Amendment2.pdf

(x)

AG-04R4-S-12-0010

x x

0 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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SPRINGFIELD OR 97477

04R4

3106 PIERCE PARKWAY SUITE D

ATTN CONTRACTING

WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST

USDA FOREST SERVICE

06/15/2012000002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

06/15/2012

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This solicitation is amended to remove the requirement for professional coaching certification. A combination of formal education and experience in coaching/facilitation/team building is acceptable.

Include your TIN and DUNS in your quote package.

A second list of submitted questions and answers is attached for your review.

Quote packages should be submitted to the address in block 6 by mail or in person. Quote packages may also be faxed to 541-225-6220. Email quote packages are not acceptable.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

SHEILA FINNEY

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

Q&A for solicitation AG-04R4-S-12-0010

25. ****This is an update to the answer on Q&A 1 #1**** I am curious about the projected number of participants and whether they have been through this type of training previously?

A: There is not a projected number of participants—this will allow for the employees to seek coaching as needed based on their internal needs and conversations with their supervisors and managers. There are some employees who have been through a basic orientation to coaching that the Forest has sponsored twice in the past 3 years. There is basic familiarity on the part of about half of our supervisors about the basics of coaching, the benefits to their employees and how to incorporate “coaching conversations” in their work with employees. Still, the majority of our employees and still half of our supervisors are unfamiliar with coaching for development of leadership skills, competencies and growth. There is interest in coaching among the employees and we believe that once the first group of employees and supervisors experience the benefits of coaching the program will grow.

26. How many employees are in the Forest Service?

A: There are approximately 400 employees who work on the Willamette NF. About 45 of these employees supervise or manage others as a significant part of their responsibilities. We work in teams or as part of work groups in almost everything we do. We also work with partners and the public.

27. ****This is an update to the answer on Q&A 1 #3****

How many employees does the Forest Service anticipate will participate in the individual coaching, teaching coaching, group facilitation, and team building services?

A: During the first year, we anticipate between 10-15 employees to “pioneer” the program and participate in coaching. Approximately the same number are interested in learning more about how to incorporate coaching in their work. We believe it’s often a good idea for those who are learning to coach, to be coached themselves. As familiarity with coaching and the potential providers grows, we expect interest to grow. However, there is no way of knowing exact numbers at this time as we believe it’s important that the decision to participate in coaching be voluntary.

There are 5 separate office locations on the Willamette National Forest. Each office has a manager with a leadership team composed of the lead supervisors for 5-7 different work groups. The intent of including facilitation and team building services is to make such skills more easily accessible to the leaders of these offices and their lead supervisors who may once or twice a year, want to develop their teams or work groups, do strategic planning, or work on particular issues more effectively. Again, we cannot effectively estimate the use of the program, particularly in the first year. The goal of the solicitation is to make individual and group coaching and facilitation more accessible so we are more effective as individuals and groups in service.

28. What might be the typical size of a group for team building?

A: This would typically range from 5-15.

29. What might be the typical size of a group for group facilitation?

A: This could typically range from 10-30

Question and Answer 2

AG-04R4-S-12-0010

Willamette National Forest Coaching BPA

30. Will the Government accept commensurate coaching experience (e.g. significant coaching hours within a federal government agency and graduate level education in Organization Development) in lieu of a professional certification in coaching?

A: Yes, if a Contractor has some kind of formal education and enough experience doing the coaching/facilitation or team building work and it is demonstrated in their response, then they would qualify.

31. The Statement of Objectives says that you are seeking services in 4 areas, one of which is "Teaching coaching". Does this mean:

a. Teaching managers how to coach their staff;

A: Yes, including when it is appropriate for a manager to use coaching skills.

b. Teaching Forest Service employees to become internal coaches, or teaching leadership, management and/or professional development skills?

A: The Forest Service is not looking to initiate a formal internal coaching program at this time. However, we want to encourage and support our employees who want to develop their coaching skills because we believe they can contribute to assisting their peers, become better supervisors and becoming more effective at working in groups and teams.

32. There are no stated outcomes for the organization in the RFQ. What is the WFS hoping to gain from these kinds of services? How are these services tied to the strategic plan and/or other initiatives? Is the evaluation of the services based simply on the specific services provided or for the organizational as a whole?

A: The outcomes are part of our purpose statement. The Willamette National Forest is seeking an avenue for employees to achieve individual development goals. As the employees attain these goals, the organization should improve, also. The evaluation of the services would be at the level the services were provided: each individual, team or group should see the results of the process.

33. We can price this [group and team] in terms of an average situation and facilitation that includes the needs assessment and other pre work conversations (2 day retreat/1 day retreat/ongoing). We can also price this on a daily rate (inclusive of travel costs etc.). How do you want us to price this? We are concerned that if we don't have something specific, we will be disqualified because it is not in a package. Yet a package may not fulfill the needs described to us and may be promising something that will not work for you.

A: Please include both the average situation pricing and the per day pricing. If there are time when a half-day session is appropriate, then include that cost as well. For the type of ordering on these BPAs, the fixed rate per session, day or package is preferable. This allows for the Ordering Officials to easily place the orders instead of it coming through the Supervisor’s Office for each request.

34. In assessing costs of travel we would like the following information:

a. Closest commercial airport for all major ranger districts

A: The two closest airports are:

Portland International Airport, Portland, OR Mahlon Sweet Field (Eugene Airport), Eugene, OR

b. Average travel time by car from those airports to the District offices.

I have provided a list of the Districts and their addresses. For consistency in your planning, use your preferred mapping program to find the estimated travel times and distances.

Willamette National Forest

35. Do you want the pages to be loose so you can make copies if need be or can the submission be bound?

A: Please submit your quote packages unbound, if possible. We will be making copies for the evaluation team.

36. You list preferences for somatic & integral coaching background. Please expand on why these approaches are preferred by the US Forest Service.

A: These approaches have been used in other Federal Agencies. The process of treating the whole of the individual and the integration of experiences, body and mind would work well for many of the Willamette employees. Although these are listed as desired approaches, the Willamette is open and would like to see a wide variety of coaching options so the employees can choose a coach to fit their individual needs.

37. ****This is an update to the answer on Q&A 1 #21**** We just took a look at your Amendment 1 PDF, and it seems like you didn't answer the question we asked regarding certification (your #21)... you responded, though you didn't answer the question.

A: The formal certification determination had to come from our Forest Supervisor. She has determined that she will accept experience in lieu of formal certification (see question 30).

The other part of your question (the part I did answer) pertained to the certification requirement not being in the Return Package—the Return Package was the portion of the Solicitation you need to return with your other information as requested in the SOO and the Evaluation Criteria.

38. Should our firm, located in the Washington DC metro area be concerned about the cost of travel for individual participants to be coached or is the cost of travel for coaching session not to be considered?

A: Employees will not have a travel budget. Companies quoting on this line should consider any travel costs when preparing their pricing package. Travel will not be separately reimbursed.

39. Can the coaching be accomplished by phone or in conjunction (time-wise) with the group coaching sessions to reduce travel costs?

A: The preference is for at least one in-person meeting. Subsequent meetings could be conducted via other methods if this is suitable for the employee.

40. Will the Willamette evaluation team give consideration to a Washington, DC metro area firm?

A: The Willamette evaluation team will fairly consider all complete packages. Due to the budget constraints, there will be some need to keep prices low; however, the goal is to provide quality coaching to an increasingly diverse workforce. The diversity of coaches will play a role in the evaluation as we have clearly stated our need to provide choices to our employees to meet their development goals.

Willamette National Forest