U--Two speakers conducting training on Assessing and Managing Suicidality with focus on homeless with specialization in the "New Theory of Suicidal Behavior".

INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE As prescribed in FAR 6.302-1, unique services are available from only one source or one supplier with unique capabilities. VISN 9 intends to solicit and award on a sole source basis to Washington Psychological Center. The Network Contracting Activity, Murfreesboro office intends to acquire two speakers to conduct training on assessing and managing suicidality with focus on homeless Veterans. These aforementioned individuals are needed to fill the need of increasing our awareness of how to best recognize, understand, and cope with the problem of suicidality with the homeless Veterans. The conference needs to benefit Robley Rex VAMC Homeless Staff and other Mental Health staff at the VAMC in addition to key VISN staff. The primary objective is for the contractor to provide: 1. Facts about the epidemiology and risk factors for death by suicide, 2. Suicide myths, 3. **New theory of suicidal behavior and how it helps to dismantle myths about suicide, and 4. Anecdotal, clinical, and scientific evidence that evaluates this new theory. ** The New Theory was created by Dr. Joiner and he is the creator of the "new theory of suicidal behavior" (Interpersonal Theory of Suicide) and is the author of all current books on this topic, as well as on the myths about suicide. Dr. David Jobes will be presenting the knowledge and insight convening anecdotal, clinical, and scientific evidence that evaluates this theory. Dr. Jones will present : 1. Approaches to suicide risk assessment, 2. Developments in the treatment of suicidal behavior, and 3. Developments in suicide prevention focusing on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). Dr. Jobes is the creator and author if the CAMS approach and has authored numerous articles concerning different aspects of this assessment and treatment framework. Dr. Jobes serves in clinical practice where he is able to regularly ise the assessment and treatment skills he researches and teaches. In addition, he serves on numerous editorial boards and manages multiple sources of external funding in ongoing research projects in the area of suicide assessment and treatment. He is a foremost authority in this area brining knowledge and expertise help by other individual. These two trainers are experts in theory field and offer a unique perspective/theory, on suicide and homeless Veterans. Dr. Joiners and Jobes are both nationally known to be the foremost experts in suicidality and especially the occurrences within the military and Veteran populations. They have developed most of the current validated risk assessment tools that are being adapted for use in the VA. There are no other known trainers with this specialized knowledge and skills. Any response to this request must be submitted by August 24th, 2011. This notice is not an intent for competitive quotes. Any offeror that responds to this intent to sole source must provide their capabilities and evidence that is comparable to this description described above. Telephone requests will not be honored. The placement of a firm fixed price contract. The Period of Performance is 26 August 2011. The applicable NAICS code is 621330, size standard $7.0 million. Contracting Office Address: Network Contracting Activity, VISN 9, 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 400, Murfreesboro TN 37129 Point of Contact(s): Alanna Crawford - Contract Specialist