FLLI QAs 9 July 21.xlsx
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- Attached to
- FAA Leadership and Learning Institute (FLLI)
- Solicitation number
- 6973GH-21-R-00093
About this file
This document contains a set of questions and answers related to a federal solicitation for leadership and learning services for the Federal Aviation Administration's Leadership and Learning Institute program. The solicitation seeks proposals for instructional design, course delivery, program management, and related services to support approximately 5,800 managers through 33,000 hours of training annually. Key details include that the requirement is for delivery of both in-person and virtual instructor-led courses, with up to 80% expected to be delivered at field locations. Evaluation will utilize the New World Kirkpatrick model and seek to develop levels 3 and 4. One contractor will be selected for a one-year base period and four one-year options to begin performance on October 1, 2021. The incumbent contractor is identified but their performance history is not releasable.
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22 June 21
| SIR: 6973GH-21-R-00093 | Program: FLLI |
| Questions & Answers | Note: See tabbed worksheets below. |
| Questions | Answers |
| The SIR requests 12pt font for all graphics, labels, and table descriptions. This places significant restrictions on graphics and tables in conveying important information to the government, particularly in a 25-page technical response limit. A smaller, but legible, font size for graphics and tables would help us provide more clarity for the government. | The font limit requirement remains unchanged; however, the resumes for key personnel will not be counted against the 25-page limit. Section L has been updated to reflect this. |
| FAA FLLI seeks to provide a high-quality learning environment to equip managers and leaders with the capabilities to excel. However, the LPTA bidding environment does not account for variations in quality, effectiveness, and contractor ability to create that environment. It only considers if a vendor has the minimum capability to be technically acceptable and able to deliver minimally acceptable services. | The source selection methodology remains unchanged. |
| Section 2.4.2 Seems to identify a “FLLI Student Services Representative”. Is the same position as the “Student Services Coordinator” identified in the Labor Categories Qualifications attachment? | No, the FLLI Student Services Representative position is a federal position within FLLI. The Student Services Coordinator is a contractor position. |
| The “FLLI Student Services Representative” is identified in SOW 2.4.2, and the “Student Services Coordinator” is identified in the Labor Categories Qualification attachment. Whether the these are the same position or not, neither is defined in the SOW. | No, the FLLI Student Services Representative position is a federal position within FLLI. The Student Services Coordinator is a contractor position. |
| Will a bundled group of Task Orders under a single assignment fulfill the relevancy requirements as stated? | This would be considered a single past experience event as task orders are issued under a single basic contract for a defined scope. |
| In the case of a prime/subcontractor relationship, will the past performance of the sub be considered to fulfill the relevancy requirement within 3 years? | Per the SIR: "The offeror must provide past experience as the prime contractor. Past |
experience as a subcontractor will not be further evaluated."
| Is there a deadline for submitting questions about this solicitation? | This will be noted on the final SIR in Section L. |
| Is there an incumbent for this work? | Yes |
| If there is an incumbent, what is the name of the firm? How long have they worked with the FAA for provision of these services? | The incumbent is Data Management Services, Inc. Their length of service with the FAA is not releasable. |
| If there is an incumbent, can FAA provide the most current contract number and also advise whether the anticipated services required under the SIR are substantively similar in scope/scale to those provided under the most current contract? | The current contract number is DTFAWA-15-D-00002. This is a follow-on contract and the services are similar in scope and scale as before. |
| When does FAA anticipate it will require the chosen contractor to begin providing services under the anticipated new contract? | The anticipated start date is 1 October 2021. |
| The FAA references ‘onsite’ and ‘offsite’ training in its pricing matrix. We are assuming ‘onsite’ means courses provided at contractor provided facilities and ‘offsite’ means course provided at FAA locations/facilities. Is this an accurate assumption? | Correct |
| Similarly, we believe that the ‘field’ location is a reference to FAA facilities. Is this an accurate understanding? | Yes |
| We are assuming a copy of our anticipated project Quality Control Plan will be required within our solicitation response. Is this an accurate assumption? | The Quality Control Plan is due 60 days after award. |
| We understand there will be a focus on a blended approach for delivery of training. Can the FAA please advise the expected percentage of physical classroom versus virtual types of training (all virtual methodologies) it anticipates under this new requirement? | The delivery schedule is developed each year, at that time, the FAA Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD) establishes the delivery method, the mix, number, and timing of mandatory and elective courses and leadership development program cohorts to be delivered throughout the coming year. The requirements may change from year-to-year based on organizational needs. Please see Section/Schedule B for Max Qty estimates for onsite and offsite training. |
| It is our understanding that multiple locations will be required for contractor classrooms under this contract. Is this an accurate assumption? | No, the vendor will provide one location. |
| If multiple classroom locations are required, what process will the FAA use to evaluate all of the potential classroom locations during the anticipated site visit? | Not applicable. |
| When the FAA considers number of pages provided for the response, will it plan to exclude such standard items as cover sheet, table of contents and cover letter to ensure that the 25 pages of the Technical Response are available to provide substantive information to the government? Will it plan to exclude any other pages? | The 25-page limit for the technical proposal applies to content and does not include cover page and table of contents. Also note that resumes for key personnel will not count against the 25-page limit. But yes, after 25 pages the FAA will not evaluate anything further. |
| It is our understanding that the anticipated 25 typewritten pages for the technical response include both the response to Mandatory Requirements and the required Past Performance. Is this an accurate understanding? | Yes, correct. |
| Does FAA anticipate electronic proposal response delivery for this upcoming solicitation? | Yes, send proposals electronically to neil.s.amaral@faa.gov. You will receive a confirmation receipt. If you do not receive a confirmation receipt within 24 hours please check the email address and follow up. Vendors are encouraged to not wait to the last moment to submit proposals. |
| From our review, other than the number of pages for the technical response, there do not appear to be formatting restrictions/requirements (i.e., margins, spacing, type face, font size, etc.) for the response volumes. If there are specific anticipated formatting requirements, can the FAA please advise what it anticipates those requirements will be? | NOT correct. Please reference Section L for this information. |
| It is our assumption that only one award will be made for this requirement. Is this an accurate assumption? | Yes, this is correct. |
| Does FAA require completion of all Section K responses at time of response submission? If so, is this response anticipated to be made within the Business Proposal? | Yes, all Section K representations and certifications should be filled in and submitted with an offerors proposal. Section K responses are actually considered part of the price proposal per Section L. |
| Does FAA require completion of Contract Clause Sections 3.8.2-18 CERTIFICATION OF DATA and 3.1.7-6 DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS at time of response submission? If so, is this response to be made within the Business Proposal? | Offerors are advised to complete ALL the representations and certifications in Section K and include it with their price proposal. It shall not count against the 25-page limit for the technical proposals. |
| We understand that there will be three Key Personnel – the Program Manager, the Instructor Lead and the ISD Lead Instructor. Is this an accurate understanding? | Yes |
| Does FAA anticipate a requirement for resumes for all personnel anticipated for the project regardless of whether they are Key Personnel for the project? For Example, the IT Support, SMEs, Executive Coach, and Administration/Registrar and so forth are important support positions. | Yes, but this will take place after contract award. |
| Will FAA require resumes for these individuals to be provided with our response? | No. Resumes for personnel other than Key Personnel are required after the contract award. |
| Can FAA advise the number and type of courses that might require ISD development/design and/or updates? | Presently the FLLI portfolio includes a total of 69 web-based and instructor-led mandatory and elective courses designed to meet the current management and leadership developmental priorities for FAA managers. The number of additional courses depends on the agency needs. |
| Can FAA advise the number, type and level of personnel that it anticipates will participate in the training to be provided each year during the course of this contract? | Historically, FAA provided approximately 33,000 hours of instructor-led managerial leadership training to more than 5,800 FAA managers and other governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on an annual basis. |
| Based on Sections 1.1 and 2.3.1 of the SOW, it is our understanding that other than those situations where courseware redesign or new courseware development is required, FAA will provide the basic catalog of courseware and that the chosen contractor will provide program management, some/selected courseware updates, and course instructors. Is this an accurate understanding? | The vendor will provide instructional delivery, course facilitation, course maintenance, instructional design, desktop publisher/editor, course support, course development, program management, transition support, and the provision of classroom, lodging, and transportation arrangements to and from the airport. |
| It is our understanding that the desired courses for which instructors will be provided are in the area of leadership and management rather than technical skills. Is this an accurate understanding? | Yes |
| Will New World Kirkpatrick Model be the required assessment tool for this response or is FAA interested in receiving any recommendations for use of alternative assessment tools? | Yes, the New World Kirkpatrick Model is the required assessment tool. |
| How many past performance references will be required? | Reference Section M: "The offeror must complete a minimum of two (2), but no more than four (4), “Past Experience Information” forms, attached to the SIR, in response to this factor." |
| If we are using teaming partners, how many references will be required from the prime and how many from our anticipated partners? | Having teaming partners is fine; however, please note that the FAA will only evaluate past performance of the prime contractor. Per the SIR: "The offeror must provide past experience as the prime contractor. Past |
experience as a subcontractor will not be further evaluated."
Whereas an offeror cannot submit Past Experience for performance as a subcontractor, is it correct that if the offeror plans to add a subcontractor/teammate, then the offeror can submit recent and relevant Past Experience of its subcontractor/teammate in addition to the offeror's own relevant and recent Past Experience? No. Per the SIR: "The offeror must provide past experience as the prime contractor. Past experience as a subcontractor will not be further evaluated." Subcontractor/teammate past experience will not be evaluated.
9 July 21 SIR: 6973GH-21-R-00093 Program: FLLI
Questions & Answers Note: See tabbed worksheets below.
| Questions | Answers |
| As per the SOW 2.9, page 15, “The Contractor must develop and maintain working relationships with other vendors currently performing learning and development services on behalf of the FAA when requested by the Office of Career Leadership Development”. Will the incoming contractor have access to current facilitators that support this effort? | Yes, during the transition period. |
| The requirements are asking for one site for training, however, under the current contract there are three sites. Does the government plan to work with only one site? If so, would the government share the reason(s) for this change. | Under the current contract, the requirement is one site. The requirement remains the same on the follow-on contract. |
| Has the FAA Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD) determined/estimated how many existing training courses (of the 69 current courses) will need to be revised, and the extent of the revisions (e.g., minor vs. major revision)? | No |
| Has the FAA Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD) determined/estimated how many new training courses will likely need to be developed for this effort? | No |
| For the web-based trainings, what software is presently being used to develop these training courses? | Articulate |
| Is the FAA’s eLMS used to deliver any of the current training courses? | Yes, web-based training. |
| SOW, 2.3, PG. 8: Will the FAA continue to utilize Blackboard to house their courses for this contract? | This question is not relevant. |
| SOW, 2.3, PG. 8: Is the FAA transitioning to a different Learning Management System? | This question is not relevant. |
| SOW, 2.3, PG.8: “The contractor must provide instructional design services utilizing the ISD model.” Does the government have a preference of which ISD model they would like us to use? | No, but it should be well known and respected. |
| SOW, 2.4.3, PG. 11: “All current evaluation instruments are under review to enhance effectiveness and alignment with the New World Kirkpatrick Model. Level 3 and Level 4 training evaluation are aspirational and targeted for development during this contract period.” Since behavior cannot be evaluated through the use of questionnaires, should the contractor anticipate completing observations or interviews to assess behavior of trainees? | Processes and methods for Level 3 and Level 4 evaluation have not yet been developed, so no additional guidance can be provided at this time. |
| SOW, 2.4.3, PG. 11: “All current evaluation instruments are under review to enhance effectiveness and alignment with the New World Kirkpatrick Model. Level 3 and Level 4 training evaluation are aspirational and targeted for development during this contract period.” Since a Level 4 evaluation can be costly and time-consuming, should the contractor expect to provide a plan to analyze training results, but not complete the analysis themselves? | Processes and methods for Level 4 evaluation, if ultimately pursued, will need to be developed and approved before any analysis can be performed. |
| SOW Section 2.6 and 2.6.1 - If a contractor is going to enter into an MOA to provide the lodging and transportation services, is the MOA required upon proposal submission? | Refer to Section L & M of the SIR |
| Is the contractor to provide one training location, meeting all requirements of the SOW, outside of any FAA provided facilities? | Yes |
| What percentage of the classroom days noted on the pricing schedule are to be provided at a contactor location vs FAA facility? | The contractor must be prepared to deliver, up to 80 percent of the class offerings in the field location at regional offices at the commencement of the contract. |
| The specifications for the classroom/breakout room note that a “Seminar Room” must be available for 300 people – - can the government provide the number of times a year the Seminar Room will be required? | Not at this time. The vendor will be provided ample notice when a seminar room is needed. |
| SOW 2.4.4 Publications – can the government provide any information as to the level of effort required for these services? Where on the pricing matrix would these services be presented/priced? | The level of effort is identified in Section 2.4.4. The pricing should be included in the Program Management Team pricing. |
| SIR, PG. 59, Factor 2: Past Experience: May the Contractor use projects that are ongoing? | Yes |
| Does the government have a budget? | Yes |
| Can the government provide the learning objectives for each course? | See the attached course catalog. |
| Can the government let us know what results you would like to see from these courses? | See the attached course catalog. |
| Is the contractor required to complete the “Contractor Staffing Access Questionnaire” at the time of proposal submission or after the award? | At proposal submission. |
| Request that the government allow a smaller legible font size (such as minimum 10 point) in graphics and tables to allow for clearer formatting and information representation. | No |
| The requirements call for Factor 1 and Factor 2 to be “tabbed separately”. Since this is an electronic submission, please confirm that the Tab pages separating Factors 1 & 2 will not be included in the page count. | Correct |
| Please verify that the Past Experience Forms are NOT included in the 25-page limit for Volume I. | Correct |
| Regards the Past Experience submission. 1) Can the Past Experience forms be incorporated into our proposal format as long as the structure and content are not changed? 2) Or should they remain in the original separate documents? 3) Are both MS Word and PDF acceptable? | 1) Yes 2) Incorporation is acceptable 3) Yes |
| May Volume I and II be submitted as PDF documents (except for Attachment 10 Pricing Matrix)? | Yes. And pricing must be in Excel format as noted. |
| The SIR requests that MOA’s be provided as evidence. May we provide these as attachments to Volume I Technical? If so, please verify that they will not count toward the page restrictions. | Yes. And MOA documents will not count against the page limit. |
| The solicitation documents appear to use “instructor” and “facilitator” interchangeably throughout. Please verify both terms refer to the same labor category. Or provide guidance if different. | Yes, both terms refer to the same labor category. |
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