DRAFT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT 7-1-21.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

FOR

Behavioral modification Project

Background

Based on the 2015 DoD Health Related Behaviors (HRB) Survey, 67.8 % of Active Duty Coast Guard members were overweight or obese according to Body Mass Index measurements. Although not published, the 2018 HRB data shows a similar trend of 66% of our members being overweight or obese. Due to a variety of factors, including the current pandemic, Coast Guard members have increased in weight, stress level, and their poor eating habits, which has a direct impact on the overall health of the workforce. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently released an updated clinical preventive service recommendation: Weight Loss to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Adults: Behavioral Interventions. It recommends that “clinicians offer or refer adults with a BMI of 30 or higher to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions that help people make healthy eating choices, encourage increased physical activity, and help people monitor their own weight.” The durability of any behavioral interventions requires systemic sustainment through timely and effective interventions. Simply providing health information at regular intervals was shown to be ineffective and the weight that was lost without the intervention was often gained back over the course of a few years ([footnoteRef:1]). Authors concluded that staying motivated was the most difficult aspect for individuals trying to self-manage their weight and that there was a mismatch between the help provided by weight loss campaigns (information, self-monitoring) and the help needed by individuals (autonomous and motivational e-support) (2). [1: 1(Fothergill E, 2016), 2(Solbrig L, 2016), 3(Solbrig L, 2016), 4(Fothergill E, 2016), 5(Pagoto S, 2013)

While reporting of dietary intake was correlated with increased likelihood of achieving behavior change and reaching lifestyle goals, reinforcement, and motivation rather than a continued supply of information have been found to be the most desirable qualities of the applications by users trying to lose weight (3). Lifestyle modification through the use of cognitive and behavioral treatments has long been regarded as one of the most effective tools for maintaining weight loss in overweight and obese individuals (4). In a study evaluating the features of behavioral modification applications, the formula for a successful intervention that affected weight-loss based on behavioral change was broken down into twenty features that the application must incorporate. These features include: weight-loss goal, dietary goal, calorie balance, physical activity goal, exercise safety, benefits of healthy diet and physical activity, food pyramid, stimulus control, portion control, lifestyle activity, target heartrate, problem solving, stress reduction, relapse prevention, negative thinking, social cues, developing a regular pattern of eating, time management, and nutritional label reading (5) .

SCOPE

1. The purpose of the request is to acquire services that will provide technical and management support services for voluntary, confidential, behavioral modification services for the United States Coast Guard (CG) active duty service members and all Selected Reservists, hereafter called “service members” or “members”. Services shall be easily accessible, flexible, innovative, interactive, and include confidential, telephonic and virtual behavioral intervention that specializes in habit modification coaching and supportive assistance. The service provider shall assist the service member in implementing effective behavioral methodologies leveraging electronic, virtual, mobile, and telehealth resources that provide education, assess participants’ relevant diet and weight information, improves nutritional decision making, and provides peer support, as well as timely positive reinforcement. The service provider shall ensure that services are, at a minimum, available via mobile and virtual platforms to allow for maximum accessibility to members. Contractor services will provide screening, assessment of readiness to change, personalized nutritional coaching advice, supportive materials, activity tracking, encouragement for physical activity, and lifestyle behavior change planning which incorporates stress management techniques. Contractor will assist the CG with data collection and reporting to determine the utilization and success of service members in the program.

OBJECTIVE

To equip service members with behavioral modification strategies and techniques that improve nutrition, increase exercise resulting in weight loss, and provide stress reduction for an improved overall healthy workforce. This will be done by providing a voluntary behavioral modification coaching program to include: enhanced healthy eating training, increased exercise queues, stress management techniques, improved sleep strategies, and strategic practices to increase positive coping skills related to stress.

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

COMDTINST M6200.1 Coast Guard Health Promotion Manual 20 Jul 2018 COMDTINST M1020.8 Coast Guard Weight and Body Fat Standards Manual Jun 2017.

COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS

The selected Contractor must provide a monthly progress report that assesses a member’s self-reported behavior change, weight gain/loss, utilization, exercise and activity tracking, nutrition, reported sleep patterns and responsiveness to behavioral queues to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Program Manager.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The following documents may be helpful to the Contractor in performing the work described in this document:1(Fothergill E, 2016), 2(Solbrig L, 2016), 3(Solbrig L, 2016), 4(Fothergill E, 2016), 5(Pagoto S, 2013).

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

3.1 USER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Behavioral modification with a goal of habit modification is based on the concept that people have learned unhealthy behaviors, such as poor dietary habits and inactivity, especially through very stressful moments, which plays a role in weight gain and stress levels. Additionally, due to the COVID pandemic, members have reported having limited support systems and less outlets for stress relief or activity. The modification of behaviors must focus on strategic interventions that provide service members with individualized and calculated ways to:

a. Improve diet and nutrition

b. Increase physical activity

c. Set realistic goals

d. Recognize emotional triggers and stimuli to unhealthy eating habits/behaviors

e. Control or eliminate the factors that trigger unhealthy eating or problematic behaviors

f. Track sleeping patterns

g. Track activity patterns

h. Track exercise patterns

i. Self-monitor with tools (e.g., pedometers, food diaries, smart watches)

j. Identify barriers to maintaining weight/ weight-loss (e.g., eating patterns, triggers) and develop problem-solving techniques to overcome those challenges

k. Build strategies to maintain your weight loss over time

2. This contract includes a Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) at the end of this PWS document. The PRS plays an integral role in the administration of the contract. In addition to any applicable inspection clauses or other related terms and conditions contained in the contract, the PRS shall serve as a primary tool for inspection and acceptance of services as facilitated by the COR. Evaluation of the Contractor’s overall performance shall be in accordance with the performance standards set forth in the PRS, and will be conducted by the COR. The PRS constitutes a material aspect of the contract and will not be changed or otherwise modified without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer (KO).

3. The Contractor shall provide a toll-free telephone and online service to assist beneficiaries with behavioral modification. The telephonic and online services will include a personalized interactive program, behavior modification guidance, delivered through the context of a support community moderated by trained professionals or individually.

4. The Contractor shall ensure initial calls and texts to the program for exercise, weight loss, stress reduction, or assistance include assessment of a caller’s readiness to change, weight history, and lifestyle behaviors and development of an individualized plan based on that callers needs and in adherence with evidence based strategies for long-term goals.

5. The Contractor services shall include a minimum of four proactive (counselor-initiated) telephonic coaching sessions for each enrollee. Time lines for coaching sessions will be jointly determined by coach and the enrollee to reflect individual goals and needs.

6. Contractor services shall include unlimited reactive (enrollee initiate) phone calls and online real-time textual chat capability on its web site. The Contractor shall provide access to live online coaches in accordance with contracted hours of operation to ensure availability of coaching during the initial call.

7. The Contractor shall provide a voice messaging system when coaches are not directly available and respond to callers within 1 business day.

8. The Contractor shall implement and maintain a World Wide Web (www) site and an application containing information about all aspects of behavioral modification services offered.

9. The Contractor website and app shall include a web/app-based online interactive coaching program offering a personalized interactive program including: a behavior modification program, a support community moderated by trained professionals, instant messaging technology, and e-mail support/question response.

10. Contractor website/app-based program components will complement the telephonic toll-free line, and will provide access to non-copyrighted, CG-branded downloadable educational materials, and will offer links to other related sites.

11. The Contractor shall e-mail the enrollee an enrollment package within one (1) business day after the completed intake call. This enrollment package shall include any material the contractor deems necessary for life style improvement based on member’s goals including workbooks and educational support material. The material shall be in a printable format.

12. The Contractor shall ensure that all components of their intervention program protects all user information as highly confidential and is in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.

13. Marketing to 100% of service members identified as eligible for the program. Eligibility is open to all service members designated in the targeted service area and is voluntary.

14. Consent for follow up asked of 100% program enrollees.

15. Live counselors daily, available for at least 8 hours.

0. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

1. The Contractor shall establish quarterly continuing education program for all Contractor personnel to ensure that the current recommendations for best practices in behavior modification, increasing activity, pro-social behaviors, and reducing weight and obesity are being utilized to treat CG enrollees. The Contractor shall inform the COR in a report, of continuing education training provided to personnel treating CG enrollees so that continuity of care is maintained.

2. The Contractor shall establish and continuously operate an internal quality management/quality improvement program covering every aspect of the contractor's clinical and administrative operations under the contract. The contractor shall detail these efforts in the report with continuing education.

3.3 BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION INTERVENTION SUPPORT

1. The contractor shall provide behavioral modification support using comprehensive intervention strategies/queues that improve nutrition and increase exercise resulting in weight loss and stress reduction which will improve the overall workforce. This behavior modification program shall include a virtual, application based, and telephonic coaching program. The Contractor will provide access to a mobile app that can count caloric intake and expenditures, as well as, provide behavioral modification techniques that can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. The Contractor shall also provide CG-branded print marketing materials; telephonic and web-coaching administrative maintenance and staffing; along with program data collection and analysis including development of a tracking system. The behavior modification intervention service shall include a combination of clinical resources and professional coaches available to members.

3.4 REPORT REQUIREMENTS

1. The Contractor shall furnish the CG with a survey that assess user satisfaction and success feedback from a random sample of users of its toll-free phone line, application, and website. This data may be collected electronically. The survey(s) should be delivered to the Contracting Officer, COR, and Program Manager no later than two months after the contract has been awarded.

2. PROGRESS REPORTS – the Contractor Project Manager shall provide a comprehensive monthly progress report to the COR and Government Program Manager via electronic mail attachment. The CG needs accurately tabulated demographic, service delivery, referral, and client satisfaction and caller characteristic data. This report shall reference the contract number assigned, include a summary of all Contractor work performed during the reporting period, including an assessment of technical progress, schedule status, any travel conducted and any Contractor concerns or recommendations for the previous period. The report format will be mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the CG. The contractor shall report monthly on the following performance requirement standards:

a) Report progression rate toward meeting, at a minimum, CG Weight / Body Fat standards within coaching time period

b) Report percentage 100% of enrollees who achieved their self-reported health behavior goals within the coaching time period (e.g., increased sleep, increase exercise, decrease feeling of stress, reduced weight).

c) Percentage of enrolled personnel who used the virtual, telephonic, and/or online web-based instruction at least daily and weekly.

d) Reported customer satisfaction rate of all enrolled member

e) Complete 90% of enrollment process within 15 days of initial application submission. The enrollment process should include, at a minimum, an assessment of willingness to change, assessment of weight, sleeping patterns, eating patterns, coaching session, and identified weight goals. A complete call will be identified as three call attempts (if need be) followed by an attempt letter mailed, e-mail or with assisted texted that links to an app or website.

f) Frequency of Food logging (daily vs multiply times per day)

g) Frequency of Exercise logging (metric for additional calories burned)

h) Hours of Sleep nightly

i) Frequency of Coaching-Enrollee encounters

j) The number of participants who fail to report weight and other relevant tracking data.

k) Number of members who discontinued participation and the reasons for discontinuance (deployment, illness, leave, dissatisfaction, etc).

3. SUMMARY REPORT – the Contractor shall provide a comprehensive summary report at the conclusion of the 10th month of the period of performance. The report shall provide utilization patterns and intervention outcomes for all behavioral modification program participants. The report shall also include recommended improvements to the requirements.

3.5 IMPLEMENTION PLAN

1. The Contractor shall develop an Implementation Plan for the Behavioral modification Intervention program that includes:

a) Complete telephonic coaching and website process plan for the purpose of training and educating medical, work-life, and human resources personnel.

b) Coaching scripts, intake prompt questions and other material or information used during the coaching process.

c) The Contractor shall implement the telephonic coaching and website process no later than (3) weeks after approval of the final implementation plan. The draft implementation plan shall be provided at the Post Award Conference/Meeting.

CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

6. The Contractor shall have a Medical Director, Registered Dietician or other medical personnel providing oversight to contractor intake, and coaching staff should possess certain levels of experience. A medical Director or Other Medical Personnel should possess a minimum of three years of experience in treating overweight and obesity. All medical personnel responsible for providing training coaching staff have a health care related degree which demonstrates intensive training with specific training in nutrition and weight management (physicians and physician assistant, or licensed nurse practitioner). A Registered Dietician providing oversight to coaching staff must be licensed by an accredited institution and should possess a minimum of two years’ experience. The Contractor shall provide a Project Manager and designated alternates who shall be responsible for all Contractor work performed under this PWS. The Project Manager shall possess a minimum of 3 years professional experience managing comprehensive behavioral modification program that focused on satisfaction of services, nutritional choices, sleep pattern, and/or improved stress levels.

Before replacing any individual designated as Key personnel by the Government, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer no less than 15 business days in advance, submit written justification for replacement, and provide the name, CV and qualifications of any proposed substitute(s). All proposed substitutes shall possess qualifications equal to or superior to those of the Key person being replaced, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall not replace Key Contractor personnel without approval from the Contracting Officer. The following Contractor personnel are designated as Key for this requirement. Note: The Government may designate additional Contractor personnel as Key at the time of award. The Project Manager shall be available to the COR via telephone between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday, and shall respond to a request for discussion or resolution of performance problems within 4 business hours of notification.

Contractor employees visiting Government facilities shall wear an identification badge that, at a minimum, displays the Contractor name, the employee’s photo, name, clearance-level and badge expiration date. Visiting Contractor employees shall comply with all Government escort rules and requirements. All Contractor employees shall identify themselves as Contractors when their status is not readily apparent and display all identification and visitor badges in plain view above the waist at all times.

Contractor employees working on-site at Government facilities shall wear a Government issued identification badge. All Contractor employees shall identify themselves as Contractors when their status is not readily apparent (in meetings, when answering Government telephones, in e-mail messages, etc.) and display the Government issued badge in plain view above the waist at all times.

Employee Conduct Contractor’s employees shall comply with all applicable Government regulations, policies and procedures (e.g., fire, safety, sanitation, environmental protection, security, “off limits” areas, wearing of parts of DHS uniforms, and possession of weapons) when visiting or working at Government facilities. The Contractor shall ensure Contractor employees present a professional appearance at all times and that their conduct shall not reflect discredit on the United States or the Department of Homeland Security. The Project Manager shall ensure Contractor employees understand and abide by Department of Homeland Security established rules, regulations and policies concerning safety and security.

Removing Employees for Misconduct or Security Reasons The Government may, at its sole discretion (via the Contracting Officer*), direct the Contractor to remove any Contractor employee from DHS facilities for misconduct or security reasons. Removal does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to continue providing the services required under the contract. The Contracting Officer will provide the Contractor with a written explanation to support any request to remove an employee.

SECURITY

The Contractor will have access to Privacy Information to support this PWS. Sensitive information shall be protected in accordance to DHS HSAR Class Deviation 15-01 for proper handling and safeguarding of the security of all such USCG information, as defined in the terms and conditions of this contract. Further guidance are provided under Protection of Information.

CONTRACTOR PROPOSED CYBER/ IT-RELATED SOLUTIONS

The offeror or contractor shall identify all cyber/IT-related hardware, software and/or services that are included as part of its solution to the government’s requirement to store or process Coast Guard data or connect to Coast Guard networks or other assets. The offeror or contractor shall provide this information in an electronic delimited file format (for example, csv file, docx table, xlsx table, rtf table or HTML file) as follows in its government response to the solicitation.

The contractor shall assure that all information related to the user under this contract will remain safe, confidential and secure utilizing a similar type of SAS, while following the DODI Cybersecurity policy 5000.90 per signed MOU between the Coast Guard and DOD. Additionally, the vendor must have Impact Level 4 (IL4) security protection. The contractor, must become by the time of award or be a member of FEDRAMP (The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) and DISA (The Defense Information Systems Agency). The contractor must meet the requirement to carry additional insurance for potential data leaks.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this contract is one year from the date of award.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance will be the Contractor’s facilities and may require infrequent escorted visits to U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters at 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington D.C. 20593 or to locations designated for the pilot.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Contractor employees shall at a minimum be available to make live outbound communication and take inbound communication from 8:00am until 8:00pm EST, Monday through Friday and from 8:00am to 7:00pm EST midnight on Saturdays and Sundays except Federal Holidays.

Contractor shall provide a 24 hour recorded message answering service for general information and enrollment calls outside of these hours.

Contractor shall ensure access to web based services 24 hours per day, seven days per week except for scheduled down times.

TRAVEL

Travel is not required at this time; however, if travel becomes required at a later date, it will be incorporated via contract modification and travel will be executed in accordance with FAR 31.205-46.

POST AWARD CONFERENCE

The Contractor shall attend a Post Award Conference with the contracting officer, program manager, and the COR no later than five (5) business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Post Award Conference, which will be chaired by the Contracting Officer, is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of this contract and review the Contractor's draft project plan. The Post Award Conference will be held via teleconference or remote virtual platform (e.g., MS Teams).

PROGRESS MEETINGS

The Project Manager shall be responsible for keeping the program manager and COR informed about Contractor progress throughout the performance period of this contract, and ensure Contractor activities are aligned with DHS objectives. At a minimum, the Project Manager shall review the status and results of Contractor performance with the COR on a monthly basis typically via telephone.

GENERAL REPORT REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide all written reports in electronic format with read/write capability using applications that are compatible with DHS workstations (Windows 10 and Microsoft Office Applications).

PROTECTION OF INFORMATION

Contractor access to information protected under the Privacy Act is required under this PWS. Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with the law and Government policy and regulation.

Contractor access to Proprietary and Sensitive Information is required under this PWS. Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with DHS MD 11042.1, Safeguarding Sensitive But Unclassified (For Official Use Only) Information. The Contractor shall ensure that all Contractor personnel having access to business or procurement sensitive information sign a non-disclosure agreement (DHS Form 11000-6).

and

The contractor shall assure that all information related to the user under this contract will remain safe, confidential and secure utilizing a similar type of SAS, while following the DODI Cybersecurity policy 5000.90 per signed MOU between the Coast Guard and DOD. Additionally, the vendor must have Impact Level 4 (IL4) security protection. The contractor, must become by the time of award or be a member of FEDRAMP (The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) and DISA (The Defense Information Systems Agency). The contractor must meet the requirement to carry additional insurance for potential data leaks.

SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE

1. Section 508 Requirements (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (classified to 29 U.S.C. § 794d) requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communications technology (ICT), it shall be accessible to people with disabilities. Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities must be afforded access to and use of information and data comparable to that of Federal employees and members of the public without disabilities.

All products, platforms and services delivered as part of this work statement that, by definition, are deemed ICT shall conform to the revised regulatory implementation of Section 508 Standards, which are located at 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Appendixes A, C & D, and available at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e1c6735e25593339a9db63534259d8ec&mc=true&node=pt36.3.1194&rgn=div5. In the revised regulation, ICT replaced the term electronic and information technology (EIT) used in the original 508 standards. ICT includes IT and other equipment.

Exceptions for this work statement have been determined by DHS and only the exceptions described herein may be applied. Any request for additional exceptions shall be sent to the Contracting Officer and a determination will be made according to DHS Directive 139-05, Office of Accessible Systems and Technology, dated November 12, 2018 and DHS Instruction 139-05-001, Managing the Accessible Systems and Technology Program, dated November 20, 2018, or any successor publication.

1. 1.1 Section 508 Requirements for Technology Products (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO) Section 508 applicability to Information and Communications Technology (ICT): mobile client applications Applicable Exception: N/A Authorization #: N/A Applicable Functional Performance Criteria: All functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 apply to when using an alternative design or technology that results substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Revised 508 Standards, or when Chapters 4 or 5 do not address one or more functions of ICT.

Applicable 508 requirements for electronic content features and components (including but not limited to Internet or Intranet website; Electronic documents; Electronic forms; Electronic document templates; Electronic surveys; Electronic reports; Electronic training materials; Multimedia (video/audio)): All requirements in E205 apply, including all WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria apply as specified in E205 Applicable 508 requirements for software features and components (including but not limited to Web, desktop, server, mobile client applications; Software infrastructure) Applicable 508 requirements for hardware features and components: Does not apply Applicable 508 requirements for support services and documentation: All requirements in Chapter 6 apply

2. 1.2 Section 508 Requirements for Technology Products (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO) Section 508 applicability to Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Software infrastructure Applicable Exception: N/A Authorization #: N/A Applicable Functional Performance Criteria: All functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 apply to when using an alternative design or technology that results substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Revised 508 Standards, or when Chapters 4 or 5 do not address one or more functions of ICT.

Applicable 508 requirements for electronic content features and components (including but not limited to Internet or Intranet website; Electronic documents; Electronic forms; Electronic document templates; Electronic surveys; Electronic reports; Electronic training materials; Multimedia (video/audio)): All requirements in E205 apply, including all WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria apply as specified in E205 Applicable 508 requirements for software features and components (including but not limited to Web, desktop, server, mobile client applications; Software infrastructure) Applicable 508 requirements for hardware features and components: Does not apply Applicable 508 requirements for support services and documentation: All requirements in Chapter 6 apply

3. 1.3 Section 508 Requirements for Technology Products (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO) Section 508 applicability to Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Web Applicable Exception: N/A Authorization #: N/A Applicable Functional Performance Criteria: All functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 apply to when using an alternative design or technology that results substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Revised 508 Standards, or when Chapters 4 or 5 do not address one or more functions of ICT.

Applicable 508 requirements for electronic content features and components (including but not limited to Internet or Intranet website; Electronic documents; Electronic forms; Electronic document templates; Electronic surveys; Electronic reports; Electronic training materials; Multimedia (video/audio)): All requirements in E205 apply, including all WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria apply as specified in E205 Applicable 508 requirements for software features and components (including but not limited to Web, desktop, server, mobile client applications; Software infrastructure) Applicable 508 requirements for hardware features and components: Does not apply Applicable 508 requirements for support services and documentation: All requirements in Chapter 6 apply

4. 1.4 Section 508 Requirements for Technology Products (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO) Section 508 applicability to Information and Communications Technology (ICT): server Applicable Exception: N/A Authorization #: N/A Applicable Functional Performance Criteria: All functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 apply to when using an alternative design or technology that results substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Revised 508 Standards, or when Chapters 4 or 5 do not address one or more functions of ICT.

Applicable 508 requirements for electronic content features and components (including but not limited to Internet or Intranet website; Electronic documents; Electronic forms; Electronic document templates; Electronic surveys; Electronic reports; Electronic training materials; Multimedia (video/audio)): All requirements in E205 apply, including all WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria apply as specified in E205 Applicable 508 requirements for software features and components (including but not limited to Web, desktop, server, mobile client applications; Software infrastructure) Applicable 508 requirements for hardware features and components: Does not apply Applicable 508 requirements for support services and documentation: All requirements in Chapter 6 apply

5. 1.5 Section 508 Requirements for Technology Services (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO)

6. When providing Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Software as a Service (SaaS), the contractor shall ensure services conform to the applicable Section 508 standards (including the requirements in Chapter 5 for software and WCAG Level A and AA Level 2.0 success criteria for web and software. When the requirements in Chapter 5 do not address one or more software functions, the Contractor shall ensure conformance to the Functional Performance Criteria specified in Chapter 3.) The agency reserves the right to request an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for PaaS and SaaS offerings. The ACR should be created using the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template Version 2.2 508 (or later). The template can be located at https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat

7. When providing cloud hosting services (Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, Software as a Service, etc.) the Contractor shall ensure user administrative screens, dashboards and portals used to configure, and monitor cloud services conform to the Section 508 standards.

8. The Contractor shall ensure cloud hosting services shall not reduce the level of Section 508 conformance for ICT migrated by DHS to the cloud hosting environment.

9. When developing or modifying ICT, the Contractor is required to validate ICT deliverables for conformance to the applicable Section 508 requirements. Validation shall occur on a frequency that ensures Section 508 requirements is evaluated within each iteration and release that contains user interface functionality.

10. When modifying, installing, configuring or integrating commercially available or government-owned ICT, the Contractor shall not reduce the original ICT Item’s level of Section 508 conformance.

11. When developing or modifying web based and electronic content components, except for electronic documents and non-fillable forms provided in a Microsoft Office or Adobe PDF format, the Contractor shall demonstrate conformance to the applicable Section 508 standards (including WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria) by conducting testing using the DHS Trusted Tester for Web Methodology Version 5.0 or successor versions, and shall ensure testing is conducted by individuals who are certified by DHS on version 5.0 or successor versions (e.g. “DHS Certified Trusted Testers”). The Contractor shall provide the Trusted Tester Certification IDs to DHS upon request. Information on the DHS Trusted Tester for Web Methodology Version 5.0, related test tools, test reporting, training, and tester certification requirements is published at https://www.dhs.gov/trusted-tester.

12. Contractor personnel shall possess the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to address the accessibility requirements in this work statement.

13. 1.6 Section 508 Deliverables (include in the SOW, PWS, or SOO)

1. Section 508 Test Plans: When developing or modifying ICT pursuant to this contract, the Contractor shall provide a detailed Section 508 Conformance Test Plan. The Test Plan shall describe the scope of components that will be tested, an explanation of the test process that will be used, when testing will be conducted during the project development life cycle, who will conduct the testing, how test results will be reported, and any key assumptions.

2. Section 508 Test Results: When developing or modifying ICT pursuant to this contract, the Contractor shall provide test results in accordance with the Section 508 Requirements for Technology Services provided in this solicitation.

3. Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Reports: For each ICT item offered through this contract (including commercially available products, and solutions consisting of ICT that are developed or modified pursuant to this contract), the Offeror shall provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) to document conformance claims against the applicable Section 508 standards. The ACR shall be based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template Version 2.0 508 (or successor versions). The template can be found at https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat. Each ACR shall be completed by following all of the instructions provided in the template, including an explanation of the validation method used as a basis for the conformance claims in the report.

4. Other Section 508 Documentation: The following documentation shall be provided upon request for ICT items offered through this contract:

· Documentation of features provided to help achieve accessibility and usability for people with disabilities.

· Documentation on how to configure and install the ICT Item to support accessibility.

· Documentation of core functions that cannot be accessed by persons with disabilities.

· Documentation of remediation plans to address non-conformance to the Section 508 standards

5.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES

The Government will provide the following property to the Contractor for work required under this contract:

No equipment will be furnished for this contract. The government will not provide any space for this contract.

The Government will provide all necessary information, data and documents to the Contractor for work required under this contract.

The Contractor shall use Government furnished information, data and documents only for the performance of work under this contract, and shall be responsible for returning all Government furnished information, data and documents to the Government at the end of the performance period. The Contractor shall not release Government furnished information, data and documents to outside parties without the prior and explicit consent of the Contracting Officer.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Contractor shall furnish all facilities, materials, equipment and services necessary to fulfill the requirements of this contract, except for the Government Furnished Resources specified in PWS 2.0 and PWS 6.0.

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE PERIOD

The COR will review deliverables prior to acceptance and provide the contractor with an e-mail that provides documented reasons for non-acceptance. If the deliverable is acceptable, the COR will send an e-mail to the Contractor notifying it that the deliverable has been accepted.

The COR will have the right to reject or require correction of any deficiencies found in the deliverables that are contrary to the information contained in the Contractor’s accepted proposal. In the event of a rejected deliverable, the Contractor will be notified in writing by the COR of the specific reasons for rejection. The Contractor may have an opportunity to correct the rejected deliverable and return it per delivery instructions.

The COR will have 10 business days to review deliverables and make comments. The Contractor shall have 10 business days to make corrections and redeliver.

All other review times and schedules for deliverables shall be agreed upon by the parties based on the final approved Project Plan. The Contractor shall be responsible for timely delivery to Government personnel in the agreed upon review chain, at each stage of the review. The Contractor shall work with personnel reviewing the deliverables to assure that the established schedule is maintained.

DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall consider items in BOLD as having mandatory due dates. Items in italics are deliverables or events that must be reviewed and/or approved by the COR prior to proceeding to next deliverable or event in this PWS.

DISTRIBUTION

COR, Contracting Officer, Program Manager

COR, Contracting Officer, Program Manager

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS).

The PRS establishes key elements of Contractor performance that represent “mission essential” service requirements, which are identified in the table below in the “Service Output” column. The “Performance Objective” column represents the standard against which Contractor performance will be measured in relation to accomplishment of the corresponding service output. The performance objective or “standard” describes the minimum acceptable level of service by the Contractor for satisfactory performance. The “Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)” column displays the maximum allowable deviation from the performance objective, which, if exceeded, evokes the negative incentive specified in the table below.

28-Jun-21

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

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4. Satisfaction Survey (PWS Page 5)