Pathway to Excellence Program Designation (Brand name or equal)

                                                        SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN)

                                                  Naval Medical Center - Portsmouth (NMCP)

                                                 Pathway to Excellence Program Designation

                                                                      (Brand Name or Equal)

Document ID#: HT940626SSN3826

North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code: 611430 — Professional and Management Development Training

Size Standard: $15M

Product Service Code (PSC): U005 — Education/Training-Tuition / Registration / Membership Fees

Agency: Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command - Portsmouth (NMRTC-P)

Place of Performance:

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

620 John Paul Jones Cir

Portsmouth, VA 23708

General Information:

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN) ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

This notice is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources (brand name or equal), particularly small businesses, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation.

Introduction:

The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity-Healthcare Division-Southeast (DHACA-HCD-SE), on behalf of the NMCP, is seeking firms capable of providing organizational credentials that recognize healthcare facilities for creating positive work environments where nurses can flourish equal to that provided by the “American Nurses Credentialing Center, Pathway to Excellence Program” on behalf of the NMCP.

The Government anticipates a single purchase order with a period of performance of one (1) twelve-month base period, plus three (3) twelve-month option periods to maintain credentials. Upon review of industry response to this SSN, the Government will determine whether this requirement can be competed, set-aside for small business, or will need to be procured via a sole source contract.  

It is requested that all interested parties submit to the contracting office a brief capabilities statement package, no more than 10 pages in length in either a Microsoft Word and/or Portable Document Format (PDF) document using times new roman font, size 10, demonstrating their ability to perform the requested services.

Disclaimer:

“This SSN is for market research purposes only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be submitted. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the government. Responses in any form are not offers and the government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. All responses to this SSN shall be at the responder's own expense. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary. Responses will not be returned to the responder. not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future Request for Quote (RFQ) or Invitation for Bid (IFB) or RFP, if issued. If a solicitation is released, it may be synopsized on the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE). It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the GPE for additional Information pertaining to this requirement.”

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Background:  Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) received initial Pathway to Excellence designation in 2021. As of August 2026, NMCP is required to reapply for renewal of designation within the four-year requirement of the program. Maintaining this national accreditation is a part of the NMCP mission and goals.

Description of services/introduction: 

Pathway to Excellence designation reflects the foundational elements for safe patient care and a positive practice environment for delivering quality nursing services in Pathway-designated organizations. Pathway to Excellence Program recognizes a health care organization’s commitment to creating a positive practice environment that empowers and engages staff.

Pathway to Excellence Program and designation benefits increase the current state of the work environment of NMCP. By investing in the optimum workplace for nurses, the organization will demonstrate a culture of sustained excellence, resulting in the successful recruitment of top candidates and staff retention through high job satisfaction. Nurses are even empowered in the Pathway to Excellence application process itself; since frontline staff must validate that their experience with the organization meets the Pathway Standards.

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform Pathway to Excellence Program as defined in this scope and subsequent Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Scope:  Services include Pathway Standards Document Review, Pathway Survey dissemination and review of results to indicate Pathway Standards enculturation, and designation decision.  The contractor shall accomplish registration and annual payments for four years sustaining the accreditation.

Instructions: If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please submit a tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. In addition, please complete the required information listed in the SSN Question and Answer form (Attachment 1), please ensure to address all questions in Attachment 1 even if a negative response is appropriate.

Your response to this SSN, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contracting Officer, Matthew Teel at, matthew.d.teel.civ@health.mil, and shall include the SSN number (HT940626SSN3826) in the subject line of the email for ease of identification. If the SSN is not included in the response, there will be no indication the response is related to this SSN, and may be overlooked. All data received in response to this SSN that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. No phone calls will be accepted.

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