693JF724Q000010 - USMMA Provost PWS 08012024.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.

Washington, D.C. 20590

MARITIME

ADMINISTRATION

693JF724Q000010

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

USMMA Executive Search Services for Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Provost

8/01/2024

1. Introduction The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is a federal service academy that educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are committed to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. The campus is comprised of 85 acres and approximately 48 major and secondary buildings in Kings Point, NY.

The purpose of this acquisition is to identify a higher-education-focused executive search firm with a demonstrated record of success in recruiting and facilitating the hiring of college/university Provosts. The firm will identify advertising sources and seek out, identify, directly engage with, and refer highly-qualified candidates for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Provost.

The Provost will serve as the Academic Dean, reporting to the Superintendent and working closely with the Deputy Superintendent in leading the Academy and its 1,300 midshipmen, faculty and staff. The Academy is a Federal institution of higher learning, comparable to a small college campus, and the position is comparable to a college vice president. The Provost is responsible for preparing a future generation of merchant mariners. The Provost serves as the chief academic officer and principal advisor to the Superintendent in all matters relating to the academic program and faculty, including curriculum development, accreditation, and the retention or separation of midshipmen at periodic review boards. The Provost also engages collaboratively with this team to accomplish other key aspects of the mission.

The Provost is responsible for the development of top-quality scholastic standards which encourage and promote the intellectual and professional growth and physical well-being of midshipmen. The incumbent will have a profound impact on the Academy's ability to educate and train the country's finest young men and women to be highly qualified licensed merchant marine officers and commissioned officers in the armed forces of the United States. The Provost occupies a general position in the Federal Senior Executive Service.

2. Objective

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), a modal agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will work with the executive search firm to identify advertising sources and refer highly qualified candidates for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of USMMA Provost.

3. Scope of Work Executive Search Services required include:

• identifying sources and suggested language for the advertisements, readership, and advertising timetables.

• using a variety of advertising and outreach methods to reach highly qualified, diverse candidates.

• developing and presenting recruitment strategies.

• outreach to stakeholders, including but not limited to alumni, parents’ association, industry, and labor, etc.

• using a variety of search methods to identify highly qualified, diverse candidates; and

• conducting basic qualifications reviews of identified candidates and directing qualified candidates to the official application process.

MARAD will issue an announcement on the Office of Personnel Management’s USAJobs.gov website and applications will be due within 30 days. A panel will then review and assess the applications received to fill the position. The final decision for evaluating and selection of candidates for these positions’ rests with the leadership of the Maritime Administration and the Office of the Secretary.

The salary range for this executive position is $180,000.00 to $246,400.00 (with potential of additional annual performance award), in accordance with the Office of Personnel’s Rates of Basic Pay for the Executive Schedule (EX) effective January 2024.

Specific technical qualifications of the position of USMMA Provost include:

a. Demonstrated ability and experience as a senior administrator at the college or university level, and ability to conceive and direct college level educational programs with long-range implications, taking into consideration budget, staffing and other concerns.

b. Demonstrated creativity and the ability and knowledge to plan, direct and coordinate educational programs which directly support the needs of the maritime industry, national defense and the general education needs of midshipmen students with the ability to identify key issues and develop goals and priorities which are responsive to changing values and academic and technological advances.

Additional Desired Qualifications

Incumbent may have experience in a military sea service at any rank, have attained a Coast Guard merchant mariner license, program management certification, and/or have led an educational organization or served as a senior leader in the Armed Forces, merchant marine, or in a government agency or other complex organization. May have an earned doctorate.

4. Type of Contract Contemplated

Firm-Fixed-Price

5. Period of Performance

The period of performance will be approximately three months from purchase order award.

6. Place of Performance The Contractor shall perform the ordered services at their facility (off site).

7. Specific Requirements/Tasks

The Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration seeks to fill the Federal Senior Executive Service positions of USMMA Provost. The contractor’s objective will be to maximize the number of highly qualified candidates who submit applications for these positions. This will entail the contractor’s active recruitment of such candidates, the identification of key sources/media to advertise the position announcement, and placement of advertisements in the sources/media MARAD selects.

7.1 Recruitment

7.1.1 The Contractor shall work with the Agency to finalize the position descriptions and other recruitment documents.

7.1.2 The Contractor shall determine the background, experience, and qualifications to be highly qualified to assume the position and responsibilities set forth in the above technical qualifications and seek out, identify, and directly engage candidates who meet those qualities. The contractor shall refer the personal contacts it develops to apply before the announcement’s deadline to the formal job announcement through USAJobs.

7.1.3 The Contractor shall submit a minimum of fifteen highly qualified candidates. The contractor may submit more than the minimum.

7.1.4 Federal agencies are prohibited from using commercial recruiting firms and nonprofit employment services which charge fees to individuals referred to Federal positions. The contractor will not refer an individual who has paid or is expected to pay any fee to the firm or service. This prohibition does not apply to registration fees paid by individuals to nonprofit employment services operated by professional organizations when the registration fee is imposed regardless of whether the registrant is referred for employment or placement.

7.2 Sources/Media

7.2.1 The Contractor shall research, identify and prioritize potential sources or media (e.g., print, online, social media) where publication of the Provost job announcement would maximize the exposure of the announcement and elicit the maximum number of diverse and highly qualified applicants. The contractor shall submit a report identifying in prioritized order such media, with brief rationale as to their selection, the cost for the contractor to place an advertisement for the position in that media, and deadline for placing that order for publication in the media within 10 business days or sooner of contract issuance.

MARAD may, at its discretion and option, select from the list the source or media for publication of the advertisement. The contractor shall submit the draft advertisement for the COR’s review and acceptance prior to submission to the source/media. The advertisement must direct applicants to apply through USAJobs. The contractor shall arrange for the publication of the job announcement in the selected media for publication, after COR and CO approval. The contractor shall notify the COR when the announcements are published.

7.3 Advertising

7.3.1 MARAD anticipates the use of paid advertising, such asthe “Chronicle of Higher Education,” in addition to the USAJobs announcement. The contractor shall also recommend effective advertising sources. If paid advertising is ordered, the work pertaining to the option shall be completed within 14 business days or sooner of contract issuance. Note: Price quote for advertisement(s) shall be provided to the Contracting Officer for review/approval prior to execution.

8. Contractor Quality Assurance The contractor should not depend on more than one round of an executive search. Therefore, the contractor is expected to put forth its very best efforts and expertise which results in the identification of the most highly qualified candidates for position, within the period of performance of the task order, and not expect any task order extensions, etc.

9. Deliverables

The deliverables identified below shall be submitted in a format compatible with Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat DC, as applicable and as agreed upon between the contractor and the COR, and CO as applicable.

Deliverable Due Method

Initial planning discussion Within 3 business days after Virtual and as agreed with MARAD/USMMA and DOT Officials contract issuance between contractor and COR

Performance Schedule Within 5 business days following contract issuance

Email and as agreed between contractor and COR

Prioritized list of sources/media

Within 10 business days following contract issuance

Email and as agreed between contractor and COR

Cost of advertisement by source/media (Delivered to COR and the CO prior to execution)

TBD By email

Notice to the COR of publication

TBD By email

List of all candidates personally contacted and their potentiality as meeting the highly qualified standards

Weekly (each Friday by 12noon EDT)

By email

Based on stakeholder feedback, a listing of desired position attributes/criteria for position - sorted by sub-group: parents, alumni, industry, labor, etc., for use in assessments by the Hiring Panel

One week prior to hiring panel convening

By email and as agreed between contractor and COR

10. Meetings

Meetings will be conducted virtually, unless otherwise agreed upon between the COR and the contractor. Within two business days of contract issuance, the government will conduct a post-award kickoff meeting at a date and time to be mutually agreed upon.

Other periodic meetings in support of this contract will be scheduled as agreed upon between the COR and the contractor

11. Required Travel

It is not anticipated that travel will be required to support the requirements of this contract.

12. Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Information (GFI)

No GFE will be issued. GFI outside of what is included in the PWS will be provided by the COR.