OJC_OA__CTS_Support_RFQ_Final.pdf

OJC Admissions and Career Transition Support DOL-ETA-15-Q-00006

Date: April 30, 2015

To: GSA Schedule 874 (Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS))

Schedule Holders under the NAICS Code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services)

From: Department of Labor /Employment and Training Administration (DOL /ETA)

Subject: Request for Quote – GSA Schedule task order – Office of Job Corps (OJC)

Admission and Career Transition Support (RFQ #: DOL-ETA-15-Q-00006)

DOL /ETA is issuing this Request for Quote (RFQ) on behalf of the OJC to solicit GSA

Schedule 874 Federal Supply Schedule holders via a task order under existing GSA schedule contracts. The requirement is for a contractor to provide Admission and Career Transition

Support to OJC, as described further in the Statement of Work (SOW) provided in this RFQ.

If you are interested in competing for this effort, you may participate by submitting your quotation in accordance with the procedures in this RFQ. Please note that this procurement is a

Small Business set-aside under NAICS 541611, size standard $15 Million.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

B Supplies or Services and Prices …………………………………………………. 3

B.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 3

B.2 Price Schedule ……………………………………………………………………. 7

C Requirements /Statement of Work /Procedures ……………………….....…

C.1 Ordering Procedures ……………………………………………………..……… 10

C.2 Requirements ………………………………………………………………....…... 10

C.2.1 Tasks ………………….………………………………………………..….. 10

C.2.2 Deliverables ……………………………………………………………….. 17

C.3 Performance ………………………………………………………………………. 21

C.4 Task Order Administration ……………………………………………………... 24

C.5 Contract Clauses ………………………………………………………………

D Request For Quote ……………………………………………………………...… 28

D.1 Instructions To Offerors …..…………………………………………………..…. 28

D.2 Proposal Submission Deadline …………………………………………………… 34

D.3 Late Submission, Modifications and Withdrawls of Offers ……………………. 34

D.4 Request For Clarification ………………………………………………………… 35

D.5 Evaluation Factors For Award …………………………………………………… 36

D.5.1 Method of Award ………………………………………………………….. 36

D.5.2 Evaluation Criteria ………………………………………………………... 36

D.5.3 Basis for Award (Best Value) …………………………………………….. 36

ATTACHMENT A: Past Performance Questionnaire ………………………………… 38

ATTACHMENT B: CPAR Rating Definitions …...……………………………………. 40

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

B.1 INTRODUCTION

B.1.1 Purpose

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, provides comprehensive career technical training (CTT), academic, social skills training, and job placement and transition services in a residential campus environment for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24. Job Corps centers are located in 125 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. The goal of the Job Corps program is to provide its students with opportunities for entry into career pathways and economic self-sufficiency.

The services offered to students through the Job Corps program are comprised of four Career Development

Services System (CDSS) components: Outreach and Admissions (OA), Career Preparation Period (CPP), Career Development Period (CDP), and Career Transition Services (CTS). The Outreach, Admissions, Residential Living, and Career Transition Services Unit (OA/Res/CTS) within the Job Corps National Office is responsible for the administration of two of these CDSS components: OA and CTS (including job placement services). In addition, OA/Res/CTS provides support for residential living, national partnerships, and customer service -- all of which have direct bearing on the implementation and success of CDSS.

The contractor selected for this effort shall provide technical assistance and support to the Job Corps National

Office as it leads admissions and enrollment, transition and placement services, and other program components within the assigned unit and within the Division of Educational Services. The contractor shall provide requisite research, analyses, and evaluations to render insightful, robust, and forward-thinking recommendations for system-wide advancements in all of the above areas, including the development of informal surveys, test environments, pilot programs, assessments, protocols, and workgroup support. These efforts will assist the Job

Corps National Office in embarking on improvements and reforms by developing reports, analysis, tools, data, information, and expert resources and recommendations related to the following:

Admissions, Enrollment, and On-Board Strength (OBS) Analysis. How Job Corps connects with and enrolls eligible youth, and how Job Corps receives and retains students based on effective admissions practices, is key to program reform and success. Job Corps is moving to a modernized admissions model that incorporates new regulations and requirements, optimizes available technology, utilizes highly trained admissions counselors, is more flexible, matches slot vacancy to customer demand, and comprehensively monitors and fulfills enrollments as needed based on on-board strength (OBS).

Customer Service Analysis and Support. U.S. Department of Labor leadership has placed an increased emphasis on customer service. How Job Corps interacts with its customers and constituents both on-and off-center is crucial to student satisfaction and constituent relations and helps to maintain the public trust. Job Corps intends to optimize available technology to improve overall customer service.

Partnerships. Partnerships with employers, industry groups, apprenticeship organizations, community colleges, other educational institutions, and support organizations must be strengthened and sustained into the future to expand and improve opportunities for Job Corps graduates.

CTS. As the most important outcomes for Job Corps students, acquiring employment, ongoing education, and apprenticeship placements are being strengthened. This includes stronger supports for students as they transition away from Job Corps and into the next step along their career pathway. This also includes placement into employment that offers “liveable wages” and is supported by strong employer partnerships.

Residential Living. The residential aspect of Job Corps is its defining characteristic among federally funded job skills training programs for at-risk youth. Job Corps is moving to a substantially enhanced residential model.

The contractor will work closely with the Job Corps National Office and will be expected to work with other contractors, as appropriate, throughout the life of the contract.

In undertaking the tasks for this contract, the contractor shall always consider the needs of the Job Corps' student population, national and regional economic outlooks, Job Corps policy, administration priorities, and other resources made available through federal and state governments as well as other national and local resources.

B.1.2 BACKGROUND

Job Corps is the nation's largest residential educational and career training program for youth ages 16 through

24. Each year the program serves approximately 60,000 young men and women at 125 centers across the country and in Puerto Rico. The program operates year-round on a 24-hour basis. Established in 1964, Job

Corps is currently authorized under Title I-C of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, and is administered by the Job Corps National Office with oversight of Job Corps centers conducted primarily through its federal regional offices located in: Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia;

Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; and San Francisco, California.

Job Corps’ primary mission is to provide young adults with the tools necessary to attain meaningful jobs that lead to career growth. CDSS is Job Corps’ comprehensive and integrated approach to providing students with the training, guidance, and support that will lead to long-term employment, earnings growth, and continued educational attainment.

While other units within the Job Corps National Office have specific oversight of academics, program performance, and career technical training, it is the primary mission of the OA/Res/CTS unit to ensure the delivery of an efficient and effective continuum of student services from outreach and admissions, to residential services, all the way to career placement, and to help to ensure that a standards-based program leading to entry into career pathways that lead to economic self-sufficiency are well supported. The unit accomplishes this mission by administering a fluid process in which all components of student services collaborate.

Since the re-establishment of the OA/Res/CTS unit in 2014, Job Corps National Office federal staff has been building capacity and infrastructure to effectively administer the multiple components for which it is responsible. The contractor shall support the activities of the unit by assisting federal staff in:

Streamlining and improving the student admissions and enrollment strategy and incorporating new policy, regulations, technology, and other requirements;

Developing recommendations for implementation of new assessment and advising tools and training to support enhanced admissions protocols;

Developing recommendations for implementing new processes, protocols, tools, and training for placement, career transition, and other staff as needed;

Aggregating, storing, analyzing, and synthesizing data from the Job Corps community and workforce system to inform policy formulation and dissemination;

Developing proposed systems and protocols for strengthening customer service;

Optimizing career pathway opportunities for enrollees;

Supporting the development of productive and effective partnerships, including employer, industry, education, apprenticeship, transition services, and support organizations; and

Developing recommendations for programs to enhance learning and enrichment opportunities for students throughout their Job Corps experience.

B.1.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Activities under this five-year contract are designed to support the implementation of a modernized Job Corps admissions system and enhance student placements in employment, apprenticeship, and post-secondary education. These activities will help to ensure that Job Corps is administering a relevant, efficient, and successful national program with limited federal resources. Contract tasks and activities will be focused on the following:

a. Pre-Enrollment Assessments

Identify and test appropriate assessments for reading, math, and personal interest, to gauge program readiness and to assist prospective students to identify an appropriate career pathway.

Conduct cost/benefit analyses of use of pre-enrollment assessments.

Develop implementation planning/recommendations for expansion of pre-enrollment assessments.

Develop evaluation and continuous improvement tools.

b. Enrollment and OBS Analysis

Conduct evaluation and analysis pertaining to the effectiveness of strategies used to achieve student enrollments, provide ongoing OBS analysis, identify issues and trends, and make corresponding recommendations

Monitor the continuum of services, starting with calls made by interested youth to the Job Corps toll-free telephone number and online initial applications, through admissions and enrollment, program participation, and transitioning from the Job Corps program and beyond into the post-enrollment services and reporting period

Conduct analysis and make recommendations to improve overall effectiveness, efficiency, and program optimization

Provide recommendations to support modernization of the admissions process, particularly through the use of available technology and restructuring of assignment protocols

c. Customer Service Analysis and Support

Strengthen protocols for problem resolution, issue escalation, and reporting as related to admissions, career transition, placement, and post-placement services

Conduct analysis to identify high-volume or chronic problems

Develop recommendations for operational and system enhancements to improve applicant and student outcomes as related to enrollment, transition services, placement, and post-placement services

Develop strategies for ongoing improvement, implementation, and use of information gained from the Student Satisfaction Survey

Develop recommendations and provide support for a structured feedback system for employers and other organizations with which Job Corps graduates have been placed

d. Transition Services and Placement

Develop recommendations for improved transition services, pre- and post-program completion

Collect data from, and conduct analysis of, CTS/placement audits, provide recommendations for improvements, and develop monitoring systems/protocols to help ensure a high level of data integrity

Review existing policy to identify conflicting or confusing guidance; make recommendations for corrections to ensure uniformity, clarify, and consistency; and help to ensure that guidance is aligned with the program’s current goals and objectives

e. Partnerships

Continually identify feasible partnership opportunities to expand employment, community college, apprenticeship, and student support services

Develop an internal, five-year strategic plan for strengthening and expanding partnerships based on WIOA requirements and national priorities

Develop a proposed approach and framework for partnership development with each prospective partner and facilitate planning for initial meetings

Monitor and report on progress and activities related to developing and ongoing national partnerships

B.2 PRICE SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall perform this effort on a labor-hour basis, at prices stated in this section (Section B.2):

Base Year

DIRECT LABOR CATEGORY

Estimated

Hours

Discounted GSA Schedule

Rate Total Amount

Project Manager 250

Senior Policy and Program Specialist 350

Policy and Program Specialist 2,000

Senior Technologist 250

Technologist I 750

Project Assistant 1,750

Consultant /SME 500

Total Labor 5,850

ODC (not to exceed) $ 5,000.00

Travel (not to exceed) $ 15,000.00

Training (not to exceed) $ 10,000.00

Base Year Ceiling

Option Year One

Estimated

Hours

Discounted GSA Schedule

Rate Total Amount

Project Manager 250

Senior Policy and Program Specialist 350

Policy and Program Specialist 2,000

Senior Technologist 250

Technologist I 750

Option Year One Ceiling

Option Year Two

Estimated

Hours

Discounted GSA Schedule

Rate Total Amount

Project Manager 250

Senior Policy and Program Specialist 350

Policy and Program Specialist 2,000

Senior Technologist 250

Technologist I 750

Option Year Two Ceiling

Option Year Three

Estimated

Hours

Discounted GSA Schedule

Rate Total Amount

Project Manager 250

Senior Policy and Program Specialist 350

Policy and Program Specialist 2,000

Senior Technologist 250

Technologist I 750

Option Year Three Ceiling

Option Year Four

Estimated

Hours

Discounted GSA Schedule

Rate Total Amount

Project Manager 250

Senior Policy and Program Specialist 350

Policy and Program Specialist 2,000

Senior Technologist 250

Technologist I 750

Option Year Four Ceiling

Total Ceiling for all 5 Years $

C REQUIREMENTS / STATEMENT OF WORK / PROCEDURES

C.1 ORDERING PROCEDURES

In accordance with FAR 8.405-2, DOL/ETA will award a task order with Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) / GSA

Schedule 874 (MOBIS) schedule holders under the NAICS Code 541611 (Administrative Management and

General Management Consulting Services). The Government anticipates awarding this Task Order of the

Time-and-Material type under the offeror’s GSA Schedule 874 (MOBIS) contract.

C.2 REQUIREMENTS

C.2.1 TASKS

C.2.1.1 Task 1: PRE-ENROLLMENT ASSESSMENTS Job Corps is implementing a standards-based education, training, and employment system. This system is designed to lead students to entry into career pathways that provide live-able wages and economic self-sufficiency in a knowledge-based economy. To accomplish this, Job Corps must “raise the bar” to ensure that program participants graduate with the requisite skills needed for credentials that are recognized by employers and that enable them to pursue ongoing education. To start out on a solid footing, participants must receive sufficient career counseling and assessments. This also “raises the bar” for pre-enrollment activities, requiring greater breadth and depth of services during the admissions phase.

Contract

Year

Month

Ending

Deliverable

Base

August

Identify the most appropriate, evidence-based pre-enrollment assessments for reading, writing, mathematics, personal interest, and program readiness and provide recommendations to the Job Corps federal manager in a detailed Pre-Enrollment Assessments report

Base +

Option

Years

On-going Maintain assessment use data in a database that contains both quantitative and qualitative information and provide regular and ad-hoc reports to support ongoing implementation

On-going

Identify or develop appropriate tools to aid admissions counselors to map pre-enrollment assessment results to industry sectors and Job Corps career training programs.

Research, identity, and develop tools to aid admissions counselors to provide resources and services for

Option

Years

On-going applicants who may be better assisted at time of service by other supports or services (other than Job Corps)

Years

On-going Make recommendations for reports, tools, and technologies that may be needed to implement and monitor use and effectiveness of pre-enrollment activities.

C.2.1.2 Task 2: OUTREACH, ADMISSIONS, ENROLLMENT, AND OBS ANALYSIS

Job Corps employs strategies to reach and enroll new students who fit a defined set of eligibility criteria. In order to reach the largest pool of eligible candidates, Job Corps must efficiently allocate very limited resources. The contractor shall support evaluation and analysis, pertaining to the effectiveness of strategies used to achieve student enrollments (along with OBS analysis), identify issues and trends, and make corresponding recommendations. The contractor shall assess and monitor the continuum of services that begins with outreach, continues through admissions and enrollment, program participation, and through preparation for program completion and post-center services

(CTS). The contractor shall monitor OBS at each Job Corps center and provide information on data trends, demographics, and other factors that influence OBS, and make appropriate recommendations for measures to maintain full OBS system-wide and in accordance with WIOA requirements. The contractor also shall conduct research and make recommendations for the implementation of a national background check protocol for all Job Corps applicants and evaluate effectiveness.

The contractor shall complete the following deliverables within the time periods specified below:

Month

October

Assist the Job Corps National Office to identify an implementation protocol for National Background Checks for all program applicants detailed in an Outreach, Admissions, Enrollment, and OBS Analysis Report

On-going Maintain information in a database that reflects the continuum of numbers of interested applicants, numbers of applications initiated, numbers of applications completed, and numbers of actual enrollments by OA contractor and relative to OBS for the corresponding Job

Corps center/centers, to support management analysis, resource allocation, and corrective actions

Years

October

2014 and

On-going

Research, identify, recommend, and assist the Job Corps

National Office in implementing policy and training related to Outreach, Admissions, and conducting OBS

Analysis and corrective actions

On-going Execute feasibility studies and empirical reviews of Job

Corps National Office workgroup recommendations for policy updates and demonstration projects

Base +

Option

Years

On-going Maintain listing of new reports needed, recommended changes to existing reports, and recommend overall tracking design.

C.2.1.3 Task 3: CUSTOMER SERVICE ANALYSIS AND SUPPORT

U.S. Department of Labor leadership has placed an increased emphasis on customer service. How Job

Corps interacts with and serves its constituents is crucial to the continued success of the program. The contractor shall provide support related to problem resolution and issue escalation, particularly as related to admissions, residential living, career transition services, and placement services; data collection, reporting, and analysis; and correlation with Job Corps’ risk assessment systems and early warning assessments, as needed. Substantial knowledge and expertise related to the appropriate handling of sensitive items and information, to include applying appropriate protocols and levels of discretion for communicating to all constituents, staff, and officials shall be consistently applied. The contractor shall also support the development of recommendations for additional system enhancements to improve customer service and responsiveness to constituents.

Month

Years.

Base

Assist Federal staff in the tracking and response monitoring as related to customer/ constituent issues received by the unit

Assist Federal staff in the monitoring of

SafetyNet Calls and the toll-free customer service hotline.

On-going Assist the Job Corps National Office in the development of program guidance as related to constituent issues

On-going Maintain information in a database that contains constituent issues and perform regular reviews and analysis for reporting to federal management

On-going Research, identify, recommend, and assist the Job

Corps National Office in implementing policy and

Years practices related to Customer Service

On-going Execute feasibility studies and empirical reviews of Job Corps National Office workgroup recommendations for policy updates

C.2.1.4 Task 4: CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES (CTS)

As Job Corps students approach the completion of their Job Corps career technical training and education program(s), it is critical that they be afforded every opportunity to seamlessly enter the workforce to become self-sufficient. To provide the best possible CTS, the contractor shall support

Job Corps to deliver of the most effective services that will result in employment, continued post-secondary education, or apprenticeship. Support for independent living such as housing, transportation, health care, and child care must be addressed by the contractor as part of services provided and recorded appropriately in case notes. Records and reports must be completed accurately and submitted in accordance with Job Corps policy. The contractor shall support the enhancement and implementation of improved CTS by conducting analysis and evaluation of transition services, placements, documentation, student surveys, on-site visits, and providing training and technical assistance to Federal staff.

Month

Nov.

Develop a framework and detailed in a CTS Report for a comprehensive system to track and monitor delivery of

CTS and Placement services

Base +

On-going Assist the Job Corps National Office in the development and implementation of program policy and guidance.

On-going Maintain information in a database that contains current and relevant operator and performance data related to

Placement and Career Transition Services.

Years

On-going Perform periodic reviews and analysis of data owned by the U.S. Department of Labor, to include Job Corps regional reviews, audit reports, placement verification data, and other supportive information.

Base + On-going Execute feasibility studies and empirical reviews of Job

Corps National Office workgroup recommendations for policy updates.

D.2.1.5 Task 5: NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

To be effective stewards of limited public resources, Job Corps must engage with its partners to develop and provide services and position students for transitions to into career pathways. The contractor shall support the National and Regional Offices of Job Corps to build and optimize national partnership activities that robustly support student success by identifying partnership opportunities and making recommendations for strategic implementation. These partnerships may exist across multiple layers (federal/private/ community-based) and may hold opportunities for students to develop skills, for example, projects that develop job skills and also include community-based learning. Of highest priority are partnerships with community colleges, apprenticeship programs, American Job Centers

(AJCs) – formerly known as “One-Stops” – and vocational rehabilitation organizations. The contractor will work cooperatively with other Job Corps and DOL/ETA federal offices to help facilitate partnership development.

Month

Dec.

Develop a draft internal five-year strategic plan for expanding national partnerships

On-going Assist the Job Corps National Office in the development of program guidance and training, meeting facilitation, and related supports

Dec.

Monitor progress of partnerships and provide regular reports to support ongoing development, sustainment, and/or expansion

Update internal five-year strategic plan for expanding national partnerships

D.2.1.6 Task 6: MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACT WORK AND COMMUNICATIONS

The contractor shall schedule and facilitate the work and communicate progress to the Job Corps

National Office and to the Job Corps community as requested. The contractor shall also work cooperatively with other support contractors as appropriate.

The contractor shall:

A. Provide an annual work plan, incorporating all tasks and deliverables, and reflecting anticipated sub-tasks and timeframes, to assure the work will be completed within expected timelines and will address required outcomes. The work plan will be informed by existing Job

Corps’ policies and program guidance.

B. Participate in Job Corps’ Federal Management Team and other Job Corps meetings, on an as-needed basis to communicate progress of contract activities.

C. Contribute information and content to publications and/or presentations at conferences, training sessions and/or meetings on Job Corps outreach/admissions, residential, and career transition services activities.

D. Provide input into projects that overlap or require assistance with the Career Technical

Training and Academic Units, as appropriate.

Month

Years

First

Month

A Comprehensive annual work plan, delivered to the Job

Corps National Office for review and approval. The annual work plan will include all tasks and deliverables under the SOW, with a list of anticipated sub-tasks and timeframes for completion.

Years

Monthly Monthly progress reports due by the 15 th of the following calendar month and an end-of-year report and presentation to document contract accomplishments.

Monthly reports will track and report on progress as related to the annual work plan and will include accomplishments, highlights, challenges, and unforeseen issues and/or deviations.

Years

On-going Participate in Job Corps Federal Manager’s Meetings and other meetings, as requested.

Years

On-going Contribute and review content for publications and presentations, as requested.

D.2.1.7 Task 7: PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR WORKGROUPS AND MEETINGS

The contractor shall provide support for workgroups, meetings, Webinars and conferences related to the tasks described above. As needed, the contractor shall:

A. Develop logistical arrangements to support meetings.

B. Support the procurement of all necessary support, facilitation, logistics and materials for meetings.

Month

Ending

Deliverable

Base +

Option

Years

On-going Develop and deliver content for training

Webinars, meetings, conference calls and/or conferences and other events as needed.

Provide planning and logistical support for a feedback session during a multi-day Job Corps conference. Organize and support additional meetings and conference calls, as needed.

D.2.1.8 Task 8: COLLABORATE WITH OTHER JOB CORPS NATIONAL OFFICE

SUPPORT CONTRACTORS, JOB CORPS NATIONAL OFFICE DIVISIONS

AND ETA OFFICES

The contractor shall work cooperatively with other Job Corps National Office Support Contractors, National Office Divisions and other ETA Offices, as needed, to ensure coordination of activities, mutual support and communication with the Job Corps community. The contractor shall:

A. Participate as an active member of all appropriate Job Corps’ program development workgroups.

B. Participate in Job Corps’ Federal Management Team meetings, on an as-needed basis to communicate progress of contract activities.

C. Contribute information and content to publications and/or presentations at conferences, training sessions and/or meetings, as appropriate.

Month

Ending

Deliverable

Base +

Option

Years

On-going

Participate in Federal Manager’s Meetings as requested.

Base +

Option

Years

On-going

Provide content for publications, and presentations as requested.

C.2.2 DELIVERABLES

Please see Section C.2.1 – Tasks for Deliverable requirements.

C.2.2.1 ACCEPTANCE OF DELIVERABLES

The Government will 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 within five working days of receipt of deliverable. The Contractor shall correct the rejected deliverable and return it to the COR within five working days, or a number of days specified in the written notice by the COR.

C.2.2.2 SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE

Final deliverables must meet the following criteria: (1) comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for all deliverables that will be posted on the ETA Web site or affiliate sites; and (2) Monthly Report of Activities;

Section 508 Compliance. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1998 by Public Law 105-

220 (the Workforce Investment Act), applies to Federal departments and agencies. Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Electronic and Information Technology (EIT), they shall ensure that this technology allows Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that by Federal employees and members of the public who are not individuals with disabilities. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, computers, printers, software applications, telecommunications products [such as telephones], information kiosks and transaction machines, Internet/Intranet sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as copiers and fax machines.

In order to meet section 508 accessibility requirements, the Contractor shall provide summary narrative text description or a data table describing each complex graphic (e.g., pie graphs, line graphs, maps, bar graphs, flow charts) in a separate Word/Excel document. Label each figure or graphic with a title and corresponding page number. Additional information about accessibility standards related to section 508 may be found at http://www.webaim.org/standards/508/checklist. The document provides the actual standard along with the most widely accepted interpretation for each standard of the Section 508 Web

Guidelines.” Also, to create accessible pdf files, visit http://www.section508.gov/docs/pdfguidanceforgovernment.pdf

Unless the COR specifies differently, two digital copies of any report over 25 pages shall be delivered in media readable by Windows-based programs. Specifically, two copies should be delivered: one copy shall be formatted in Microsoft Word and the second shall be in the Portable Document Format (PDF). Color and/or black & white PDFs are acceptable. Do not submit reports in HTML.

C.2.3 KEY PERSONNEL

Successful performance of the proposed work depends heavily on the qualifications of the individuals committed to this project, and the adequacy of the time commitment for each individual in relation to the specific tasks that they will perform. The Contractor must provide the necessary personnel to accomplish each task listed in the statement of work.

http://www.webaim.org/standards/508/checklist http://www.section508.gov/docs/pdfguidanceforgovernment.pdf

The contractor shall select personnel from the labor categories in their GSA contract that the offeror deem appropriate for this effort. The key personnel positions for this task order are:

Project Manager

Sr. Policy & Program Specialist

Policy & Program Specialist

Sr. Technologist

The contractor must be able to provide each professional personnel, including employees, contractors or contingency hires (defined as person not currently employed but who have executed a binding letter for commitment for employment with the offeror, if the offeror receives award under this solicitation).

Key personnel cannot be changed without notification to the task order COR at least 14 calendar days in advance with a proposed replacement that includes comparable education and experience and all necessary information for the Government to make a proper determination.

C.2.3.1 PERSONNEL POSITION REQUIREMENTS (Key and Non-Key)

The contractor shall be required to provide the necessary personnel to accomplish each task listed in Section

C.2.1. Minimum time commitment for key personnel must meet the number of hours specified in Section

B.2 PRICE SCHEDULE. The key and non-key personnel position requirements are:

A. Project Manager: minimum of 10 years’ experience in policy development, managing staff and coordinating resources of projects of similar size and scope; preferably a certified project manager. Knowledge of workforce system policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials required. The Project Manager shall also have demonstrated knowledge of Job Corps policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials. The project manager will be responsible for strategic planning; oversight of proper data collection, manipulation, analysis, and storage of data owned by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Project Manager will provide planning, direction, and evaluation of the overall project; will ensure the project’s financial and programmatic success; and will serve as liaison with the Office of Job Corps' Contracting

Officer Representative. The Project Manager shall have demonstrated ability to produce written materials of the highest quality which require minimal grammatical and content editing.

B. Senior Policy and Program Specialist: minimum of 5 years’ experience in assisting federal officials in designing, developing, and implementing policies and program components, including: strategic planning, evaluation frameworks, policy and guidance structures, and information dissemination and field training strategies. Knowledge of workforce system policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials required. The Senior Policy and Program

Specialist shall have demonstrated ability to produce written materials of the highest quality which require minimal grammatical and content editing.

C. Policy and Program Specialist: minimum of 3 years’ experience in assisting federal officials in designing, developing, and implementing policies and program components, including:

strategic planning, evaluation frameworks, policy and guidance structures, and information dissemination and field training strategies. Knowledge of workforce system policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials required. The Policy and Program Specialists shall have demonstrated ability to produce written materials of the highest quality which require minimal grammatical and content editing.

D. Senior Technologist: minimum of 5 years’ experience in program development and information systems that support the development, implementation, and maintenance of government programs. Knowledge of workforce system policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials required and proven success for correlating complex data to develop and support recommendations. The Senior Technologist will also be responsible for coordination with Job Corps Data Center personnel.

E. Technologist: minimum of 3 years’ experience in data collection, manipulation, analysis, and storage via several mainstream data software tools, especially Microsoft Excel; software/web design and development for projects of similar size and scope. Knowledge of workforce system policy, procedures, and technical guidance materials required.

F. Project Assistant: minimum of 3 years’ experience in providing administrative support to projects of similar size and scope. The project assistant will be responsible for maintaining all project files, providing logistical support for meetings/workgroups (including assembling and disseminating agendas and materials), and providing web support tasks. This individual shall demonstrate skills in professional communications (verbal and written), logistical planning, and implementation and problem-solving. The Project Assistant shall have demonstrated ability to produce written materials of the highest quality which require minimal grammatical and format editing.

G. Consultant /Subject Matter Expert (SME): minimum of 10 years of experience with supporting federal management IT systems or system enhancements. The Consultant/SME will possess expert-level experience and knowledge in developing IT systems to support federal program management. This expertise will consist of extensive knowledge and abilities related to software programming and development, currently available and compatible off-the-shelf systems, network interfacing, federal IT security requirements, and related areas.

C.2.4 CONTRACTOR CAPABILITIES

The contractor shall provide qualified personnel, services, equipment, facilities and supplies to perform the above tasks as defined in Section C.2.1. At a minimum, the contractor will provide the following infrastructure and staffing capabilities.

The contractor shall provide sufficient infrastructure, management capacity and staffing to:

ensure continuity in quality of services to carry out the requirements of the contract in the event of contractor staffing changes;

coordinate support for a wide variety of admission/enrollment, transition services, placement, customer service, and national partnership activities simultaneously;

identify, recommend, and assist the Job Corps National Office in implementing the use of tools and technology to enhance service delivery;

produce and distribute written materials and oral deliverables including: reports, data synthesis and analysis, identification of trends, recommendations, policy directives, training, webinars, and other documents and products;

supply technological capability to create, maintain, and manipulate electronic databases, contribute content to existing Job Corps Web sites; and provide logistical support for conferences, meetings and training sessions.

The contractor shall provide staff members whose collective demonstrated knowledge and experience will contribute to the successful accomplishment of the tasks defined in Section C.2.1. This demonstrated knowledge and experience includes, but is not limited to the following:

project management, research, data analysis, database management, group facilitation, strategic planning and continuous quality improvement;

development and implementation of comprehensive education, career training, and support services programs, and partnerships that support delivery of those services;

evaluation of support systems for career technical training and employment programs, including:

outreach, readiness assessments, career counseling, admissions, workplace experience for students, and career placement systems and supports;

demonstrated expertise with evidence-based youth development practices and programs;

demonstrated expertise with employer and industry associations, and employment and training programs, such as those supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

demonstrated expertise with use of information management systems;

expertise in writing and editing documents and publications;

ability to develop and sustain formal and informal partnerships; and ability to immediately respond to ad hoc requests from all levels of U.S. Department of Labor leadership.

C.3 PERFORMANCE

C.3.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this GSA task order award is one (1) year from the date of execution, plus four

(4) 1-year options to be exercised at the Government’s discretion.

C.3.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

A core group of staff shall physically perform their duties within the metropolitan Washington, D.C. commuting area. The Project Manager shall be based in the Washington DC area. While this contract may not require personnel to be based at the U.S. Department of Labor, all contractor staff shall be able to physically attend regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings at the U.S. Department of Labor or other designated sites within the

Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Staff travel funds will be limited to those identified in the contract.

C.3.3 DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL

Upon termination or completion of all work under this task order, 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 contract as may be directed by Contracting Officer, or as specified in other provisions of this contract. All materials produced or required to be delivered under this contract become and remain the property of the Government.

C.3.4 TRAVEL

All travel will be in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). More information may be found at:

www.gsa.gov/federaltravelregulation . (Please also see Section C.3.2 – Place of Performance)

C.3.5 UNAUTHORIZED COMMITMENTS

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is designated by the Contracting Officer to perform technical liaison between the Contractor’s management and the Contracting Officer in routine technical matters constituting general program direction within the scope of the contract. Under no circumstances is the COR authorized to effect any changes in the work required under this contract whatsoever, or enter into any agreement that has the effect of changing the terms and conditions of this contract, or that causes the Contractor to incur any costs. In addition, the COR will not supervise, direct, or control Contractor employees.

Notwithstanding this provision, to the extent that the Contractor accepts any direction that constitutes a change to this contract without prior written authorization of the Contracting Officer, costs incurred in connection therewith are incurred at the sole risk of the Contractor, and if invoiced under this contract will be disallowed.

On all matters that pertain to the contract terms and conditions, the Contractor shall communicate with the

Contracting Officer.

Whenever, in the opinion of the Contractor, the COR requests efforts beyond the terms and conditions of the contract, the Contractor shall so advise the Contracting Officer. If the COR persists and there still exists a disagreement as to proper contractual coverage, the Contracting Officer shall be notified immediately, preferably in writing. Proceeding with work without proper contractual coverage may result in nonpayment or necessitate submittal of a contract claim.

http://www.gsa.gov/federaltravelregulation

C.3.6 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Any information gathered by the Contractor in the course of performing this task order shall be used only for the purpose of carrying out this task order. Furthermore, no article, book, pamphlet, recording, broadcast, speech, television appearance, film, or photograph concerning any aspect of work performed under this task order shall be published or disseminated through any media to the public or any third party without the prior written authorization from the government.

The Contractor shall not make use of any information obtained from the performance of this work for any activity outside the scope of this project. All records/documents developed during the course of this task order shall be protected from examination by unauthorized persons. Such records include all forms, computer files, program listings, manuals, documentation; correspondence files contract records and reports. The contractor shall retain all records/ documents in a secure manner. No materials or any summary of these materials shall be released to any individual or organization without prior written permission from the COR.

These obligations do not cease upon expiration or termination of this task order. The Contractor shall include the substance of this provision in all contracts for employment and subcontracting work performed under this task order. The Contractor shall require all employees to sign non-disclosure agreements in compliance with this requirement.

In performance of this task order, the Contractor agrees to assume responsibility for protecting the confidentiality of government information and for ensuring that all work is performed under the supervision of the Contractor or the Contractor’s responsible employees. The Contractor shall keep confidential information provided by inquirers consistent with Federal law, primarily the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Freedom of

Information Act and their amendments.

Each employee of the Contractor, to whom information may be made available or disclosed, shall be notified in writing by the Contractor that information disclosed to such employee can be used only for a purpose and to the extent authorized herein. Use of such information for a purpose or to an extent unauthorized herein may subject the offender to criminal sanctions imposed by 18 United States Code (U.S.C.) 641. The law provides, in pertinent part, that whoever knowingly converts to their use or the use of another, or without authority sells, conveys, or disposes of any record of the United States or whoever receives the same with intent to convert it to their use or gain, knowing it to have been converted, shall be guilty of a crime punishable by a fine of up to

$10,000, or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both.

The limitations noted in the preceding paragraphs do not apply to information, which has been made public by the government. Further, this provision does not preclude the use of any information independently acquired by the Contractor without such limitations or prohibit an agreement, at no cost to the government, between the

Contractor and the information owner, which provides for greater rights to the Contractor.

C.3.7 OWNERSHIP OF DATA

During the course of this task order, the Contractor may create or maintain data for the Employment & Training

Administration /Office of Job Corps. The Contractor may capture and store certain data/media in Contractor-provided and/or government-provided databases. All of this information is the property of the government, (see

FAR 52.227-14, Rights in Data – General which is incorporated by reference into this contract). Upon termination of this contract, all information resources developed in support of the work, including any databases and associated formats and call tools, shall be turned over to the government in its entirety. Should the contract terminate for any reason, the Contractor shall arrange for the timely transfer of such data records to the

Government. The Contractor may not keep any information resources or paper or electronic copies of information, without the express written consent of the Contracting Officer.

C.3.8 PUBLICATION OF MATERIALS

The Contractor shall receive permission from the Contracting Officer prior to publishing any work performed under this contract. Further, the Contractor shall acknowledge the support of the Department of Labor whenever publicizing any work performed under this contract. To implement the foregoing, the Contractor shall include in any publication resulting from work performed under this contract, an acknowledgement substantially the same as follows:

"This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration under contract Number _____TBD________ the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government."

C.3.9 CONFIDENTIALITY

This project and all materials provided to the contractor by the Department of Labor and results, conclusions and recommendations obtained thereof shall be considered confidential in nature and treated with the same level of care that the contractor should treat its own confidential business information. The information shall not be disclosed, copied, modified, used (except in completion of this project) or otherwise disseminated to any other person or entity at any time to include, but not limited to, any database external to the Department of Labor.

C.4 TASK ORDER ADMINISTRATION

C.4.1 DOLAR 2952.201-70 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) (MAY

2004)

(a) (To be provided at time of award) of US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, is hereby designated to act as contracting officer's representative (COR) under this contract.

(b) The COR is responsible, as applicable, for: receiving all deliverables; inspecting and accepting the supplies or services provided hereunder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract; providing direction to the contractor which clarifies the contract effort, fills in details or otherwise serves to accomplish the contractual scope of work; evaluating performance; and certifying all invoices/vouchers for acceptance of the supplies or services furnished for payment.

(c) The COR does NOT have the authority to alter the contractor's obligations under the contract, and/or modify any of the expressed terms, conditions, specifications, or cost of the agreement. If, as a result of technical discussions, it is desirable to alter/change contractual obligations or the scope of work, the Contracting Officer must issue such changes.

C.4.2 INVOICING PROCEDURES:

The contractor shall bill the Government in arrears for work performed under the contract at intervals of no more than once every month.

An original invoice shall be prepared and submitted to the Department of Labor (DOL) by email to:

DOL-NO-ETA@qui…