JBMHH Catholic Priest

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

To provide "As Needed" Catholic Priest services to support the religious support activities for military personnel, family members, and authorized civilians at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, ensuring the free exercise of religious preference.

• Provide non-personal services for Catholic Priest duties.

• Services to be performed in accordance with Roman Catholic Church guidelines, Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) Priests' Manual, Army Regulation 165-1, Army Pamphlet 165-18, and Installation Chaplain Policies.

• Services are to be provided only when Unit Ministry Team (UMT) members, RSO Department of the Army Civilians, or volunteers are unavailable.

• Tasks may require work outside traditional business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Specific tasks include:

  • Attending planning and coordination meetings.
  • Conducting Saturday/Sunday Masses, Holy Day Masses, and Special Masses.
  • Administering Penance Services and Confessions.
  • Preparing for and performing Baptism Sacraments.
  • Recording Sacraments (Baptism, Matrimony, Confirmation, Penance, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Eucharist).
  • Providing Pastoral Care and Counseling, Relationship Counseling, and referrals.
  • Providing Marriage Preparation Counseling and Annulment Counseling.
  • Presiding over Funerals and Burials.
  • Performing Anointing of the Sick.
  • Advising the COR and Garrison Chaplain on Catholic aspects of religious support.
  • Maintaining a work log and submitting invoices.

• Services must be performed in accordance with the PWS and applicable guidelines.

• Specific Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) are defined for each task, generally 98% or 100%.

• Contractor must maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP).

• Performance will be evaluated in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

• Period of Performance: One Base Year (10 months) and four 12-month option years, with a potential six-month extension. (Base Year: 01 September 2026 - 28 June 2027).

• Place of Performance: Normally at Memorial Chapel, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

• Contractor personnel must be ordained Catholic Priests endorsed by the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS). Endorsements are granted only to priests contracting directly with a military installation; third-party subcontracting is not endorsed.

• Contractor must provide resumes, AMS required certifications, background checks, and PII for all personnel.

• Personnel must undergo background checks, including AT Level I training, iWatch training, OPSEC training, and potentially FBI fingerprint checks and local civilian law enforcement checks, especially if working with children.

• Contractor personnel must present a neat, clean, and business-like appearance, appropriate for religious services.

• Contractor personnel must communicate with etiquette and refrain from offensive language.

• Contractor must comply with all installation security requirements.

• Government-furnished items include access to chapel spaces, liturgical vestments, vessels, books, utilities, copier/printer, lighting, and sound equipment.

• Contractor must furnish all other necessary supplies, equipment, and services.

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

This document outlines the minimum requirements for the Pastoral Care of Catholic Personnel serving in the military and at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, as established by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

• Core Elements of Catholic Personnel Life: Ensures implementation and support of key elements including Sunday, Holy Day, and daily Mass; comprehensive religious education and sacramental preparation; comprehensive sacramental ministry (baptism, penance, First Communion, confirmation, anointing of the sick, matrimony); Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA); Young Adult Ministry; Spiritual Enrichment programs; and Pastoral Counseling.

• Authority and Governance: Defines the authority structure, with the Senior Catholic priest-chaplain or GS priest having final authority. Contract priests serve as authoritative subject matter experts in Catholic matters when they are the sole priest at an installation.

• Blessed Sacrament: Details requirements for the reservation and accessibility of the Blessed Sacrament, emphasizing its central role in Catholic spirituality and the priest's responsibility for its safeguarding.

• Sunday and Daily Mass: Mandates the availability of Sunday Mass and encourages convenient scheduling for daily Mass. Priest-chaplains are expected to prioritize Mass celebration.

• Sacrament of Penance: Requires weekly scheduled celebrations of the sacrament of penance.

• Availability of Priest for Spiritual Care: Emphasizes the priest-chaplain's primary responsibility for the spiritual care of Catholic personnel and their families, including moral formation and spiritual readiness, and facilitating support for non-Catholics when necessary. Confidentiality in counseling is paramount.

• Minimum Service Hours: Requires a minimum of twenty hours per week for a Catholic program at a military installation, fulfilled by active-duty military priest-chaplains, GS priests, or contracted civilian priests.

• Directors of Religious Education, Musicians, and Assistants: Outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Religious Education (DRE), Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), and other assistants, emphasizing the priest's ultimate authority.

• Ecumenical and Inter-religious Opportunities: Encourages collaboration with other faith groups while prioritizing the spiritual needs of Catholic personnel.

• Annual Responsibilities: Details requirements for priest-chaplains, including annual spiritual retreats and attendance at biennial Convocations.

• Minimum of twenty hours per week for maintaining a Catholic program.

• Priest-chaplains are accountable for ensuring suitable lay ministers are selected, trained, commissioned, and certified.

• Priest-chaplains must maintain dialogue with their diocesan bishop or religious superior and submit Quarterly Reports.

Applies to military installations and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

• Contract priests must obtain endorsement and faculties directly from the AMS.
• All instructional materials must be from the Conformity Listing maintained by the USCCB.
• Active duty personnel in grades E-5 or higher are required for Lay Leader and Catholic Representative roles.
• Mandatory training is required for Lay Leaders, Catholic Representatives, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
• This document replaces previous Minimum Requirements dated August 1, 2011.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) for market research purposes only, not a solicitation. The Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) – Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is seeking information from capable businesses to provide Clergy-Catholic-Priest services on an "As Needed" basis at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBMHH). The Government intends to award a contract through full and open competition.

• Services include providing regular and special Catholic mass, sacraments, and confessions.

• The contractor shall advise Government Chaplaincy personnel as the Catholic subject matter expert (SME).

• The contractor shall serve as the SME on Catholic religious instruction.

• The Archdiocese for Military Services (AMS) is the sole endorser (certifier) of Roman Catholic chaplains to the U.S. government. Endorsements are granted only to priests contracting with the contracting office of a military installation. AMS will not endorse a priest subcontracted by a third-party contractor holding the contract.

• The anticipated NAICS code is 813110 Religious Organizations, with a size standard of $13,000,000.00.

• Contract award will comply with FAR Overhaul (RFO) 52.219 – 14, Limitations on Subcontracting.

• Interested businesses should submit capability statements via email to Swamana Rogers (swamana.n.rogers.civ@army.mil) with a courtesy copy to Rickey G. Hampton (rickey.g.hampton.civ@army.mil).

• Deadline for submission: 10 June 2026 at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

• Capability packages shall not exceed five (5) pages.

• The SSN requests specific information regarding firm details, small business status, interest in prime/subcontracting, previous experience, commercial availability, and recommendations for structuring requirements.

• The notice is issued for full and open competition. Businesses are encouraged to identify capabilities.

• This notice does not constitute a commitment to procure services or award a contract.

• The Government will not pay for information or administrative costs incurred in response.

• Potential offerors are responsible for monitoring sam.gov for future solicitations.

• Referenced attachments include: Performance Work Statement, AMS Policy, and Minimum Requirements for Pastoral Care.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) policy regarding third-party contractors and endorsements for civilian priests seeking to contract with military installations. It clarifies the requirements for priests to receive an AMS endorsement.

• Endorsement Requirement: Catholic priests must have an AMS endorsement to apply for a contract serving the needs of the Armed Forces and their families.
• Direct Contracting: Endorsements are granted only to priests contracting directly with a military installation's contracting office.
• No Subcontracting: The AMS will not endorse a priest who is subcontracted by a third-party contractor holding the primary contract.
• Waivers: Waivers may be considered on an ad-hoc basis for serious needs in remote locations.
• Existing Arrangements: Pre-existing arrangements with religious communities or Catholic dioceses are not affected.
• Policy Integration: This policy is part of the "Minimum Requirements for the Pastoral Care of Catholic Personnel" (dated 1 August 2011).

This policy is relevant to any potential bidder who is a civilian priest seeking to contract with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. It specifies the conditions under which an endorsement will be granted, particularly emphasizing direct contracting and prohibiting subcontracting arrangements for priests seeking endorsement.