140R8121Q0361_Amend_3-Responses_Part_2_v2_0003.pdf

140R8121Q0361 - Questions and Responses Part 2 v2

Final Reponses to Questions

1. Can the government provide a break-down of the 19 teams referenced in the SOW by function, and/or where those teams are located within the SEED process diagram provided on page 15 of the SOW?

Response: The breakdown of teams being assessed has not been determined.

2. Based upon the six process areas identified in the SEED process diagram, do the 19 teams represent current work activities/units conducted within each of the six process areas? For example, are the 19 teams a variable number or a fixed number of teams over time?

Response: The 19 teams are a variable number depending on the current work.

3. How soon after contract award will the government provide access to the 11 documents identified in Section 7.0 of the SOW?

Response: Within one week of award.

4. Many organizational assessments of team dynamics begin by asking individuals to complete a questionnaire which would be tailored to DSO’s environment and analytical processes, with data then analyzed and thematized for individual/group interviews. Is this permissible within the instant solicitation, or would it violate the Paperwork Reduction Act?

Response: Because this assessment will be conducted via remote means, the government would like all surveys to be on-line.

5. Will the government allow virtual interviews? If so, how would they be scheduled?

Response: Yes, the government will allow virtual interviews. They would be scheduled via

Microsoft Teams if possible, with discussion of other online platforms if needed.

6. Would the government consider extending the due date for proposals by one week?

Response: No.

The contractor who submitted these questions included a highlighted section from the RFQ and a brief snapshot of their process.

7. Assessments are administered at the individual, group or organizational level conducted to measure specific things: delegation or conflict management, emotional intelligence, or identify personality types, communication styles etc., other methods used to assess an organizations’

(culture, leadership, participation, satisfaction, performance, retention etc.,) is through action research which are surveys, questionnaires, observations, focus or action learning groups. What type of assessments are needed and how many are required?

Response: This will be determined once the government and the contractor have an initial meeting to discuss the best methods to utilize.

8. The excerpts from the solicitation highlighted in yellow below are challenges within the organization. Please give as much contextual information describing what behavior the organization is specifically experiencing and at what levels? Describe the effect on the organization. Provide examples. (The offeror acknowledges receiving the list of documents to be provided upon contract award.

Response: This is an assessment of the current team dynamics. This assessment is to identify the behaviors the organization is currently experiencing.

9. What specific problem(s) do we want to solve? What are the effectiveness criteria and what is the expected result or output? What will the client do with the collected analyzed data?

Response: This is an assessment of the current team dynamics. This assessment is to identify the problems that need to be solved. The government will utilize the assessment results to identify action plans moving forward.

10. The POP is six months. How much time has the client determined employees can be fully engaged with the consultant through this process each day?

Response: It will depend on how the contractor conducts the assessment and will be discussed after award.

11. Can this work be accomplished on a weekly schedule by the hour? Example attend meetings, observe team collaboration, observe management at different levels through different phases of the review? These would be targeted interventions. (assess and identify) or does the government require the contractor 8 hours each working day for the duration of the performance period?

Response: This work could be accomplished with targeted interventions.

To be successful everyone must pursue continuous learning, freely raise concerns, question assumptions including decisions made by senior staff and leadership, and generally operate in a trusting and respectful environment. All individuals must take personal responsibility for the safety of our dams.

As the program moves toward addressing lower risk, more nuanced recommendations, the DSO has identified an opportunity to assess and potentially improve team dynamics.

In studying these projects and interviewing personnel involved in these projects, areas including, but not limited to communication between offices, transparency, psychological safety, culture, understanding of the scope of the projects, and understanding of the dam safety processes, are identified as opportunities for growth.

Reclamation requires a contractor to assess and identify the organizational culture and dynamics of the teams working on DSO projects. The assessment of the 19 project teams shall cover all phases of dam safety work within Reclamation including Comprehensive Reviews, Issue Evaluations, Corrective Action

Studies, Final Design, Construction, and Risk Reduction Verification, as described in 1.0.