36C25219Q0361-007.docx

36C25219Q0361

PAGE 1 OF

1. REQUISITION NO.

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE

4. ORDER NO.

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NO. (No Collect Calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME

9. ISSUED BY

CODE

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

UNRESTRICTED OR

SET ASIDE:

% FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

8(A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ

IFB

RFP

15. DELIVER TO

CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY

CODE

17a. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

DUNS:

DUNS+4:

PHONE:

FAX:

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER 18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

ITEM NO.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

QUANTITY

UNIT

UNIT PRICE

AMOUNT

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

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only) 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

ARE

ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _______________

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________________________ OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

DATED ________________________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

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

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

SET FORTH HEREIN IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER) 30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR PRINT) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

(REV. 2/2012)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

36C25219Q0361 04-16-2019

FASSL,DEBORAH

414-844-4800 X43268 04-22-2019

10:00 AM

36C252 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) 115 S 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476 X 611430 $11 Million X N/A X 36C252 VHA Administraative and Data Mgmt Office 2245 Enterprise Drive, Suite 4514 Westchester IL 60154 36C252 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) 115 S 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476

Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center PO Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971 877-353-9791 512-460-5540 See CONTINUATION Page VISN 12 Leadership and Personal Development Courses.

POP: 05/01/19 - 04/30/20

Education Officer: Mike Huck, 630-421-0295 Contract Specialist: Deb Fassl, 414-844-4800 x43268 See CONTINUATION Page 489-3690152-5130-840300-2645 x X x

SECTION B - CONTINUATION OF SF 1449 BLOCKS

B.1 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA (continuation from Standard Form 1449)

1. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION: All contract administration matters will be handled by the following individuals:

DUNS NUMBER NO. ______________________________________

CONTRACTOR’S PAST PERFORMANCE POINT OF CONTACT

(IF DIFFERENT THAN ABOVE):

NAME: __________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS:_________________________________

b. GOVERNMENT: Deborah Fassl, Contract Specialist

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

GREAT LAKES ACQUISITION CENTER

115 S. 84TH ST., STE 100

MILWAUKEE WI 53214

2. CONTRACTOR REMITTANCE ADDRESS: All payments by the Government to the contractor will be made in accordance with:

a. FAR 52.232-33 PAYMENT BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER SYSTEM – SYSTEM FOR AWARD

3. INVOICES: Invoices shall be submitted in arrears in accordance with:

a. 852.232-72 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS (NOV 2018)

4. GOVERNMENT INVOICE ADDRESS (See SF1449 Block 18):

a. All invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with 852.232-72 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS (NOV 2018)

b. Facsimile, e-mail, and scanned documents are not acceptable forms of submission for payment requests.

c. VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System – The FSC uses a third-party contractor, Tungsten Network e-Invoice, to transition vendors from paper to electronic invoice submission. Please go to this website: http://www.tungsten-network.com/customer-campaigns/veterans-affairs-us/ to begin submitting electronic invoices, free of charge.

d. For assistance setting up e-Invoice, the below information is provided:

i. * Tungsten Network e-Invoice Setup Information: 1-877-489-6135

* Tungsten Network e-Invoice email: VA.Registration@Tungsten-Network.com

* FSC e-Invoice Contact Information: 1-877-353-9791

* FSC e-invoice email: vafsccshd@va.gov

5. INVOICES:

a. Payments shall be made in arrears upon receipt of a properly prepared invoice

b. In order to comply with the Improper Payment Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA), the VA has mandated electronic invoice submission to the Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center (VAFSC). VAFSC has partnered with Tungsten Network e-Invoicing network, for submissions of all electronic invoices to VA. Tungsten Network electronic invoicing is free to all VA vendors. In order to submit electronic invoices, all VA vendors must register with Tungsten Network by submitting an email to VA.Registration@Tungsten-Network.com or calling 1-877-752-0900 option 2 for Enrollment.

c. Contractor shall submit an electronic invoice by the tenth (10th) of the following month services were performed to the Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center (VAFSC) e-Invoice through the website at https://portal.Tungsten-Network.com/Login.aspx. For questions regarding the submission of VA electronic invoices, Tungsten Network customer service may be contacted at 1-877-489-6135.

d. All invoices shall reference the vendor name and address, customer name, contract number, appropriate obligation/funding order number, description of services provided, quantity, unit price, and total invoice amount (any additional info). Invoices shall also include any payment discount terms.

e. For questions regarding invoice receipt or payment, please call VAFSC directly at 1-877-353-9791 or email vafsccshd@va.gov

OFFERORS MUST COMPLETE AND RETURN ALL INFORMATION DESIGNATED HEREIN PRIOR TO THE TIME SPECIFIED IN BLOCK 8 OF SF 1449 IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS: The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the Solicitation numbered and dated as follows:

ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS:

This Request for Quote (RFQ) solicitation is issued under the authority of FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. FAR Part 15 will not be used. The procedures in Part 12 used in conjunction with Part 13 allow the Government to procure services resembling those in the commercial marketplace and streamline the procurement process.

SECURITY & PRIVACY CONTROL:

The Authorization & Accreditation (A&A) requirements of VHA Handbook 6500.6 do not apply to this requirement, therefore, a Security Accreditation Package is not required. No A&A or MOU/ISA is required. Sensitive information exposure as part of this contract involves applicable security controls within the facility as part of the VA Information Security If there are any questions related to privacy, please have a member of your staff contact the VA Privacy Service at (202) 461-6309. If there are any questions related to the information security, please have a member of your staff contact the Office of Cyber Security at (304) 262-7733.

SPECIAL NOTES:

In order to maintain integrity of this solicitation and subsequent award date, all offerors are advised that any question and answer requests must be submitted in a written form via e-mail to the Contracting Officer Deborah.Fassl@va.gov no later than Friday, April 19 @ 4:00 PM. Contracting will issue a consolidated response via solicitation amendment to www.fbo.gov within 2 business days to all parties.

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve changes or modify any of the requirements under this contract. The Contractor shall communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters pertaining to contract administration. Only the Contracting Officer is authorized to make commitment or issue changes that will affect price, quantity or quality of performance of this contract. In the event the Contractor effects any such change at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change shall be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in cost incurred thereof.

B.2 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

Base Year: May 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020

Base Year Total: $_____________

Option Year 1: May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021

Option Year 1 Total: $_____________

Option Year 2: May 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022

Option Year 2 Total: $_____________

Option Year 3: May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023

Option Year 3 Total: $_____________

Option Year 4: May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024

Option Year 4 Total: $_____________

Base and all Options Years Total: $_____________

Statement of Work for Educational Products and Services

Glossary: In this document the following terms are used interchangeably:

· Students and participants

· Facilitators and instructors.

A. General Description of Need VISN 12 (V12) uses a variety of leadership and personal development courses in it programs and as stand-alone learning for employees.

V12 requires products and services to teach a variety of courses to multiple VA staff in both in-person and virtual formats that are instructor-led and self-directed, on-demand. Rather than having to purchase each course and its necessary materials separately, V12 requires unlimited access for 200 employees and up to 20 instructors to a provide to a “menu” or “catalog” of courses for a set price during a 12-month subscription period. V12 desires that each student be assigned a “slot” that would allow them to take any of the catalog courses for a set-per person price.

The instructor-led courses will be taught by VA staff who need to be prepared and certified by the vendor as instructors.

B. General Requirements

1. Must be able to provide all required services at time of contract award with no delays due to development.

2. Vendor shall have more than 2 years of experience providing all required services.

3. Must be able to offer each enrolled student all the course content at one basic per student fee. For example, once a student is enrolled in the vendor’s program, they must be able to use all the educational modalities in the program for one per student fee.

4. Instructor-led courses will be taught by VA staff. Vendor must prepare instructors to teach courses and certify them to use the product.

5. Certified instructors must have the option to purchase course materials as independent purchases after this 12-month subscription/contract ends.

6. Online, self-directed courses must be on-demand for 24 hours and 7 days a week during the contract period.

7. The vendor shall provide an online tracking and reporting system that provides reports on what online courses have been completed by each learner.

8. V12 must have the ability to enroll students into the vendor’s program directly to allow them access to material.

9. Courses must be sorted by the competencies they teach so that instructors can determine which courses address which competencies.

10. Vendor shall provide suggested curricula of courses that can be taught together for students to learn a specific competency. For instance, a curriculum for a competency might include developmental assessments, on-demand online courses, instructor-led virtual courses, and instructor-led in-person courses that work together to teach a competency. This will allow instructors to use “ready-made” curriculum of different learning products without having to research what courses work together for a competency.

11. Vendor shall provide consulting services on how to use the educational products and technical support for problems that may arise for administrators, instructors, and students, at no additional cost.

12. Courses must be based on adult learning principles, with heavy emphasis on student participation and active learning exercises.

13. Course must include real-life examples to illustrate points. Videos must teach principles, give real-life examples of concepts at work, and demonstrate how to implement the skills.

14. The vendor must allow the students and instructors to print their own handouts, workbooks, guides, and other materials required for the class.

15. Vendor shall provide an option to purchase discounted copies of ready-made handouts, workbooks, guides, and other materials required for the class when those are more feasible than printing our own.

16. The vendor shall provide a comprehensive instructor guide and lesson plans that explain how to teach the course, gives timings for durations, provides an instructor script, and offers pictures of the slides that follow along with what is being taught in the lesson plan.

17. Videos for instructor-led courses should have at least 3 ways to access them:

a) Embedded videos in course PowerPoint slides

b) Online access to video files.

c) One set of DVD’s for instructors to share when the other methods are not feasible.

18. Vendors are required to provide samples for review.

C. Requirements for Course Modalities and Features

1. On Demand, Online Courses

a. These must be hosted on the vendor site and be online, asynchronous, and on demand for self-directed, independent learning by the student.

b. Must include a wide-variety of courses for leadership and personal development with various durations, including a substantial number that are less than 30 minutes in duration and some that are less than 60 minutes in duration. This is required to promote micro-learning for busy students and will allow us to tie self-directed learning to instructor-led courses.

c. Students must have unlimited access to these course during the contract period, at no additional cost.

d. The vendor’s system must provide reports on course completions.

e. Student must have the ability to print job aids or handouts related to the concepts taught.

2. Instructor-led, Virtual Courses (Web-based)

a. Vendor must include all the materials, PowerPoint slides, handouts, workbooks, videos, polls, chat rooms, white boards, lesson plans, and any other instructional items required by the course on a pre-loaded virtual, online, instructor-led learning platform hosted on the vendor’s web site. An example would be a pre-loaded class on Adobe Connect that the virtual instructor would use to teach the course to virtual students.

b. Must include courses facilitation features that allow instructor to move from each section of the course seamlessly, with slides, videos, and interactive activities, etc. moving automatically with each section.

c. Each virtual course must use good adult-learning principles, including interactive activities and exercises that keep the student engaged with the instructor during the course and reduce distractions and student multi-tasking on non-course tasks. For most class activities, the instructor must be able to determine who has submitted an activity during class so that they call on the student by name.

d. Vendor must host the virtual classrooms and provide a web link that the student and instructor can use to access it.

e. VA will provide phone numbers for the audio portion of the course.

f. Must include versions that run from 2 – 8 hours in duration.

3. In-person, Instructor-led Courses

a. Vendor must provide all the materials, slides, handouts, workbooks, videos, polls, chat rooms, white boards, instructor guides, lesson plans, and any other instructional items required by the course to be taught in-person.

b. Must include optional durations for courses with fully functioning lesson plans for each length. The greatest need is for 1-day versions.

c. Each course must use good adult-learning principles, including interactive activities and exercises.

4. Certification for Instructors (facilitators)

a. Must provide on demand, asynchronous online certification for instructors on all the courses offered by vendor.

b. Online certification should include videos examples of instructors teaching the course.

c. Instructors must be able to teach all the courses offered by the vendor on which they are certified on an unlimited basis during the contract period, at no additional cost.

5. Developmental Assessments

a. Vendor must provide online, on demand, developmental assessments that allow student to assess how well they are applying the course concepts.

b. These must be available to take before and after the courses to measure progress and allow instructors to use the results during class.

D. Information Technology (IT) requirements

1. Software must be hosted on a non-VA external site. Examples include but are not limited to: online courses, record-keeping, reports, instructor and student materials, videos, etc.

2. Software cannot require use of social security numbers as an identifier.

3. Must be compatible with VA firewall.

4. Must be compatible:

a) Internet Explorer 11.x or Chrome 71.x

b) 64-bit version

c) Flash Player 32

d) JAVA 8

e) Windows 7 enterprise version

f) Windows 10 enterprise version

Courses Required The vendor must have additional courses available, but at a minimum they need to have the following courses and corresponding content. Some of these courses are part of the curriculum for designated leadership, supervisory, and personal development programs, while others are offered as stand-alone learning.

Must include the following courses and corresponding topics.

Basics of Project Management Format required: 2-hour, instructor-led, virtual course (web-based)

· How to visualize, plan, implement, and close a project

· How to identify stakeholder needs and create a project vision statement.

· How to conduct a stakeholder interview including questions to pose.

· How to use a project agreement with a stakeholder to establish the project purpose, description, desired results, priority, and SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-dimensioned).

· Steps to a planning phase including tools for creating timelines, task dependencies, durations, etc.

· How to prioritize performance factors of quality, time, and cost.

· How to use a tool to identify hot spots and risks to successful projects and measure both impact and probability of the risks.

· How to use a tool to plan effective project meetings.

· How to modify the project agreement for a change request.

· Steps for closing a project and how to use a tool for evaluating it.

Building and Maintain Trust in Organizations Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· How to apply 4 cores of credibility: 1) integrity, 2) intent, 3) capabilities, and 4) results.

· How to assess and apply key behaviors of high-trust leaders under each of the 4 cores of credibility.

· The difference and need for distinct types of trust: self-trust, relationship trust, and organizational trust.

· Tools and exercises for identifying actions the learner needs to take for self-trust, relationship trust, and organizational trust.

Coaching Work Teams Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· Understanding feedback vs coaching

· How to prepare for and use coaching steps of 1) clarify, 2) learn, 3), explore, and 4) commit.

· How to use the coaching skills of listening, acknowledging, and questioning.

· Understand key steps to listening and a listening continuum.

· How to use effective questioning for listening, including clarifying, open-ended, and insight questions.

· Providing instructive and positive feedback

· How to provide feedback and coaching in the digital age.

· How to conduct a voice finder interview to determine the person’s need, talent, passion, and conscience.

· Practice key coaching skills, such as asking insightful questions, practicing active and mindful listening, and acknowledging existing resources to build areas of development.

· Tools to create an implementation plan for coaching.

Crucial Leadership Roles Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· Understand chronic issues that lead to poor results: 1) low or no trust, no clear vision, inability to execute priorities, and underused potential.

· Understand how crucial roles of leadership (inspire trust, create vision, execute strategy, and coach potential) interact with the principal drivers for employee engagement (environment of trust, meaningful work, winning team, and valued member).

· How to use a tool to assess self on the crucial roles of leadership. Includes: identifying gaps, plans, barriers, resources needed to improve, what could I learn, who could coach me, and how can I gain the necessary experience?

· How to use a tool to assess self on potential to coach others. Includes identifying gaps, plans, barriers, resources needed to improve, what could I learn, who could coach me, and how can I gain the necessary experience?

· How to use tools to create an implementation plan to live out the crucial roles.

Developing a Common Team Vision and Strategy Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· How to develop a team vision statement and strategy.

· How to practice a strategic narrative.

· Key components to a team vision that inspires.

· How to use tools to incorporate customers, context, bottom line, and capabilities into a team strategy.

· How to create an effective team strategic narrative that is clear, concise, compelling, and confident.

· How to develop an implementation plan for a team vision statement, strategy, and strategic narrative.

· How to use team collaboration methods, e.g. carousel brainstorming, anonymous group, and mix-pair share.

Fundamental Model for Leadership Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

1. The importance of using a whole person paradigm for leading people: body, mind, heart, and spirit.

1. The need to shift a leadership approach from an industrial age to a knowledge worker age.

1. How to apply 4 imperatives of great leaders: 1) inspire trust, 2) clarify purpose, 3) align systems, and 4) unleash talent.

1. How the relationship between character and competence overlap to create credibility and trust.

1. Assess the participant’s level of use of the behaviors of high-trust leaders.

1. Understanding the effect of the continuum of employee engagement.

1. How to use a clarify purpose tool to determine the team’s purpose by defining the job to be done and creating a strategic link to what the organization has “hired” the unit to do.

1. How to conduct 3 leadership conversations on voice, performance, and clearing the path.

1. How to use win-win agreements for accountability.

1. How to use the disciplines of execution: 1) focus on the wildly important, 2) act on lead measures, 3), keep a compelling scoreboard, and 4) create a cadence of accountability.

Leading Effective Meetings:

Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· Understand the standards to conduct high focus meetings.

· Steps for implementing the standards, including a tool for using them

· How to prepare, conduct, and follow-through for high focus meetings.

· How to use a tool to analyze if a meeting is justified, including calculating the cost.

· How to select meeting methods to achieve objectives and plan for equipment, supplies, locations, room set-up, duration, and other logistics.

· How to establish a code of conduct and handle unproductive behaviors.

· How to match meeting objectives to meeting methods, e.g. discussing, presenting, relaying, dialogue, prototyping, focus voting, problem-solving, etc. How to use those meeting methods.

· How to use a tool to time-activate follow-through after a meeting.

· Exercise to apply the practices learned by conducting a simulated meeting.

· Tips for teleconferencing.

Making Effective Presentations Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· How to prepare and deliver high-quality presentations.

· How to define the purpose of your message.

· How to develop a strong introduction, key points, and conclusion.

· Tools for applying this knowledge in preparing a presentation.

· Exercises and practice for students to enhance their presentations and oral communication using a model focused on connecting with their message, themselves, and the needs of their audience.

· Types of attention getters.

· How to develop and present good visuals.

· How to provide virtual presentations.

· Elements of providing excellent delivery, e.g. appearance, eye contact, gestures, etc.

· How to manage presenter’s stress and how to handle questions and group dynamics.

Skills for Millennials at Work Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· Defining generations and typical characteristics.

· Understanding common motivation for each generation.

· Understanding strengths, weaknesses, and challenges for millennials working with other generations.

· How to apply workplace skills to overcome perceived weaknesses:

1. Build relationships

2. Ask for details

3. Big picture

4. When to focus

5. Feedback

6. Accountability

7. Your value

Methods for Character-Based Living Formats required:

a) 2-day, in-person, instructor-led.

b) Virtual, instructor-led sessions in multiple 2-3 hours segments.

· Importance and characteristics of principles and paradigms.

· The difference between character versus personality.

· The importance of a character focus for fruitful living and leadership.

· The principles and paradigms that are the foundation for character-based living.

· How to view character-based living on a maturity continuum that moves from dependence and independence to interdependence.

· How to use a model for changing one’s paradigms and typical ways of living.

· How to incorporate character-based living into daily life.

· How to live and lead by:

a. Making intention choices versus merely reacting, taking responsibility for what one can influence, not using language that blames, accuses, and takes on the role of a victim, knowing what is in your realm of control, and being a person who moves self and others past negative experiences into positive ones.

b. Creating and using a clear vision of your personal mission based on your key roles and long-term life goals that drives your living, choices, and priorities.

c. Spending time on what is truly important. Setting priorities for weekly and daily living that focus on achieving your personal mission. Knowing how to differentiate between urgent and important activities and how to combine types of urgency and importance to determine priorities and manage use of time.

d. Understanding the emotional needs of others and what affects those needs positively and negatively.

e. Using an attitude of win-win versus win-lose, lose-win, lose-lose, and win only. Living with an abundance mentality versus a scarcity mentality. Balancing the courage to speak up with consideration when seeking a win-win result. How to create an agreement for a win-win result.

f. Influencing others by understanding them by using deep, empathic listening versus listening that attempts to make one’s own point alone by being autobiographical, probing, evaluating, interpreting, and advising. Ensuring that others understand you.

g. Valuing diversity in talent and viewpoints so that combining them with yours can lead to new creative approaches that exceed expectations.

h. Focusing on mind, heart, mind, and spirit to refresh and grow continuously to feed character-based living and be fruitful in personal and professional aspects of life.

· How to use tools for implementing the above practices and approaches.

· As pre-course and post-course self-assessment of how the student is using this character-based living.

Successfully Executing Teams Strategies and Goals Format required: 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

· How to move from a strategy approach to a system approach.

· How to align key elements for systems: people, structure, rewards, resources, decisions, and processes.

· How to use a tool to identify what is working and what needs to change for the key element for systems for my team.

· How to use the disciplines of execution in your team’s current practices: 1) focus on the wildly important, 2) act on lead measures, 3), keep a compelling scoreboard, and 4) create a cadence of accountability.

· How leaders should implement their plan for improving systems.

· How to use team collaboration methods, e.g. carousel brainstorming, anonymous group, and mix-pair share.

Writing for Effectiveness Formats required:

a) 1-day, in-person, instructor-led.

b) 2-hour, instructor-led, virtual course (web-based)

· How to write business communication using clear and concise language.

· Techniques for enticing busy readers to want to read your messages.

· Model and method for breaking messages into distinct blocks that allow busy readers to quickly understand what the sender wants them to know and do.

· Opportunities to apply learning to a real-time document that participants are working on in their live work settings.

· Treating skillful writing as good customer service.

· How to use quality writing standards.

· How to review and revise documents to be clear, concise, and correct. Understand common errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

SECTION C - CONTRACT CLAUSES

C.1 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS—COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2018)

(a) Inspection/Acceptance. The Contractor shall only tender for acceptance those items that conform to the requirements of this contract. The Government reserves the right to inspect or test any supplies or services that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require repair or replacement of nonconforming supplies or reperformance of nonconforming services at no increase in contract price. If repair/replacement or reperformance will not correct the defects or is not possible, the Government may seek an equitable price reduction or adequate consideration for acceptance of nonconforming supplies or services. The Government must exercise its post-acceptance rights—

(1) Within a reasonable time after the defect was discovered or should have been discovered; and

(2) Before any substantial change occurs in the condition of the item, unless the change is due to the defect in the item.

(b) Assignment. The Contractor or its assignee may assign its rights to receive payment due as a result of performance of this contract to a bank, trust company, or other financing institution, including any Federal lending agency in accordance with the Assignment of Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3727). However, when a third party makes payment (e.g., use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card), the Contractor may not assign its rights to receive payment under this contract.

(c) Changes. Changes in the terms and conditions of this contract may be made only by written agreement of the parties.

(d) Disputes. This contract is subject to 41 U.S.C. chapter 71, Contract Disputes. Failure of the parties to this contract to reach agreement on any request for equitable adjustment, claim, appeal or action arising under or relating to this contract shall be a dispute to be resolved in accordance with the clause at FAR 52.233-1, Disputes, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Contractor shall proceed diligently with performance of this contract, pending final resolution of any dispute arising under the contract.

(e) Definitions. The clause at FAR 52.202-1, Definitions, is incorporated herein by reference.

(f) Excusable delays. The Contractor shall be liable for default unless nonperformance is caused by an occurrence beyond the reasonable control of the Contractor and without its fault or negligence such as, acts of God or the public enemy, acts of the Government in either its sovereign or contractual capacity, fires, floods, epidemics, quarantine restrictions, strikes, unusually severe weather, and delays of common carriers. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing as soon as it is reasonably possible after the commencement of any excusable delay, setting forth the full particulars in connection therewith, shall remedy such occurrence with all reasonable dispatch, and shall promptly give written notice to the Contracting Officer of the cessation of such occurrence.

(g) Invoice.

(1) The Contractor shall submit an original invoice and three copies (or electronic invoice, if authorized) to the address designated in the contract to receive invoices. An invoice must include—

(i) Name and address of the Contractor;

(ii) Invoice date and number;

(iii) Contract number, line item number and, if applicable, the order number;

(iv) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price of the items delivered;

(v) Shipping number and date of shipment, including the bill of lading number and weight of shipment if shipped on Government bill of lading;

(vi) Terms of any discount for prompt payment offered;

(vii) Name and address of official to whom payment is to be sent;

(viii) Name, title, and phone number of person to notify in event of defective invoice; and

(ix) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The Contractor shall include its TIN on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.

(x) Electronic funds transfer (EFT) banking information.

(A) The Contractor shall include EFT banking information on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.

(B) If EFT banking information is not required to be on the invoice, in order for the invoice to be a proper invoice, the Contractor shall have submitted correct EFT banking information in accordance with the applicable solicitation provision, contract clause (e.g., 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management, or 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other Than System for Award Management), or applicable agency procedures.

(C) EFT banking information is not required if the Government waived the requirement to pay by EFT.

(2) Invoices will be handled in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR part 1315.

(h) Patent indemnity. The Contractor shall indemnify the Government and its officers, employees and agents against liability, including costs, for actual or alleged direct or contributory infringement of, or inducement to infringe, any United States or foreign patent, trademark or copyright, arising out of the performance of this contract, provided the Contractor is reasonably notified of such claims and proceedings.

(i) Payment.—

(1) Items accepted. Payment shall be made for items accepted by the Government that have been delivered to the delivery destinations set forth in this contract.

(2) Prompt payment. The Government will make payment in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR part 1315.

(3) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If the Government makes payment by EFT, see 52.212-5(b) for the appropriate EFT clause.

(4) Discount. In connection with any discount offered for early payment, time shall be computed from the date of the invoice. For the purpose of computing the discount earned, payment shall be considered to have been made on the date which appears on the payment check or the specified payment date if an electronic funds transfer payment is made.

(5) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the Contractor shall—

(i) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in the contract along with a description of the overpayment including the—

(A) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);

(B) Affected contract number and delivery order number, if applicable;

(C) Affected line item or subline item, if applicable; and

(D) Contractor point of contact.

(ii) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting documentation to the Contracting Officer.

(6) Interest.

(i) All amounts that become payable by the Contractor to the Government under this contract shall bear simple interest from the date due until paid unless paid within 30 days of becoming due. The interest rate shall be the interest rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury as provided in 41 U.S.C. 7109, which is applicable to the period in which the amount becomes due, as provided in (i)(6)(v) of this clause, and then at the rate applicable for each six-month period as fixed by the Secretary until the amount is paid.

(ii) The Government may issue a demand for payment to the Contractor upon finding a debt is due under the contract.

(iii) Final decisions. The Contracting Officer will issue a final decision as required by 33.211 if—

(A) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor are unable to reach agreement on the existence or amount of a debt within 30 days;

(B) The Contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded by the Contracting Officer within the timeline specified in the demand for payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the Contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; or

(C) The Contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt previously demanded by the Contracting Officer (see 32.607-2).

(iv) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, the demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify the same due date as the original demand for payment.

(v) Amounts shall be due at the earliest of the following dates:

(A) The date fixed under this contract.

(B) The date of the first written demand for payment, including any demand for payment resulting from a default termination.

(vi) The interest charge shall be computed for the actual number of calendar days involved beginning on the due date and ending on—

(A) The date on which the designated office receives payment from the Contractor;

(B) The date of issuance of a Government check to the Contractor from which an amount otherwise payable has been withheld as a credit against the contract debt; or

(C) The date on which an amount withheld and applied to the contract debt would otherwise have become payable to the Contractor.

(vii) The interest charge made under this clause may be reduced under the procedures prescribed in 32.608-2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation in effect on the date of this contract.

(j) Risk of loss. Unless the contract specifically provides otherwise, risk of loss or damage to the supplies provided under this contract shall remain with the Contractor until, and shall pass to the Government upon:

(1) Delivery of the supplies to a carrier, if transportation is f.o.b. origin; or

(2) Delivery of the supplies to the Government at the destination specified in the contract, if transportation is f.o.b. destination.

(k) Taxes. The contract price includes all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes and duties.

(l) Termination for the Government's convenience. The Government reserves the right to terminate this contract, or any part hereof, for its sole convenience. In the event of such termination, the Contractor shall immediately stop all work hereunder and shall immediately cause any and all of its suppliers and subcontractors to cease work. Subject to the terms of this contract, the Contractor shall be paid a percentage of the contract price reflecting the percentage of the work performed prior to the notice of termination, plus reasonable charges the Contractor can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Government using its standard record keeping system, have resulted from the termination. The Contractor shall not be required to comply with the cost accounting standards or contract cost principles for this purpose. This paragraph does not give the Government any right to audit the Contractor's records. The Contractor shall not be paid for any work performed or costs incurred which reasonably could have been avoided.

(m) Termination for cause. The Government may terminate this contract, or any part hereof, for cause in the event of any default by the Contractor, or if the Contractor fails to comply with any contract terms and conditions, or fails to provide the Government, upon request, with adequate assurances of future performance. In the event of termination for cause, the Government shall not be liable to the Contractor for any amount for supplies or services not accepted, and the Contractor shall be liable to the Government for any and all rights and remedies provided by law. If it is determined that the Government improperly terminated this contract for default, such termination shall be deemed a termination for convenience.

(n) Title. Unless specified elsewhere in this contract, title to items furnished under this contract shall pass to the Government upon acceptance, regardless of when or where the Government takes physical possession.

(o) Warranty. The Contractor warrants and implies that the items delivered hereunder are merchantable and fit for use for the particular purpose described in this contract.

(p) Limitation of liability. Except as otherwise provided by an express warranty, the Contractor will not be liable to the Government for consequential damages resulting from any defect or deficiencies in accepted items.

(q) Other compliances. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this contract.

(r) Compliance with laws unique to Government contracts. The Contractor agrees to comply with 31 U.S.C. 1352 relating to limitations on the use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracts; 18 U.S.C. 431 relating to officials not to benefit; 40 U.S.C. chapter 37, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards; 41 U.S.C. chapter 87, Kickbacks; 41 U.S.C. 4712 and 10 U.S.C. 2409 relating to whistleblower protections; 49 U.S.C. 40118, Fly American; and 41 U.S.C. chapter 21 relating to procurement integrity.

(s) Order of precedence. Any inconsistencies in this solicitation or contract shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order:

(1) The schedule of supplies/services.

(2) The Assignments, Disputes, Payments, Invoice, Other Compliances, Compliance with Laws Unique to Government Contracts, and Unauthorized Obligations paragraphs of this clause;

(3) The clause at 52.212-5.

(4) Addenda to this solicitation or contract, including any license agreements for computer software.

(5) Solicitation provisions if this is a solicitation.

(6) Other paragraphs of this clause.

(7) The Standard Form 1449.

(8) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments

(9) The specification.

(t) [Reserved]

(u) Unauthorized Obligations.

(1) Except as stated in paragraph (u)(2) of this clause, when any supply or service acquired under this contract is subject to any End User License Agreement (EULA), Terms of Service (TOS), or similar legal instrument or agreement, that includes any clause requiring the Government to indemnify the Contractor or any person or entity for damages, costs, fees, or any other loss or liability that would create an Anti-Deficiency Act violation (31 U.S.C. 1341), the following shall govern:

(i) Any such clause is unenforceable against the Government.

(ii) Neither the Government nor any Government authorized end user shall be deemed to have agreed to such clause by virtue of it appearing in the EULA, TOS, or similar legal instrument or agreement. If the EULA, TOS, or similar legal instrument or agreement is invoked through an “I agree” click box or other comparable mechanism (e.g., “click-wrap” or “browse-wrap” agreements), execution does not bind the Government or any Government authorized end user to such clause.

(iii) Any such clause is deemed to be stricken from the EULA, TOS, or similar legal instrument or agreement.

(2) Paragraph (u)(1) of this clause does not apply to indemnification by the Government that is expressly authorized by statute and specifically authorized under applicable agency regulations and procedures.

(v) Incorporation by reference. The Contractor’s representations and certifications, including those completed electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM), are incorporated by reference into the contract.

(End of Clause) ADDENDUM to FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS—COMMERCIAL ITEMS Clauses that are incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date), have the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.

The following clauses are incorporated into 52.212-4 as an addendum to this contract:

C.2 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/

(End of Clause)

C.3 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 calendar days.

(End of Clause)

C.4 52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 calendar days; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 calendar days days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed five years.

(End of Clause)

C.5 VAAR 852.203-70 COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING (MAY 2018)

The Contractor shall not make reference in its commercial advertising to Department of Veterans Affairs contracts in a manner that states or implies the Department of Veterans Affairs approves or endorses the Contractor’s products or services or considers the Contractor’s products or services superior to other products or services.

(End of Clause)

C.6 VAAR 852.232-72 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS (NOV 2018)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

(1) Contract financing payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001;

(2) Designated agency office means the office designated by the purchase order, agreement, or contract to first receive and review invoices. This office can be contractually designated as the receiving entity. This office may be different from the office issuing the payment;

(3) Electronic form means an automated system transmitting information electronically according to the accepted electronic data transmission methods and formats identified in paragraph (c) of this clause. Facsimile, email, and scanned documents are not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests;

(4) Invoice payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001; and

(5) Payment request means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment submitted by the contractor under this contract.

(b) Electronic payment requests. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this clause, the contractor shall submit payment requests in electronic form. Purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial purchase card are considered to be an electronic transaction for purposes of this rule, and therefore no additional electronic invoice submission is…