revised_SOW_for_Interviewing_Course.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

LEGAL TRAINING SERVICES

1.0 BACKGROUND

As part of fulfilling its mandate to conduct audits and investigations into suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving Department of Commerce (DOC) programs and operations, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provides technical reports of its findings, congressional testimony, speeches, and other written and oral products as necessary to keep the Congress, the public, and the administrative and policymaking community informed of its work. Such products may address any matters within the Department’s purview, such as the decennial census, patent and trademark issues, satellites, weather, and other programs and functions of the Department of Commerce.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The DOC OIG is seeking a contractor to deliver a two-day course for at least 15 OIG attorneys and special agents covering advanced interviewing skills for federal investigators. The curriculum must focus on preparing for interviews, including drafting an outline and crafting effective questions; managing the flow of the interview; handling recalcitrant, uncooperative, and untruthful witnesses; handling evidence, particularly emails and other documents; handling obstructive counsel; and dealing with other adverse conditions in witness interviews.

3.0 DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall plan and implement the two day training course covering advanced interviewing skills to approximately at least 15 OIG attorneys and special agents. The course should use a variety of learning mediums, including without limitation:

Lectures Practical exercises, drills, workshops, and/or role play Audio Transcription review

The substance of the course should be customized for federal OIG investigators (attorneys and special agents), and not for civil litigators. The course should provide instruction on the following, among other things:

preparing for witness interviews, including drafting an outline, developing lines of questioning, and crafting effective questions designed to exhaust the witness’s knowledge of relevant topics;

managing the flow of witness interviews, including (i) handling recalcitrant, uncooperative, and untruthful witnesses; (ii) using evidence, particularly emails and other documents; (iii) handling obstructive counsel; (iv) formulating probative questions during the interview; and (v) reacting to unexpected testimony and dealing with other adverse conditions in witness interviews; and recognizing and dealing with witnesses who are deceptive, evasive, or consistently claim failures of memory.

The course should NOT address issues relevant to depositions in civil litigation that are inapplicable to federal OIG investigations, including without limitation:

Defending depositions;

Witness preparation;

Deposing expert witnesses; and Handling objections from a witness’s counsel.

The contractor shall perform all services at:

Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Materials

Prior to the beginning of the course, the contractor is to deliver instructional materials - such as reading materials and practical exercises - to the DOC OIG in order to facilitate the review and approval of course content before course instruction commences.

4.2 Travel

The government will not reimburse the contractor for any travel expenses. The contractor is responsible for any transportation needs.

2) Experience

3) Past Performance and

4) Price

5.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this order will be the actual time required to develop the training program plus the two days of actual instruction. The training days must occur before September 30, 2015.