SHELTER CARE FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) are seeking a qualified business to perform the following requirement. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts or quotations. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. HHS WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. This Notice is issued solely for information and market research purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP. Furthermore, those who respond to this Notice should not anticipate feedback with regard to its submission. This Notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. ORR is not at this time seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the interested parties' expense. Not responding to this Notice does not preclude participation in any future RFP. BACKGROUND: On March 1, 2003, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 462, transferred responsibilities for the care and placement of unaccompanied children from the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to ORR. Since then, ORR has incorporated child welfare values as well as the principles and provisions established by the Flores Agreement in 1997, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its reauthorization acts, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2005 and 2008. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides temporary shelter care and other related services to unaccompanied children (UC), in ORR's custody. Shelter care services begin once ORR accepts a child for placement and ends when the minor is released from ORR's custody. Shelter care and other related services are provided in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the child's age and special needs. In the spring of 2015, ORR awarded multiple IDIQ contracts for unique service areas to support UC shelter care needs at temporary influx shelters. The market research obtained from this notice will help ORR obtain identify potential sources capable of providing the services required to a temporary influx of unaccompanied children. In preparation for future influxes of unaccompanied children, ORR seeks information that it may use to develop options for contract surge capacity to shelter and care for these children on a time-limited and expandable basis as needed. Due to the nature of unaccompanied children arrivals, ORR seeks sources for a contract vehicle that is flexible, cost-efficient, and comprehensive operations of ORR identified locations. There is a potential for multiple locations to be simultaneously operational, within 30 business days, with a combined capacity to serve up to 5,000 unaccompanied children, 13-17 years of age. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: ORR requests information that it may use to develop options for indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts to provide for an indefinite quantity of the specified services for a fixed time. The potential competition and award of a five-year (base year plus four option years) IDIQ contract could provide comprehensive surge capabilities for future influx of children and should provide for appropriate cost/pricing arrangements by the award of task order for services on an as-needed basis. Due to the nature of unaccompanied children arrivals, ORR seeks sources for a contract vehicle that is flexible, cost-efficient, and could provide the following services on a regional basis throughout the United States. Below are the components required for shelter operations: Staffing to provide the following: o Management and coordination of shelter operations and ensures compliance with ORR policies (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/children-entering-the-united-states-unaccompanied). o Line-of-sight supervision of children at all times. o Case management services, facilitate safe and timely discharge of UC from custody and maintain documentation in accordance with federal requirements. o Conduct mental health assessments, human trafficking screening, crisis intervention and individual and group counseling services. o On-site medical clearance, triage and administer vaccinations. o Escort UC for discharge or to other facilities, medical appointments, community services and court appearances. o Educational services in adherence to ORR requirements. o Training for staff on ORR policies and procedures governing the care and placement of UC. Support Services: o Nutritional services in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture and HHS nutritional guidelines. This includes accommodation of dietary restrictions, food allergies, health issues, and religious or spiritual dietary requirements. o Maintenance and facility preparation including linens and laundry, recreational equipment and custodial services. Also fencing for the property, painting and building repairs, industrial cleaning, addressing non-ADA compliance factors, and other preparations needed to accommodate the sheltering of children in the facilities. Depending on the needs of the facility, services could include portable toilets and hand washing stations, mobile trailers for offices. o Security services including unarmed security guards and any equipment, such as closed-circuit television networks and communication devices as directed by the government. o Clothing, hygiene kits and medical supplies for UC. o Transportation services, ground and air for the purpose of discharging UC from custody as well as to appointments, such as medical and dental appointments, immigration court hearings, or community services. INFORMATION SOUGHT AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Isaac Bellamy at Isaac.Bellamy@psc.hhs.gov. Responses shall be received electronically in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF on or before November 9, 2016 at 3:00 PM (EST). Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. Each response should also include the following Business Information: 1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and FAX numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. 2. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses. 3. Business size for NAICS 624230 (size standard $ or number of employees) and status, if qualified as an 8(a) firm (must be certified by SBA), Small Disadvantaged Business (must be certified by SBA), Woman-Owned Small Business, HUBZone firm (must be certified by SBA), and/or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (must be listed in the VetBiz Vendor Information Pages). 4. DUNS number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number, and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the Systems for Award Management (SAM, at www.sam.gov) to be considered as potential sources. 5. Identification of the firm's Strategic Sourcing contracts (i.e. GSA Schedule, GWAC) listed by contract number and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement are also requested. 6. Provide documentation that demonstrates the ability to perform the requirements listed in the statement of work section of this Sources Sought Notice. 7. Identification of the firm's Past Performance Information. Demonstrate past experience on at least three (3) similar projects consistent in scope OR size OR complexity and were performed within five years. Also, provide the specifics below: a. Contract number b. Contract title c. Point of Contact (name, phone number and email address) d. Brief Description of work performed e. Overall Value of contract The maximum number of pages for submission is 5 pages (excluding cover page, resumes, and other appendices). NOTE: If capability statements exceed the 5 page limitation, all pages beyond the 5 page limit will be removed and will not be included in the review process. DISCLAIMER AND INFORMATION NOTES This notice does not obligate the government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information submitted. After a review of the responses a solicitation may be published in the Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.