Training and Advocacy Support Cemter

The Program Support Center on behalf of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) intends to negotiate and award a contract to the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 as set forth in 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) administers programs under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights (DD) Act of 2000. The purpose of this proposed contract action is to continue technical assistance to the 57 State Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems whose mission is to protect the human and civil rights and interests of individuals with disabilities, including developmental disabilities and mental illness. The goal of this assistance is to improve program performance (increase self-advocacy and build capacity), statutory compliance and program outcomes across the state P&A systems. This contract will enable technical assistance to the P&A Agencies that protect the interests of individuals with cognitive, mental and physical disabilities. This technical assistance covers a wide array of training, consultation, information dissemination, best practices and capacity building, and legal and advocacy-based training. Work to be performed by the contractor falls into the following general categories: (1) Network and brokerage of expertise for the Protection & Advocacy systems; (2) Development and implementation of legal and advocacy training; (3) Resource material development and delivery of on-site and off-site training/technical assistance, including nationally organized training conference; (4) Preparation of Annual Program Performance Reports (PPRs) to the Congress; and, (5) Information gathering and preparation of periodic reports to meet the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). Specific tasks to be performed by the contractor include meeting with the COTR and Federal Partners; developing and maintaining a work plan; conducting an annual assessment of the training/technical assistance needs of each P&A and delegate agency including an analysis of the results of past assessments; maintaining and updating a file of technical and other resource providers related to P&A training/technical assistance; provide and/or broker information on support and advocacy activities; provide training to P&A affiliated individuals and to P&A agencies to improve protection and advocacy services; provide logistical support for national training/technical assistance conferences; establish a Project Advisory Committee and provide Advisory Committee Meetings; provide technical assistance to P&As; facilitate collaboration among the Developmental Disabilities Network, the Mental Health Advocacy Network and other relevant disability organizations including consumer organizations; establish and maintain communication with relevant national public and private disability and mental health programs and agencies in order to facilitate the transfer of disabilities information; provide training/technical assistance to P&As in the areas of quality assurance, community integration, management, administrative, fiscal, legal, and advocacy issues; provide P&As with a variety of off-site support advice and consultation; assist Federal Partners with support on and studies of accountability issues. NDRN is the only known source for the services outlined above. NDRN is the 57 P&As national membership organization, responsible for informing and assisting the P&A networks and supporting instruction and communication among the P&As. NDRN is the P&A centralized repository for training and technical assistance information, materials, and conferences for all of the federally mandated P&A programs. The P&As have the same mission, but face different circumstances in each State and Territory; training and technical assistance is individualized. As the only established P&A technical assistance coordinator with nationwide reach, NDRN performs many training/technical assistance functions, including but not limited to: dissemination of information to over 3,500 personnel located in the 57 P&A projects. NDRN acts as a liaison with P&A staff by facilitating the exchange of information; increasing P&A effectiveness and outcomes by promoting standards; and by conducting training events on current disability, legal and advocacy issues. No other entity has NDRN's wealth of knowledge regarding the operations, issues, training needs, and the ability to reach over 15,000 individuals with disabilities annually as well as curricula pertinent to the network of P&A organizations. NDRN has credibility in the field of P&A systems, promoting and strengthening the role and performance of its members by providing quality legally-based advocacy services. NDRN's unique capabilities include its intrinsic knowledge of P&A case law, P&A management issues, and methods to increase the effectiveness of these agencies in advocating for the rights of eligible individuals as defined under the respective legislations to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies and approaches. Additionally, NDRN is the only organization with the required resources and competencies capable of providing assistance to all 57 State and U.S. Territory P&A projects without significant delay and duplication of effort and cost. The period of performance for the contract shall be a base year plus four option years. Any contractors that may have the requisite qualifications to perform the work describe above, should submit a statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the Government's requirements. The statement of capabilities must specifically demonstrate the following: (1) demonstrated experience in providing legal and advocacy-based training to the Protection and Advocacy Systems; (2) demonstrated experience with managing multiple advocacy systems on a national basis; (3) demonstrated experience in conducting workshops and conferences; (4) demonstrated experience with Protection and Advocacy Systems measurement of outcomes and reporting processes; (5) ability to provide staff that has proven successful academic and professional work experiences in the field of developmental, emotional and other significant disabilities; proven ability to direct and mange projects of this magnitude including accounting/bookkeeping; proven experience in providing and coordinating training and technical assistance activities; and proven experience in managing contracts or programs for training and technical assistance as a project director. No solicitation document is currently available. Capability statements and other responses to this notice must be submitted within 15 days of the publication of this synopsis to the contact point and address given in this synopsis. If no capability statements are received which specifically demonstrate the requirements above, the Government intends to proceed with a sole source contract to NDRN.