HDQMWR-19-Q-0078_MYCAA_-_FBO.pdf

HDQMWR-19-Q-0078 FBO

Base Notice: This is a Notice of Intent to issue a GSA task order to Bam Technologies, 2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Suite 610, Arlington, VA 22202, on a sole source basis. The sole source is based on the requirement that the contractor must have and maintain access to the Air Force Academic Institutions Portal. Access to the portal is required in order to make changes to the database, electronic freedom of information act production environment, and configuration management. MyCAA portal is hosted in the Air Force AWS Cloud. The contractor shall have approved access by the Air Force for the portal and shall provide proof of the access by submitting a letter from the Air Force indicating as such.

Performance Work Statement

Department of the Navy Commander, Naval Installations Command (CNIC)

Fleet and Family Readiness Service Center

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Department of Defense (DoD) requires a Contractor to provide technical, administrative and direct services in support of the DoD Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) Program. This program is the primary source of education, career and employment counseling for all military spouses.

A contractor is required to support the key functional areas of the SECO Program: My Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA), Spouse Transition (MySTeP) and Spouse Education Career Opportunities (SECO) Portal.

It is understood that this is a dynamic environment encompassing quality of life support systems for military members and their spouses. Therefore, the intent is to have a flexible contract that allows the Government to quickly address changing social dynamics, educational requirements and/or military missions. The evolving needs of the Participants may drive adaptation of SECO services to satisfy such in a rapidly changing environment. Participant needs require a Contractor to employ a broad range of resources to quickly adjust based on demand signals.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The Department of Defense (DoD) requires a Contractor to provide on-going development, maintenance, support, training, and technical support of spouse transition (MySTeP) and the following applications:

MyCAA, Post-secondary Education Complaint System, SECO Portal, Community Capacity Inventory and the Voluntary Education Management System.

3.0 BACKGROUND

Currently, there are 1.1M military spouses, 91% of whom are women. The average age of military spouses is 30 years old. Because of the unique demands of deployment and military relocations, military spouses frequently find themselves in the role of single working parent with unique requirements for work-life balance.

Despite the demands of their mobile military life, military spouses are strong contributing partners in their military marriages. Eighty-five percent (85%) report they want or need to work to help make ends meet, to meet work-life goals, and to provide their families with a good quality of life. Unfortunately, military families relocate 14% more frequently than their civilian counterparts with military moves occurring every 24-36 months. This creates barriers for military spouses who are searching for employment and trying to maintain their career status. The unacceptable outcome for military spouses is an unemployment rate of 23%.

Employers who have hired military spouses know they are a powerful asset to the American workforce.

Eighty-four percent (84%) of military spouses have some college, 25% have a bachelor’s degree, and 10% have professional or graduate degrees, making them more highly educated than their civilian counterparts. This higher level of education has made them more competitive in the job market, but has not produced better salaries. In fact, the contrary is true. Military spouses experience a significant wage gap, earning 25% less than their civilian counterparts.

4.0 DEFINITIONS/ACRONYMS

CNIC: Commander, Navy Installations Command, Millington, TN, and the office responsible for administration of this contract.

Contractor: The individual, partnership, corporation, or entity that is awarded the contract to provide services specified herein.

Contracting Officer: The individual with authority to execute and/or administer a contract on behalf of the nonappropriated fund activity or its successor.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): The individual that acts as the liaison between the Contractor and the contracting officer. The COR is responsible for clarifying contract requirements as necessary with the respect to the specifications and/or performance work statement and monitoring the progress and quality of contract performance.

DoD: The Department of Defense.

DS Logon: The Department of Defense Self-Service Logon, or DS Logon, is a secure, self-service logon ID that allows service members, veterans or family members affiliated with the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs to access several DoD or VA websites using a single username and password. All DS Logon accounts are verified through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS.

Military OneSource: Military OneSource is a 24/7/365 information and referral service available via toll-free telephone and Internet access. A personal and family readiness tool, Military OneSource extends the existing family support system. Programs provided are especially beneficial to those geographically separated from installation services or those unable to seek assistance during traditional working hours. For more information:

www.militaryonesource.mil, By telephone: CONUS, 800-342-9647; Overseas, visit militaryonesource.mil for international dialing instructions.

MSEP: The Military Spouse Employment Partnership is a program operated by DoD to help military spouses find employment.

MySTEP: The spouse transition program, known as MySTEP, provides resources to help prepare spouses for life in the military and transitioning from the military

PECS: Postsecondary Education Complaint System used by active duty members and their spouses to file complaints against schools.

SECO: The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program provides education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide, offering comprehensive resources and tools related to career exploration, education, training and licensing, employment readiness and career connections..

VEMIS: Voluntary Education Management Information Systems allows Service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) users to submit quarterly and annual education data.

5.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide the following services:

5.1 Application Development and Maintenance

5.1.1 Provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, vehicles, supervision, (except as specified in government-furnished property and services), and other items and services necessary to perform the requirements outlined in this Performance Work Statement.

5.1.2 Provide on-going development, maintenance, support, training, and technical support of MyCAA, PECS, MSEP, CCI, SECO IT and VEMIS applications and the MySTEP program.

5.1.3 Shall review and recommend to DoD approval or disapproval for all MyCAA school applications within 30 calendar days from receipt.

5.1.4 Provide policy and process guidance to schools on MyCAA program.

5.1.5 Shall provide an on-boarding video for schools new to the MyCAA program.

5.1.6 Shall conduct research into any issues or complaints against MyCAA schools.

5.1.7 Continually review the requirements to fully maintain that all applications contained in this PWS, including the evaluation of current capabilities and platforms within DoD and determining the level of effort required to leverage those platforms to expand functionality, enhance outward appearance and employ appropriate business process flows. This analysis will provide the necessary information to configure/reconfigure system architecture, inform application design and development, and improve database design and development and hardware design and specification documentation. This includes evaluating, upgrading and maintaining the functionality of the Community Capacity Inventory application which assists MyCAA spouses in evaluating schools in the area they are going to be relocating.

Additional database items may be developed in collaboration with the Government to include, but not be limited to, the following: (NOTE: All databases will become property of the Government.)

1. Education and training institutions, education financial costs, portable career requirements, salary projections, credential and license requirements, and other aspects of education and career development for targeted careers as determined by the Government.

2. Educational and training institutions offering military spouse scholarships. At a minimum, database elements shall include: ID Number; School Name; School Address; Point of Contact Name;

Point of Contact Telephone; Point of Contact Email; School Web Address; Scholarship Type; Scholarship Description; Scholarship Amount; Application Period; Eligibility Criteria; Limitations; and Degree/Certification/License. Additional database elements shall be developed in collaboration with the Government.

3. Federal, state, and private sources of funding for education and training programs to include:

degrees, courses, licenses and certifications. The purpose of this database is to provide additional financial assistance information specifically for Participants who are pursuing training, education, licenses and credentials needed for portable career employment. This will include federal education funding sources; DoD education funding sources (e.g. MyCAA Scholarship Account, MGIB/Post 9/11 Education Benefit); and links to other appropriate sources (e.g. American Legion’s Need A Lift financial assistance information). At a minimum, database elements shall include: ID Number; Name of Source;

Source Address; Point of Contact Name; Point of Contact Telephone; Point of Contact Email; Source Web Address; Type of Financial Assistance [e.g. grant, loan, scholarship, etc.]; Financial Assistance Description; Financial Assistance Amount; Application Period; Eligibility Criteria; Limitations; and Related Degrees/Licenses/Certifications/Credentials.

5.1.8 The Contractor shall provide Government approved links and online referrals to tools and resources in support of MySECO Participant needs, structured in the following manner or as directed by the Government:

1. Career Exploration (e.g. career coaching services; career interests, skills, knowledge, values and ability assessments; career and employment forecasts; local, national and regional employment information; salary and benefit information; Department of Labor’s Career One Stop website and One Stop Centers; etc.).

2. Education and Training (e.g. post-secondary schools with programs of study leading to degrees, licenses and credentials needed for portable careers and employment; testing services; public sector high school completion, English as a second language, study skills and test taking skills programs;

sources of financial assistance; consumer awareness & protection tools to help spouses make decisions about financial aid offers, loans and school choices; etc.).

3. Employment Readiness (e.g. resume and job application assistance; interview and job search skills; portfolios and transcripts; dress for success; child care; transportation; alternative work spaces/places/flex-hours/telecommuting/job sharing choices; balancing work/life/parenting responsibilities; etc.).

4. Career Connections (e.g. job banks; career and job fairs/schedules; networking; military friendly employers; MSEPJobs; USAJobs; etc.).

5.1.9 Shall provide electronic access to assessment tools and resources, approved by the Government, that are related to the needs of Participants. Such tools and resources must be proven effective in helping mobile military spouses with:

1. Career interests and occupational awareness; Career decision making and goal setting; Skills, knowledge, abilities and core values identification; Personality Type identification related to career choices and work satisfaction; Generation work preferences and employment forecasts; Preferred adult learning modalities (e.g. traditional classroom, distance learning, adult learning methods, etc.); Academic readiness: English, reading, math and science; Test taking and study skills; Life skills, job training and work experience documentation for portfolio development; Tests for advanced placement into education and training programs; Interview skills assessment; Translating volunteer work experience and training for resume development; Translating military work experience and training for resume development.

5.1.10 Shall provide self-help materials, electronically, for career readiness skill development needed by spouses to obtain a job (e.g., resume writing, interview skills, elevator speech, and referral sources for child care, transportation options, virtual/flexible/full and part-time employment options, etc.).

5.1.11 Must have and maintain access to the Air Force Academic Institutions Portal to make changes to the database and configuration management.

5.1.12 Adaptive maintenance of the system is more common and will typically require programming in order to change existing functionality or develop new functionality. The contractor will need to be able to give requests for adaptive maintenance a high priority.

5.1.13 Shall provide the development of spouse transition curriculum into video modules.

Approximately, 30 video modules have already been produced in support of spouses that are transitioning into the military. Approximately, 50 more videos are needed to be produced in support of spouse transitioning out of the military. The following tasks will need to be completed:

1. Development of curriculum for Stepping Beyond including storyboards and scripts;

2. Development of 50 videos from the curriculum that:

Will not exceed 3 minutes;

Meets DoD 508 compliancy requirements;

Contain full-on motion graphics and hand-drawn imagery that is both recognizable and consistent with the military spouse community look and feel that comply with the attached style guide named Stepping Beyond Video Style 8;

and,

3. Building of Infrastructure and Arrangement of Online Platform.

5.2 Project Management

5.2.1 Provide academic, technical and policy consultation with the COR or designee.

5.2.2 Meeting with COR to establish priorities for changes as required.

5.2.3 Ensures all security requirements per Application Security and Development Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) have been met and all system requirements are in compliance with DoD standards, policies, and procedures. Responsible for preparing and delivering a compliant software certification package to the CA. Performs initial evaluations of security problems and reviews proposed configuration changes for the effects on the security posture of the system.

5.2.4 Ensure that the application resides on a host capability with a full Authority to Operate (ATO)--additional documentation after the ATO is received will be performed by the government with Information Assurance and technical support provided by the Contractor.

5.2.5 The Contractor will maintain the electronic data interface to the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) for the purpose of determining the eligibility of DoD spouses to participate in the MyCAA program.

5.3 Help Desk Support

5.3.1 Provide comprehensive help desk services Monday – Friday (excluding federal holidays) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time to meet requests from customers (school officials/MOS consultants not spouses, and VEMIS Users) for assistance with AIPORTAL issues, website functional changes/issues, financial assistance and financial eligible forms and for assistance with the various applications. The contractor will need to provide both web and telephonic assistance in order to service help desk requests.

5.3.2 Provide support for the MyCAA program that includes processing school invoices for review by the government, outreach to school billing departments on various issues which include credit card declines and processing spouse refunds, and the correction of financial assistance documents that differ from school invoices.

5.3.4 All calls with schools shall be recorded and available for review for 100 days.

o A minimum of 5 calls per month will be reviewed by the government.

o Call recording system must be approved by DoD.

o Calls and emails must be returned within 48 hours of receipt.

o Messages – Callback Messages taken < 25% of calls.

o Callbacks -- Callbacks completed within 48 hours; 95%.

o Follow-up Attempts -- 100% as agreed to by caller and as appropriate.

o Customer Recovery/Complaints < 5%.

o

5.3.5 Provide on-going technical support for the period of performance to include resolution of identified technical defects.

5.3.6 Provide technical documentation and ongoing documentation required for annual accreditation renewals.

5.4 Hosting

5.4.1 Develop, manage and maintain the current networks and systems in use to interface with academic institutions through the Academic Institution (AI) Portal and all applications identified in this PWS.

5.4.2 Maintain Federal Information Security Management (FISMA) compliance to include updating the Privacy Information Assessment (PIA) as required.

5.4.3 Maintain access to the Internet for the Web site, and ensure the access shall have sufficient bandwidth to meet the requirements to support the applications. The Contractor must provide the government 48 hour notice anytime the website must be taken down. Additionally, anytime the website goes down an automatic message should appear telling the user the site is down. . However, the Contractor is not responsible for matters outside their control (e.g., Air Force takes server down and does not inform the Contractor).

5.4.4 Provide physical support for Web production, and all application hardware as necessary.

5.4.5 If required, develop new features for the existing software and potentially new software applications. The COR must approve all changes before they are implemented.

5.4.6 Perform Information Assurance (IA) on all system(s). IA covers all of the actions that protect and defend the information systems by ensuring availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and non

– repudiation. This includes providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection and reaction capabilities.

5.4.7 The Contractor shall provide IA support to establish, maintain, and enhance a robust, DISA/DoD compliant Information Assurance capability. The scope of this IA support shall include IA Project Management, Risk and Compliance Management, DIACAP Compliant Certification and Accreditation (C&A), Vulnerability Analysis, Assessment and Reporting, Security Engineering and Integration and Security Incident Response.

5.4.8 Establish DIACAP compliant C&A package on all Contractor provided/delivered systems at a mission assurance category (MAC) level Three and confidentiality level (CL) of Sensitive.

5.4.9 Provide an Incident Response capability that follows required reporting requirements and quickly isolates, investigates, and remediates security incidents.

5.4.10 The Contractor shall meet all IA requirements in accordance with the most current DoD 8500 series of instructions. The Contractor shall deliver compliant, applicable IA controls as listed in DoDI 8510.01, DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP).

5.4.11 The Contractor shall provide personnel appropriately certified to support the IA functions they perform, in accordance with DoDD 8570.01.

5.4.12 The Contractor shall meet all IA requirements as defined in the DISA Secure Technical Implementation Guidance (STIGs) except as authorized in writing by the Designated Accrediting Authority (DAA).

5.4.13 The Contractor will be required to work collaboratively with the Government and other Government contractors to include those providing the MySECO web portal, the MSEP web portal, the MyCAA web portal and the Military OneSource web portal to present a unified effort in delivering SECO services to SECO users and target audiences.

5.4.14 The MySECO web presence will link to the militaryonsource.mil public website.

5.4.15 The MySECO web presence must be consistent with the militaryonesource.mil design.

5.4.16 The Contractor shall provide a single-entry point into the MySECO services with a secure login capability.

5.4.17 The MySECO web presence access authentication will be provided by the Government through a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web service Application Programming Interface (API).

5.4.18 The Contractor’s technical infrastructure and capabilities must support 24/ 7 operations with resources available to both CONUS and OCONUS Participants.

5.4.19 MySECO Web Presence Reports. The Contractor shall collaborate with the Government and other contractors to develop and deliver a monthly MySECO Web Portal Report, to include at a minimum:

MySECO web presence usage, count of content viewed listed by MySECO portal users, count of MySECO content viewed listed by content title, top 100 MySECO web presence query strings, number of times each MySECO online service is accessed, and recommendations for site improvements.

5.4.20 Contractor personnel assigned to this project shall adhere to the Privacy Act, Title 5 of the U.S.

Code, Section 552a and applicable agency rules and regulations. The contractor shall ensure that assigned personnel understand the obligations required of them by the Privacy Act. The Government may request the contractor to provide evidence that this was affected.

5.4.21 The contractor is not responsible for providing the server or the internet connection to the server.

NOTE: Data stored digitally within the MyCAA system is retained only for the period required to satisfy recurring processing requirements and/or historical requirements. Backup data files will be retained for a period not to exceed 45 days. Backup files are maintained only for system restoration and are not to be used to retrieve individual records. Computer records are destroyed by erasing, deleting or overwriting.

5.5 Training, Training Aids and User Manual

5.5.1 Contractor shall carry out training using the train the trainer format for Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches/advisors on software applications as needed but not to exceed six times per year.

5.5.2 Contractor shall hold training classes at the government location or at the Contractor’s offices as directed by the COR, Susan Idol, and also provide all training as webinars.

5.5.3 Contractor shall develop/update training aids and a user manual to facilitate ease of use of all software applications.

5.5.4 Contractor must develop/update and provided training for schools using the AI Portal as needed.

6.0 Common Access Card

6.1 A Common Access Card (CAC) will be required for contractor personnel requiring access to VEMIS.

The CAC shall be the principal identity credential for supporting interoperable access to DOD installations, facilities, buildings, controlled spaces, and access to U.S. Government information systems. Following award, the contractor shall obtain a CAC card per the instructions provided by the Government Contract Officer’s Representative. Issuance of a CAC requires, at a minimum, the favorable completion of a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) investigation conducted for each contractor employee requiring a CAC. The NACI shall be requested by the contractor by submission of an FBI fingerprint check (FD Form 258) and submission of a Questionnaire for National Security Position (SF Form 86) to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Interim approval for issuance of a CAC may be provided upon a favorable FBI fingerprint check and submission of a complete SF Form 86. The contractor shall consider the administrative lead-time involved in obtaining a CAC for program execution. The contractor shall control and account for all Government provided identification credentials issued in performance of this contract. The contractor shall return such identification credentials to the issuing agency when: a) they are no longer needed for contract performance, b) upon termination of a contractor employee, or c) upon contract completion or termination.

7.0 DELIVERABLES

7.1 The Contractor shall provide the following services:

7.1.1 Provide continued development and maintenance of MyCAA, PECS, VEMIS, SECO IT, CCI and spouse transition applications.

7.1.2 Based on expected development of new applications, Contractor may be required to provide services in any of the following areas:

1. Multimedia systems operating in a client/server environment;

2. Design and development of applications for a variety of server implementation, such as personal computer based systems;

3. Porting, open systems and Windows applications conversions;

4. Use of client/server and host application development tools; middleware and connectivity tools;

5. Identifying system problems and opportunities for system enhancements;

6. Analyzing performance and recommending measures to improve performance;

7. Fixing system problems and implementing system enhancements and improved performance enablers;

8. Maintaining agreed upon system performance levels;

9. Updating the application to conform to updated operating system requirements;

10. Performing data conversions;

11. Updating documentation, as required;

12. Completing identified system modifications/enhancements/repairs in a timely fashion;

13. Thorough unit and system testing all modifications to the system;

14. Maintaining the necessary hardware to support the testing and development activity;

15. Must have the ability to interface with systems as needed to perform work;

16. Providing technical advice and assistance to office personnel, as needed;

17. A Content Management System (CMS) that gives MyCAA staff capability to make real-time content updates within a templated website structure; and,

18. Miscellaneous Services--the Contractor may provide professional services not otherwise classified herein when such services are requested by the COR, including but not limited to preparation of hardware quotes, installations and programming updates; or any other services requested.

7.1.3 VEMIS requires the following:

Deliverable Description Delivery Date

Service Quarterly Reports

Authorized Service Users will use the online VEMIS Application to enter data and finalize their Quarterly Reports.

The quarterly report, data must /shall be submitted no later than twenty (20) days after the end of the quarter. Reference VEMIS online-user Guide and

DoD Instruction.

Services Annual Report

Authorized Service Users will us the online VEMIS Application to enter data and finalize their Annual Report.

Ensure the Services use the online VEMIS Application, User Guide and DoD Instruction, to submit the

Services Annual report data no later than 15 November each year.

Officer and Enlisted

End Strength by Education Minus Coast

Guard

VOLED Fact Sheet

A report of Officers and Enlisted End Strength by Education Levels for the selected component and fiscal year.

A detailed report of Enrollments, Degrees Completed, Expenditures, and DANTES Testing numbers broken out by service for the selected component and fiscal year.

Annual report due no later than 15 November each year.

Annual report Due date is no later than 15 November each year.

DoD Summary

VEMIS Report

A summary report of Troop Strength, Education Levels, Enrollments, Operational Costs, degrees Completed, SOC, CCAF

Data, and Total Expenditures for the selected components and fiscal year.

A complete report of the entire VEMIS report for the selected components and fiscal year.

Annual DoD Summary and VEMIS report due date is no later than 15 November each year.

Annual DoD Report due date is no later than 15 November each year.

1. Provide reporting capability with export to Excel capability for OUSD and Services to input data required to populate DoD MOU VEMIS Report (data to be retrieved from the DoD MOU data system and from data provided by the Services to include Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

2. Capability to allow VEMIS user to view the DoDI 1325.22 reporting requirements so that the VEMIS user can easily view the status of all data items.

3. Catalog all DoDI 1325.22 requirements and cross-walk with Service provided data. This creates relationships between Service specific databases and the VEMIS database.

4. Identify gaps within the current data construct at the DoD level for supporting DoDI 1325.22 (e.g. missing data elements within the VEMIS data construct).

5. Identify Service gaps and create the appropriate relationships between the data and reporting requirements to minimize (e.g. VEMIS construct supports but Service specific data may not support).

6. Leverage current VEMIS data fields for creating standardized data dictionary.

7. Enhance the VEMIS database to directly support all DoDI 1325.22 reporting requirements (e.g. add attributes to existing data elements, create new data elements).

8. Implement the source for each Service’s data to support each data requirement (e.g.

implement the data relationships).

9. Review Gap analysis to assure all DoDI 1325.22 reporting requirements are met in the database.

10. Provide reporting capability for Aggregated Data Reports (Accreditation Status, sector status, and SOC/Non-SOC status) to populate the DoD MOU VEMIS Report.

8.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

A base year with four option years. Base year period of performance: 16 September 2019 – 15 September 2020.

9.0 GOVERNMENT POINTS OF CONTACT:

The Contracting Officer’s Representative will be announced upon award.

10.0 OTHER DIRECT COSTS:

The following are authorized Other Direct Cost expenses under this task order: Authorized travel expenses, call recording, and External Certificate Authority (ECA) certificate.

The contractor will be reimbursed for authorized travel made in association with the performance of this contract to include per diem, lodging, airfare, rental car and incidental expenses. Travel cost will be reimbursed per the following guidelines:

1) The contractor shall submit itemized receipts for commercial transportation, lodging, rental car, fuel, personal vehicle mileage, parking, and incidental expenses on a monthly basis with the monthly invoice. Food/meal receipts are not required.

2) A fee for profit on travel cost and per diem is NOT authorized.

3) Commercial transportation is ONLY authorized at the restricted fare rate not to exceed regular coach rate. Baggage fees are reimbursable up to two (2) bags per authorized traveler.

Fees for excess baggage weight are non-reimbursable.

4) Per diem and incidental expense rate shall be reimbursed as follows: in accordance with DoD published rates for geographic area of travel, which can be found at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm. Per diem consist of local meals and incidentals at the rate of 75% of published rate for geographic area of travel for the first and last day of travel, and 100% of published rate for remaining travel days.

5) Every attempt should be made to utilize Navy Gateway Inns and Suites for lodging if practical and available. Lodging cost will be reimbursed at the actual expense rate not to exceed the current maximum daily rate listed on the above defense travel website, to include fees and taxes.

Contact the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative for reimbursement clarification if required prior to travel.

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm