SOW MARSOC Strategic Comms Nov 2022.pdf

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARFORSOC)

Strategic Communications Course

Statement of Work

1.0 Introduction. Marine Forces Special Operations Command has a requirement for contract support for a strategic communications course. The contractor shall provide capability to conduct briefing and writing courses on Camp Lejeune, at a vendor run facility, and online for up to 20 MARSOC members at a time. The purpose of this requirement is to provide training on communication skills, critical thinking, decision-making, and enhanced understanding.

Contractor will be able to provide (separate) instruction on both briefing and writing fundamentals.

Period of performance Three-year ordering period from date of contract award. We expect to request up to 15 courses with varying numbers of students throughout the PoP.

2.0. Background. MARFORSOC has the requirement to provide formal training to Marines in order to create critical thinkers and communicators to support missions worldwide in a variety of operating environments. The unit charged with overseeing the planning of this series of seminars is G7 Training and Education, MARFORSOC.

3.0. Scope. The focus of this required communication training is on improving the individual’s ability to deliver verbal and written information clearly and concisely. Outcome of the course is for students to be able to embrace concise communication and develop a culture of brevity.

This is expected to reduce time spent in meetings and briefings, help students make decisions faster, enhance understanding of mission, improve operational efficiency, and ensure clarity to reduce confusion in messaging. Courses will be available for the customer to choose the method of delivery (in-person, online, or hybrid versions).

3.1. Participants will be prepared to develop and deliver brief communication summaries in diverse applications where they can confidently, consistently and concisely deliver impactful, mission-driven information to inform, update and influence key military and non-military audiences both at home and abroad. Course lengths may vary depending on type of course briefing, writing, etc.) and the method of instruction (in-class, online or hybrid version of courses), but should average 1-2 days (8-16 hours of instruction).

3.2. Instruction will target the following specific verbal applications: delivering the unit’s elevator speech that outlines the core organizational narrative (i.e., unique value delivered in area of responsibility), as well as providing concise situation reports (sit-reps), strategic plans, in-progress reviews, team updates, meeting agendas and summaries, mission briefs, e-mails and creative product and campaign pitches.

3.3. The communication training approach shall be based on experiential and adult-learning methodologies that emphasize numerous practical exercises, minimal lecturing and frequent opportunities for debriefing, individual feedback and personal coaching. Students should be expected to learn by doing activities and exercises that pull them out of their comfort zone and accelerate breakthrough learning.

3.4. Specific skills targeted include the following: mind mapping, trimming, headlining

(i.e., BLUF approach), active listening, storytelling, and conversational communication tone.

3.5. Course materials will include a published textbook/workbook on the value and technique of concise communication that aligns closely with the course agenda. Participants shall utilize printed mind map handouts, as well as written tips and technique handouts that support the practical course of instruction.

3.6. Course instructors shall have extensive experience in narrative storytelling, concise message development and strategic communication briefing methods for both corporate and military clients. Previous work with military Special Operators is preferred.

4.0. Applicable Directives. N/A

5.0. Performance Requirements. The contracted service provider shall provide for a series of strategic communications courses (up to 15 total) throughout the PoP for up to 20 MARSOC members each. The dates of the courses will be provided from the various subordinate units and will vary in size and method of instruction throughout the PoP. Requesting units will provide at least 30 days’ notice to Contractor with the details for each requested course and coordinate with instructors 2 weeks in advance for the instructors to modify the course to focus on mission-specific objectives.

5.1. No changes are allowed to this contract without the written permission of the Contracting

Officer.

6.0. Personnel Requirements. Contractor provides instructors with expertise in strategic, concise communication to include business/industry experience in marketing, as well as previous experience instructing military Special Operators.

7.0. MARFORSOC Deliverables. N/A.

8.0. Contractor Deliverables. Course content to include (but not limited to): How to trim what you say and write; how to headline (gain and keep audience); difference between Telling vs

Selling; how to prepare and provide executive summaries; how to conduct active listening; how to maintain attention management; how to prepare concise emails / meetings; creating a value proposition (specific using MARSOC’s background and potential audiences); how to pitch an idea; how to manage tough conversations; facilitating a meeting / meeting agenda design.

Contractor also provides each student with a guidebook and notebook to manage and master communication and one year access to online e-learning. Facility for instruction will depend on the method of instruction requested: locations may include: the Contractor’s teaching facility, at a MARFORSOC classroom, online, or a hybrid combination of more than one method.

Contractor provided facility must be within 200 miles of Stone Bay, Camp Lejeune NC.

9.0. Government Furnished Equipment, Material, and Workspace. For instruction onsite at

MARFORSOC, a classroom will be provided to conduct training on-site. The classroom will have adequate seating for all attendees of the communications seminar as well as white boards to facilitate instruction. The classroom will have access to web-based media as well as computers for use by the instructors to present course material. Digital media accessed by instructors on an external drive must be provided a week prior to the beginning of the seminar to ensure it is cleared to access government systems; digital media saved to CD-ROMs is immediately accessible for use and does not have to be cleared. Finally, the government will provide a projector from which instructors will be able to display media.

10.0. Travel. Government will pay for contractor travel requirements on a reimbursable basis.

Contractor will provide travel costs as part of the vendor estimate for each task order.

11.0. Point of Contacts. The Point of Contact for this matter is:

WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR EACH TASK ORDER AWARD

12.0. Government Representatives for Event:

WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR EACH TASK ORDER AWARD

13.0. Warranty: None.

14.0. Quality Control Plan:

14.1. Quality Control Plan. The Contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality

Control Plan to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified. One copy of the contractor's Quality Control Plan shall be provided to the Contracting Officer upon request.

14.2. Quality Assurance. The government will evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract based on the inspection of the services clause. The government will record all observations. When an observation indicates defective performance, the designated Government

Representative will request the contractor's representative to initial the observation. The designated

Government Representative for this contract is: WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR EACH TASK

ORDER AWARD.

14.3. Performance Evaluation Meetings. The contractor may be required to meet with a designated

Government Representative and the Contracting Officer during the first month of the contract.

Meetings will be as often as necessary thereafter as determined by the Contracting Officer.

However, at the contractor’s request, a meeting will be held whenever a Contract Discrepancy

Report is issued. The written minutes of these meetings shall be signed by the contractor's manager, contracting officer and designated Government Representative. Should the contractor not concur with the minutes, the contractor shall state any areas of non-concurrence in writing to the Contracting Officer within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the signed minutes.

15.0. Acceptance: Acceptance of the contractor’s work under this order shall be at the sole discretion of the Performance Monitor who will evaluate the contractor’s Period of Instruction.

Acceptance will be documented using the Wide Area Workflow – Receipt & Acceptance

(WAWF-RA). If the course is unacceptable, the government will notify the Contracting Service

Owner, who shall coordinate with the Government Representative to determine the corrective action to be taken.

16.0 Information Security: The Contractor will be responsible for safeguarding all Government personnel’s personally identifiable information, mission information, language requirements, and test scores used in instruction in accordance with the Government’s standard operating procedure(s).