U006--VA FARMS Training FY22 | Baltimore VAMC Intent to Sole Source | SAM.gov Opportunity | G2X

U006--VA FARMS Training FY22 | Baltimore VAMC Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation36C24522Q0346Notice typeSpecial Notice

Attachments

2 files

Name	Type	Posted	Actions
36C24522Q0346.docx	DOCX	Feb 18, 2022	Download
36C24522Q0346.docx	DOCX	Feb 18, 2022	Download

Version History

U006--VA FARMS Training FY22 | Baltimore VAMC Intent to Sole Source

Special Notice36C24522Q0346Feb 18, 2022 · v3

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Opportunity Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Baltimore VAMC, has issued an intent to sole source a requirement for the Maryland Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS) program to TALMAR, Inc. This procurement, identified under solicitation number 36C24522Q0346, falls under NAICS 624310 for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and PSC U006 for Education/Training- Vocational/Technical. The project supports a pilot initiative that trains Veterans in agricultural vocations while integrating behavioral and mental health services from licensed providers.

The scope of work involves providing specialized horticultural and sustainable agriculture training four days a week. The curriculum includes two concurrent 15-week introductory sessions and one 15-week advanced vocational track, covering topics such as soil and plant science, greenhouse production, vegetable production, and floriculture. Each session accommodates seven to ten participants and provides 150 hours of instruction split between classroom and in-field practicum. The performance period consists of a base year from March 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, followed by one option year ending February 29, 2024.

TALMAR, Inc. is the intended vendor based on its prior experience providing these services for the VA Maryland Health Care System since 2019. This notice is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, as the government has identified TALMAR, Inc. as the only source capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements. While this is not a request for proposals, the government will consider written documentation from other sources to determine if a competitive requirement is feasible. Two attachments were posted with the notice on February 18, 2022, and responses regarding this intent were requested by February 24, 2022.

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Opportunity Summary

Opportunity Details

Response deadline: —No deadline provided
NAICS: 624310 (opens in new tab)
PSC: U006 (opens in new tab)
Set aside: —
Published: Feb 18, 2022
Updated: Feb 18, 2022
Agency: VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF
Office: VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF
Department: —
Source: View on SAM.gov (opens in new tab)

Contact and place of performance

Point of contact: [email protected]

Place of performance: Not specified

Original Description

ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS FOR INFORMATION, EMAIL [email protected] NO LATER THAN Thursday 24, 2021 3:00 PM EST. *INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE* This is a Notice of Intent to Sole Source the following requirement: Reference # 36C24522Q0346 Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, only one responsible source (except brand name) and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Contracting Officers may solicit from only one source if the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization). This is not a request for proposals. This notice does not represent a commitment by the government to pay for costs incurred from the preparation and/or submission of data in response to this notice. Written responses to this Notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill this requirement. Information received in response to this Notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive requirement. STATEMENT OF WORK CONTRACT TITLE: Maryland- Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS) This Statement of Work ( SOW ) is issued in pursuant of agricultural training and services to Veterans enrolled in the pilot program, VA FARMS in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs Maryland Health Care System Vocational Rehabilitation Program ( Client ) and TALMAR, Inc. ( Vendor ), effective 03/28/2022 (the Purchase Order ). This SOW is subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Purchase Order between the parties and is made apart thereof. Any term not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Purchase Order. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this SOW and the terms of this Purchase Order, the terms of this SOW shall govern and prevail. This Statement of Work (hereinafter called the SOW ), effective 03/28/2022, is entered into by and between Vendor and Client, and is subject to the terms and conditions specified below. The Exhibit(s) to this SOW, if any, shall be deemed to be apart hereof. In the event of any inconsistencies between the terms of the body of this SOW and the terms of the Exhibit(s) hereto, the terms of this body of this SOW shall prevail. BACKGROUND: Vocational Rehabilitation Services was awarded a sustainment grant in FY21, to continue a pilot program to train Veterans in agricultural vocations while also tending to behavioral and mental health needs with behavioral healthcare services and treatments from licensed providers. Therapeutic Alternatives of Maryland (TALMAR), now referred to as TALMAR, Inc., was the vendor awarded the previous purchase as a Sole Source in support of the VA Maryland Health Care System Pilot VA FARMS initiative. TALMAR has provided horticultural training and therapeutic services for individuals with disabilities since 1998 and has provided three 14- week sessions and one extended 7-month session of Horticulture/Sustainable Agriculture training to 31 Veterans engaged in mental health treatment under this purchase order in 2019 and provided two 10-week and one 15-week sessions to veterans in 2020 with impressive outcomes. SCOPE: This Vendor will provide specialized services 4 days a week, two days each for the separate sessions, for 5 hours each day teaching the curriculum for a total of 15-weeks consisting of two separate sessions, and 2 days a week for 5 hours each day teaching the advanced curriculum for a total of 15-weeks. Each participant will be exposed to the academics of horticulture and sustainable agriculture as well as hands on experience in the field. Participants will practice the hard and soft skills required to obtain and retain employment in the areas of horticulture and agriculture. Each participant will design a career plan and will receive training in seeking and finding appropriate positions to meet their interest, functional levels and need. Trainees will have 2 3 days a week available to engage in mental health treatment and tend to all the areas of life that can affect their health. The course can accommodate between 7 and 10 participants per session in Introductory and Focused Vocational (Advanced) classes. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Base plus one option year. BASE Year March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023 Option Year 1 March 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024 DELIVERABLES: The Vendor will provide: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture: one (1) 15-week session. Meets two times per week on Mon & Wed Operates from 8-1:45 Participants are provided one 45-minute break for lunch and two 10-minute breaks each day Program covers 150 hours; 75 hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of in-field practicum Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture: one (1) 15-week session. Meets two times per week on T, Th Operates from 8-1:45 Participants are provided one 45-minute break for lunch and two 10-minute breaks each day Program covers 150 hours; 75 hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of in-field practicum Focused Vocational Track: one (1) 15-week session. Meets two times per week on T, Th Operates from 8-1:45 Participants are provided one 45-minute break for lunch and two 10-minute breaks each day Program covers 150 hours; 75 hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of in-field practicum GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE)/GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED INFORMATION (GFI): Any GFE provided for Veteran use will be returned to the VAMHCS upon completion of this Purchase Order. GFE items may include Hamilton Beach Brew Station coffee maker, a colored Brother printer, a Spracht Teleconference device, a speaker system, iPads, and a MiFi device as needed. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: The vendor will provide: two (2) 15-week cycle of training sessions in 5-hour increments four days per week on the following topics: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture: Soil and Plant Science, Greenhouse Production, Vegetable production, and Floriculture offers a curriculum that integrates the hard- and soft-skills necessary for gaining long-term employment in the floriculture, sustainable agriculture, and/or greenhouse production industries. TALMAR will facilitate the two (2) Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture sessions concurrently to train the maximum number of Veterans within the growing season and to enable a sufficient number of Veterans to be eligible to attend the Focused Vocational (Advanced) session. A syllabus will be provided by TALMAR to the Veterans participating and to VA Vocational Staff prior to the orientation in the recruitment phase. The syllabus will provide the participating Veterans an overview of what they will be learning throughout the course. ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS FOR INFORMATION, EMAIL [email protected] NO LATER THAN Thursday 24, 2021 3:00 PM EST.