Page 2 of 2 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION / SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 19, Rocky Mountain Acquisition Center (RMAC) is issuing this source sought notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in, and the resources to support this requirement for Farm Management Services for the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located at management of the farm at Valor Point Domiciliary located at 7350 W Eastman Pl. Lakewood, CO 80227. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 115116 Farm Management Services. This is a request for information and sources only, which may or may not lead to a future solicitation! This is not a solicitation. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Contractor shall provide all necessary personnel, tools, (test) equipment for the Boiler Program and Safety Device Testing according to the Scope of Work (SOW). BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SSERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION and only one award MAY be made. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: If your organization can provide these services and is interested in this opportunity, please respond to Alejandra Sierra, Contracting Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, NCO 19, 6162 South Willow Drive, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111 or via e-mail at
[email protected] and
[email protected] with a statement describing your capabilities. The capability statement shall include a point of contact, complete mailing address, telephone number, email address, and state the company s business size status and should address this specific requirement, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. Please be as thorough as possible in your submission. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. The deadline for responses is Monday, April 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM mountain time. STATEMENT OF WORK INTRODUCTION: The contractor shall furnish all labor to provide management of the farm at Valor Point Domiciliary located at 7350 W Eastman Pl Lakewood, CO 80227. HOURS OF OPERATION The contractor will work Wednesday thru Saturday every week from 8am to 12pm. Classes will be held Wednesday thru Saturday weekly from 8am to 12pm. BACKGROUND: Recreational Therapy patients that would benefit from participating in the farming program within the ECHCS Network. The farm is located at Valor Point Domiciliary. Veteran's may be residents of Valor Point or outpatient Veterans joining from the community or other ECHCS Recreation Therapy programs. OBJECTIVE: Program office is seeking an experienced farmer to manage our farm on site. The farm includes an indoor light growing cart, outdoor raised garden beds, in ground plants, a geodesic greenhouse dome, and plans for expansion to include beekeeping. Farmer will work with Veterans with the goal of introducing Veterans to gardening/farming as a positive way to spend their leisure time and as a way to improve their health through physical activity, socialization, and good nutrition. Â 4.0 SCOPE OF WORK: Contractor will report to Valor Point to perform the duties. The farm classes should include some discussion about techniques but will mainly be hands on classes engaging Veterans with tasks on the farm. Farmer will be expected to be knowledgeable in the management of a small farm. Farmer will be teaching and will demonstrate best practices to Veterans, have evidenced based knowledge of history and theory behind the skills, instruct Veterans on completing tasks each session according to Veteran goals, and use hands on teaching techniques. Contractor shall work with COR to obtain needed supplies to run the farm. Contractor will help COR seek out grants and other funding sources to sustain the program. COR/facility will supply the things needed for the farm such as soil, plants, fertilizer, pest control products, irrigation supplies, etc. Contractor will report to Valor Point where the farm is located. These classes will include verbal discussion and hands on learning to teach the skills needed each session. Classes may be held in a group setting or 1:1 session, structured as a series or a single session. Farmer will be expected to hold a Beginning Farmer Training certificate and an Agricultural Best Practices Certificate. Farmer will be knowledgeable to manage all areas of the farm, demonstrate techniques to Veterans, have knowledge of history and theory behind the skills demonstrated, use hands on teaching plus any other skills needed to facilitate each session according to veteran goals. COR/facility will supply needed materials to sustain the farm with help of the farm contractor. Contractor will be required to complete a sign-in/sign-out. The sign-in/sign-out log sheet will be provided and monitored by the COR. The Contractor employees daily work scheduling that is based on work demands on the farm and subject to immediate changes. The VA reserves the right to propose alternate daily scheduling so as to least interfere with the normal operation of the treatment facility. Farming services to be provided: Maintain orderly seed library with a variety of seeds. Start plants from seed on the 3 tier indoor seed starting light cart. Tend to and grow seedlings to be ready to be transplanted to outdoor garden beds, in ground on the property, or into the geodesic greenhouse dome beds. Prepare beds both outdoor and within the geodesic greenhouse dome for planting. Maintain raised beds to produce vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers. Cultivate and harvest crops for consumption in Healthy Teaching cooking classes and in the Valor Point kitchen meals. Post-harvest responsibilities include properly labeling, washing, handling, and storing produce. Follow Food Safety Modernization Act guidelines and Good Agricultural Practices to ensure health and safety of the people eating the food. Maintain aquaponic water tank inside the geodesic greenhouse dome. Apply fish waste water to raised beds to fertilize the plants in greenhouse dome via a solar powered pump drip system. This system to be installed and maintained by farmer. Complete all needed maintenance on the geodesic greenhouse dome. Prepare the dome for seasonal shift between summer and winter growing seasons. Install and maintain drip water system to irrigate outdoor raised garden beds and future in ground crops. Basic pest prevention, identification, and organic pest control techniques. Establish and maintain composting program. Have farm duties out and accessible to participants. The goal is reinforce the farm schedule highlighting the curriculum and duties to Veteran participants with field examples. Maintain an annual growing plan and recorded keeping for the farm. Create business plan for eventual distribution of surplus crops to include selling at local farmer's markets or sharing with food pantries or rehab facilities near the Valor Point farm. Maintain farm tools and equipment in a clean and safe manner in the shed and geodesic greenhouse dome. Include and engage Veteran participants with structured classes on the farm as well as including them in more informal farm work sessions. These participants will be both inpatient at Valor Point and outpatient Veterans from their own homes or other VA programs. Engage Veterans with meaningful tasks to help them work on recovery goals in different life domains to include physical goals, emotional/mental health goals, social goals, and cognitive goals with assistance of the COR. Develop meaningful relationships with volunteer groups to maintain community engagement. Participate in research and development for continued expansion of the farm. Potential future expansion ideas include an orchard, bushes, shrubs, trees, beekeeping, and potential addition of animals such as chickens. 5.0 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS: Supervision: The VA shall specify a supervisor who shall be responsible for overseeing the performance of contract personnel. The COR will be notified in writing of the Contractor personnel names and of changes in personnel appointed to fulfill this function or substitution of personnel due to illness or leave. Training: Good Agricultural Practices Certificate Training: Beginning Farmer Training Certificate Communication: Daily effective communication is critical and requires ability to speak, understand, and follow simple instructions in English. Uniforms and Employee Identification: Professional attire is to be clean and maintained in good repair. Contractor personnel will be provided, a clearly readable name identification device consisting of the employee s name and the service name will be worn on or in the area of the left breast pocket (above the waist). All other safety/protective clothing or equipment for the contractor shall be provided and maintained by the contractor at no expense and worn when appropriate. All Contract personnel will receive a background check and documentation will be provided before beginning work at any VA facility. 6.0 CONTRACTOR STAFF REQUIREMENTS: Personnel Rosters: Current written rosters of all regular and alternate employees will be provided to the COR. Employees not listed will not be allowed to work in the facility. Â Miscellaneous: Contractor personnel shall not consume food, snacks, drinks, or tobacco products except during specified break periods in appropriate designated break/smoking areas only. There will be no usage of personal cell phones while on stations. Unauthorized smoking, eating, theft or pilferage by Contractor personnel shall constitute adequate cause for the Government to require that the Contractor immediately remove the offender(s) from employment on the medical facility premises for the duration of this contract. 7.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT: The VA shall furnish the supplies needed to operate the farm. Contractor is welcome to work with COR to identify grants and funding opportunities to help raise money to purchase needed supplies for the farm program. 8.0 SAFETY: The Contractor shall take such safety precautions as are necessary to protect the lives and health of participants on the farm or in the greenhouse dome and/or building during performance of contract requirements. The Contractor shall immediately correct any fire and safety deficiencies caused by his/her personnel.