OMWI QA FINAL.pdf

9531CB20Q0057 – Amendment 0002 Vendor Q&As

1. Can you please provide the Past Performance Questionnaire in an editable format, such as a word document or a fillable PDF to facilitate submission to our customers and back to the government?

Answer – An MSWord version of the Past Performance Questionnaire has been added to this amendment.

2. Are you open to scope of work options that are different than what’s laid out in section b2 that gets to the same objectives as outlined?

Answer – For the purposes of responding to this RFQ, we are asking that all Offerors address the requirements specified therein, to allow the Bureau to evaluate quotes in an even-handed manner. After contract award, the Bureau will have more flexibility in evaluating varying scope options for the work.

3. What are the number of participants we should use for the pricing table, task area 1?

Answer – 35 participants should be used for pricing the training under Task Area 1. See changes in Attachment I.

4. What organization(s) provided you with diversity training in the past? Did that or another provider assist you in preparing this RFQ?

Answer – The IVY Planning Group has provided diversity training for the Bureau in the past.

No organization assisted the Bureau in preparing the RFQ. The Bureau performed market research to learn about available diversity training and related costs.

5. To what extent is your goal lasting behavior and mindset change? If it is, how open are you to more than one day of training for manager?

Answer – The goals are definitely lasting behavior change and mindset change. At this time, we do not see two days as a viable option for this round of manager training.

6. Senior leadership is key to making this culture change. To what extent are you open to Executive development solutions for them?

Answer – We are expecting senior leadership to attend the training for managers, with sessions dedicated to senior leadership only.

7. To what extent would it be beneficial for the bureau to also increase manager and employee skills in innovative thinking and problem solving?

Answer – We recognize that strengthening D&I competencies can contribute to both innovative thinking and problem solving, however we are focused specifically on training to enhance D&I skills and competencies with this solicitation. Our Office of Human Capital (OHC) offers a range of training options that address innovative thinking and problem solving.

8. What metrics will you use to measure the impact of this intervention? What does success look like?

Answer – We measure Inclusion in the CFPB’s annual employee survey and analyze the data over time as well as within and across Divisions and demographic groups. We have done and will continue to do focus groups, listening sessions, and barrier analyses. In additiona, OMWI analyzes our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) data to identify potential problem areas. Successful and effective training will result in employees reporting that they experience the workplace as more inclusive and welcoming than they had in past years, and manager performance in managing employees will be improved.

9. We believe that using respected leaders and individual contributors to deliver some of the training is a powerful way of making the training relevant and getting the attention of training participants. To what extent are you open to this at the bureau?

Answer – The Bureau is planning to roll out a training-of-trainers in FY2021 and the RFQ includes a requirement for the Contractor to design and conduct a training-of-trainers program within the Bureau.

10. We want to have a real time discussion with one of the decision makers to assess what is feasible and appropriate for the bureau. Will you be able to support that prior to June 29?

Answer – Unfortunately, this is not a feasible option prior to June 29, 2020. The RFQ specifies the type of training the Bureau is seeking.

11. On page 9 of the RFQ, training course Requirement #9 states that "The CFPB reserves the right to reschedule a training course at no cost to the government when the course is rescheduled at least 48 hours before the course is scheduled to start.” Given that the vendor needs to schedule the vetted, approved facilitators far in advance of an engagement, would the CFPB be open to expanding the window to reschedule at no cost to 15 business days prior to the course start date rather than 48 hours?

Answer – No, 15 business days prior to the course start date would not be acceptable.

However, we have expanded the window to 5 business days prior to the course restart date to reschedule at no cost to CFPB. For inclement weather and national emergencies, the cancellation window remains at 48 hours. Subsection 2.0, “TRAINING COURSE REQUIREMENTS” has been revised accordingly.

12. Ownership of Content – I noticed that RFQ mentioned that CFPB will own the content that we produce. With all of our content we produce we always maintain ownership. What we will provide is an unlimited license for our clients to use all of the content in perpetuity within their own organization. That usually works for both parties. Please let us know if that is feasible.

Answer – Yes, that is acceptable to the CFPB. Please see the revised language in Section 2.0, “2.0 TRAINING COURSE REQUIREMENTS,” indicating “All specialized class materials developed by the Contractor(s) specifically for CFPB use, either printed, electronic, or mixed, will be owned by the Contractor, but the Bureau will have an unlimited license to use all of the content in perpetuity for its employees.”

13. Pricing Chart – What is the difference between Base year, Year 1, Year 2 and 6 month?

Answer – This will possibly be a three-year IDIQ contract, with a 6-month option to extend in accordance with FAR 52.217-8. Option years will be exercised unilaterally by the Government, as needed, upon the completion of base year period of performance.

14. Can we customize the pricing chart based on what we recommend? For example, once a leader goes through the full day training, we would recommend follow up eLearning but also may be facilitated discussion guides they can use with their teams, or independent reflection assessments or action plans. We would provide you unlimited license to any of those tools and resources.

Answer – No, customization of the pricing chart based on recommendation should not be done at this time. Offerors should not modify the pricing table but complete it as is. After contract award, a contractor may be allowed to customize a pricing table based on their recommendations when responding to Task Order proposal request solicited by the Bureau.

15. What is a one-hour online information brief?

Answer – a review or elaboration of content related to the training content that serves as a refresher, tip sheet or learning resource that managers and staff can use to practice what they learned in the training (See footnote in Subsection 2.a., IDIQ PRICING TABLE).

16. Email Distribution – please help us understand the purpose of the weekly emails. What is an email spurt and bulletin announcement?

Answer – Content that allows for continuous learning by managers and staff on general D&I topics or related to specific events or observances. We are looking to have vendors customize content they already have. There is some flexibility in what that content can be so long as it is D&I focused (See footnote in Subsection 2.a., IDIQ PRICING TABLE).

17. Is the 2-hour self-paced request a firm time request? Our content tends to come in smaller modules (15-20 minutes each). 2 hours is a very long time, in our experience, to be in an eLearning environment.

Answer – At this time, the Bureau believes that it is possible to package 2 – 4 topics into a two-hour self-paced learning focus that managers and staff can be expected to complete over a specified period of time. If employee feedback and/or course evaluations determines at a later time that a two-hour self-paced course is too long, the Bureau may make some adjustments to the length of the course.

18. Can you share more information on what you mean by "1-hour information brief"?

Answer – See Response to #15 above.

19. How do you intend to determine in-person facilitation vs remote? Many of our moderators are not comfortable traveling or training in large groups until a vaccine is available. Do you intend to enforce in-person sessions?

Answer – No, CFPB’s OMWI works within the regulations of the Federal Government and the Bureau; therefore, OMWI will not be enforcing in-person sessions at this time. Similarly to current training provided to Bureau employees, OMWI expects that most training will be done virtually until after the pandemic is over, sometime within the period of performance of the contract.

20. When considering this training, is it being reflected as a Compliance activity, or as a skill-building, professional development activity? We would love to understand more about how it is being positioned internally before responding.

Answer – (See pgs 5 – 6 of the RFQ) The training supports managers and non-supervisory employees in developing and enhancing competencies in fostering a diverse and inclusive work place so that employees can have the skills needed to create relevant solutions for consumers from all backgrounds.

21. The RFQ requests that 3 past performance questionnaires (PPQs) be submitted for Volume I, Factor (3) – Past Performance. In many cases, federal agency clients are required to gain approval from its Acquisition or General Counsel’s office in order to submit PPQs. In addition, the RFQ is requesting a 30-minute video be prepared for Factor (4) – Training Demonstration (30 Minute Video), which will require significant time to complete. Will the government please extend the due date for the proposal by a minimum of one week to account for the time required for complete the PPQ process as well as complete this training video?

Answer – Amendment 0002 extends the due date until Friday July 10, 2020 3 p.m. (See Subsection E.2.5, “Proposal Submission Instructions”.

22. The proposal due date and time is listed at Wednesday June 29, 11:00 am. June 29, 2020 is a

Monday. Can the government please clarify if the due date is intended to be Monday, June 29, 2020 or Wednesday, July 1?

Answer – See response to question #21.

23. The RFQ requires offerors to submit PPQs for this proposal requirement. Given that many agencies have to gain approval from its Acquisition or General Counsel’s office, and either may not gain approval or may not gain approval within the current time allotted in the RFQ, will the government allow vendors to provide narrative descriptions of past performance, demonstrating the nature of the work and the relevance to the requirements of the RFQ, not to exceed 2 pages per description?

Answer – See response to question #21.

24. The RFQ states “Each offeror must provide price of training courses and applicable course training customization labor rate for each ordering period as set forth in Table 2.a.” Table 2.a states the units for task area 1 as “each”. Is the government asking for a price per course or a labor rate per hour for course instruction?

Answer – The Bureau is seeking a price per course, including all training materials, as well as a “Training Customization Rate”, which will be an hourly rate, included in Table 2.a.

25. The government states “The Labor Rates must be the same as provided for the IDIQ Labor

Rate Table, but may or may not utilize all labor categories captured in the IDIQ Labor Rate Table”, however the IDIQ table doesn’t provide any specific labor categories and only one place for a labor rate for Training Customization. Are vendors supposed to propose their own labor categories or will the government please provide those categories?

Answer – Please see the revised explanation narrative in Subsection 2.b, “EVALUATIVE PRICING TABLE”, which now states “This table represents an estimated level of effort for evaluative purposes only. Offerors shall provide a completed Evaluative Pricing Table as set forth in Table 2.b. The training and an hourly training customization rate Labor Rates must be the same as provided in for Subsection 2.a., the IDIQ Pricing Labor Rate Table.”

26. In total, how many managers and non-managers will need to be trained, and what is the expectation for class size in each case?

Answer – Please see revised Attachment I, Subsections 2.a. and 2.b., which indicates the expected class size in each case and see response to question #27 regarding how many managers and non-managers will potentially require training.

27. Would it be possible to have a breakout of location as well (because that will impact travel costs or whether facilitators need to be local)?

The Bureau has 1,445 employees, of whom 293 are supervisors. There are 962 employees in the headquarters building in Washington DC. In the Midwest Region there are 89 employees (office in Chicago), in the Northeast Region there are 111 employees (office in Manhattan, NYC), in the South East Region, there are 106 employees (office in Atlanta), and in the West Region there are 113 employees (office in San Francisco). (There are 64 employees with unspecified locations).

28. Please confirm the core deliverables:

o a half-day session for non-managers (delivered as many times as it takes to train everyone) o a day-long session for managers (delivered as many times as it takes to train everyone) o a two-hour session for Divisions and ERGs o follow up e-learning and resources to reinforce the learning

29. Is the curriculum to take place within a year’s time, and repeated each year?

Answer – No, these are one-time requirements for managers and non-managers. We estimate it will take one year for to get all managers through the training and three years to get all non-managers to complete the training, at the rate of 30 – 35 participants per class.

30. Does eLearning technology/platform need to meet FedRamp requirements, if so can you please share the security requirements?

Answer – Any eLearning technology/platform connected to the Bureau’s Information Technology network will have to comply with various IT security protocols mandated by the CFPB’s Technology & Innovation (T&I) Division. The Contractor will be provided additional IT security requirements after contract award.

31. What’s the date the training is expected to go-live?

Answer – Planning and customization should begin by September 15th (FY2020) and actual training delivery is expected to begin in early January 2021.

32. What deliverables are due on the date of the award?

Answer – A kickoff planning meeting to outline the timeframe for the delivery of the components of Tasks I and II.

33. What are the processes to identify Contractor owned content?

Answer – Contractor will be asked to provide standard bibliography references for the content they use.

34. I was looking over and wanted to see the amount of supervisors per training session and the amount of non-supervisors per training session?

Answer – Please see response to question 3 and corresponding changes in Table 2.a. and 2.b. of the RFQ.

35. IDIQ Evaluative Pricing Table (Task Area 1). Should the number of units mirror the evaluative pricing table?

Answer – Please see responses to question #3 and question #25.