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

This contract solicits clinician support services for the USDA Forest Service’s Timber Lake Job Corps Conservation Center in Estacada, Oregon, under a Firm-Fixed-Price arrangement with a one-year performance period from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, with a potential six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8. The services include daily provision of mental health counseling, nursing, and substance abuse support for a student population of 100 to 300, operating Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with flexibility as needed. All work must comply with 20 CFR Part 684, Job Corps Health & Wellness Guidelines, Section 508 accessibility standards, OSHA, and OWCP/ECOMP protocols. The contract requires two registered nurses and one drug/alcohol counselor, with services priced in hours, though no specific dollar values are provided. The solicitation is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 561990 with a $16.5 million size standard and requires all offerors to be registered in SAM.gov with a valid UEI and CAGE code. Key personnel must hold active state licenses, have at least one year of adolescent-focused experience, carry $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate professional liability insurance, and satisfy background checks and drug testing as required. All student records and reports are government property, and contractors must comply with USDA PIV policies, including HSPD-12 and LincPass eligibility. Security requires controlled substances and medical supplies to be stored per federal, state, and local regulations, and all contractor space and equipment must adhere to center security procedures. The government will evaluate proposals based on Technical Capability and Past Performance as the most important factor, followed by Price, using a best value tradeoff approach where superior technical merit can outweigh lower pricing. Performance is monitored through a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan with strict acceptable quality levels: 98% for resource availability, 95% for staffing coverage, and 100% for timely and accurate reporting. The contracting officer’s representative will conduct inspections at the performance site, and acceptance is tied to substantial completion of deliverables. Offerors must submit electronic proposals via email by July 27, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. PT, to Dennis Cantrell, and must comply with numerous FAR clauses addressing whistleblower rights