Behavioral Health Specialist

Solicitation # 11056913 Action Code: Combined Synopsis/ Solicitation Notice NAICS Code/ PSC Code: 541720/ Q-210 Subject: Behavioral Health Specialist Solicitation Number: 11056913 Posted date: July 26th 2017 Response due Date and Time: August 24th 10:00 AM PST Set Aside: Total Small Business Contracting Office Address: United States Property and Fiscal Office ATTN: USPFO-P, 1776 Militia Way/PO Box 14350 Salem, Oregon 97309-5047 Performance Location: ORARNG MEDCOM ANDERSON READINESS CENTER (ARC) 3225 State Street Salem, Or 97309 Information to Offerors All Quotes shall be firm-fixed pricing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Request for Quote (RFQ), please contact Richard Harvey at 503-584-3773 or at email: richard.a.harvey5.mil@mail.mil. To ensure receipt of your quote, please send quote to CPT Richard Harvey SAM vendor registration is required. Please visit www.sam.gov . Step-by-step information on how to register is detailed on the website. Lack of registration in the SAM database will make an offeror ineligible for award. Offerors must be actively registered on the Systems for Award Management database (SAM). Information concerning SAM requirements may be viewed via the Internet at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ or by calling the SAM Registration Center at 866-606-8220. Only contractors who are registered in the Systems for Award Management (SAM) can be awarded a contract. Offerors must have electronic funds transfer (EFT) capability. Offerors' proposals shall be valid for a minimum of 30 days to be acknowledged in the offerors' proposal. Contractors must be actively registered with Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) at http://wawf.eb.mil. Clauses may be accessed electronically in full text through http://farsite.hill.af.mil Please review FAR clause 52.229-3 for any exemptions in Federal, State and Local Taxes and their applicability pertaining to your quote for this RFQ. PRICES QUOTED MUST BE VALID FOR 30 DAYS. PLEASE PRICE IN YOUR QUOTE INTO CLIN's 0001 and 0003 of the Performance Work Statement (Under "SELECTION CRITERIA"). Attach separate documentation outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) for technical evaluation as outlined in the PWS. FOB Destination TO: ORARNG 1776 Militia Way/PO Box 14350 Salem, Oregon 97309-5047 Please return this page and provide the following information. Contact Person: ________________________________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________ Telephone: ____________________________________________________________ DUNS Number: _________________________________________ CAGE Code: ________________________________________ Federal Tax ID Number _____________________________________________ Requirements for your Quote Please submit a quote on your company letterhead showing a price per contract line item (CLIN) with a total price at the bottom. Include the following information on your quote: Cage code, Tax ID number, company name, phone number, contact, and email. You may also fill out the PDF version on FBO of the solicitation and send in by the closing due date and time. The award will only be made to an offeror that is all-inclusive of the requirements for this solicitation. Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Period of Performance (POP): The POP is outlined in the PWS under this solicitation posting Basis for Award The Government will award one contract resulting from this solicitation in accordance with FAR 13.106 to the responsible offeror conforming to all requirements in this solicitation and quoting the lowest price offeror meeting all the requirements of the Selection Criteria outlined in the PWS. It is also required that you provide adequate technical documentation as required by the requirements of this solicitation to determine you are capable of providing the services needed. The awarded vendor will provide us with the documents listed below. This will be verified by a government representative that the person is technically acceptable before issuance of award. SELECTION CRITERIA The contractor must produce these documents along with their firm fixed priced quote in order to be considered for selection based on the following criteria, Please Place your technical certifications on a separate document entitled Performance Work Statement (Selection Criteria Documents) along with your quote listed in the bottom of this section. The price listed at the bottom of this section will be evaluated for price only: - Certification: Provide Certificates of accreditation in one of the two following: ? A master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or show documentation that the BHS is working towards completion of their supervised hours for licensure (2 year process). ? A master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from a graduate program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or show documentation that the BHS is working towards completion of their supervised hours for licensure (2 year process). - Training: ? Provide plan that details procedures for new hire CAC access within 90 days of award. ? Provide new hire training plan for each service listed in paragraph 4 above of Performance Work Statement (PWS). - Past Performance: Must provide 3, but no more than 5 jobs that have been done with the government that are similar in scope. - Price (Request for Quote). CLIN 0001 Behavioral Health Specialist POP September 11th 2017 through September 10th 2018 I/U 12 Months tiny_mce_marker____________ TOTAL tiny_mce_marker______________ CLIN 0002: Army Contractor Manpower Reporting Requirement (yearly requirement). See individual Line Item PWS. Include price for this reporting requirement (see requirement below) or indicate "No Charge". TOTAL tiny_mce_marker_______________ TOTAL CLIN 0001 - 0002 TOTAL tiny_mce_marker________________ FAR 13.004 -- Legal Effect of Quotations. (a) Any response to this synopsis/solicitation will be considered a "quotation". "Offer" means a response to a solicitation that, if accepted, would bind the offeror to perform the resultant contract. Responses to invitations for bids (sealed bidding) are offers called "bids" or "sealed bids"; responses to requests for proposals (negotiation) are offers called "proposals"; however, responses to requests for quotations (simplified acquisition) are "quotations," not offers. Quotation is not an offer and, consequently, cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Therefore, issuance by the Government of an order in response to a supplier's quotation does not establish a contract. The order is an offer by the Government to the supplier to buy certain supplies or services upon specified terms and conditions. A contract is established when the supplier accepts the offer. (b) When appropriate, the contracting officer may ask the supplier to indicate acceptance of an order by notification to the Government, preferably in writing, as defined at 2.101. In other circumstances, the supplier may indicate acceptance by furnishing the supplies or services ordered or by proceeding with the work to the point where substantial performance has occurred. (c) If the Government issues an order resulting from a quotation, the Government may (by written notice to the supplier, at any time before acceptance occurs) withdraw, amend, or cancel its offer. (See 13.302-4 for procedures on termination or cancellation of purchase orders.) ANTI-TERRORISM TRAINING Contractor must be able to provide the below training certificates 3 days before the commencement of work is to start on or before September 8th 2017. Certificates must be provided to the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) along with copies sent to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. AT Level I Training. This provision/clause/contract text is for contractor employees with an area of performance within an Army controlled installation, facility or area. All contractor employees, to include subcontractor employees, requiring access to Army installations, facilities and controlled access areas shall complete AT Level I awareness training within 10 calendar days before contract start date. The contractor shall submit certificates of completion for each affected contractor employee and subcontractor employee, to the COR and to the Contracting Officer, within 3 calendar days after completion of training by all employees and subcontractor personnel. AT Level I awareness training is available at the following website: https://atlevel1.dtic.mil/at. iWATCH Training. This standard language is for contractor employees with an area of performance within an Army controlled installation, facility or area. The contractor and all associated sub-contractors shall brief all employees on the local iWATCH program (training standards provided by the requiring activity ATO). This local developed training will be used to inform employees of the types of behavior to watch for and instruct employees to report suspicious activity to the COR. This training shall be completed within 3 calendar days of the training event start date (NLT 26 March 2017), with the results reported to the COR and KO before contract commencement. Contracting Manpower Recording Act (CMRA): The contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the ARMY collection site as described in this associated PWS. The contractor shall complete Contractor Manpower Reporting (CMR) in accordance with the requirements outlined in the PWS. Information regarding CMR, including contractor user guides, can be obtained at the following website: https://cmra.army.mil/help/glossary.html Unit Identification Code (UIC) for the Requiring Activity: W8BAAA Issuing Office DoDAAC: W912JV Discussions: The Government intends to evaluate quotes/offers and make award without discussions with offerors (except clarifications as described in FAR 15.306(a). Therefore, the offeror's initial quote/offer should contain the offeror's best terms from a cost or price standpoint. Do not assume you will have the opportunity to clarify, discuss or revise your quote/offer. Offerors may, at the discretion of the Government, be asked to provide more information and clarification regarding their offer/quote. Request for such information does not constitute discussions. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary. The Government intends to make a single, Firm-Fixed Price award. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SECTION (BHS) 1. ORGANIZATION Vision: to be "Relevant, reliable, ready and accessible." Mission: - Federal: "Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed." - State: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by state law." 2. BACKGROUND The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has significantly increased the operations and deployments within the Oregon Army National Guard (ORARNG) and has placed additional strain and requirements on our Soldiers and their families. Increased deployments and missions locally and around the globe have required Soldiers to be deployed more frequently, for longer periods in high physically and mentally stressful operations. Additional resources and programs are required to increase ORARNG medical readiness. ORARNG leadership requires support to identify and quantify the magnitude and status of medical readiness across all ORARNG units in the State of Oregon. ORARNG leadership is working to improve medical readiness to support the Army National Guard's concept for transforming the Army National Guard (ARNG) from a "Cold War" strategic reserve to a full spectrum component of the operational force. The ORARNG intends to use organic assets and contract support to identify, quantify, track and resolve medical readiness issues within the command. ORARNG leadership has an initial goal to bring all units across the State to a 90% deployable strength status six months prior to mobilization. 3. SCOPE The ORARNG will provide Brigade level commands with contract and organic support assets to conduct medical readiness operations and actions across the full medical readiness spectrum. The OR Medical Command will act as the staff agent for ORARNG Medical Readiness. The contracted support provided will assist with all pending and future medical actions required to determine the medical readiness of all units. Further actions require capture, definition, tracking and resolution of all pending medical issues for our Soldiers. These actions are critical to improve deployment readiness and provide the support our Soldiers and their families deserve for their actions and service to community, state and nation. The Behavioral Health Section (BHS) is the behavioral health infrastructure within the ORARNG. The BHS supports mental fitness and wellness for operational readiness by developing and maintaining systems for identifying and resolving Soldiers' behavioral health concerns and by providing clinical oversight and coordination for the behavioral health components of the psychological, family, social, spiritual, and emotional support programs available to service members and their families. The BHS will serve a vital role in supporting the ORARNG mission in the context of pending large scale deployments and demobilizations. The BHS will provide skills crucial to identifying Soldiers with behavioral health concerns and assisting in determining the disposition of these Soldiers. The objectives are three fold: - The BHS will support in expeditiously clearing Soldiers who are fit and erroneously identified as having Behavioral Health (BH) issues. - The BHS will help identify Soldiers with BH problems that threaten medical readiness and operational effectiveness and provide assistance toward the resolution of such problems. - The BHS will accelerate the processing of Soldiers who are no longer fit for duty through appropriate medical and/or administrative separations. In these ways, the BHS will help commanders ensure that BH issues do not impede Soldiers under their command from completing the mission. Aside from upcoming deployments, the BHS will assist in building, sustaining, restoring, and enhancing the psychological well-being of the ORARNG community. The BHS will evaluate and monitor the mental status of ORARNG personnel in accordance with military regulations. The goal is to identify and provide for service members suffering from behavioral health related difficulties, as well as identify and monitor those considered "at-risk" for developing psychological problems in the future. When emotional and behavioral problems are identified, the BHS will be charged with understanding the nature of the problems, connecting the service member with available resources, and monitoring the service member's compliance to, progress in, and outcome of treatment. 4. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS/TASKS TO BE PERFORMED The following services are required to successfully deliver the objectives. Services are to be performed in accordance with the highest professional standards and the following requirements: - Behavioral Health Professional (BHP): ? Evaluates and monitors the mental status of ORARNG personnel in accordance with military regulations, to include the AR 40-501. Performs initial assessment, determines provisional diagnosis, formulates appropriate treatment plan, and provides follow up evaluation. ? Advises respective Brigade personnel on behavioral health issues; consults with and trains military commands and service professionals as needed. ? Assists the ORARNG Director of Psychological Health (DPH) and Medical Readiness NCOs (MRNCOs) and Care Coordinators in identifying and providing for service members dealing with behavioral health related difficulties. ? Assists the MRNCO in identifying and monitoring personnel "at risk" for developing psychological problems in the future. ? Creates and maintains a database of providers for referrals, comprised of licensed and credentialed behavioral health professionals who demonstrate knowledge of military culture, assessment and treatment of the type of BH needs common to a service member (SM). ? Connects identified service members with available resources, and monitors compliance, progress, and outcomes of any remediation. ? Partners with and augments activities of the Service Member and Family Support Office (SMFS), Office of the Chaplain, Oregon Substance Abuse Program (OSAP), and other Guard entities and programs related to psychological well-being. ? Collaborates with behavioral health personnel at all organizational levels, from brigade to unit level. ? Assists in identifying problems and gaps in service in the current behavioral health delivery system, devising methods to improve and enhance the system. ? Maintains a working knowledge and proficiency in linkage and referral to the array of resources available to ORARNG personnel. ? Maintains Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) standards and guidelines. ? Enters clinical documentation and paperwork into the appropriate data system within 72 hours of service being rendered, including but not limited to MEDCHART, eProfile, Behavioral Health Data Portal (BHDP), and the DOD Case Management System (CMS). ? Ensures all medical documentation received from the Soldier and/or their medical/BH providers is received and placed in appropriated electronic record, as well as the Soldier's hard copy record. Maintain Soldier medical records in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 40-66. ? Maintains a management reporting system to include database spreadsheets. Operates a personal computer to input, store, retrieve, and manipulate data for various reports. Must be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word. ? Completes a variety of correspondence, reports, and other documents. Proofreads/edits correspondence and documents for correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and format, as well as errors that would lead the intended recipients to draw faulty conclusions. ? Performs other responsibilities and tasks which meet the organizational needs of the medical branch. 5. EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES The Contractor is responsible for providing the credentialing service to document that personnel meet the standards directed by Army Regulation (AR) 40-68. Further, Contractors are required to provide proof of Professional Liability Insurance for all Medical Personnel supporting clinical requirements. Non-clinical personnel may be covered by the Contractor's General Liability Insurance Policy. The Behavioral Health Professional (BHP) must possess: - A master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from a graduate program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). - A valid license issued by the appropriate Oregon State licensing board (i.e. Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers, Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists) or show documentation that the BHP is working towards completion of their supervised hours for licensure (2 year process). In order to successfully meet the performance objectives, the contract employee should possess the following knowledge/skills: - The BHP must have a minimum of two years of experience providing mental health services in a supervised setting. A range of experiences in terms of clientele and professional activities is preferred. - An understanding of available systems of care and experience collaborating with social service agencies to integrate resources, plan, and deliver comprehensive services, is considered essential. - Knowledge of military culture and issues (e.g., combat-related stress, family separation, reunion and reintegration) and experience intervening with military personnel is also preferred. - The BHP must have a developing expertise in conducting mental status evaluations. - Experience conducting fitness for duty evaluations is preferred. - Ability to make accurate assessments of service members' mental status under the direct supervision of the Senior Behavioral Health Officer. This assessment may be conducted with limited available collateral information and with service members who have a vested interest in appearing well. Thus, the BHP must be skilled enough to make sound clinical decisions in the context of diagnostic uncertainty. - Ability to make referrals to and link service members to appropriate resources. - Confidence to make affirmative recommendations based on the results of evaluations. The BHP must be willing and able to act on the results of evaluations. This will require substantial interpersonal confidence and comfort in a role that may seem adversarial to some service members. - Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with personnel at all levels. The objective is that the BHP be viewed as a resource and asset from the brigade to unit level. - Computer skills sufficient to create, maintain, and send reports. - Effective verbal and written communication skills. - Assist in identifying problems and gaps in service in current behavioral health delivery system and devising methods to improve and enhance system. - Contractor must be prepared to work in Oregon with periodic travel within assigned Oregon region. - Contractor will either possess or acquire a Secret security clearance and pass all criteria necessary for employment. They will obtain a Common Access Card (CAC) for Local Access Network and for identification. Contractors will be required to visibly display their ID badges at all times. 6. HOURS OF OPERATION Due to the scope and demand of work, the contractor must commit to a 40 hour work week in order to dedicate the appropriate amount of time needed to accomplish the job, although greater than 40 hours per week may be necessary. Typical work hours are 0800-1630 however some variation from a traditional work schedule (i.e. evenings and weekends) may be required in order to complete assigned tasks. Overtime, however, is not authorized. Dress code will be business casual. 7. PLACE AND PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE The primary location for this position will be in Salem, OR. Contractor employees may be required to travel to execute any missions to support and augment the ORARNG consistent with all services described within the PWS as shown below. This may include support to service members in remote areas, mobilization events (SRC, PHAs), and/or required program meetings/trainings. Travel to and from the primary worksite will not be reimbursed. 9. SELECTION CRITERIA The contractor must produce these documents along with their firm fixed priced quote in order to be considered for selection based on the following criteria: - Certification: Provide Certificates of accreditation in one of the two following: ? A master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or or show documentation that the BHS is working towards completion of their supervised hours for licensure (2 year process). ? A master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from a graduate program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or show documentation that the BHS is working towards completion of their supervised hours for licensure (2 year process). - Training: ? Provide plan that details procedures for new hire CAC access within 90 days of award. ? Provide new hire training plan for each service listed in paragraph 4 above. - Past Performance: Must provide 3, but no more than 5 jobs that have been done with the government that are similar in scope. 10. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT/PROPERTY The equipment at, and facilities of, each professional office shall be provided by the Government in accordance with guidelines and standards of DoD, General Service Administration or other guidelines or standards applicable to the Federal organization for which services are provided. Each office shall be maintained as a professional environment that ensures the safety, privacy and confidentiality of all employees. The government shall provide adequate office space (in designated armory or facility) to include a workstation and chair, Desktop computer, expendable supplies, and internet/intranet/Local Area Network (LAN) (and support). The Government will also provide the contractor access to a fax machine, copy machine, printer, mail service and postage. All Government furnished supplies and services shall be For Official Use Only (FOUO). The contractor shall assume both the responsibility and liability for loss or damage of equipment and/or facilities provided by the Government if the damage or loss is caused by other than normal operating usage or is attributable to negligence of the contractor. 11. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE/INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE (IGE) The period of performance shall be for a basic period of 12 months. The Period of Performance for this will be September 11th 2017 through September 10th 2018. 12. OBSERVANCE OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS Government holidays are as follows: Holiday Day Observed New Year's Day January 1 Martin Luther King's Birthday Third Monday in January President's Day Third Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Independence Day July 4 Labor Day First Monday in September Columbus Day Second Monday in October Veteran's Day November 11 Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25 13. DELIVERABLES The contractor shall prepare and deliver the following items to the ORARNG J-1 or his or her designated representative: Behavioral Health Professional: DELIVERABLE ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL) METHOD USED / FREQUENCY Provides ample clinical time with Soldiers Conducted weekly with 85-90% accuracy Periodic inspections and spot checks / Monthly Timely delivery of clinical paperwork Received NLT 72 hours following a Soldier evaluation with 95% accuracy Periodic inspections and spot checks / Monthly Attends required staff meetings As clinical schedule allows with 95% accuracy Periodic inspections and spot checks / Monthly Provisions and Clauses Incorporated by Reference (IBR) FAR 52.204-7, Systems for Award Management. FAR 52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting FAR 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance FAR 52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting With Inverted Domestic Corporations FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items Evaluation. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the government, lowest price of all item "all or none". FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representation and Certifications Commercial Item or complete electronic annual representations and certifications via the System for Award Management (SAM). FAR 52. 211-17, Delivery of Excess Quantities (for multiple quantities). FAR 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. FAR 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Representation. FAR 52.222-3 Convict Labor FAR 52.222-21, Prohibition Of Segregated Facilities. FAR 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity. FAR 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities. FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965. FAR 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons. FAR 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658. FAR 52.223-5 Pollution Prevention and Right to Know Information. FAR 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policy to Ban Text Messaging While Driving. FAR 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases. FAR 52.228-5, Insurance-Work on a government Installation. FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer--System for Award Management. FAR 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payment to Small Business Subcontractors FAR 52.233-3, Protest after Award FAR 52.233-4, Applicable Law for breach of Contract Claim. FAR 52.237-2, Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment and Vegetation. FAR 52.237-7, Indemnification and Medical liability Insurance. FAR 52.253-1, Computer Generated Forms (when contractor is required to submit data). DFARS 252.203-7000, Requirements Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials. DFARS 252.203-7002, Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights. DFARS 252.203-7005, Representation Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials. DFARS 252.204-7008, Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls. DFARS 252.204-7012, Safeguarding Unclassified Controlled Technical Information. DFARS 252.204-7015, Disclosure of Information to Litigation Support Contractors DFARS 252-225.7001, BAA - Balance of Payments Program. DFARS 252.225-7002, Qualifying Country Sources as Subcontractors. DFARS 252.225-7012, Preference for Certain Domestic Commodities. DFARS 252.225-7031, Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel DFARS 252.232-7003, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests. DFARS 252.232-7010, Levies on Contract Payments DFARS 252.237-7010, Prohibition on Interrogation of Detainees by Contractor Personnel DFARS 252.246-7000, Material Inspection and Receiving Report. DFARS 252.247-7023, Transportation of Supplies by Sea, Alternate III. DFARS 252.215-7008, Only One Offer. DFARS 252.232-7006, Wide Area Workflow Payment Instructions. Full Text (FT) 52.212-4 -- Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items. As prescribed in 12.301(b)(3), insert the following clause: Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items (Jan 2017) (a) Inspection/Acceptance. The Contractor shall only tender for acceptance those items that conform to the requirements of this contract. The Government reserves the right to inspect or test any supplies or services that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require repair or replacement of nonconforming supplies or reperformance of nonconforming services at no increase in contract price. If repair/replacement or reperformance will not correct the defects or is not possible, the government may seek an equitable price reduction or adequate consideration for acceptance of nonconforming supplies or services. The Government must exercise its post-acceptance rights -- (1) Within a reasonable time after the defect was discovered or should have been discovered; and (2) Before any substantial change occurs in the condition of the item, unless the change is due to the defect in the item. (b) Assignment. The Contractor or its assignee may assign its rights to receive payment due as a result of performance of this contract to a bank, trust company, or other financing institution, including any Federal lending agency in accordance with the Assignment of Claims Act (31 U.S.C.3727). However, when a third party makes payment (e.g., use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card), the Contractor may not assign its rights to receive payment under this contract. (c) Changes. Changes in the terms and conditions of this contract may be made only by written agreement of the parties. (d) Dispute...