This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this Sources Sought must be in writing. The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified vendors, to include Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses and Veteran Owned Small Businesses, interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is NAICS: 611710-Educational Support Services ($24M) PSC: Q999-Medical-Other Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) Company name (b) Address (c) Point of contact (d) Phone, fax, and email (e) SAM Unique Identification number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of business (large or small) (i) If small business, type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran-owned small business, and (j) Must provide a capability statement that addresses the organization s qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below. Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 (VISN 22) Contract for Genito Urinary Associates (GTAs) The VISN 22 Desert Pacific Healthcare network needs GTAs to provide instruction with Providers and Nursing staff to provide an interview and assessment of a women s health exam. This contract includes supervision that coordinates staffing assignments at each facility and clinician that participates in this educational opportunity. The job categories that would benefit from this instruction include Primary Care Providers, Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical/Vocational nurses to perform women s health exams to women Veterans. 1) General Information and Specifications The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 (VISN 22) Healthcare System and Outpatient Clinics has a requirement for Primary Care Providers and Nurses who are experienced in providing care to women Veterans in the Network. The contract will provide real time instruction and feedback for Primary Care Providers and Nurses according to the requirements in Directive 1330.01 Healthcare Services for Women Veterans. The contractor shall provide experienced GTAs according to the contract specifications for beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs in VISN 22. The places of performance are annotated in Paragraph 3. Provided female exam instruction will be conducted in a professional and patient-centered and trauma informed manner using: 20-30 minute group lecture, then 30 minute group demonstration (featuring live demonstration on our GTA demo by our GTA lecturer), then 4-6 students per GTA for guided practice/ skills building for female breast and genital exams lasting up to 2.5hrs. Structure a small group learning session with student introductions (with the goal of learning each student s name to use throughout the session) Emphasize draping techniques is emphasized and repeated, appropriate pressure during the breast exam and immediate feedback throughout the exam affords the opportunity to readjust pressure in real time to ensure a more comfortable clinical breast exam. The GTAs provide concise but thorough explanation prior to performing a part of the exam, and encouraging the patient to ask questions and querying on her comfort throughout the exam are emphasized and practiced. Reteach specific breast and vaginal exam skills taught in the group lecture they had during a Provider and/or Nursing Mini Residency. Reinforce speculum skills practice using the student s own hand in a fist using guided practice for insertion. Provide instruction for a vaginal exam skills that focus on appropriate pressure for the external genital exam, as well as a horizontal speculum placement Appropriate bimanual exam pressure and technique are also a main focus. Receive a breast exam/ palpation skills first. This is done by rotating up to 4-6 exams per GTA rotates through practicing breast palpation skills (both concentric circles and the radial method) prior to practicing the vaginal and pelvic exam Facilitate completion of the women s health exam with sufficient practice of the necessary skills, technique and gained the confidence and knowledge to effectively conduct female genitourinary exams in a trauma-informed and patient-centered manner. Rotates through practicing breast palpation skills (both concentric circles and the radial method) prior to practicing the vaginal and pelvic exam Utilize the principles of trauma-informed care the GTAs stress how critical word choice in the exam room can actually affect patient communication and health outcomes. Encourage throughout. The session is interactive with the goal of students engaging in skills building while receiving real-time constant feedback and encouragement and thus becoming more comfortable. Address the topic of student (and often patient) emotional and physical discomfort regarding this sensitive and intimate exam. GTAs will teach and encourage a patient-centered. 2) PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Place of performance will be at VA hospitals: Long Beach, Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, Loma Linda, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson, and Albuquerque. Important information. The Government is not obligated to, nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The VA is mandated by Public Law 109-461 to consider a total set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside. However, if response by Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competition may be determined. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. Notice to potential offerors. All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov and complete Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Additionally, all Service- Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert), located at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov. All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail to Joshua.Villalta-Solis@va.gov. All information submissions shall be received no later than 17:00 Pacific Standard Time on Friday, October 13, 2023. After review of the responses to this announcement, the Government intends to proceed with the acquisition and a subsequent solicitation may be published.
