Questions and Answers.pdf

Question(s):

1. In the statement of work (SOW) page #1 it mentions training, certification for the inmate population "and" provide training for our current staff who teach within the Residential Building Trades Field. Are you looking for a Train the Trainer solution? Or, are you looking for someone to train the staff and population?

We are looking for a Train the Trainer for our BOP staff currently hired within that job position so that they can provide the instruction at our institutions.

2. In the statement of work (SOW) page #2 it mentions all proposals should also include a training plan for current building trades vocational staff. I believe this falls within the train the trainer solution as well. Will you be looking for a company to just train the staff and not the population? Our Train the Trainer course would be based on the staff having a certain amount of expertise, experience and they must also be certified at basic levels to teach the program.

Yes. Our staff are hired with the proper credentialing and certification to teach this trade.

3. In the Statement of Work (SOW) page #4 the Course Delivery seems to indicate that

Contractors will provide the Trades training to designated BOP Vocational instructors to "implementing curriculum coursework, certification and credentials". The question here would be, if we are training the BOP staff to deliver the curriculum without our expert instructors, who will proctor the exams? Will we still be responsible to proctor examinations since the SOW mentions specific in person testing, paper grading etc.?

The BOP staff are capable in proctoring the exams. The Train the Trainer could also address testing requirements if this is an issue so that BOP staff are able to facilitate. All BOP staff are required to proctor exams for their current programs.

4. In the Statement of Work (SOW) page #4 Support it mentions materials, instruction and lesson plans to be provided by the Contractor. There are several pieces of equipment students will need to utilize in the class (our courses require at least 60% hands on application) as part of the curriculum. Who provides that material? If we're training the BOP staff to teach, they will need specific equipment for the students to receive the globally recognized credential(s).

Specified equipment that is unique to your program should be listed within the contact, as well as cost. All of our current programs require live work components and all classrooms have Residential Building trades equipment/materials for real life application. It is very possible that many institutions already have the specified equipment you are referring to. If that was the case, only institutions without would need to add the necessary equipment.

5. In the Commodity or Service Schedule page #4 it shows that we are to price the project utilizing these specific CLINs. We are not sure if we are training staff, residents or both. Therefore, the CLINs are not as clearly defined of how many books, exams, tools etc we will be responsible for providing. If you could provide some guidance here, we would greatly appreciate it.

As explained before, you would be training staff. Books, exams and tools can be broken down with an individual cost breakdown. Class size varies from institution to institution. We can adjust/modify the total number of books, exams and tools accordingly.

6. Is the Past Performance Questionnaire referenced in the documents the same as the

Business Performance Questionnaire included in the documents? If not, does the BOP have a Past Performance Questionnaire we should use to send to our references? Or does the BOP send the Questionnaire out on our behalf?

BOP will send out the Past performance questionnaire based on the vendors listed in the Business Performance Questionnaire document.

7. Are responders permitted to include more references than are required? Yes

8. Regarding unit and total prices for the quote, how many facilities would be offering the construction programs? What is the enrollment size you anticipate for each construction area?

45 Facilities at this time. Enrollment size is roughly 20 inmates per class but that number can vary depending on security level and space for the program.

9. Are the current Bureau of Prisons Vocational Training Instructors (Residential Building Trades) highly qualified in their specific craft areas of instruction to include:

a. Experience at a minimum journey- or technician-level (at least 4 years) in the specific craft (Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, other?) OR

b. A minimum of three years' experience as a certified teacher in a vocational/technical construction or maintenance-related training program

BOP Residential Building Trades/Carpentry applicants are required to meet industry standards when applying for a job. Without those qualifications, applicants wouldn't be selected.

10. Are the Vocational Instructors directly hired / employed by the BOP or is this a collaborative effort with the offeror?

They are already hired and employed by the BOP.

11. Can Academic skills and mentorship be directly included within the vocational curriculum as facilitated by the Vocational Training Instructors? If this is going to be provided then it should be part of the offered curriculum.

12. Does the contractor provide instructors on-site to provide instruction? No, the contractor is simply providing training to BOP staff, the curriculum that BOP staff will teach, and the certification/credentialing that inmates will receive after course completion.

13. What is the expected nature of and practice of "academic skills and mentorship" as outlined in the contractor responsibilities #3? Curriculum you provide will outline the residential building trades vocational and academic skills. Mentorship would be provided to BOP staff in charge of teaching the Residential Trades program to enhance on the job training skills for the inmate population.

14. Can the contractor utilize a proprietary database/Will the contractor be required to utilize a FBOP database?

The BOP maintains enrollment records through a database system that is unique to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. There are no requirements to utilize just that system. We will utilize the system to keep track of inmate training records.

15. Will the training of Instructors only occur at the MSTC - Aurora, CO? Yes

16. What is the expected frequency to train BOP Vocational Training Instructors? One training to train all 45 site instructors (ideally done over the course of a week), then any additional follow-up for added sites or newly hired instructors.

17. Is the contractor required or expected to provide tools/equipment as part of providing the curriculum/Instruction? No. All of these sites currently run programs and therefor likely have a lot of the equipment necessary.