Questions_and_Answers.doc

Q & A for RFQ 1186182

Advanced Leadership Training for CDER/OCP

Questions and Answers

1. It is unclear whether specific certifications, educations or licenses are required. Can you clarify whether these are required of the contractor?

· Key personnel are expected to have knowledge, skills and ability to provide advance leadership training with past experience and certification evidence in conducting such successfully such programs

2. Is the contractor expected to develop all of the courses in Attachment A or are these already on the shelf awaiting individual participants to select (with guidance from the contracted coach)?

· Yes, the contractor is expected to develop all the courses in Attachment A.

3. Should the price of books, VTC services, travel and other miscellaneous be listed as a separate line item in the pricing?

· Yes, the price of the books, VTC services, travel and other miscellaneous should be listed as separate line items in the pricing.

4. A “retreat” is mentioned on page 5. Can you provide more information about this event?

· This is not a retreat. It refers to the training and coaching for this requirement.

5. Please confirm the scope of the engagement is to work with the assessment results from your existing assessment process, and to then suggest/design a coaching 'leadership development package that includes accessing and working with your elibrary of trainings and to then coach the individuals in the cohort (11). Versus developing the actual elearnings based on your materials.

· The requirement involves the vendor developing the elearnings. The vendor is to provide the assessments, training modules, coaching and all materials associated with the training.

6. Please clarify your requirements for the proposal. For example, will a technical approach describing how we will fulfil the requirements in Part 3 of the RFQ be sufficient? Please clarify that we do not have to submit proposed syllabus for all 21 leadership training courses that participants of the cohort will have to choose from in the proposal.

· A technical approach describing how you will fulfill the requirements in Part 3 of the RFQ will be sufficient along with the completed pricing table from Part 2 of the RFQ. No, you do not have to submit a proposed syllabus for all 21 leadership training courses.

7. If we are teaming with another company on this bid is it okay to submit the company’s past performance as part of our proposal?

· The solicitation has been updated to reflect past performance as an evaluation factor. Past performance will be evaluated with what is available on the government’s portal, Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). If you are teaming up with another company, PPIRS will be used to evaluate them as well.

8. Please confirm that OCP already has an LMS system in place for video streaming of training videos and the contractor is not required to provide that

· The contractor chooses a LMS system compatible with FDA IT system for participants. The LMS system must include administering, tracking, delivering, and reporting on online learning content that is compatible with the HHS/FDA systems and comply with the requirements of HHS security and privacy policies https://www.hhs.gov/ocio/securityprivacy/index.html. Contractor also generates personalized ‘Proof of Completion’ certificates, and coordinates to generate learning surveys to measure value and customer success

9. Please confirm that the contractor is responsible for developing all 21 course modules, including pre/prost tests, worksheets for the courses and individual assessments

· Yes, the contractor is responsible for developing all 21 course modules, including pre/post-tests, worksheets for the courses and individual assessments.

10. Lastly please confirm how much content (Will half a day 1/2 day suffice?) the courses should have, considering that attendees only have 2-6 hours to complete the course online and required reading.

· The contractor’s knowledge, skills, ability and experience drives the content selection, time, schedules for online prerequisites and training and coaching the ‘off the shelf’ modules to participants.

11. Please let me know if there is a required or preferred proposal format for this solicitation.

· There is no required or preferred proposal format for the solicitation. Please follow instructions in Part 7 of the solicitation of the information that should be included for your proposal.

12. What is the expectation for pre and post assessments?

a. Is the government expecting an assessment before and after each lesson or at the beginning and end of the 10 month process?

· Yes, expecting an assessment before and after each lesson and final report at the end of the process.

b. Does the pre and post test exist or is that created by the contractor?

· Pre and posttest are created by the contractor.

13. For textbooks, can we use Kindle versions or must they be hard copy versions?

· Not every participant may have a kindle and therefore text books are preferred, but an option of kindle can be offered to those who have it.

14. Videos:

a. Do the videos for each unit already exist?

· No, the videos are to be developed/provided by the contractor.

b. Is there a cost for video usage or has the government already purchased the videos?

· The contractor must provide the videos.

c. How are the videos accessed by the contractor and by the students?

· Government participants have access to communication tools such as Cisco web ex, Adobe connect and other web access and contractor can stream the videos via these systems and if needed, a dedicated CDER IT help desk/assistance can be requested.

15. What happens if a participant decides they do not want to participate, for whatever reason?

· Participants are committed to take the training and coaching program. If for some unavoidable genuine reason not be able to participate, it will be offered to another participant.

16. Does the FDA have a standardized Individual Development Plan (IDP) format, or are the participants/coaches free to use whatever form they choose?

· Government (CDER) has an IDP plan to meet CDER’s competencies that improve current performance, and prepare employee for greater responsibility (See Manual of Policies and Procedures (MAPP), Attachment 2 pages 12-13) https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ManualofPoliciesProcedures/UCM263361.pdf

17. Does the contractor have to cover any of the travel expenses for the students to participate in the training?

· There should not be any travel expenses for the students since the training will be performed onsite at the FDA White Oak Campus.

18. Is there a video link software, e.g. Zoom, etc., that the FDA utilizes?

· FDA uses communication tool like Cisco web ex, Adobe connect and other web access to stream videos. Contractor can use the specific video link software if it is in the list of CDER ‘Master approved technologies’ compatible with FDA systems.

19. What resources are available in the training room, e.g. projector, screen, dry erase boards, tables, chairs, etc?

· Yes, all resources are available in the conference rooms including projector, scree, dry erase boards, tables, chairs.

20. Should we include in our estimate the cost for the students to take the LPI 360?

· Yes, please include the cost for students to take the LPI 360.

21. Is module 1 the only face to face session?

· No, module 1 is not the only face to face session. Coaching can include face to face, phone/webinar as needed keeping a flexible time to accommodate participant’s availability.