Revised_Career_Services_SMA_USMMA_2018_RFP_(v2_20180807).docx

REVISED STATEMENT OF WORK

USMMA AND SMA SIP GRADUATES CAREER SERVICES

SUBJECT: Career Services for United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and the State Maritime Academies (SMAs) Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program participants.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to acquire career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates.

BACKGROUND: Under the terms of 46 U.S.C. § 51306 and 46 CFR § 310.58 graduates from USMMA have a five-year employment service obligation following graduation. Similarly, under 46 U.S.C. § 51509 and 46 CFR § 310.7, SIP graduates from the SMAs have a three-year employment service obligation. These graduates are expected to fulfill this obligation independently and MARAD does not provide assistance in finding employment prior to or after graduation. Unlike other Federal service academies (whereby DOD guarantees graduates employment through active duty), MARAD does not guarantee employment. The success or failure of USMMA and SIP programs is measured by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the basis of whether the USMMA and the SIP graduates fulfill their service obligation.

Under the current program structure, graduates must submit an Employment Determination Request (EDR) to MARAD for employment that is other than US Flag Afloat, NOAA Corp, the US Public Health Service (USPHS), or the US Armed Forces. Other types of employment must be approved by MARAD as meeting a graduate’s service obligation. In order for MARAD to approve service in a shoreside position or as an officer aboard a foreign flag vessel not through a U.S. labor union, a determination has to be made by MARAD that a graduate conscientiously sought an afloat position as an officer aboard a U.S. flag vessel and that such afloat employment is not available to them. Afloat employment means, generally, service on a U.S. flag vessel as an officer or unlicensed mariner who was signed onboard one or more vessels in the capacity of a crew member. This includes civil servant mariners sailing for Military Sealift Command, NOAA or the U.S. Coast Guard.

Currently, the determination of whether afloat employment is available to graduates is accomplished through dialogs between MARAD and various shipping companies, labor unions, and government agencies that traditionally hire maritime academy graduates. These conversations typically occur while attending the SMAs’ annual briefings, meetings with the labor unions and maritime companies, and various maritime industry meetings. Additionally, through the EDR process, we communicate with these groups to validate the graduate’s claims that s/he sought afloat employment. This is an individualized process leading to a determination as to whether employment was available to that graduate at that time.

Although the USMMA has a Professional Development & Career Services (PDCS) office, and the SMAs provide career assistance to their graduates, it has become apparent that additional resources are needed to provide career services specific to afloat jobs to graduates throughout their service obligation period. MARAD is charged with monitoring the USMMA and SIP graduates on the performance of their service obligation. Although the academies provide career services, it appears the graduates would benefit from a dedicated afloat, maritime support program.

REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall provide the following career services for USMMA and SIP participants and graduates:

· Provide individualized assistance to undergraduates and graduates that have a service obligation to find afloat employment so as to achieve the success of the programs.

· Provide MARAD a monthly, or other pre-determined period, written assessment of the availability of afloat jobs across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are/will impact afloat employment in the maritime industry, as well as a forecast of future employment opportunities for graduates, including employment shortages and areas of growth and declines in employment opportunities.

· Provide monthly reports to MARAD on the number and names of graduates that have contacted the contractor for career services, a description of the contractor’s efforts with each graduate, and, where a graduate is successfully placed in a position, the name of the employer and position title.

· Coordinate and schedule with each SMA at least one visit and at least two visits at the USMMA coordinated with PDCS Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits. Each visit shall last 1-2 days. The locations of the SMAs and the USMMA are as follows:

· California Maritime Academy: Vallejo, CA

· Maine Maritime Academy: Castine, ME

· Massachusetts Maritime Academy: Buzzards Bay, MA

· Texas A&M Maritime Academy: Galveston, TX

· Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, MI

· State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx, Throggs Neck, NY

· USMMA: Kings Point, NY Core work hours are 0800 to 1700 ET, five days a week, excluding any Federal holidays. The contractor shall participate in weekly or other pre-determined periodic meetings with USMMA and SMA via telephone and/or web or video conferencing. An estimated 200 graduates will be utilizing the service, up to a maximum number of 800. Contractor will not be required to perform these services in a specific location. Services may be provided in person or via telephone, website, email, or other means of communication (e.g., video conferencing, skype, etc.).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year with additional annual options to extend (subject to the availability of funds for option year and MARAD evaluation of the contractor performance).

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE): N/A

CONTRACTING OFFICER

Judy Bowers USDOT Maritime Administration Office of Acquisition (MAR-380) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, W26-418 Washington, DC 20590 Office: 202-366-1913 judy.bowers@dot.gov

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE:

The primary Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for this contract is:

Rita Jackson, Academies Program Officer USDOT Maritime Administration Office of Maritime Labor and Training (MAR-650) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Office: 202-366-0284 rita.jackson@dot.gov

The alternate COR is:

Christopher Wahler, Director, Office of Maritime Labor and Training USDOT Maritime Administration Office of Maritime Labor and Training (MAR-650) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Office: 202-366-5469 christopher.wahler@dot.gov

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

The contractor will provide MARAD an itemized bill monthly.