities, interpersonal, cognitive and language skills. These training/coaching modalities enable Veterans to improve their emotional control and mental capacity and augments their readiness to work and overall wellbeing. Ultimately, the program eases Veteran transition from the military into a highly productive professional career in the civilian workforce. This program will enhance their readiness to matriculate into a rigorous 1102 certification program designed to provide the technical training leading to a professional career in the Federal Government. The potential business would also support the rigorous 1102 certification program. This support would serve up to 30 Veteran and non-Veteran interns while they are on the job (OJT) through coaching and mentoring sessions. During the coaching and mentoring sessions, they would apply evidence-based practices to increase the success of an 1102 intern in their career which requires high levels of critical thinking, data analysis, information synthesis, problem-solving, independent judgment, financial and business acumen, and emotional intelligence/self-management in high-stress environments. While advising and recommending process improvement within the program to government employees. Desired Tasks Include: Warriors to Workforce Program Support Curriculum Planning, Delivery and Support: Curriculum planning and minor revisions of existing curricula (up to 20 workshops, which consist of two hours of facilitation, and Pre- and/or Post-workshop activities) to prepare for the next Warriors to Workforce Program launch. Delivery of up to eight of the existing curricula during the start of the program to introduce program interns to the foundations of Peak Performance (i.e., stress regulation, growth mindset, neuroplasticity, cognitive improvement). Each workshop consists of up to two hours of facilitation and the possibility of pre- and post-work. Deliver up to 12, two-hour, group training workshops after the foundations of Peak Performance using existing curricula designed to mitigate soft skills gaps of participating interns and reinforce high performance behaviors over a period of 10 months. Deliver training based on the concept of micro-learning to increase intern learning retention and cognitive performance. These applications are designed to increase the user s attention to detail, memory recall, and information retention through reoccurring practice Contractor may use government-provided applications such as Lumosity, Elevate, Brain HQ, or other comparable applications, or propose an alternate solution to the government. These micro-learning applications will be used with government-issued and maintained IOS training tablets. Bio/Neurofeedback Program Delivery: Utilize existing government-furnished Pro Comp Infinity with Biograph software to provide enhanced individualized coaching for program interns. Conduct recurring individual coaching, assessment, and mentoring for up to 60 W2W interns for a period of 12 months based on neuroscience in stress regulation, cognitive performance and soft skills enhancement. Recurring coaching will occur on a bi-weekly basis unless individual need of the intern dictates otherwise and is supported by the Program Manager. Conduct baseline and end-of-year performance assessments using bio/neurofeedback for up to 60 W2W interns to demonstrate efficacy of biofeedback training. Provide performance reports that identify intern performance trends and support the leadership team with evidence-based results to inform leadership decision-making and demonstrate efficacy of training. Technology Support: Advise the government of equipment issues/malfunctions for three Pro Comp Infinity bio/neurofeedback stations and perform calibration periodically in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Contractor must be BCIA certified to operate the equipment. Contractor must be BCIA certified to perform calibration of equipment. Vendor will provide sensors, gels, electrodes, or other necessary supplies for the use of bio/neurofeedback equipment for up to 60 W2W interns utilizing equipment on a bi-weekly basis for a period of 12 months. Provide the necessary number of vendor-furnished laptops that meet performance specifications and compatibility requirements for use with the Pro Comp Infinity biofeedback software (laptops will be stand-alone and will not be provided by the government nor will they be connected to any VA networks). Provide support for the management of up to 40 IOS training tablets. Work with government identified personnel to establish software update schedules. Propose all Peak Performance training applications, which will be loaded to the IOS training tablet by the appropriate VA personnel. (applications will be proposed by the contractor and evaluated by the government for use). Coordinate tablet issues/malfunctions with government identified personnel for repair or replacement Work with government identified personnel to verify tablets are ready for use prior to the start of any tablet-required training. OJT Mentorship Program Program Delivery and Support: Provide direct support to Program Managers in the execution of an On-the-Job Training Mentorship Program to include engagement and program introduction of OJT mentors, collection and analysis of stakeholder feedback, identifying OJT training gaps, and keeping Program Managers informed of program performance. Apply evidence-based practices to increase the success of Veterans with disabilities in career fields requiring high levels of critical thinking, data analysis, information synthesis, problem-solving, independent judgement, financial and business acumen, and emotional intelligence/self-management in high-stress environments. Work with VA Program Management team to reduce workforce integration challenges with interns during OJT. Develop strategies for the Acquisition Intern Program to more effectively prepare interns to manage highly technical work projects, large workloads and multiple competing deadlines. Analysis: Conduct Veteran performance assessments, training needs analysis and evaluations to support continuous improvement. OJT Coaching: Provide group training sessions to introduce the role of Peak Performance to newly onboarded interns. Incorporate individualized one-on-one meetings/sessions with up to 30 AIP interns on a recurring, bi-weekly basis or as needed. Need will be determined based on the recommendation of the Program Manager or results of a needs assessment. Equip participants with strategies and tools to help them troubleshoot issues to significantly reduce the likelihood of more serious performance decrements arising from unresolved performance problems or issues. Promote the development of well-being habits, while reducing factors that lead to burnout to improve program retention and reduce absences (sick leave). Help the interns to successfully build their professional reputations and roles within their new offices (e.g., sharing their ideas and becoming visible to the necessary people). AIS Program Support Program Support and Improvement Support program staff in the development of materials to include flyers, one-pagers and briefings to support program marketing. Attend periodic administrative meetings as needed for the performance of contract duties. Develop a solution to automate Warriors to Workforce candidate vetting. The solution includes the ability to: Develop the capability for program staff to route candidates to a portal, application, or other comparable platform to complete an initial eligibility screening. The solution should: Pre-filter candidates based on eligibility criteria to reduce the burden of screening staff. Provide automatic notification of program ineligibility. Provide notification of eligibility followed by a re-direct of applicants to program staff for further evaluation. Allow program staff to track screening completions and dates of completions. Constraints: Place of Performance: The VA Acquisition Academy Internship School is located at 7485 New Horizon Way, Frederick, MD 21703. No travel shall be required during the performance. The predominant network operating system used in the organization is Microsoft Windows.  The Government will not be responsible for any relocation expenses associated with moving contractor personnel.  Security and Privacy Requirements: Contractor personnel providing services under the contract shall be required to successfully pass various background investigations for the use of the VA network and access to the government facility. Instructions for a background check to be given after Award. The Contractor shall comply with all Federal and VA security regulations and policies during performance. The contractor will not provide clinical counseling services but will be providing non-clinical coaching services which may lead to the receipt of highly personal intern information. Communications between the trainer(s) and interns not directly related to performance will fall under a confidentiality agreement.  Hours of Contractor Operations: Contractor personnel performing on this contract shall maintain a work schedule that coincides with the schedule of the VA Acquisition Academy Internship School. Contractor personnel shall provide services on normal Federal Government workdays during the core hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services at VAAA shall not occur on Federal holidays or weekends unless authorized in advance by the COR. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: If your organization is capable of performing these services, please respond to this Sources Sought as follows: Cover Sheet - one page Organization name, address, SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and website. Primary point of contact to include e-mail address and phone number. Company s size status as listed in SAM under NAICS code 611430 Professional and Management Development Training, and 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. If listed as SDVOSB or VOSB in SAM, state if your company is verified in the Veterans Information Pages (VIP). 4. If these services are available on your company s GSA contract, provide GSA contract number, schedule, and SIN category. Capabilities Statement and Market Information - no more than three pages Please respond to the following questions by providing a capabilities statement and market information: Please describe your experience working with Government agencies. Specifically, what processes do you have in place to submit a timely and quality quote? Please describe your organization's breadth of expertise/competency in providing peak performance services. Describe your experience working with disabled Veterans? Would you be interested in proposing on a solicitation for this work? Please provide estimated pricing information for the services listed under the Desired Tasks section. Would you propose other NAICS for these services? Please provide any other feedback or suggestions that you deem appropriate. Submissions must be emailed to Raelynn White at Raelynn.White@va.gov and Lindi Sylvester at Lindi.Sylvester@va.gov by the date/time listed in the Posting.