Updated Q&A: USDA FS Clinician support services for Great Onyx JCCC

This contract solicitation, numbered 1282A726Q0057, is a Firm-Fixed-Price, Total Small Business Set-Aside for clinician support services at the USDA Forest Service’s Great Onyx Job Corps Conservation Center in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. The period of performance runs from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, with a potential six-month option for extension, and requires the contractor to provide clinical care including mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and nursing services to students aged 16–24. The work is governed by a Performance Work Statement and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, with mandatory staffing levels of 98% for key clinical roles and 98% equipment availability. Personnel must be licensed, insured, and pass criminal background and drug screenings, with key positions such as Mental Health Counselors, Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counselors, and Nurses requiring prior approval from the Department of Labor for hiring or substitution. The contractor must comply with all federal regulations including 20 CFR Part 684, Section 508 accessibility standards, and the Service Contract Labor Standards, while also adhering to strict security protocols and federal holiday closures. All deliverables must be free of discriminatory practices, compliant with DEI requirements under Executive Order 14168 and the AGAR clause 452.203-71, and must not involve use or disclosure of government-held student records beyond contractual limits. The solicitation requires electronic submission via email to Dennis Cantrell by July 27, 2026, and is restricted to small businesses under NAICS code 561990 with a size standard of $16.5 million in average annual receipts. Offerors must be registered in SAM, possess a UEI, and certify compliance with numerous FAR clauses covering ethical conduct, whistleblower protections, trafficking in persons, labor standards, Buy American provisions, and cybersecurity safeguards including the safeguarding of federal information systems. Technical capability and past performance are the primary evaluation factors, weighted more heavily than price, with award based on best value. Payment is administered by the Job Corps AQM office in Lakewood, Colorado, subject to the Contracting Officer’s final approval, and is contingent on full compliance with all performance metrics and regulatory requirements. The contractor must maintain continuous service, submit incident reports promptly, update standard operating procedures annually, and ensure all electronic systems and documentation