L -- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROTECTION & ADVOCACY SYSTEMS (P&AS)

Notice Date

June 22, 2001

Contracting Office

Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21207-5279

ZIP Code

21207-5279

Description

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to enter into a sole source procurement with the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) to provide specialized technical assistance to the 57 State and U.S. Territory Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) established pursuant to Part C of Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Act to provide services to Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities. NAPAS is the only known source that can provide all of the requirements described below. Interested sources that believe they have the capability to perform the services required should submit a capability statement to Dawn Caracci at the following address: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21207. Responses shall be marked SSA-RFQ-01-0283, CAPABILITY STATEMENT, and shall be received no later than JUNE 28, 2001, 3:00PM EST. All responsible sources will be considered. If no responses are received by the cutoff date above, an award will be issued to NAPAS. BACKGROUND: The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) of 1999 authorizes the Commissioner of SSA to fund P&As in each State, US Territory, and the Native American population to provide advocacy as well as information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services to its beneficiaries with disabilities. This project represents a coordinated effort to provide protection and advocacy services under the new legislation to individuals with disabilities that receive Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Regulatory changes require SSA to establish a more extensive assistance and training program to support the expanded activities of the P&As under TWWIIA. =20 NAPAS is the only known organization with the subject expertise and familiarity with the issues to provide the required specialized technical assistance. Specifically, NAPAS is fully versed in the intricacies of protection and advocacy case law, P&A management issues, and methods to increase the effectiveness of these agencies in providing services to Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities. Additionally, NAPAS is the only organization with the resources, previous experience and competence to immediately assume the responsibility of providing assistance to all 57 State and U.S. Territory P&As. NAPAS has been involved in these types of services with the government and SSA since 1997. REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall provide technical assistance to the 57 State and US Territories as well as Native American P&A agencies in the project as follows: 1) Develop and provide guidance on the policies, processes, and procedures that P&A personnel will use to advocate on behalf of beneficiaries with disabilities who are seeking to secure or regain gainful employment. Note: guidance will be on administrative and technical matters; guidance and technical assistance on SSA programs and work incentives and other Federal programs will be provided by the SSA Regional Training Centers at Cornell, University of Missouri at Columbia and Virginia Commonwealth University; 2) Provide dispute resolution assistance to P&A personnel as disputes arise between beneficiaries and the employment networks and other service providers from which they are seeking or receiving services; 3) Survey all 57 P&A agencies of their training needs as a result of Tasks 1 and 2; 4) Plan, develop, coordinate and conduct a training seminar to address those needs identified by Task 3. The training shall be exclusive of SSA programs and work incentives and other Federal benefit programs covered by the SSA Regional Training Centers; 5) Assist SSA in the collection and aggregation of data on project activities for management information; and 6) Act as a liaison for the flow of communication between SSA and the P&As. This includes disseminating information to all participating P&As at the request of SSA, as well as conveying information to SSA on behalf of the projects. Note: the contractor shall have SSA?s approval prior to any material being furnished to the P&As for this program. The contractor shall also be required to attend meetings and prepare reports for this requirement. Interested sources that respond to this requirement are required to include a copy of FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications ? commercial items with their capability statement. All questions must be submitted in writing to Dawn Caracci at the address listed above or via e-mail to dawn.caracci@ssa.gov. Telephone calls will NOT be accepted.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/SSA/DCFIAM/OAG/Reference-Number-2754-01-0158 /listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010626/SPMSC004.HTM (D-173 SN50P7I4)