6913G621Q300020_ITS-PCB_SOW.pdf

Purchase Order No. 6913G621Q300020 V3272062

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)

Volpe Program Development and Capacity Building Division (V327)

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Professional Capacity Building (PCB)

Background

Under a succession of Inter-Agency Agreements (IAA), the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Volpe Center has supported the Intelligent Transportation Systems Professional Capacity Building (ITS PCB) Program since its establishment in 1996. The ITS PCB Program is a cross-cutting program based in the USDOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO). The ITS PCB Program Manager has requested that the Volpe Center conduct all activities necessary to progress from outreach enhancement, educational material concept, and training course formation to product development and delivery, including the procurement of third parties to create and deliver the training and educational products, when necessary.

Over the last decade, the ITS PCB Program has significantly increased its academic initiatives to ensure that ITS knowledge elements are incorporated into a variety of academic programs (engineering, planning, information technology, etc.) at all educational levels (graduate, undergraduate, community college, technical school, secondary STEM programs). The Volpe Center’s academic ITS PCB efforts have expanded to a level that requires additional support from those inside the academic community.

An outgrowth of the April 2012 National Transportation Workforce Summit was the formation of the National Network for the Transportation Workforce (NNTW) launched and funded by the FHWA Office of Innovative Program Delivery’s (OIPD) Center for Transportation Workforce Development (CTWD).

The NNTW was initially composed of five (now four) Region Transportation Workforce Centers (TWCs) that would work collectively to provide strategic and efficient approaches to transportation workforce development. Together the TWCs and the CTWD worked as a coordinated, national network to achieve workforce-related objectives that affect the country as a whole. Since 2015, representatives from the NNTW institutions have attended the ITS PCB Program’s annual ITS academic workshops (organized by the Volpe Center) and provided valuable contributions to each workshop. In 2019, the ITS PCB Program initiated a modification to the four CTWD’s NNTW contracts for the development of preliminary academic ITS products and the expansion of the academic ITS community. That contract period has now expired and there remains an ongoing need to extend and expand on the work initiated in 2019.

One critical task that was highlighted under the current ITS PCB IAA at Volpe for 2020 is the expansion of the ITS PCB’s academic strategies. Specifically, the Volpe ITS PCB team will work with each of the four TWCs to create ITS educational materials and provide additional linkages to the educational community.

Each of the TWCs will be contracted individually with the Volpe Center to focus on their previously identified strengths (product development, career pathway documentation, community building and coordinated outreach). The four TWCs, to be contracted separately for a 16-month period, are the (1) Northeast Transportation Workforce Center (NETWC) at the University of Vermont, (2) Southeast Transportation Workforce Center (SETWC) at the University of Memphis, (3) West Region

Transportation Workforce Center (WRTWC) at the Montana State University, and (4) Southwest Transportation Workforce Center (SWTWC) at the California State University at Long Beach.

Objectives The ITS PCB Program is seeking to continue to enrich its interaction and partnership with academic institutions and the public agencies and private firms that employ the students educated by these institutions. ITS PCB Program’s vision is to prepare a dynamically knowledgeable community of transportation industry professionals for a connected automated transportation system. The program connects ITS practitioners and decision makers with researchers, educators and trainers, and peers to advance the state of ITS practice. The ITS PCB Academic program seeks to ensure that there are pathways to support and encourage future transportation professionals to take up roles and work in public and private organizations to accelerate preparation for and sustain the deployment of innovative

ITS.

The objective of this project is to engage the Transportation Workforce Centers (TWC) to create new networks and vehicles to introduce ITS and transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) careers to a wider student audience, and to expand current ITS academic curriculum and other resources to support workforce connection efforts. The TWCs are uniquely positioned to support the educational and workforce development tasks laid out in this task order as a member of the academic community, but also having extensive connections with a number of professional organizations, public agencies (including the U.S. Department of Transportation), and public and private employers.

In supervising the work toward these objectives, the Volpe Center will be actively engaged in supporting program planning, reviewing and critiquing draft products and processes in a timely manner, and being the liaison to the ITS PCB JPO to ensure that information, resources, and products can be effectively and efficiently displayed for access by networks new participants in ITS PCB academic efforts.

Tasks The entire 16-month period of performance of this project is funded through CLINs 0100-0800. Meeting travel may be required under separate optional CLIN 0900, not to exceed $2,500.

Task 1: Academic Community of Practice (CoP) and Targeted Actions The TWCs shall create an Academic Community of Practice (CoP)1 and more targeted CoPs. The TWCs shall support outreach activities to select targeted groups such as underserved populations, professional associations, community colleges and secondary school educators under the sub-tasks below.

1 A Community of Practice (CoP) will be the term utilized in this agreement to refer to any coordinated or organized body formed to provide program or task direction, review documents, or complete specific tasks in support of this agreement and the ITS PCB Program. CoPs may also be known as Working Groups, Task Forces, Committees, Sub-Committees, or other related names.

Task 1.1 CoP Action Groups

The TWCs shall create and manage one overarching ITS Academic CoP and at least four specialized cohort groups. The TWCs shall schedule and conduct four (4) remote or live meetings for each CoP/cohort group during the period of performance. One of the specialized groups shall focus on building academic-employer relations (this activity may be in support of the Volpe-led ITS Educator- Employer Pipeline - EEP - initiative). This subtask will be led by the NETWC and supported by the other TWCs.

Task 1.1 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the creation and management of the ITS Academic CoP

2. Support the creation and management of two (or more) ITS-academic cohort groups

3. Support the scheduling and holding of at least two meetings for each CoP/cohort group, and the production of the follow-up notes.

Task 1.2 Outreach to under-represented populations

The TWCs shall conduct outreach to academic institutions that target under-represented populations.

This includes outreach to tribal schools, historically black colleges (HBCU), and schools in smaller populated areas (small metros or rural areas). The TWCs shall work with these schools to determine methods to increase ITS (and TSMO) focus and training within these select educational institutions. The WRTWC will co-lead this subtask with the SWTWC and NETWC.

Task 1.2 Deliverable(s):

1. Implement outreach activities and review potential to increase ITS education in tribal schools, historically black colleges, and academic institutions in remote areas (among other under-represented populations). This subtask includes providing a strategy document with specific recommendations for moving this targeted activity forward.

Task 1.3 Expand Academic network to Professional Associations

The ITS PCB Academic initiative is focused on both training and building workforce networks. The TWCs shall reach out to and provide sustainable connections to professional associations, composed of many public agencies and private firms that are future employer targets by the current students. This subtask includes a survey on ITS/TSMO education and workforce partnerships or related activities that are currently underway in an effort to determine overlapping efforts and gaps. The TWCs will then provide recommendations, with justification, on additional organizations/associations that should have a stronger connection to the ITS PCB Program and the ITS Academic initiative. This subtask will be led by the NETWC and supported by the other TWCs.

Task 1.3 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the survey of related training and workforce efforts by associations and organizations

2. Support the development of a paper on specific associations and organizations to integrate into the ITS PCB Program efforts, along with reasoning behind incorporating the additional associations and organizations into the ITS Academic initiative (why, benefits to be obtained by all parties, best way to integrate, etc.).

Task 1.4 Community College Development

Community College coordination with the ITS PCB Academic initiative is a long-term effort well beyond the period covered under this task order. The TWCs shall focus on increasing employer awareness as to technical positions and careers for individuals with Community College and other two-year degrees or certificates. Under this subtask, the effort will continue to link community colleges and public and private employers. The TWCs shall support the effort to link the schools and employers through setting up virtual and / or live panels and discussions for ITS-community college meetings. The panel sessions activity will be co-led by the NETWC and SETWC. The other TWCs shall support the NETWC and SETWC in their roles as co-leads in the alignment of careers and positions to community college graduates.

Task 1.4 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the development of panel sessions for ITS-Community College meetings

2. Support the alignment of position description and career tracks to community college programs and graduates.

Task 1.5 Secondary School Activities

The TWCs shall support efforts targeted to linking and supporting the ITS, TSMO and general transportation training at secondary schools. During 2019, the ITS PCB Program began to identify a small network of secondary schools that focus on transportation concepts within their STEM programs (e.g., Giles County (VA) School District, Memphis S.T.E.M. Academy, Los Angeles Trade Tech College’s Early College Academy, and Cardoza Education Campus in Washington, D.C.). This task order will look to the TWCs to set up a formal national network of STEM secondary schools with transportation links, expand lesson plans and teacher guides to incorporate recently produced training materials, advertise STEM transportation successes and training materials with other school systems, state Departments of Education and state Departments of Transportation. The TWCs will also initiate discussions, provide examinations and issue recommendations on the topics of what is required to create new targeted training materials, initiating a high school ITS/TSMO student challenge, and opportunities for potential private industry support (or public-private partnerships) for transportation-focused STEM programs. This subtask shall be led by the SETWC, with support from the other TWCs.

Task 1.5 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the formation of a National STEM Advisory Group that includes representatives from each of the identified institutions (among other institutions).

2. Support the National STEM Advisory in identifying specific curriculum and career path tools that secondary school educators would value, potential ITS/TSMO high school student challenges, and a coordinated approach to industry support of transportation STEM programs through professional organizations.

3. Support the creation of a strategic plan to promote transportation-relevant STEM successes and training materials to other school systems, state Departments of Education, state Departments of Transportation, and other organizations that would benefit from the existence of this targeted training.

4. Support the discussion and recommendation of new training materials for secondary school usage, ITS/TSMO high school student challenges, and opportunities for private industry to provide support for transportation STEM programs (this could be combined with the strategic plan deliverable in 1.5.3 above).

All Task 1 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 2: Identify ITS PCB Academic-TWC Actions and Performance Measures There are numerous subtasks laid out within this task. The Academic CoP and cohort groups will generate a number of action steps, which are to be tracked by the TWCs. The TWCs shall support the NETWC in the development of performance measures to assess the impact of each of these academic activities. In addition, the NETWC with WRTWC and the other TWCs shall track the status of each of these activities, including who it is assigned, time frame, any links to other academic and non-academic activities, and projected outcomes. Any relevant attendance and accomplishments information shall be shared with the ITS PCB team for inclusion in the monthly, quarterly, and annual outreach and highlight reports for the ITS PCB Program. The NETWC shall lead this task, with support from the other TWCs.

Task 2 Deliverable:

1. Support the creation and management of the list (spreadsheet) of all activities to be performed under this task order

2. Support the tracking of action items for each cohort groups

3. Support the development of performance measures for each of these activities to assess outcome success

4. Support the collection and recording of relevant attendance and accomplishments information to the ITS PCB Program’s reporting staff at the Volpe Center.

All Task 2 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 3: ITS PCB Academic Workshop The ITS PCB Academic team at the Volpe Center will lead in the development and execution of ITS PCB Academic Workshops, but will look to the NETWC, with aid from the other TWCs, to provide support in the design, organization, attendance outreach, and facilitation of all ITS Academic workshops occurring through the end of this contract period. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, workshops that were initially intended to be held at a single location, such as the planned All Levels ITS Academic Workshop in Long Beach in early November 2020, will either be replaced with a series of shorter virtual sessions or moved to a later date in 2021 or early 2022. In addition to helping with the creation and execution of the academic workshops, the TWC shall present on action steps and lead select workshop sessions.

During this task order performance period, it is expected that there will be one to two virtual workshops and a live all levels workshop, hopefully in Long Beach, will occur. The WRTWC and NETWC shall co-lead the coordination and development activities for the 2021 or 2022 all levels workshop. The TWCs shall assist the NETWC with identifying any other workshops or meetings where sharing information on the ITS academic program will be advantageous to moving the ITS academic activities forward. The NETWC shall work with the other TWCs to ensure that workshop planning, logistics, and information sharing activities are cooperatively provided to the Volpe Center team.

Task 3.1 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the planning and execution of up to two ITS Academic Workshops (live and virtual)

2. Provide a joint report out on all ITS academic activities at ITS Academic Workshop(s)

3. Support the identification of other opportunities (workshops, meetings, etc.) to share ITS Academic information.

All Task 3 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 4: ITS Case Studies The ITS PCB Program created its first ITS Case Studies in 2012. There are now 5 ITS Case Studies available for educators to use as part of their academic curriculum. These products have proven very popular but need to be updated and additional case study topics added to the library. In a prior contract with the FHWA and the ITS Joint Program Office, the TWCs reviewed each of the case studies and recommended revisions, making some revisions and drafting new case studies. This project enables the work initiated in 2019 to be completed and expanded so a number of up-to-date case studies are once again available to meet instructor demands.

Task 4.1 Case Study review for update (recommend revisions)

In 2019, the TWCs, led by the SWTWC, evaluated and reviewed in depth all five existing ITS Case Studies.

Draft revisions were developed for two of the five case studies, the remaining three will need to be further assessed, developed, and discussed with the Volpe Center and other ITS PCB representatives.

The WRTWC shall support the SWTWC in the development of the recommended revisions list and discussions with the ITS PCB Program and subject matter experts (SMEs).

Task 4.1 Deliverable(s):

1. Develop final recommended revisions list for the Adaptive Signal Control (ASC) Case Study

2. Develop final recommended revisions list for the Concept of Operations Development as Part of a

Systems Engineering Process (ConOps in SEP) Case Study

3. Develop final recommended revisions list for the Travel Time Based Performance Measures Case

Study

4. Discuss the recommended revisions for each of these ITS Case Studies with the Volpe Center and other ITS PCB representatives

Task 4.2 Case Study revision & common format

The SWTWC shall lead the completion of the updates of all five existing ITS Case Studies, with support from the other TWCs. The TWCs shall also develop an ITS Case Study Format Guide, which will function as a developer’s toolkit that includes document templates to create a common format and look for the existing and future ITS Case Studies.

Task 4.2 Deliverable(s):

1. Create an ITS Case Study Format Guide

2. Produce the final update of the Civil Design Considerations (CDC) Case Study

3. Produce the final update of the ITS Architecture Case Study

4. Produce the final update of the ASC Case Study

5. Produce the final update of the ConOps in SEP Case Study

6. Produce the final update of the Travel Time Based Performance Measures Case Study.

Task 4.3 New Case Study

In 2019, the TWCs initiated the creation of two new ITS case studies titled Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and ITS in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The SWTWC and WRTWC shall co-lead the development effort to complete these works and to create two additional new case study lessons. This subtask also calls for the conceptual development of a Capstone Course that incorporates all ITS Case Studies. The WRTWC will lead the DMS and Safety Application case studies and support the SWTWC in the development and review of the other new case studies and Capstone Course concept.

Task 4.3 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the development of the final Dynamic Message Signs Case Study

2. Support the development of a new Safety Applications of ITS Case Study

3. Develop the final ITS in Bus Rapid Transit Case Study

4. Develop a new planning related ITS case study (project financing, data mining/analysis, data privacy/ethics, etc.)

5. Develop an initial concept of a Capstone Course built around all revised or new ITS Case Studies.

Task 4.4 Enhancements to Case Studies

The current ITS Case Studies require a review of each content on a case study by case study basis. The TWCs shall develop a 60-90-minute webinar that will help guide the instructors on what is included in all of the new and updated ITS Case Studies and which are the most apropos for them to use within their curriculum. (The recommended format is a 30-50-minute presentation, followed by a 15-30-minute Question and Answer period.) The ITS PCB Program’s webinar team at the Volpe Center will work with the TWCs to produce this webinar that explains the content of each case study and recommendations on how to present each case study. This subtask shall be led by the SWTWC, with support from the other TWCs.

Task 4.4 Deliverable(s):

1. Develop and present an ITS Case Study library overview webinar.

Task 4.5 Advertise Case Study rollout

As part of the new and expanded ITS Case Study library rollout, the TWCs shall develop informational and outreach materials that can be posted on the ITS PCB website, emailed to targeted audiences, and/or handed out as part of conferences or meetings. The promotional and informational materials are to include fact sheets on each ITS Case Study and an informational flyer on the full ITS Case Study library.

Task 4.5 Deliverable(s):

1. Develop ITS Case Study Fact Sheets

2. Develop ITS Case Study advertising and outreach materials.

Task 4.6 Documentation of Case Study usage and next steps

As new ITS Case Studies are added to the current library and outreach and marketing efforts are implemented, a long-term strategy is needed for tracking usage of the ITS Case Study Resource Library by the academic community, along with a mechanism for obtaining more extensive user reviews and recommendations for new or expanded content. The TWCs shall review current mechanisms in place and current case study usage and review data and develop a concept paper on how best to expand the ITS Case Study library. This paper will include recommendations for an efficient content review and update process, identification of additional case study topics, capturing additional access metrics and user feedback, and assess the need for any adaptations necessary to meet the educational requirements of two-year and certificate programs.

Task 4.6 Deliverable(s):

1. Develop a Concept Paper on Updating and Expanding the ITS Case Study library.

All Task 4 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 5: ITS Career / Project Path Profiles In a prior contract with the FHWA and the ITS Joint Program Office, the TWCs developed a set of profiles of ITS projects and multiple individual career stories to offer a compelling story for promoting careers paths in ITS for community college and university students. This task focuses on disseminating the created and new profiles and coordinating talks with practitioners to reach students in an effort to energize their desire to seek careers targeting transportation technologies.

Task 5.1 ITS Career Path Profiles

There are currently 41 career path profiles, created by the TWCs. These represent two to four career path profiles per each project path profile (task 5.2). The TWCs will work with the ITS PCB Program’s website management staff at the Volpe Center to determine how to best post this material. This subtask will go beyond the existing professional profiles, and develop additional career path profiles that go beyond traditional engineering careers. Also, under this subtask, the TWCs will develop a sample professional profile video to determine if it is a viable way to advertise ITS careers and reach students.

Finally, in coordination with task 5.4, a virtual speaker series drawing from the career path profiles will be set up targeting K-12 STEM students. This subtask shall be led by the SETWC, with support from the other TWCs.

Task 5.1 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the posting of existing 41 career path profiles on the ITS PCB Program’s website (Transportation Career Pathways Portal)

2. Support the development of at least 20 new career path profiles, the majority of which should incorporate professional disciplines beyond traditional engineering careers

3. Support the creation of a sample Professional / Career Path Profile video and recommendations on how to best utilize this media to reach students

4. Support the creation of a virtual speaker series and the hosting of 6 virtual sessions for K-12 and college students. The initial K-12 sessions will be developed for a joint audience of T-STEM Academy at East High School and The Port of Long Beach Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High.

Task 5.2 ITS Project Path Profiles

There are currently 14 ITS project profiles, created by the TWCs. The TWCs shall work with the ITS PCB Program’s website management staff to determine how to best post this material. This subtask will go beyond the existing ITS project profiles, and develop additional ITS project path profiles that highlight work resulting in non-traditional engineering activities, such as planning and impact analysis, systems engineering, computer science and information technologies, and GIS and other spatial mapping applications. Also, under this subtask, the TWCs will develop a sample project profile video to determine if it is a viable way to advertise ITS projects and reach students. This subtask shall be led by the SETWC, with support from the TWCs.

Task 5.2 Deliverable(s):

1. Support posting of existing 14 ITS project path profiles on the ITS PCB Program’s website (Transportation Career Pathways Portal)

2. Support the development of at least 6 new ITS project path profiles, the majority of which should incorporate projects that highlight input from non-traditional engineering activities

3. Support the creation of a sample ITS Project Path Profile video and recommendations on how to best utilize this media to reach students.

Task 5.3 ITS Career Path Summary Report

The purpose of the project and career path profiles (tasks 5.1 and 5.2) is to encourage students to consider careers in transportation technologies and operations. The SETWC and NETWC will coordinate with the Communities of Practice (task 1 led by the NETWC) to determine additional methods to attract new and future skilled workers to ITS positions. Of particular concern is identifying ITS career pathways for Community College / Technical School students. The findings and recommendations from the CoP and related efforts will be incorporated into a transportation career pathways summary report. This coordination with the CoPs will be co-led by the NETWC and SETWC. The SETWC will be the primary author of the summary report. The TWCs shall support this subtask.

Task 5.3 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the discussion with the Academic CoPs on how to attract new and future skilled workers to ITS, including a focus on workers with two-year degrees

2. Support the development of the ITS Career Path Summary Report.

Task 5.4 ITS Speakers’ Bureau / Information Clearinghouse

Connecting students with practitioners is a valuable activity in growing interest in an ITS / TSMO career.

The prospective ITS Speakers’ Bureau will target academic audiences. It will follow a Bureau Framework developed in 2019. This Framework should be updated with any new direction and templates. The first activity under this subtask is to hold a meeting to discuss which topics will be the focus of this Speakers’ Bureau and which topics are policy and technologically sensitive and will be avoided. After this meeting, lists of willing subject matter experts (SMEs) by topic will be developed. The SME list will draw from the career and project profiles (tasks 5.1 and 5.2, led by the SETWC). The lists will be integrated into a searchable database of topics and SME speakers (the list is proposed to be updated annually). Along with the database, a speaker request application process will be created and managed by the TWCs.

Under this subtask, at least three (3) Speaker Bureau events2 (live or virtual) will be delivered by the end of this agreement’s period of performance. After each event, the subtask lead will develop a post-event summary and post on the ITS PCB website any quality presentation. This subtask shall be co-led by the NETWC and WRTWC, with support from the other TWCs.

Task 5.4 Deliverable(s):

1. Support the update ITS Speakers’ Bureau Framework

2. Support the development of a list of topics to include and topics to be avoided

3. Support the creation of a searchable database of topics and willing Subject Matter Expert (SME) speakers on various ITS/TSMO topics (to be updated annually)

4. Support the creation and management of an ITS Speakers’ Bureau speaker request application process

5. Support the facilitation of at least 3 ITS Speakers’ Bureau events (live or virtual)

6. Support the development of the post-event summaries, including posting any quality presentation on the ITS PCB website.

All Task 5 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 6: Volpe and other ITS PCB Program Related Initiatives There are an extensive number of projects in planning and underway by the ITS PCB Program that intersect many of the tasks laid out in this agreement. It is critical that the TWCs, the Volpe ITS PCB team, the ITS PCB Program Manager, and other ITS PCB Program contractors and contributors coordinate on many of these activities to avoid duplication of effort and to provide efficient development of all of these activities. Some of these related projects being developed by other ITS PCB team members include:

• FHWA’s Turner Fairbank’s (TFHRC) Workforce Development Project, which includes the ITS “CAVe-in-a-Box” bench testing (lab kit) units

• Educator-Employer Pipeline (EEP) Initiative

• Communications Training Protocols

• Outreach to Non-Engineering Engineering Programs (Planning, IT, other engineering, etc.)

• Outreach to Non-Transportation Programs (Aerospace, Computer, Environmental, Mechanical, Software, etc.)

• Graduate Seminar Units

• ITS ePrimer online, standalone, reference document

• Small Business Innovative Research topics and products

This task shall be led by the NETWC, with support from the other TWCs, and require the scheduling and holding of regularly-scheduled meetings (monthly) with the parties mentioned above, the ITS PCB Academic Team, in particular. The meetings will be held to discuss other relevant projects and to provide recommendations and insights on how to continue with ITS PCB Academic activities. Reviews of draft trainings developed through the Volpe Center will also be requested, as necessary. This will include TWC representation on review teams on select projects such as the ITS ePrimer.

2 The three (3) events do not include the K-12 virtual speaker series listed in task 5.1.

Task 6 Deliverable:

1. Support the scheduling, holding and documentation of standing meetings (approximately every four to eight weeks) with the TWCs, Volpe ITS Academic Team, and other ITS PCB Program core team members, including the ITS PCB Program Manager

2. Review of draft ITS training and educational materials, including as a reviewer of select ITS ePrimer modules.

All Task 6 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 7: Relevant NOCoE Initiatives The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) has become a key partner with many ITS PCB Program activities. Likewise, the ITS PCB Program’s academic initiatives build off of many of the research, documents, and events led by the NOCoE. Some of these products will feed into the tasks laid out in this agreement. Some of these relevant NOCoE efforts recently completed, underway, or in consideration include:

• TSMO Workforce Initiative

• TSMO challenges

• TSMO Position Descriptions to support human resources groups

• ITS programs / degrees / certificates aligned with Employer needs (recommendations)

In order to stay abreast of these relevant efforts by the NOCoE, the SETWC shall schedule coordination meetings with the NOCoE, other TWCs, the Volpe ITS PCB team, and the ITS PCB Program Manager. This task will be led by the SETWC, with primary support from the NETWC. The SETWC (with the NETWC), supported by the other TWCs, shall facilitate regularly-scheduled meetings (six per year - TBD) to ensure that all relevant findings from the NOCoE initiatives will be integrated into the tasks listed in this agreement. Regular communication will also avoid duplication of effort and to provide efficient development of all of these activities.

Task 7 Deliverable:

1. Support work to schedule, hold and document standing meetings with the NOCoE, TWCs, Volpe ITS Academic Team, and the ITS PCB Program Manager

All Task 7 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Task 8: Program Management The TWCs shall coordinate oversight and administration for this task order to ensure that all tasks outlined herein are executed in an efficient and effective manner and that all deliverables are completed in a timely manner. WRTWC shall hold a kickoff meeting with the ITS JPO within three weeks of project commencement to discuss the objectives of the project and agree upon the format for the final deliverables. The WRTWC shall initially develop a short Program Management Plan (PMP) that identifies how the tasks shall be accomplished, a definitive schedule, and provides a list of staff and their roles to be used in the support of each task.

In addition, under this task, the TWCs shall provide the financial and task status in a formal monthly progress report. A separate component of this task is to schedule, manage, and attend monthly meetings with the ITS PCB Program Manager and ITS PCB Volpe team, and attend the larger ITS PCB Program team coordination meetings. There may be additional un-recurring meetings that may be required for ongoing project coordination, but it is estimated that there will an average of five one-hour recurring meetings per quarter (monthly progress meeting and one ITS PCB team coordination meeting every six weeks).

A final component utilizes the TWC’s unique perspective linking the academic world and increasing knowledge of the ITS PCB Program. This task requires the development of a succinct strategy paper on new ITS PCB Academic transformative opportunities over the period 2022-2023. The NETWC will lead the development of the strategy paper / outline with extensive input from the other TWCs.

Task 8 Deliverable:

1. Conduct a Kick-Off Meeting with the ITS PCB Volpe Center team, the ITS PCB Program Manager, and the Volpe Center task order agreement processing and oversight representatives.

2. Create a short Program Management Plan that includes staff, staff roles, and how tasks will be fulfilled and when. (NOTE: The four TWCs may request that the NETWC complete a combined PMP covering all tasks and staff detail from each TWC involved.)

3. Provide monthly financial and progress status reports

4. Schedule and conduct monthly task meetings (including post-meeting notes)

5. Attend ITS PCB Program coordination team meetings, and other relevant task coordination meetings, as necessary.

6. At month 12, provide an outline of transformative opportunities for new work to support the ITS

PCB Academic Program that directly builds on the resources, processes, networks, and communities of practice developed as part of this task scope.

All Task 8 work will conclude within 16 months of work start.

Travel

Travel by the TWCs to a presentation meeting may be required as part of Task 8, Project Management.

All travel performed under this Purchase order must be approved by the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) and shall be performed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). The actual costs for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses will be considered reasonable and allowable if they do not exceed the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the FTR. In accordance with FAR Subpart 31.205-46, a written justification must be provided to the TPOC for amounts higher than the FTR maximum amounts. Travel will be reimbursed at actual costs (with a copy of the receipts for expenses) in the following categories:

1.) Airline Tickets (commercial rates) 2.) Hotel Expenses (Government rates unless pre-approved by the TPOC) 3.) All Other Modes of Transportation (Taxi receipts are not required if less than $75.00)

Food and other miscellaneous expenses will be reimbursed at the prevailing FTR reimbursement rates.

Total travel costs for each TWC’s support to the Volpe Center, including options, shall not exceed $2,500 per TWC.

SOW Deliverables and Timeline

The timeline for deliverables is provided in the table below. All work under this project is expected to start on February 15, 2021, and conclude by June 15, 2022 (16 months). All reports and document deliverables shall be provided in either MS Word (documentation) or MS Excel (data) format, as indicated in the table below.

CLIN TASK Deliverable Due date / Frequency

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format

Task 1 Academic Community of Practice (CoP) & Action Steps

Task 1.1 Academic CoP Action Groups

1.1.1 ITS Academic CoPs – create

and manage

6/15/2021 Series of electronic documents

MS Word, Excel, PPT

1.1.2 ITS-Academic cohort groups –

create and manage at least 4 cohort/working groups

6/15/2021 Series of electronic documents

MS Word, Excel, PPT

1.1.3 CoP/cohort group meetings

(4+ meetings for each group)

5/15/2022 Mtg mgmt. & electronic (including Notes)

Conference calls

Task 1.2 Outreach to under-represented populations

1.2.1 Outreach strategy document

and follow-up activity to increase ITS education in under-represented populations

4/15/2022 Series of electronic documents; mtgs

MS Word, Excel, PPT, conference calls

Task 1.3 Expand Academic network to Professional Associations

CLIN TASK Deliverable Due date / Frequency

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format

1.3.1 Survey of related training and

workforce efforts of associations and organizations

8/15/2021 1 - electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT, online survey

1.3.2 Recommendations Paper on

connecting associations to ITS PCB Program Academic efforts

11/15/2021 1 - electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

Task 1.4 Community College Development

1.4.1 Panel sessions for ITS-

Community College meetings

Three times per year through 6/15/2022

Mtg mgmt. & electronic (including Notes)

Conference call, online surveys

1.4.2 Position descriptions and

career tracks aligned to community college graduates

2/15/2022 Series of electronic documents

MS Word, Excel, PPT

Task 1.5 Secondary School Activities

1.5.1 National STEM Advisory

Group (AG) formation

11/15/2021 Series of electronic documents & communication

MS Word, Excel, PPT, online survey, conference calls

1. 5.2 National STEM AG identification of tools to support of transportation STEM programs

2/15/2022 Series of electronic documents & communication

MS Word, Excel, PPT, online survey, conference calls

1.5.3 Strategic Plan to promote

transportation-relevant STEM successes and training materials

3/15/2022 1 - electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

1.5.4 Recommendations for new

training materials, student challenges, and private industry opportunities

4/15/2022 1 - electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/

Task 2 Identify ITS PCB Academic - TWC Actions and Performance Measures

2.1 Task Order activities list Monthly

through 6/15/2022

1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT (spreadsheet)

2.2 Track action items for each

cohort groups

Bi-monthly through 6/15/2022

1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

2.3 Performance measure for

each Task Order activity

6/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

2.4 Attendance and

Accomplishment Report

Monthly through 6/15/2022

1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT, email

Task 3 ITS PCB Academic Workshop

3.1 ITS Academic Workshops -

plan and execute 2 workshops

Two events through 6/15/2022

1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT, conference calls, facility space (TBD)

3.2 Report out on all ITS

academic activities at ITS Academic Workshop(s)

Two events through 6/15/2022

1- electronic + Mtg attendance

MS Word, Excel, PPT, conference calls

3.3 Identify other opportunities

(workshops, meetings, etc.)

to share ITS Academic information

6/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT, email

Task 4 ITS Case Studies Task 4.1 Case Study review for update (recommend revisions)

4.1.1 Adaptive Signal Control (ASC)

Case Study - final recommended revisions list

5/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.1.2 ConOps Development as Part

of a Systems Engineering Process Case Study - final recommended revisions list

5/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.1.3 Travel Time Based

Performance Measures Case

5/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/

Study - final recommended revisions list

4.1.3 Review of recommended

revisions with federal staff

6/15/2021 1- electronic & meeting attendance (incl. notes)

MS Word, Excel, email, conference call

Task 4.2 Case Study revision & common format

4.2.1 ITS Case Study Format Guide 8/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, PPT, email

4.2.2 Civil Design Considerations

(CDC) Case Study (final update)

10/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.2.3 ITS Architecture Case Study

(final update)

10/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.2.4 ASC Case Study (final update) 10/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.2.5 ConOps in SEP Case Study

(final update)

10/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.2.6 Travel Time Based

Performance Measures Case Study (final update)

10/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

Task 4.3 New Case Study

4.3.1 Dynamic Message Signs Case

Study (finalize revision)

8/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.3.2 Safety Applications of ITS

Case Study (new)

2/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.3.3 ITS in Bus Rapid Transit Case

Study (finalize revision)

8/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.3.4 Planning related ITS case

study (new)

2/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

4.3.5 Capstone Course utilizing all

ITS Case Studies - initial concept

3/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, email

Task 4.4 Enhancements to Case Studies

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format

4.4.1 ITS Case Study library

overview webinar

12/15/2021 1- electronic PPT, email, Adobe Connect (via Volpe)

Task 4.5 Advertise Case Study rollout

4.5.1 ITS Case Study Fact Sheets 12/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, PPT, email, graphic software

4.5.2 ITS Case Study advertising

and outreach materials

12/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, PPT, email, graphic software

Task 4.6 Documentation of Case Study usage and next steps

4.6.1 Concept Paper on Updating

and Expanding the ITS Case Study library

3/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, PPT

Task 5 ITS Career / Project Path Profiles

Task 5.1 ITS Career Path

5.1.1 Post existing 41 career path

profiles on the ITS PCB Program’s website

6/15/2021 1- electronic (per profile)

MS Word, graphic software, web page

5.1.2 20+ new career path profiles 1/15/2022 1- electronic (per profile)

MS Word, PPT, graphic software

5.1.3 Sample Professional / Career

Path Profile video and recommendations on utilizing video to reach students

2/15/2022 1 – video, electronic MS Word, video software, web page

5.1.4 Virtual speaker series with 6+

virtual sessions for K-12 and college students

5/15/2022 Mtg attendance, electronic

MS Word, virtual

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format meeting platform

Task 5.2 ITS Project Path

5.2.1 Post existing 14 ITS project

path profiles on the ITS PCB Program’s website (as needed)

6/15/2021 1- electronic (per profile)

MS Word, graphic software, web page

5.2.2 6+ new ITS project path profiles (as needed)

1/15/2022 1- electronic (per profile)

MS Word, PPT, graphic software

5.2.3 Sample ITS Project Path

Profile video/recommendations on utilizing video to reach students (as needed)

2/15/2022 1 – video, electronic MS Word, video software, web page

Task 5.3 ITS Career Path Summary Report

5.3.1 CoP discussions on how to

attract new and future skilled workers to ITS (as needed)

11/15/2021 Mtg attendance (including notes)

Conference call

5.3.2 ITS Career Path Summary

Report (as needed)

3/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word

Task 5.4 ITS Speakers’ Bureau / Information Clearinghouse

5.4.1 ITS Speakers’ Bureau

Framework update

5/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word

5.4.2 ITS Speakers’ Bureau Topic

List

5/15/2021 Mtg attendance (including notes), electronic

MS Word, email

5.4.3 Searchable database of topics

and Subject Matter Expert (SME) speakers on various ITS/TSMO topics

11/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, Access

5.4.4 ITS Speakers’ Bureau speaker

request application process

8/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, web page

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format

5.4.5 3+ ITS Speakers’ Bureau events (live or virtual)

5/15/2022 Mtg attendance Virtual or live event platform

5.4.6 ITS Speakers’ Bureau post-

event summaries

6/15/2022 1- electronic MS Word, PPT, web page

Task 6 Volpe and other ITS PCB Program Related Initiatives

6.1 Standing coordination

meeting with Volpe ITS Academic Team, TWCs, and ITS PCB Program representatives

Bi-monthly through 6/15/2022

Meeting attendance (including notes)

Conference call

6.2 Review related draft ITS

training and educational materials

6/15/2022 1- electronic (review comments)

MS Word, Excel, PPT

Task 7 National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) Initiatives

7.1 Standing coordination

meeting with the NOCoE, TWCs, and ITS PCB Program representatives

Every 3 months through 6/15/2022

Meeting attendance (including notes)

Conference call

Task 8 Project Management

8.1 Contract / Project Kick-Off

Meeting 3/8/2021 Meeting attendance

(including notes) Conference call, MS Word, PPT

8.2 Program Management Plan

(option of a single combined

PMP)

3/15/2021 1- electronic MS Word, Excel, PPT

8.3 Monthly financial and

progress status reports

Monthly through 6/15/2022

1- electronic MS Word, Excel, invoice software

8.4 Monthly Project Meetings

(including post-meeting notes)

Monthly through 6/15/2022

Meeting attendance (including notes)

MS Word, Excel, PPT, conference call

8.5 ITS PCB Program coordination

team meetings, and other relevant task coordination meetings

Every 6 weeks through 6/15/2022

Mtg attendance Conference call

8.6 Strategy Paper on ITS PCB

Academic opportunities for 2022-2023

2/15/2022 1 – electronic MS Word

# of Copies / Print or Web

Medium/ Format

Tasks 1-8 Project Travel (optional), as needed, to present materials and participate in relevant meetings [Not to Exceed $2,500]

NLT

6/15/2022, notified at least 15 days prior to travel

N/A N/A

Acceptance Criteria To be accepted, deliverables shall be emailed to the project technical point of contact (POC), David Jackson, at David.Jackson@dot.gov. The deliverables will be reviewed by the Government for compliance with the SOW, timeliness, and format. The technical POC will acknowledge acceptance of each deliverable by email.

mailto:David.Jackson@dot.gov