Source_Sought_Questions_and_Answers_Amnedment_001.pdf

Source Sought - 19FS1A18SS0757 Amendment 001

RFI Questions and Answers:

1. Are LLC’s excluded from the solicitation?

At this point we’re are just seeking sources as a means for acquisition strategy. If a formal solicitation is resulted from this sources sought it will be posted on a Government Point of Entry.

2. Is the $11 million mentioned in the solicitation intended as a monetary ceiling or a floor?

No. This is the size standard attached to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code.

3. Similarly, are 501C3’s excluded from consideration?

Please see answer to question number 1.

4. Would a partnership between an LLC and a 501C3 or between an LLC and a small firm be considered?

Please see answer to question number 1.

5. Is FSI seeking to create a “structured” or a “free-play” simulation, or some mix of the two? If the latter, how much free play does FSI envisage?

A mix of “structured” and “free-play” would be fine, with a preference towards more structure. In our experience, simulations that are structured and that have a structured debrief have worked best in FSI classrooms. These are also easier for our course coordinators (mid-level Foreign Service Officers who rotate every two years) to administer without the benefit of having seen or run the simulation previously.

6. Is the simulation to include players depicting only US player/sdecisionmakers, or is it to include other countries as well?

We did not specify and consider this flexible. We believe it would be useful to include non- U.S. government roles, including but not limited to: non-governmental organizations, international organizations (e.g. the UN or IOM), foreign countries, etc. Because class sizes can vary, this should be flexible enough to run with between 12-30 students. We could have multiple people assigned to one “role” in the event we are running this with a larger group.

7. How many rounds of play does FSI envisage and how long are they to be?

The number of rounds depends on the structure of the simulation. We envision a simulation that would last approximately 3 hours, plus time for a debrief of approximately 1 hour.

Source Sought - 19FS1A18SS0757 Amendment 001

8. Does FSI plan to include assessment periods between each round of play? Again, if so, how long will they be?

This is flexible. We envision a simulation in which the course coordinator could check in with students briefly a 3-4 times during the simulation to see how they’re doing and provide reminders of tools they could use or options to consider. A debrief at the end would tie this together.

9. What tasks does FSI envisage for players during each round of play?

Players should practice tasks such as identifying early warning signs of an atrocity, making policy recommendations, sharing information between players, identifying potential actions to take at each stage and actions to consider as the situation becomes worse/improves, and considering what other players’ perspectives are as the scenario unfolds. Other tasks could include drafting talking points for the media, reporting cables, briefing senior officials, liaising with other players, etc.

10. How many injects does FSI envisage for each round of play? Are they to be delivered all at once (for example, at the beginning of each round of play), or does FSI want a staggered delivery throughout each round?

This depends on the structure of the simulation, and we welcome ideas. We would like players to experience a situation that is similar to the real world in which information arrives in different forms and with different degrees of credibility. This could also mean that some players filter information for others. For example, an Embassy role/team could receive information and decide what to pass back to the State Department. Other information could be available via a media feed and be available to all.

11. Does FSI envisage delivery of the injects in hardcopy, or will the dissemination be electronic?

We would like to incorporate technology into the simulation – perhaps through a “Twitter” feed, “news broadcasts,” text messages, or other means. However, some injects could be in hardcopy as well/instead.

12. Is FSI also looking for a simulation that covers all three basic elements of the conflict cycle (pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict)? Are the names of religious, ethnic groups, etc. also to be fictitious?

The simulations should cover the conflict cycle with a focus on the pre-conflict stages, including early action and response. We find that simulations in which countries, religious/ethnic groups, etc. have fictitious names work best in our classrooms. These can be based on real life scenarios, however.