Q201--Sources Sought | Boots on the Ground Neighbor Island for the CPIVH

1.0 Introduction 1.1 Title Boots on the Ground Neighbor Islands for the Center for Pacific Islander Veterans Health (CPIVH) 1.2 Authority for the Project This project is authorized by the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System (VA PIHCS), Office of Research and Development, under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Congressional mandates, including H.R. 2617 (Public Law 117-391, Title II, Page 29, Paragraph 2) and H.R. 4366 (Public Law 118-42, Senate Report 118-43, Title II, Page 37, Paragraph 1), establish the CPIVH to improve healthcare access for Veterans in Hawaii, the continental U.S., and the Pacific Basin. 1.3 Scope and Purpose The VA seeks two contractors to support the Center for Pacific Islander Veterans Health (CPIVH), a newly established entity under VA PIHCS, reporting to the VHA. The contractors will serve as an authorized representative of CPIVH, focusing on tailored outreach, needs assessment, and resource connection for Veterans in Hawaii, the continental U.S., and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. Key Objectives: Develop culturally tailored outreach plans to promote VHA services. Create and implement assessment tools to identify Veterans’ healthcare needs. Establish a database to store and manage assessment results. Enhance access to VA healthcare services through community engagement and support. 1.4 Background The CPIVH was established to address healthcare disparities faced by Pacific Island Veterans, who encounter geographic, cultural, and systemic barriers to accessing VA services. Legislative mandates (H.R. 2617 and H.R. 4366) emphasize the need for culturally competent care and improved access for underserved Veterans in the Pacific region. Challenges include limited outreach, insufficient culturally tailored services, and underrepresentation in VA healthcare systems. CPIVH aims to bridge these gaps through targeted outreach, needs assessment, and community engagement. The Center Boots on the Ground program will utilize community health workers (CHW) to conduct outreach and engagement to NHPI Veterans. The CHW evidence-based practice was chosen for the Boots on the Ground program as CHWs represent the federally recognized, gold standard evidence-based practice for conducting health outreach and education to community populations, the stated goal of the Boots on the Ground program. Importantly and strongly justifying the Center’s CHW practice, CHWs are recognized for their effectiveness by federal entities including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Services Research Administration. As just one example of the extensive evidence-base confirming the effectiveness of the CHW programs for communities such as NHPIs, the Health Services Research Administration confirms that key outcomes of CHW programs include (1) increased healthcare access and utilization, (2) increased health and screening rates, (3) strengthened adherence to health recommendations, and (4) lowered need for emergency and specialty healthcare services. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, CHWs are defined as (1) “lay members of the community who work either for pay or as volunteers in association with the local health care system in both urban and rural environments,” who (2) “act as liaisons, educators, and cultural mediators between healthcare and social service resources and the communities they serve.” As CHWs must be composed of lay members of the patient communities served to (1) serve as trusted healthcare messengers and (2) be considered an evidence-based practice, CHWs in the Boots on the Ground program must come from and be integrated into the communities the Center serves. 1.5 Work Environment The contractors will operate in a professional indoor office environment conducive to stakeholder collaboration and aligned with CPIVH’s mission. The role is primarily sedentary, requiring standard office equipment and software. Occasional light physical activities, such as handling documents or office supplies, may be required. Note: Cybersecurity and Accreditation (C&A) requirements do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required. 1.6 Contractor Requirements 1.6.1 Experience Requirements The contractor must demonstrate: Extensive experience in health-related outreach and engagement for community-based populations in the continental U.S. and Pacific region. Established expertise working within Pacific Island cultures, including Veterans’ communities, with active networks of community health workers. Proven experience recruiting, training, and supervising community health workers for health outreach, focusing on: Promoting VHA services. Assessing Veterans’ unique needs in the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Pacific Islands. Connecting Veterans to community and health resources, supporting enrollment, appointment follow-ups, and treatment compliance.Funding for outreach activities is included in the CPIVH budget and approved by the VA. 1.6.2 Knowledge Requirements The contractor must possess: Working knowledge of VHA organization, enrollment processes, and available resources/services for Veterans. Cultural competency in Pacific Island communities to ensure effective engagement. Ability to collaborate with VA representatives to assist Veterans with enrollment and resource navigation. 2.0 Requirements 2.1 Description of Tasks The contractors will recruit, train, and supervise community health workers to conduct outreach in the continental U.S. and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. The focus will be on educating Veterans about VHA services, assessing needs, and connecting them to healthcare and support resources, with specialized expertise in Pacific Island communities. The contract covers one year of services, with management costs included in the CPIVH budget. 2.2 Tasks and Associated Deliverables The …