Q--Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Training.

This Sources Sought is to obtain market information and capabilities for planning purposes and to determine appropriate strategies to meet the Agency's requirements. This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a commitment for a RFQ in the future. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to the Sources Sought Notice. Information received from this Sources Sought Notice may be utilized in preparing potential solicitation documentation. It is the contractor's responsibility to identify proprietary information in response to this notice. The purpose of this announcement is to gain knowledge of potentially qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Small Business (SB) sources. Section II. Description & Submission Requirements Description: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course NAICS Code: 621330 Offices of Mental Health Practitioners $8.0M Response Due Date: Friday, January 24, 2020 @ 11:00am Hawaii Time Potential vendors shall provide the following information at a minimum in order to be considered a viable source: 1. Business Size & Classification(s) 2. Provide documentation that vendor is verified for eligibility in the VIP database as and SDVOSB/VOSB or is currently classified as small business. 3. Contact Information (To include at minimum: Point of Contact Name, email & phone number) 4. Submit appropriate documentation that demonstrates ability to provide Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Courses in accordance with Draft Performance Work Statement (See Attached: Draft Performance Work Statement 01/17/2020). *Appropriate documentation will constitute at least one of following: 1) Capabilities Statement or website that that demonstrate knowledge of and past experience providing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Courses 2) PDF Copy of past government or private sector contract for this type of services to include contact information for contracting representative or office that awarded or administered the contract (Shall include: Name, Email, Phone Number) *If any of the required information (Items 1-4 Above) is not submitted by the response date, the vendor will be considered incapable of providing the required services and will not be considered a viable source. *Vendor response to the sources sought must provide enough information so that a reasonable person would believe that the vendor is capable of adhering to the requirements of VAAR 852.219-10 (C)(1) in order to support a potential SDVOSB Set-Aside determination. Performance Work Statement MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION TRAINING GENERAL GUIDANCE Title of Project: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Brain Health Training Background: VA Northern California is conducting a research study titled, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to Improve Neuropsychological Functioning in Acquired Brain Injury. This VA funded research project proposes to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to brain-injured Veterans to help improve neuropsychological functioning. MBSR is a 9-week course that teaches individuals strategies such as breathing techniques, meditation and movement therapy. A 9-week course on Brain Health will be taught to separate groups of Veterans as an active control condition. The hope is that MBSR is found to be a useful, additional intervention that can improve Veterans well-being and quality of life. Scope of Work: Contractor to provide 6 rounds of two distinct classes (total of 12 classes) over the course of 4 years, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. Training will be provided in both Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction as well as a Brain Health class that will be used as an active control intervention for this research project. Each training session may include up to 10 research Participants. Contractor must be certified by the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical Center course to teach the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction coursework. The MBSR training program is a 9-week course with sessions being held for 2 - hours each week, plus one all-day session, typically held in the sixth week. The Brain Health class will be matched for the same number of hours, instructor, schedule, homework and home practice as the MBSR program. Classes will be taught on the same dates. One class is to be held in the morning with the other class occurring in the afternoon. Classes will be held at VA Northern California Health Care Neuroscience Research building located at 150 Muir Rd., Martinez, CA 94533. Performance Period: One year from date of contract award with three (3) One year Options . SPECIFIC CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES Tasks: Provides certified instructor to perform 9-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training. Training will follow the structure, methods and key program characteristics as outlined in the MBSR Standards of Practice, published by The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, University of Massachusetts Medical School (see attached MBSR course manual.) The same instructor will also teach a Brain Health Class, which will serve as a control condition for the MBSR class (see attached Brain Health course manual). The Brain Health program will match critical process elements such as clinician interaction, social interaction within the group and homework activities; however, the class will be without the inclusions of a reflection/mindfulness component. Outline of the Brain Health program curriculum will be provided by the VA Principal Investigator. Contractor will provide all workbooks and handouts for the program participants, including a CD with a 30-min guided meditation practice for home-use. Contractor will track homework assignments and follow participant attendance and follow-up with those who miss training sessions to review at home practices for the week. Will consult with Principal Investigator regarding the refinement of study design and implementation. Will assist the Principal Investigator in the evaluation of the research project insomuch as the Contractor will provide the Principal Investigator with the attendance records and records of completed homework assignments. The Contractor will also provide feedback to the Principal Investigator as to any difficulties encountered during the courses (e.g., poor participant motivation) for the purpose of conveying that information in any research publication the Principal Investigator writes. Qualifications: Contractor must show 1) proof of certification from the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical Center course to teach the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction coursework; and 2) evidence of at least 10 years of prior experience teaching Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction courses in groups and at least 2 years of prior experience teaching Brain Health classes (e.g., course evaluations, past performance documentation, etc.). Training Dates: Initial training is projected to start on Friday, March 31, 2020 and will continue weekly thereafter for each class session and continue for four years until all 12 classes have been taught. Contractor may work with Principal Investigator to schedule the dates and times of training sessions; however, instruction will likely occur on Tuesdays so that both Primary Investigators can be available as needed and Veterans can attend without undue commuting burdens. Sessions will be scheduled during normal VANCHCS business hours, 8am 5pm and will exclude any Federal Holidays. Dates of training will be set at weekly intervals for the duration of the 9-week sessions. Contractor may not cancel or change dates and times of training unless an agreement is reached with Principal Investigator and is submitted in writing. C. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES 1. Facilities: Government will provide facilities and necessary equipment for teaching required classes, specifically, a conference meeting room, desks, chairs, and pens. Location of facilities will be on the VANCHCS campus located at 150 Muir Rd., Martinez, CA. Contractor will be provided an office space, including a desk, chair, and filing cabinet, in the Principal Investigator s lab space in Building 26. Records Management Language for Contracts Required The following standard items relate to records generated in executing the contract and should be included in a typical Electronic Information Systems (EIS) procurement contract: Citations to pertinent laws, codes and regulations such as 44 U.S.C chapters 21, 29, 31 and 33; Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a); 36 CFR Part 1222 and Part 1228. Contractor shall treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S. Government for which the Government Agency shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records. Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor must deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data. Contractor agrees to comply with Federal and Agency records management policies, including those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. These policies include the preservation of all records created or received regardless of format [paper, electronic, etc.] or mode of transmission [e-mail, fax, etc.] or state of completion [draft, final, etc.]. No disposition of documents will be allowed without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Agency and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of the Agency or destroyed without regard to the provisions of the agency records schedules. Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and Agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information.