Draft_PWS.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY (DoDEA)

Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive Functioning for Students with Autism—and—

Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of Students with Autism

1.0 General Information

1.1 Agency: The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) serves dependents of military and civilian employees by providing PK–12 instruction to approximately 71,000 students. The number of students varies based on deployment of military troops worldwide.

DoDEA’s curriculum, resources, and achievement scores on standardized assessments compare favorably to high-performing US public schools. DoDEA is divided into three regions:

Americas, Pacific, and Europe. Regions are divided into eight districts that administer 163 brick-and-mortar schools. The Americas’ Southeast and Mid-Atlantic districts have 51 schools in seven states, Puerto Rico, and for administrative purposes, Cuba. Europe’s South, East, and West districts have 65 schools in England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, and Bahrain. The Pacific’s West, East, and South districts have 47 schools in Korea, Japan, and for administrative purposes, Guam. In addition, DoDEA operates a fully accredited Virtual High School.

1.2 DoDEA Special Education: DoDEA serves approximately 8.600 students with special needs in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as implemented by

DoD Instruction 1342.12, Provision of Early Intervention and Special Education Services to

Eligible DoD Dependents. Within DoDEA, subject-matter experts at the district, region, and

HQ levels provide consultation and support.

1) Blueprint: The proposed work addresses Goals 1 and 3 from DoDEA’s Blueprint for

Continuous Improvement (www.dodea.edu/blueprint/index.cfm):

Goal 1, Student Excellence: Challenge and prepare each student to maximize his or her academic growth and well-being for college, career, and life.

Goal 3, Talent Excellence: Recruit, develop, empower, and retain a high- performing workforce that reflects the diversity of our students.

2) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): DoDEA provides a continuum of services for students with ASD. Decisions regarding the type of services and the educational placement for providing such services are based upon each individual’s needs. Students are educated in the least restrictive environment most appropriate for them. A variety of services are available beginning with full participation in the general education classroom to the extent possible— often with the provision of supplementary aids and support—as determined by the school's case study committee (CSC), which includes the student’s parents. Services may include

(1) consultation provided by special educators to the general education teacher; (2) collaborative instruction in the general education classroom through co-teaching by the general and special education teachers; and (3) instruction in the special education classroom for part or all of the school day.

Related services are one required for the student to meet his/her individual education program

(IEP) goals and may include psychological and counseling services, language, speech, and hearing, transportation, assistive technology, physical and occupational therapy, and medical services that are required for diagnostic or evaluation purposes.

3) Student Data: The table (below) shows the number of PK-8 special education classrooms by category and region:

Category LIMS* LISP* PSCD* Totals

Americas 65 2 43 110 Pacific 22 0 24 48 Europe 29 0 24 53

Total 116 2 91 211

LIMS: Learning-impaired, moderate-severe

LISP: Learning-impaired, severe-profound

PSCD: Preschool children with disabilities

4) Teacher Data: The table (below) shows the current number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) teachers of each category shown above by region:

Category LIMS LISP PSCD Total

Americas 71.0 3.0 42.5 116.5 Pacific 25.0 0.0 23.5 45.5 Europe 36.5 0.0 24.0 61.0

Total 132.5 3.0 90.0 225.5

1.3 Background: DoDEA’s school-level staff must support instruction and service delivery for students with ASD. There is an ongoing need for technology-based curricula for students with

ASD and related professional learning. DoDEA received funding to procure new technologies to improve the academic and functional growth and performance of students with autism.

1) The National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD identifies the term, Technology-Aided Instruction and Intervention (TAII), as an evidence-based practice (EBP) that enhances the delivery of instruction has yielded positive educational outcomes for preschoolers (3-5 years) to young adults (19-22 years). TAII can be used effectively to address joint attention. social communication, behavior, cognitive, school-readiness, academic, motor, adaptive, and vocational skills.

2) An EBP is an instructional/intervention procedure or set of procedures for which researchers have provided an acceptable level of research that shows the practice produces positive outcomes for children, youth, and/or adults with ASD. For this requirement, NPDC EPBs are required. For more information about them, see https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/evidence-based-practices.

2.0 Scope of Work

DoDEA has two requirements (listed below) to use new technologies to enhance interactions for students with autism and improve teachers’ ability to help these students reach their social and educational goals. DoDEA presents the two requirements separately in 3.0 and 4.0.

2.1 Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive

Functioning for Students with Autism: DoDEA requires a curriculum learning system that involves Technology-Aided Instruction and Intervention (TAII) based on EBPs proven to increase the social and behavioral skill development of students with ASD receiving the intervention. DoDEA proposes to procure a curriculum based on interventions identified by

NPDC as having sufficient empirical support to be considered evidence-based to improve academic and functional skills.

The curriculum learning system will be utilized by preschool (PK) through 8th grade students with ASD who are educated in learning-impaired moderate-severe classrooms (LIMS), learning-impaired severe-profound classrooms (LISP), and preschool children with disabilities classrooms (PSCD). These classrooms provide a full continuum of intensive intervention with active engagement of students in systematically planned, developmentally appropriate educational activities to address specific needs.

2.2 Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of Students with

Autism: DoDEA requires professional learning that creates opportunities for teachers of students with autism (1) to practice teaching techniques via simulations with avatars that replicate characteristics of students with ASD in realistic classroom scenarios, (2) to receive immediate feedback from an instructional coach or peer(s) to improve their teaching skills, (3) to receive coaching for small groups of teachers, and (4) to customize the role playing to ensure that DoDEA’s unique characteristics are incorporated into the simulations. DoDEA requires the content of the professional learning to include EBPs proven to yield positive educational outcomes for preschoolers (3-5 years) to young adults (19-21 years) with ASD.

The use of simulations with avatars, an immersive learning technique (ILT), has been proven to be a cost-effective and time-efficient professional learning strategy. This strategy is expected to result in faster and more precise acquisition of complex teaching skills which will lead to better outcomes for our students with ASD.

2.3 Awards: DoDEA expects to make the following awards:

1) Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive

Functioning for Students with Autism: DoDEA expects to award one contract for a period of one 12-month base year and four 12-month option years. DoDEA estimates it will purchase interactive technology tools for the following number of students with ASD each year:

Categories Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Total

New Tools 100 2 2 2 2 108

Replacement -- 8 8 8 8 32

2) Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of Students with

Autism: DoDEA expects to award one contract for a period of one 12-month base year and four 12-month option years. DoDEA estimates the following number of sessions (each approximately 60 minutes long) will be required for our teachers of students with ASD:

Task 1: Professional Learning Plan

Task 2: Simulations: Delivery, Setup, and Feedback

Category Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Total

Teachers 160 160 160 160 160 --

Sessions/

Teacher 12 9 6 6 6 --

Total

Sessions 1920 1440 960 960 960 6240

Task 3: Coaching

Category Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Total

Groups 45 45 45 45 45 --

Sessions/

Group 12 9 6 6 6 --

Total

Sessions 540 405 270 270 270 1755

Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social Interactions, and Executive Functioning for Students with Autism

3.0 Requirements/Objectives

3.1 Objective 1: Tool Characteristics, Setup & Maintenance

Provide the diagnostic tool, setup, and maintenance.

3.1.1 Task 1, Tool Characteristics—The Contractor shall provide a curriculum learning system with the following design, characteristics and components:

1) Design based on EBPs identified by NPDC as having sufficient empirical support to be considered evidence-based to improve academic and functional skills to be utilized by PK-8 students with ASD in LIMS, LISP, and PSCD classrooms.

2) Design incorporating practices identified by the NPDC as evidence-based to address (1) social and emotional understanding, (2) communicational dynamics, and

(3) self-regulation or executive functioning.

3) Design that simulates authentic human interactions designed to engage and teach students to understand and practice communicative, behavioral, emotional, and social responses. Provides simulations of age-appropriate real-world interactions to include school and community experiences.

4) Tools/resources are age- and developmentally-appropriate and include lessons for students between the ages of 3 and 15. Note: As stated in the Definitions PWS 3.1, the term, tool, includes robots, simulations, or any other TAII instrument that meets

DoDEA’s requirements.

5) Personalized learning environment that can be easily customized by the teacher to meet the unique needs of each student. The technology shall serve as a tool able to be integrated into existing instructional programs and strategies with the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of the individualized intervention.

6) Opportunities for virtual rehearsals (i.e., the student can rehearse behaviors with the system and receive immediate feedback to include positive reinforcement for correct responses).

7) Technology that can be accessed in multiple locations throughout the school environment.

8) Data collection system that provides data on student growth, mastery of targeted skills, and areas of ongoing instructional needs and has the capacity to keep data on each child for as long as they are enrolled at a DoDEA school.

3.1.2 Task 2, Technology Tool and Setup—The Contractor shall provide the tools and ensure they are fully set up so that DoDEA teachers can use them.

3.1.3 Task 3, Maintenance and Support—The Contractor shall provide, if applicable, maintenance and support throughout the duration of the contract to include repairs to the tool that fall under the warranty, security patches and upgrades. See Technical

Exhibit 7, especially TE 4.5.2.

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 1, Tool Characteristics, Setup & Maintenance

Performance Standard and

Related Task AQL Inspection Method Incentives

PWS 3.1.1 Task 1

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Availability per delivery order

Performs as specified in the

PWS

Customer complaints and

COR periodic inspection.

Past Performance

Assessment.

PWS 3.1.2 Task 2

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Availability per delivery order

Setup within one business day of delivery order date

COR monitoring.

Past Performance

Assessment

PWS 3.1.2 Task 2

Zero deviation from the PWS.

As required throughout the duration of the contract

Maintenance and support provided as required

Customer complaints and

COR periodic inspection

Past Performance

Assessment

3.2 Objective 2: Professional Learning

Provide a professional learning plan and related webinars for teachers of students with ASD systemwide.

3.2.1 Task 4, Professional Learning Plan—The Contractor shall:

1) Provide a plan to deliver virtual professional learning of the curriculum learning system and include the steps required for full implementation. Finalize the plan based on written feedback from the COR. Note: DoDEA will work with the

Contractor to schedule the trainings at mutually agreeable times post-award.

2) At a minimum, the plan shall include webinars on the following six topics: project management, product training, data collection, participant resources, communications, goals and risks. It shall include a provision for an online questionnaire completed by participants to evaluate the quality/usefulness of the presentation. The results shall be analyzed and the participant feedback summarized by participant job title and region.

The raw data shall be provided with the analysis and summary.

3.2.2 Task 5, Webinars—The Contractor shall:

1) Deliver 3-hour webinars per the schedule, which will be determined post-award.

For each webinar, provide a list with a summary of open market resources that teachers may read for deeper understanding. Deliver each webinar three times corresponding to the time zones of each DoDEA region—US, Europe, and Pacific.

2) Conduct evaluation and analysis of each 3-hour block. Provide results to DoDEA as described in the finalized professional learning plan.

3) Record each webinar and provide for posting on DoDEA’s learning management system, (LMS, currently Schoology). Edit and prepare each webinar for placement on

DoDEA’s LMS. Package and deliver all online content for publishing and reusability

SCORM® packages. Department of Defense Instruction 1322.26 mandates electronic courseware shall be developed in compliance with the latest possible version of the

SCORM® packages, per www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/13222 6p.pdf

4) The estimated number of webinars in the base and option years, each of which is to be performed three times each as stated in PWS 5.4.2, are shown below:

Years Base OY1 OY2 OY3 OY4

Webinars 3 3 2 1 0

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 2, Professional Learning

Performance Standard and

Related Task AQL Inspection Method Incentives

PWS 3.2.1 Task 4

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Plan: Base year and revised each option year as required.

Draft Plan: Five business days after post-award conference

Final Plan: Three business days after receipt of written COR feedback

Final Plan is 100% correct except for possible errors in grammar/formatting

COR inspection.

Past

Performance

Assessment.

PWS 3.1.2 Task 5

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Delivered per the schedule provided post-award

All webinars will be delivered as scheduled and receive positive ratings from the majority of participants.

Note: If unavoidable problems occur, the webinar will be rescheduled.

Customer complaints and

COR monitoring

Past

Performance

Assessment

3.3 Objective 3: Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (eCMRA)

Complete/submit reporting requirements annually, per the eCMRA website.

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/13222%206p.pdf

3.3.1 Task 6, eCMRA: The Contractor shall report all its labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of the services provided under this contract via a secure data collection site. The Contractor is required to complete all required data fields.

Reporting inputs shall be for the labor executed during each fiscal year’s period of performance (October 1 - September 30). While inputs may be reported any time during the fiscal year, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year. Contractors shall use the following URL both to fill out the above-mentioned data fields and to contact the help desk for assistance:

http://wwww.cmra.mil.

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 3, eCMRA

Performance Standard and

Related Task AQL Inspection Method Incentives

PWS 3.5.1 Task 11 eCMRA

Zero deviation from the PWS.

During the required timeframe, per the eCMRA website.

Information entered into eCMRA shall be

100% accurate

The COR shall query eCMRA to ensure information is entered and review a copy of the eCMRA information entered provided by the Contractor.

Past

Performance

Assessment.

Requirements/Objectives

The tasks listed above are to help the Contractor gain a better understanding of the requirements, but are not all-inclusive. The Contractor is expected to develop a total solution in accordance with a performance-based approach.

4.0 Constraints

4.1 Period and Place of Performance: 12-month base period; four 12-month option periods. All work performed at the Contractor’s facilities.

4.2 Hours of Operation: The Contractor is responsible for conducting business during regular business hours 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Contractor personnel must be available during the core hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

4.3 Key Personnel—The Contractor shall provide the following key personnel: Project Manager/

Alternate Project Manager, Technical Support Staff. Key personnel shall be available, between hours of 9 AM and 5 PM EST, Monday - Friday, except for Federal holidays or when the

Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Notify the Contracting Officer (KO) and COR within ten or more business days PRIOR to any anticipated changes in key personnel.

Any key personnel provided as replacements after contract award shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of those provided upon of the contract.

4.3.1 The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the

Contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the KO. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available, between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM EST, Monday-Friday, except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative http://wwww.cmra.mil/ reasons. The contract manager shall have at least one year of experience in this type of role. The Contractor shall notify the COR ten business days prior to any changes in the contract manager or alternate positions.

4.3.2 The Contractor shall provide technical support staff capable of providing effective support, including troubleshooting, to DoDEA teachers using the technology tool.

4.3.3 Changes: The Contractor shall notify the COR regarding all changes to key personnel ten business days in advance of the change.

4.4 Security Requirements

1) Data: All data developed as a result of any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government. [Since the acquisition involves the development of a customized diagnostic tool and aids for coaching, mentoring and leadership assessment and is hosted on the vendor platform recommend that we not only include

DFARS 252.227-7015 Technical Data – Commercial Items (which is required) but also consider the inclusion of clauses mentioned under DFARS 227.7102-4 (b) and (c) when

“the Government will have paid for any portion of the development costs of a commercial item” (includes data).]

2) Privacy: All Contractor personnel assigned to this contract shall take proper precautions to protect the information from disclosure. All agency-owned or agency-controlled personally identifiable information shall be collected and/or stored IAW the relevant requirements of Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. See http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/privacy-act-1974.html.

3) Personnel Security Requirements and Building Access: The Contractor shall ensure all applicable personnel working on this contract/each task order— including subcontractors— meet the following security requirements for Contractors to protect against unauthorized disclosure of sensitive but unclassified (SBU) data. SBU data includes, but is not limited to, information that is protected from disclosure by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a.

Prior to beginning any work, any employee of the Contractor, proposed subcontractors, and proposed consultants shall complete and sign Non-Disclosure Agreements.

a. All applicable personnel shall be United States citizens or have lawful permanent resident status.

b. All applicable personnel shall be subject to an applicable background investigations in accordance with the Department of Defense Education Activity guidelines.

Applicable personnel shall not begin working on this contract until all security forms have been properly completed and submitted to the DoDEA security office.

c. Applicable personnel shall wear DoDEA/Contractor issued identification cards when working in Government facilities.

d. Applicable personnel, who undergo background investigations that reveal, but are not limited to, the following, may be unacceptable under this contract: conviction of a felony, a crime of violence or a serious misdemeanor; or a record of arrests for continuing offenses.

The Government reserves the right to determine if a Contractor employee assigned to a task order shall continue on the task order. The Contractor shall agree to remove the person assigned within one business day of official notification by the Government and provide a replacement within five business days. New hires or substitutions of personnel are subject to the applicable DoDEA investigation requirement.

5.0 Government-Furnished Resources

The Government will provide technical assistance with the setup, as required and provide the schedule for webinars.

6.0 General Requirements—The Contractor shall:

6.1 Post-Award Conference: Participate in two post-award video- or teleconferences—the first with the COR within five business days of award and the second with DoDEA Information

Technology staff within ten business days of award. (See TE #5: 4.3.5.) For both meetings, provide the medium through which it occurs, record meeting minutes, and submit them to the

COR within one business day.

6.2 Availability: Make all resources available throughout the period of performance.

6.3 Anti-Bias: Provide resources free of racial, color, national origin, age, disabling conditions, sexual, religious, and ethnic bias, and shall present a balanced coverage of multi-cultural contributions and representation, where appropriate.

6.4 Section 508 Compliance—Contractor resources, wherever applicable, shall meet the following requirements:

1) IT Requirement: Provide technical support during the testing window. DoDEA requires instant response from Contractor technical support staff during that brief period. All electronic hardware and software procured under this contract/purchase order shall comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (29 U.S.C. 794d) and

Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic Information

Technology (EIT) Accessibility Standards (36 CFR part 1194). Further information is available at http://www.section508.gov.

2) Section 508 Deliverable Requirements: The activity to be performed relates to or requires the use of EIT. Section 508 is a requirement under this acquisition for the outputs/deliverables to include functional performance, information, documentation, and support requirements to ensure that it considers specific Section 508 accessibility requirements. Further, outputs/deliverables should not adversely affect accessibility features of existing EIT technologies. Standards from 36 CFR Part 1194 Subpart B, C, and D apply to this acquisition.

6.5 OCR Requirement: Provide, upon request, two digital Optical Character Resolution (OCR) copies of all print materials. A digital copy of these materials shall be provided in one or more of the following formats:

▪ Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY)/ National Instructional Materials

▪ Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) with cascading style sheet

▪ HyperText Markup Language (HTML)

▪ Portable Document Format (PDF), (unlocked, embedded fonts, single page)

▪ Rich Text Format (RTF)/Word document

6.6 Privacy: Wherever applicable, the Contractor shall require individual accounts with unique usernames and passwords which do not require personally identifiable information (PII)— first and last name and any other unique personal information—to access online content.

6.7 Technical Support: Provide industry-standard technical support for its digital resources via telephone or at a minimum by email within one business day or less from the initial contact throughout the life of the contract to include but not limited to providing assistance with service problems, product setup, upgrades, and troubleshooting.

6.8 Post-Award Conference: Participate in a post-award video- or teleconference with DoDEA within five business days after award, provide the medium through which it occurs, and provide minutes of the meeting to the COR within two business days of the event.

6.9 Recognized Holidays: The Contractor is not required to perform on the following Federal holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day

President’s Day Veteran’s Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Independence Day Christmas Day

6.10 Contract Type: This is a firm fixed price contract.

6.11 Post-Award Conference/ Periodic Progress Meetings—The Contractor shall:

1) Attend any post-award conference convened by DoDEA in accordance with FAR

Subpart 42.5.

2) Meet with the Contracting Officer (KO), COR, and/or other Government personnel, as appropriate to review Contractor performance, as required by DoDEA. At these meetings the KO may apprise the Contractor of the Government’s view of Contractor performance, and the Contractor shall apprise the Government of problems being experienced, if any, The Contractor shall take appropriate action to resolve any outstanding issues raised by the Government. Attendance at virtual meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government. Attendance at face-to-face meetings, if any, shall be handled/paid for as stated in the contract.

6.12 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The Government identifies the COR by a separate letter, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor. The letter states the COR’s responsibilities and limitations, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR (1) monitors all technical aspects of the contract,

(2) assists in contract administration, and (3) is authorized to perform the following functions:

1) Monitors Contractor performance to ensure the technical requirements of the contract are met and notifies the KO and Contractor of any deficiencies.

2) Performs inspections necessary in connection with contract performance.

3) Maintains written and oral communication with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract such as issuing written interpretations of technical requirements, including drawings, designs, and specifications.

4) Coordinates availability of Government-furnished property and provides site entry of

Contractor personnel, if applicable.

6.13 COR Limitations: The COR is not authorized to change any terms or conditions of the contract. Note: The authority to make any contractual changes resides solely with the

Contracting Officer.

6.14 Deliverables—Refer to Technical Exhibit 2 – Deliverables.

6.15 Performance Requirement Summary (PRS)—Refer to Technical Exhibit I – Performance

Requirements Summary.

6.16 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP): The Government will utilize a QASP to monitor Contractor performance on the contract. The QASP is a living document and can change at any time during the life of the contract. As such, the Government reserves the right to unilaterally edit the QASP at the Government’s discretion. The QASP primarily

(1) focuses on what the Government will do to ensure the Contractor has performed IAW the performance standards and (2) defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable quality/performance.

TECHNCIAL EXHIBITS: Interactive Technology to Enhance Communication, Social

Interactions, and Executive Functioning for Students with Autism

Technical Exhibit 1 – Performance Requirements Summary

Technical Exhibit 2 – Deliverables

Technical Exhibit 3 – Acronyms and Definitions

Technical Exhibit 7 – Technical Requirements

Professional Learning via

Technology-based Simulations for Teachers of Students with Autism

7.0 Requirements/ Objectives

7.1 Objective 1: Simulation Content & Characteristics and Delivery & Setup

Provide simulations with the content and characteristics described below.

7.1.1 Task 1: Content & Characteristics—The Contractor shall:

Content: Provide, at a minimum, the following content via normal communication

(feedback) and simulations (avatar role playing):

1) Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

2) Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

3) Conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA)

4) Developing Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)

5) Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Techniques to include discrete trial training

6) Enhanced Communication (Augmentative/Picture Exchange Communication)

7) Pyramid Model Promoting Social-Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children

8) Use of Technology for Communication and Instructional/Behavioral Support and/or

Intervention

Characteristics: Provide professional learning via normal communication (feedback) and simulations (avatar role playing) with the following characteristics:

1) Sense of immersion and presence of a student with ASD in a virtual classroom setting.

2) Interaction with avatars.

3) Simulation of interactions of students with ASD that range in age from 3-21 years of age and range from typically developing to those along the entire continuum of ASD.

4) Immediate feedback to participants in real time.

5) Mechanism for participants to work with the avatar role player to customize the simulations to the needs of the participant and adapts with the goal of the participant demonstrating mastery of the skill.

7.1.2 Task 2: Delivery & Setup—The Contractor shall:

Delivery: Provide simulations as scheduled post-award. Simulations shall address the topics listed in PWS 6.1.1 or be customized upon written request by the COR at least five business days in advance. Sessions shall be done through videoconferences using a medium provided by the vendor and conducted during the regular school hours of teachers in all three regions (Americas, Europe, and the Pacific).

Setup: Work with the DoDEA participants to setup the simulations and ensure proper functioning.

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 5, eCMRA

Performance Standard and

Related Task AQL Inspection Method Incentives

Task 1, PWS 7.1.1

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Availability upon delivery.

Content & characteristics meet PWS specifications

Customer complaints and COR inspection

Past

Performance

Assessment.

Task 2, PWS 7.1.2

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Delivered and setup per the professional learning plan.

Simulations function as described in PWS

Customer complaints and COR inspection

Past

Performance

Assessment.

7.2 Objective 2: Simulations

Provide professional learning plan and simulations—to include customizations created post-award—for teachers of students with ASD.

7.2.1 Task 3, Professional Learning Plan—The Contractor shall provide a plan to deliver simulations that address the content and characteristics listed in PWS 7.1.1 & 7.1.2, respectively. Finalize the plan based on written feedback from the COR. The plan shall include (1) recommendations for customization to enable the avatar role players to respond as students with autism who are attending a school on a military base with other military-connected children; (2) a provision for a web-based questionnaire completed by participants prior to and after each simulation to evaluate the extent to which the simulation resulted in increased understanding and potential use of the educational practice presented and follow-up questionnaires 6-8 weeks after simulations to evaluate whether participants are implementing EBPs in their teaching;

(3) a provision to analyze and summarize feedback by participant job title and region and; (4) a provision to provide DoDEA both the analysis and raw data. Note: DoDEA will work with the Contractor post-award to schedule the simulations at mutually agreeable times and provide assistance for the customization requirement, PWS 7.2.3.

7.2.2 Task 4: Sessions and Feedback—The Contractor shall

Sessions: Provide simulations, as scheduled post-award. Note: DoDEA expects to have the following number of simulations, each of which shall be approximately one hour in length, each year:

Category Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Total

Teachers 160 160 160 160 160 --

Sessions/

Teacher 12 9 6 6 6 --

Total 1920 1440 960 960 960 6240

Feedback: Provide immediate oral feedback after each simulation. Feedback shall include but not be limited to validation for successfully demonstrating targeted EBPs and constructive criticism/guidance to improve where needed.

7.2.3 Task 5: Customization—Provide written prompts to address the unique aspects of living in and attending a school in a military environment, especially as they relate to the content (PWS 7.1.1). Provide prompts to the COR for review and finalize based on written feedback from the COR. Note: Note: Greater specificity about customization will be provided post-award.

7.2.4 Task 6: Evaluations—The Contractor shall conduct evaluation and analysis of teacher growth and provide results to DoDEA as described in the professional learning plan.

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 5, eCMRA

Performance Standard and Related

Task

AQL

Inspection

Method Incentives

Task 3, PWS 7.2.1 (Plan)

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Plan: Base year; revised each option year.

Draft: Five business days after post-award conference.

Final: Three business days after receipt of

COR written feedback

Draft plan shall be 80% correct.

Final plan shall be 100% correct, except for possible minor errors in grammar/formatting.

100% COR

review

Past

Task 4, PWS 7.2.2 (Sessions)

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Delivered as scheduled.

95% of sessions delivered on time.

Remaining sessions made up at mutually agreed upon times.

Periodic COR review

Past

Performance

Assessment

Task 5, PWS 7.2.3 (Customize)

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Draft customizations: 90 business days after post-award conference.

Final customizations: Ten business days after receipt of written COR feedback.

Draft customizations shall be 80% correct.

Final customizations shall be 100% correct.

100% COR

review

Past

Performance

Assessment

Task 6, PWS 7.2.4 (Evaluate)

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Delivered per the professional learning plan

Evaluations clearly document teacher growth etc., per the professional learning plan.

100% COR

review

Past

Performance

Assessment

7.3 Objective 3, Coaching

Provide the required coaching and related feedback to individual and small groups of teachers of students with ASD.

7.3.1 Task 7: Coaching—The Contractor shall:

Provide coaching to groups of approximately four teachers. Topics shall vary based on the simulations and teacher requests for information. Sessions shall be done through videoconferences using a medium provided by the vendor and conducted during the regular school hours of teachers in all three regions: Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.

Provide coaching sessions. Note: DoDEA expects to have the following number of coaching sessions, each of which shall be approximately one hour in length, each year:

Category Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Total

Groups 45 45 45 45 45 --

Sessions/

Group 12 9 6 6 6 --

Total 540 405 270 270 270 1755

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 5, eCMRA

Performance Standard and

Related Task

AQL

Inspection

Method Incentives

Task 7, PWS 7.3.1

Zero deviation from the PWS.

Delivered as scheduled.

95% of sessions delivered on time.

Remaining sessions made up at mutually agreed upon times.

Periodic COR review

Past

Performance

Assessment.

7.4 Objective 4: Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (eCMRA)

Provide an annual reporting of the labor hours expended by the prime and subcontractors

(if any) to the manpower reporting database for service contracts.

7.4.1 Task 8: eCMRA—The Contractor shall report all its labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of the services provided under this contract via a secure data collection site. The Contractor is required to complete all required data fields. Reporting inputs shall be for the labor executed during the period of performance of each fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the fiscal year, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year. Contractors shall use the following URL both to fill out the above-mentioned data fields and to contact the help desk for assistance: http://www.ecmra.mil.

Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL)

Objective 5, eCMRA

Performance Standard and

Related Task AQL Inspection Method Incentives

PWS 3.5.1 Task 11 eCMRA

Zero deviation from the PWS.

During the required timeframe, per the eCMRA website.

Information entered into eCMRA shall be

100% accurate

The COR shall query eCMRA to ensure information is entered and review a copy of the eCMRA information entered provided by the Contractor.

Past

Requirements/Objectives

The tasks listed above are to help the Contractor gain a better understanding of the requirements, but are not all-inclusive. The Contractor is expected to develop a total solution in accordance with a performance-based approach.

8.0 Constraints

8.1 Period and Place of Performance: 12-month base period; four 12-month option periods. All work performed at the Contractor’s facilities.

8.2 Hours of Operation: The Contractor is responsible for conducting business during regular business hours 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Contractor personnel must be available during the core hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Key personnel shall be available, between hours of 9 AM and 5 PM EST, Monday - Friday, except for Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Notify the Contracting

Officer (KO) and COR within ten or more business days PRIOR to any anticipated changes in key personnel. Any key personnel provided as replacements after contract award shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of those provided upon of the contract

8.3 Key Personnel – The Contractor shall provide the following key personnel: Contract Manager, Avatar Role Players/Coaches, and Technical Support Staff. Key personnel shall be available, between hours of 9 AM and 5 PM EST, Monday - Friday, except for Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Notify the Contracting

Officer (KO) and COR within ten or more business days PRIOR to any anticipated changes in key personnel. Any key personnel provided as replacements after contract award shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of those provided upon of the contract

8.3.1 The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the KO.

The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available, between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM EST, Monday-Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. The contract manager shall have at least one year of experience in this type of role.

8.3.2 The Contractor shall provide avatar role players and coaches who will be able to meet DoDEA’s scheduling needs, that is, to perform during school hours in the US, Europe, and Pacific. The avatar role players shall be able to mimic the behavior/ responses of student s with ASD and provide effective feedback to DoDEA teachers with whom they are interacting. The avatar role players and coaches shall have at least three years of experience serving children with autism or in the field of research of students with autism. Note: One person may provide both role playing and coaching services.

8.3.3 The Contractor shall provide technical support staff capable of providing effective support for the technology tool.

8.3.4 Changes: The Contractor shall notify the COR regarding all changes to key personnel ten business days in advance of the change.

8.4 Security Requirements

1) Data: All data developed as a result of any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government. [Since the acquisition involves the development of a customized diagnostic tool and aids for coaching, mentoring and leadership assessment and is hosted on the vendor platform recommend that we not only include

DFARS 252.227-7015 Technical Data – Commercial Items (which is required) but also consider the inclusion of clauses mentioned under DFARS 227.7102-4 (b) and (c) when

“the Government will have paid for any portion of the development costs of a commercial item” (includes data).]

2) Privacy: All Contractor personnel assigned to this contract shall take proper precautions to protect the information from disclosure. All agency-owned or agency-controlled personally identifiable information shall be collected and/or stored IAW the relevant requirements of Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. See http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/privacy-act-1974.html.

3) Personnel Security Requirements and Building Access: The Contractor shall ensure all applicable personnel working on this contract/each task order— including subcontractors— meet the following security requirements for Contractors to protect against unauthorized disclosure of sensitive but unclassified (SBU) data. SBU data includes, but is not limited to, information that is protected from disclosure by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a.

Prior to beginning any work, any employee of the Contractor, proposed subcontractors, and proposed consultants shall complete and sign Non-Disclosure Agreements.

a. All applicable personnel shall be United States citizens or have lawful permanent resident status.

b. All applicable personnel shall be subject to an applicable background investigations in accordance with the Department of Defense Education Activity guidelines.

Applicable personnel shall not begin working on this contract until all security forms have been properly completed and submitted to the DoDEA security office.

c. Applicable personnel shall wear DoDEA/Contractor issued identification cards when working in Government facilities.

d. Applicable personnel, who undergo background investigations that reveal, but are not limited to, the following, may be unacceptable under this contract: conviction of a felony, a crime of violence or a serious misdemeanor; or a record of arrests for continuing offenses. The Government reserves the right to determine if a Contractor employee assigned to a task order shall continue on the task order. The Contractor shall agree to remove the person assigned within one business day of official notification by the Government and provide a replacement within five business days. New hires or substitutions of personnel are subject to the applicable DoDEA investigation requirement.

9.0 Government-Furnished Resources

The Government will provide the schedule for avatar role playing and coaching at times that are acceptable to DoDEA and the Contractor and will provide assistance with some of the military aspects related to customizing the simulations.

10.0 General Requirements

Identical to those found in PWS 6.0 above, except for the following:

PWS Changed New Description

6.14 10.1 Deliverables—Refer to Technical Exhibit 4 - Deliverables

6.15 10.2 Performance Requirement Summary (PRS)—Refer to Technical Exhibit 5 –

Performance Requirements Summary.

TECHNCIAL EXHIBITS - Professional Learning via Technology-based Simulations for

Teachers of Students with Autism

Technical Exhibit 4 – Performance Requirements Summary

Technical Exhibit 5 – Deliverables

Technical Exhibit 6 – Acronyms and Definitions

Technical Exhibit 7 – Technical Requirements (same for both requirements)

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1 –Performance Requirements Summary

Standard

Performance Threshold

Maximum error rate may include

“zero deviation from standard”

Method of

Surveillance

Incentives/

Disincentives

Task #1—Technology Tools and Setup, PWS 5.2: Provide and prepare the technology tool for use by DoDEA teachers and their students with autism.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

Setup shall allow teachers to use the tool with their students.

Zero derivation from the PWS.

Random surveillance by COR

Past performance assessment

Task #2—Maintenance and Support, PWS 5.3: Provide warrantied repairs, security patches, upgrades, etc.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

At least 90% of the technology tools are operational at all times.

Random surveillance by COR

Past performance assessment

Task #3— Professional Learning, PWS 5.4: Provide a final professional learning plan. Deliver, record, and archive synchronous webinars per the schedule created post-award. Provide, collect, and analyze a questionnaire sent to participants after each webinar.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

95% of DoDEA participants or more rate the webinars as being acceptable or higher.

Random surveillance by COR

Past performance assessment

Task #4—CMRA, PWS 5.5: Provide industry-standard technical support.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are pass/fail.

Annually, per CMRA schedule

100% COR

monitoring

Past performance assessment

Performance Objective—Technical Support, PWS 5.6.7: Provide industry-standard technical support.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

95% of requests will receive a response within one business day. 90% of problems will be resolved in two business days.

Random surveillance by COR

Past performance assessment

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 2

Part 5 - Deliverables

Deliverables Frequency Medium/Format Submit To

#1 – Post-Award

Conference, PWS 5.6.1 Three business days after award

Email as an MS

Word attachment

COR

#2 – IT Meeting, PWS 5.6.1 and TE 5, 4.3.3 and 4.3.5

Base year and as required by

DoDEA IT

Email as an MS

Word attachment

COR

#3 – Professional Learning

Plan, PWS 5.4.1

Base year and revised, if required, each option year

Draft: Five business days after post-award conference

Final: Three business days after receipt of written feedback

Email as an MS

Word attachment

COR

#4 – Technology Tool and

Setup, PWS 5.2

Deliver per delivery orders

Setup within three business days of arrival at each school

N/A COR notification

Deliverables Frequency Medium/Format Submit To

#5 – Maintenance and

Support, PWS 5.3 Ongoing after delivery N/A

Random COR monitoring

#6 - Professional Learning, PWS 5.1, 5.4.2 – 5.4.5

Deliver webinars, per schedule

Record each webinar

Make webinars available to

DoDEA in 15 business days

Provide analysis of participant feedback 15 business days after receipt of questionnaires

Virtual

Virtual

Virtual, SCORM-compliant

Email as MSWord attachment

COR notification

N/A

Email to COR

Email MSWord attachment

#7 – CMRA, PWS 5.5 Annually per CMRA schedule Complete form online

Email COR upon completion

#8 – Technical Support, PWS 5.6.7

Ongoing after post-award conference Email responses, etc.

as required

Random COR monitoring

#9 - +DoDEA Software

License Keys, TE 5, 4.4 As required As required COR notification

#10 - Security patches and upgrades, TE 5, 4.5.2 As required As required COR notification

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 3

Part 6 - Performance Requirements Summary

Standard

Performance Threshold

Maximum error rate may include

“zero deviation from standard”

Method of

Surveillance

Incentives/

Disincentives

Task #1—Professional Learning Plan, PWS 6.2: Provide the draft and final plan, which will be based on written feedback from the COR.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

Draft shall be 90% correct; the final shall be 100% correct and at least 99% correct in terms of grammar, formatting, etc.

100% COR

monitoring

Past performance assessment

Task #2— Simulations: Delivery, Setup, and Feedback, PWS 6.1 and 6.3: Provide the simulation setup and deliver simulations to include providing immediate feedback to the teacher.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

Setup shall allow teachers to perform the simulations. Zero derivation from the PWS.

Simulations, including feedback, shall be done per the schedule provided post-award.

Random COR monitoring

Past performance assessment

Task #3—Coaching, PWS 6.4: Provide coaching per the delivery schedule provided post-award.

Perform all aspects of the PWS.

Possible ratings are outstanding, good, acceptable, and unacceptable.

95% of sessions shall occur as scheduled. Makeup sessions, if required, will be scheduled post-award by the COR in consultation with the Contractor.

100% COR

monitoring

Past performance assessment

Task #4—Customization, PWS 6.5: Provide the prompts for the…