SATPC0042801 Tab 10 Vendor Questions_Customer Response 1 of 2.pdf

NASA Leadership Development Program Vendor’s Questions and Customer Response – 80NSSC27944226Q

1. Coaching and check-ins. The SOW requires two coaching sessions per participant and a check-in opportunity between sessions. May these be delivered virtually, or must they take place at Glenn Research Center? Yes, they can be delivered virtually.

2. Check-in format. The SOW lists “Check in opportunity for participants, during the team between sessions.” Does NASA intend one group check-in between each monthly session, or individual check-ins with each participant? Please clarify the expected frequency, format, and duration of these engagements.

May the contractor propose an approach that includes virtual group check-ins, asynchronous activities, or other structured participant support? Yes, they can be delivered virtually. The expectation is a minimum of 45 minutes per checkin.

3. Multi-rater assessment. Module 2 calls for a multi-rater assessment “such as” the ESCI. Will NASA accept an equivalent validated multi-rater emotional intelligence instrument? How many raters per participant does NASA expect?

Yes, we will accept an equivalent assessment; however, we need to ensure that it will focus on emotional intelligence.

4. Cohort size for pricing. The SOW gives a cohort of 20 to 30 participants. Should offerors price for 30? Yes.

5. Final Evaluation Report. The period of performance is seven months, and sessions occur monthly for seven months. Is the Final Evaluation Report, due within 30 days of program completion, expected to fall inside the period of performance? 30 days of program completion.

6. Materials. Does NASA require printed participant materials, or are electronic materials acceptable? Both are acceptable.

7. Pre-existing content. May the contractor adapt its own pre-existing leadership content to the module descriptions? If so, will NASA require unlimited rights to the adapted materials? Yes, NASA will expect unlimited rights to the adapted materials.

8. Facility access. What badging process applies to contractor facilitators and coaches attending Glenn Research Center periodically, particularly under FAR 52.204-9 and NFS 1852.242-72 on site one day per month? Are there citizenship requirements for contractor personnel delivering on-site sessions?

What lead time should be anticipated, and are there any citizenship or residency restrictions applicable to on-site contractor personnel? Facilitators must be a U.S. Citizen and possess a real ID in order to access the center.

9. Will the facilitators require NASA badging or PIV credentials for the monthly sessions, and what lead time should be planned for access to Glenn Research Center? No.

10. NASA leadership expectations. The SOW calls for content aligned with “NASA leadership expectations and workforce initiatives.” Will NASA provide these documents after award? Yes.

11. Notice ID. Please confirm the notice ID to use in the email subject line of the quote submission. Notice ID 80NSSC27944226Q

1. Subcontracting

May a small-business prime contractor use a specialist subcontractor for part of the in-person facilitation and individual coaching? Do the limitations on subcontracting under FAR 52.219-14 apply to this RFQ? If so, should the quotation demonstrate how the prime contractor meets those limitations and identify the proposed subcontractor? Yes.

2. Assessments Are the VIA Character Strengths Assessment and Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) mandatory, or may equivalent validated instruments be proposed? We would prefer the assessments listed.

However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

Should assessment licensing and scoring costs be included in the firm-fixed price? Yes. For the multi-rater ESCI, will NASA coordinate the participation of managers, peers and direct reports and provide sufficient time for their responses including feedback? Yes.

A. Assessment selection and administration Reference: SOW, Modules 1 and 2, page 1.

Please confirm that offerors may propose alternative validated strengths-based and multi-rater emotional/social competency assessments in place of the VIA and ESCI examples. Are there minimum instrument validation or practitioner certification requirements beyond those established by the assessment publisher? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

3. Virtual delivery

We understand that the six full-day training sessions and the capstone must be delivered in person at Glenn Research Center.

May the two individual coaching sessions per participant and the between-session check-ins be conducted virtually, by video or telephone? Yes, virtually.

May the kickoff meeting and initial discovery activities also take place virtually? Yes.

4. SAM.gov registration Our request for a Unique Entity ID is currently pending validation with GSA, and our full SAM.gov registration has not yet been completed. Would NASA consider a quotation from an offeror whose registration is pending at the quotation deadline, provided that registration becomes active before award? If so, would stating "UEI and CAGE pending" be acceptable, or is active registration required when the quotation is submitted? A vendor must have an active SAM registration for the government to issue a purchase order. Therefore, when the RFQ closes and reviewing of quotes if the vendor is not an active in SAM the quote will be deemed unacceptable.

6. Pricing basis Should the firm-fixed price be calculated based on 30 participants? Is a separate pricing schedule or line-item breakdown required, or would a single total firm-fixed price be acceptable? Yes. Should travel and related expenses for in-person delivery in Cleveland be included in that price? Yes.

7. Training Schedule:

Does NASA have an anticipated start date or preferred months for the seven in-person sessions, or will the schedule be established collaboratively following contract award? It will be established following contract award.

8. Quotation Format:

Is there a required pricing template or preferred format for demonstrating technical acceptability, or may vendors submit a consolidated firm-fixed-price quotation accompanied by a technical narrative addressing the SOW requirements? Firm fixed price is preferred.

9. Is this a small-business set-aside? Yes

10. What is the evaluation criteria? Lowest Price Technically Acceptable

11. Session hours. Are full-day sessions of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including a one-hour lunch, acceptable within the SOW window of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.? Does NASA have preferred days? Generally, class start times are 8:30 – 4:30 with a one-hour lunch. Preferred days are Tuesdays or Thursdays.

12.. Will NASA provide the training room, A/V equipment, and printed workbooks on-site? We will provide training room and AV equipment. The contractor should provide materials. The materials can be electronic.

13.Is the contractor expected to produce hard-copy training materials or will production of training materials be provided by the government? The contractor should provide materials. The materials can be electronic.

1. May participant workbooks and other resources be delivered electronically (Section 508-compliant) sufficient, or must printed materials be provided?

The contractor should provide materials. The materials can be electronic.

2. How should the contractor distinguish pre-existing proprietary curriculum and third-party licensed materials from newly developed contract deliverables for purposes of government use and data rights? Customer did not respond to this question.

3. Are certificates of completion required? If so, is there prescribed NASA language or branding? No.

4. Should the two 1-on-1 coaching sessions per supervisor be held virtually (Teams/Zoom) or in person during site visits? It can be held virtually.

5. How many participants are currently serving in an acting supervisory capacity, and do those individuals hold full delegated supervisory authority?

Approximately 40% of supervisors were acting. Some positions have been filled on a permanent basis. They have full supervisory authority.

6. Does NASA Glenn have a preferred or previously approved leadership assessment, or is the selection of the assessment left to the vendor? If the vendor may recommend an assessment, should the associated fees be included within the total firm-fixed price or presented as a separate line item? GRC has various assessments have primarily use VIA and ESCI.

7. Does NASA Glenn have defined leadership expectations, competencies, or an existing leadership framework that the program content should align with? Yes.

8. What level of content customization does NASA expect beyond alignment to organizational priorities? Content should include leadership expectations, competencies, and the leadership framework.

9. Does NASA Glenn currently administer an employee climate or engagement survey for which results can be segmented or analyzed specifically for this participant’s population? We have the past but will not do it for this year.

10. Should the firm-fixed-price quote include all trainer travel, lodging, and meal costs, and should pricing assume a full cohort of 30 participants? Yes.

11. What review or approval process is required before a participant assessment or survey may be administered, and what is the typical timeline for completing that review? No review process is required once the participant is selected for the program.

12. Does NASA still have its own 360 assessments that participants will complete, or should the contractor provide and administer a 360 instrument as part of the program? Yes, we have 360 but do not intend to use it for this program.

Does NASA require a specific multi-rater tool, or is "such as the ESCI" open to an equivalent 360? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

13. Can you share what the current NASA leadership expectations and workforce initiatives are beyond what is spelled out in this RFP? It will be disclosed after award.

14. Are the two coaching sessions per participant allowed virtually or phone, and clarify the expected duration of each session (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 minutes), whether coaching must be conducted individually or may be provided in small groups, and whether virtual coaching is acceptable. Yes, it can be held virtually.

15. Please clarify the "check in opportunity for participants" between sessions

— format and frequency. Two coaching sessions per participant for a minimum of 45 minutes and can be held virtually.

16. What is the anticipated award date and the target month for Session 1?

January 2027.

17. May the contractor invoice monthly for services delivered and accepted (for example, after each training session), rather than a single invoice at program completion? Yes.

18. May the quote price the work as separate line items that match the Statement of Work deliverables (for example, discovery and design, each monthly session, and the capstone with the final report)? Will those line items carry into the award so each can be invoiced when it is delivered and accepted? Yes.

19. The SOW requires six full-day sessions of 7–8 hours, one capstone session of 4–6 hours, and a seven-month performance period. Please confirm whether the intended schedule consists of one instructional session per month for six months, followed by the capstone in month seven.

Additionally, should the stated instructional hours include or exclude meal and scheduled breaks? Generally, class start times are 8:30 – 4:30 with a one-hour lunch. Preferred days are Tuesdays or Thursdays.

20. The SOW references the VIA Character Strengths Assessment and Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) as examples. Will NASA accept comparable validated leadership assessment instruments that achieve the stated developmental objectives, including proprietary or commercially available strengths-based and emotional intelligence assessments? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

21. Please clarify whether NASA currently maintains licenses or subscriptions for any specified leadership assessments, or whether the contractor must include all assessment licensing, administration, scoring, interpretation, and participant reporting costs in its quotation. Yes, the contractor should be responsible for all licensing.

22. For the required multi-rater assessment, please clarify the anticipated number of raters per participant and whether NASA will identify and coordinate participation among supervisors, peers, and direct reports. Are individual feedback interpretation or debriefing sessions required in addition to the two coaching sessions specified elsewhere in the SOW? Yes, debriefing sessions should be included as part of the session. Individuals discussions should occur during the coaching session.

23. Does NASA require coaches to possess specific professional certifications or credentials, such as International Coaching Federation (ICF) certification, or will demonstrated experience in executive and supervisory leadership coaching satisfy the requirement? Preferred not required.

24. To what extent does NASA expect the contractor to develop entirely new instructional materials versus customizing an established, research-based leadership development curriculum? Will NASA provide applicable leadership competency frameworks, supervisory expectations, and organizational guidance to support customization? Content should include leadership expectations, competencies, and the leadership framework.

25. Please clarify whether the contractor must provide printed participant manuals and instructional materials or whether electronic materials are acceptable. Additionally, is a contractor-hosted learning platform required, optional, or outside the intended scope? The contractor should provide materials. The materials can be electronic.

26. The SOW requires each participant to deliver a Pecha Kucha-style presentation consisting of 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide. For a cohort of 30 participants, presentations alone would require approximately 200 minutes. Please confirm whether all participants must present during the single 4–6-hour capstone session and whether presentations may be conducted concurrently in breakout groups or through another Government-approved format. Yes, that format is ideal and geared to be the culminating event.

27. Please clarify the anticipated content and level of detail for the monthly participant evaluations and final evaluation report. Does NASA require pre-and post-program competency assessments, quantitative measures of leadership development, or other prescribed performance indicators? Pre and post-program evaluating is not necessary – a final program evaluation is due within 30 days of program completion.

28. The SOW identifies NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, as the training location. Please confirm whether all seven instructional sessions must be delivered in person at this location and whether coaching, planning meetings, participant check-ins, and evaluation activities may be conducted virtually. Session are in-person, all other events may be virtual.

29. Please confirm whether NASA will provide, at no additional cost to the contractor, appropriately sized training rooms, audiovisual equipment, internet access, breakout spaces, and other facility resources necessary for successful delivery. Are there any specific NASA facility access or badging requirements that should be incorporated into the contractor's implementation schedule or pricing? No badging is necessary. Contractors must be U.S. citizens and have a real ID.

30. Please clarify whether NASA requires a single total firm-fixed price or a breakdown by major program component, such as curriculum development, assessments, instructional delivery, coaching, and program evaluation.

Additionally, will the resulting contract permit periodic invoicing upon completion and acceptance of monthly training sessions or other identified deliverables? Monthly invoicing is acceptable.

31. If the number of participants changes after award, particularly where assessment licenses and individual coaching are required, will NASA permit an equitable adjustment to the contract price, or should offerors include the cost of supporting the maximum anticipated cohort in their initial fixed-price quotations?

32. Section 5 establishes a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable evaluation approach but does not identify specific technical submission requirements or detailed acceptability standards. Please clarify whether offerors must submit a technical narrative, curriculum outline, facilitator and coach qualifications, relevant past performance, and/or implementation schedule.

Additionally, are there any prescribed page limits, formats, or minimum technical acceptability criteria? Requirements are outlined in the SOW. If it’s not specified, then there are no requirements.

33. Will NASA consider technically acceptable an approach that satisfies all stated program objectives and deliverables through comparable validated assessment tools, established leadership development methodologies, and contractor-proposed participant engagement strategies, or are the specific instruments and methods referenced in the SOW mandatory? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

34. Please confirm whether this is a new requirement or a follow-on acquisition. If a follow-on, please confirm whether Strategy Consulting Team is the incumbent contractor and whether the approximate prior award value was $10,600. This a new requirement.

35. Can the government please provide the incumbent for this effort, including the contract number and contractor name? There is no incumbent for this effort.

36. Please provide an estimated dollar range or budgetary ceiling for the intended award, if available, to assist offerors in developing an appropriately scoped and competitively priced quotation. This cannot be provided.

Leadership Assessments: The Statement of Work references the VIA Character Strengths Assessment and Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) as examples. Would NASA accept equivalent validated assessments, such as Gallup CliftonStrengths for Managers and the Center for Creative Leadership's SKILLSCOPE 360, provided they support the developmental objectives outlined in Modules 1 and 2? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

37. What anticipated award date and monthly session dates should offerors use for staffing and travel planning? The first session will occur in January 2027.

38. Should the final evaluation report due within 30 days after program completion fall within the seven-month period of performance, or may it follow that period? 30 days after program completion.

39. What requirements govern participant assessment/coaching data collection, approved platforms, access, retention, and inclusion of individual versus aggregate results in NASA deliverables? None specified.

40. Could the Government please confirm whether a technical narrative is required and, if so, specify the expected content, any page limits or formatting requirements, and whether it should be submitted separately from the price quotation? None specified.

41. Should assessment license fees (e.g., for the strengths-based and multi-rater assessments) be included in the firm-fixed price? Yes.

42. Given that questions are due 10/20/2026 and quotes are due 10/22/2026, would NASA consider extending the quote due date by two business days, to 10/26/2026, so offerors can incorporate the Government's responses to these questions? Yes

43. Does the Government require coaches certified by the International Coaching Federation (or equivalent body), as a means of quality assurance?

It is preferred but not required.

44. Would the Government consider extending the period of performance to 9 months to account for course design/development and the Final Evaluation Report due within 30 days of program completion? Final evaluations will be 30 days after program completion.

45. In addition to the price quote that includes all deliverables. Is any technical approach narrative or corporate experience required as part of the technical evaluation? If so, please provide a page limit (recommend minimum 10 pages combined). None specified.

46. Is there an anticipated award date and kickoff date or required completion date? Anticipated start date of January 2027.

47. Should we assume six separate monthly full-day visits and one separate capstone visit to Glenn Research Center (seven visits total)? Should all related travel costs be included in the firm-fixed price? Yes.

48. The Statement of Work identifies six full-day in-person leadership development sessions and one half-day capstone/wrap-up session. It also states that the training will occur once per month for seven months. To ensure we accurately develop our delivery plan and associated travel pricing, could you please confirm whether NASA anticipates:

A. Seven separate in-person delivery dates/visits to Glenn Research Center, consisting of six full-day sessions and one separate half-day capstone session; or

B. Six in-person monthly training deliveries, with the half-day capstone occurring in conjunction with one of the monthly sessions.

Seven in-person meetings at GRC.

49. Can you provide additional detail regarding the scope of the Participant Survey and Discovery Activities deliverable? Customer provide no response to this question.

50. Is a Technical Approach, references, Past Performance, and sample curricula submission required for award consideration? None specified.

51. If offerors are not required to submit a Technical Approach or Past Performance information, what evaluation criteria will the Government use to assess technical acceptability? The curriculum and alignment to the SOW.

Assessment Flexibility: Are we required to use the VIA and ESCI tests, or can we use equivalent tools like EQ-i 2.0 or DiSC? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

52. Capstone: Should vendors plan for a four-hour or six-hour capstone? For a cohort of 30, the required presentations alone would total approximately three hours and twenty minutes, excluding transitions, feedback, and breaks. Yes.

53. Payment schedule: May vendors propose monthly milestone invoicing for completed and accepted services, or is another invoicing schedule required? Yes.

54. Is invoicing after each completed session acceptable, and will payment be through the Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or another system?

Yes.

55. Has Glenn Research Center previously delivered a comparable supervisor development program, and if so, is any information about it available to offerors? NA

56. Is there a NASA or Glenn leadership competency model, or specific workforce initiatives, that the curriculum should align to? If so, can it be shared with the contractor after award? It will be provided after award.

57. Is there a preferred platform for participant resources and communications? Will NASA host a site such as Teams or SharePoint, or is a contractor-provided platform acceptable on the NASA network? Teams

58. For 30 participants, the required 20-slide/20-second presentations alone take 200 minutes. Please confirm that a six-hour capstone within the stated four-to-six-hour range is acceptable for presentation transitions, peer feedback and sustainment commitments. Yes.

59. Are there NASA-specific approval, hosting, privacy, accessibility, retention or security requirements for commercial assessment platforms, participant reports and virtual coaching tools? Will NASA provide an approved collaboration method and participant email access for assessment invitations? Yes.

60. Please confirm the required duration and permitted delivery method for the two individual coaching sessions per participant. May these be 60-minute virtual sessions on a NASA-approved platform during the first six months? Yes.

61. Should the firm-fixed price cover a maximum of 30 participants, 60 coaching sessions, and two assessment reports per participant regardless of final enrollment within the stated 20–30 range? Yes.

62. What is the existing relationship between the cohort members? For example, are they peers in the same department who know each other well, or are they leaders across many different departments who have worked together infrequently or not at all? Is team building within the leadership cohort itself an intended goal of the program? The cohort has not been selected yet.

You referenced two assessment tools in the SOW, the VIA Character Strengths Assessment and the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI). How strong is NASA's preference for these particular assessment tools vs. other best-in-class assessment tools (Ie, CliftonStrengths)? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

63. Does FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, apply to this procurement? No.

64. Will the Government accept standard commercial terms under which the contractor retains ownership of its pre-existing curriculum, with the Government receiving a license to use participant materials internally?

NASA wants retain rights to anything created for NASA.

65. Will session dates be proposed by the Contractor for NASA approval, or will NASA set the dates based on facility and participant availability? Is a fixed weekday (e.g., same day each month) preferred? We will work with contractors to set the dates after award.

66. The SOW references coaching 'during the six-month duration' while the period of performance is seven months. Please confirm the window in which the two coaching sessions per participant must be delivered. Anytime in the 6 month period – ideally between sessions 2 and 4.

67. Please confirm that coaching sessions are delivered virtually (e.g., Microsoft Teams). Yes.

68. Are there required credentials for coaches (e.g., ICF ACC/PCC certification, ESCI accreditation, federal-sector experience)? May coaching be performed by personnel other than the session facilitators? Preferred but not required.

69. The requirement 'Check in opportunity for participants, during the team between sessions' is unclear. Please clarify the intended format (group vs.

individual), frequency (e.g., once between each session), duration, delivery mode (virtual or in person), and who is expected to facilitate. Two individual coaching sessions per participant. Anytime in the 6 month period

– ideally between sessions 2 and 4.

70. For the multi-rater assessment who will identify and coordinate raters (NASA or Contractor)? Are NASA employees permitted to complete an externally hosted assessment platform, and are there any restrictions on use of third-party survey platforms? Yes, they can complete the assessment on the third-party platform.

71. Beyond the strengths assessment (Module 1) and multi-rater assessment (Module 2), does NASA expect any additional 'leadership skills and/or workplace personality assessments' (e.g., DiSC, MBTI)? None specified.

72. Given the lead time needed to administer a 360 assessment before Module 2, when will NASA provide the final participant roster and participant contact information after award? The cohort has not been selected yet, but we anticipate sending the names right after the award.

73. What is NASA's expected review and approval timeline for curriculum, materials, and the program schedule prior to each session (e.g., materials due X business days before delivery)? At least 30 days prior to the session.

74. With up to 30 participants each delivering a 20x20 Pecha Kucha presentation (~6 min 40 sec each, plus transitions and feedback), presentations alone would require roughly 3.5–4+ hours. Is it acceptable to conduct presentations in concurrent breakout groups, and will NASA provide multiple rooms if so? It should be the culmination of the program and everyone should hear each other’s presentation.

75. Will NASA leadership, participants' supervisors, or other guests attend the capstone presentations? Yes. Are the presentation evaluation criteria intended for formative feedback only, or will participant scores be reported to NASA? Informative only.

76. Please clarify the expected scope of 'Participant communications and resource management.' Is the Contractor expected to provide an online learning portal or resource repository, or will NASA host materials on an internal platform (e.g., SATERN, SharePoint)? The contractor is not expected to host a repository. Will Contractor personnel be granted access to any NASA systems? No.

77. Are participant materials expected in printed form, electronic form, or both? If printed, should the Contractor print and ship materials to GRC (and if so, to what delivery point), or are materials to be provided electronically for NASA to produce for monthly sessions? The contractor should provide materials. The materials can be electronic.

78. Please confirm NASA will provide the training room(s), room setup, audiovisual equipment (projector, screens, microphones), flip charts/whiteboards, and internet access. Will Contractor facilitators have guest Wi-Fi access for in-session use of online assessments or tools? Yes.

79. Is the Contractor expected to provide lunch or refreshments for full-day sessions, or are participants responsible for their own meals? (We understand appropriated funds may restrict food purchases.) Participants are responsible for their own lunch.

80. The Export Licenses clause leaves the NASA installation blank. Please confirm the installation is Glenn Research Center and confirm whether Contractor personnel are expected to have any access to export-controlled technical data (we assume none for this training effort). All session with be held at GRC. No export control data for this effort.

81. Given the variability of travel costs, will the Government provide a Travel CLIN plug for all bidders to use? Travel costs for seven monthly on-site sessions and any in-person coaching at GRC will vary widely. Will the Government establish a separate travel CLIN with a Government-specified not-to-exceed amount (plug number) for all offerors to include? Travel would then be reimbursed at actual cost in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), up to that amount. This would allow NASA to evaluate offerors on a comparable basis for program delivery costs. No, we use local TDY rates.

82. Will all participants be located at GRC Lewis Field, or will the cohort include employees from the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility or teleworking/remote employees? If any participants cannot attend in person, is hybrid delivery expected for any session? All sessions are expected to be in person.

83. Section 5 states that quotes must demonstrate all requirements “can be met in a satisfactory manner” but does not identify technical evaluation factors or subfactors. Please identify the specific factors NASA will use to determine technical acceptability, and whether each factor or SOW requirement will be rated individually as acceptable or unacceptable. None specified.

84. Is Lead Forward intended to align with, complement, or serve as a pathway into other NASA agency-level or Center-level leadership development programs? No, it is specific to GRC only.

85. If a session cannot proceed due to a Government-directed closure (e.g., inclement weather, facility closure, or a lapse in appropriations), how will the session be rescheduled, and will the Contractor be compensated for non-refundable travel costs already incurred under the firm-fixed price?

NASA is requesting that contractor purchase refundable travel costs.

86. If a session is rescheduled at NASA's request with short notice, what minimum notice will NASA provide, and is there a limit on the number of Government-initiated reschedules within the firm-fixed price? No.

87. Must electronic participant materials and any Contractor-hosted assessment or survey platforms conform to Section 508 accessibility standards? Yes.

88. The SOW sets a seven-month period of performance from award, with training sessions monthly. That leaves no time before Session 1 for the required kickoff, Participant Survey & Discovery Activities, program tailoring, NASA review and approval of materials, scheduling, and the multi-rater assessment that must be done before Module 2. It also leaves no time after the capstone for the Final Evaluation Report. Would NASA consider a 12-month period of performance to allow for adequate scheduling of all required activities? No.

89. Is there an established not-to-exceed amount or Independent Government Cost Estimate range for this requirement? None specified.

90. Alternative or Hybrid Delivery: Would NASA consider a modernized virtual or hybrid delivery approach incorporating digital performance conditioning and virtual instructor led meetings (Teams, Zoom, or an approved platform) in lieu of exclusively full-day, in-person sessions, provided the required leadership competencies and program objectives are satisfied? We prefer in-person sessions; however, coaching sessions may be virtual.

91. Solicitation Requirements: Would consideration of an alternative or hybrid delivery methodology require a formal amendment to the solicitation, or may offerors propose an alternative technical approach under the existing requirements? We prefer in-person sessions; however, coaching sessions may be virtual.

92. Performance-Based Methodology: If alternative delivery methods are permissible, would NASA consider a structured, technology-enabled conditioning program incorporating shorter, distributed applications, measurable performance indicators, and longitudinal evaluation?

Customer did not respond to this question.

102. Would NASA consider the Discovery Leadership DISC Assessment, which is certified by the Assessment Standards Institute (ASI), as an acceptable alternative? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

This assessment identifies individual leadership strengths, behavioral characteristics, communication preferences, decision-making styles, and professional development opportunities. We would supplement the assessment with leadership values exploration and individualized leadership development planning activities to address the full scope of Module 1. We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

103. Would NASA consider the Emotional Intelligence 360° Assessment from Assessments 24x7 as an acceptable alternative? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

This assessment incorporates participants' self-assessments and confidential feedback from supervisors, peers, and direct reports. It evaluates emotional intelligence competencies related to self-awareness, self-management, empathy, relationship management, adaptability, and leadership effectiveness. We would integrate the assessment findings into facilitated learning activities and individualized leadership development planning. Customer provided no response.

104. Would NASA consider these two assessments acceptable for satisfying the respective assessment requirements in Modules 1 and 2? Additionally, would supporting validation documentation or sample assessment reports be required as part of the technical quotation? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence. Sample assessments would be valuable if not the ones identified in the SOW.

105. Are milestone or monthly invoices permitted after acceptance, and are there additional requirements for technical response format, key personnel, references or assessment-data handling? Yes.

106. Will NASA accept a five-hour capstone, allowing up to 30 required presentations plus structured feedback and breaks? Yes.

107. The Scope of Work references "leadership skills and/or workplace personality assessments." May the Contractor include an additional validated workplace personality assessment (e.g., Principles You) beyond those referenced in the modules? Yes.

108. Are there any restrictions on the use of third-party online assessment platforms for participant data? Please identify any Privacy Act, PII, data handling, or IT security requirements that apply to participant assessment results, and whether individual results may be shared with anyone other than the participant.

No.

109. Is the use of a subcontracted, accredited assessment practitioner permitted for administration and debrief of the multi-rater assessment? Yes.

110. To support customization, will NASA provide relevant leadership competency models, workforce directives, or organizational priorities the curriculum should align with? If so, will these be available after award or prior to quote submission?

Content should include leadership expectations, competencies, and the leadership framework. It will be provided after award.

111. Are there NASA security, privacy, accessibility, or technology approval requirements for externally hosted assessment platforms and virtual coaching tools? No. Please also identify any personnel access requirements or onboarding lead times that should be reflected in the proposed schedule. All contractors must be a U.S. citizen and possess a real ID for access to the center.

112. Assessment selection and customization. TU has its own set of validated assessment instruments and expertise in customizing assessments to organizational needs. We can align assessment selection, administration, and developmental feedback with NASA’s leadership expectations while preserving the instruments’ validated constructs and documenting any NASA-specific adaptations. Because the SOW identifies VIA and ESCI using “such as,” please confirm that vendors may propose alternative instruments meeting the strengths-based and multi-rater emotional/social competency requirements. What supporting documentation would NASA expect to establish their acceptability?

We also use qualitative assessments to further validate the findings from quantitative assessments. Would that be acceptable? We would prefer the assessments listed. However, are open to equivalent assessments that meet the intent for assessing strengths and emotional intelligence.

113. Can NASA provide a second room for breakouts and a two-track capstone?

Yes, we can provide breakout rooms. Everyone should hear the capstone.

114. Assessment licenses. Will NASA furnish any assessment licenses or reports from an existing NASA assessment inventory, or should offerors include all assessment license costs in the firm-fixed price? The cost should be included in the proposal.

115. Section 5 states a quote will be removed from consideration if it does not demonstrate that all requirements can be met in a satisfactory manner, but no quote format is prescribed. What content does the Government expect in the quote to demonstrate technical acceptability, for example a brief approach summary, facilitator resumes or qualifications, and relevant past performance.

Customer provided no response.

116. No bid schedule was included with the RFQ. Should the quote present a single total firm-fixed price, or a breakdown by component, for example per training session, assessments, and coaching? Firm fixed price is preferred.

117. Facilitation continuity (SOW, Scope of Work). Does the Government require that all six sessions and the capstone be delivered by the same facilitator, or may a team of facilitators deliver different modules? It does not have to be the same instructor, however, they must be a U.S. citizen and possess a real ID.

118. Will the participant count be fixed at award, and should pricing assume 30 participants? Are all participants first-line supervisors, and roughly how many are acting versus permanent? Pricing should assume 30 participants. Most supervisors will be first-line supervisors. Approximately 40% of supervisors were acting. Some positions have been filled on a permanent basis. They have full supervisory authority.

119. Past performance confidentiality -Will NASA accept anonymized descriptions of comparable private-sector leadership development engagements where client identities are protected by nondisclosure agreements? Customer provided no response.

120. Participant assessment administration -For the multi-rater assessment, will NASA assist with participant communications and coordination of feedback raters, or should the contractor include all rater coordination and follow-up activities in its proposed scope? Yes, we will assist the contractor.

121. Is there a target award date or month for Session 1, and are any months or weeks unavailable for the in-person sessions? The anticipated start date is January 2027.

122. Does NASA authorize contractor-provided light refreshments during training sessions under its applicable appropriations and training policies? If so, please identify any required approvals, cost limits, and whether offerors should include this expense in their quotations. No.

123. Future cohorts: are additional cohorts of this program planned after this one? We will make that determination after the program completion data is assessed.

124. If onsite coaching is required, may multiple coaching sessions be scheduled on the same day to minimize travel and coordination costs? Coaching sessions may be virtual.

125. Is there a required format or supporting documentation that contractors must submit to demonstrate technical acceptability under the LPTA evaluation?

126. Is the anticipated coaching requirement 40–60 individual sessions based on 20–30 participants? Yes.

127. Is there an incumbent contractor or a prior version of this program that this effort builds on? No.

128. Will the contractor be permitted to submit monthly invoices for completed and accepted training sessions and associated services, including coaching, assessments, and other program deliverables? Yes.

129. Alternatively, will invoicing be based on established performance milestones or upon completion of the entire program? Either is acceptable.

130. Does the Net 30 payment term referenced in the solicitation apply to each properly submitted and accepted invoice? Yes.

131.Pre-existing content. May the contractor adapt its own pre-existing leadership content to the module descriptions? If so, will NASA require unlimited rights to the adapted materials? Yes, for any content created for NASA, we will maintain the rights.

131. NASA leadership expectations. The SOW calls for content aligned with “NASA leadership expectations and workforce initiatives.” Will NASA provide these documents after award. Yes, we will provide it after the award.

This is 1 of 2 for vendor questions and customer response. Please see attachments for the the other set of questions and responses.

Laura Quave Highlight