SOW_as_of_4-6-2015.pdf

U.S. Department of Interior

(Bureau of Indian Affairs)

Statement of Work

WATER RESOURCES TRAINING PROGRAM

FOR

American Indians and Alaska Natives

Submitted by

Office of Trust Services

Division of Water and Power

Branch of Water Resources

March 2015

BACKGROUND:

The objective of the proposed training is to provide Native American students with practical/technical skills and understanding of the broader issues associated with water resources management. The associated areas include but are not limited to: basic watershed hydrology and water resources, water quality issues and management, groundwater and surface water monitoring, dam operation, computer analysis (GIS & Excel), and career skills.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

The program will focus on high school graduates looking to expand their career opportunities by completing this “Native American Water Corps” training and then participating in follow-up, BIA supported internship with a major federal or tribal water resources management agency.

SCOPE OF WORK:

A. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

The BIA will:

1. Actively recruit Native Americans from around the country to fill student positions in the Water Resources Training Program.

2. Process, review and select finalists to fill 28-30 positions in the Water

Resources Training Program.

3. Arrange and fund roundtrip travel from the participant’s home to selected facility site.

4. Advise in the establishment of curriculum and also in the selection of guest lecturers to best address the career needs of the Native students.

5. Provide such funds as may be required to conduct program activities.

6. Arrange and fund follow-up internships training opportunities for program graduates.

7. Provide training equipment for the facilitator.

B. Selected Training Facility

The Selected Training Facility will:

1. Conduct a four -week short course titled "Water Resources Training

Program for Native American Students"

2. Submit a final technical report with hand out material, reports, text books, computer programs, and other material used for the training to the

BIA describing all activities conducted under the program.

3. Collaborate with BIA to identify suitable follow-on internships.

C. Lodging

1. Offers must provide adequate housing accommodations to support students through the duration of the training and demonstrate a safe environment for the students. Housing facilities to be inspected and approved by representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs prior to training. Dining will be provided for the duration of the training.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (TRAINING FACILITY)

The facility must meet qualifications identified (below) to conduct training programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the area of water resources management.

The Facility must meet strengths in engineering, the physical and natural sciences and offers a broad array of engineering programs with a particular emphasis on environmental sustainability. The selected facility must provide intellectually stimulating learning environment, which is culturally sensitive and empowering to its students.

DELIVERY-TRAINING PROGRAM:

The training faculties must be highly trained and experienced staff with minimum of 5 years of experience in the organization of training seminars, workshops, conferences, and high quality professional development outreach events. The fac i l i t y will be responsible for the logistical details of the training program. These details include all arrangements for meeting facilities, lodging, meal cards, social events and field trips.

DURATION OF AGREEMENT:

This Agreement shall be effective on June 1, 2015 and end September 30, 2020, unless otherwise modified to extend the duration of this Agreement.

Engineering Estimate

Base: 6/1/2015 to 5/31/2016

Projected dates: (6/1/2015 to 9/30/2015)

Option Year 1: 6/1/2016 to 5/31/2017

Projected dates: (6/1/2016 to 9/30/2016)

Option Year 2: 6/1/2017 to 5/31/2018

Projected dates: (6/1/2017 to 9/30/2017)

Option Year 3: 6/1/2018 to 5/31/2019

Option Year 4: 6/1/2019 to 9/30/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The training program will be conducted at the selected facility from July 5, 2015 through

August 8, 2015 (with travel days being Sun. and Sat.) and will be finalized upon further consultation with BIA. Classes will be held from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm each day except on Sundays. Assignments will be designed so that students can complete all required work during the regular workday, or if necessary, as evening homework. Participants will have access to campus libraries, computers, and recreational facilities after hours.

All instruction and special events will take place at the selected facility.

Upon successful completion of the training program, each participant will receive a certificate from selected Training Facility and BIA documenting completion of the program.

Questions and Answers

Potential offerors shall submit all question related to this solicitation: (A15PS00391) to

Edward Becenti , Contract Specialist at edward.becenti@bia.gov by Thursday, April

9, 2015 12:00pm ET. All submissions will be electronic format only. No faxes will be accepted.

Amendment will be issued to provide government response to all submitted questions.

Evaluation Criteria for this Solicitation:

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer confirming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the

Government, Price and other factors considered. The following standards shall be used to evaluate offers, in descending order of importance:

a. Technical Approach:

Offers must demonstrate ability to provide the required training in water based sciences as well as water resource management based principles on practical/technical skills and an understanding of the fundamental theories and practices related to basic surface water, groundwater and water quality topics.

Offers must have a minimum of four (4) years experience in the field demonstrating hydrological course studies in ground water and surface water academic trainings.

Quote shall also include a detailed description of each course including course duration and the resumes of those providing the training.

b. Personnel Qualification:

Staff experience – experience in training and mentoring Indian and Alaskan Native

Students.

c. Past Performance:

mailto:edward.becenti@bia.gov

The quotation must also include past performance of training provided under previous contracts for hydrological science programs.

I. PROPOSED COURSE CONTENT:

The objective of the training program is to provide students with the practical/technical skills and understanding of the broader issues associated with the best practices associated with water resources management and water quality monitoring. Instruction on related skills such as basic mathematics, technical writing, Windows Office Suite use and general computer usage and applications (such as ArcInfo and Excel) will be included, with much of this learning occurring during a mandatory post-dinner evening session. Instructors will be drawn from local experts, academics and agency personnel selected and supported by the workshop coordinator. The training program will involve classroom lectures, hands-on demonstrations, computer laboratory sessions and field trips. Topics to be covered are: basic watershed hydrology and water resources, water quality issues and management, groundwater and surface water monitoring, dam operation, computer analysis (GIS & Excel), and basic career skills, as summarized below

Special Program Components:

Evening Sessions: Peer tutoring and instruction in math, computer, library research skills, writing literacy other subjects are provided in the evening hours. The students will have evening and daily access to facil i ty’s science library, computer resources, and student recreation center.

Roundtable: Invite 3-5 local Native American water resource managers to campus for a half-day roundtable discussion that covers regional water resource issues and management strategies.

Weekend Trips: Weekend dinners are taken as a group, usually in conjunction with a special activity.

Field Trips: Field trips provide student trainees with hands-on experience by measuring stream flows and groundwater levels, collect water quality samples, and visit facilities of interest, such as a waste water treatment plant and tribal farm.

Final Report: By the last day of the workshop, each student will be expected to submit a final report (10 pages, 1.5 spacing) and make an oral presentation (15 minutes) either on their tribe’s water resource history, capacity and management challenges OR on a drought management plan for their reservation.