Attachment 1 PWS 240125.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Communications Workshops

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. The Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) requires Communications Workshops to provide its members with a common framework to speak and write clear, concise, and compelling messages that prompt effective action and organizational efficiency.

1.2. The Naval Special Warfare Leadership Education and Development (NLEAD) is the primary consumer for this requirement and is aligned with Naval Special Warfare (NSW) enterprise to develop NSW leaders in delivering a continuum of Professional Military Education (PME). The Platoon Leader Course (PLC) and Leading Petty Officer Course (LPOC) supports that effort in providing Communications Workshops to students with a common framework to speak and write clear, concise, compelling messages that prompt effective action and organizational efficiency.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1. Establish a five (5) year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for

Communications Workshops to meet NSWC, PLC, and LPOC Communication Learning Objectives (LO). Course offerings shall be available in an in-person forum as well as virtual.

2.2. Additional courses may be incorporated on a to be negotiated basis.

3. SCOPE

3.1. The Contractor shall provide the personnel, management, curriculum, instructional materials, and dynamic delivery, coaching, and mentoring to enable NSW members to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

3.2. The Contractor’s classroom workshops, and supplemental online modules shall prepare participants to become more effective communicators, as described below.

3.3. The PLC has an annual estimated requirement of five (5), with 2-3 courses anticipated to be held in NSW facilities on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, VA and 2-3 courses anticipated to be held on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. CA. Actual courses dates and locations will be identified at the task order level.

3.4. The LPOC has an annual estimated requirement of 5, with 2-3 courses anticipated to be held in NSW facilities on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, VA and 2-3 courses anticipated to be held on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. CA. Actual courses dates and locations will be identified at the task order level.

3.5. In addition to the PLC and LPOC workshops, the Government has an annual estimated requirement of approximately 10 Communications Workshops per year to be held at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, VA, Stennis, MS, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA, or Joint Base Pearl Harbor, HI.

4. REQUIREMENTS

4.1. General Requirements: The Contractor’s workshop shall provide a framework that enables students to conduct effective and efficient communications using unique written and verbal platforms, including but not limited to Secure Video Teleconferences (SVTCs), After Action Reports (AARs), Lessons Learned (LL), Capability/Limitations (CAP/LIM) briefs, Course of Action (COA) Briefs, Mission Needs Statements, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), etc.) throughout the NSW organization. Workshops shall be taught in-person and accommodate up to 30 students, at various locations as outlined in section 16 below and as specified at the task order level.

Class sizes may exceed 30 students as specified a the task order level.

4.2. All courses shall be 2 consecutive days in length, 0800-1630 per day. Variations in start/end times may be coordinated and agreed upon between the Government representative and contractor.

4.3. Contractor shall provide deliverables as outlined in paragraph 5 below.

4.4. Communication Workshops: The framework presented in the workshop shall include an approach which supports the following learning objectives:

4.4.1. Preparation tool(s) that force students to present their ideas and messages systematically to ensure brevity and clarity.

4.4.2. Mnemonic and visual aid(s) that reinforce concise communications skills.

4.4.3. Worksheet(s) that help students to identify a central point and link their introduction, body and conclusion to a focal thesis or idea.

4.4.4. Exercise(s) that show students how to use stories to make their idea, main point or objective stick with the audience.

4.4.5. Statistical data that makes the students understand why in today’s information saturated and multi-tasking society brevity is critical to an organization’s success.

4.4.6. Reference handout(s) that show students how to write concise, brief, and well-structured documents that don’t waste the reader’s time.

4.4.7. Exercise(s) that show student’s how to fill the gap between a presenter’s speed of speech and a listener’s vastly faster ability to absorb information.

4.4.8. Exercise(s) that ensure students provide enough relevant information without overwhelming a knowledgeable audience with too much information.

4.4.9. Exercise(s) that force students to listen carefully to comments by the audience as a means to gauge whether they need to provide more or less information or spend more/less time on particular portions of their presentation.

4.4.10. Tool(s) and/or exercise(s) that help students develop visual aids and/or handouts that concisely make difficult concepts or complex information easily digestible or briefly absorbed and retained.

4.4.11. Exercise(s) that force students to understand how powerful explaining why or what’s in it for the audience will help with comprehension, attention, relevancy, and retention.

4.4.12. Exercise(s) that teach the student why and how to do audience comprehension checks.

4.4.13. Exercise(s) that make the student understand the power of comprehension, attention, and retention.

4.4.14. Handout(s) and/or other reading material(s) that reiterates the above learning objectives.

4.4.15. Website material(s) that supplement/reinforce the above learning objectives.

4.5. PLC Specific Requirements/Learning Objectives: The PLC specific requirements include the learning objectives identified in section 4.4, but are supplemented with the following additional learning objectives:

4.5.1. Examine personal speech habits and characteristics to enhance delivery and effectiveness.

4.5.2. Employ content organization, audience analysis, and presentation adaptation to effectively communicate to unique audiences.

4.5.3. Use effective vocal qualities, language, delivery technique, non-verbal communication, and visual aids to enhance the communication process.

4.5.4. Develop and deliver briefings for various audiences in typical speaking venues.

4.5.5. Analyze personal voice characteristics, eye contact, gestures, and attitude (VGA) in a deliberate attempt to improve credibility and effectiveness.

4.5.6. Describe the characteristics of efficient writing.

4.5.7. Explain why clear and concise writing skills are important.

4.5.8. Distinguish different purposes for effective writing. (Inform, assess, persuade, direct, recommend, report, commend, summarize)

4.5.9. Select proper writing style, tone, format, organization, content, and graphics, to best suit the writer’s purpose and the reader’s understanding, interest, retention, and action.

4.5.10. Explain why audience analysis is a critical step to writing clearly, concisely, and effectively.

4.6. LPOC Specific Requirements/Learning Objectives: The LPOC specific requirements include the learning objectives identified in section 4.4, but are supplemented with the following additional learning objectives:

4.6.1. Utilize Voice, Eye contact, Gestures, and Attitude (VEGA) techniques when speaking to an audience.

4.6.2. Appraise personal speech habits and characteristics to improve posture, diction, and mechanics of speech.

4.6.3. Assess the fundamentals of reflective thinking, audience analysis and adaptation to analyze speakers and to better understand the communication process.

4.6.4. Utilize effective vocal qualities, language, delivery techniques, non-verbal communication, and visual aids for each speech to enhance speaker’s presentation.

4.6.5. Develop various types of speeches adapted and tailored to different audiences and supported by sound reasoning.

4.6.6. Determine how to best address and brief superiors, flag officers and ambassadors to gain approval of requests.

4.7. Instructor Requirements/Qualifications

4.7.1. Instructor(s) staff shall have a minimum of 2 years’ experience applying the above techniques to produce concise or brief presentations or documents for use within the Department of Defense (DoD). Examples include AARs, LL, CAP/LIM briefs, COA Briefs, Mission Needs Statements, CONOPS, etc., that are powerful, effective, and brief, to increase organizational efficiency.

4.7.2. Instructor staff shall have a minimum of 2 years’ experience teaching the above learning objectives to members of the DoD.

4.8. The Contractor shall offer online, self-paced modules to supplement and reinforce workshop concepts. Online course materials should be available to students outside the classroom, using either smart phones or personal computers, so students can download exercises or material for review during the course (i.e., homework), as well as ready reference to course material for future reference after course completion.

4.9. The Contractor shall provide each participant attending a workshop all instructional materials, including workbooks and other consumables.

4.10. Upon completion of each course, the Contractor shall provide the COR:

4.10.1. A completed Course Evaluation for each student assessing the performance of the class offering no later than 5 business days after course completion.

4.10.2. A final Class Roster, documenting student attendance no later than 5 business days after course completion.

4.10.3. An After-Action Report (AAR), stating the Class Date and Time, Location, Assessment of Student Achievement of Learning Objectives, Lessons Learned, and Recommendations for Improvement/Follow-up no later than 5 business days after course completion.

4.10.4. The Contractor shall provide each student a Training Certificate, documenting course completion no later than the last day of course completion.

4.10.5. The Contractor shall review, at least annually by 30 September, the curricula, After- Action Reports (AARs), Student Evaluations, and Performance Checklists, to ensure the class content, delivery, and outcomes remain viable. The Contractor shall provide recommendations to the Government to improve the curriculum and/or delivery to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. The Government will provide their feedback and any additional recommendations for curriculum changes.

Changes to curriculum shall be approved by the COR prior to implementation.

5. Deliverables

Description Number PWS Ref. Delivery Date Instructional Materials 0001 4.9 First morning of each course Students’ Course Evaluations 0002 4.10.1 NLT 5 business days after course completion Attendance Roster 0003 4. 10.2 NLT 5 business days after course completion After-Action Report (AAR) 0004 4. 10.3 NLT 5 business days after course completion Students’ Training Certificate 0005 4. 10.4 NLT the last day of course completion Recommendations for Curriculum Revisions

0006 4. 10.5 NLT 5 business days of the last day of the Fiscal Year (30 September).

Contract Manpower Reporting 0007 6.0 Annually NLT 30 September.

6. CONTRACTOR MANPOWER REPORTING

6.1. The Contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for NLEAD via a secure data collection site. The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address: https://sam.gov. Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each Government fiscal year (FY), which runs October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year. Contractors may direct questions to the help desk on the sam.gov website.

7 CONTRACTOR TRAVEL

7.1 Any required travel shall be included within the firm fixed price of the workshop for each location. A separate travel CLIN will not be included.

8 ADMINISTRATIVE AND PHYSICAL SECURITY

8.1 Security clearance is not required. All class instruction, materials, and discussions at the unclassified level.

8.2 Contractor shall establish appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect all nonpublic Government data to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Government data.

8.3 Contractor shall not release any information about this contract to anyone outside its organization.

8.4 Contractor must be able to obtain personnel and vehicle access to military installations.

Contractor is responsible for coordinating all necessary access through the local Military Pass and Decal Office.

8.5 Comply with applicable DoD, Navy, USSOCOM and NSW cyber-security, information technology (IT) systems, network, and/or security applicable instructions and policies, and ensure all contractor personnel have read and agree to comply with such instructions and policies. The contractor shall especially be familiar with NSWC Acceptable Use Policies and provide training to its personnel as to appropriate practices when interacting with Government IT systems and networks.

9 PRIVACY ACT AND HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPPA)

9.1 The Contractor will have access, work with, and/or have to input personally identifiable information (PII) into Government Information Systems in performance of this contract. The Contractor shall adhere to Privacy Act requirements and applicable DoD, Department of Navy (DoN), and United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) regulations, instructions, directives, and policies regarding PII, including but not limited to NIST 800-122 “Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).”

9.2 The Contractor may have access, work with, and/or have to input personal health information (PHI) into Government Information Systems in performance of this contract. The Contractor shall adhere to HIPPA requirements and applicable DoD, DoN, and United States Special Operations Command regulations, instructions, directives, and policies regarding PHI, including but not limited to NIST 800-66 “An Introductory Resource Guide for Implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule.”

9.3 For both PII and PHI, the Contractor agrees to assume responsibility for protecting such information, using best practices, and compliance with applicable references.

9.4 During performance, this contract may involve IT, IS, and/or software that requires Government approvals in accordance with applicable DoD cybersecurity and/or information assurance regulations, policies and instructions. Compliance and/or efforts to obtain such approval shall be at no additional cost to the Government and shall be included in any firm-fixed prices. For performance that may involve outside information technology, information systems, or external software that requires approval via N6. Note, of course, it would require discussion with the customer as to whether fair to say all should be included and the effort may require more detailed discussion of requirements if an ATO is required.

10 SAFETY

10.1 Safety in all training events shall be paramount. The contractor shall comply with NLEAD safety instruction and policies.

10.2 Contractor Responsibility: Nothing in this PWS, nor any Government action or failure to act in performance of the contract, shall relieve the contractor of its responsibility for the safety of the contractor's personnel and property, the Government's personnel and property, and the general public. Furthermore, nothing in this PWS shall relieve the contractor of its responsibility for complying with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations (including those requiring applicable licenses and permits) in connection with the performance of this contract.

11 MARKINGS AND LIMITED USE OF DATA

11.1 The Contractor shall refrain from using “Naval Special Warfare Command” (NSWC), reference to any NSWC personnel by title or position within NSWC, or this contract in any of its publications, websites, materials, media, or advertising media. The Contractor shall not use or reproduce the Department of the Navy’s trademarks or trade secrets with respect to Naval Special Warfare, Naval Special Warfare training, and the Navy SEALs/SWCCs (i.e., there are several U.S. trademark registrations in connection with the words NAVY SEALS, the Trident logo, and the SWCC logo).

12 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY/EQUIPMENT/INFORMATION (GFP/GFE/GFI)

12.1 The Government will provide the classroom and any required audio/visual equipment.

12.2 If classroom services are required beyond those provided by the government, the additional cost shall be negotiated and added at the Task Order level.

13 QUALITY CONTROL

13.1 The contractor shall implement and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure work performed conforms to the scope of work and meets the requirements under this PWS. The QCP shall, at a minimum provide a method for performing inspections; identifying, correcting and preventing problems/defective service; addressing customer complaints, and improving the quality of services over the life of the contract.

14 QUALITY ASSURANCE

14.1 The Government reserves the right to perform inspections and surveillance to evaluate the Contractor’s compliance to the contract terms and performance of the requirements in the PWS. The Government will make every effort to ensure that the surveillance methods used are conducted in an objective, fair, and consistent manner.

14.2 The Government will make every effort to ensure that the surveillance methods used are conducted in an objective, fair, and consistent manner. The Government will assign a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) who will be responsible for monitoring performance in accordance with the requirements of the PWS and the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The COR will make every effort to ensure that the surveillance methods used are conducted in an objective, fair, and consistent manner.

14.3 Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR). In the event of unsatisfactory contractor performance, the Contracting Officer will issue a CDR that will explain the circumstances and findings concerning the incomplete or unsatisfactory service. The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of the CDR and respond in writing as to how he/she shall correct the unacceptable performance and avoid a recurrence. The Government will review the Contractor's corrective action response to determine acceptability and will use any completed CDR as part of an overall evaluation of Contractor performance when determining present or future contractual actions.

15 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

15.1 The Contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance level of each featured objective briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each element. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective

Standard Performance Threshold

Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1.

Contract Deliverables

Deliverables furnished as prescribed in the PWS.

>98% of deliverables submitted timely and without rework required.

COR

Observation, Customer feedback.

PRS # 2 Overall Contract Performance

Overall contract performance of sufficient quality to earn a Satisfactory (or higher) rating in the COR’s annual report on Contractor Performance.

All performance elements rated Satisfactory (or higher).

COR

Observation, Customer feedback.

PRS # 3

Invoicing

Invoices delivered in a timely fashion.

Accuracy of invoices evaluated and no defects allowed. Errors in invoices will be grounds for the Government to return to vendor for re-processing.

>95% - of invoices submitted timely and accurately.

Review & Acceptance of the Invoice

16 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

16.1 NSW will schedule workshops to be conducted on Government installations throughout the FY to meet its units’ operational requirements as identified at the task order level.

Anticipated seminar locations are as follows:

16.1.1 Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA

16.1.2 Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, VA

16.1.3 Joint Base Pearl Harbor, HI

16.1.4 Stennis, MS

16.1.5 Other locations to be negotiated

17 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

17.1 Five (5) year period of performance.

18 COVID-19 (PANDEMIC/BLACK SWAN) CONSIDERATIONS

18.1 Contractor shall comply with provided guidance relating to the prevention of COVID-19.

This may include Presidential Executive Orders, CDC, DOD, local, and federal installation guidelines. Contractor personnel may be subject to quarantine/isolation periods at certain locations and shall comply with any federal, state, or local, including federal installation (command specific) requirements.