R418– Request for Information Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Primary Caregiver Support Program Financial and Legal Services

Contract Opportunities

Notice Type: Sources Sought Notice

Posted Date: 22-JUL-21

Office Address: Veterans Affairs, Department of; VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF; SAC FREDERICK (36C10X); FREDERICK, MD 21703

Subject: R418-- Request for Information Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Primary Caregiver Support Program Financial and Legal Services

Classification Code: R - Professional, administrative, and management support services

Solicitation Number: 36C10X21Q0210

Contact: Brian Kadel

Description: Veterans Affairs, Department of

VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF

SAC FREDERICK (36C10X)

Request for Information (RFI)The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this RFI in accordance with FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued for the purpose of conducting capabilities and market research. Accordingly, this RFI constitutes neither a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor a guarantee that one will be issued by the Government in the future; furthermore, it does not commit the Government to contract for any services described herein. Do not submit a Proposal. The VA is not at this time, seeking proposals or quotes and therefore will not accept, review, or evaluate unsolicited proposals or quotes received in response hereto. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government does not reimburse respondents for costs associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred for responses to this RFI. The information provided may be used by VA in developing an acquisition strategy and Product Description (PD)/Performance Work Statement (PWS). Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary; however, any information received shall become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the respondent. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or sensitive information contained in their response. This is a request for information only and does not obligate the Government in any way, nor does it commit the Government to a specific course of action. The Government is seeking as much information as possible and a complete response from industry to this RFI during this market research activity may assist the Government in developing an acquisition strategy and finalizing any PD/PWS.BackgroundThe mission of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the VA is to honor America s Veterans by providing exceptional care that improves their health and well-being. VHA will continue to be the benchmark for excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary services that are both patient-centered and evidence based.On June 6, 2018, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VAMaintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of2018 or the VA MISSION Act of 2018, Public Law 115-182, was signed into law. Section 161 ofthe MISSION Act of 2018 expands eligibility for VA s Program of Comprehensive Assistance forFamily Caregivers (PCAFC). This law, among other things, expands eligibility for PCAFC toeligible Veterans with a serious injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the activemilitary, naval, or air service before September 11, 2001 in two phases, the first of which began upon VA certifying to Congress that VA implemented a required informationtechnology system. This law also establishes new benefits for designated Primary FamilyCaregivers of eligible Veterans under the PCAFC. Under 38 U.S.C. 1720G(a)(3)(A)(ii)(IV), asamended by section 161(a)(3) of the VA MISSION Act of 2018, the VA is required to providedesignated Primary Family Caregivers: (1) financial planning services relating to the needs of injured Veterans and their caregivers; and (2) legal services, including legal advice and consultation, relating to the needs of injured Veterans and their caregivers. Under the law, these services must be provided through the use of contracts with, or the provision of grants to, public or private entities. The Caregiver Support Program is seeking information on and from public or private entities that could provide financial planning and legal services to primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans participating in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers as reflected in the Federal register Final Rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/31/2020-15931/program-of-comprehensiveassistance-for-family-caregivers-improvements-and-amendments-under-the-va.ObjectiveFinancial Planning Services: The phrase financial planning services relating to the needs of injured Veterans and their caregivers could include such things as:Increasing primary family caregivers financial literacy; Assisting designated primary family caregivers in developing a plan to manage their own personal finances to include:Household budget planning (such as making a budget, learning to balance a checking account, and learning to pay bills); Debt management (such as assistance establishing payment plans and credit counseling); Retirement planning review and education (such as consulting on personal retirement plans, pension planning, and investment options); Insurance review and education (such as reviewing current insurance policies; and counseling on alternative insurance options to include health, automobile, life, or house insurance); andAdditional optional tasks such as mortgage loan/refinance education, financial coaching, referrals to community resources, credit management, among others.Legal Services: Similarly, the phrase legal services, including legal advice and consultation, relating to the needs of injured Veterans and their caregivers could include such things as: Estate planning;Advanced care planning;Wills; Designating a power of attorney (POA); Appointing a guardian for the eligible Veteran; andReferrals to community resources for representation in matters not includedEducational programs relevant to local and state regulations on topics relevant to caregiver such as advanced directives, living wills, and estate planningPotential optional legal services such as trusts, identity theft, additional 30-minute legal consultation, among other similar type items/services. Of note, legal services would exclude assistance with matters in which the eligible Veteran or Primary Family Caregiver is taking or has taken adversarial legal action against the United States Government and disputes between the eligible Veteran and the Primary Family Caregiver. These are provided as a general provision based on the Federal Register Final Rule.THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these services through a contract with VA, please provide the following information: Cover Sheet 1 pagePlease provide the following information:1. Organization name, address, web site, DUNS number, and CAGE code.2. Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number.3. Company s current business size (large or small). If small, please provide type of small business.4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that best fits these task areas.5. If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule, and SIN category. Index 1 pagePlease provide an index to assist the Government in identifying where you have addressed each question below in your Capabilities Statement and Market Information. Please provide question number and corresponding page and section heading and/or paragraph number.Capabilities Statement and Market Information Please respond to the following questions by providing a capabilities statement and market information.The VA is seeking responses from industry regarding their respective experiences and capabilities applicable to the following key questions:Please describe your organization's breadth of expertise/competency to provide financial planning and legal services for designated primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.Can you provide both financial planning and legal services to designated primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans If not, which can you provide Describe how you currently provide these services, to include in what format you provide them (e.g., by phone, in person, online, etc.).Describe your intake process for new clients to include methods for determining the planned number of sessions, any limits placed on the scope or duration of sessions, etc.To what volume of participants can you provide services Are you capable of providing translation services for English, Spanish, Tagalog and the 10 most commonly spoken languages in the United States languages Could you provide others '--' If so, what languages Describe a typical staffing strategy and structure (including applicable labor categories) for similar type projects.Describe the specific scope of services that should be included or excluded in the provision of financial planning and legal services, and why. For example, do you provide a wide breadth of ancillary financial and/or legal supportive services (in addition to routine financial/legal services) or do you only provide specific general financial/legal services (e.g. additional ancillary services such as for legal services: trusts, identity theft support, drafting of documents related to credit reporting/debt collection; for financial services: education of mortgage loan financing, extensive financial coaching, credit management, money management webinars, referrals to community resources, college expense planning)Please suggest if there should be a limit as to how many times a primary family caregiver has access to these services, and if so, whether it should be an annual limit or lifetime limit, or a limit based on some other measure.Do you have an average amount of time that you typically provide for each type of service (i.e., average time involved to assist someone in a will, POA, trust, guardianship, etc.) If yes, could you provide your rough estimates per each major service per eligible participant What is your capability for online referrals Do you have the ability to have one point of contact to receive referrals for services (i.e., how do you process verified referrals into your center) How to do you currently validate eligibility for other participants in your financial/legal services. (i.e., do you have a master database with the eligible participants that you validate, or do you access other referral resources to gain access for services) What is your capability of verifying that the caregivers are enrolled in our program prior to providing services Would the work require the use of subcontractors If so, what percentage of work would be completed by the prime versus subcontractors How do you ensure background checks and corresponding credentials/licensures are completed and tracked if subcontractors are providing the services Do you have the ability to provide services across multiple states/territories, and/or nation-wide If so,How do you ensure credentialling/licensure across multiple states How do you address crossing state lines for service/referrals (i.e. hand-offs if the service is needed in a state different from the call center staff/team) If not nation-wide, provide any suggestions on how industry could best provide this level of support/coverage.Describe common pricing structures for these services. Duration per beneficiary (e.g., days, months), by call volumes, in person contacts, or other What type of contract pricing would you recommend for this requirement (e.g., firm fixed price, time and materials, labor hour, or other types as allowable in FAR Part 16) ----Do you have an all-inclusive package for all services or are they typically set based on the menu of services selected per individual per hour Have you provided these services for a Federal department or agency previously, or are you doing so currently If so,Provide contract and task order numbers, total award amount, agency name, procurement method and vehicle (e.g., open market single award, GSA Federal Supply Schedule, internal agency ordering contract, etc.), Describe the contract type/pricing structure (e.g., firm-fixed price, cost-reimbursement, labor hour, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), hybrid type, etc.).Are the type of financial planning and legal services described above covered under your GSA schedule contract, and if so what Schedule(s) and SIN(s) are most appropriate for this type of service Are you likely to propose if the Government used a Performance Work Statement with defined tasks and deliverables Is there any other information the Government should know or consider for developing a solicitation for these services STRUCTURE AND SUBMISSION OF RESPONSESContractors should respond to this RFI by Monday, August 9, 2021 by 10:00 AM EDT via e-mail to Brian.Kadel@va.gov and Lindi.Sylvester@va.gov. Limit all responses to 10 pages, excluding the coversheet and index.