Question_and_Answer_Volume_I_-_Current_as_of_9.11.18.pdf

USDA Forest Service || National Anti -Harassment Program Support & Implementation ||12318718R0010

Question & Answer Responses || Page 1 of 3

Response to Questions – Volume I

QUESTION RESPONSES

1. Is this solicitation a new requirement or is there an incumbent? If there is an incumbent, what is the company name and contract information?

This is a new requirement. No recent work of this size and scope has been performed for the agency.

2. Can more than one pricing proposal be submitted within a proposal or does a separate proposal have to be submitted with each different pricing proposal?

Offerors may submit alternative pricing within a single proposal; however, Offerors must ensure that the proposed pricing reflects the approach and proposed work presented in the non-price volumes.

Offerors are required to submit all pricing information needed to calculate the total evaluated price (TEP) as outlined in Section

M.3. of the solicitation. Proposals which fail to provide the pricing information needed to calculate the TEP may be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for award.

3. What is the due date for proposals in response to this solicitation?

The due date for this solicitation is September

17, 2018. The solicitation posting on FBO shall be amended to correct this error.

4. What is the expected level of travel needed for this solicitation?

The Forest Service expects that the majority of the work shall be performed in conjunction with agency offices in Washington, DC and

Albuquerque, NM. Additional orders – especially orders for training – may be placed from ordering offices located in other regions, stations, and areas within the US and its territories.

Travel will be dependent upon the Offeror’s proposed approach and their geographic location.

Question & Answer Responses || Page 2 of 3

5. What is the expected level of in-person work for this solicitation?

This is dependent upon the Offeror’s proposal; however, given the expected deliverables the agency estimates a requirement that at least some work be completed at a physical agency location.

6. The solicitation lists objectives including collecting data on the existing policy, perceived strengths, and perceived weaknesses.

Presumably, this would include some type of survey of employees at large. Does the Agency have an existing survey platform that can be used for this purpose, or does the

Contractor have to provide it?

The agency does not anticipate a need to survey employees as part of this requirement.

Data regarding the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of employees, if needed, will be collected as part of a separate effort and provided to the Contractor as needed.

7. A significant portion of the

[Agency’s] reduction and prevention efforts includes the Agency's decisions that are made when the Agency policy is violated. Will the Contractor have access to the corresponding corrective action in employee's personnel files who have been found in violation of the harassment policy?

The agency will provide the outcome, documentation, and/or summaries of actions taken to the extent allowed by the Privacy Act and while adhering to all required policies regarding protection of PII. The agency will not provide actions in eOPFs.

8. The Agency is requesting a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach to harassment and/or assault. What specific criteria does the Agency expect in this regard?

How does the agency define “victim-centered” and “trauma-informed”?

A “victim-centered approach” prioritizes the victim’s wishes, safety, and well-being in all matters and procedures.

A “trauma-informed approach“ ensures that those involved in or overseeing any part of the anti-harassment policy and program is informed of how traumatic experiences and traumatic stress may impact people. This includes how trauma affects behavior, reactions, and decisions.

The agency has not yet codified and defined this term within its policy. One of the objectives of this requirement is to incorporate these approaches into agency policy.

Question & Answer Responses || Page 3 of 3

9. Section 3.3 Anti-Harassment Training does not specifically articulate the requirements for the training of Forest

Service employees at large. Does the agency expect training to be provided to all employees? If so, does the agency prefer in-person or virtual training?

The Forest Service seeks to change organization practices within the agency. To this end, the entire Forest Service workforce will likely need some form of training or education; however, the agency does not expect that the Contractor will necessarily provide that training directly to every employee.

Offerors shall address the objectives outlined in Section C.2 of the solicitation in their proposals. Offerors must demonstrate how their training solution will help the agency in meeting these objectives, especially objectives (d), (f), and (g).

10. Additionally, the RFP requires "train-the-trainer", specifically who will be receiving the “train the trainer” courses?

Forest Service personnel will be the participants in the train-the-trainer courses.

11. There is no specific provision on the effectiveness of the inquiry process and how it is managed. Is that a specific expectation that the

Contractor will be involved with either the delivery and/or evaluation of the inquiry process?

The Contractor will not be expected to conduct inquiries into allegations of sexual or other harassment as part of this requirement.

Offerors shall identify any and all areas of inquiry they believe may be necessary for the successful completion of the requirements and objectives outlined in the PWS.