Training for SSA Disability Hearing Officers

VENDOR: Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements Contract for the planning and delivery of training related to SSA’s Disability Hearing Officer (DHO) Training requirements. The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to issue a full and open competetive acquisition to establish a follow-on, Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements contract for the continuation of services for the planning and delivery of training related to SSA’s HO Training requirements. The anticipated contract will allow the services to continue for the period of performance of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014. SSA has developed and implemented a process whereby disability beneficiaries who have been notified that their disability has ceased, did not exist, or is no longer disabling are provided a face-to-face due process evidentiary hearing at the reconsideration level of SSA’s appeals process. This due process hearing, commonly referred to as a disability hearing, is generally the responsibility of the Disability Determination Specialists (DDS); however, a Federal process has been established for States that have declined the process and for cases in which the initial determination was made. The decision maker at this face-to-face hearing is referred to as the DHO. BACKGROUND: On July 1, 2004, SSA awarded a five-year, Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements contract to the McGeorge School of Law for these services. McGeorge was instrumental in the initial design for the training program, and have been conducting this training for SSA for over 20 years. REQUIREMENTS: To maintain the disability hearings process, SSA must provide for the training of non-attorney type employees involved in the disability hearing process. These hearings are conducted under the guidance of the Goldberg vs. Kelly, US Supreme Court decision that mandates how and in what manner such a hearing is to be conducted to ensure the claimant receives due process. This contract will allow SSA to continue to obtain the necessary services of a qualified contractor who can provide high quality classroom training in due process requirements. Note: Refer to the solicitation for specific requirements once uploaded to FedBizOpps. This contract action is pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.501(a) (1) (ii) under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996). Solicitation number SSA-RFQ-09-1290 is scheduled for release on or about March 18, 2009. The solicitation will be available for downloading from the FedBizOpps.gov website. HARD COPIES OF THE RFQ WILL NOT BE MAILED OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED. Potential offerors are responsible for accessing the FedBizOpps website to check the status of this requirement and to keep current with any amendments that may be issued. Interested parties must respond to the solicitation in order to be considered for award of any resultant contract.