Updated Q&A:USDA FS Clinician support services for Jacobs Creek JCCC

This solicitation, numbered 1282A726Q0045, seeks clinician support services for the Jacobs Creek Job Corps Center in Bristol, Tennessee, under a firm-fixed-price contract with a one-year performance period from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, with a potential six-month option. The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 561990, with a size standard of $16.5 million in average annual receipts, and is specifically targeted toward women-owned small businesses. The scope involves providing comprehensive clinical services including staffing registered nurses and mental health counselors to support up to 300 students daily, ensuring services are available Monday through Friday during standard hours and maintaining 98% equipment and staffing availability. All personnel must hold active, unrestricted state licenses, carry minimum liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence, undergo background checks and possible drug testing, and be pre-approved by the Department of Labor. The contractor must comply with 20 CFR Part 684, Section 508 accessibility standards, OSHA, and other federal health and safety regulations, while all records and data generated are government property. The evaluation will prioritize technical capability and past performance over price under a best-value tradeoff process, with submissions required by July 27, 2026, via email to Dennis Cantrell at USDA Forest Service. Key requirements include full compliance with FAR 52.2 clauses covering subcontracting, labor standards, trafficking in persons, cybersecurity, employee whistleblower rights, and ethical conduct, including adherence to the contractor code of business ethics and prohibition of internal confidentiality agreements that suppress reporting. The Health and Wellness Director and Contracting Officer’s Representative will oversee performance using a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan with defined acceptable quality levels for staffing, reporting accuracy, and resource availability. The Government retains authority to modify clinical hours based on student population, and substitutions of key personnel require prior national and regional approval. All subcontractors must flow down applicable clauses, and the contractor is prohibited from imposing unenforceable terms on the Government, including indemnification or restricted use rights. Payment and invoicing procedures will follow standard government channels with no specific system named, and the contractor must maintain SAM registration, provide a UEI, and certify compliance with all socioeconomic, labor, and environmental regulations.