R--Actuarial and Modeling Support Services

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) INTRODUCTION THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation; therefore, do not submit a quote. There is no obligation for the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in developing its acquisition strategy and to revise the Statement of Work (SOW). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Only electronic responses to this RFI will be accepted. The Government will not pay for any time expended or information submitted in response to this RFI. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. BACKGROUND The VBA has a requirement for a Contractor to provide all resources necessary to deliver to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Actuarial and Modeling Support services for Estimated Liabilities of the Compensation, Pension and Burial (C&P) and Education programs. The Contractor shall be required to accomplish the deliverables described in the draft Statement of Work (SOW) listed below. NAICS: 541612 Human Resources Consulting Services, Actuarial Consulting Services (Except Insurance Actuarial Services) QUESTIONS AND CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERESTED CONTRACTORS Responses are solely treated as information for the Government to consider. Direct or Indirect costs incurred in response to this RFI are at the expense of the vendor, not the Government. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any contract that may be awarded will not be based on information received or derived from this RFI, but rather on the outcome of a subsequent competitive process. It is requested that all vendors interested in participating in this effort note their interest by responding to the areas identified in the Company Details", "Capabilities Statement , and General Questions sections below. COMPANY DETAILS The page limit for responses to this section is one page. Provide company point(s) of contact information (name, email address, address, telephone, fax numbers and DUNS number. Identify if your company are any of the following business concern statuses (include all that apply): Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB); Small Business (SB); Certified Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) firm; Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB); Economically Disadvantage Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB); Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB); Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HubZone) Small Business; Large Business Provide contracting vehicles your company holds, such as GSA schedules. CAPABILITIES STATEMENT The page limit for responses to this section is five pages. Provide an overview of your firm s capabilities to fulfill the requirements of the SOW, to include organizational and staff capability and experience. Provide a brief narrative summary of your technical approach to meet VA s high-level requirements in the draft SOW. Describe your experience in actuarial models for Other Post-Employment Benefits. Provide up to three (3) contracts that your company has performed for the same or similar requirement and of comparable size, complexity and scope. Describe scope and similarities and differences as pertinent. Identify tools that were part of your solution, emphasizing econometric and simulation tools. Please be specific and provide a complete reference to include: contract number, contract title, description, period of performance, and award amount; as well as identify whether you performed as a prime contractor, sub-contractor, teaming partner, or as a project manager. GENERAL QUESTIONS The page limit for responses in this section is one page. Provide feedback and recommend any changes to better support the requirements detailed in the SOW. RESPONSE SUBMISSION Please submit responses via email to contact@example.gov by 3:00 p.m. (ET), 17 March 2017. VA reserves the right to not reply to any emails, responses, and/or materials submitted. **DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) GENERAL INFORMATION Title of Project: Actuarial and Modeling Support Services Scope of Work: The Contractor shall provide all resources necessary to deliver to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Actuarial and Modeling Support services for Estimated Liabilities of the Compensation, Pension and Burial (C&P) and Education programs. The Contractor shall be required to accomplish the deliverables described in this statement of work (SOW). On a quarterly basis, the Contractor shall deliver to the VBA an updated memorandum that includes a future liabilities estimate based on the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 future liabilities estimate with the applicable quarterly Treasury interest rates as of December 31, 2016, March 31, 2017, and June 30, 2017, respectively. Additionally, the Contractor shall deliver to VBA complete actuarial models and a written and signed report, as of end of FY 2017, that includes all of the appropriate assumptions used. 3. Background: The VBA has a requirement to develop an updated actuarial model to project the future liabilities of the C&P and Education Programs. The current C&P model was developed to meet the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities of the Federal Government and Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates Statement No. 5 establishes accounting standards for liabilities of the federal government not covered in Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS) Number 1, Accounting for Selected Assets and Liabilities , and in SFFAS Number 2, Accounting for Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees The Statement defines liability as a probable future outflow or other sacrifice of resources as a result of past transactions or events. An excerpt from Statement No. 5 is, Pensions, other retirement benefits, and postemployment benefits The liability and associated expense for pensions and other retirement benefits (including health care) should be recognized at the time the employee s services are rendered. The expense for postemployment benefits should be recognized when a future outflow or other sacrifice of resources is probable and measurable based on events occurring on or before the reporting date. Any part of that cost unpaid at the end of period is a liability. The aggregate entry age normal actuarial cost method should be used to calculate the expense and the liability for the pension and other retirement benefits for the administrative entity financial statements, as well as the expense for the employer entity financial statements. The employer entity should recognize an expense and a liability for postemployment benefits when a future outflow or other sacrifice of resources is probable and measurable on the basis of events that have occurred as of the reporting date. Each year the VBA uses available budget, demographic, and external information to populate C&P model. The models for Education will need to be developed and enhanced. 4. Performance Period: The Contractor shall complete the work required for one year from the date of award, with four option years, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer (CO). If the Contractor proposes an earlier completion date, and the Government accepts the Contractor s proposal, the Contractor s proposed completion date should prevail. The work shall begin within five business days of the contract being awarded, unless otherwise specified. Work at the government site will not take place on Federal holidays or weekends unless directed by the CO. Type of Contract: Firm Fixed Price Place of Performance: Department of Veterans Affairs 1800 G. Street N.W. Washington, DC 20270 B. CONTRACT AWARD MEETING The Contractor shall not commence performance on the tasks in this SOW until the CO has conducted a post award review or has advised the Contractor that a post award meeting has been waived. C. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS For every task, the Contractor shall identify in writing all necessary subtasks associated costs by subtask together with associated sub-milestone dates. The Contractor s subtask structure shall be reflected in the technical proposal and detailed project management plan (PMP). All written deliverables will be phrased in layperson language. Statistical and other technical terminology will not be used without providing a glossary of terms. Where a written milestone deliverable is required in draft form, the VBA will complete a review of the draft deliverable within five business days from date of receipt. The Contractor shall have five business days from date of receipt of VBA s comments to deliver the final product. SPECIFIC MANDATORY TASKS AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERABLES Description of Tasks and Associated Deliverables: The Contractor shall provide the specific deliverables described below within the performance period stated in Section A. 4 of this SOW. Task One: The Contractor shall provide a detailed PMP and briefing for the VBA project team, presenting the Contractor s plan for completing the task order. The Contractor s plan shall outline how they will manage each aspect of the project including program oversight, meeting deliverable deadlines, keeping the PMP up to date as well as their approach to resolving conflicts in accordance with Task One of the Statement of Work. Deliverable One: A detailed PMP and briefing Task Two: The Contractor shall become familiar with the current VA C&P Actuarial and Education Model(s) developed by VA s Office of the Actuary. The Contractor should use these models or one s that perform the same functions and provides comparable results. Prior to changing to any new model, approval by VBA and the VA independent financial auditors must be attained. Deliverable Two: The Contractor shall illustrate to the VBA project team that they have a good understanding and working knowlegde with the VA C&P and Education Actuarial Models and ready to assume operation of the models in order to provide deliverables three to thirteen. Task Three: The Contractor shall update the September 30, C&P Actuarial Model using the appropriate quarter end data, interest rates and assumptions to estimate the quarterly future liabilities of the C&P Program as of December, March and June each fiscal year. Estimates should be based on prior quarter ending data amounts and the model provided to VBA Program Office no later than 5 workdays prior to the end of the quarter. Deliverable Three: a. Quarterly Updated Actuarial Model b. Quarterly Future Liabilities Memorandum. Task Four: The Contractor shall calculate the preliminary future liabilities of the C&P Program as of September 30, each fiscal year using the approved Actuarial Model. The estimates developed by the model shall meet the all actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs) and the requirements of Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities , Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates. and recommendations in the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report - GAO/AIMD-99-46. The Contractor shall develop assumptions to be used in the model using veteran data from the earliest time available to June 30 each fiscal year, (i.e., conducts an experience study). The Contractor shall build various factors into the projections based on current and historical data to estimate the experience for the C&P Program during the prior quarter (i.e., July 1 to September 30). The Contractor shall develop beneficiary population detail needed to run the model, based on June 30 data, with beneficiary status projected to September 30. This information shall include documentation of the experience study and the methods and assumptions used in the preparation of the model. The Contractor shall enhance the future C&P liability projection by conducting research and implementing, if deemed appropriate, practical standards that are in conformance with SFFAS # 5 and SFFAS #33. Following are aspects of the obligation associated with C&P benefits: the degree of disability for compensation, retroactive claims, and the relationship between Department of Defense (DOD) discharges with new awards data. The source of the current Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rate should be determined. Review the estimation of the current COLA and projection of future COLAs to ensure that the COLA captures the portion of the discount rates that represent inflation. Review of current pending workload (backlog) should be reviewed to insure that the backlogs are accurately captured by the methodology used to estimate lump sum payments. Review the structure of the current future liabilities model and make appropriate changes. Provide assistance in documenting the future liabilities, as required by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-123, Management s Responsibility for Internal Control. Deliverable Four: a. Actuarial Model b. Methods & Assumptions Report Task Five: The Contractor shall calculate the final future liabilities of the C&P Program as of September 30, each fiscal year using the Actuarial Model. The estimates developed by the model shall meet the requirements of Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities, Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates and recommendations in the GAO Report - GAO/AIMD-99-46. Changes to the preliminary amounts will be based on major program changes from the end of third quarter to the end of fourth quarter, input from VA management, input and comments from VA s Office of Inspector General and the Independent Financial Statement Auditors. Deliverable Five: a. Actuarial model for the 4th qtr. b. Future Liabilities Memorandum 4th qtr. Task Six: The Contractor shall produce a final report summarizing the development of the future liabilities of the C&P Program as of September 30, 2017. Deliverable Six: Final report on C&P future liabilities Task Seven: Develop and perform experience studies (up to 8 per year) to update pertinent C&P assumptions based on a time table agreed to by VBA. Deliverable Seven: Detailed reports on results of experience studies performed. Task Eight: The Contractor shall develop and/or enhance a model to calculate the future liability of the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs (including Chapter 35 Post 9/11 GI Bill Education program, Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation, and Chapter 35 Veteran Dependent Education), which are considered to be postemployment benefits. The estimates developed by the model shall meet the all actuarial standards and the requirements of Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities , Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates . The Contractor will use VA and non-VA data for these models and estimates and will be responsible for developing the assumptions used in the model. The Contractor will develop and perform all experience studies needed to support the estimates including those recommended by the Independent Financial Statement auditors. Deliverable Eight: Stand Alone model to estimate the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs future liability estimate. Detailed explanation of the model and functions, including assumptions. Detailed report(s) on the results of the experience studies and assumptions to support the estimate. All reports should meet actuarial standards for such studies and be auditable. Task Nine: Develop and perform experience studies (up to 4 per year) to update pertinent Rehabilitation Benefit Programs assumptions based on a time table agreed to by VBA. Deliverable Nine: Detailed reports on results of experience studies performed Task Ten: The Contractor shall update the September 30, Rehabilitation Benefit Programs Actuarial Model using the appropriate quarter end data, interest rates and assumptions to estimate the future liabilities at the end of each of the first three quarters of the fiscal year. Estimates should be based on prior quarter ending data with amounts and model provided to VBA no later than 5 workdays prior to the end of the quarter. Deliverable Ten: a. Quarterly Updated Actuarial Model b. Quarterly Future Liabilities Memorandum. Task Eleven: The Contractor shall calculate the preliminary future liabilities of the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs (RB) as of September 30 using the approved Actuarial Model. The estimates developed by the model shall meet the all actuarial standards and the requirements of Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities , Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates The Contractor shall develop assumptions to be used in the model using veteran data from the earliest time available to June 30, (i.e., does an experience study). The Contractor shall build various factors into the projections based on current and historical data to estimate the experience for the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs during the prior quarter (i.e., July 1 to September 30). The Contractor shall develop beneficiary population detail needed to run the model, based on June 30 with beneficiary status projected to September 30. This information shall include documentation of the experience study and the methods and assumptions used in the preparation. The Contractor shall enhance the future Rehabilitation Benefit Programs liability projection by conducting research and implementing, if deemed appropriate, practical standards that are in conformance with SFFAS Number 5 and SFFAS #33. The source of the current Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rate should be determined. The estimation of the current COLA and projection of future COLAs should be reviewed so that the COLAs capture the portion of the discount rates that represent inflation. A review of current pending workload (backlog) should be conducted to insure that the backlogs are accurately captured by the methodology used to estimate lump sum payments. Review the structure of future liabilities model and make appropriate changes. Provide assistance documenting the RB future liabilities, as required by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-123, Management s Responsibility for Internal Control. Deliverable Eleven: a. Actuarial Model b. Methods & Assumptions Report Task Twelve: The Contractor shall calculate the final future liabilities of the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs as of September 30. Changes to the preliminary amounts will be based on major program changes from the end of third quarter to the end of fourth quarter, input from VA management, input and comments from VA s Office of Inspector General and the Independent Financial Statement Auditors. The estimates developed by the model shall meet all actuarial standards and the requirements of Statement No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities , Statement #33 Pensions, Other Retirement Benefits, and Other Postemployment Benefits; Reporting the Gains and Losses from Changes in Assumptions and Selecting Discount Rates and Valuation Dates Deliverable Twelve: a. Final RB Actuarial model for the 4th qtr. b. Final RB Future Liabilities Memorandum 4th qtr. Task Thirteen: The Contractor shall produce a final report summarizing the development of the future liabilities of Rehabilitation Benefit Programs as of September 30. Deliverable Thirteen: Final report on Rehabilitation Benefit Programs. Task Fourteen: The Contractor will provide audit support to VBA. This support will include, but not be limited to, a walkthrough of the model with the Office of Inspector General, Independent Auditors and their actuaries, and answering any questions about the model and defending the assumptions made. Deliverable Fourteen: Audit support Task Fifteen: The Contractor shall work with VA employees or their designees to write and update standard operating procedures (SOP S) and any process narratives required for internal control purposes and for VA s independent auditors. The SOP s and narratives should be of sufficient detail to allow for a full understanding on all inputs and outputs of the model and identify key internal controls to ensure accuracy of the outputs. Deliverable Fifteen: a. Standard Operating Procedures b. Updated process narratives Task Sixteen: The Contractor shall provide monthly written progress reports within two working days following the end of the calendar month. Deliverable Sixteen: Monthly progress reports Task Seventeen: The Contractor will provide VA with a Service Organization Control (SOC) 1, Type 2 Report, prepared in accordance with Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 18, Attestation Standards, Clarification and Recodification in April 2016. - The SOC 1 Type 2 report is specifically intended to meet the needs of VA management and VA s financial statement auditors, as they evaluate the effect of the controls at the service organization on VA s financial statement assertions. - The report provides an opinion on the fairness of the presentation of management s description of the Contractor s internal control system and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of the internal controls to achieve the related control objectives included in the description throughout a specified period. The reports must cover the dates, October 1st through the end June 30th, and be provided annually by August 15th, with a bridge letter covering July 1st through September 30th due by October 5th. Deliverable Seventeen: SOC 1 Type 2 report SOC 1, Type 2 bridge letter TRAVEL Travel and per diem shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Travel must be pre-approved by the COR. Travel shall be priced separately in the price schedule. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The Government will provide access to the models, program documentation, and office space for 4-6 Contractor employees including a telephone and government issued computer. CONTRACTOR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Work Experience Minimum Experience required: 8 years actuarial experience Technical Requirement Experienced in disability insurance and other postemployment benefits, both in the public and private sectors, as well as in various social insurance programs. Experience relating to the actuarial estimation of future obligations similar to those of the C&P and VA Rehabilitation Benefit Programs. Contractors must be Members of the American Academy of Actuaries and Associate or Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Knowledgeable of the actuarial and accounting issues associated with disability, pension, social insurance and other postemployment benefit programs such as C&P and VA Rehabilitation Benefit Programs. Skill in developing of a current actuarial model used to estimate the C&P and Education liabilities for fiscal years and review of prior models to determine if enhancements are needed. Skill in determining the reliability of the experience data used as a basis of the development of assumptions underlying the estimates included in the model. Skill in developing and reviewing of actuarial liability models using various spreadsheet languages. Skill in conducting various independent tests and sensitivity analyses for the estimation of the liability of the C&P and Rehabilitation Benefit Programs. Skill in preparation of quarterly estimates of the liability associated with the C&P and Rehabilitation Benefit Programs of the VBA. Skill in developing of appropriate methodologies and experience assumptions to be used by this model based on future experience of the programs to be processed in the model. Provide auditable information on a timely basis to the auditor as required. Skill modeling and analyzing of (1) benefit trends other than COLAs, (2) new awards for the C&P and Rehabilitation Benefit Programs, (3) Compensation disability rating transition rates, and (4) retroactive awards for the C&P Programs. Knowledgeable of applicable FASAB pronouncements and interpretations affecting the methodology of the recording of the liability associated with these programs will be reviewed to determine whether the methodology used is consistent with the underlying accounting framework involved. Communication Skill in providing written and oral responses to senior level management, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Office of the Actuary (OACT), FASAB and internal and external customers relating to methodologies, assumptions, discount rates, and valuation dates. Key Personnel Skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel are essential for successful Contractor completion of the services to be performed on this contract and subsequent task orders and options. These are defined as key personnel and are those persons whose résumés were submitted. The Contractor agrees that such personnel shall not be removed, diverted or replaced from work without approval of the CO and COR. Any personnel the Contractor offers as substitutes shall have the ability and qualifications equal to or better than the key personnel are being replaced. Requests to substitute personnel shall be approved by the COR, Chief Actuary, and the CO at least 30 calendar days prior to making any change in key personnel. The request shall be written and provide a detailed explanation of the change circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution. The Contractor shall submit a complete résumé for the proposed substitute, and any other information requested by the COR needed to approve or disapprove the proposed substitution. The COR will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the Contractor of approval or disapproval thereof in writing. Attachment A Schedule of Deliverables Deliverable No. Item Quantity Delivery Date One A detailed PMP and briefing 5 (Original plus 4) Within 10 business days after award Two Written certification that the Contractor is fully trained on the VA C&P actuarial model and ready to assume all the operation of the model in order to provide deliverables three to six. 5 (Original plus 4) Within 45 business days after PMP and briefing Three Quarterly updated C&P Actuarial Model based on quarter end data and Memorandum on Future Liabilities. 5 (Original plus 4) 7 days prior to the end of each quarter Four Actuarial Model and Methods & Assumptions Report based on the preliminary future liabilities of the C&P Program as of September 30th. 5 (Original plus 4) July 31, 2017 and 31 July on all exercised option years Five Final Actuarial Model and Methods & Assumptions Report based on the final future liabilities of the C&P Program. 5 (Original plus 4) September 1, 2017 and Sept 1 on all exercised option years Six Final report on C&P future liabilities. 5 (Original plus 4) October 1, 2017 and Oct 1 on all exercised option years Seven Detailed reports on the results of experience studies performed on C&P future liabilities model. 5 (Original plus 4) TBD or as determined by the auditors Eight Fully functional model to estimate the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs future estimate liability estimate with a detailed explanation of the model and it functions, to include any assumptions. Also, a detailed report(s) on the results of the experience studies and assumptions to support the estimate. 5 (Original plus 4) Within 45 business days after PMP and briefing Nine Detailed reports on the results of experience studies performed on Rehabilitation Benefit Programs future liabilities model. 5 (Original plus 4) TBD or as determined by the auditors Ten Quarterly Updated Actuarial Model for the Rehabilitation Benefit Programs. 5 (Original plus 4) 7 workdays before the end of the quarter Eleven Actuarial Model and Methods & Assumptions Report based on the preliminary future liabilities of the Rehabilitation Benefit Program as of September 30. 5 (Original plus 4) July 31, 2017 and July 31 on all exercised option years Twelve Final Actuarial Model and Methods & Assumptions Report based on the final future liabilities of the Rehabilitation Benefit Program. 5 (Original plus 4) September 1, 2017 and Sept 1 on all exercised option years Thirteen Final report on Rehabilitation Benefit future liabilities. 5 (Original plus 4) October 1st, 2017 And Oct 1 on all exercised option years Fourteen Audit support 5 (Original plus 4) TBD or as needed Fifteen Standard Operating procedures Updated process narratives 5 (Original plus 4) TBD or as needed Sixteen Monthly progress reports required for internal control requirements. 5 (Original plus 4) 2 business days following the end of the month Seventeen Service Organization Control (SOC) 1 report and the SOC 1 bridge letter. 5 (Original plus 4) August 15, 2017 and bridge letter October 5, 2017 and Aug 15 and Oct 5 on all exercised option years Attachment B VA Information and Information System Security/Privacy Requirements General All Contractors and Contractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal security and privacy laws, regulations, standards and VA policies as VA, including the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, and VA personnel, regarding information and information system security. Contractors must follow policies and procedures outlined in VA Directive 6500, Information Security Program; and VA Handbook 6500.6, Contract Security which are available at: http://www1.va.gov/vapubs and its handbooks to ensure appropriate security controls are in place. Access to VA Information and VA Information Systems VA will supply the Contractor with the minimum logical (technical) and/or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for employees, sub-Contractors: (1) to perform the services specified in the contract, (2) to perform necessary maintenance functions for electronic storage or transmission media necessary for performance of the contract, and (3) for individuals who first satisfy the same conditions, requirements, and restrictions that comparable VA employees must meet to have access to the same type of VA information. All Contractors and sub-Contractors working with VA Sensitive Information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of regular VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level of background security investigation will be in accordance with VA Directive 0710, Handbook 0710, which are available at: http://www1.va.gov/vapubs, and VHA Directive 0710 and Implementation Handbook 0710.01, which are available at: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/index.cfm. Contractors are responsible for screening their employees. The following are VA's approved policy exceptions for meeting VA background screenings/investigative requirements for certain types of Contractor personnel: Contractor personnel not accessing VA information resources, such as personnel hired to maintain the medical facility grounds, construction contracts, utili...