The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) to provide specialized technical assistance to the 57 designated State and U.S. Territorial Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies. SSA intends to award a contract to NAPAS to provide technical assistance and training to State P&As to help them in their role as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA). The purpose of the project is to provide P&As with the assistance necessary to enable them to provide protection and advocacy services which beneficiaries with disabilities may need to secure or regain gainful employment. NAPAS is the only known source that can provide all of the requirements described below. BACKGROUND: The TWWIIA authorizes the Commissioner of SSA to fund P&As in each State, U.S. Territory, and the Native American population to provide advocacy as well as information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services to our beneficiaries with disabilities. SSA funds State P&As to provide protection and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities who receive Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits. The law is designed to provide better health care options and work incentives for people with disabilities who want to work. Regulatory changes require SSA to establish an assistance and training program to support the expanded activities of P&As under TWWIIA. Especially now that Employment Networks are in existence, there is a real need for P&A training surrounding any complaints that may be lodged against these new Ticket to Work entities. REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall provide technical assistance to the 57 State and US Territorial as well as Native American P&A agencies participating in the project as follows: (1) 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; (2) Conduct a training seminar for new Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program personnel using material developed in 2002 to address policies, processes and procedures that P&A personnel need to advocate on behalf of beneficiaries with disabilities. Note: guidance 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; and 3) Act as a liaison for the flow of communication between SSA and the P&As. This includes disseminating information to all of the participant P&As at the request of SSA, as well as conveying information to SSA on behalf of the projects. Note: contractor must have SSA?s prior approval on any material furnished to the P&As for this program. The contractor shall provide information to SSA, when requested, to enable SSA to respond to public inquiries. The contractor shall also be required to attend meetings and prepare reports for this requirement. The period of performance will be for a base year with two 1-year options to extend the term of the contract. 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. SSA knows of no other source that has the capability to satisfy all of the requirements for this contract. Interested parties that believe they have the capability to perform the services required should submit a capability statement to Barbara F. Hands by mail to: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21207; by email to
[email protected]; or by fax to 410-966-9310. All responses shall be marked CAPABILITY STATEMENT - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEMS, and shall be received no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) MAY 24, 2002. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received by the cutoff date above, the SSA will proceed with sole source negotiations with NAPAS. All questions must be submitted in writing to the mailing address or email address listed above and marked to the attention of Barbara F. Hands. Telephone calls will not be accepted.