DSPO Connect Program for Suicide Prevention

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines requirements for a contractor to tailor, expand, and validate the existing Connect Program, an evidence-based suicide prevention program, for the Department of War (DoW) and all Military Services. The goal is to reduce suicides and increase readiness by promoting social connectedness and healthy coping skills.

• Tailor and update the Connect Program to align with DoW and Military Services values, language, and initiatives, while maintaining fidelity to the tested model.

• Validate the updated program and implementation strategy with approximately 400-600 DoW personnel.

• Evaluate participant engagement, skill adoption, group cohesion, and implementation quality.

• Provide recommendations for broader implementation.

• Provide program management support, including a Program Manager (PM) as a Point of Contact (POC).

• Develop and submit various deliverables, including a Project Charter, Project Plan, Monthly Status Reports, environmental scans, updated program reports, and evaluation reports.

• Deliverables must be provided on time, with minimal errors requiring correction.

• Project plans should have no more than two business days delay.

• Obtaining clearances and approvals should have no more than one instance of rejection by OMB and IRB for implementation.

• Deliverables should not have more than two instances per month requiring more than four iterations to finalize.

• Timely submission of deliverables is expected, with no more than four instances per quarter of late deliverables.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facility.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but contract award and subsequent option exercises are mentioned.

• Section 508 compliance for all Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) deliverables.

• Personnel security requirements, including background investigations (Tier 3 or equivalent) and potential interim eligibility.

• Access to sensitive information and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requires specific handling and safeguarding procedures.

• Cybersecurity compliance with DoD Instructions and frameworks (RMF, FISMA, NIST).

• Mandatory training for contractor employees within 30 days of contract award.

• No Government Furnished Property/Equipment/Information (GFP/GFE/GFI) will be provided.

Combined Sources Sought Notice and Notice of Intent

This document serves as a Sources Sought Notice and a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for the Connect Program for Suicide Prevention. The Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), Acquisition Management Directorate (AMD) is seeking to identify parties with the capability and resources to provide the Connect Program, which aims to tailor, expand, and validate an existing program for the Department of War (DoW) and all Military Services. The contractor will validate implementation and provide a report with findings and recommendations.

• Tailor, update, expand, and validate the existing Connect Program.

• Validate the implementation of the Connect Program.

• Provide a report including evaluation findings and recommendations for sustained program implementation and evaluation.

• The government intends to negotiate and award a sole-source, firm fixed price contract.

• Period of Performance: Base period and two 12-month option periods, beginning on or about November 2, 2026.

• Place of Performance: Vendor's facility and various military installations.

• This is not a solicitation, and proposals are not being requested. Submission of information is voluntary for market research purposes.

• The government is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

• Interested parties are requested to submit an unclassified capability statement (limited to 5 pages) by the date listed in SAM.

• The proposed NAICS code is 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services Research) with a size standard of $24.5M.

• Interested parties must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Specific certifications are required for 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) firms.

• The results of this sources sought will assist in determining the appropriate solicitation type (e.g., 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB set-aside, or full and open competition).

• Safeside Prevention LLC is identified as a sublicensee for the Connect Program.

• Costs associated with responding are not reimbursable.

• Acknowledgement of receipt and return of submissions will not be provided.

• The information provided is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.

• A draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached.