SOW_Islamic_draft.pdf

Background

ISLAMIC SPIRITUAL GUIDE

STATEMENT OF WORK

In September 2000, the Executive Staff of the Federal Bureau of Prisons approved a multi-faith, Residential Life Connections Pre-release Program. lbis is a voluntary program located in five institutions in various regions of the country. The program is available to men and women inmates.

The program provides inmates with intensive opportunities for spiritual growth and deepening their religious roots by sharing common space and programs for the purpose of personal transformation and reducing recidivism. Inmates will participate in religion specific and inter faith program components designed to bring restqration with God, family, community, and self.

The program's design will increase religious tolerance and respect among inmates of various faiths; will connect each inmate with a spiritual mentor; and will link participants with a faith community at their release destination in order to enhance community reintegration. Another component of the program will initiate specific Victim Impact programs to assist inmates in claiming responsibility for their actions and making amends with victims, family, and community.

The program will enlist partnerships with individuals and organizations in its efforts to lower recidivism and facilitate spiritual growth and personal change. Volunteers, contractors, mentors, sponsoring religious congregations and organizations are all essential partners in the program.

The goal of the Bureau of Prisons Residential Life Connections Pre-release Program is to provide inmates living in a shared living space with intensive opportunities for holistic life restoration for the purpose of reducing recidivism and enhancing prison management.

Subject

Acquisition of an Islamic Spiritual Leader who will provide onsite religious instruction and leadership for Islamic inmates participating in the Bureau of Prisons Residential Life Connections Pre-Release Program at the Federal Correctional Complex (Low) Petersburg, in

Hopewell, Virginia.

Place of Performance

The service to be provided under the contract shall be accomplished at:

Federal Correctional Complex FCC Petersburg (Low) 1060 River Road Hopewell, VA 23860

Schedule

A session is defined as one hour. The contractor will normally provide six sessions per day up to 30 sessions each week of religious instruction and counseling in conjunction with the core curriculum topics of the Residential Life Connections Program. Work hours will normally be between the hours of 8:00 AM- 3:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, excluding Federal Holidays.

The schedule may include evening hours based on program needs. The breakdown of hours will be determined locally.

Due to the nature of the correctional setting, delays in performance of work may be experienced.

Such delays may include but are not limited to inclement weather, electrical or mechanical problems, or other security matters. When contract employees report to the institution but are unable to perform services due to such delays, the contractor will be paid for one session.

Normally, any remaining sessions for that day will be suspended and the contractor will be free to leave and the contractor will not be paid for the remaining unperformed sessions. However, if the institution requests that the contractor r.emain at the institution for eventual performance, the contractor shall be paid for such sessions. In the event of any absence, the contractor may make up his/her time so long as it does not exceed 30 hours in any given week. If the contractor fails to provide coverage, the Government may seek contractual remedy.

Description of Duties

The service provided, being professional in nature, will be provided in the method considered normal in the local community. The contractor will be responsible for Instructing inmates in the on-site Life Connections Program (LCP). Classes will consist of religious and reentry based instruction on the following broad topics: how to live with integrity, how to grow spiritually, . how to be a leader, how to live responsibly and other topics related to the successful habilitation of inmates. The instructor will be responsible for developing lesson plans that follow the LCP curriculum and reviewing participants' progress through evaluation of assignments and workbooks. Lesson plans will be submitted for classes at least a week in advance . .

The instructor will also be responsible to encourage the inmate's participation in all aspects of the LCP, Le.journaling, religious diversity appreciation, discussion/accountability groups, service projects and victim impact discussion. The contractor will also be responsible for providing general guidance to inmates of faith traditions other than Islam. The overall result of the instruction should be a reduction in recidivism and disciplinary problems.

Selected contractor will provide religious instruction based on their own expertise as it relates to the core curriculum materials. The instruction will be based on the pro-social content of various religious groups. The instruction will follow the LCP curriculum and the instructor will bring his or her own faith to bear on the curriculum. However, the contractor will work with participants who follow other interpretations of the Islamic faith and with those who follow other faiths at times according to program needs. He or she is expected to respond openly and with appreciation of other perspectives. The contractor will track participants' progress and completion of requirements and submit quarterly reports on each participant.

The contractor will work closely with the Chaplain Program Manager and other program staff to assist in the development of the program and to gauge the progress of individual participants.

Consultations will be held with Life Connections Chaplain Program Manager as needed. The instructor will be expected to attend LCP team meetings or other meeting relating to the involvement of the services to be provided by terms of the contract.

General Topics for Islamic Spiritual Guide:

l. Islam and Muslims

2. The Prophet and the Early Muslim Community

3. Qu' ranic Teachings: Nature and Function

4. The Sunnah of the Prophet as contained in the Hadith

5. The Role of Reason in Faith

6. Middle Path

7. Allah/Tawhid

8. Muslims: Commitments, Responsibilities, Qualities

9. Morality and Justice

10. Five Pillars of Islam

11. The Elements of Prayer

12. The Meaning of Shahadah

13. The Hajj - The Journey of the Believer

14. Charity and One's Responsibility

15. Sawm/Fasting

16. Prescribed Purity

17. Mohammad and the Sunna: Example of the Prophet

18. Jihad: It's True Meaning and Purpose

19. Observances for the Month of Ramadan

20. The Feasts

21. Sin, Repentance, Forgiveness

22. Good Deeds

23. This Life and the Hereafter

24. Companionship/ Family

25. Modesty

26. Equality of Women

27. Creation

28. Humility and Pride

29. Sincerity

30. Community

31. Food

32. Marriage

33. Creation

34. Prayer and Ritual

35. Death Rituals and Mourning Customs

36. Family Life

37. Divorce

38. Dawa

39. Wudu

40. Holidays, Festivals and the Islamic Calendar

41. Preparations for Worship

42. Study of Arabic

43. Schools of Jurisprudence

44. The Shariah and Fiqh

45. The "Umma" in North America

46. What is the role of faith and Community Re-entry?

Education and Experience

The selected contractor must possess an ordination certificate, like document or an official letter from the Islamic Community served stating the contractor is a recognized clergy or spiritual leader in good standing with the faith community. More experience will receive preference . during evaluation. The contractor will be a member of a recognized sect of the Islamic faith community, will be well versed in the Arabic language and have at least three (3) years of documented, continuous, full time experience as an Imam in the Islamic faith.

The contractor must possess at a minimum, a Bachelor' s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Islamic Studies, religious studies, religious education, or a related curriculum. A Masters of Divinity (or equivalent) or a Doctorate degree is most preferred and will receive preference during evaluation. Additionally, quoters having documented experience teaching spiritual principles to followers of diverse religions, teaching for at least a year within a faith-based reentry program, and teaching for at least a year in a correctional setting are preferred.

Quoters must specifically identify the individual that will be performing these services under any subsequent contract award. The quoter must provide documentation as proof that their candidate meets all qualifications. The candidate's name and qualifications must be submitted at the time the quote is submitted. All Contractors must submit with their quote a resume, photocopies of documents evidencing education and training, a Letter of Standing from the Islamic Community the candidate is serving and documentation of experience.

Quoters responding to this solicitation must complete and submit with their quote the attached form, "Credentials of Religious Services Contractor." These credentials will be verified by a Bureau of Prisons Chaplain. Quoters should submit two personal references and one letter of endorsement from their local religious organization. After review of these documents by

Bureau of Prisons staff, vendors may be requested to submit additional documents for review.

Vendors failing to submit any of the required documents will be removed from further consideration for award.

Supplies and Equipment

All supplies that the contractor may need will be provided by the Federal Correctional Institution, Petersburg. These supplies will normally include any materials needed to perform the services covered under this contract.

Inmate Management

Provision of services will require frequent and unsupervised contact with inmates. The contract employee shall not be responsible for the management of any inmates, other than to ensure inmates involved within the contract's scope of work abide by all rules to ensure their safety and well-being. The contractor may, at any time, be removed from the institution at the discretion of the CEO. The contractor is to constantly be aware of security and maintain a professional relationship with inmates at all times. Any violation of the institution rules and regulations are to be brought irnmediately to the attention of any Government employee employed at the institution. The contractor will be required to provide documentation to the COR, or designee, of any infractions of institutional rules and regulations by inmates for proper action.

Institution Security

The contractor/contract employees shall·agree to all regulations prescribed by the institution for the safety, custody, and conduct of inmates. The contractor shall attend the Institution Familiarization Orientation program prior to assuming institution involvement. Reimbursement to the contractor for the time spent in the institution orientation or other specific security related training will be at the contract rate, prorated hourly. The contract employee will be required to sign in and out of the institution for accountability purposes. A badge will be issued and worn at all times for proper identification.

Non-Personal Services/Common Law Employee Information

The service is a contractual arrangement and not a personnel appointment. Payment is based on the provision of an end product or the accomplishment of a specific result. The service does not constitute an employer/employee relationship. The contractor will not be subject to Government supervision, except for security related matters. However, contractor performance shall be monitored.

If the resulting contract is made to an individuat(s), the provision of these services has been determined to meet certain criteria for creating common law employee relationship. Therefore, the BOP is responsible for the payment of FICA taxes (7.65%) and the withholding of the individual' s taxes. These responsibilities apply only when award of this solicitation is made to an individual. It does not apply to companies or individuals who are incorporated. For evaluation purposes, an additional 7 .65% will be added to the price submitted by individuals who are not incorporated.

Insurance Requirement insurance-Work on a Government Installation. In accordance with 52.228-5 Insurance-Work on a Government Installation:

(a) The Contractor shall, at its own expense, provide and maintain during the entire performance of this contract, at least the kinds and minimum amounts of insurance required in the schedule or elsewhere in the contract.

(b) Before commencing work under this contract, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting

Officer in writing that the required insurance has been obtained. The policies evidencing required insurance shall contain an endorsement to the effect that any cancellation or any material change adversely affecting the Government' s interest shall not be effective--

(1) For such period as the laws of the State in which this contract is to be performed prescribe; or

(2) Until 30 days after the insurer or the Contractor gives written notice to the

Contracting Officer, whichever period is longer.

(c) The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in subcontracts under this contract that require work on a Government installation and shall require subcontractors to provide and maintain the insurance required in the Schedule or elsewhere in the

·contract. The Contractor shall maintain a copy of all subcontractors' proof of required insurance, and shall make copies available to the Contracting Officer upon request.