1605C2-23-R-00004-Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs through Industry Intermediaries Acceleration in Established Industries.pdf

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OFFEROR

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S-4307 200 Constitution Ave, NW Customer Acquisition Services US Department of Labor

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611513

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% FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED ORCAS

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

05/18/2023 03:00 P.M. ES

04/19/2023

202-693-4591VALERIE PICKARD

(No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBER a. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

1605C2-23-R-00004

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 78 1630-OAA-23-CTR-0044OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

Washington DC 20210

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

Multiple Destinations

15. DELIVER TO

Washington DC 20210 S-4307 200 Constitution Ave, NW Customer Acquisition Services

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$8.00

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

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TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

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THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

US Department of Labor

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

The Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE) on behalf of The Office of Apprenticeship (OA) is requesting a quote to provide Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA Acceleration in Established Industries as defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

This will be a Multiple Award requirement and will result in the award of a Time & Materials

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

DATED

Karoline E. Duffy

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

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ARE

ARE

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30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

REF.

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

(T&M) Order.

The period of performance shall be for one

(1)Base Period of 12 months with three (3)

12-month option periods.

Questions pertaining to this RFQ are due NLT

04/28/2023 at 12:00 PM ES.

ANY/ALL DISCOUNT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED

QUOTES ARE DUE PER BLOCK 8 ON THIS FORM

0001 Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA)

Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA

Acceleration in Established Industries

Product/Service Code: 9999

1001 Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA)

Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA

Acceleration in Established Industries

(Option Line Item)

(Anticipated Option Exercise Date) 05/19/2024

Product/Service Code: 9999

Period of Performance: 06/19/2024 to 06/18/2025

2001 Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA)

Continued ...

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

78 2 of

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

3 78

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

1605C2-23-R-00004

Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA

Acceleration in Established Industries

(Option Line Item)

(Anticipated Option Exercise Date) 05/19/2025

Product/Service Code: 9999

Period of Performance: 06/19/2025 to 06/18/2026

3001 Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA)

Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA

Acceleration in Established Industries

(Option Line Item)

(Anticipated Option Exercise Date) 05/18/2026

Product/Service Code: 9999

Period of Performance: 06/19/2026 to 06/19/2027

4001 Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA)

Programs through Industry Intermediaries: RA

Acceleration in Established Industries

(Option Line Item)

(Anticipated Option Exercise Date) 05/19/2027

Product/Service Code: 9999

Period of Performance: 06/19/2027 to 06/18/2028

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

B - Supplies or Services/Prices

BASE PERIOD

Period

DESCRIPTION

OF WORK QUANTITY UNIT MEASURE

LABOR

RATE SUBTOTALS TOTAL

Base Project Director 300 HR

Project Manager 1980 HR Senior Subject Matter Expert 1500 HR Subject Matter Expert 2000 HR Analyst 2300 HR Facilitator 500 HR Marketing and Business Development Specialist 4160 HR Web Developer 700 HR Clerical/Admin Support 300 HR

CLIN 0002

OTHER

DIRECT

COSTS

Supplies and Materials (NTE ) $15,000.00 $15,000.00

Travel (NTE) $ 40,000.00 $40,000.00 Consultants Fees Subcontracts Incentive Funding $535,000.00 $535,000.00

Base Period TOTAL:

OPTION PERIOD ONE (1)

Period

DESCRIPTION

OF WORK QUANTITY UNIT MEASURE

LABOR

RATE SUBTOTALS TOTAL

1st OY Project Director 300 HR Project Manager 1980 HR Senior Subject Matter Expert 1500 HR Subject Matter Expert 2000 HR Analyst 2300 HR Facilitator 500 HR Marketing and Business Development Specialist 4160 HR

Web Developer 500 HR

CLIN 1002

DIRECT

COSTS

Supplies and Materials (NTE ) $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Travel (NTE) $40,000.00 $40,000.00 Consultants Fees Subcontracts Incentive

Period 1 TOTAL:

OPTION PERIOD TWO (2)

Period

DESCRIPTION

OF WORK QUANTITY UNIT MEASURE

LABOR

RATE SUBTOTALS TOTAL

2nd OY Project Director 300 HR Project Manager 1980 HR Senior Subject Matter Expert 1500 HR Subject Matter Expert 2000 HR Analyst 2300 HR Facilitator 500 HR Marketing and Business Development Specialist 4160 HR

Web Developer 500 HR

CLIN 2002

DIRECT

COSTS

Supplies and Materials(NTE) $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Travel (NTE) $40,000.00 $40,000.00 Consultants Fees Subcontracts Incentive

Period 2 TOTAL:

OPTION PERIOD THREE (3)

Period

DESCRIPTION

OF WORK QUANTITY UNIT MEASURE

LABOR

RATE SUBTOTALS TOTAL

3rd OY Project Director 300 HR Project Manager 1980 HR Senior Subject Matter Expert 1500 HR Subject Matter Expert 2000 HR Analyst 2300 HR Facilitator 500 HR Marketing and Business Development Specialist 4160 HR

Web Developer 500 HR

DIRECT

COSTS

CLIN 3002

Supplies and Materials (NTE ) $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Travel (NTE) $40,000.00 $40,000.00 Consultants Fees Subcontracts Incentive

Period 3 TOTAL:

OPTION PERIOD FOUR (4)

Period

DESCRIPTION

OF WORK QUANTITY

UNIT

MEASURE

LABOR

RATE SUBTOTALS TOTAL

4th OY Project Director 300 HR Project Manager 1980 HR Senior Subject Matter Expert 1500 HR Subject Matter Expert 2000 HR Analyst 2300 HR Facilitator 500 HR Marketing and Business Development Specialist 4160 HR

Web Developer 500 HR

DIRECT

COSTS

CLIN

Supplies and Materials

(NTE) $15,000.00 $15,000.00

Travel (NTE) $40,000.00 $40,000.00 Consultants Fees Subcontracts Incentive

Period 4 TOTAL:

GRAND

TOTAL

TOTAL

ORDER

ESTIMATE:

Summary Breakdown Total Base Year:

Option Period 1:

Option Period 2:

Option Period 3:

Option Period 4:

Overall Total

C - Description/Specifications

Performance Work Statement (PWS) For Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Programs through Industry Intermediaries:

RA Acceleration in Established Industries

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1. Description of Services/Introduction:

The Vendor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform task as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS), except as specified in section C-3 as government furnished property and services at Vendor’s location. The Vendor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2. Background:

The Department of Labor (the Department) Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Office of Apprenticeship (OA) proposes to award multiple contracts to Industry Intermediaries to work within established industries with an existing Registered Apprenticeship (RA) presence and the demand/capacity to accelerate and scale further growth and expansion to quality RA for all workers. Industry Intermediaries will also demonstrate a clear commitment to promoting greater equity in RA and partnering with organizations to leverage proven strategies such as pre-apprenticeship linkages and access to supportive services. Given the success of established RA Intermediary / RA program models in established industries, this Request for Proposal (RFP) would target expertise to accomplish the following:

• Serve as national RA program sponsors to convene relevant stakeholders, including employers and labor organizations to develop workforce solutions and scale RA nationally;

• Engage relevant stakeholders through RA Accelerator convenings, including employers and labor organizations to develop and expand sector-based workforce solutions through RA;

• Provide national program guideline assistance to employers and sponsors on requirements for registration with OA or a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA);

• Partner with large national employers to establish national RA program standards that can be replicated across their partner and stakeholder base and across multiple established sector occupations;

• Promote rapid development of RA programs that meet industry talent needs;

• Develop expansive partnerships with stakeholders to support recruitment, persistence and completion of apprentices in RA programs that increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance (DEIA) in RA;

• Provide expertise in all other aspects of RA program development to promote both quality and equity;

• Use incentive funding to offset employer costs in launching and expanding RA programs on a national scale; and

• Synthesize best practices and articulate additional opportunities for expansion.

Additionally, the Department seeks Intermediaries to increase the percentage of RA opportunities for underrepresented populations and leverage existing RA stakeholder resources and promising practices to support the long-term sustainability of programs. These funds will support Industry Intermediary strategies to further RA expansion efforts in target industries across the United States.

Industry Intermediaries will also be critical in helping expand access and retention in RA programs in both traditional, new, and emerging industries for all workers.

RA provides a proven pathway to sustainable careers for workers seeking high-skilled and high-paying jobs, and for employers seeking to train, promote, and retain a highly productive workforce. The Department is committed to continuing the expansion of RA opportunities, and to create accessible pathways to RA, for workers across industries throughout the U.S. These investments will also support strategies that expand access to sustainable career pathways for underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

This RFP requires proposals to incorporate strategies that include an equity focus in support of the Administration’s goal of ensuring quality jobs for all workers. Additionally, focus on DEIA in existing programs, as well as expansion of the RA model in target industries to improve outcomes for workers who have historically not had access to RA. DOL recognizes that expanding access, equity, and career awareness to increase participation of underrepresented populations (which may include women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, as established in §29 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 30, where that population’s participation in RAPs is significantly less than would be reasonably expected given the availability of such individuals for Apprenticeship in the relevant industry, occupation, or recruitment area), and underserved communities (including veterans, justice-impacted individuals, youth, and those in rural communities), will be critical in advancing the RA model.

For purposes of this effort, both underrepresented populations and underserved communities will be served as part of the Department’s efforts to increase access to RA for all workers. For specific DEIA performance goals, see Part 5, Task 3 of this PWS.

This RFP will target industries and occupations with existing RA, but with further opportunities to scale by adopting proven models, such as the Hospitality Industry (to include Hotels, Lodging, Restaurants, and Tourism), Trucking Industry, and Cybersecurity Occupations.

The Department intends to invest in Industry Intermediaries (e.g., Industry Associations, Workforce Intermediaries, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, national or state-wide college systems or consortia of colleges, nonprofit organizations, organizations, and others) for sector-based outreach and Technical Assistance (TA) to support and scale RA development, and to accelerate innovation in high-growth industries. The Department will also seek to continue using engagement convenings and/or sector-based campaigns (,e.g., Trucking Challenge, Cyber Sprint) that offer RA stakeholders from within target sectors the opportunity to connect with other industry leaders and RA experts to promote knowledge sharing and expedite the development of flexible RA program models that help address the quickly changing talent and training needs industries are facing in today’s economy.

The Department seeks a Vendor with expertise to work within industries (See Figure 1) with an established RA presence and the demand/capacity to accelerate further growth and expansion to quality, sustainable RA programs for all workers. Vendor shall be expected to facilitate the recruitment, placement, and retention of at least 1,000 new apprentices (as defined in Task 3 of Part 5 of this PWS) per year in existing or new RA programs.

Through this effort, Industry Intermediaries will be expected to engage leaders from throughout target industries to encourage their participation in RA accelerator convenings (as described below) and/or Departmental sector-based accelerators [e.g., sprints, challenges, etc.] to increase awareness of the advantages of RA models that train and prepare workers for careers in high-growth sectors, and to address talent needs for new occupations across target sectors.

RA Accelerator convenings offer expertise and assistance to businesses, as well as other potential sponsors, in target industries to jump-start the development of RA programs. Accelerator convenings also help employers within target industries identify resources and connect with partners that provide experience in the development and sustainability of RA program models that meet industry training and talent needs, and create viable career pathways for U.S. workers, including those from underrepresented populations and underserved communities. The Department’s goal in using the Accelerator convening model is to reduce the time needed to develop and register an Apprenticeship program through increased awareness and advanced TA. Industry Intermediaries will host Accelerator convenings, in coordination with OA and the Department, and develop resources to engage and educate stakeholders on the registration process.

Funds to be awarded come from the authority provided in the Department’s Fiscal Year appropriation, which provides funds to expand RA opportunities. Funds must be used to support the expansion of RA programs.

This RFP is open to the following Vendors:

Vendors currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary in the Transportation, Hospitality, and Cybersecurity sectors.

All other Vendors not currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary.

NOTE: If an award is made to a Vendor under an existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary contract in Transportation, Hospitality, or Cybersecurity, the new contract award will replace the existing, resulting in the termination of the existing contract.

1.3. Objectives:

For the purposes of this RFP, target industries include the industries identified in the table below and other related sectors:

Figure 1

Industry Sectors NAICS Code Link

Hospitality

Traveler Accommodation NAICS 7211 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_721100.htm (This is primarily hotels and casinos)

Food Services and Drinking Places NAICS 7220 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_722000.htm

Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services NAICS 5615 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_561500.htm

Performing Arts Companies NAIC 7111 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_711100.htm

Spectator Sports NAICS 7112 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_711200.htm

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions NAICS 7121 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_712100.htm

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries NAICS 7130 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_713000.htm

Trucking Truck Transportation NAICS 4840 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_481,0000.htm

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm

Cybersecurity (including Cybersecurity field and cybersecurity-related occupations)

Note: This is not a NAICS industry. See links to relevant O*NET occupations and other useful information from NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology—within the Department of Commerce) and from CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)

O*NET occupations:

https://www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=cybersecurity

NIST and CISA Resources:

· https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

· https://niccs.cisa.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways-tool

Vendor Shall:

• Promote Rapid Expansion. The Department intends to rapidly expand the growth of RA in industries with an established RA presence and the demand/capacity to accelerate further growth and expansion to quality, sustainable RA programs for all workers, including those from underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_721100.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_722000.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_561500.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_711100.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_711200.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_712100.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_713000.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_484000.htm https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm https://www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=cybersecurity https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://niccs.cisa.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways-tool

• Leverage Intermediary Subject Matter Expertise. The Department intends to leverage the expertise of Industry Intermediaries and national industry partners to provide TA and financial support to increase opportunities for employers in target industries to launch, expand, and sustain RA program models that meet industry and employer needs.

• Increase Access to RA. The Department intends to increase DEIA in RA by expanding and diversifying the number of Apprentices in RA programs nationwide. The Department seeks to improve the recruitment, retention and successful completion of under-represented populations in RA while also combatting harassment, wage and occupational disparities across the RA system.

Furthermore, the Department aims to advance the integration of RA into State workforce development, education, and economic development strategies and programs, ensuring that RA is a viable career pathway for youth, adults, career seekers (including incumbent workers), and underrepresented populations, as well as a valuable workforce development strategy for businesses.

Through this opportunity, Industry Intermediaries (e.g., Industry Associations, Workforce Intermediaries, Unions and Joint Labor- Management organizations, national or state-wide college systems or consortia of colleges, nonprofit organizations, community- and faith- based organizations, and others) shall provide the following activities:

• Conduct Sector-Based Outreach and Recruitment. Vendor shall develop and implement outreach and marketing (in coordination with the Department) for their industry sector(s) to reach a variety of stakeholders (e.g., employers, Industry Associations, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, workforce entities, and others) to increase awareness of the value of RA.

• Advance “RA Accelerator” Models and Registration Support. Vendor shall provide TA, advice, and support to employers, in conjunction with OA and State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) staff, to facilitate and accelerate the process to create “registration-ready” standards for employers. Vendor may be expected to lead and/or assist in the facilitation of Apprenticeship “Accelerator” convenings, in coordination with OA.

• Target Industry Sectors in Apprenticeship. Vendor shall develop and implement business-driven, sector-based strategies to expand Apprenticeships. National industry partnerships provide an opportunity to engage businesses and stakeholders to address industry-wide obstacles to RA expansion, provide TA collectively to multiple businesses in a sector, and ultimately accelerate the adoption of quality RA programs in targeted industries. Vendor shall support RA expansion in target industry sectors, by conducting activities including, but not limited to the following: 1) providing industry technical expertise, 2) conducting outreach to member organizations to support target industry development, and 3) convening stakeholders within target industries, providing logistical and administrative support.

• Promote Innovation in RA. Vendor shall perform activities which support innovations that promote advancements in the RA ecosystem, including:

- Align RA with Post-Secondary Credit. TA and funding can be used to support the advancement of RA pathways that offer an apprentice the opportunity to earn college credit.

- Promote Competency-Based Apprenticeship. Funding and TA can be used to support sponsors that wish to develop competency-based programs that align with OA’s existing expansion efforts.

- Expand and promote Access to RA programs for Youth and Alignment with Career and Technical Education programs (CTE). TA and funding can be used to support employers developing and expanding access to RA programs for youth and aligning RA models with CTE efforts in State or local school systems.

- Increase DEIA in Apprenticeship. Vendor, directly or in partnership with other organizations, shall create or expand pathways that ensure increased RA opportunities for underrepresented populations and underserved communities. Activities shall include TA to both apprentices (including current incumbent workers) and employers to promote DEIA in RA.

• Provide SMEs and Facilitation. Vendor shall provide SME positions (see Part 1.6.8 for Key Personnel Qualification) dedicated to the development of RA programs in the target industries. The responsibilities of the SMEs will include providing support to RA staff in the development of standards and competencies for apprenticeable occupations, including outreach, training, and promotion of RA to underrepresented population groups; and implementing resolutions to barriers to employment and training for underserved communities. Vendor shall also provide TA on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations related to RA programs and may meet this requirement through organizations which have subject matter expertise in increasing DEIA in training and employment programs.

• Develop Curricula, Related Training Instruction (RTI) outlines, Occupational Outlines and Competency Models. Vendor shall serve as an Intermediary providing SMEs to develop and/or propose new curricula, RTI outlines, occupational outlines, competency models, and other instruments as needed. The design of these resources should target the industry being served.

• Sustain new RA Programs and Partnerships. Vendor shall leverage partner and stakeholder resources (including employers, consortia of employers, Industry Associations, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, educational and training institutions, States, grantees, community and faith-based organizations, and other stakeholders) to replicate, expand, and sustain RA programs developed through this funding after project completion. Efforts should also support partnerships with education and workforce systems to ensure long-term sustainability of these efforts.

• Financial Support. Upon evidenced need by employers, Vendor may use a portion of the contract budget to provide employers with RA-related training reimbursements. Funds may be sub-contracted to employers, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, industry associations, or other partners included in a multi-employer partnership. These funds will be used to accelerate the use of RA for occupations in industries with an existing RA presence and the demand/capacity to accelerate and scale further expansion, to quality, sustainable RA programs for all workers. The percentage of the contract budget available for these activities will be determined by the Department and OA. Vendor shall also provide TA to employers regarding accessing and leveraging other State and Federal resources and financial support.

1.4. Scope:

Vendor shall assist the Department to register apprenticeship programs and obtain commitments to train at least 1,000 new registered apprentices (as defined in Task 3 of Part 5 of this PWS) per year, including incumbent workers in target industries. Fifty (50) percent of the Apprentices shall be from underrepresented populations.

The Department seeks a Vendor with expertise and knowledge in the following areas:

1. Ability to serve as a national RA program sponsor to expand RA on a national or regional scale.

2. Ability to leverage a large national employer to establish RA standards that can be replicated across partner and stakeholder networks.

3. Ability to develop “Registration-Ready” RA standards across multiple mature sector occupations.

4. Ability to conduct sector-based outreach and recruitment to convene national employers to advance RA in target industries.

5. Ability to recruit apprentices for participation in RA programs.

6. Expertise in the use of incentive funding to offset employer costs in launching RA programs.

7. Ability to provide subject matter expertise and TA to rapidly expand the number of sustainable RA programs in target industries.

8. In support of increasing DEIA, expertise in partnering with critical stakeholders to include State and local government/ school districts, Unions and Joint Labor Management organizations, related instruction providers, workforce system partners, and Post- Secondary organizations (including Minority-Serving Institutions) to increase talent pipelines for underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

9. Ability to develop partnerships that assist employers in accessing and leveraging financial assistance in support of expanding employers’ work-based learning programs, including RA, workforce development, and/or training.

Over the first two years of the contract (i.e., Base Year plus Option Year 1), Vendor shall enroll a total of 2,000 new registered apprentices (as defined in Task 3 of Part 5 of this PWS). Vendor shall also be expected to enroll at least 50% of apprentices from underrepresented populations, comprised of at least two target populations). Vendor shall also establish sustainability strategies to be identified within the project work plan.

For this PWS, Vendor shall identify one industry from the list of target industries, and occupation focus within target industries, as described in Figure 1 of the Objective section of this RFP.

See Part 5 of this PWS for the full list of tasks that the Vendor shall perform.

1.5. Period of Performance:

The Period of Performance (PoP) shall be for one (1) Base Period of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option periods. The PoP reads as follows:

Base Period: June #, 2023 – June #, 2024 Option Period I: June #, 2024 – June #, 2025 Option Period II: June #, 2025 – June #, 2026 Option period III: June #, 2026 – June #, 2027 Option period IV: June #, 2027 – June #, 2028

The Government reserves the right to extend the term of this contract at the prices set forth in Section B in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in clause 52.217-9 entitled, “Option to Extend the Term of the Contract.”

1.6. General Information:

Quality Control:

The Vendor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control (QC) program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The Vendor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services.

The Vendor’s quality control program is the means by which he/she confirms that the work complies with the requirement of the contract. At a minimum, the Vendor shall develop quality control procedures that address the areas identified in Technical Exhibit 1, “Performance Requirements Summary”. After accepting the quality control plan, the Vendor shall receive the Contracting Officer’s (CO’s) acceptance in writing of any proposed change to his QC system. The QC Plan is to be delivered 30 days after contract is award.

Quality Assurance:

The Government shall evaluate the Vendor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the Vendor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

Government Remedies:

The CO shall follow FAR 52.212-4, “Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items” or 52.246-4, “Inspection of Services-Fixed Price” for Vendor’s failure to perform satisfactory services or failure to correct non-conforming services.

Recognized Holidays:

Vendor is not required to perform services on these Holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth National Independence Day Christmas Day Independence Day

Hours of Operation/Place of Performance:

The Vendor is responsible for conducting performance under the awarded order between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility closings. The Vendor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons.

Telecommuting (work at home) is authorized under this contract.

Type of Contract:

The Government anticipates awarding a Time and Materials contract.

Security Requirements:

The Government shall exercise full and complete control over granting, withholding, or cancelling clearances for contract employees.

The Government may grant temporary clearances to employees of the Vendor; however, the granting of a temporary clearance shall not be considered an assurance that full clearance shall in no way prevent, preclude, or bar the withdrawal or termination of any such clearances by the department.

Background Investigations

Individual Vendors on task with this order may be required to submit information for security and background prescreening sufficient to meet Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements.

The Vendor shall comply with agency personal identity verification procedures identified in the contract that implement Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance M-05-24, and Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) Number 201.

The Vendor shall insert this clause in all subcontracts when the staff of the sub-vendor required to have physical access to a federally-controlled facility or access to a Federal information system.

1.6.7.1. Physical Security.

The Vendor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government property provided for Vendor use. At the close of each work period, government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured.

1.6.7.2. Key Control.

If applicable, the Vendor shall establish and implement methods of making sure all keys/key cards issued to the Vendor by the Government are not lost or misplaced and are not used by unauthorized persons. NOTE: All references to keys include key cards. No keys issued to the Vendor by the Government shall be duplicated. The Vendor shall develop procedures covering key control that shall be included in the Quality Control Plan. Such procedures shall include turn-in of any issued keys by personnel who no longer require access to locked areas. The Vendor shall immediately report any occurrences of lost or duplicate keys/key cards to the CO.

1.6.7.2.1. Lost Keys

In the event keys, other than master keys, are lost or duplicated, the Vendor shall, upon direction of the CO, re-key or replace the affected lock or locks; however, the Government, at its option, may replace the affected lock or locks or perform re-keying. When the replacement of locks or re-keying is performed by the Government, the total cost of re-keying or the replacement of the lock or locks shall be deducted from the monthly payment due the Vendor. In the event a master key is lost or duplicated, all locks and keys for that system shall be replaced by the Government and the total cost deducted from the monthly payment due the Vendor.

1.6.7.2.2. Key Use

The Vendor shall prohibit the use of Government issued keys/key cards by any persons other than the Vendor’s employees. The Vendor shall prohibit the opening of locked areas by Vendor employees to permit entrance of persons other than Vendor employees engaged in the performance of assigned work in those areas, or personnel authorized entrance by the CO.

1.6.7.3. Lock Combinations.

If applicable, the Vendor shall establish and implement methods of ensuring that all lock combinations are not revealed to unauthorized persons. The Vendor shall ensure that lock combinations are changed when personnel having access to the combinations no longer have a need to know such combinations. These procedures shall be included in the Vendor’s Quality Control Plan.

1.6.7.4. Conservation of Utilities.

The Vendor shall instruct employees in utilities conservation practices. The Vendor shall be responsible for operating under conditions that preclude the waste of utilities, which include turning off the water faucets or valves after using the required amount to accomplish cleaning vehicles and equipment.

Special Qualifications:

The personnel listed below are considered essential to the work being performed hereunder.

Prior to substituting, removing, and replacing any of the key personnel, the Vendor shall notify the CO ten (10) working days in advance and shall submit a written request and justification (including proposed substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact on this contract. The proposed substitution of personnel must meet or exceed the education, experience, and other technical requirements of the personnel being replaced and position must be filled within fourteen (14) days of being vacated. No change in personnel shall be made by the Vendor without the prior written consent of the CO. Resumes of proposed replacement must be provided by the Vendor to the Government for review. The Government must approve the replacement candidate in writing before he/she can start work.

Before removing, replacing, or diverting any of the listed or specified personnel, the Vendor shall:

1. Notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at least fourteen (14) calendar days in advance;

2. Submit justification (including proposed substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact on this contract; and

3. Obtain the COR’s written approval.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Vendor deems immediate removal or suspension of any member of its management team is necessary to fulfill its obligation to maintain satisfactory standards of employee competency, conduct, and integrity under the clause at §48 CFR 970.5203–3, Vendor’s Organization, the Vendor may remove or suspend such person at once, although the Vendor must notify COR prior to, or concurrently with, such action.

At the point of contract award, key personnel must be identified. The Vendor is expected to be at full staff capacity at time of award.

a) The list of personnel may, with the consent of the contracting parties, be amended from time to time during the contract to add or delete necessary or required labor categories.

b) List of Key Personnel for this contract:

1. Project Director

2. Project Manager

3. Senior Subject Matter Expert

4. Subject Matter Expert

5. Marketing and Business Development

6. Facilitator

KEY PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS:

Project Director: Individual with overall responsibility for the project, including quality assurance; serves as the main Point of Contact (POC) with OA relating to contractual obligations. Individual qualified by education (master’s level) or relevant work experience (ten years without a degree) to conduct the primary tasks described in the PWS, especially related to the following areas:

• Leadership – Provides oversight and direction to a team of staff;

• Contracts – Interprets contracts, ensures responsiveness, and achieves successful performance; this may include subject matter expertise and specific technical knowledge; and

• Management – Establishes schedules, meets deadlines, assigns responsibilities, and monitors and summarizes progress of project (including budgets).

Project Manager: Individual qualified by education (bachelor’s level) or relevant work experience (five years without a degree) to conduct the primary tasks described in the PWS, especially related to the following areas:

• Leadership – Provides oversight and direction to a team of staff;

• Contracts – Interprets contracts and work requirements, ensures responsiveness, and achieves successful performance; this may include subject matter expertise and specific technical knowledge;

• Deliverables – Writing, editing, and proofreading technical assistance products, ensuring final products meet certain content standards;

• Analysis – Assists in analysis, evaluation, and implementation of projects;

• Management – Establishes schedules, meets deadlines, assigns responsibilities, and monitors and summarizes progress of projects (including budgets); and

• Reporting – Prepares reports for upper management regarding status of projects.

Senior Subject Matter Expert: Individual qualified by education (master’s level) or relevant work experience (ten years without a degree) to conduct the primary tasks described in the PWS, especially related to the following areas:

• Familiarity with concepts, practices, and procedures under Tasks 2-9;

• Expertise with RA system, including but not limited to, §29 Part CFR 29, §29 Part CFR 30, scaling RA nationally, building high quality career pathways to RA, convening diverse stakeholders, improving processes, developing partnership strategies, increasing, and promoting DEIA, etc.;

• Writing, editing, and proofreading technical assistance products, ensuring final products meet certain content standards;

• Applying data-driven strategies to process and implement tasks listed within the PWS;

• Thinking creatively and innovatively;

• Skill set shall include strong verbal communication, organized and detail-oriented, works well under pressure in fast-paced professional environments, the ability to manage competing and evolving priorities, and the ability to quickly incorporate constructive feedback;

• Ability to design innovative new strategies to reach underrepresented and/or underserved populations which create new talent pipelines for in-demand occupations;

• Ability to connect with other Federal RA investments (the American Rescue Plan [ARP], Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [BIL], CHIPS and Science Act [CHIPS], and Inflation Reduction Act [IRA]) and active Department-funded RA expansion investments via https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/active-grants-and-contracts;

• Ability to conduct partnership activities with other workforce system partners and higher education; and

• Accelerate expansion of the RA model in industries and sub-sectors that have not traditionally used RA.

Subject Matter Expert: Individual qualified by education (master’s level) or relevant work experience (five years without a degree) to conduct the primary tasks described in the PWS, especially related to the following areas:

• Familiarity with concepts, practices, and procedures under Tasks 2-9;

• Expertise with RA system, including but not limited to, §29 CFR Part 29, §29 CFR Part 30, scaling RA nationally, building high quality career pathways to RA, convening diverse stakeholders, improving processes, developing partnership strategies, increasing, and promoting DEIA, etc.;

• Writing, editing, and proofreading technical assistance products, ensuring final products meet certain content standards;

• Applying data-driven strategies to process and implement tasks listed within the PWS;

• Thinking creatively and innovatively;

• Skill set shall include strong verbal communication, organized and detail-oriented, works well under pressure in fast-paced professional environments, the ability to manage competing and evolving priorities, and the ability to quickly incorporate constructive feedback;

• Ability to design innovative new strategies to reach underrepresented and/or underserved populations which create new talent pipelines for in-demand occupations;

• Ability to connect with other Federal RA investments (the American Rescue Plan [ARP], Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [BIL], CHIPS and Science Act [CHIPS], and Inflation Reduction Act [IRA]) and active Department-funded RA expansion investments via https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/active-grants-and-contracts;

• Ability to conduct partnership activities with other workforce system partners and higher education; and

• Accelerate expansion of the RA model in industries and sub-sectors that have not traditionally used RA.

Marketing and Business Development: Individual qualified by education (bachelor’s level or higher) and/or relevant experience (five or more years) to conduct the primary tasks described in the PWS, especially within the following areas:

• Familiarity with concepts, practices, and procedures under Tasks 2-9; and

• Expertise with RA system, including but not limited to, §29 CFR Part 29, §29 CFR Part 30, scaling RA nationally, building high quality career pathways to RA, convening diverse stakeholders, improving processes, developing partnership strategies, increasing, and promoting DEIA, etc.

Additionally:

• Market - Researching and developing new opportunities to meet PWS objective;

• Outreach - Contacting potential sponsors, employers, and other stakeholders to establish partnerships and facilitate strategies discussions on the expansion of RA;

• Awareness - Attending conferences and industry events to meet objective of PWS; and

• Sustainability - Educating existing and new stakeholders on the value of RA.

Facilitator: Individual qualified by education (bachelor’s level) and/or relevant experience (five years with a degree and ten years without a degree) to perform tasks described within the PWS, especially within the following areas:

• Familiarity with concepts, practices, and procedures under Tasks 2-9;

• Expertise with RA system, including but not limited to, §29 CFR Part 29, §29 CFR Part 30, scaling RA nationally, building high quality career pathways to RA, convening diverse stakeholders, improving processes, developing partnership strategies, increasing, and promoting DEIA, etc.;

• Thinking creatively and innovatively;

• Skill set shall include strong verbal communication, organized and detail-oriented, works well under pressure in fast-paced professional environments, the ability to manage competing and evolving priorities, and the ability to quickly incorporate constructive feedback; and

• Ability to connect with other Federal RA investments (the American Rescue Plan [ARP], Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [BIL], CHIPS and Science Act [CHIPS], and Inflation Reduction Act [IRA]) and active Department-funded RA expansion investments via https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/active-grants-and-contracts.

REMAINDER OF PERSONNEL - POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Analyst: Individual qualified by education (bachelor’s level) and/or relevant experience (two years with a degree and four years without a degree) to conduct, generally under supervision, the primary tasks described in the PWS.

Web Developer: Individual qualified by education (bachelor’s level) and/or relevant experience (three years with a degree and five years without a degree).

Clerical/Admin Support: Individual qualified by education (associate’s level) and/or relevant experience (three years with a degree and five years without a degree) and possessing strong editing and writing skills.

Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings:

The Vendor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The CO, COR, and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Vendor to review the Vendor’s performance. At these meetings the CO will apprise the Vendor of how the government views the Vendor’s performance and the Vendor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced.

Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

Contracting Officer Representative (COR):

A COR will be delegated under separate cover.

Contract Manager:

The Vendor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the Vendor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the CO. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Vendor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract.

Identification of Vendor Employees:

All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their Vendor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by Vendors are suitably marked as Vendor products or that Vendor participation is appropriately disclosed. If required, all Vendor personnel shall be required to obtain and wear badges in the performance of this order.

PART 2 DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

Best Effort: That effort expended by the Vendor to perform within the awarded ceiling price all work specified in this acquisition and all other obligations under this acquisition. This effort includes providing required qualified personnel, properly supervised, and following industry accepted methodologies and other practices. The effort is further characterized by operating at all times with the Government’s best interest in mind, using efficient and effective methods, and demonstrating sound cost control. The effort must be identical to the effort that would be expended if this were a firm-fixed price acquisition and the Vendor’s profits were dependent upon reducing costs while meeting the Government’s requirements in terms and quality and schedule. Failure to provide this required effort may result in the withholding of payment for hours expended that do not qualify as best effort or a reduction in the rate per hour to reflect decreased value of services received.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A representative from the requiring activity assigned by the Contracting Officer to perform surveillance and to act as liaison to the Vendor.

Defective Service: A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with it in the PWS.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP): An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of Vendor performance.

Quality Control: Those actions taken by a Vendor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the

PWS.

Quality Assurance: Those actions taken by…