SOURCES SOUGHT
G -- Contracted Residential Services (CRS) VA Greater Los Angeles
- Notice Date
- 11/16/2018
- Notice Type
- Synopsis
- NAICS
- 624221
— Temporary Shelters
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;Network Contracting Office 22;4811 Airport Plaza Drive;Suite 600;Long Beach CA 90815
- ZIP Code
- 90815
- Solicitation Number
- 36C26219Q0136
- Response Due
- 11/28/2018
- Archive Date
- 3/7/2019
- Point of Contact
- tashodra.rogers@va.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- CONTRACTED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES (CRS) BACKGROUND AND SYNOPSIS. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has been providing direct and specialized services for homeless Veterans for over 25 years. The Secretary of the VA has set a zero-tolerance policy for homelessness within the Veteran population since 2009; the plan to end homelessness among Veterans by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) increases the capacity of existing programs and increases services offered to Veteran-participants. This innovative plan calls for utilizing new models of care not previously offered by VHA. The DVA s plan to end Veteran homelessness necessitates the enhancement of current homeless service capacity as well as developing innovative programs and initiatives in concert with community and federal partners. The intent of this contract is for the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System (VAGLAHS) Healthcare for Homeless Veteran (HCHV) program to engage a community provider to offer homeless Veterans Contracted Residential Services (CRS). The requirements for this specific CRS is to rapidly stabilize Veterans of the program through treatment at the VAGLAHS, addressing mental health, physical health, substance abuse and other psychosocial problems. Ultimately, a Veteran participant will obtain permanent housing within 180 days. The DVA intends to engage a contractor to provide rapid placement of Veterans in a safe, supportive, residential setting while addressing Veterans complex needs through on-site supportive case management services. The contractor shall provide these services in a temporary facility located on the campus of the VAGLAHS medical center. The contractor shall not be required to pay rent for the use of this temporary facility, however they will be required to furnish it and provide services twenty four hours per day, every day of the year as stated herein. The contractor shall provide services to 100 Veterans who may be of the following eligible homeless Veteran populations: Males Females (up to 50); Veterans over the age of 55; Veteran considered priority such as Post 9/11 Veterans with acutely elevated suicide risk factors. Veteran participants are referred to the contractor by HCHV staff or other community agencies based on a demonstrated need for case management and supportive services to stabilize mental health, substance abuse, medical and/or other co-occurring serious psychosocial issues before expediently being placed in secure and permanent housing. The HCHV program seeks Veterans participants currently engaged in care through a collaborative partnership among the VAGLAHS, the Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System Service Providers, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and other Veteran-specific programs that serve homeless Veterans. Veterans may access transitional housing programs directly and through referrals in the community. The following approach to prioritization for Veterans in need of care will be required: Priority Group 1: Veterans who enter the program must have an identified housing plan such as receipt of a HUD-VASH voucher or receipt of Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) services. Priority Group 2: Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness with a Vulnerability Index Score above 10, whereas initially being connected to VA housing services for care (see Vulnerability Index and the Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VISPDAT) documentation below). Priority Group 3: Veterans who report homelessness and seek temporary supportive services before entering a permanent housing plan. A DVA Liaison to the contractor shall act as the clinical liaison for all client-related issues between the Contractor and the VAGLAHS HCHV program. The liaison personnel will only provide clinical oversight and will not provide direct clinical supervision. The Contractor shall have general liability insurance coverage of $5 Million to $10 Million to cover employee malfeasance. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. A temporary housing facility shall be provided by the VAGLAHS on the campus of the VAGLAHS medical center located at 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073. Contractor shall not be required to pay rent for this facility but shall be required to furnish the premises and provide all meals and sundries for all Veterans. Consequently, the contractor will be required to attend frequent meetings and planning sessions with HCHV program staff throughout the life of the contract. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY. Government furnished property will not be provided to the Contractor other than the temporary housing facility. All equipment and furnishings required for the Contractor to provide the required services shall be provided by the Contractor. IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE. The temporary housing facility and associated contractor provided CRS are expected to pass an initial HCHV inspection and become fully-operational within 30 days of contract award date. The contractor shall work in conjunction with VAGLAHS, LA county, LA city, and other designated officials managing the property in the performance of this contract. The contractor shall identify all staff required per the PWS and have in place and available to provide the full range of case management and onsite services to Veterans within 30 days of contract award date. SPECIFIC CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. Residential Services. The contractor shall provide housing and supportive services to male Veterans, female Veterans, Seniors, and specialized populations as listed above and ensure their safety and privacy. Male and female Veteran participants shall have separate bathroom facilities. The contractor shall ensure the facility maintains its female residential sections that are securely segregated or restricted from male residential sections to ensure safety and privacy.. The contractor shall provide the following to Veterans referred and admitted to the facility: Furniture that includes beds, storage for belongings (a safe, secure, and readily available place for each Veteran participant to store belongings (e.g., a locking closet, a locking armoire, a wall locker, etc.), chairs, and tables; Linens such as sheets, towels, blankets, and pillows. The Contractor shall have access to an off-site laundry service to bring in clean linens and shall provide a weekly linen exchange for all Veteran participants. Health and personal hygiene maintenance supplies for Veterans (e.g., dental products, hair products, soap and shave products, feminine products, deodorant products, mild wound care products). Subsistence. The contractor shall provide all food and beverages for Veterans residing at the facility. The contractor shall maintain a clean and comfortable environment of care that includes subsistence meeting the following conditions: Nutritionally-adequate meals three (3) times per day in a setting that encourages social interaction. Meals will be communal and shared among all veterans and family members. Nutritious snacks between meals and at bedtime shall be available for those requiring or desiring additional food when it is not medically contraindicated. All food shall be stored, handled and served in a safe and sanitary manner that meets accepted industry standards and guidelines. Meals will be brought on to the VA campus by the contractor and provided to the Veterans at least three times per day as there are no cooking facilities at this temporary facility. After each meal, the contractor shall dispose of the garbage and maintain site cleanliness. Janitorial Services. The contractor shall manage daily cleanliness of the entire temporary housing facility and ensure the entire space inside and outside the facility is kept clean, sanitized and neat. The contractor will provide cleaning supplies to accomplish daily cleanliness; the COR will inspect the facility for cleanliness and report deficiencies to the contractor and HCHV program officials. Staffing. The contractor shall employ sufficient professional health care personnel to carry out policies, responsibilities, and programs of the VAGLAHS HCHV facility 24 hours per day, every day. Specific requirements include: A full-time administrative staff member on-site or residing at the residence 40 hours per week and available for emergencies 24 hours a day, every day. Note: security staff alone, whether employed directly by the contractor or subcontracted by the contractor, is not sufficient to meet this requirement. A director of the program and facility on-call and available for emergencies 24 hours a day, every day. A professionally-credentialed clinical supervisor located on-site 40 hours per week to provide ongoing supervision of cases assigned to case management personnel. The contract clinical supervisor shall be on call and available for emergencies: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The clinical supervisor shall be licensed by the state of CA and be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Psychologist, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. The contractor shall sufficiently provide case management personnel to provide the necessary therapeutic interventions and activities. Each Veteran shall have an assigned case manager responsible for coordinating and providing the supportive services specified herein. The case manager to Veteran ratio shall not exceed 1:20. Case management staff shall: Have training and experience working with homeless individuals with chronic medical, metal health and substance abuse problems and be able to assess and anticipate crises. Have a Bachelor Degree in a social service field; or have a bachelor s degree in any field and have at least two (2) years of experience providing case management services. The clinical supervisor may not be used to fill a case management position in lieu of case management staff; contract case management staff are expected to work hours in which Veteran assigned to their case load are present and case management services are most conducive to the Veteran s care needs. Typically, case management staff provide services before 8 PM (PDT/PST) unless otherwise evaluated and assessed as appropriate by HCHV program COR, DVA Liaison, or VAGLAHS Transitional Housing Coordinator in writing. Contract case management staff shall be required to complete a case management training course provided by the VAGLAHS prior to commencement and performance on this contract. For contract staff hired after the provided training course, it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure the staff have been trained on housing-first, case-management principles and that staff demonstrate an effective team model approach. On-site support staff: The contractor shall have three (3) support staff on-site, 24 hours a day, every day. This staff shall have a minimum of a high school diploma and one year (1) of continuous experience working with homeless and/or substance abuse populations. Security Staff. The contractor shall have a minimum of two (2) contract security staff on-site 24 hours a day, every day. Security staff will roam, watch, and report activities in the interior and the exterior of the facility on an hourly-basis and assist contacting DVA Police as needed. At a minimum, one (1) security staff member on duty shall be Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification and be on-site and available 24 hours per day. Peer Support Specialists. Peer Support Specialist positions are highly encouraged to support the recovery model of care. At minimum, Peer Support Specialists should have a valid and current state Peer Support Certification. Case Management Services: Contractor shall provide the following case management services: A thorough written Individualized Service Plan (ISP) will be developed within one (1) week of admission for each Veteran participant. This will include structured case management (at a minimum, weekly meetings) including: counseling on self-care skills, adaptive coping skills, financial planning, permanent housing search, written care plan, and referrals for financial benefits. Additional counseling may include professional and vocational rehabilitation counseling in collaboration with VA programs and community resources. Engagement of the Veteran in the service planning process: the contractor shall conduct interviewing, counseling and case managing Veterans by conducting psychosocial assessments to identify treatment needs which will positively affect the Veterans adjustment to their environment and establishment of treatment goals. Assess the psychosocial and environmental needs or dysfunction secondary to, or exacerbating the social, substance or psychiatric problems, which might contribute to Veterans readjustment challenges in the community. Establishes and maintains an intensive therapeutic relationship with the Veteran, staff, and community programs/agencies, and is responsible for formulating case-management treatment goals and plans that address identified needs, stressors and problems. Conduct high-risk screening, psychosocial assessment and treatment planning, actively involving the Veteran and their family or significant others. Specifically, the contractor shall: Complete a written individual service plan for each Veteran participant within the first week of program admission; signed by the contractor, the Veteran, and the VA Liaison; Review plans at minimum every thirty (30) days thereafter in a clinical meeting with the Veteran participant. Updated plans must be communicated to the VA Liaison during weekly case conferencing at a minimum; Make changes in plans in consultation with the Veteran; Screen each Veteran participant for suicidal and homicidal risk with each contact during weekly case management sessions. This screening must be documented in regular progress notes (in the contractor s clinical service records). If the Veteran is a danger to him/herself or others Contractor will take immediate steps to provide appropriate intervention. Crisis management will be conducted in consultation and coordination with the VA Liaison. Coordinate updates and changes in Veteran participant s care plans with HCHV VA Liaison during weekly case conferences, fostering a collaborative relationship (case conferencing may be done in person or by telephonic conference calls as determined by the VAGLAHS). Obtain relevant Releases of Information to communicate and coordinate Veteran participants treatment with VAGLAHS and other community-based service providers. Assist Veterans to complete housing applications and benefits paperwork as needed and will assist Veterans in obtaining the needed documentation required for complete applications including birth certificates, driver s license, income verification and any additional information required by housing resources and potential income supports. On-site Therapeutic and Rehabilitative Services. The contractor shall provide: A variety of daily structured group meetings and group activities to promote social skills building and generally promote a healthy lifestyle (e.g., resident participation in psychosocial group sessions, topics based upon resident preference and recommendations by the residential treatment setting staff and VA Liaison; physical activities; facilitated outings or social activities in the local community). Daily activity schedules must be printed and posted in facility public areas to ensure and promote Veteran participant awareness and involvement. Supportive social services in collaboration with case managers, DVA or other community-based resources; Supportive services include, but are not limited to: collaboration with accessing VA and/or other community benefits such as general relief and social security, helping link veterans to accessing ID cards if necessary, linkages to requested support groups in the community such as AA, NA, outpatient medical and mental health services. Professional counseling as required, including emphasis on self-care skills, adaptive coping skills, vocational counseling, in collaboration with the VA Liaison or community resources as appropriate. Opportunities for immediate learning and/or development of responsible living services to help veteran participants achieve a more adaptive level of psychosocial functioning. Continual support services for an alcohol and/or drug-free lifestyle. Opportunities for learning, and internalizing knowledge of the illness and/or recovery process; improving social skills; and improving personal relationships. Opportunities for client participation in community activities, volunteer opportunities, local consumer services, etc. Incident Reporting. Contractor will verbally notify VA through the VA Liaison at the local VA medical center of any negative incident occurring with a Veteran immediately, but no later than one (1) hour from the time contract staff learned of the incident. Contractor will complete a written incident report within 24 hours of notification. On weekends and holidays, this notification will be sent to the Transitional Housing Coordinator, VA Hospital Administrator on Duty (AOD) and/or HCHV VA Liaison. Incidents include but are not limited to: death; fire; police raid; suicide/suicide attempt; 911 call (police/ fire dept./paramedics); drug overdose; severe medical illness or emergency; severe psychiatric illness or emergency; sexual assault; act of violence by Veteran against other(s); abusive behavior by Veteran against staff; act of violence by other(s) against Veteran; abusive behavior by staff against Veteran; accident; medication problems or adverse drug reactions; or other untoward events. Contractor will follow the CERS Incident Reporting Policy. [See Incident Report Form in Reference section.] In the event a Veteran residing in the HCHV program under this contract dies, the contractor will promptly notify the VA Liaison authorizing admission and immediately assemble, inventory, and safeguard the Veteran s personal effects. The funds, deposits, and effects left by Veteran participants upon the premises of the VAGLAHS facility shall be delivered by the director or manager to the person or persons entitled thereto under the laws currently governing the facility for making disposition of funds and effects left by Veteran participants unless the beneficiary died without leaving a will, heirs, or next of kin capable of inheriting. When disposition has been made, the itemized inventory with a notation as to the disposition has been made, they will be immediately forwarded to the HCHV DVA Liaison. Property and funds wherever located vests in and becomes property of the United States in trust. In these cases, the facility will forward an inventory of any such property and funds in its possession to the appropriate DVA office and will hold them (except articles of clothing necessary for proper burial) under safeguard until instructions are received from the VA concerning disposition. ADMISSIONS, LENGTH OF STAY AND DISCHARGES. The goals of the CRS program are to: Rapidly stabilize an admitted Veteran participant s medical, mental health, substance abuse and other psychosocial problems by expediting placement into safe, supportive housing. Place Veterans in appropriate permanent housing within 180 days from the date of admission. Veterans will be screened and referred to the contractor by the HCHV DVA Liaison, community providers, through the Coordinated Entry Case conferencing, or other Outreach staff as appropriate. Except as due to a lack of available beds, the contractor will be expected to provide immediate admission to housing and services to these Veterans 24 hours per day, every day. The date of admission must be approved by the VA Liaison for billing purposes within 48 hours of admission. Engagement of homeless Veteran participants in seeking housing placement, treatment and supportive services is a key element of the CRS program. Therefore, management of program dropout will be an element of the quality assurance review of this program. Referrals from the VAGLAHS Inpatient hospital and the Emergency Department shall require pre-approval from the HCHV DVA Liaison or identified HCHV Registered Nurse and must be referred and accepted during the following business hours 8AM 4:30PM (PDT). After hours admissions may occur for these referrals however, the approval must come directly from a HCHV DVA Liaison, HCHV Registered Nurse, or Transitional Housing Coordinator only. Veterans will ideally be placed in permanent housing suitable for the Veteran within 180 days from the date of admission. Contractors may not bill for per diem for Veterans whose length of stay exceeds 180 days from the date of admission without prior approval from the VA Liaison. The VA Liaison will not approve per diem for lengths of stay exceeding 180 days from the date of admission unless: There are extenuating clinical circumstances beyond the contractor s control that are barriers to the Veteran s placement in housing; There is documented evidence that the contractor has exhausted every effort to place the Veteran in housing sooner; The VA Liaison has been appropriately advised of these efforts well in advance of the 180-day limit; The VA Liaison concurs that the Veteran will continue to derive therapeutic benefits from a continued stay at the CRS. If a Veteran s length of stay exceeds 180 days from the date of admission, and there is not approval from the VA Liaison for continued per diem, the contractor will retain the responsibility for finding suitable transitional or permanent housing in the community at its own expense. Veterans may be discharged from CRS for positive, negative or administrative reasons. The date of discharge must be approved by the VA Liaison for billing purposes. The contractor shall provide discharge planning and referrals for each Veteran, regardless of character of discharge from the facility, to appropriate community resources and services based upon a team assessment of health, social and vocational needs and the involvement of Veterans families as appropriate. Discharges will be characterized as follows: Positive Discharge. The Veteran participant has been successfully placed as anticipated in permanent housing or reunited with family permanently, and has met the goals of his/her Individual Service Plan within 180 days or less. The Veteran-participant has been successfully placed as anticipated in permanent housing, or reunited with family permanently, and has met the goals of his/her Individual Service Plan in a timeframe greater than 180 days from the date of admission and the VA Liaison has approved continuation of per diem payment. Administrative Discharge. The Veteran participant has been transferred to an alternate level of care with concurrence from the VA Liaison for medical, mental health or substance abuse treatment, or other transitional housing programs to better meet the Veteran participant s clinical needs. The Veteran participant shall move within 22 days of entrance into the program to count towards this measure. Negative Discharge. The Veteran participant has absconded from the VAGLAHS facility and his/her whereabouts are unknown. The Veteran participant has had more than one episode of onsite drug use at the facility; has failed to engage in or accept treatment alternatives, and subsequently discharged to maintain a safe and sober environment at the facility. The Veteran participants length of stay has exceeded 180 days from the date of admission and the VA Liaison has not approved continuation of per diem payment. (Note: Veterans who leave the facility without giving notification will require additional outreach from the contractor to attempt to locate Veteran and reengage in services). Unacceptable Discharge. The Veteran participant is discharged to a homeless shelter or drop-in setting after a length of stay greater than seven (7) days from the date of admission, unless there is concurrence from the VA Liaison no other alternatives are feasible due to circumstances beyond the contractor s control. The Veteran participant is discharged outside of the VAGLAHS campus at any point in time after the date of admission and under any circumstances. Performance expectations may change annually depending on previous years performance and national guidelines. These targets are set for FY19; future target measures will be provided to the contractor at the beginning of each fiscal year. Performance expectations regarding discharges will be as follows: Type of Discharge Performance Expectation Review Period Positive discharges 50% or greater of all Veteran participants admitted to the program Every 90 days (each quarter) from the date of the contract award. Administrative discharges No more than 30% of all Veteran participants admitted to the program. Every 90 days (each quarter) from the date of the contract award. Negative discharges No more than 20% of all Veteran participants admitted to the program. Every 90 days (each quarter) from the date of the contract award. Unacceptable discharges Zero (0) occurrences Every 90 days (each quarter) from the date of the contract award. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (16-NOV-2018); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT 877-472-3779 or fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
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