The Department of Health and Human Services intends to negotiate a contract with General Dynamic Information Technology on a sole source basis for the Administration of Children and Families(ACF)/Office of Refugee Resettlment (ORR) for Case Coordination. This acquisition is for an interim contract for a 3 month period to give the Government time to complete a competitive procurement. Purpose: ORR requires the continuation of Case Coordination for a three month period, September 30, 2013 to December 31, 2013. while a new competitive procurement is underway. The purpose is so that the vendor can continue to provide critical services while the Program Office prepares for the upcoming competitive procurement commencing January 1, 2014. Background: This project is an interim follow-on of contract HHSP23320110002YC which was awarded to General Dynamic Information Technology. One of ORR's main functions is to provide temporary shelter care, in the least restrictive setting possible, and other related services to UAC in ORR custody. Under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, "UAC shall be promptly placed in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child." ORR is also responsible for the safe and timely reunification of UAC with appropriate family sponsors. Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, ORR shall ensure that UAC released from custody "are likely to appear for all hearings or proceedings in which they are involved; are protected from smugglers, traffickers, or others who might seek to victimize or otherwise engage them in criminal, harmful, or exploitative activity; and are placed in a setting in which they are not likely to pose a danger to themselves or others." Under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, "An UAC may not be placed with a person or entity unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services makes a determination that the proposed custodian is capable of providing for the child's physical and mental well-being." In addition, ORR is responsible for identifying, funding, overseeing, and monitoring state-licensed facilities that serve UAC; maintaining statistical information and data on each child; and compiling and updating an annual list of professionals or entities qualified to provide legal services. ORR oversees a national network of licensed care providers, including shelters, group homes, staff-secure/secure facilities, foster care programs and residential treatment centers through contracts and cooperative, blanket purchase and inter-agency agreements. ORR care providers are required to be licensed by their state and are encouraged to pursue additional accreditation through the Council on Accreditation. They must also comply with ORR policies, protocols and procedures, as detailed in their individual Cooperative Agreement/Statement of Work and ORR policies and procedures. The majority of care providers are located in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The majority of ORR shelter care providers serve UAC exclusively. However, some programs also serve children from the domestic child welfare or juvenile justice systems. ORR identifies placement options for UAC according to their individual needs through this national network of care providers. ORR ensures that the interests of the child are considered in all decisions related to the care and custody of UAC. ORR is guided by the principles that all UAC should be treated with dignity, respect, and special concern for their particular vulnerability; all UAC must be placed in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their age and special needs; and each UAC shall be provided care and services free from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or political belief. The current contractor provides bilingual Case Coordinators who provide child welfare based recommendations on individual UAC cases, particularly in the areas of family reunification, identification of children with special needs and development of corresponding recommendations, and placement recommendations. Case Coordinators are assigned to locations near ORR-funded care providers. Case Coordinators work closely with Federal Field Specialists, who serve as the Federal field representative of the ORR program and are responsible for implementing Central Office policies and procedures; liaising with local immigration officials, non-profit agencies and legal service providers; providing guidance and direction to local care providers; and making transfer and release decisions for UAC in their designated regions. Vendors who are interested in this acquisition must demonstrate in writing that they can meet the Government's requirement. Responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detatiled technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ablility to satisfy the stated requirements. The written statements of capability should be emailed to the Contract Specialist, Fred Thomas at
[email protected] and are due no later than 12:00PM EST August 9, 2013. Failure to submit adequate documentation will result in the Government proceeding with a sole source award to General Dynamics. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No solicitation document is available. The purpose of this announcement is to determine whether there may be other sources with the requisite qualifications to perform the work described above.