U008--Certificate Program for Military Environmental Exposures

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) Certificate Program for Military Environmental Exposures 1. General 1.1. Introduction: Maintain a Military Environmental Exposure Certificate Program that includes maintaining a web-based portal, awarding certificates, and expanding the reach of the certificate program. 1.2. Background/Objective: In FY22, the VA established a medical education training certificate program with the American College of Preventative Medicine (ACPM) to train VA and non-VA physicians and other healthcare professionals in environmental medicine. National medical military environmental exposure education is required by the PACT Act (PL 117–168). The Military Environmental Exposure Certificate ensures VA and community providers have the knowledge they need to care for Veterans exposure concerns – providing direct Veteran Benefit. The Military Environmental Exposure Certificate is necessary to ensure VA can effectively provide care and benefits for Veterans with military exposure concerns. This new contract will maintain this critical medical education training certification program for the VANJHCS-War Related Illness and Injury Study Center department to train VA and non-VA physicians and other providers in military environmental medicine. For the certification to have value, it must be recognized by a professional physician organization. This contract, with a professional physical organization, maintains the only certification in military environmental exposures. ACPM is the only professional medical organization positioned to maintain and improve the already created platform for this important certificate. The Vendor will be able to perform a range of activities to support high quality deliverables including: maintaining a web-based portal, awarding certificates, and expanding the reach of the certificate program. 1.3. Place of Performance: The contract services and activities described will take place at the contractor’s facility. Virtual meetings will be held at least weekly, along with a project kick-off and close-out meetings, lasting approximately 60 minutes each. Any additional meetings will be scheduled as needed. Meetings will be virtual using the Microsoft Teams or a similar platform. 1.4. Period of Performance: 09/19/2026 – 09/18/2030 1.5. Recognized Holidays: The contractor is responsible for conducting business between the hours of 0830-1630 Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays (listed below) or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. New Year’s Day Labor Day -- 1 of 11 -- Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth Christmas Day Independence Day 2. Definitions- ACRONYMS: ACPM American College of Preventive Medicine VHA Veterans Health Administration VA Department of Veterans Affairs PDHS Post-Deployment Health Services WRIISC NJ War Related Illness and Injury Center, New Jersey POC Point of Contact PRS Performance Requirements Summary PWS Performance Work Statement QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QC Quality Control QCP Quality Control Program TE Technical Exhibit TMS Training Management System 3. Scope of Work- Maintain a Military Environmental Exposure Certificate Program that includes maintaining a web-based portal, awarding certificates, and expanding the reach of the certificate program. 4. Specific Tasks 4.1. Task One: Maintain Military Environmental Exposure certificate program. 4.1.1. Modify the web portal as required to accommodate new or updated training modules, based on VA-determined content and evolving program requirements. Implement requested modification within 30 days of notification. 4.1.2. Collect and validate individual certificates for both Level 1 and Level 2 certifications. Validate completion certifications with 5 business days of submission. 4.1.3. Release official certificates from the professional medical organization to designate successful completion of the certification course. 4.1.4. Maintain a validated data tracking system to monitor weekly completion rates and performance metrics. Ensure all data is entered with a high degree of accuracy, using built-in validation tools to minimize discrepancies and support audit readiness. 4.1.5. Provide weekly reports that summarize data trends, completion status, and any anomalies. Continuously evaluate and optimize the tracking process to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance usability for interested parties. -- 2 of 11 -- 4.1.6. Document and implement updates to tracking templates in alignment with data integrity standards. 4.1.7. Provide biannual reports on data analytics and psychometric testing to evaluate the validity, reliability, and performance of assessment items. These reports should include detailed analyses of item difficulty, discrimination indices, response patterns, and overall test reliability metrics. 4.1.8. Support the continuous improvement of assessment tools by updating test items as needed to enhance the quality, accuracy, and relevance of the product. Facilitate the relaunch of revised assessments at least once annually to ensure alignment with current standards and evolving learner needs. 4.2. Task Two: Expand reach of Military Environmental Exposure certificate program. 4.2.1. Develop and implement four hours of programming at the medical organization’s Annual Conference devoted to military exposure medicine topics. Of the four hours, up to three hours may consist of content selected through the standard abstract submission and review process, and at least one hour will be organized and delivered by VA. The programming shall include relevant topics, qualified expert speakers, and educational sessions with current research and clinical practice. 4.2.2. Implement and execute a structured outreach plan, including semi-annual analysi…