ATTACHMENT A 36C10X21Q0151 (MK)(AZ).docx

Attachment A: Performance Work Statement Personality Assessment Tool Office of Information & Technology End User Operations

1. INTRODUCUTION/BACKGROUND:

The VA IT Operations and Services (ITOPS) End User Operations (EUO) is charged with identifying, developing, and strategically managing the enterprise and healthcare leadership talent across VA. In fulfilling this responsibility, EUO uses assessment tools to triangulate and calibrate its processes for identifying and developing future leadership pipelines and employee talent.

2. OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this requirement is to purchase access to a personality assessment tool which will provide EUO with personality dimension scores. This information will assist EUO in identifying, developing, and strategically managing the enterprise and healthcare leadership talent across VA.

This scope of work is to purchase access to a personality assessment tool (or combination of assessment tools) that has specific qualities to enable this process triangulation, including:

- self-report measure of general personality (informed by Five-Factor Model), derailment risks, and motives;

- empirical validation against a cohort of U.S. multi-sector leaders;

- electronic individual and group data/reports;

- de-identified participant access (alpha numeric assignment);

- online web-based accessibility to assessment;

- EUO certification to self-manage the delivery of feedback/coaching to VA participants completing the assessment tool;

- vendor rescoring of assessment scores to High Potential Model scores.

3. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

EUO requires an empirically validated and theory-informed self-report personality assessment tool (or combination of assessment tools) with online web-based accessibility, electronic individual and group data/reports, de-identified participant access (alpha numeric assignment), and EUO certification to self-manage the delivery of assessment feedback/coaching[footnoteRef:1]. Comment by Kauzlarich, Micah: Why is a comparative product noted… can’t that conflict with the requirements listed below?

It can also give the perception that this is a competitive but sole source award

I suggest removal. [1: ]

1) Empirically validated means this tool has a published/available research or technical guide to show it has been model-tested (factor analysis) against multi- sector U.S. leaders with results for construct validity, item reliability, and assessing sub-group differences (e.g., leadership level, gender, race/ethnicity).

2) Theory-informed means the assessment measures traits identified and supported in the leadership and personality literature. The personality assessment must provide measurement of general personality (informed by the Five-Factor Model), derailment risks, and motives. The measurement of these personality traits shall be measured via one assessment tool or a combination of assessment tools (i.e., separate instruments for general personality, derailment risks, and motives).

4. Vendor shall provide:

The Contractor shall provide the following for this tool:

1. All base deliverables requirements and optional CLINS deliverables outlined in Table 1. Comment by Kauzlarich, Micah: Should this just say “items” as it may conflict with the contract term CLIN

2. Online accessibility to the self-assessment tool, whereby the VA participant can access the tool via a laptop or mobile device system, using an individual/personalized weblink, and during unrestricted hours (e.g., 24-hour and weekend access).

3. Electronic reports, by EUO-defined cohorts, sent to EUO of each individual assessment (in PDF format), including a cohort summary report of all individual raw data scores (in an extractable Excel format) and option for a bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic report indicating organizational trends (in PDF format). Individual reports shall be designed to provide emerging and mid-level managers a concise overview of their assessment results[footnoteRef:2]. Comment by Kauzlarich, Micah: Here is this…”comparative offering” again.. [2: ]

4. De-identified participant access by providing EUO with a list of alpha-numeric codes and associated emails/weblinks for EUO assignment of the self- assessment tool. All electronic reports will use the alpha-numeric codes for tracking/reporting participant scores. EUO is responsible for maintaining the linkage of alpha-numeric codes to participant names.

5. In-person or online certification process for EUO members, as needed, to receive training to self-manage the delivery of feedback/coaching to VA participants completing the leadership potential assessment tool.

6. Project support by assigning a representative to work with EUO to ensure the project is managed and resourced to meet deadlines and quality expectations, and to oversee all aspects of the assessment setup and administration, including: providing the alpha-numeric codes and associated emails/weblinks to EUO, timely status updates of complete and incomplete online assessments, and preparing and forwarding data reports (PDFs, Excel) to EUO.

7. Expected timelines for the assessment tool:

a. Tool Completion: No more than 90-minutes, on average, for a participant to complete the online assessment (or battery of assessments) with ability to complete the assessment in multiple sittings (i.e., start/stop option in tool completion).

b. Individual Report Delivery: Delivery of the electronic individual report (PDF) to EUO within three business days of assessment completion/submission by participant. May be sent as individual or batched reports.

c. Cohort Report Delivery: Delivery of the cohort summary report of individual scores (in an extractable Excel format) and an option for a bi- annual cohort/group diagnostic report (PDF) to EUO within three business days of cohort assessment completion/submission. Cohort to be defined by EUO (based on participant codes).

8. The following protections are required in managing the transition of leadership assessment tool data between VA and the vendor. The vendor shall assign a generic alpha-numeric code with weblink to each VA-purchased online assessment tool. The VA program manager (EUO) will assign each generic code/weblink to a unique VA employee participating in the assessment. The weblink will connect the employee to the vendor’s website outside the VA firewall to complete the assessment. Once completed, the vendor shall email the completed assessment report (PDF), individually or as a batch, to EUO. EUO will disseminate the assessment report via encrypted email to the respective employee. EUO will store all vendor-received assessment reports in a permission-restricted folder behind the VA firewall.

Phase I: Criterion-Related Validation Study for the Leadership Role -Inclusive of supervisors and area managers in EUO, SQS, ESO -Assumes Leadership Forecast Series + Judgment assessments and reports

Phase 2: Report Generation (No Customization / Off the Shelf + Desktop Reference) Leadership Forecast Series and Judgment Report 420Not to Exceed 550

Phase 3: Feedback Group debrief sessions, three-hours, up to 50 participants.

Organizational Trends Analysis Aggregate analyses that will help understand the personality trends that emerge from the data. This deliverable will Include one external benchmark and an interpretation of findings and recommendations for future use. Analysis will be conducted on the talent pool as a whole and does not include sub-group comparisons.

Optional Deliverable:

Option Period CLINs

Phase 2: Report Generation (No Customization / Off the Shelf + Desktop Reference) Leadership Forecast Series and Judgment Report

Phase 3: Feedback Group debrief sessions, three-hours, up to 50 participants.

Organizational Trends Analysis Aggregate analyses that will help understand the personality trends that emerge from the data. This deliverable will Include one external benchmark and an interpretation of findings and recommendations for future use. Analysis will be conducted on the talent pool as a whole and does not include sub-group comparisons.

Top 100 Executives Individual Feedback Sessions

· Following group debriefs

· Schedule one-on-one report reviews and development planning meetings with a Hogan Coach

· Each session is 60-minutes Not to Exceed 100

5. Place of Performance The Contractor will maintain and perform at Contractor location actions to support online data collection, analysis, and reporting of the personality assessment tool and raw data; including development of the alpha numeric codes for tool assignment.

The client (EUO) will manage and administer the alpha numeric codes to participants, receive and disseminate individual/group reports and raw data, and provide individual/group coaching of personality assessment tool results. Comment by Kauzlarich, Micah: Why are we saying “client”… it should be written from the point of where the services are required.. a simple.. at government or at contractor site is enough..

Certification of the client (EUO) to administer or coach the tool, as needed, to be performed by or through Contractor at a Contractor-designated location (non- Government site).All work shall be performed at the Contractor’s site.

6. PERIOD OF SERVICE:

One 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods.

The period of performance is to be determined at the time of award, inclusive of four 12-month Option Periods:

Base year (TBD) Comment by Kauzlarich, Micah: Why are we repeating the requirements or should this be above in the requirements section or should this be what the price schedule requires

a. alphanumeric codes, weblinks, and individual PDF reports for 550 participants

b. 3-4 Excel raw data cohort reports

c. 2 bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic PDF reports indicating organizational trends

d. optional re-scoring of 100 participant scores from general assessment scores to High Potential Leadership framework scores, and

e. 1 certification process

Option Year 1 (TBD)

a. alphanumeric codes, weblinks, and individual PDF reports for 550 participants

b. 3-4 Excel raw data cohort reports

c. 2 bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic PDF reports indicating organizational trends

d. optional re-scoring of 100 participant scores from general assessment scores to High Potential Leadership framework scores, and

e. 1 certification process (optional)

Option Year 2 (TBD)

a. alphanumeric codes, weblinks, and individual PDF reports for 550 participants

b. 3-4 Excel raw data cohort reports

c. 2 bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic PDF reports indicating organizational trends

d. optional re-scoring of 100 participant scores from general assessment scores to High Potential Leadership framework scores, and

e. 1 certification process (optional)

Option Year 3 (TBD)

a. alphanumeric codes, weblinks, and individual PDF reports for 550 participants

b. 3-4 Excel raw data cohort reports

c. 2 bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic PDF reports indicating organizational trends

d. optional re-scoring of 100 participant scores from general assessment scores to High Potential Leadership framework scores, and

e. 1 certification process (optional)

Option Year 4 (TBD)

a. alphanumeric codes, weblinks, and individual PDF reports for 550 participants

b. 3-4 Excel raw data cohort reports

c. 2 bi-annual cohort/group diagnostic PDF reports indicating organizational trends

d. optional re-scoring of 100 participant scores from general assessment scores to High Potential Leadership framework scores, and

e. 1 certification process (optional)

INFORMATION SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS:

The Assessment and Authorization (A&A) requirements do not apply and a Security Accreditation Package is not required All VA sensitive information shall be protected at all times in accordance with local security field office System Security Plans (SSP’s) and Authority to Operate (ATO)’s for all systems/LAN’s accessed while performing the tasks detailed in this Product Description.

a. A prohibition on unauthorized disclosure: “Information made available to the Contractor or Subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the Contractor/Subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA.” This clause expressly limits the Contractor/Subcontractor’s rights to use data as described in Rights in Data – General, FAR 52.227-14(d).(1).

b. A requirement for data breach notification: Upon discovery of any known or suspected security/privacy incidents, or any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including that contained in system(s) to which the Contractor/Subcontractor has access, the Contractor/Subcontractor shall immediately notify the COR and simultaneously, the designated ISO, and Privacy Officer for the contract. The term “security incident” means an event that has, or could have, resulted in unauthorized access to, loss or damage to VA assets, or sensitive information, or an action that breaches VA security procedures. See VA Handbook 6500.6, Appendix C, paragraph 6.a.

c. A requirement to pay liquidated damages in the event of a data breach: “In the event of a data breach or privacy incident involving SPI the contractor processes or maintains under this contract, the contractor shall be liable to VA for liquidated damages for a specified amount per affected individual to cover the cost of providing credit protection services to those individuals.” However, it is the policy of VA to forgo collection of liquidated damages in the event the Contractor provides payment of actual damages in an amount determined to be adequate by the agency.

Based on the determinations of the independent risk analysis, the Contractor shall be responsible for paying to VA liquidated damages in the amount of $37.50 per affected individual to cover the cost of providing credit protection services to affected individuals consisting of the following:

1) Notification;

2) One year of credit monitoring services consisting of automatic daily monitoring of at least 3 relevant credit bureau reports;

3) Data breach analysis;

4) Fraud resolution services, including writing dispute letters, initiating fraud alerts and credit freezes, to assist affected individuals to bring matters to resolution;

5) One year of identity theft insurance with $20,000.00 coverage at $0 deductible; and

6) Necessary legal expenses the subjects may incur to repair falsified or damaged credit records, histories, or financial affairs

d. A requirement for annual security/privacy awareness training: “Before being granted access to VA information or information systems, all Contractor employees and Subcontractor employees requiring such access shall complete on an annual basis either: (i) the VA security/privacy awareness training (contains VA security/privacy requirements) within 1 week of the initiation of the contract, or (ii) security awareness training provided or arranged by the contractor that conforms to VA’s security/privacy requirements as delineated in the hard copy of the VA security awareness training provided to the Contractor. If the Contractor provides their own training that conforms to VA’s requirements, they will provide the COR or CO, a yearly report (due annually on the date of the contract initiation) stating that all applicable employees involved in VA’s contract have received their annual security/privacy training that meets VA’s requirements and the total number of employees trained. See VA Handbook 6500.6, Appendix C, paragraph 9.

e. A requirement to sign VA’s Rules of Behavior: “Before being granted access to VA information or information systems, all Contractor employees and Subcontractor employees requiring such access shall sign on annual basis an acknowledgement that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by VA’s Contractor Rules of Behavior which is attached to this contract.” See VA Handbook 6500.6, Appendix C, paragraph 9, and Appendix D. Note: If a medical device vendor anticipates that the services under the contract will be performed by 10 or more individuals, the Contractor Rules of Behavior may be signed by the vendor’s designated representative. The contract must reflect by signing the Rules of Behavior on behalf of the vendor that the designated representative agrees to ensure that all such individuals review and understand the Contractor Rules of Behavior when accessing VA’s information and information systems.