Notice of intent to Sole Source - State and Tribal Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) Training and Technical Assistance

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD  A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT  TO  BLH Technologies, Inc.Requiring Activity:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Administration for Children and Families (ACF)Office of Family Assistance (OFA)Contracting Activity:Research and Knowledge-Based ServicesOffice of Government Contracting Services (GCS)Administration for Children & Families (ACF)Department of Health and Human Services HHS)Contracting Officer (CO):Mark BlevinsResearch and Knowledge-Based ServicesOffice of Government Contracting Services (GCS)Administration for Children & Families (ACF)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Mark.Blevins@acf.hhs.gov202 989-5530Contract Specialist (CS):Kehinde AdesinaContract Specialist, Research and Knowledge-Based ServicesOffice of Government Contracting Services (GCS)Administration for Children & Families (ACF)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

href="mailto:Kehinde.adesina@acf.hhs.gov">Kehinde.adesina@acf.hhs.gov BLH Technologies, Inc.1803 Research Blvd., Ste. 500Rockville, MD 20850-6108https://www.blhtech.com/about/contactThe anticipatory procurement will be conducted in accordance with (IAW) 41 U.S.C. §1901, et seq., as amended and FAR Part 12 and FAR subpart 13.5, and will adhere to FAR 13.501, “Special documentation requirements.”  A timely J&A with the content requirements identified at FAR 6.303-2 will be posted on the GPE.  The anticipatory contract will not exceed the thresholds as identified at FAR 13.501(a) (2)(i).  The anticipatory contract with BLH Technologies, Inc. will not exceed 12-months.  The Government anticipates the financial arrangement between the parties will be a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP).BLH Technologies, Inc., is the only vendor capable of providing highly specialized and unique services required to support the requiring activity.  BLH Technologies, Inc., has been successfully performing the subject services under the current task order HHSP233201500096I/75P00120F3700 for approximately the last two years.The Office of Family Assistance (OFA), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), administers several key federal programs that foster economic security and stability.  The programs include the $16.4 billion state and tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, the Native Employment Works (NEW) program authorized by amendments to section 412(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, the Tribal TANF Child Welfare (TTCW) collaboration grants reauthorized under the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (42 USC 603 (a)(2)(B)), and the $150 million Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) discretionary grant program originally authorized under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and reauthorized under the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291).This requirement is intended to provide targeted support for Training and Technical Assistance for TANF Programs to state, tribal, and local TANF programs and partners, and TTCW Coordination and Native Employment Works (NEW) grantees. The Contractor must provide all necessary qualified personnel, equipment, materials, supplies, facilities, and any other services that are necessary for or incidental for this effort as described below.   This requirement also includes logistical and administrative support for conferences, meetings (including virtual meetings), and activities associated with the TANF, Tribal TANF, NEW, and TTCW programs.The TANF program has changed considerably since its passage in 1996 and the socioeconomic and political realities have evolved. To respond to the ever-changing needs of TANF programs, stakeholders, and participants, the Contractor must demonstrate a creative strategy for developing proposed activities. The purpose of the State and Tribal Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) Training and Technical Assistance for TANF Programs (STAR) contract is to support TTA to TANF programs and its stakeholders in improving the economic security of individuals and families.Through low- to high-intensity engagements, STAR assists programs in assessing their needs, designing responsive program change strategies, and assessing program development.  Through STAR, OFA delivers training and technical assistance (TTA) to state, tribal, and local TANF programs and partners, TTCW Coordination grants, Native Employment Works (NEW) programs and other TANF stakeholders.  STAR supports in-person and virtual TTA activities, short- and long-term interventions, and the vast majority of TTA activities funded by OFA.STAR activities seek to manage and enhance TANF program operations, respond to ongoing and emerging socioeconomic challenges faced by American families eligible for and participating in the TANF program. OFA seeks a contractor with the appropriate blend of knowledge, diversity, experience, and abilities to manage and enhance operations of its TANF TTA.  The Contractor will bring a team of content experts, project managers, and peer/practitioner representatives to support all STAR activities and to advise OFA on potential TTA activities.OFA has made tremendous investments in the strengthening of TANF programs to respond to historical and emerging economic and social challenges. TANF programs and their partners continue to face challenges to an evolving economy for individuals on the low-income level. From declining middle skilled jobs, changing career paths, and stagnant or low work wages, the economy faced by today’s TANF participants differs from that of 1996. The provision of TTA to TANF programs has evolved in many ways. From the increased use of virtual engagements and data analytics, OFA continues to make certain TTA is responsive and relevant.OFA has delivered a variety of TTA to TANF stakeholders, documented program innovations, and disseminated information on program enhancements since TANF was enacted.The Government is seeking a vendor to provide State and Tribal Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) Training and Technical Assistance for TANF Programs.  The Contractor will provide expertise in the delivery of TTA to a variety of TANF stakeholders. This TTA may be proactive, i.e., OFA-initiated policy academies, topical roundtables and workshops, national summits, and webinars. It may also be responsive to specific needs identified by TANF stakeholders.Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that 1. competition would be advantageous to the Government, 2. would not be cost or time prohibitive, 3. would not pose unreasonable risk to the Government, and 4. would not hinder the mission objectives of the Agency which are very time sensitive.  This response would carefully be evaluated against all known information to ascertain if the Government’s current decision should be changed.  In addition to this, the Respondent shall spell out in detail how it can provide services which satisfy the following in a clear and convincing manner, to include the need for developing and implementing core TTA activities, which may include, but are not limited to:Efficient and effective TTA project management;Proactive and responsive programmatic TTA to groups or one-on-one in content areas including, but not limited to workforce development, human services case management models, coaching, career pathways, public health emergencies, behavioral economics, program redesign, and intergenerational poverty;Logistical support and content development for TTA events;Development of relevant written products and materials, including coordinating information dissemination; andMaintaining and updating the OFA Peer Technical Assistance (PeerTA) website to inform, support, and engage TANF stakeholders.Emphasis will be placed on the Contractor’s ability to clearly articulate a vision for achieving OFA’s goal of improving TANF program outcomes.  OFA’s priorities are to:Identify and support innovative approaches—with a focus on evidence-informed/based practices—to improving employment outcomes among TANF participants and other safety-net programs;Identify and share practices that encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion in TANF programs;Assist jurisdictions in identifying ongoing challenges, develop responsive strategies, and link to resources and partners that support recovery efforts because of the public health emergency; andSupport TANF programs in the development of comprehensive approaches to increase family economic security and stability by designing and implementing programs that focus on parental economic independence and child and family well-being. The Contractor shall provide expertise in the delivery of TTA to a variety of TANF stakeholders.  This TTA may be proactive, i.e., OFA-initiated policy academies, topical roundtables and workshops, national summits, and webinars.  It may also be responsive to specific needs identified by TANF stakeholders.  The Contractor shall be responsible for developing and implementing core TTA activities, which may include, but are not limited to:Efficient and effective TTA project management;Proactive and responsive programmatic TTA to groups or one-on-one in content areas including, but not limited to workforce development, human services case management models, coaching, career pathways, public health emergencies, behavioral economics, program redesign, and intergenerational poverty;Logistical support and content development for TTA events such as:support for single on-site and virtual TTA visits, multi-site exchanges, and webinars;meeting facilitation;agenda development, speaker identification, and TTA event reports;Development of relevant written products and materials, including coordinating information dissemination; andMaintaining and updating the OFA Peer Technical Assistance (PeerTA) website to inform, support, and engage TANF stakeholders.The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Information received will normally be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.  The Government has already determined that the work cannot be subdivided or otherwise broken down into smaller tasks or deliverables.  Any response shall be a “turn-key” response.   The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice. This is NOT a request for quotes or Respondent’s submissions. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to theContract Specialist (CS):  Kehinde AdesinaResearch and Knowledge-Based Services Office of Government Contracting Services (GCS)Administration for Children & Families (ACF)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Kehinde.adesina@acf.hhs.govAnticipated posted date:  September 13, 2022Anticipated close date: September 28, 2022