ACOT_Performance_Work_Statement_28_Jan_16.docx

Performance Work Statement Applied Cyber Operations Training

(ACOT)

26 January 2015 Version 1.2

Table of Contents

1 Description of Services: The contractor shall provide all personnel, labor, courseware, equipment, supplies, and incidentals necessary to perform the requirements of this performance work statement (PWS) for Applied Cyber Operations Training (ACOT) course services for the 39th Information Operations Squadron. The ACOT course is a pre-requisite for the National Security Agency's (NSA's) Remote Interactive Operator Training (RIOT) course. The course is part of the Cyber Mission Forces (CMF) training pipeline. The contractor shall be responsible for ensuring all services provided under this contract are in accordance with (IAW) the terms and conditions outlined herein and conform to this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

1.1 Period of Performance: Performance period for this blanket purchase agreement(s) will commence on the effective date of the award and will run continuously for a four year ordering period.

1.2 Specific Requirements

1.2.1 Course Requirements

1.2.1.1 The contractor shall provide initial qualification training (IQT) for Airmen to plan and execute missions requiring Cyberspace and Information operations Capabilities.

1.2.1.2 The contractor shall provide cyberspace IQT students world class applied cyber security training based on the civilian dominated cyberspace domain advanced security concepts using a current and updated experience base; preparing the students to enter the National Security Agencies (NSA) Cybersecurity advanced training; Remote Interactive Operator Training (RIOT).

1.2.1.3 The contractor shall provide advanced commercial based training that shall be a follow-on course to the established Air Force Cyber Training Pipeline courseware and a pre-requisite to the NSA’s RIOT course. The contractor’s course shall bridge the gap between the AF Cyber Training Pipeline courses and the RIOT course.

1.2.1.4 The contractor shall provide a detailed, updated course syllabus for the Applied Cyber Operations Training Course to be updated annually, or after a major change to the course.

1.2.1.5 The ACOT course provided by the contractor shall include interactive and practical Cyber Operations instruction.

1.2.1.6 The ACOT course provided by the contractor shall meet AF TTL requirements as approved by the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) and integrate seamlessly with existing course curricula as approved by the AFSPC/A2/3/6T.

1.2.1.7 The ACOT course provided by the contractor shall focus on Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations.

1.2.1.8 The contractor shall provide seats into a pre-existing course at the contractor’s facilities. There is no requirement to create a new course to meet the requirements of this PWS. The contractor shall submit to the contracting officer the minimum and/or maximum class size for each class site; within 30 days of contract award.

1.2.1.9 The training shall include at a minimum: equipment, course materials (books, hardware, software, instructors, simulator access, and networked infrastructure) required to deliver the ACOT course associated with this contract.

1.3 Student Accountability

1.3.1 The contractor shall provide a roster of Government students attending the ACOT course using a training voucher associated with this contract.

1.3.2 Government students are expected to attend the entire course. The contractor shall coordinate the Government student roster (associated with this PWS) with the COR not less than seven (7) days prior to the start of a class, to ensure accountability.

1.3.3 The contractor shall notify the COR of any student failing to attend or participate in the training course; Four (4) hours for failure to attend and within five (5) days for failure to participate.

1.3.4 In cases where the student is failing to progress, the contractor shall contact the COR as needed following a failed evaluation or failed make-up evaluation; dependent on the contractor’s evaluation and grading rubric but not more than five (5) days after the failure. The COR will contact the Government supervisor for a decision on whether to keep the student in training or remove the student from training. The contractor may report subject areas where a student may need extra study and supervision.

1.3.5 In cases of student behavioral problems the contractor shall contact the COR within 24 hours of incident(s), the COR will contact the Government supervisor for action.

1.3.6 In cases of illness or accident, the Contracting Officer, the COR, and the Contractor will discuss the circumstances of the incident and decide to excuse a short absence and continue the course or withdraw the student from training. The decision will be made based on nature of incident, length of expected absence, student progression in the course, and student ability to complete the course. The contracting officer and the contractor may request that the student “fall-back” into a different course in order to complete the course without incurring an additional charge for the course.

1.3.7 If a student is withdrawn from training the Contracting Officer and the Contractor will negotiate a pro-rated credit to the Government.

1.4 Student Evaluation

1.4.1 The contractor shall provide the COR with Government student graduation report at the end of each class with Government students, not later than 10 days after graduation. At a minimum the Government student graduation report shall contain the name of the Government students and a final grade indication of passing or failing the course. The contractor may report subject areas where a student has excelled.

1.4.2 The contractor shall provide a grading rubric demonstrating the passing standards for the course within 30 days of award and updated annually, or after a major change to the course. Passing standards for each cognitive evaluation shall not be less than 80%. Passing standards for each psycho-motor performance task shall not be less than 80%. Evaluation grading shall be made against a non-arbitrary, objective standard.

1.5 Training Locations, Schedules, and Student Enrollment

1.5.1 The training shall take place at a contractor provided facility within a 50 mile radius of the following locations: Baltimore MD, Augusta GA, San Antonio TX, and Honolulu HI. Contractor Facilities shall meet requirements listed in 1.2.1.9 for all locations.

1.5.2 If the contractor’s facilities are considered secure facilities; All Government employees will possess a Government security clearance and will coordinate their visit with the facility security office, at least seven (7) days prior to class start date.

1.5.3 The contractor shall publish a course schedule, not less than 14 days before the course start date.

1.5.4 The Government will coordinate with the contractor’s course registrar to enroll Government students in the ACOT course. The time-frame for enrolling Government students shall conform with the contractor’s enrollment policies to the greatest extent possible; but not less than one (1) day notice to the contractor. If the requested course is not available, the contractor will recommend a future date for consideration.

1.5.5 The Contractor shall notify the student and the Government COR of the course start date, time, and location at least seven (7) days prior to course start date; or as soon as practical when the Government fails to enroll a student within seven (7) days of the course start date.

1.5.6 The Government may request the contractor conduct an out-of-cycle course.

2 General Requirements

2.1 The contractor shall establish normal course attendance hours (start and ending times). The contractor shall make the course start hours and location of the course known to student at least seven (7) business days before the start of the class.

2.2 Location and Hours of Work

2.2.1 Delivery, installation, or maintenance of the products referenced in this PWS requires work at the following locations: Baltimore MD, Augusta GA, San Antonio TX, and Honolulu HI at various contractor facilities.

2.2.2 Normal Government workdays are Monday through Friday except US Federal Holidays. Contractor employees typically work eight (8) hours per day, 40 hours per week. Recognized holiday: The contractor is not required to provide service on the following days: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on Saturday, it is observed on Friday. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday.

2.2.3 All Government employees are expected to be available during course hours. Any issues related to weather or security delays / closures will be coordinated (in-person, by phone, or by email) directly with the Contracting Officer, the COR and the contractor in order to establish an approved course of action that ensures the delivery and continuity of instruction, installation, and/or maintenance actions.

2.3 The contractor shall successfully integrate and coordinate all activity needed to execute the requirement. The contractor shall manage the timeliness, completeness, and quality of problem identification. The contractor shall seek to ensure customer satisfaction and professional and ethical behavior of all contractor personnel.

2.4 The contractor shall employ and utilize qualified personnel with appropriate combinations of education, training, and experience in order to deliver the best product to the Government. The contractor shall submit instructor qualifications to the contracting officer; in writing or by email at least quarterly or as updates are made.

2.5 Continuation of Essential DoD Contractor Services during Crisis: This requirement has been determined not to be essential and does not require continued support during a crisis as defined in DFARS 252.237-7023

2.6 The contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal and State environmental requirements. Additionally, the contractor shall reduce the environmental damages associated with this procurement by considering the specification of environmentally preferable products and services to the extent feasible consistent with price, performance, availability, and safety considerations. All products should be considered that have recycled or bio-based content as well as other environmentally preferable attributes, such as: Reduced packaging, Durability and reparability, Reduced toxicity, Water conservation, Low volatile organic compound content, Asbestos alternative.

3 Contract Administration and Management

3.1 The Contractor shall provide the name of the Contract Manager (CM) and any alternate(s) who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent and they shall be designated in writing to the CO and COR within five (5) business days after contract award. The Contractor shall provide telephone numbers and email addresses of the CM and alternate(s) where these persons may be contacted at any time. The CM or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all matters relating to operation of this contract. The Contractor shall provide a CM who can read, write, speak and understand English fluently.

3.2 The contractor shall establish clear organizational lines of authority and responsibility to ensure effective management and accounting of the Government purchases assigned to the requirement.

3.3 The contractor shall establish processes and assign appropriate resources to effectively administer the requirement. The contractor shall respond to Government requests for contractual actions with 24 hours on a weekday or the following Monday if a weekend. The contractor shall have a single point of contact between the Government and Contractor personnel assigned to support contracts or task orders. The contractor shall assign work effort and maintain proper and accurate accounting for products and supplies requested, delivered, invoiced and paid.

3.4 Contractor Personnel, Disciplines, and Specialties: The contractor shall deliver servicein accordance with the PWS. The requested products rely heavily on highly technical subject matter and technical training courses. The Government is not requesting any full-time employees (FTE) or contractor manpower equivalents (CME) assigned to the Government Locations referenced in this PWS. Any contractor employees performing duties associated with the delivery, installation, or maintenance of the products referenced in this PWS, are the responsibility of the contractor. The Contractor shall provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to manage, perform, and administer the contract.

3.5 Contractor Manpower Reporting (CMR): The Contractor shall report ALL Contractor labor hours (including sub-contractor labor hours), required for the performance of services provided under this contract for the US Air Force (AF) via a secure data collection site. The Contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields at the website http://www.ecmra.mil. Reporting inputs shall be for the labor executed during the PoP for each Government fiscal year (FY), which runs from 1 October through 30 September the following year. Although inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than 31 October of each calendar year. Contractors may direct questions to the CMR help desk email listed at http://www.ecmra.mil.

4 Special Requirements

4.1 Safety and Security. In performing work under this contract, the contractor shall:

4.1.1 Conform to the safety requirements contained in the contract for all activities related to the accomplishment of the work.

4.1.2 Take such additional immediate precautions as the contracting officer may reasonably require for safety and mishap prevention purposes.

4.1.3 Develop and provide at the start of the first operational performance period a safety plan for providing a safe work environment for contractor personnel.

4.1.4 Record and report promptly (within one hour) to the contracting officer or contracting officer representative, all available facts relating to injury to either contractor or government personnel.

4.2 Government Furnished Property and Services: Government furnished property and services is/not applicable to this requirement.

4.3 Environmental Controls

4.3.1 Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The contractor shall be knowledgeable of and comply with all applicable Interstate, Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and requirements regarding environmental protection. In the event environmental laws/regulations change during the term of this contract, the contractor is required to comply as such laws come into effect. If there is an increase or decrease in cost as a result of the change, the contractor shall inform the Contracting Officer pursuant to notice requirements and negotiate a modification to the contract.

5 Services Summary

Passing standards for each cognitive evaluation shall not be less than 80%.

Passing standards for each psycho-motor performance task shall not be less than 80%.

Evaluation grading shall be made against a non-arbitrary standard