Updated Q&A:USDA FS clinician support services for Anaconda JCCC

The USDA Forest Service is soliciting clinician support services for the Anaconda Job Corps Conservation Center in Anaconda, Montana, under solicitation number 1282A726Q0044, with a firm-fixed-price contract structure and a base performance period from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027. This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 561990, restricted to small businesses meeting the $16.5 million size standard, with additional emphasis on HUBZone and service-disabled veteran-owned small business participation. The contract requires the provision of qualified clinical personnel including a Center Mental Health Counselor, a Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counselor, and a Registered Nurse, each subject to stringent licensing, background check, drug testing, and professional liability insurance requirements. All personnel must receive prior approval from the Department of Labor before appointment or substitution, and any changes to staffing must be formally authorized via bilateral modification. Services are to be delivered at the Anaconda center during standard operating hours, with a critical requirement for 98% staffing and resource availability, 100% compliance with quality control plans and monthly reporting, and adherence to all federal, state, and Job Corps-specific health, security, and regulatory standards including 20 CFR Part 684, Section 508, and controlled substance protocols. The contract incorporates numerous Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses mandating compliance with labor standards, employment eligibility verification, paid sick leave under Executive Order 13706, drug-free workplace policies, sustainability requirements, Buy American provisions, and cybersecurity safeguards including Basic Safeguarding of Contractor Information Systems. Offerors must maintain active SAM.gov registration, provide current UEI and CAGE codes, and certify compliance with anti-discrimination and DEI requirements under newly updated clauses including 452.203-71 and 52.222-90. Payment will be made via electronic funds transfer, with invoices requiring COR approval and submitted to the designated address, and the government retains authority to extend the contract for an additional six months at its discretion under FAR 52.217-8. Evaluation will follow a best-value tradeoff process where technical capability—including demonstrated past performance and ability to meet performance metrics—is the dominant factor over price, with risk assessments conducted using adjectival ratings of acceptable, unacceptable, or neutral. FOB Destination terms apply, and all performance