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Contract Opportunity

This is a Sources Sought only. As part of its Market Research, NCO 21 is issuing this RFI to determine if there exists an adequate number of qualified interested contractors capable of providing driver rehabilitation services as further described in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Government may use the responses to this RFI for information and planning purposes. The draft PWS describes only the currently contemplated possible scope of work and may vary from the work scope in a final PWS included in any Request for Quote (RFQ). The contractor will be providing driver rehabilitation services for the Las Vegas VA Medical Center, 6900 N Pecos Rd, North Las Vegas NV, 89086.

There is no solicitation document as this time. The NAICS is 621340 Offices of Physical Occupational and Speech Therapists and Audiologists, with Small Business size of $12.5M. NOTE: Please ensure that System For Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) indicates this NAICS code if you are interested in the requirement.
Only firms seriously interested and truly capable should send their information and/or capability statement and any questions by email to brandy.gastinell@va.gov no later than 2PM Pacific Time, December 21, 2023.
If interested, please provide the following information. Failure to provide the following information completely and accurately may result in a determination that your company is not a viable source:
Name of Company
Point of Contact Name, phone number, and email address
DUNS number
Socio-economic status such as Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, VOSB, Women-Owned Small Business, etc. should be included. SDVOSB/VOSB status will be verified using VetBiz.
Capability statements that include the following:
Identify geographical areas your company currently services?
Approximately how many current employees do you have in the service area(s)?
Indicate prior experience for same/similar service in these geographical areas. If the experience is through government contract, please identify the contract number.
Are you a certified and authorized vendor to perform driver rehabilitation services?
If you will rely on a subcontractor to assist with performance, please clearly identify what functions your company will perform versus those of the subcontractor(s). When responding to the preceding questions, avoid using teaming language, e.g. Team ABC has 20 years of experience or Team ABC has placed 15,000 staff. Clearly identify what functions/experience/resources your company has and will be able to perform independently of a subcontractor. Ambiguous responses that lack clarity will affect the Contracting Officer s ability to determine if your company is a viable source for this requirement.

Before responding please carefully read and consider the following:

As this is a service acquisition, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Acquisition Regulation have a Limitations on Subcontracting requirement. For all small businesses, to include SDVOSB and VOSB, At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern. See FAR 52.219-14 and FAR 52.219-27 available in full text at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/52_217_221.html

The Service Contract Act will apply.

Please see the DRAFT Performance Work Statement attached for further details.
DISCLAIMER
This Sources Sought notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this request that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. The Government will not compensate an offeror for providing information in response to this sources sought. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to cancel this requirement at its discretion. This is simply a sources sought notice.


Performance Work Statement
DRIVER REHABILITATION SERVICES

Driver rehabilitation for the disabled, within the Department of Veterans Affairs, is designed to provide professional evaluation and instruction for eligible Veterans in the safe, competent utilization of special add on equipment, and mastery of specific skills and techniques to effectively drive a motor vehicle, independently, and in accordance with Nevada State Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) regulations.

The following objectives are to be accomplished:

The patient will acquire specific knowledge in all areas of the driver training course including didactic theory and practical experience.
Psychomotor improvements in handling segments of the driver training task will be noted by comparison of function before and after completion of the training course.
The patient will maximize independence in all aspects of driving.
Supporting adaptive equipment will enable patients to mainstream themselves into society.
Driver Rehabilitation services shall be provided in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract. The price shall include all necessary travel time, mileage charges, per diem to and from the contractor s place of business or residence, and use of adaptive equipment for driver evaluation and training.

REQUIREMENTS/SCOPE:

Service will be performed at a location of convenience for the patient. Driving evaluation and training will be performed in the Certified Drivers Rehabilitation Specialist s, (CDRS) car, as long as the car meets the minimum State insurance requirements.
Leave will not be covered by the VA (i.e., sick leave, vacation, and holiday).
If the contractor lives outside of the Clark County area, all costs associated with travel, transportation, lodging or any other miscellaneous expenses related to this work shall be the sole responsibility of the contractor.

SPECIFIC TASKS:

General Duties:

The contracted driving rehabilitation specialist shall perform services, which include, but are not limited to the following:

The contract driver rehabilitation specialist s primary functions will be skilled care for VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) Veterans who require specialized evaluation, training, and equipment to be successful and safe drivers.

The individual driver rehabilitation specialist must possess:

Special abilities and technical skills related to the provision of driver rehabilitation services.
A medical rehabilitation background.

Knowledge of residuals of traumatic and non-traumatic disabilities; and

Special experience in order to evaluate and determine physical limitations of the Veteran with disabilities and the following modalities (i.e., hand controls, lifts, specialty adaptive driving systems, etc.)

The individual driver rehabilitation specialist must maintain a current knowledge of:

Technological advances in adaptive equipment and high-tech driving systems;

Changes in automotive design; and

Other factors which may influence an individual s capacity to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The Contractor and its personnel are expected to comply with all mandated standards and requirements.

Functions:

Clinical

Provide accurate reports for all evaluation and training.

Report requirements:
Interview:
Driving History
Current needs/goals
Usual driving conditions
Medical history

Clinical Evaluation includes:

Vision. Portable vision devices provide an evaluation of certain vision factors necessary to perform a safe driving task. Equipment must be available to measure the following: visual acuity, color perception, field of vision, depth perception, glare recovery, and night vision.

Reaction Time. A device is used to measure reaction time from acceleration to braking.

Cognitive and Perceptional Screening. In screening of basic cognitive and perceptional motor materials, identification and/or verification of a potential problem must be referred to the appropriate professional for a more in-depth evaluation.

Neuromotor Assessment. This is a physical assessment of range of motion, strength, sensation, coordination, and endurance.

Automobile Accessibility. Transfer in/out of vehicle and stowing of mobility aides (wheelchair, walker, etc). Operation of equipment (headlights, turn signals, gear selector, etc).

Behind-the-Wheel Assessment

Basic state driving laws

Maneuverability in various types of traffic environments.

Driving behaviors such as: anxiety, confusion, distractibility, impulsivity.

Mental fatigue

Access

Contractor to contact patient within 30 days of initial consult or document justification of inability to reach patient. Patient contact information to be released to contractor via release of information signed by Veteran. Failure to comply with reasonable time frame will result in decrease in compensation rate for initial evaluation by 10% of negotiated cost.

Administrative

Documentation of Clinical Chart. The patient s progress must be documented in the medical record via scanned reports from the driving rehabilitation specialist from time of initial evaluation and/or assessment until completion of the driver rehabilitation training. The provider will fax or mail records to Contracting Officer Representative within 4 business days of no show , Veteran declination of service, or evaluation/driver training to have documents scanned into the Veteran s electronic medical record. The provider will not have access to the VA medical records. Documentation must be in compliance with VA medical facility policy and be in compliance with appropriate accreditation standards.

Organizational Relationship

The CDRS will perform services under the oversight of the VA Chief, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services or his/her designee.

Routine work shall be performed without supervision and the CDRS will be required to perform duties on their own initiative.

The CDRS shall act in a thoroughly professional manner at all times. They shall work in harmony with other members of VA Staff where they are working. Tact and courtesy are mandatory when interacting with patients and staff.

Services

The services specified herein may be changed by written modification to this contract. The VA Contracting Officer will prepare the modification.

The services to be performed shall be performed in accordance with VA policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Prior to performing any work under this contract the qualifications of the contract driving rehabilitation specialist must be submitted to the VA Chief, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services or his/her designee for approval.

In order to perform the services covered by this contract the contractor shall have a minimum of:

4-year healthcare degree, i.e., speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, kinesiotherapy. The contractor shall also be certified as a driving rehabilitation specialist. Failure to comply will result in termination of the contract.

Additional university credentials, State certification and/or successful completion of the National Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Examination sponsored by Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED), formerly known as the Association for Driver Educators for the Disabled, is encouraged. Qualifications shall be subject to review by the VA Chief of Staff and approval by the VA Facility Director.

The contractor's personnel shall be responsible and able to show evidence of reliability, ability and experience. Verified references of ability and qualifications may be accepted by the Contracting Officer to satisfy these requirements.

Before commencing work under this contract, the Contractor, shall provide, and thereafter maintain for the duration of the contract, Liability Insurance in conformance with applicable Nevada State requirements for the service contemplated. Evidence of insurance will not be waived.

Contractor shall maintain current copies of the following staff qualifications. Copies of each shall be provided to the COR prior to the start of services under this contract.

The name of at least one Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) employed within your organization.

A copy of the license, registration or certification by a professional organization for this type of service.

A copy of the license, registration or certification by a professional organization for this type of service. If submitting a specifically related rehabilitation therapy area , a written explanation must accompany the Redacted Transcript on how it is related to this requirement. The Redacted Transcript must not contain any Personal Identifiable Information such as Social Security Numbers.
OR:

Copy of a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Certification with any applicable expiration dates. If the Certification expires prior to the actual contract award date, the Government reserves the right to not issue an award until receipt of a current certification is in the possession of the Government.
Optional:

Results of National Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Examination.

ADED micro-credential of Drivers Rehabilitation Professional (DRP) working towards CDRS.

Components of Driver Training Services

Pre-driving Testing Evaluation shall be completed on all patients and shall be comprised of the following components:

Vision evaluation-evaluate visual acuity, field of vision, depth perception, glare
recovery and reaction time.
Basic perceptual testing
Functional muscle testing
Range of motion of all extremities
Coordination testing
Hearing (subjective)
Sitting tolerance
Activity tolerance and susceptibility to fatigue
Spasticity
Precautions to be taken for patient without bowel and/or bladder control
General cognitive testing
Basic understanding of rules of the road for the state the Veteran is licensed in
Reaction time

Adapted Driver Evaluation Shall include the following activities:

Transfer to and from conveyance
Stowage and retrieval of wheelchair or ambulatory aid
Orientation to vehicles controls
Proper body positioning and alignment
Mirror references, including blind spot checks and tests
Passenger responsibility (for example, seat belts, door locks)
Pre-driving checks, including external considerations (for example, lights, tire pressure), and internal (for example, gas supply)
Starting and stopping the vehicle
Right and left turns, U-turns and 3 point turnabouts
Backing up
Parking, parallel parking
Lane changes
Emotional stability behind the wheel
Hill driving, uphill and downhill parking
Passing other vehicles
Hazardous driving situation (for example, inclement weather, brake failure, flat tire, stuck accelerator)
Changing traffic flows
Pedestrian hazards
Freeway entry and exit, as applicable

Upon completion of the Driving Evaluation, the contractor shall report the recommended driver training services to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Driver s Rehab Specialist (RSDRS) at the facility site for review and/or approval of the recommended driver training services, prior to continuing with any other training services. The RSDRS will be identified at time of award.

Vehicle Needs Assessment:

Adapted Equipment Evaluation- the Contractor shall evaluate the need for assistive devices, equipment adaptations and vehicle modification. A copy of all evaluations and training will be submitted to the RSDRS and then uploaded into patient s medical record for inclusion in their files.
Vehicle Inspection the Contractor shall inspect vehicle after modification to ensure that equipment was properly installed, and the patient can operate the adaptations. A copy of all evaluations will be provided to the Contracting Officer s Technical Representative for inclusion in their files.
Vehicle Consultation and Selection- assist the patient in the selection of an appropriate vehicle that best suits the needs of the patient as applicable.

Evaluations

Types of Disabilities that are treated in the VA Driver Rehabilitation Program:

Paraplegia
Tetraplegia
Brain dysfunction
Hemiplegia
Neurological disorders
Amputation, i.e., upper and lower extremities
Orthopedic problems
Psychiatric disorders
Disabilities associated with aging
Cognitive impairment
visual impairment

Pre-driving Assessment and Evaluation

The Driver Rehabilitation Specialist shall ensure the following areas are addressed as part of the initial assessment and evaluation:

Initial Contact. The Contactor shall have the initial contact with patient (driver
rehabilitation candidate) in an interview atmosphere.
History. The Contractor shall obtain from the patient, the history of the patient s
driving record, including any citations, accidents, or suspensions.
Medical Clearance. The Contractor shall inform the patient of steps to be taken to obtain medical clearance, if such is required from the State medical authority.

Pre-driving Testing

The Contractor shall provide the following testing:

Visual acuity, depth-perception, color-vision, peripheral-vision, night acuity, and glare recovery (tests may be administered by use of visual screening tools)
Functional muscle testing.
Basic perceptual test (e.g., dynamic figure-ground).
Range of motion of all extremities, plus neck, if feasible. If lower extremities are non-functional, emphasis on exactness of upper extremity range of motion becomes greater.
Coordination testing.
Hearing (subjective).
Balance (static and dynamic).
Activity tolerance and susceptibility to fatigue.
Spasticity.
Bowel or bladder control.
Reaction time, i.e., response time from accelerator to brake.
Sensation and proprioception.
Educational training
Verification of Driver s license

On Road Testing

The Contractor shall provide the following testing:
Pre-Driving Skills
Knowledge of controls (turn signals, etc.)
Basic Driving Skills (low traffic area)
Complex Driving Skills (high traffic area)
Reaction time in real-world situations
Navigation skills
Parking skills
Overall driving skills

Emergency Health Services

The VA will not render emergency health services to the CDRS for an incapacitating injury or otherwise serious illness occurring while on duty. All services, to include wages earned during period of initial medical evaluation provided by the VA, will be reimbursed by the Contractor. The Contractor will furnish the VA with the necessary injury/illness form(s) for reporting purposes. The VA for statistical and/or billing purposes will retain a copy of the complete form(s).

Patient Safety

Patient safety incidents must be reported using Patient Safety Report. All incidents must be reported within 24 hours.

Personnel Policy

The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting the personnel furnishing services under this contract. To carry out this responsibility, the Contractor shall provide the following: Worker s Compensation, Professional liability insurance, income tax withholding, and Social Security payments.

Standard Precautions

By signing this instrument, the Contractor certifies that all Contractor's employees assigned to work for the VA are current in standard Precautions and are aware of pertinent OSHA and standard Precautions Regulations.

Quality Assurance

The administrative COR for this contract, reserves the right to conduct competency assessment checks of contract driving rehabilitation therapist to include demonstration of age-related competencies and other pertinent position-specific competencies as well as ongoing competency assessments. Monthly audits (if services are provided that month) of one patient will be performed to ensure hours billed match hours received by the patient.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE/SCHEDULE:

The Period Of Performance (POP) for this contract shall be:
Base
04/12/24-04/11/25
Option year 1
04/12/25-04/11//26
Option year 2
04/12/26-04/11/27
*The VA may or may not exercise option years 1 and 2

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