QnA_3-19-2024_complete.docx

Date: March 18, 2024 Questions/Comments for Emotion Intelligence Training Workshop– Solicitation 75F40124R00033

1. Question: Are you open to having other type of EQ assessment that gives you the same information as EQ-I 2.0?

Response: Yes, we are open to EQ assessments that are EQ-I 2.0 or equal. So being, if they are equal than yes, we are open to other types of assessments.

2. Question: Are you open to a dual contract? Part GSA Contract and part open contract?

Response: It is this office’s intent to award a single contract/purchase order. Offerors are not excluded from submitting proposals that include their GSA schedules. The final contract type will be determined prior to award.

3. Question: Also, it is a 2-year contract with 30 participants for a 2-day EQ Workshop. Is it the same 30 participants for 2-days each year?

Response: It will not necessarily be the same 30-participants for 2-day each year. This requirement is intended to train one group in year one and then train another in year two. There could be overlap between the groups but the intention is to train different parts of the organization.

4. Question: …are you open to having the 2-day workshop, then a continual on-line community for EQ discussion action steps?

Response: Please propose in accordance with the requirements outlined in the RFP. Proposed options may be considered.

5. Question: The Sam.gov doesn’t have anything in the Original Set Aside for classification. Yet, inside the document, it states - Small Business Size Standard is $12 Million in millions of dollars. Would you please clarify if there is a set aside for small business?

Response:. This is a small business set-aside.

6. Question: I am writing to discuss an adjustment to the emotional intelligence assessment tool requested in your upcoming course. Upon careful consideration and evaluation, I propose that EITC MSH EQ-i2.0 also be accepted as a viable assessment as well as the Reuven BarOn model EQ-i 2.0® as initially requested. I am confident that this modification will still enable you to achieve the desired learning outcomes effectively.

As you are aware, the core objectives of the course revolve around enhancing participants' emotional intelligence to foster better self-awareness, self-management, team cohesion, and communication. After thorough examination, I am convinced that the EITC MSH EQ-i2.0 assessment aligns seamlessly with these goals and will offer a robust platform for achieving the desired learning outcomes.

The learning outcomes you have requested are integral to the development of participants' emotional intelligence skills, and I assure you that they can be fully attained through the EITC MSH EQ-i2.0 assessment. This assessment not only facilitates improved self-awareness and self-management but also provides a comprehensive framework for integrating a shared EQ lexicon, identifying relevant EQ behaviors in workplace scenarios, and fostering personal action plans for development.

Moreover, I bring to your attention my extensive experience of over 10 years in debriefing and teaching on Emotional Intelligence. This background equips me with the necessary expertise to effectively leverage the EITC MSH EQ-i2.0 assessment in your course, ensuring a seamless transition and optimal learning experience for participants.

I am committed to ensuring the success of your course and believe that this adjustment will contribute positively to achieving our shared objectives. Should you require any further information or clarification regarding this proposal, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for considering this request. I am eager to discuss this matter further and collaborate with you to deliver an exceptional learning experience for your participants.

Response: No question has been asked. We are not sure what the acronyms “EITC MSH” stand for. The EQ-i 2.0 assessment is what is being solicited. To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation.

7. Comment: After carefully reading your RFQ, I would like to share some key insights that may help you achieve your intended goals in addressing retention issues. While the norm is to conduct major learning events over a few days, the reality is that most of what’s taught in those days is forgotten. The topic of emotional intelligence is complex and it takes months to fully develop an understanding and a few more to begin to master what you’re looking for such as emotional awareness. 2 days of concentrated events will result in an overload of new information, especially if the participants don’t have a psychology background. We have seen many companies conduct such training, only to be invited back to do it repeatedly for their profitability. We all have seen many people with certificates on various topics, but their actions do not align with those certificates. Those who have mastered EQ development would all agree that emotional intelligence requires a long-term approach in development.

Instead of 2 days of information overload, you could engage in a longer-term development program over 6 months or so that will definitively impact the EQ of the participants and also be held accountable for making an impact on retention numbers. Happy to discuss this further with you and share our insights and research based on the neuroscience of learning and educational psychology. Furthermore, addressing retention requires additional systems enhancements as well, in addition to developing a specific set of skills.

Here’s an article that speaks to the challenges of most certification programs – where what’s taught tends to be forgotten.

Why traditional skills teaching is often a waste of time (universityworldnews.com) Here’s an article on a systemic view of retention.

Who Wants Loyalty to Money? – Transcontinental University (tc-university.org) Response: No question has been asked. Thank you for this information. This contract requirement is for a 2-day training.

8. Question: Is the contractor responsible for providing the lunch during the 2-day workshop for the staff of 30 FDA employees?

Response: No, the contractor is not responsible for providing lunch during the 2-day workshop for the staff of 30 FDA employees and individuals are responsible for obtaining their own food (lunch, snacks, coffee, etc.). The Federal Government cannot use appropriated funds to purchase food.

9. Question: What specifically is needed in our proposal for this bid. We have the pricing sheet, but what else is needed?

Response: The RFQ 1.4 (Should be 8.4) RFQ Technical Volume Instructions on Page 22 state:

“The quoter's technical approach must be disclosed in sufficient detail to provide a clear and concise presentation that includes, but is not limited to, the requirements of the technical volume instructions. The Quoter must provide clear responses, including objectives and outcomes, to each Task addressing the work to be performed in the Description/Specifications section. The technical volume must reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken.”

· And the RFQ 9.2 Basis for Award on Page 24 states:

“(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

(i) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; (ii) price; (iii) past performance.”

With this in mind, in its Technical Volume submission, the Contractor should provide information sufficient to demonstrate:

· The contractor’s technical capability as it relates to the requirements of the solicitation

· The contractor’s past performance as it relates to the requirements of the solicitation

· Whether the Contractor’s technical capability and past performance confirms to the solicitation, i.e., if and how the contractor meets the requirements of the solicitation.

Please also see FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023)

10. Question: The certification of the Subcontractor is as a Master Coach and a certified Facilitator in EQ-i-2.0. Does this meet the qualifications?

Response: This meets the qualifications if the quoted facilitator is qualified to certify members in the EQ-i 2.0® and possesses documented experience demonstrating the highest level of understanding and application of the EQ-i 2.0® and the quote provides information sufficient to demonstrate the subcontractor’s certification/qualification.

11. Question: The period to provide the services is 4/1/2024 to 3/31/2025.

Will a date to start next determined during this period mission phone on the internet?

Response: Please clarify, we do not understand the question. Otherwise, the 04/01/2024-03/31/2025 represents a base, 12-month period of performance during which 1 training will take place. An additional training will take place during the next, subsequent option year, from 04/01/2025-03/31/2026 if exercised.

12. Question: Will the assessments be PrePaid?

Response: The contractor must provide the EQ-i 2.0® assessments. The quote shall include all pricing inclusive of costs for the facilitator(s), student materials, assessments, reports, and all elements of the requirement. Contract pricing will reflect all elements of the requirement.

13. Question: Reports- does the Government want Leadership assessments? Or workplace assessments?

Response: The Government requests EQ-i 2.0® Workplace assessments.

14. Question: The proposal calls for a personalized report for each attendee "and discuss how to interpret these results."

Is the Government seeking -

a) a general group discussion regarding how to interpret their individual results, or;

b) individual 1-to-1 personal debriefings (these would be 30-minute private sessions).

If personal debriefings, could these be virtual sessions?

Response: At a minimum, the Government is requesting option a, a general group discussion, and is open to both/either option. The contractor may provide pricing for both options/either option as it sees fit. Personal debriefings can be virtual sessions.