STATEMENT OF WORK WORKFORCE3ONE Final.docx

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EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (ETA)

OFFICE OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT (OWI)

WORKFORCE3ONE MAINTAINCE AND SUPPORT

A.1 PURPOSE

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is awarding a BPA to assist ETA in providing consulting services in support of ETA's use of Workforce3One Web site. The contractor also would provide support for daily operations and overall customer support of the Web space.

This BPA will permit the continuation of on-going change management activities for the broader workforce investment system, such as messaging around the development and deployment of organizational self-assessments; promotion of strategic planning and implementation strategies through online learning events, virtual roundtables, and the exchange of innovative practices, among other methods.

A.2 BACKGROUND

Today's global economy requires innovative approaches to workforce and economic development that go beyond traditional strategies in preparing workers to compete and succeed. To respond to these challenges and the current economic downturn, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has launched a number of change initiatives aimed at transforming the workforce investment system. To aid in this change effort, ETA is seeking expertise to assist in advancing ETA's transformational efforts, particularly through guiding communications and capacity building activities through ETA's interactive knowledge sharing and learning platform –Workforce3One.

A.3 OBJECTIVES

Workforce3 One is an interactive communications and learning (Technical Assistance) platform designed to build the capacity of the workforce investment system to develop talent development strategies that enable dislocated workers and other customers to be successful in the 21st century economy. Funds will be used to share and disseminate strategic approaches and operational practices that further the workforce system's capacity to deliver effective services that transition dislocated workers to career paths in emerging and growing industries.

Workforce3One is one of the key strategies for ETA, serving as a communications mechanism to build awareness about current agency initiatives, a capacity building tool for educating the workforce system and providing an information-sharing platform for peer-to-peer learning. It also serves as a repository for all of the workforce solutions. Workforce3One is also the primary dissemination vehicle for distributing products and tools for adoption by community college and workforce organizations, and other key audiences.

A.4 SCOPE OF WORK

A.4.1 Blended E-Learning Strategy: Manage comprehensive learning strategy for the workforce investment system audience that features Web-based learning events (Webinars), asynchronous learning (pre-recorded events), broadcasts of interviews with experts (Podcasts), and the development of associated learning materials. The contractor would provide consulting services to manage all of the processes related with the development, production, and successful delivery of these activities.

1. As ETA relies more heavily on Web-based strategies to disseminate information and provide technical assistance and the audience popularity for them grows, the need for Webinars has increased from sporadic events to 8-10 weekly (up to 200 annually). Many topics also lend themselves to pre-recorded, packaged events that can be viewed at any time by the audience.

2. Capacity: Most technical assistance activities within the overall Strategy include Webinars as the primary delivery vehicle in the short term. To support the increased demand for Webinars, ETA needs the ability to host concurrent scheduling events.

3. Enhanced Quality: ETA would like to improve the quality of its online events through the use of instructional design and full use of the Webinar platform features to increase the interactive nature of the events. Funds would be used to obtain instructional design support and guidance for ETA staff on how to use the features of the Webinar platform.

A.4.2 Presentation of Content: Provide expert advice and assistance in generating and featuring dynamic content that supports continued transformation of the workforce investment system.

1. Working with ETA staff on generating content on a weekly basis that features innovative approaches, products, and tools, through the development of Innovation in Action articles monthly and other ways.

2. Providing staff for the content management function. The content management function will manage the intake, processing, approval, and posting of all content.

3. The Workforce3One site currently makes a vast array of content accessible through a keyword search. As content is developed, it will need to be organized and presented in a way that makes it easy to locate, such as through the creation of "super categories" e.g. Workforce Information, Asset Mapping, Entrepreneurship, etc. The contractor could also conduct resource mapping to identify existing content objects on the site that may relate to the additional technical assistance materials. For example, as new items are produced on Asset Mapping, the existing materials that are related and relevant could be featured so that an individual would have access to the comprehensive resources available on the site.

A.4.3 Robust Workforce Solutions: Guide efforts to advance the transformation of the workforce system through the adoption of models and the use of tools and workforce solutions developed by ETA's grantees.

1. Develop innovative ways to feature the workforce solutions developed through ETA's grantees through the Web space;

2. Produce monthly e-newsletters (12 annually) with input from ETA with the focus of them to promote content on the site.

3. Prepare promotional materials for conference presentations, production of video-based content, and production and reproduction of videos, CD-Rom and other materials and products as requested.

4. Expand on existing database with the use of more interactive features. For example, Workforce3One could offer the capacity for those interested to create a template that could include such items as the following:

a. the overall grant/project description; listing of partners;

b. a downloadable Pod cast describing the approach and the partnership;

c. links to any Webinars ETA has done featuring the grantee;

d. a photo album that could include pictures of partners, events, or of individuals getting service;

e. the ability to upload short videos;

f. a "results/outcomes" section that includes both hard results and success stories;

g. links to partner sites or the grantee's site; and, of course, the products.

A.4.4 Communities of Practice-Interactive Networking: A major technical assistance strategy for ETA is the facilitation of peer-to-peer learning. To facilitate peer-to-peer learning, ETA has in the past brought individuals together through face-to-face events. With current budget constraints and the increased reliance on technology, ETA can facilitate virtual peer learning through the use of Workforce3 One. The contractor would design and develop virtual communities of practice, providing expertise on designing, launching and nurturing communities to share information and connect electronically.

1. The contractor will continuously survey social media industry practices then recommend how to improve the functionality and usability of the new and existing Communities of Practice (CoPs). At the direction of the COR, the contractor will identify and develop content in the form of blogs, discussion threads and resources to post on the various CoPs.

2. The contractor would provide consultative services to the CoP managers improving the use and experience of the CoP for the workforce system.

3. At the direction of the COR, the contractor will implement design improvements related to existing CoPs. The design changes will improve functionality, navigation, and usability of the site to promote and facilitate peer-to-peer interaction among the members of the community and retrieval of resources.

4. Contractor will provide analytical tools for managers to self-monitor the usage of their CoPs

a. Contractor shall train CoP managers on the use of the tool.

b. Contractor will design standard reports for managers to utilize for the management of their CoP.

5. Production of quarterly trend analyses capturing data elements to evaluate the use of the across all CoPs.

6. Production of guides and resources (Virtual and non-virtual) to support the use of the CoPs.

7. Creation of new Communities of Practices under the discretion of the COR.

a. Contractor will provide technical assistance in the design, launch and maintenance of Community(s) of Practice.

b. Contractor will schedule a one-hour design meeting for every new Community of Practice. The one- hour design meeting will provide an overview of all the design options available including an explanation and review of the Web 2.0 tools available including Wiki, Blog, Discussion, RSS Feed, etc.

c. Contractor will provide at minimum a one-hour tutorial accompanied with hand-outs, and resources on how to manage a community of practice including uploading content; understanding all functions of the console; and roles and responsibilities of Contractor, Manager and blogger of a Community.

A.4.6 Other sites: -There is a need for creation of pages that offer a compilation of resources for a specific topic (On-Line Toolkits) or an event. Under the direction of the COR new sites will be created and maintained to support these requests.

A.4.7 Design Changes - The on-line learning platform will require periodic design changes to improve the functionality of the site and increase compliance with Department of Labor On-Line Security Protocols. The contractor shall implement the necessary changes, under the direction of the COR.

A.4.8 Technical Support and Maintenance – The contractor will maintain the necessary licenses and services to support Workforce3One and its sister sites. In addition, the contractor will recommend improvement to the COR for better functionality and usability of the overall site and its sister sites.

A.4.9 Transition Support – If a successor to Workforce3One.org is developed and implemented within the period of performance of the contract, the contractor shall maintain and support Workforce3One.org throughout the transition process.

A.4.10 Migration of data - If a successor to Workforce3One.org is developed and implemented within the period of performance of the contract, the contractor shall work with the new contractor to migrate content from Workforce3One.org to the new site. This would include scrubbing of content, conversion of content and transfer of content in the requested format.

A.4.11 Metrics report – Contractor shall work with COR to identify and produce weekly, monthly and quarterly reports of the use of the site.

A.5 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this Blanket Purchase Agreement will be 60 months from date of BPA award.

A.6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance is at the discretion of the contractor.

A.7 DELIVERABLES

The contractor may be required to provide the following deliverables:

A.7.1 A technical plan for implementation of all project tasks.

A. 7.2 Quarterly reports detailing the progress of all contractual activities.

A. 7.3 Monthly e-newsletters to promote content.

A. 7.4 Production of pre-recorded asynchronous learning sessions.

A. 7.5 Monthly and quarterly metric usage reports

A.8 ACCEPTANCE OF DELIVERABLES

The Government shall accept or reject the deliverable by giving written notice. In the event of rejection of any deliverable, the COR, giving the specific reason(s) for the rejection shall notify the Contractor in writing. The Contractor shall correct the rejected deliverable and return it to the COR within a number of days specified in the written notice by the COR.

A.9 DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL

Upon termination or completion of all work under this Blanket Purchase Agreement, the Contractor shall prepare for shipment, deliver FOB destination, or dispose of all materials received from the Government and all residual materials produced in connection with the performance of this Blanket Purchase Agreement as may be directed by Contracting Officer, or as specified in other provisions of this Blanket Purchase Agreement. All materials produced or required to be delivered under this Blanket Purchase Agreement become and remain the property of the Government.