Q--NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE COE-SAFE VET TRAINING

This proposed contract action is for a service in which the Government intends to negotiate with only one source, Barbara Stanley, Ph.D., of Columbia University under the authority Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1 (a)(2) only one responsible source, 10U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1). The requirement is for develop training materials on how to administer the SAFE VET intervention and training VA and community ED staff in delivering the intervention. Training materials and interventions will be based on the protocols developed by the University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University under contract to the VA. Materials will include: Develop a training DVD on safety planning and follow-up for distribution within the VA and to community EDs for community-based Veterans. Complete training materials for the Acute Services Coordinators on instructions to train ED staff in delivering the intervention including; identification and referral of Veterans. Work with evaluation control sites to implement evaluation portion of SAFE VET Conduct a feasibility/acceptability evaluation of SAFE VET utilizing qualitative methods Finalize a structured interview for key informant staff and Veterans to determine acceptability of the SAFE VET intervention. Conduct outreach with community ED providers and interview these providers to determine what they see as special needs of suicidal Veterans and issues with accessing VA services. SAFE VET is a clinical demonstration project that is a collaboration between VA and Community Emergency Departments to identify, assess and provide safety planning and clinical follow-up for suicidal Veterans. The initial SAFE VET project developed a protocol for implementing and assessing safety planning and follow-up for Veterans until they receive recommended psychiatric outpatient treatment. Barbara Stanley, Ph.D., Columbia University, one of the developers of the SAFE VET project, is working with Gregory K. Brown, Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania and Glenn Currier, M.D. at the University of Rochester to develop and test training materials for the SAFE VET intervention for Veterans presenting at VA and community emergency services for suicide or suicidal behavior. The clinical demonstration project consists of: a) developing a comprehensive manual for the Acute Services Coordinators on how to administer the SAFE VET intervention, b) test and implement rating form for adherence to the intervention c) collaborate with Employee Education Services to develop a DVD of didactic and interview of safety planning intervention adapted to the ED and urgent care settings. Dr. Stanley is unique in her ability to carry out this important project as she has already created a VA ED Safety Planning Manual in 2008 that is used in ED’s across the VA. She is recognized as a national expert in suicide prevention program development. Dr. Stanley developed the Columbia University Suicide Severity Rating Scale that has considerable evidence from diverse settings of its effectiveness as a suicide assessment tool. She currently is an investigator in a study of suicide rating scales in ED’s that is funded by the American Association for Suicide Prevention. Methods for data sharing and analysis are already being developed, and this will greatly facilitate producing these training materials in a timely manner. We are unaware of any other network of collaborative emergency department research settings or investigators either in the U.S. or internationally that could complete a high quality project in such an important and technically demanding area as suicide prevention within the narrow time window specified by the VA. This contract will be a continuation of Dr. Stanley’s work in the VA on SAFE VET, which is now implemented in five VA Emergency Department sites. Dr. Stanley is also the lead investigator on a study of the qualitative variability in implementation of the SAFE VET intervention at different VA facilities. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals, however, all information received by 10:00 a.m. EST on July 27, 2011 will considered by the Government. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities to the requirement via email. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based on responses received as a result of this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation document is available. Interested parties may email information to contact@example.gov as no phone inquiries will be taken. NAICS code is 622210 Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospital with a size standard $34.5 million. The proposed contract type will be Firm Fixed Price.