NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Wound Treatment Associate Program Certification Preparation Veterans Health Affairs, Network Contracting Office 5, is issuing this Notice of Intent to Sole Source in order to identify any potential sources that have the resources and capabilities to provide The WTA course shall be completed over a four-month period, starting on a mutually agreed upon date which will mark the start of the four-month period. All participants are required to successfully pass a comprehensive written exam with a score of 70% or higher. Participants that successfully complete the course and pass the exam are eligible to apply for certification through the WOCN certifying board, (www.wocncb.org). Successful completion of the WTA course is required in order to qualify to take the WTA certification examination through the WOCN certifying board. The WTA course CEs are valid for 5 years. WTA certification through the certifying board is active for 5 years. BACKGROUND The Wound Treatment Associate Program Certification Preparation is a certification course that will allow participates that successfully complete the course with a 70% or higher to apply for the certification through WOCN certifying board, which is valid for 5 years. SCOPE Staff nurse education for wound prevention and treatment: Wound Treatment Associate Program. Contractor shall be licensed providers of the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society s (WOCN) Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program, shall coordinate the education and training of nurses using the WTA program. Nurse participants will be selected by the VA program manager The WTA course shall be completed over a four-month period. Cost: For each participant, the Wound Treatment Associate Program consists of 14 online modules, one WTA Manual per participant, one onsite 8 hour applied learning day which consists of case study review, competency validation of required skills and exam review. Participants must successfully complete two online exams (Part 1 multiple choice and Part 2 case studies). . DELIVERABLES Wound Treatment Associate Certification Contractor shall provide access to WTA program online training modules to each candidate using email addresses that are provided by the candidates. Contractor shall monitor progress at least weekly or more often, communicate progress using emails and provide weekly written progress reports to individuals designated by the VA administration and to WTA program participants. Contractor coordinators shall promptly answer questions from WTA participants via phone, email or text. Contractor shall facilitate and provide email orientation to the program, assistance with signing into the program and a one-day (8.0 hour) on-site Applied Learning Day which is a mandatory component of the course. The Applied Learning Day location will be provided by the VA organization and must be attended by all WTA participants. This day will include validating the participants skills in 4 out of 6 required competencies including Semmes Weinstein monofilament testing, ankle brachial index measurement, application of compression bandages for the treatment of venous disease, application of negative pressure wound therapy, prevention of pressure injuries using Braden risk scores and identification of wound types). In addition to hands-on skills, two case studies and a practice exam review is completed in preparation for the online final exams. As required by the course, Contractor shall provide access to the WTA final exams to participants who have completed the 14 modules and attended the Applied Learning Day. Candidates will provide working email addresses. This email address will be used to send an invitation to participate in the WTA program. Once the email invitation is received by the participants they will be directed to and sign up for the WTA program using the Wound Ostomy Continence Society s website at www.wocn.org Candidates will have access to on-line live help in the event of technical difficulties. They will be encouraged to use the Live Help button or promptly notify the WTA coordinators in the event of technical difficulties. Candidates will order their WTA Manuals which are included with the course. The VA organization will assign an individual to serve as a contact and facilitator who will collaborate with the Contractor coordinators. The VA organization will provide email access to participants. The VA organization will provide the location for the Applied Learning day and arrange for participants to be able to attend. Successful completion of the program is achieved when participants complete all 14 modules, attend the applied learning day, achieve an average grade of 70% or higher on the final exams and complete the course evaluation. After successfully completing the course, each participant will be able to print a continuing education certificate for 32.25 American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) continuing education credits. In the event a participant does not successfully pass the exams, additional remediation and up to two make up final exams are administered. . PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Martinsburg VA Medical Center 510 Butler Avenue Martinsburg, WV25405 (304) 263-0811 INTERESTED & CAPABLE RESPONSES NCO 5 is seeking responses from businesses that are interested in this procurement and consider themselves to have the resources, rights, and capabilities necessary to provide these services. Please respond with your: Business name Business type Socio-economic status (e.g., Veteran-Owned, Woman-Owned, Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), etc.) Person of contact (including telephone number & email address) GSA Contract number if applicable DUNS number Capability statement Responses must be submitted by 1:00 PM (EDT) April 01, 2020. Responses to the information requested above may be submitted via email to mark.smith25@va.gov DISCLAIMERS This Notice of Intent to Sole Source does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e). Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses incurred associated with responding to this RFI. This Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source is for planning purposes ONLY. The results of this notice will assist in the development of (1) the requirement, and (2) the acquisition strategy (e.g., small business set-aside, full and open competition, etc.). VA assumes no responsibility for any costs incurred associated with the preparation of responses submitted as a result of this notice.
