AFN Leadership Questions and FAA Responses 02 23 2024.pdf

Question FAA Response

Will the Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant be required to be on-site in Washington DC at all times, or only when facilitating consultations? If the latter, what is the anticipated frequency and weekly time commitment for on-site presence?

The Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant are not required to be on-site in Washington DC at all times.

On-site presence is routinely required for facilitation and training sessions only. Facilitation sessions are usually held quarterly or every other month at most.

Training sessions are less frequent.

Is there presently an incumbent contractor fulfilling this role?

Yes

Can you provide the previous contract for this opportunity?

ABP-1 Leadership Management and Support under

GS-10F-0263M 692M15-18-F-00283

We believe our program and assessment tool are superior to the CORE CLARITY assessment indicated in the above referenced SIR. Would you consider alternatives?

With the majority of existing staff being assessed through the CORE CLARITY tool, we prefer utilizing the CORE CLARITY tool for future assessments.

Is there an incumbent? If so, who? Serco Inc. 12930 Worldgate Drive Suite 600 Herndon, VA 20170

Are tax returns acceptable as proof of fiscal viability

(page 87)?

No

What is the budget? This detail is not for external release.

Please clarify the breakdown of allowed labor hours.

How many hours to what tasks (page 3,7)?

The total number of hours will be consistent with

Pages 3-4. The percentage breakdown of hours to tasks are: (1) Provide coaching and developmental resources to managers to assess and increase leadership competencies and cohesiveness within the agency. Facilitate meetings and offsites for managers to address and resolve operational The total number of hours will issues and challenges. (70%) ; (2)

Provide coaching and facilitate meetings for organizational teams. Increase collaboration among team members and engage in Red Zone/Blue Zone conflict.(20%); (3) All Other Tasks Combined (10%)

There are no coaching hours specified on cost breakdown. Please elaborate (page 3).

The lead/senior consultants provide the coaching support.

There is no coach specified in your labor categories.

Please clarify (pages 9-10).

The lead/senior consultants provide the coaching support.

Can bios be used in lieu of resumes (page 10)? No, resumes are requested.

Will the agency consider other assessment tools versus Core Clarity (page 7)?

With the majority of existing staff being assessed through the CORE CLARITY tool, we prefer utilizing the CORE CLARITY tool for future assessments.

Will all sessions, meetings, etc. take place face-to-face

(page 8)? Will virtual be considered?

Virtual engagement will be considered for management coaching sessions. Team meetings and other group tasks are expected to be face-to-face.

Will questions be answered individually or released as a group? Date for release?

Questions will be released as a group.

B.4 CLIN Structure: Could the Government confirm that it only requires the Lead Consultant, Senior

Consultant, and Administrative Support Labor

Categories? The Pricing Worksheet includes the

Consultant and Analyst/Consultant LCATs with zero labor hours.

The Lead Consultant, Senior Consultant, and

Administrative Support Labor Categories will be the only labor categories required. The pricing worksheet will be adjusted to remove these positions as an attachment to amendment 001.

B.4 CLIN Structure: Could the Government confirm that it requires only the specified number of hours per

LCAT: 1,475 for Lead Consultant, 679 for Senior

Consultant, and 168 for Administrative Support?

Only the specified number of hours per LCAT: 1,475 for Lead Consultant, 679 for Senior Consultant, and

168 for Administrative Support will be required.

B.4 CLIN Structure: Would the Government allow workshare within CLINs? For example, several professionals could fill the Administrative Support role?

The Government will allow workshare.

2.0 Scope and 3.0 Requirements, page 7: How many

instructional hours per year of leadership development does the Government anticipate the contractor will provide at all levels of learners throughout the agency

A specific number of instructional hours cannot be specified at this time. There will be instructional hours required based on the client organizations' specific needs.

2.0 Scope and 3.0 Requirements, page 7: How many

coaching hours per year does the Government anticipate the contractor will provide under this contract?

A specific number of coaching hours cannot be specified at this time. There will be coaching hours required based on the client organizations specific needs.

3.0 Requirements, page 7: Will the Government

consider removing the requirement to provide assessments that are limited to Core Clarity profiles, and instead expand the requirement to include delivery of strengths-based assessments and feedback using a tool that is mutually-agreed upon in advance by the Government and the contractor? Core Clarity is not a widely used strengths-based assessment

The client will continue to use Core Clarity assessments to align with the tool the majority of the organization has been assessed.

3.0 Requirements, page 7: Will the Government

consider removing the requirement to provide training in Red Zone/Blue Zone conflict, and instead expand the requirement to include delivery of training on conflict styles and/or conflict management using frameworks and/or tools that are mutually-agreed upon in advance by the Government and the contractor? There is a wide range of industry-leading frameworks, assessments, and instruments to better understand, assess, and manage conflict aside from the Red Zone/Blue Zone model.

The Government will not consider expanding the requirement to provide training in Red Zone/Blue

Zone conflict.

3.0 Requirements, page 7: Could the Government

clarify whether it expects the contractor to design and develop new leadership development curricula for this contract?

The Government does not expects the contractor to design and develop new leadership development curricula for this contract.

3.0 Requirements, page 7: Could the Government

clarify whether it requires in-person and/or virtual training?

In-person training is expected.

If the Government requires virtual training, could it clarify which training platforms it prefers (i.e. MS

Teams, Zoom.gov, WebEx, Adobe Connect, other)?

With the expectation of in-person training, the issue of training platforms is not applicable.

Could the Government clarify whether it requires synchronous, asynchronous, and/or hybrid training?

The Government requires synchronous training.

Could the Government clarify whether it requires the contractor to build and/or deliver self-paced web-based training, eLearning, or other LMS-based training?

The Government does not require the contractor to build and/or deliver self-paced web-based training, eLearning, or other LMS-based training.

If the Government requires web-based training, eLearning, and/or other LMS-based training, could it clarify which platform(s) it prefers?

The Government does not require the contractor to build and/or deliver self-paced web-based training, eLearning, or other LMS-based training. The question is not applicable.

3.0 Requirements, page 7: Could the Government

provide a list of existing courses, if any, that it expects the contractor to deliver as part of this contract?

The Government does not have a list of existing courses they expect the contractor to deliver.

If the Government requires virtual training, could it clarify which training platforms it prefers (i.e. MS

Teams, Zoom.gov, WebEx, Adobe Connect, other)?

With the expectation of in-person training, the issue of training platforms is not applicable.

Could the Government clarify whether it requires synchronous, asynchronous, and/or hybrid training?

The Government requires synchronous training.

Could the Government clarify whether it requires the contractor to build and/or deliver self-paced web-based training, eLearning, or other LMS-based training?

The Government does not require the contractor to build and/or deliver self-paced web-based training, eLearning, or other LMS-based training. The question is not applicable.

If the Government requires web-based training, eLearning, and/or other LMS-based training, could it clarify which platform(s) it prefers?

With the expectation of in-person training, the issue of training platforms is not applicable.

3.0 Requirements, page 8: Could the Government

confirm that it does not expect the contractor to rent or otherwise acquire training space for contract-related events, trainings, workshops, and other meetings?

The Government does not expect the contractor to rent or otherwise acquire training space for contract-related events, trainings, workshops, and other meetings.

4.0 Place of Performance, page 8: Could the

Government specify the length of the 1-2 trips to

Oklahoma City, OK each year?

The trips in length of 1-2 days in Oklahoma City, OK is self-explanatory. The number of trips per year would not exceed four.

4.0 Place of Performance, page 8: Could the

Government specify which of the contractor personnel are expected to travel to Oklahoma City, OK each year?

The Lead Consultant would be required to travel to

Oklahoma City. The Senior Consultant may be required to travel, based on the level of the engagement.

8.0 Labor Categories, page 9: Could the Government

clarify which (if any) of the LCATs are considered Key

Personnel?

The Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant are considered Key Personnel.

8.0 Labor Categories, page 9: Could the Government

clarify which (if any) of the LCATs roles is also considered the Project Manager, and as such will act as representative on behalf of the contractor?

The Lead Consultant is also considered the Project

Manager.

8.0 Labor Categories, page 9: Could the Government

specify which level of ICF coaching certification it requires of the Lead Consultant and the Senior

Consultant?

There are no required ICF coaching certifications specified for either of these positions on page 9.

8.0 Labor Categories, page 9: Could the Government

clarify whether the Lead Consultant and Senior

Consultant will work in collaboration with FAA counterpart personnel to develop curricula and/or deliver coaching and training?

The Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant have the sole responsibility of developing curricula and/or delivering coaching and training. There is no collaboration with FAA counterparts in this effort.

8.0 Labor Categories, pages 9-10: The Consultant and

Analyst/Consultant LCATs are not indicated in the

Scope of Work and have been assigned zero hours in the Pricing Worksheet. Does the Government expect all offerors to demonstrate their capability to staff these LCATs?

The Government does not expect all offerors to demonstrate their capability to staff these LCATs.

9.0 Resumes, page 10: Does the Government require

the contractor to submit Letters of Intent from the proposed Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant?

The Government requires the contractor to submit

Letters of Intent from the proposed Lead Consultant and Senior Consultant.

Table L-1, page 83: Could the Government confirm that Factors 1 and 2 are a maximum of 8 pages total, and Factor 3 is a maximum of 4 pages, for a total

Volume I maximum of 12 pages?

Confirmed - the Volume I page limited will be corrected by amendment 001 to state - "Offerors may allocate pages within the 8-page limitation to address Factors 1 and 2 as they see fit."

Attachment L001: Would the Government consider providing this document in Adobe fillable format?

No

Would the Government consider changing the NAICS code from 541690 to 611430 (Professional

Development and Training)?

No, the specified code is considered appropriate to this acquisition.

A comprehensive Dun and Bradstreet Report takes several weeks to obtain, thereby, limiting competition to companies that already have a Dun & Bradstreet

Report. Would the FAA consider either removing this requirement OR extending the proposal submission deadline by 60 days to enable vendors adequate time to acquire the report?

No, Offerors should have sufficient time to obtain this data.

How many assessments does the AFN expect to be completed for debriefs?

A number cannot be determined at this time.

Assessments are provided to new entrants and that number is based on attrition and subsequent new hires to the organization.

How many of the population of 166 executives, managers, and non-managerial staff are expected to receive coaching?

Collectively, 50-60% of the population will receive some level of coaching.

What is the measurement of success for: improving the climate and culture of the ABP organization and increase strategic planning, employee development, and team performance?

The measurement of success for: improving the climate and culture of the ABP organization and increase strategic planning, employee development, and team performance will be determined over time.

Measurement will be determined by leadership's improved engagement among themselves and the productivity of the comprehensive organization.

What percentage share of the work are you expecting to be coaching versus training and workshops?

Coaching - 75%; Training/workshops - 25%.

Per Section L.2.3 on page 76, the NAICS code for this opportunity is 541690 (Other Scientific & Technical

Consulting Services) for which the Small Business standard is stated to be “annual average receipts for the last three (3) fiscal years and cannot exceed $16.5 million.” However, my research indicated a different revenue threshold. Per the SBA’s Table of Size

Standards (please see attached) p. 29, the revenue threshold for this NAICS code is $19 million. Also, I was under the impression that average revenues were taken over five years rather than three.

You are correct, the current NAICS code value is

$19M over 3 years, Section L.2.3 will be corrected by amendment 001.

F.2 states “Services specified under this contract must be performed at the Contractor’s Facility, in paragraph

8.0 the Government states that the Lead Consultant and the Senior Consultant and Senior Consultant will perform their duties on-site”. Will the work be done onsite or offsite?

One-on-one coaching may be conducted remotely.

Engagement planning sessions between the contractor and FAA leadership may be conducted remotely. Training and all other group-centric engagement activities will be conducted onsite.

According to G.7.1, second bullet. It states that

Reimbursable travel includes only that travel performed from the Contractor’s Facilities to the site of work, between worksites, and from the site of work to the Contractor’s facilities. But, 6.0 Local Travel

Local travel is defined as within the Washington, DC

Metropolitan area (WMA). The Contractor will not be reimbursed for local travel expenses; including mileage, metro fee, parking fee, etc. The Contractor will be reimbursed to travel to the Mike Monroney

Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, OK. All travel must be approved in advance by the COR, and will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel

Regulations (FTR) and FAA Travel Policy. What is the correct answer for Travel Reimbursement?

Section C para 6.0 is correct, the second bullet under

G.7.1 will be deleted in the SIR amendment 001.

The Dun and Bradstreet Comprehensive Report doesn’t exist anymore according to the company, and

Certified Financial Statements can place a significant cost to small businesses. Similar to other FAA small business vehicles (e.g., eFAST), would the government accept company generated financials with additional supporting documents (e.g., banking lines of credit) to make a responsibility determination?

Certified Financial Statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Statement of Cash Flow) for the Offeror for the last two (2) completed company fiscal years, certified by a CPA in good standing, as of the most recent fiscal year (FY 20). are also allowed.