SAM #36C10D26Q0110

Request for Information: Compliance Survey and Audit Services for Educational Institutions Serving Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking industry input for potential compliance survey and audit services for educational and training institutions serving veterans. - Government Buyer: - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Acquisition Directorate, Washington DC - Services Requested: - Annual compliance surveys and audits at educational and training institutions - Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) - Non-College Degree (NCD) programs - On the Job Training (OJT) sites - Apprenticeship Programs (APP) - Correspondence Schools (COR) - Flight Schools (FLT) - Services include: - Preparation and planning - On-site visits (up to three days) - Review and audit of education and payment records - Entrance and exit briefings - Reporting findings and recommendations - Unique Requirements: - Adherence to relevant auditing standards - Use of certified auditors - Verification of payment accuracy and regulatory compliance for VA educational assistance programs - No specific OEMs or vendors are mentioned - No products or part numbers are requested; focus is exclusively on service capabilities

Description

Page 6 of 6 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION INTRODUCTION

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for Compliance Survey/Audit Services. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only. There is no obligation for the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. In accordance with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Subpart 15.101 (c), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by VBA in developing its acquisition strategy and informing, refining and finalizing the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Only electronic responses to this RFI will be accepted. The Government will not pay for any time expended, or information submitted in response to this RFI. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this RFI.

BACKGROUND

VA, VBA, Education Service is interested in receiving input regarding a potential requirement for services in accordance with Title 38 USC 3693, conducting annual compliance surveys at educational and training institutions offering one or more courses approved for the enrollment of eligible veterans or persons. Compliance surveys are conducted to ensure that educational and training institutions, and their approved courses, comply with all applicable provisions of the laws administered by VA. The objective of a compliance survey is to identify deficiencies and violations, which provides inputs for the development of a remediation strategy or enforcement action and helps to ensure the propriety of benefit payments.

Compliance Survey/Audit:

Prepare for compliance survey visit by reviewing education records and VA education processing systems. Conduct compliance surveys at identified educational and training institutions to verify the accuracy of payments made to eligible students using VA educational assistance programs. Educational institutions and training providers subject to compliance surveys include: Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) Non-College Degree (NCD) On the Job Training sites (OJT) Apprenticeship Programs (APP) Correspondence Schools (COR) Flight Schools (FLT) Review and audit school and company records to determine compliance with applicable statutory provisions and VA regulations. Provide an entrance briefing before conducting the survey/audit, and an exit briefing to the school officials upon completion of the survey. Provide a report summarizing the findings and recommendations, as well as detailed findings and supporting documentation.

The Compliance Survey/Audit will include travel for an on-site visit at the educational or training institutions of up to three days depending on the size of student population, and the possible need for expanded reviews and/or additional interviews due to findings identified. Compliance survey findings should be finalized within 30 days of completion of the reviews and interviews.

INFORMATION SOUGHT

VA seeks industry feedback and information regarding the availability, length, and cost of completing compliance survey activities at the six above identified types of education and training providers, and if they are congruent with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standard, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and the audit requirement of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance).

The Government is seeking the following information to be provided by the vendors when responding to the RFI:

Company Information Capability Statement 3.1 Company Information RFI respondents shall provide the following information:

Company Name Company Address Company Point of Contact (name, address, telephone number, email address) DUNS Number NAICS Codes and business size for NAICS code 541611 - Identify if your company has any of the following business concern statuses (include all that apply): Small Business (SB); Certified Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) firm; Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB); Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB); Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB); Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB); Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HubZone) Small Business; Large Business NOTE: If you feel that another NAICS code would better suit this requirement please provide any feedback in this section. Existing Multiple Award Contract (MAC) vehicles currently held by your company (examples may include General Service Administrations (GSA) schedules, Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), Indefinite Delivery Contracts (IDCs), Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)) available for the Government s use for this requirement. For each MAC vehicle provide: vehicle name vehicle number date of award expiration date

3.2 Capability Statement RFI respondents shall provide a capability statement with an overview of the company s capabilities to fulfill the compliance survey/audit services. Overview should include but not be limited to:

Describe what specific additional information regarding the requirements is needed to provide an informed and competitive solution. Do you understand what the VA requires? If not, what information needs to be added, changed and/or reworded? List any questions and concerns you have regarding this notice. Does your organization have Certified Auditors with the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) or a Certified Quality Auditors with American Society for Quality (ASQ)? If yes to question #3, How long has your organization been conducting educational institution reviews as a Certified Auditor with the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) or a Certified Quality Auditor with American Society for Quality (ASQ)? Provide experience/examples in the ability to effectively conduct different types of compliance surveys/audits as appropriate for educational or training programs. Provide experience/examples in the ability to complete educational or training institution audit in a professional, ethical, and objective manner using and interpreting applicable laws and regulations. Provide experience/examples in the ability to effectively plan, communicate, and execute an audit within its defined scope, including scheduling resources, conducting meetings and using appropriate techniques to identify, gather, and classify objective evidence. Provide experience/examples in the ability to verify, document, and communicate audit results and develop an audit report. Provide experience/examples in the ability to possess interpersonal skills necessary to conduct interviews, entrance and exit briefings, and resolve conflict while completing an audit. Provide contract number(s) and a synopsis of recent and relevant work that has been completed as it pertains to compliance with survey/audit activities.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit responses via email to the Contracting Officer, Lisa Winkler, at lisa.winkler@va.gov. Submissions are due no later than Monday, June 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m. (ET). The email subject line must contain the following: Response to RFI 36C10E20Q0101, Educational Compliance Survey/Audit Services May 2026 VBA reserves the right to not reply to any emails, responses, questions and materials submitted in response to the RFI. Mark your response as Proprietary Information if the information included is considered to be business sensitive and / or includes trade secrets. RFI responses shall not exceed 5 pages total. Responses shall be prepared on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper (charts may be landscaped but must be on 8.5 x 11-inch paper) and shall be in Times New Roman, font size (12), with 1 margins. All pages of the response shall be appropriately numbered and identified with the RFI number.

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