Inactive

This is a sources sought announcement only. This is not a solicitation for proposals and no contract will be award from this announcement. The purpose of this announcement is to perform market researc... This is a sources sought announcement only. This is not a solicitation for proposals and no contract will be award from this announcement. The purpose of this announcement is to perform market research to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 623220, Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities, with a size standard $15 Million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office 16 (NCO 16) is seeking to identify any vendor capable of providing residential substance abuse treatment to eligible beneficiaries of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, 1500 E Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39216. Interested vendors should submit an email to kamwren.nichols@va.gov. All responses must be received in writing no later than 2:00 PM CST on January 31, 2019. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided. No solicitation document is available at this time; this notice is to acquire information only. Vendors interested in providing an offer will have to respond to a solicitation announcement that shall be published separately. Scope of Requirement: DEFINITIONS: CARF Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities CBOC Community Based Outpatient Clinic DAV Disabled American Veterans RP Residential Program VAMC G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1. COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM (RP): An institution licensed by State to provide, on a regular basis, health care services, including intensive primary rehabilitation services for substance use disorders, to individuals who, because of their alcohol or drug dependent condition, require such care and services, above the level of room and board, but do not require skilled nursing services such as provided in skilled nursing facilities. 2. ACCREDITATION: Health care facilities utilized for G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Veterans shall meet the standards listed below for the level of care to be provided. The facility must comply with the requirements of applicable regulatory agencies (e.g., Commission on Accreditation of Research Facilities (CARF), Joint Commission, Mississippi Department of Mental Health). 3. LICENSING: The facility shall be licensed or approved as a residential program (RP) to provide health care services, including intensive primary rehabilitation services for substance use disorders, by the state in which it is located and must comply with local Government regulations. 4. LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION: The institution must be located within the catchment area of the VAMC (See Appendix A). The contractor shall be able to provide each Veteran served with: a. Transportation, to attend all VAMC medical and psychiatric scheduled appointments. i. The contractor shall provide pick-up and drop off services to and from either the VAMC or the DAV Van location located closest to the RP. A list of these locations is provided in Appendix B. ii. The contactor shall witness the Veteran either entering the VAMC or getting on the DAV van. b. Transportation to attend all medical and psychiatric appointments at a VAMC community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) if: i. The Veteran is enrolled at a CBOC and ii. The CBOC is within 30 miles of the RP 5. LEVEL OF CARE: One level of care for Veterans will be provided. This level of care shall include: a. Alcohol and/or drug dependence treatment including opportunities for affiliation with self-help programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) and other related rehabilitation services (e.g., vocational rehabilitation). b. Supportive personal care. c. Individual adjustment services including social, recreational and spiritual opportunities. d. Provision of at least four (4) hours of therapeutic activities seven (7) day a week. These activities shall include: i. The provision and chart documentation of group and/or individual therapy based on empirically based treatments including at least two (2) of the following: Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Contingency Management, Twelve Step Facilitation, Behavioral Couples Therapy, or Relapse Prevention. ii. The provision and documentation of at least one (1) weekly individual session with a licensed or credentialed professional. iii. The provision of access to credential staff (i.e., certified addiction counselor, licensed clinical social worker, psychologist) at least two (2) hours per week for individual or group therapeutic activities and/or suicide / homicide risk assessments. Also, the provision of staff with the ability to administer prescribed control substances. iv. Availability of staff for medical issues (e.g., medical rounds, sick call) e. Communication with VA for each Veteran to discuss topics relevant to discharge planning including the scheduling of follow up appointments with appropriate VA clinical staff. This discussion will occur the week prior to discharge. In the case of an irregular discharge, the VA will be notified within one (1) business day to pursue follow up activities. f. Ability to conduct objective assessments of illicit drug and/or alcohol use (i.e., breath alcohol assays; urine drug screens). These assessments will be conducted at least weekly for each Veteran. g. Access to religious or spiritual activities at least once per week h. Opportunities for family visitation at least twice per 30-day treatment episode i. Full attention shall be given to motivating and educating Veterans to: i. Maintain sobriety and pursue a lifestyle that incorporates relapse prevention activities ii. Achieve and maintain independence in the activities of daily living and self-care. iii. Learn, test, and internalize knowledge of the recovery process, to enhance social skills, and improve interpersonal relationships j. Veterans should receive a suicide risk assessment within twenty-four hours of admission and discharge and as clinically indicated. If there is any risk of suicide, current or historically, a suicide safety plan will be initiated. 6. DIETETIC SERVICES: Veteran dietary needs shall be met in accordance with sound medical practice. a. At least three (3) nutritious meals, or their equivalent shall be served, daily at regular times with not more than a fourteen (14)-hour span between the evening meal and breakfast of the following day. Between-meal or bedtime snacks of nourishing quality shall be offered. b. There shall be evidence that food is prepared, served and stored under sanitary conditions. c. Sanitary procedures shall be established and maintained for washing dishes, cleaning equipment and work areas, as well as for proper waste disposal. 7. MEDICAL RECORDS: A Veteran's record shall be maintained for each Veteran that includes at least: a. Admission identification records. b. Admission evaluation (including diagnosis). c. Progress notes by RP Staff for each clinical session. d. Special reports. e. Medications and treatment given. f. Record Keeping Health records will be maintained in accordance with Medical Center Policy Number: B-136-26 Health Information Management and Health Records. i. Health records are confidential regardless of medium (paper or electronic). The privacy of Veteran information must be preserved and the information will not be accessible to, or discussed with unauthorized persons. Each employee is accountable for safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy, and failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. Access to health care information is controlled to insure integrity, to minimize the risk of compromising confidentiality, and to increase reliability. ii. Only authorized personnel are allowed to print extractions from the electronic record or to make copies from the paper chart. Active records must be readily accessible to authorized clinical staff. iii. Health records should be maintained in a secure, locked environment 8. DRUGS AND NARCOTICS: Medications, including controlled medication, with the exception of long-term (i.e., greater than seven [7] days) opioid medications, shall be properly stored and controlled, and proper issuance upon orders from the physician shall be provided for and recorded. Secured storage should include the ability to limit access to the medication to the Veteran (i.e. lockable with access by only the Veteran and/or staff, storage managed by the organization). In addition, secured storage should must not be easily removed (i.e. lock boxes that are mounted, use of storage lockers, footlocker with locks, dressers with locks). Admission must not be denied based on prescribed controlled substances. 9. FIRE, SAFETY AND SANITATION PRACTICES: Acceptable safety and sanitation practices shall be observed throughout the facility. The building shall conform to the standard of the Life Safety Code (National Fire Protection Association # 101) in effect on the date of award of the contract. 10. BASIC SERVICE Basic services will ordinarily include: a. A supervised alcohol and drug free environment, including active affiliation with self-help programs. b. Accessibility provisions for Veterans who ambulate by wheelchair or have impairments in vision or hearing c. Security provisions for female Veterans. i. Specifically, separate and secure sleeping arrangements (unit or wing) for women Veterans. ii. Housing units must have locking bedrooms and bathrooms for female Veterans. d. Security provisions that control and monitor access to the ward such that only authorized individuals have access to the unit where the Veterans reside and receive treatment e. Provision of sufficient staff must be provided, in numbers and position qualifications to carry out the policies, responsibilities, and programs of the facility. In residential facilities there must be, as a minimum, a full-time administrative staff member or staff designee on duty on the premises and available for emergencies twenty four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. f. Room and board. g. Supplies to promote the Veteran's health and maintenance of personal hygiene. h. Laundry facilities for residents to their own laundry. i. Structured activities: Resident participation in group sessions will depend upon resident preferences and the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center Addictive Disorders Treatment Program staff recommendations. j. A variety of group and individual recreational activities, including physical activities and computer access, as appropriate. k. Policy and procedures for emergency medical and psychiatric services, (including potential opioid overdose). l. Must have an emergency First Aid Kit to include Naloxone medication. 11. RECORDS AND REPORTS: An individual client record will be maintained on each Veteran admitted under this contract, which will include, in addition to the reason for referral: a. The contract community program must comply with the requirements of the "Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse patients Records" (42 CFR, Part II and the "Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records" (38 CFR 4132) which shall be part of the contract. All case records will be maintained in security and confidence as required, and will be made available on a need-to-know basis to appropriate VA staff members involved with the treatment program of the Veterans concerned. b. All essential identifying data relevant to the Veteran and his/her family, including a socio-cultural vocational assessment. c. Data relating to the Veteran's admission, to include the targeted goals for constructive changes which are to be attained during the residential rehabilitation episode, and the anticipated length of stay, if known. c. Copies of any medical prescriptions issued by physicians, including orders, if any, for medication to be taken. d. Reports of periodic re-evaluation by program staff including: i. Any measures of movement toward rehabilitation goals. ii. The attainment of self-help skills. e. Completion and documentation of a treatment plan identifying measurable and attainable treatment targets aimed at improving Veterans overall quality of life. f. Completion of accurate records for each clinical session. Such documentation is to include the content of the session as it relates to each individuals treatment plan. g. Conduct risk assessments of violence directed toward oneself or others. Such assessments are to be completed and documented at admission, discharge and as clinically indicated. If there is any risk of suicide, current or historically, a suicide safety plan will be initiated. h. Final summaries on each Veteran who leaves the program, including a description of beneficial changes realized during the residential period, reasons for leaving, the Veteran's future plans, and follow up locator information. i. Monthly reports will be provided to the Addictive Disorders Treatment Program (ADTP) regarding billing issues. 12. INSPECTIONS: Multi-disciplinary inspection teams are expected to evaluate the contractor's ability to consistently assure the presence of staff of providing those services required under the terms of the contract. a. These inspections will occur on at least an annual basis. b. Unannounced or emergency inspections can occur if indicated. c. Opportunities for improvement identified during these inspection visits should be corrected within 60 days. Background: Prior to issuing a solicitation, and pursuant to the Veterans First Contracting Program, the VA is trying to ascertain if there are any qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) with the capability of providing the above services: (Respondents are not limited to SDVOSB/VOSB concerns; the Government seeks to identify all potentially interested sources). Responses to these sources sought must include the following information: Your company name, address, contact person name, phone number, fax number, e-mail address(s) and DUNS number and company website if available. Your company GSA/FSS contract number if available. Socio-economic status of business (i.e. SDVOSB/VOSB, 8(a), HUB Zone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUB Zone business) Capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.