Evaluation_Criteria_Revised.pdf

Attachment III 15BNAS19RCA00141

Evaluation Criteria

National Acquisitions Section

The Bureau will evaluate each offer based on the best value, trade-off process as outlined in the Federal Acquisition

Regulations, part 15.101-1- Tradeoff Process. All evaluation factors and sub-factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. As the evaluation of competing offeror proposals in the non-price factors become more equal, the more important price will become in selecting the best value for the Government. Evaluations will note the strengths, deficiencies, weaknesses (to include significant weaknesses) and risks of each proposal, in a summary format with supporting narrative.

Definitions:

Strength is an aspect of the proposal that increases the likelihood of successful contract performance.

Deficiency is a material failure of a proposal to meet a

Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

A weakness is a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. A “significant weakness” in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

A Risk is a potential to cause disruption of schedule, increased cost or degradation of performance.

NON-PRICED FACTORS:

Factor 1: Technical-

Sub-factor A- Content Curriculum and Assessments

● The curriculum shall contain evidence based instructional modules which develop the cognitive and soft skills required for formative assessments addressing the needs and demands most required by employers:

o Math/Technical Skills o Literacy/Reading o Communication – Verbal and non-Verbal o And other desirable workplace and/or soft skills

● Instructional modules and materials must be available in both English and Spanish.

● A printed and/or digital curriculum shall be available to each institution and a printed copy for the Central Office

Education branch.

● The curriculum must have measurable work objectives and goals.

● Pre and Posttests at each level shall be available to measure progress.

● Must contain clear criteria which establishes minimum expectations for completion (as well as minimum expectations/grade level performance for program entry) of formative assessments at various achievement levels, ranging from basic skill levels to highest.

● Student progress and skills analysis reports shall be available for students and/or CTE instructors (printable) indicating skill gaps and remediation needs.

● The product shall take the Universal Design for Learning

(UDL) approach to address the various learners in a correctional environment and may need adaptations to address the needs of that population and those with disabilities and/or special learning needs. Section 508 compliant where applicable. The vendor shall ensure a method of providing testing accommodations for inmates with special learning, physical, and psychological needs/disabilities. As directed by the Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR), the contractor shall provide special test editions such as large print, Braille, audio-cassettes, or other reasonable accommodations.

● The program and assessments must be deliverable in both the

English and Spanish language. Additional languages would be desirable but not mandatory.

● The vendor must provide each student a portable credential, recognized by employers, certifying the assessment and correlation to the achieved skill levels.

● Textbooks/Workbooks, test materials and assessments, instructional resources/guides shall be provided for each facility

● The offeror shall provide a list of correctional agencies utilizing this program and report the number of certificates and level certifications awarded.

Sub-factor B- Management Accessibility

● The offeror shall provide examiner policy and procedure manuals, training materials, and other necessary materials

(hard copies or via electronic) with copyright permission for use at all FBOP institutions and updates as new manuals and materials become available.

● The credential and assessment reports shall be accessible to students after release from FBOP custody for presentation to potential employers and/or other interested parties.

● The vendor shall establish a method of accessing student information in the event of demographic changes within the

FBOP and upon the student’s reentry to society.

● The offeror shall provide scoring services for all skill assessments. Scoring must be processed within (7) business day after receipt of answer sheets and related documents.

The vendor shall mail two copies of each student score report, certification credentials for each student(if applicable) and site reports via United States Postal

Service mail to the FBOP assessment site within (10) days after receipt of the student assessments. There should be group reporting available for FBOP administrators:

o Students tested by facility with sort capabilities of scores, levels, skills assessed, and certificates issued.

o As directed by the COR, the vendor shall provide reports from all FBOP institutions for monthly, quarterly, and/or FBOP fiscal year reporting as needed.

● Due to the diverse inmate population, many inmates will not release to the same state in which they were incarcerated.

Inmates may also begin the program or take tests at one institution and transfer to another prior to completion.

There must be an available standard process to continue the program at a new location and a process for the offeror to track and combine the student scores.

Sub-factor C- Test and Data Integrity

● The scoring and reporting system shall comply with the

USDOJ and the FBOP information security requirements.

● The vendor must provide written assurances of administration and testing integrity and security protocols for skills assessments and student data.

● The vendor shall provide assurances of employer recognition and portability of credentials.

Sub-factor D- Support and Training

● The offeror shall provide printed or online user’s guide/manuals and curriculum.

● The Government will evaluate that offeror provide required

Training options.

● The offeror shall provide institutions with technical and/or content support via portal, email, chat, and phone support Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm EST.

● The Government will evaluate that offeror provide updates to materials/resources.

Factor 2: Past Performance

Recent and relevant past performance will be evaluated on its performance under existing and prior contracts for similar services, with an emphasis on the similarity of the Offeror’s experience to the Request for Proposal (RFP). The purpose of

Past Performance is to allow the government to review the

Offerors recent and historical probability of meeting the solicitation requirements.

Offeror’s without a record of relevant company past performance or for whom information on Past Performance is not available will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on Past

Performance. Information utilized may be obtained from the references listed in the proposal, other customers known to the

Government or of whom it becomes aware, and any others who may have useful and relevant information (i.e. Past Performance

Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), System for Award

Management (SAM), Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity

Information System (FAPIIS), and internet).

Factor 3: Price

The Government reserves the right to award a contract to an offeror other than the offeror proposing the lowest price when the Government’s evaluation determines a proposal is significantly superior from a non-price standpoint and warrants payment by the Government of a premium.

Price is defined as the offerors’s price proposal. The

Contracting Officer will evaluate price independently. Pursuant to FAR 17.203(b), the Government’s evaluation of offers shall be inclusive of options. Price proposal in Schedule of Items

(Attachment I) will be evaluated on the base period and options periods in total, including the Option to Extend Services FAR clauses 52.217-8.