The Department of Interior (DOI), GovWorks, intends to solicit the following requirements as a full and open competition in accordance with FAR 6.102-(b). This competitive action is being issued by GovWorks under the authority of the U. S. Department of the Interior Franchise Fund on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Civil Rights. HHS/OCR needs to contract for the requirement described below. I. Background. The mission of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to prevent and eliminate unlawful discrimination in the provision of health care and social services generally and in HHS-funded programs particularly; to ensure the privacy of protected health information, and to enhance access to quality programs funded by the HHS. Through public education, outreach, complaint investigation and resolution and other compliance activities, OCR helps HHS carry out its overall mission of improving the health and well-being of all people affected by its many programs. Among other duties, OCR investigates complaints that alleged violations of various civil rights laws by HHS-funded recipients. Among the laws enforced by OCR is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by the recipients of federal financial assistance. OCR enforces Section 504 with respect to HHS fund recipients. OCR also enforces Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by states and local government entities, with respect to health and human services programs. II. Objective. This contract will help HHS, through OCR, implement the President's "New Freedom Initiative" and, more specifically, Executive Order 13217 (June 18, 2001), which directs the Secretary of HHS to provide technical guidance to help states achieve the goals of the ADA. This contract will aid HHS in resolving key aspects of ongoing complaint investigations that alleged violations of Title II of the ADA and its implementing regulations and the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581(1999). These complaints allege that qualified individuals with disabilities have been denied services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. III. Scope. OCR requires expert consultant services to evaluate actions undertaken by a state to assess and place on wait lists for community placement, individuals, currently institutionalized in state owned and operated psychiatric facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with mental retardation, and nursing facilities but who could receive community-based services as an appropriate alternative to institutional care. The contractor will develop standards and criteria for evaluating the state's actions. The contractor will report to OCR of the effectiveness of the state's wait list management and prioritization policies. The contractor will also make recommendations to OCR as to the need for new or revised state policies, procedures and related documents, once institutionalized individuals are identified for community placement; review these documents, and make recommendations about them. It should be noted that in order for an offeror's proposal to be considered overall as acceptable by the Government, the proposal must, at a minimum, be considered as acceptable under the following evaluation factor which is comprised of 6 subfactors: Successful Similar Past or Current Experience as an Expert Witness: (1) Experience in which offeror was retained as an expert witness or consultant by the United States government in any investigation or litigation involving the treatment of or services for individuals institutionalized because of disability, and/or the provision of home- and community-based services to individuals with disabilities. (2) Experience in which offeror was retained as an expert witness or consultant by any other party (e.g., private plaintiffs or a state defendant) in any investigation or litigation involving the treatment of or services for individuals institutionalized because of disability, and/or the provision of home- and community-based services to individuals with disabilities. (3) Experience in which offeror served as a court monitor or in any other court-appointed capacity in litigation involving the treatment of or services for individuals institutionalized because of disability, and/or the provision of home- and community-based services to individuals with disabilities. (4) Experience in which offeror was retained by a state or local government entity (including hospitals, nursing facility or intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded) to provide technical assistance regarding the treatment of or services for individuals institutionalized because of disability, and/or the provision of home- and community-based services to individuals with disabilities. (5) Information about every state, state instrumentality or institution (such as a hospital, nursing facility, or ICF-MR) that is now currently contracting with you (or your company, an affiliate, or any individual affiliated with your company), or has contracted with you the past providing a date, state, type of services. (6) Information about any written report for any of the matters specified above. It is also important that the contractor have familiarity and experience with the major issues and professional standards applicable to the provision of home- and community-based services to individuals with disabilities, including those individuals who have been institutionalized. Successful offerors will be expected to have familiarity, at least a layman's level, with the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999) and other related legal precedents in this area. A request for proposal (i.e., solicitation) for this requirement will be issued within the next few days in Feb Biz Opps. Please ensure the GovWorks solicitation number 60537 is referenced in all correspondence. Please note that this solicitation replaces solicitation no. 44274 which was cancelled on 21 October 2005. Point of Contact (POC) for this acquisition is Melicent Nhan at
contact@example.gov or fax
+1 (555) 000-0000. Phone inquiries will not be entertained.
