DRAFT UCEDD TA_ Performance Work Statement.docx

DRAFT - Performance Work Statement

Title: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Community Impact and Capacity Building Initiative: Technical Assistance to Strengthen Outcomes for People with I/DD and Their Families

1.0 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1.1 Statutory Context

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) is the Federal agency responsible for implementation and administration of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act of 2000) (42 U.S.C. 15001, et seq.). Consistent with Administration on Disabilities (AoD) usage, references in this document to people with developmental disabilities may also be expressed as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This agency is located within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The DD Act establishes UCEDDs as a federally legislated network required to carry out four core functions: (1) interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education; (2) community services, including training/TA, demonstration, and model activities; (3) research; and (4) dissemination of information (Section 153). The DD Act's purpose anchor (Section 101) is to help individuals with developmental disabilities and their families access community services, individualized supports, and assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration/inclusion in community life.

As defined in the DD Act of 2000, the term "developmental disabilities" means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments that are manifested before the individual attains age 22 and are likely to continue indefinitely. Developmental disabilities result in substantial limitations in three or more of the following functional areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and capacity for economic self-sufficiency.

There are four programs funded under the DD Act of 2000:

1. State Councils on Developmental Disabilities;

1. State Protection and Advocacy Systems;

1. National Network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service; and

1. Projects of National Significance.

The DD Act of 2000 identifies a number of significant findings, including:

· Disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to enjoy the opportunity for independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community.

· Individuals whose disabilities occur during their developmental period frequently have severe disabilities that are likely to continue indefinitely.

· Individuals with developmental disabilities often require lifelong specialized services and assistance, provided in a coordinated manner by many agencies, professionals, advocates, community representatives, and others to eliminate barriers and to meet the needs of such individuals and their families.

In accordance with policies set out in the DD Act of 2000, AoD seeks to support and to ensure that:

(1) individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with the most severe developmental disabilities, are capable of self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community living, through the provision of community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance;

(2) individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have competencies, capabilities, and personal goals that are recognized, supported, and encouraged, and any assistance to such individuals should be provided in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of such individuals;

(3) individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are the primary decision makers regarding the services and supports such individuals and their families receive, including regarding choosing where the individuals live from available options, and play decision-making roles in policies and programs that affect the lives of such individuals and their families;

(4) services, supports, and other assistance are provided in a manner that demonstrates respect for individual dignity, personal preferences, and cultural differences;

(5) specific efforts are made to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and their families enjoy increased and meaningful opportunities to access and use community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance available to other individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;

(6) recruitment efforts in disciplines related to developmental disabilities relating to pre-service training, community training, practice, administration, and policymaking focus on bringing larger numbers of racial and ethnic minorities into the disciplines in order to provide appropriate skills, knowledge, role models, and sufficient personnel to address the growing needs of an increasingly diverse population;

(7) with education and support, communities are accessible to and responsive to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and are enriched by full and active participation in community activities, and contributions, by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;

(8) individuals with developmental disabilities have access to opportunities and the necessary support to be included in community living, have interdependent relationships, live in homes and communities, and make contributions to their families, communities, and States, and the Nation;

(9) efforts undertaken to maintain or expand community-based living options for individuals with disabilities are monitored in order to determine and report to appropriate individuals and entities the extent of access by individuals with developmental disabilities to those options and the extent of compliance by entities providing those options with quality assurance standards;

(10) families of children with developmental disabilities have access to and use of safe and appropriate childcare and before-school and after-school programs, in the most integrated settings, in order to enrich the participation of the children in community living;

(11) individuals with developmental disabilities have access to and use of public transportation, in order to be independent and directly contribute to and participate in all facets of community living; and

(12) individuals with developmental disabilities have access to and use of recreational, leisure, and social opportunities in the most integrated settings, in order to enrich their participation in community living.

ACL’s vision is that all people, regardless of age and disability, live with dignity, make their own choices, and participate fully in society. AoD shares in ACL’s mission to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of people with developmental disabilities, their families and other members of their support system.

1.2 UCEDD Community Impact and Capacity Building Initiative

The contract uses a community-responsive capacity-building model that establishes the work as a UCEDD Community Impact and Capacity Building Initiative. The framework consists of three integrated components:

1. Community-Responsive Capacity Building - Strengthening organizational and community capacity through responsive, context-specific support.

1. Implementation and Problem-Solving Assistance - Providing practical training, information, technical expertise, and hands-on assistance that supports implementation and addresses emerging needs.

1. Organizational Improvement and Community Impact Measures - Assessing progress through measures that demonstrate strengthened organizational capacity, improved practices, and meaningful community-level impact.

The Contractor shall apply the following principles across all tasks:

1. Community Responsiveness. TA priorities and intensive engagements shall reflect documented needs and meaningful input from UCEDDs, people with I/DD, families, and relevant community partners.

2. Accessibility. Contractor-developed materials, systems, meetings, and participation mechanisms shall meet applicable accessibility requirements and support meaningful participation by people with disabilities.

3. Proportionality. Data collection, reporting, evaluation, and documentation shall be proportionate to the value and scale of the activity and minimize unnecessary burden on UCEDDs and community participants.

4. Evidence and Attribution. The Contractor needs to distinguish activities and outputs from outcomes and demonstrated impact from expected longer-term impact.

5. Continuous Improvement. Needs assessment, implementation monitoring, community input, and evaluation findings shall inform TA priorities and delivery throughout the performance year.

6. Fiscal Discipline. The Contractor needs to prioritize and sequence variable activities according to documented need, expected benefit, and available resources. Activities beyond the levels established in the COR-approved Strategic Plan and Logic Model shall not be undertaken without COR approval and confirmation of available funding.

7. Integrated Delivery. The Contractor shall coordinate staffing, technology, data, content, and TA resources across tasks to avoid operating duplicative or independent infrastructures where shared approaches can meet contract requirements.

8. Avoidance of Duplication. Use of approved existing data, systems, tools, content, and Federal resources rather than create duplicative collection, reporting, or technology requirements.

9. Traceability. Material TA priorities, resource decisions, and evaluation conclusions shall be supported by documented evidence sufficient to understand the relationship between federal investment, UCEDD activities and partnerships, measurable outputs, outcomes, and demonstrated impact on people with I/DD and their families.

2.0 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this contract is to strengthen the capacity of the UCEDD network to respond to community-identified needs and contribute to improved outcomes for people with I/DD and their families.

The Contractor shall support:

· Network-wide capacity building through Intensive Community Driven, Targeted, and Universal TA;

· Community-driven problem solving with people with I/DD, families, and community partners;

· Service-learning approaches connecting university-based education and training with community-identified needs;

· Identification, documentation, dissemination, replication, and scale of promising UCEDD-developed approaches through Community Impact Blueprints;

· Peer-to-peer learning and collaboration across UCEDDs;

· Formal mechanisms for incorporating people with I/DD and family perspectives into TA priority-setting;

· A lean public facing UCEDD Core Functions Dashboard supporting network- and UCEDD-level performance visibility;

· A curated UCEDD TA Knowledge Base (Base Year) and AI-Assisted Chatbot (Starting Option Year 1); and

· Maintenance and support of the web-based UCEDD PPR submission system.

The Contractor shall prioritize and sequence activities according to documented network needs, expected benefit, and available resources. The Strategic TA Plan shall serve as the primary mechanism for establishing the annual level of effort for activities whose volume may vary by performance year.

3.0 UCEDD TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TASKS

The Contractor shall perform the following seven task areas. Activities shall be coordinated across tasks to minimize duplication, leverage existing data, technology, expertise, and resources.

3.1 Project Management

The Contractor shall provide overall project management necessary for coordinated, compliant, timely, and fiscally responsible execution of Tasks 3.2 through 3.7.

1. Project Staffing and Administration

a. The Contractor shall maintain accountable leadership such that no more than five (5) coordination issues per quarter require COR escalation

b. The Contractor staffing such that no task deliverable is delayed more than 10 business days due to staffing shortfalls, verified via monthly COR reporting.

c. The Contractor shall submit monthly invoices with task-level cost information sufficient for the COR to assess expenditures against the annual contract ceiling.

2. Community Responsiveness Mechanism

a. National Community Advisory Group - The Contractor shall establish and maintain a National Community Advisory Group that includes compensated participation by people with I/DD and family members. The Group shall identify community needs, priorities, and implementation challenges and provide input to inform TA priorities, design, implementation, and continuous improvement. The Contractor shall convene the advisory virtually at least twice per performance year and provide accessible participation mechanisms.

b. UCEDD Implementation Group - The Contractor shall establish and maintain a group of UCEDDs to identify their capacity-building and implementation needs in responding effectively to community priorities. The group shall consider needs and issues identified through the National Community Advisory Group and provide input on strategies, resources, and TA approaches that can strengthen UCEDD responsiveness, and support continuous improvement. The Contractor shall convene this group virtually at least twice per performance year.

c. Demonstrated Responsiveness - The Contractor shall document at least three examples per performance year demonstrating how input obtained through the Community Responsiveness Mechanism materially informed the Strategic TA Plan, selection, or refinement of TA resources or approaches, or another substantive aspect of contract implementation.

3. Privacy and Security Coordination

a. Prior to operating a system or workflow that collects, stores, transmits, or processes personally identifiable information (PII) on behalf of ACL, the Contractor shall complete applicable privacy and security activities and obtain required ACL approvals.

b. The Contractor shall collect only the minimum information necessary for authorized contract purposes.

4. Performance, Risk, and Resource Management

a. The Contractor shall monitor implementation and performance across Tasks 3.2 through 3.7 and identify emerging needs, barriers, risks, and resource pressures.

The Contractor shall mitigate risk such that no more than 10 percent of deliverables are delayed due to unaddressed risk. The Contractor shall monitor expenditures against the annual ceiling and recommend adjustments to the sequencing, volume, or level of effort of variable activities when necessary to maintain performance within available resources, subject to COR approval.

3.2 Tiered TA Delivery

The Contractor shall deliver TA through a three-tier model designed to strengthen UCEDD organizational and partnership capacity and contribute to improved outcomes for people with I/DD and their families.

1. Tier 1 — Intensive Community-Driven TA

a. The Contractor shall support a rotating cohort of UCEDDs through intensive, hands-on TA. The contractor shall support virtually or in person up to two Intensive TA engagements per performance year.

b. The number and scope of Intensive TA engagements shall be proposed through the Strategic TA Plan and approved by the COR based on documented need, expected community benefit, complexity, readiness, and available contract resources.

c. The Contractor shall establish COR-approved selection criteria that consider demonstrated need, expected community benefit, readiness, opportunities for replication, and service to populations or communities experiencing significant gaps in access, participation, or outcomes.

d. For each selected UCEDD, the Contractor shall support co-design, implementation, testing, and documentation of a solution to a community-identified challenge in partnership with people with I/DD, families, and relevant community organizations.

e. Promising approaches demonstrating potential for broader replication or scale shall be referred to Task 3.4 for consideration as Community Impact Blueprints.

2. Tier 2 — Targeted TA

a. The Contractor shall provide focused TA to individual UCEDDs or groups of UCEDDs addressing priorities identified through Task 3.2 or emerging during the performance year.

b. Targeted TA shall support measurable capacity gains in areas such as community engagement, partnerships, leadership, implementation, or program improvement.

c. The annual level of Targeted TA shall be established through the Strategic TA Plan based on identified needs and available resources.

3. Tier 3 — Universal TA

a. The Contractor shall provide foundational TA accessible to the UCEDD network, including program and compliance guidance, orientation for new directors, foundational resources, webinars, and other network-wide assistance responsive to identified needs.

b. Universal TA shall include practical guidance, tools, and resources that strengthen UCEDD capacity to engage with and respond to their communities, including approaches for convening accessible community conversations, identifying community priorities, and using community input to inform UCEDD activities and practices.

c. Universal TA shall be available to all UCEDDs regardless of participation in Targeted or Intensive TA.

d. The Contractor shall use the Task 3.6 Knowledge Base (Base Year) and AI-Assisted Chatbot (Option Year 1), as appropriate, to address recurring informational requests and extend the reach of Universal TA.

4. Performance Measurement The Contractor shall measure reach, service delivery, capacity change, and, where applicable, community engagement quality and contribution to downstream outcomes across the three tiers. At least 80% of Targeted TA recipients report measurable capacity gain, verified via post-engagement survey.

3.3 Strengthen the UCEDD Service-Learning Approach

The Contractor shall support UCEDDs in strengthening service-learning approaches, defined as structured educational experiences that integrate academic instruction with meaningful service to communities providing practical learning opportunities for students and trainees while benefiting people with I/DD, families, and community partners.

1. Service-Learning Framework (Base Year)

a. The Contractor shall develop a practical UCEDD Service-Learning Framework and Implementation Blueprint that includes:

i. Guiding principles for reciprocal, accessible, and community-responsive service learning;

ii. Approaches for identifying community needs and co-designing activities with people with I/DD, families, and community partners;

iii. Model approaches for integrating service learning into interdisciplinary education, academic courses, clinical training, and community-based experiences;

iv. Partnership and implementation tools;

v. Measures of student/trainee learning and community benefit and outcomes; and

vi. Guidance for evaluating, sustaining, and scaling effective approaches.

2. Implementation and Peer Learning (Option Year 1 - 4)

a. During Option Year 1, if exercised, the Contractor shall provide TA to UCEDDs to develop or strengthen service-learning approaches and university-community partnerships.

b. The Contractor shall support service-learning demonstrations up to three COR approved service-learning demonstrations during the performance year. Each supported demonstration shall produce documented community benefit and measurable student competency gain, verified by participant evaluation.

c. The Contractor shall facilitate peer learning and incorporate promising practices, tools, and lessons learned into the Framework and Blueprint.

d. Service-learning approaches demonstrating potential for broader replication or scale shall be referred to Task 3.4 for consideration as Community Impact Blueprints.

3. Performance Measurement The Contractor shall assess whether service-learning TA strengthens UCEDD capacity to connect interdisciplinary education and training with community needs and produces mutual benefit for students/trainees and participating communities.

3.4 Community Capacity Building and Community Impact Blueprint The Contractor shall develop and maintain a simple, standardized Community Impact Blueprint that enables UCEDDS to document, share, and access effective or promising practices, models, tools, partnerships, and approaches across the four statutory core functions:

1. Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation and Continuing Education;

2. Community Services, including training and technical assistance, demonstration, and model activities;

3. Research; and

4. Information Dissemination.

UCEDDs shall be responsible for providing the substantive content describing their practices, models, tools, partnerships, and approaches. The Contractor shall provide a standardized template and concise guidance to support consistent documentation and sharing across the UCEDD network.

1. Community Impact Blueprint Framework

a. The Contractor shall develop a COR-approved Community Impact Blueprint template and simple submission process for use by UCEDDs.

b. The template shall enable UCEDDs to document, as applicable:

i. Community need and population served;

ii. Applicable UCEDD core function(s);

iii. Role of people with I/DD, families, and community partners;

iv. Description of the approach and key implementation steps;

v. Partnerships and resources required;

vi. Available outcome or impact information;

vii. Lessons learned and implementation considerations;

viii. Elements considered important to maintaining the integrity of the approach;

ix. Elements that may be adapted to local contexts; and

x. Conditions and resources that may support replication, sustainability, or scale.

c. The Contractor shall develop COR-approved guidance for UCEDDs to characterize submitted approaches, including distinguishing approaches with evidence of effectiveness from promising or emerging approaches for which additional implementation or evaluation may be needed.

d. UCEDDs submitting materials shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the substantive information provided. The Contractor shall conduct a limited review for completeness and consistency with the approved Blueprint framework.

2. Sharing and Access

a. The Contractor shall make approved Community Impact Blueprints available to the UCEDD network using contract-supported platforms or resources approved by the COR. A separate repository, database, or information technology system is not required.

b. The Contractor shall organize Blueprints using basic categories or metadata, such as core function, topic, population, or community need, sufficient to facilitate identification and use of relevant materials.

c. The Contractor shall establish a simple process for UCEDDs to submit new Blueprints or updates to previously submitted materials.

d. Community Impact Blueprints shall be integrated into the Task 3.6 Knowledge Base.

3. Supporting Network Use

a. The Contractor shall make the Community Impact Blueprint template submission guidance available to the UCEDD network and promote awareness of these resources through existing contract-supported communications and technical assistance activities.

b. The framework shall be designed to facilitate peer learning and enable UCEDDs interested in an approach to identify relevant resources and originating UCEDDs.

c. The Contractor may facilitate connections among UCEDDs through existing network activities and technical assistance mechanisms, as appropriate and consistent with the Strategic TA Plan.

d. Lessons voluntarily provided by UCEDDs regarding adaptation or implementation may be incorporated into the applicable Blueprint, as appropriate.

3.5 UCEDD Dashboard and Search Function

The purpose of this task is to increase public awareness, visibility, and understanding of UCEDD activities across the four statutory core functions and to improve public access to information about existing UCEDD projects and activities. The Contractor shall develop and maintain a streamlined UCEDD Core Functions Dashboard and public search function that provide network- and UCEDD-level visibility into selected activities and available performance information across the four statutory UCEDD core functions:

1. Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation and Continuing Education;

2. Community Services, including training and technical assistance, demonstration, and model activities;

3. Research; and

4. Information Dissemination.

The Dashboard shall be a minimum viable product (MVP) using existing validated Federal data and a limited set of COR-approved indicators. The Contractor may use existing Government-approved software, reporting, or visualization tools. Development of custom application, new data pipelines, enterprise data warehouses, predictive analytics, or automated systems integrations is outside scope unless separately authorized and funded.

The Dashboard shall support public understanding of UCEDD activities and their contribution to DD Act purposes, including self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion.

1. Dashboard Development

a. During the Base Year, the Contractor shall deploy a Section 508-compliant MVP Dashboard providing network-level and individual UCEDD-level views based on available and validated data approved for public release

b. The Dashboard shall use a limited set of COR-approved indicators derived primarily from existing PPR and other approved Federal data.

c. The Contractor shall maximize use of existing approved data sources and minimize supplemental or duplicative data collection from UCEDDs.

d. Supplemental data collection, when necessary, shall follow a COR-approved process.

e. The Contractor shall update the Dashboard when updated source data become available, or at another frequency approved by the COR.

f. The Contractor shall document material data-quality limitations.

2. Search Function

a. The Contractor shall provide and maintain a public facing search function that enables user to locate information about existing UCEDD projects and activities.

b. The Contractor shall maintain the Search Function to improve transparency and facilitate access to information about UCEDD activities.

c. The Contractor shall use existing Government-approved search or related technology. Development of a new enterprise search platform or other custom search infrastructure is outside scope unless separately authorized and funded.

3. Performance Measurement The Contractor shall use available information and stakeholder feedback to assess the usefulness of the Dashboard and Search Function in increasing public visibility and understanding of UCEDD activities, facilitating access to information about existing UCEDD projects and activities, and identifying relevant performance trends, emerging needs, and technical assistance priorities. A separate formal evaluation of the Dashboard or Search Function is not required unless separately authorized and funded.

3.6 UCEDD TA Knowledge Base (Base Year) and AI-Assisted Chatbot (Option Year 1-4) To improve the efficiency, consistency, and accessibility of Universal TA described in Section 3.2, the Contractor shall develop and maintain a curated, searchable UCEDD TA Knowledge Base during Base Year that serves as a centralized source of authoritative guidance, UCEDD-developed resources, Community Impact Blueprints, and existing TA tools and resources. During Option Years 1-4, if exercised, the Contractor shall implement and maintain an AI-assisted chatbot that uses the approved Knowledge Base to help UCEDDS efficiently locate relevant information and received source-grounded responses to common TA questions.

1. Knowledge Base (Base Year)

a. The Knowledge Base shall address, at minimum:

i. Reporting requirements;

ii. UCEDD core function definitions;

iii. Frequently asked program and operational questions;

iv. Applicable ACL/OIDD guidance;

v. Community Impact Blueprints; and

vi. Existing TA tools and resources.

b. Content priorities shall reflect recurring TA questions, Task 3.2 findings, and ACL/OIDD input.

c. The Contractor shall maintain source attribution and a process for human review, updating, and retirement of content.

d. The Knowledge Base shall be structured, to the extent practicable, to support future use by an AI-assisted chatbot without requiring redevelopment of the underlying content.

2. AI-Assisted Chatbot (Option Year 1-4)

a. During Option Year 1, if exercised, the Contractor shall develop, configure, deploy, and maintain an AI-assisted chatbot that enables UCEDD users to submit natural-language questions and receive responses grounded in the approved Knowledge Base.

b. The Contractor may use existing Government-approved or commercially available technology to meet this requirement. Development of a proprietary foundation model or general-purpose AI platform is not required.

c. The chatbot shall:

i. Use approved Knowledge Base content to generate responses;

ii. Provide citations, source references, or links supporting substantive responses;

iii. Indicate when available information is insufficient to provide a supported answer;

iv. Avoid presenting unsupported content as authoritative Federal guidance; and

v. Provide an escalation pathway to TA staff when appropriate.

d. The Contractor shall test chatbot accuracy, source grounding, accessibility, and escalation before production deployment and following material changes.

e. The Contractor shall provide a mechanism for users and TA staff to identify inaccurate, outdated, or unhelpful responses and use findings for continuous improvement.

3. Privacy, Security, and Responsible AI

a. The Contractor shall operate the Knowledge Base and, when implemented, the chatbot in accordance with applicable HHS and ACL requirements for privacy, security, accessibility, records management, and artificial intelligence.

b. Required ACL reviews and approvals shall be completed before production deployment.

c. Non-public Federal information, PII, or other protected information shall not be provided to an AI service unless specifically authorized by ACL and permitted under applicable HHS requirements.

4. Performance Measurement The Contractor shall assess Knowledge Base (Base Year) and chatbot (Option Year 1) utilization, source-grounded response rates, escalation to TA staff, user feedback, identified response deficiencies, and trends in repetitive informational requests.

3.7 Information Management

Consistent with the DD Act, information management activities shall support electronic information sharing and access to information across the UCEDD network, including maintaining web-based resources that connect users to individual UCEDD websites and using current, appropriate internet technologies to facilitate information exchange. The Contractor shall operate and maintain the existing secure, accessible, web-based information management system that enables UCEDDs to complete, store, and submit required annual Program Performance Reports (PPRs) and five-year plan updates to OIDD.

1. Provide for as long as it is needed a highly reliable and secure web-based information management system of services and supports that meets or exceeds customer requirements and expectations for electronic submission of the Annual OIDD/UCEDD performance report (PPR)s.

1. Given the dynamics of the web-based information management market, establish an arrangement that easily accommodates change to any and all information management system maintained by the contractor.

1. Directly manage a flexible, transparent, and responsive federal reporting web-based information management system for as long as it is needed with interactive components that provides:

0. A mechanism for UCEDDs to electronically store required documents submitted to the federal agencies (e.g. PPR), with embedded guidance for grantees to provide high-quality activity descriptions.

0. A mechanism for UCEDDs to electronically transfer to OIDD the required documents (e.g., PPR).

0. In a timely manner, data files to federal staff (OIDD) based on federal agency specifications.

1. User testing, streamlined forms, enhanced guidance, reduced burden, comprehensive training

1. Streamline for better impact capture, format for marketing use, tools for UCEDDs to use their own data

1. Provide effective T/TA to UCEDD and federal staff on the web-based information management systems supported by this funding.

1. Prepare reports and provide data as requested in accordance with OIDD format and guidelines.

1. Directly manage a web-based information management system which can be accessed by the public that provides for full functionality to categorically search for past and current initiatives, activities and efforts undertaken by UCEDDs that meets OIDD’s expectations.

1. Accessibility This contract is subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (the Act) of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) Electronic and Information Accessibility Provisions (36 CFR Part 1194). Section 508 of the Act requires that, unless an exception applies, all communications products and services that require a contractor or consultant to produce content in any format that is specifically intended for publication on, or delivery via, a federally owned or federally funded website or intranet permit the following:

(1) Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use information and data that is comparable to the access and use of information and data by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.

(2) Members of the public with disabilities seeking information or services from a federal agency to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use of information and data by members of the public who are not individuals with disabilities.

(Note: Information about Section 508 of the Act is available at http://www.section508.gov/. The complete text of Section 508 can be accessed at https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh.)

Accordingly, regardless of format, all web content or communications materials specifically produced for publication on, or delivery via, HHS websites, including text, audio, or video, under this contract shall conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. Remediation of any materials that do not comply with the applicable accessibility standards of 36 CFR Part 1194 as set forth herein shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

The following Section 508 accessibility standards apply to the content or communications material identified in this PWS:

· Functional Performance Criteria

· Electronic Content

· Software

· Support Documentation and Services Consistent with the revised Section 508 rule effective March 21, 2017, ACL requires contractors to use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/), and to design and develop digital content and systems for the AA success criteria, conformance to which will meet the current Section 508 criteria for accessibility.

Electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria. Checklist for various formats are available at http://508.hhs.gov/, or from the Section 508 Coordinator listed at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/additional-resources/section-508-contacts/index.html. Materials that are final items for delivery should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist, except upon approval of the Contracting Officer or Representative.

1. Security and Privacy Before operating any system or workflow that collects, stores, transmits, or processes PII on behalf of ACL, the Contractor shall support ACL in completing required privacy compliance activities, including data inventory, privacy threshold analysis, Privacy Impact Assessment support, records analysis, and review of whether a SORN or other notice is required. The Contractor shall collect only the minimum information necessary for authorized purposes.

All Federal information, including backups, exports, logs containing sensitive data, and data stored on portable or removable media, shall be encrypted at rest and in transit in accordance with HHS policy and approved cryptographic standards. Unencrypted storage of PII on portable/removable media is prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by ACL The Contractor shall not input non-public Federal information into third-party generative AI tools unless the tool has appropriate Federal authorization and ACL has approved such use in writing. Any AI-generated output must be reviewed by qualified personnel and shall not be the sole basis for Government decisions.

Applicability. This statement applies whether the entire contract or order (hereafter “contract”), or portion thereof, includes either or both of the following:

Access (Physical or Logical) to Federal Information: A Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) employee will have or given the ability to have, physical or logical (electronic) access to federal information.

Operate a Federal System Containing Information: A Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) will operate a federal system and information technology containing data that directly supports the HHS mission[footnoteRef:1]. In addition to the FAR Subpart 2.1 definition of “information technology” (IT), the term as used in this section, includes computers, ancillary equipment (including imaging peripherals, input, output, and storage devices necessary for security and surveillance), peripheral equipment designed to be controlled by the central processing unit of a computer, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services) and related resources. [1: Defined by OMB Circular A-130, as amended, at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a130_a130trans4/]

Contractor Responsibilities. In accordance with the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS)199, Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems, the Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) is responsible for the following:

On behalf of HHS and ACL, protecting federal information and information systems in order to ensure their:

· Integrity, which means guarding against improper information modification or destruction, and ensuring information non-repudiation and authenticity;

· Confidentiality, which means preserving authorized restrictions on access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal privacy and proprietary information; and

· Availability, which means ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information.

Providing security of any Contractor systems, and information contained therein, connected to an HHS network or operated by the Contractor on behalf of HHS regardless of location. In addition, if new or unanticipated threats or hazards are discovered by either the agency or contractor, or if existing safeguards have ceased to function, the discoverer shall immediately, within one (1) hour or less, bring the situation to the attention of the other party.

The Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) shall not publish or disclose in any manner, without the Contracting Officer’s written consent, the details of any safeguards either designed or developed by the Contractor under this contract or otherwise provided by the Government per clause 52.239-1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)[footnoteRef:2]. [2: FAR 52.239-1, as amended, may be found at https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/current/far/html/52_233_240.html ]

The Contractor is prohibited from subcontracting to companies to conduct HHS business in which foreign governments that support international terrorism have a “significant interest” per 10 U.S.C. § 2327[footnoteRef:3] . [3: More information on subcontracting to foreign governments this may be found at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title10/html/USCODE-2011-title10-subtitleA-partIV-chap137-sec2327.htm]

The contractor shall adopt and implement, in consultation with the COR, and the ACL Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Information Officer, the policies, procedures, controls, and standards of the HHS Information Security Program to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of federal information and federal information systems for which the Contractor is responsible under this contract or to which the Contractor may otherwise have access under this contract. The contractor is expected to work in collaboration with the COR, and the ACL Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Information Officer to ensure the security and privacy of systems developed on behalf of ACL. The HHS Information Security and Privacy Policy is available from fisma@hhs.gov. The remainder of this requirement is included as Appendix D, ACL IT Security and Privacy Requirements for the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Training and T/TA Project.

Transition-Out of T/TA Services, Government Property, and Contract Data In the event of a transition from the incumbent Contractor to the Government or a successor contractor, the Contractor shall support procedures designed to ensure an orderly transfer of services and continuity of operations. At the direction of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall support transition activities at the end of the contract, following termination, or when otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer.

Within 10 business days of receiving written notice to begin transition activities, the Contractor shall provide a transition plan for Government approval. The plan shall identify key activities, responsibilities, schedules, deliverables, and any issues that could affect continuity of services.

The Contractor shall:

1. Support continuity of services. Identify and support the transition of ongoing technical assistance requests, scheduled trainings and events, pending products and deliverables, outstanding commitments, and other activities necessary to minimize disruption to UCEDDs and other stakeholders.

2. Transfer Government property. Inventory and return or transfer Government-furnished equipment and other Government property associated with the contract, including property held by subcontractors, in accordance with Contracting Officer instructions and applicable contract requirements.

3. Transfer contract products and materials. Provide the Government with completed and in-progress products and materials developed or maintained under the contract, as applicable. These may include training materials, curricula, presentations, recordings, publications, resource libraries, Community Impact Blueprints, technical assistance resources, operating procedures, evaluation materials, and supporting documentation. Editable or source files shall be provided when required by the contract and consistent with applicable data rights and licensing requirements.

4. Transfer contract data. Provide Government-furnished data and data collected, created, or maintained on behalf of the Government under the contract, including applicable data maintained by subcontractors or hosting providers. Data shall be provided in a usable and commonly accessible format, together with documentation reasonably necessary for the Government or a successor contractor to understand and use the information.

5. Support knowledge transfer. Provide reasonable documentation, walkthroughs, training, and coordination needed to transfer ongoing work and enable continuity of operations. This shall include, as applicable, information necessary to continue operation or administration of contract-supported tools, resources, and systems.

6. Identify transition limitations. Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any proprietary, licensing, technical, security, or third-party restrictions that may affect the Government's ability to receive, access, or continue using contract products, data, systems, or services.

7. Protect information during transition. Continue to comply with applicable Government requirements for privacy, security, accessibility, records management, data retention, and disposition throughout the transition period.

Transition activities shall be performed within the authorized scope, funding, and period of performance of the contract. Any additional transition services require written authorization from the Contracting Officer.