CDC Questions and Answers RFQ 75D30123Q76698.pdf

CDC RFQ: 75D301-23-Q-76698

Title: Data Weight Training

Date: July 13, 2023

Questions & Answers:

1. Who are the intended students for training?

a. Are these students restricted to be CDC FTEs, or will they be contractors?

i. CDC FTEs

b. What is their level of education, experience, and background?

i. Level of education: MPH, MS, PhD, and DrPH

ii. Work experience: worked in local and state health departments, federal agencies (CDC, US Census Bureau), hospitals, academic institutions, contracting companies

iii. Background and expertise: maternal and child health, reproductive health, statistics, epidemiology, surveillance, survey development, survey sampling and/or data management

c. Can we recommend minimum requirements for staff to be eligible for this training? The contractor cannot identify staff to be eligible for this training. CDC will determine which FTEs from the Division of Reproductive Health will take this training.

2. The contractor can’t identify staff to be eligible for this training. CDC will determine which FTEs from the Division of Reproductive Health will take this training. Given that students are current CDC staff, is there a time of day the trainings should be provided, i.e., during standard EST work hours, 8:00am – 5:00pm? Yes, training should take place during work (business) hours to begin at 9 am and end by 4:30 pm EST during week days (Monday thru Friday).

a. Is there an hour limit for each day? No, no limit.

3. Do you expect proposals to include an estimated cost per student? No, the proposal does not need to include a cost estimate per student. Please provide overall cost estimate for all proposed activities.

4. Can the contract be amended and extended if student learning needs exceed the original budget? Contract can be amended, if necessary, but cannot be extended past the period of performance.

5. We would like to request additional information about the desired curriculum design, specifically:

a. What are the specific learning outcomes for this training?

Please refer to the scope of work attached to the RFQ. Once the contract is awarded, a kick-off meeting will occur with the contractor and CDC to develop more specific learning outcomes for these trainings.

b. Will training be required to include asynchronous design or interactive design components? There is no such requirement.

c. Is CDC requesting that materials be designed so that a CDC staff member can later re-teach this same course to other staff (i.e. “train the trainer”), or is this intended to be a one-time-only training?

i. This is intended to be one-time-only training during the period of performance.

ii. Materials are requested so that staff can refer back to, if necessary.

iii. Trainings will be recorded so trainees can refer to it at a later date.

d. What are expectations for providing individualized support to students (e.g.

outside of class times, or after the course completion)?

There is an expectation for the contractor to provide technical assistance throughout the period of performance, such as during the trainings and after the trainings have occurred.

e. How will CDC assess and monitor students’ demonstration of acquired knowledge or skills?

CDC will work with the contractor as well as trainees to determine if increased knowledge and skills among trainees has occurred.

i. Should the training include test or quiz elements developed by the vendor for students to demonstrate acquired knowledge or skills?

There is no requirement; however, it is always good to have some sort of knowledge check and/or evaluation of trainings and materials. It would be good to assess baseline knowledge and then post-training knowledge somehow.

f. What are CDC’s expectations for the number and type of training manuals?

The number and type of training manuals will be discussed with the contractor and CDC once the contract is awarded during the kick-off meeting.

g. For each manual, what is the anticipated range for number of pages, level of detail, and level of education required to comprehend the material?

Please see answer above.

6. How long can the timeframe for delivery of draft training materials be extended (currently set at 15 business days after award)?

Once the contract is awarded, CDC will discuss with the contractor any specific timelines that may need to be revised based on deliverables outlined in the contract. Some deadlines may not be able to be revised due to pre-established set priorities.

7. The RFQ notes that the schedule of training is due 30 days after award. Is there a required starting date for the first training (i.e., not later than X days after award)?

We would like the start date to be as soon as possible once the contract is awarded.

a. And is there a required number or weeks or months for completing the full span of the training?

Yes, however, this will be further discussed by CDC with the contractor once the contract is awarded.

8. Given that this is presented as a firm fixed price contract, if CDC does not approve the draft or final materials presented, and further negotiation is required, what is the process for such negotiation, and for extending the timeline and cost of the contract?

CDC will make the contractor aware of edits and if any edits and/or corrections are needed. CDC will work with the contractor to ensure that the deliverable needed is up to CDC standards. CDC will also keep the Contracting Officer aware if any issues arise.

9. To help us understand the manner of communication with the COR for this work and the process for oversight and approval of deliverables:

a. Who has been (or will be) named as the COR for this project? Mirelys Rodriguez

b. Can you please describe what role/department to which the COR is assigned, what kind of statistical and survey analysis experience they have, and any other relevant background experiences?

The COR is a very experienced, well-qualified public health analyst (PHA). PHAs at CDC do not usually have statistical and survey analysis experience. The COR is in CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health. The COR will work closely with very experienced statisticians, mathematics statisticians, and experts on the data as well as experts in maternal and child health to inform the contractor of CDC’s needs.

10. Would the CDC consider accepting a quote for a clearly defined subset of the requested work, rather than the entire set of Components and Tasks?

Please provide a cost-estimate for all the work presented in the RFQ, including the entire set of components and tasks.