DRAFT Employee Wellness Training PWS.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

NOAA Workplace Violence Prevention and Response

Sole Source Acquisition Request for

Employee Workplace Wellness and Training Resources

June 15, 2020

I. BACKGROUND

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employs approximately 12,000 people, including federal civilian workers and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, contractors, and affiliates. Many of these individuals work in remote locations and aboard research and survey vessels to study, understand, and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coast. NOAA has taken steps to update policies, make it easier to report sexual harassment and sexual assault, implement new trainings, and update investigation protocols, but more must be done to prevent harassment, to make sure survivors can seek justice, and to hold harassers accountable for their actions. The FY17 National Defense Authorization Act included provisions to address sexual harassment and assault issues at NOAA. In response, NOAA created a Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program (WVPR), developed an agency policy to address harassment and assault, and reports annually to Congress. Based on information provided in the required annual reports, NOAA requires additional services to fully implement its prevention and response program, coordinate harassment, equal employment, and assault complaint reporting, and to protect certain non-federal personnel who conduct business on behalf of or required by the agency, especially fisheries observers and fishery management council members and staff.

The mission of the WVPR is to provide victim services, education and training, as well as stand up initiatives that reduce workplace violence across NOAA. This is accomplished by our efforts to:

● Provide and maintain competent and effective victim advocate services for NOAA

● Assist in policy development around workplace violence and sexual assault/sexual harassment (SASH)

● Provide SASH specific prevention resources and overall wellness training to NOAA employees, contractors, and affiliates.

II. PURPOSE

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. NOAA is committed to upholding a sustained and vibrant climate and culture in which every employee at every level of the agency genuinely feels safe, professionally valued and empowered. We aim to achieve an organizational culture where bullying, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation of any form will not be tolerated. To proactively fulfill our organizational commitments, we will systematically pursue and promote inclusive and safe environments free from sexual assault and sexual harassment. To this end, NOAA seeks to procure services to advance efforts to prevent and effectively respond to workplace misconduct and promote employee wellness.

III. SCOPE

NOAA has a requirement for up-to-date, evidenced-informed online training with the access of a maximum of 12,000 users to meet its Congressional mandate (2017 National Defense Authorization Act) for yearly training on SASH. Training product shall utilize research and evidence-based best practices, comply with federal legislation and meet all Section 508 compliance requirements. NOAA also requires this product to provide real-time data analysis of trends involving attitudes towards SASH and comprehension of SASH policies and concepts. This feature should include seamless tracking and integration with the agency’s existing learning management system, Commerce Learning Center (CLC). The data analysis from this product will be used to provide key insights to drive the NOAA strategic plan to develop targeted prevention to its employees. Additionally, the SASH program is managed through the WVPR program office. This office is tasked with providing NOAA employees training, resources and services to create and maintain inclusive, safe work environments that promote a culture of civility, respect and positive work-life balance. To achieve this there is an additional requirement to provide educational training to foster personal and professional development. Training products will focus on (3) areas of wellness that have the potential to help reduce workplace violence and increase positivity and productivity - mental health, physical health and financial health. Due to lack of staffing the agency needs contractor support to provide training and resources addressing wellness.

IV. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be for one 12-month base period and one 12-month option period.

Base Period: September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021 Option Period I: September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022

V. STATEMENT OF WORK

Employee Wellness and Development NOAA has the unique opportunity to support workplace culture through a comprehensive employee wellness program that provides personalized, digital education around critical topics.

The contractor should provide products that will help NOAA improve the wellbeing of employees, strengthen internal initiatives, and drive measurable change across the workplace.

DIGITAL EMPLOYEE EDUCATION

NOAA has the opportunity to launch a private-branded, customizable wellness center to support employees’ financial capability and health & wellness education. The contractor’s educational product(s) should be easily embedded and able to be used within and from the NOAA website. The educational experiences within the platform are designed to empower employees to better understand their finances and health wellness and take the appropriate action. The digital wellness education will seamlessly align with NOAA’s commitment to ensuring a healthy workplace and supporting positive work-life balance goals of our employees. At minimum there will be (3) modules addressing the following:

● Mental Health - Warning Signs, Challenges and Seeking Help

● Physical Health - Mindfulness, Stress, Nutrition and Drug Misuse

● Financial Health - Taxes, Retirement, Life and Income Changes

VI. DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall create quarterly reports based on specifications provided by NOAA relating to user data (such as survey results, aggregate poll data, and popular topics). The contractor shall provide SSO integration to allow for seamless registration and tracking individual progress.