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

This solicitation, numbered 1282A726Q0048, seeks clinician support services for the Oconaluftee Job Corps Conservation Center in Cherokee, North Carolina, under a Total Small Business Set-Aside for NAICS code 561990, with a size standard of $16.5 million in annual revenue. The contract is a firm-fixed-price award with a 12-month base period from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, and includes a potential six-month option extension under FAR 52.217-8. The primary requirement is the provision of drug/alcohol counseling services, totaling 1,040 hours during the base period, with key personnel including certified mental health and drug/alcohol counselors who must hold active, unrestricted state licenses, carry professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence, have a minimum of one year of experience working with adolescents and young adults, and pass criminal background checks and drug testing as required. All contractor personnel are subject to personal identity verification and must comply with center-specific security protocols, including secure handling of controlled substances and adherence to federal holidays and absence notification policies. The scope is governed by a Performance Work Statement, monitored by a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, with performance measured against strict metrics including a 98% staffing fill rate, 98% equipment availability, and 95–98% compliance thresholds for critical deliverables such as incident reporting and program documentation. Compliance with 20 CFR Part 684, Section 508, and Department of Labor guidelines is mandatory, and contractors must support annual updates to wellness and operating procedures. Evaluation is conducted under a best-value tradeoff approach, where technical capability—specifically the offeror’s capacity for successful performance and past performance record—outweighs price, which becomes decisive only when proposals are technically equivalent. Proposals must be submitted via email to Dennis Cantrell by July 27, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. PT, and must include required representations regarding small business status, Unique Entity ID, SAM registration, and compliance with clauses covering whistleblower rights, contractor ethics, trafficking in persons, subcontracting, and prohibited payments. The Government retains final authority for acceptance through its Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative, and contractors assume full responsibility for delivery under FOB Destination terms to the specified site. No