24Q0023_draftPWS_050824.pdf

HE125424Q0023

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Professional Learning for Threat-to-Others Screenings

1. General Information and Scope of Work

1.1 Agency

1.1.1 For school year (SY) 2024-25, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) will provide

PK-12 instruction in 161 schools to over 67,000 dependents of military and civilian employees. Student enrollment is based primarily on deployment of military troops worldwide. In the Americas, DoDEA operates 50 schools located in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. In Europe and the Middle East, DoDEA operates 64 schools located in Germany, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain, and Italy. In the Pacific, DoDEA operates 46 schools located in Korea, Japan (mainland and Okinawa), and Guam. DoDEA also operates a fully accredited virtual high school with teaching hubs in the Americas, Europe, and Pacific. DoDEA's curriculum, resources and student achievement scores on standardized assessments compare favorably to those of high-performing US public school systems.

1.1.2 Military-connected students experience high mobility rates across the nation and throughout the world. Consequently, DoDEA makes a concerted effort to establish a worldwide systemic education network, mitigating the transitional barriers to military-connected students’ success.

1.2 Background

In 2022 DoDEA awarded an 8(a) contract, HE125422D0029, for this requirement. The company that received the award is still the only company with the intellectual property rights to meet DoDEA’s requirement, but it has graduated out of the 8(a) program.

1.3 Scope of Work

DoDEA requires (1) interactive digital modules for school-level and above-school level psychologists, counselors, and nurses systemwide, (2) synchronous webinars, (3) one-on-one case support for 24 subject-matter experts located in all three DoDEA regions, and (4) industry-standard technical support. The modules must be based on the Comprehensive Student Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG).

2 Requirements

2.1 Promoting Student Safety: The Contractor shall provide the digital modules, webinars, and related support to enhance DoDEA’s ability to perform effective threat-to-other screenings.

The tasks below are to help the Contractor gain a better understanding of the requirements to successfully meet the objective. They are not all inclusive, so the Contractor is expected to develop the total solution to meet all the requirements in accordance with a performance-based approach.

2.2 Task 1, CSTAG Asynchronous Module: The Contractor shall provide an interactive digital module based on peer-reviewed research and best practices for school-level and above-school level psychologists, counselors, and nurses systemwide. The modules shall be based on the Comprehensive Student Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG, originally known as the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines) and consist of the following threat-to-others modules:

CSTAG Level 1, per PWS 2.2.2 CSTAG Level 2, per PWS 2.3 CSTAG Train-the-Trainer, per PWS 2.5

2.2.1 The module shall:

o Articulate the goals and importance of the initiative.

o Sequence the learning experiences to engage participants in an active process.

o Engage participants in active learning and the application of learning to practice.

o Be SCORM®-compliant, as explained in PWS 3.10 (below).

o Be recorded and posted on the Contractor’s learning management system (LMS).

o Update, as required, in the option years. Finalize each update based on written feedback from the contracting officer’s representative (COR).

2.2.2 The Contractor shall provide CSTAG Level 1 training to be completed online asynchronously in six contact hours. It shall consist of the following ten components:

1) Preliminary Self-Assessment: What are each participant’s strengths and weaknesses in this area?

2) Session 1: What is school threat assessment?

3) Session 2: How safe are our schools?

4) Session 3: What are the common characteristics of school homicides?

5) Session 4: What do we mean by prevention?

6) Session 5: How do CSTAG teams make decisions?

7) Session 6: How do CSTAG teams work together?

8) Session 7: How is threat assessment related to school discipline?

9) Session 8: What is the scientific evidence for the CSTAG model?

10) Post-Training Evaluation

2.3 Task 2, CSTAG Synchronous Training: The Contractor shall provide CSTAG Level 2 Training: Case Exercises to be completed online synchronously in about four hours. It shall include the requirements listed in PWS 2.2.1.

The training shall consist of the following three elements:

2.3.1 Introduction: Present/Review key points from the CSTAG Level 1 training.

2.3.2 Scenarios: Provide case studies/scenarios that increase in difficulty from simple to complex that require participants to (1) use the CSTAG manuals, CSTAG forms, and decision tree; (2) apply the differences between the CSTAG forms and DoDEA’s version of the same CSTAG forms, and (3) conduct a student threat assessment, including safety planning and progress monitoring. The nine required scenarios are shown below:

1) Scenario 1: Andrew “serial killer” case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring.

Team members will role play to practice the initial interview process involving a transient threat.

2) Scenario 2: Chris and Jacob case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring. Team members will learn how to respond to a serious substantive threat.

3) Scenario 3: John’s hit list case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring. Team members will learn how to respond to a very serious substantive threat.

4) Scenario 4: Charlie Brown case exercise. Team members will learn about errors in threat assessment and process safeguards.

5) Scenario 5: School bus “Columbine the School” case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring. Note: Team members will learn about the need to consider victim responses and public relations aspects of threat assessment, and the importance of re-entry plans when students return to school.

6) Scenario 6: Stalking case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring. Team members will learn about the need for long-term monitoring, comprehensive safety plans, and security measures in the most serious cases.

7) Scenario 7: Adult threat assessment, including safety planning and monitoring. Team members will learn about threat assessment in transient and substantive cases involving adults who threaten school staff.

8) Scenario 8: Cultural diversity case exercise, including safety planning and monitoring. Team members will learn about cultural factors in threat assessment and attention to school climate and school-level interventions.

9) Scenario 9: Implementation, including progress monitoring and school or district level assessment of implementation fidelity and fairness and equity of student outcomes.

2.3.3 Evaluation: Administer an online evaluation to measure mastery of case assessment and management and six items for participants to evaluate their training. For further details, see Task 3.

2.3.4 The Contractor shall draft digital facilitator guides to ensure consistency for the Level 2 training that include instructions to learners and finalize them based on written feedback from the COR. The content of the draft facilitator guide shall include:

o Identification of existing modules and expected outcomes.

o Provision of existing materials.

o Setup requirements of existing materials.

o Best practices and recommendations for conducting this CSTAG training.

o Links to access training materials already in existence.

2.4 Task 3, Tracking Reports: The Contractor shall provide data at a rate determined by the COR in consultation with the Contractor post-award. Provide data that can be searched and create reports via Microsoft Excel on each DoDEA participant to the COR. At a minimum, the reports shall contain the following:

Name and job title.

DoDEA region, district, and school(s) where they serve.

Completion status for each module/training, and if all have been completed.

Date each module was completed and cumulative time spent on each module.

Digital certificate of completion with participant’s name and date of completion.

Score on pre- and post-assessments, including the evaluation referenced in PWS 2.3.3.

2.5 Task 4, CSTAG Train-the Trainer Event—The Contractor shall:

2.5.1 Provide the 2-day train-the-trainer synchronous training in the base year, as defined in PWS 2.5.2 and 2.5.3. If digital modules are included, they shall be SCORM®-compliant.

2.5.2 Include, at a minimum, the following components:

1) Coaching and training role

2) Analysis of Level 2 workshop, including rationale and training goals

3) Development and dissemination of CSTAG model

4) Review of workshop materials and logistics

5) Practice cases

6) Homework assignments: preparing for the exam and for training presentations.

7) Examination for trainers, including analysis of answers

8) Trainer presentations

9) Implementation plans and fidelity checks

10) Next steps for trainers

2.5.3 Opportunity for CSTAG train-the-trainers to observe the Contractor conducting a CSTAG Level 2 workshop. Whether the training is live or recorded, DoDEA participants will have 60 minutes to meet with the Contractor’s presenter(s) virtually afterwards to ask questions. Note: The purpose of DoDEA CSTAG trainers observing the Contractor conducting a Level 2 workshop is to further develop their skills via the observation of Level 2 exemplar trainings.

2.6 Task 5, CSTAG Coaching/Case Consultation—The Contractor shall provide 30-minute one-on-one virtual coaching/case consultation sessions for selected DoDEA staff. The goal is to assist DoDEA staff in applying the CSTAG model, that is, to assess, prevent, and/or intervene effectively.

Estimated Number of Coaching Sessions per Contract Year

Coaching / Case Consultation Sessions

Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 30 24 20 20 20

2.7 General Requirements—The Contractor shall:

2.7.1 Delivery of Digital Resources, if applicable: The Contractor shall deliver digital materials with instructions detailing how the resources can be accessed by teachers, students, and above-school-level educators.

2.7.2 Technical Support rovide industry-standard technical support for its digital resources for the life of the contract via telephone or email within one business day from the initial contact to include but not limited to assisting with service problems, product setup, upgrades, and troubleshooting.

2.7.3 Technical Requirements for Digital Resources—The Contractor shall:

2.7.3.1 Deliver digital instructional resources in one of the following formats:

1) Integrated via DoDEA’s LMS to the digital resources hosted by the Contractor.

2) Hosted externally by the Contractor but accessible via DoDEA’s LMS to the digital assignments and assessments imported, hosted, and maintained in the LMS.

2.7.3.2 Ensure the course content meets the following specifications:

1) Conforms to IMS Learning Global Consortium (IMS) content packaging specifications.

2) Uses imported content, if required, conforming to IMS content packaging specifications.

3) Uses code that does not disable LMS features when digital resources are accessed.

4) Requires single—not multiple—authentications to access content via DoDEA’s LMS.

5) Incorporates, where applicable, assessments that are IMS Test and Question Interoperability

(QTI)-conformant.

6) Uses content-hosted externally that conforms to any of the existing versions of IMS

Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), per www.imsglobal.org.

2.7.3.3 Provide teacher and student access to the Contractor’s digital resources through a single sign-on platform that uses one username and password to access what is needed, specifically, via DoDEA’s identity, rostering, and management platform (currently, ClassLink).

2.7.4 Third-Party Programs, Software, and Applications: Ensure its own and its subcontractors’ (third-party) programs, software, and applications meet—at a minimum—the same technical requirements as the Contractor must meet, such as single sign on (SSO) and Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Level 2, etc. For more information, see Technical Exhibit #1, 1.1.7.

2.7.5 Meetings: Attend virtual meetings at no additional cost to the Government and provide the medium through which each meeting occurs, record each meeting’s minutes. Submit the draft minutes to the COR within two business days of the event and finalize the minutes two business days after receipt of written feedback from the COR. Note: Costs associated with attending any face-to-face meetings shall be handled/paid for as stated in the contract.

2.7.5.1 Post-Award Conference: Participate in a video- or teleconference with the COR five business days after award IAW FAR Subpart 42.5.

2.7.5.2 IT Meeting: Convene a video- or teleconference with DoDEA Information Technology staff ten business days after award, per Technical Exhibit #1.

2.7.5.3 Other Post-Award Meetings: Meet with the Contracting Officer (KO), COR, and/or other

Agency personnel, as appropriate, to review Contractor performance, as required by DoDEA.

The KO may discuss the Agency’s view of Contractor performance, and the Contractor shall apprise the Agency of any problems being experienced. The Contractor shall take appropriate action to resolve any outstanding issues the Agency raises.

2.8 Performance Standards and Acceptable Quality Levels

2.8.1 Performance Standard: Tasks shall be completed by the required completion date.

2.8.2 Acceptable Quality Level: See PWS 7, Performance Requirement Summary (PRS).

3 Constraints

3.1 Place of Performance: Work shall be performed at the Contractor’s facilities.

3.2 Privacy—The Contractor shall:

3.2.1 User Accounts: Require, wherever applicable, that individual accounts possess unique usernames and passwords that do not require personally identifiable information (PII) to access online content, i.e., first & last name and any other unique personal information.

3.2.2 Contractor Personnel

3.2.2.1 Ensure personnel assigned to this contract take proper precautions to protect information from disclosure. Collect and/or store all agency-owned or agency-controlled PII in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C, which may be found at the following URL: http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/privacy-act-1974.html.

3.2.2.2 All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoDEA data in any form shall be US citizens, including any third-party penetration (PEN)/security testers.

3.2.3 Privacy Training: Ensure Contractor staff who have access to DoDEA’s student, teacher and/or staff personally identifiable information successfully complete the DoD Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information (PA/PII) training before gaining access to the data and yearly thereafter. Provide copies of the certificates of completion to the COR which can be audited at any time by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or his/her designee.

3.2.4 Privacy Verification: Provide the COR written verification of compliance to the Privacy requirements (listed above) 120 calendar days prior to the expiration of each year’s contract option period or annually, as required. Note: After reviewing the Contractor’s verification, DoDEA reserves the right to ask for further verification data in order for DoDEA to comply with DoD’s evolving privacy mandates.

3.3 Liaison and Alternate Liaison—The Contractor shall:

3.3.1 Provide a liaison and alternate liaison to be responsible for the performance of work. Their names shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. They shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to the daily operation of this contract. Each shall have at least one year of experience working in a similar role.

3.3.2 Notify the COR in writing regarding any change in either the liaison’s role ten business days in advance of the change If the liaison or liaison alternate is changed post-award, the replacement shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of the person assigned upon contract award.

3.4 Key Functions—The Contractor shall provide the following: Liaison and Alternate Liaison and Subject- Matter Experts (SMEs).

3.4.1 Program Manager/Alternate: Provide a person to be responsible for the performance of work. The name of this liaison and an alternate who shall act for the Contractor when the liaison is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The liaison or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to the daily operation of this contract.

Provide a liaison with an advanced degree in a relevant area and at least three years of experience in a similar role. Provide an alternate that will be able to speak for the liaison regarding contractual matters. They shall be available, from 9AM to 3PM EST, Monday - Friday, except for Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

3.4.2 SMEs: Provide SMEs to oversee/deliver the synchronous webinars and the one-on-one consultative case support. Each SME shall have at least five years of experience in their roles to include at least three years of experience dealing with suicide risk and threat-to-others screenings in a K-12 environment.

3.4.3 Changes: Personnel provided as replacements to key functions after contract award shall meet or exceed the qualifications and experience of those provided upon award of the contract. Notify the COR in writing regarding all personnel changes ten business days in advance of the change.

3.5 Holidays and Hours of Operation

3.5.1 The liaison or alternate liaison shall be available during the hours of 9AM to 3PM Eastern Standard

Time (EST), except for Federal holidays and Federal government closures/shutdowns. The following list shows recognized Federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

3.5.2 Although there are different time zones within Europe and the Pacific and different hours for specific schools throughout DoDEA, the normal business hours for the regions roughly correspond to the following: Americas, 0700-1500 EST; Europe, 1300-2100 EST; and Pacific, 2000-0400 EST. there are different time zones within Europe and the Pacific and different hours for specific schools throughout DoDEA, the normal business hours for the regions roughly correspond to the following:

Americas, 0700-1500 EST; Europe, 0200-1000 EST; and Pacific, 2000-0400 EST.

3.6 Availability and Copyrights: The Contractor shall make all resources available for the life of the contract and shall keep content current and updated regularly throughout the period of performance, as demonstrated by maintenance of an updated content copyright not to exceed one school year from its current date. For example, an eBook published in January 2021 would be acceptable for the 2021-22 school year and also the 2022-23 school year. It would not, however, be considered current for the 2023-24 school year.

3.7 Anti-Bias, Diversity, and Inclusion—The Contractor shall provide resources free of age, racial, color, national origin, disabling conditions, sexual, gender, religious, and ethnic bias and present balanced coverage of multi-cultural contributions and representation, where appropriate.

3.8 Section 508 Compliance—The Contractor shall:

3.8.1 Background: Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) requires Federal agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT) to endure they are accessible to people with disabilities.

Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to and use of information/data that is comparable to people without disabilities.

3.8.2 Requirement: Ensure that products, platforms, and services delivered as part of this work statement that are ICT or contain ICT conform to the Revised 508 Standards, 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Apps. A, C & D which are located at the following URL: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-rule/text-of-the-standards-and-guidelines.

3.8.3 ARS: See the attached ICT Accessibility Requirements Statement (ARS). All functional performance criteria apply when using an alternative design or technology that achieves substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities, than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4-6 of the Revised 508 Standards or when Chapters 4-6 do not address one or more functions of ICT. Note the guidance in the table below:

Applicable Requirements

Directions

Software Features and Components

Applies to all WCAG Level AA Success Criteria, 502 Interoperability with Assistive Technology, and 503 Applications.

Hardware Features and Components

All requirements apply.

Support Services and Documentation

All requirements apply.

Outputs/Deliverables Ensures that outputs/deliverables do not adversely affect accessibility features of the existing EIT technologies.

3.9 Optical Character Resolution (OCR): The Contractor shall provide, upon request, two digital OCR copies of print materials in one or more of the following five formats: Digital Accessible Information System/National Instructional Materials; Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) with cascading style sheet; HyperText Markup Language (HTML); Portable Document Format (PDF, unlocked, embedded fonts, single page); and Rich Text Format (RTF)/Word document.

3.10 Sharable Content Object Reference Model® (SCORM®) Compliance: Provide digital modules, if included among the proposed/required resources, that are SCORM®-compliant. Note: The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.26 mandates that modules comply with the latest possible version of SCORM®, per https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/132226_dodi_2017.pdf?ver=2017- 10-05-073235-400.

3.11 Data & Data Rights: All data developed from any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government. The Contractor shall ensure that digital rights to all visual materials embedded in the resources will be given so that DoDEA for DoDEA’s internal use only may use resources without incurring copyright costs or infringing on copyright laws. All data developed from any work awarded under this contract is and shall remain the property of the Government.

3.12 Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI): The Contractor (including any subcontractor) personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to, or participate in the development of, proprietary or Privacy Act information (e.g., personal information, education, etc.) may create a current or subsequent OCI as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. Whenever the Contractor becomes aware that such access or participation may result in actual or potential OCI, the Contractor shall (1) immediately notify the Contracting Officer (KO) in writing and (2) promptly submit a plan to the KO to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. Note: The KO will unilaterally determine if the Contractor’s plan is acceptable. If the KO determines the plan cannot satisfactorily avoid or mitigate an OCI, s/he may implement other remedies to include prohibiting the Contractor’s further participation in contracted requirements.

4 Government-Furnished Information / Resources

4.1 Schedule webinars and coaching sessions in consultation with the Contractor, post-award.

5 Contract Deliverables

Milestone/Deliverable Word / Excel

Digital Copies

PWS

Planned

Frequency

CSTAG Asynchronous Modules Yes Yes 2.2

Base Year: Modules finalized ten business days after receipt of written feedback.

Option Years: Revisions performed based on written authorization from DoDEA

CSTAG Synchronous Training Yes Yes 2.3 Annually, scheduled post-award; facilitator guides finalized ten business days after receipt of written feedback.

Tracking Reports Yes Yes 2.4 Ongoing after receipt of initial delivery order CSTAG Train-the Trainer Event Yes Yes 2.5 Annually, scheduled post-award CSTAG Coaching/Case Consultation

Yes Yes 2.6 Annually, scheduled post-award

Technical Support Yes Yes 2.7.2 Ongoing after receipt of initial delivery order Privacy Training Yes Yes 3.2.3 Three days after receipt of a written request

Privacy Verification Yes Yes 3.2.4 120 calendar days prior to the end of each contract year

6 Acronyms and Definitions

CCRS College and Career Ready Standards PA/PII Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information QASP Quality Assessment Surveillance Plan SCORM® Shareable Content Object Reference Model® Contract Line Item Number (CLIN): Basic structural element in a procurement instrument describing and organizing the required product or service for pricing, delivery, inspection, acceptance, invoicing, and payment.

The use of the term “line item” includes “subcontract line number”, (SLIN), as applicable.

Contracting Officer (KO) : Only individual with expressed authority to obligate (bind) the Government by means of entering, administering, and terminating contracts within the limits of the authority delegated via a KO’s warrant.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): Qualified and trained Government employee, nominated by the requiring activity (RA) and appointed in writing by a KO primarily to perform specific technical or administrative functions on a specific contract(s); serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of a KO to assure the Government’s best interests are protected via the terms and conditions of the contract(s) appointed. COR’s do not have authority to obligate (i.e., bind) the Government.

Contractor: Supplier or vendor contracted to provide specific supplies or services to the Government. The term herein refers to the prime.

Deliverable: Usually physically delivered items but may include such items as digital documents/reports.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS): Tabular listing of performance objectives and standards that provides the basis for a meaningful QASP.

Performance Work Statement (PWS): Statement of work for performance-based acquisitions describing the required results in clear, specific, and objective terms with measurable outcomes.

7 Performance Requirement Summary

Performance Objective

Performance Standard

Acceptable Quality Level Inspection

Method

Task 1, CSTAG Asynchronous

Modules, PWS 2.2

PWS-

compliant

Modules Drafts: 80% correct

Finals: 100% correct, except for possible errors in grammar and formatting

CSTAG Level 1 and Level 2 training provided asynchronously and posted on DoDEA’s LMS as scheduled post award.

Data and reports provided as specified in PWS 2.4

COR inspection and stakeholder feedback

Task 2, CSTAG Synchronous Training

PWS 2.3

Webinars and Facilitator Guides Drafts: 80% correct Finals: 100% correct, except for possible errors in grammar and formatting

Webinars and observation scheduled post-award. Webinars and observation occur and posted on DoDEA’s LMS as scheduled post-award.

COR inspection and stakeholder feedback

Task 3, Tracking Reports, PWS 2.4

Provided within 48 hours of each participant’s completion of a module/training

COR inspection

Task 4, CSTAG Train-the-Trainer Event, PWS 2.5

At least 90 percent of participants pass the final examination to become CSTAG trainers.

COR inspection and stakeholder feedback Task 5, CSTAG Coaching / Case

Consultation, PWS 2.6

No more than three sessions will be rescheduled each year due to Contractor issues.

COR inspection and stakeholder feedback

Technical Support

PWS 2.7.2

Acknowledge receipt of request within two hours. Resolve 90% of requests in one business day. Resolve remaining 10% in five business days.

COR inspection and stakeholder feedback

Privacy Training

PWS 3.2.3

No more than one certificate per year sent to the COR more than three business days from the date of the COR’s request for it.

COR inspection

Privacy Verification

PWS 3.2.4

Submitted 120 calendar days prior to the end of each contract year.

COR inspection

Technical Exhibit #1 - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall comply with the applicable technical requirements detailed below.

1.1 Software and Cloud Security Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.1.1 Ensure all online resources, cloud-based services and instructional software meet Department of Defense

(DoD) and DoDEA cybersecurity requirements as defined below. Note: Software, cloud services and associated websites are rigorously tested to ensure no security risks are posed to DoDEA infrastructure and its users.

1.1.2 Complete the Cloud Services questionnaire that was submitted as part of the proposal submission and provide copies of and/or access to any software listed in the proposed solution.

1.1.3 Ensure on-premises software support post-installation integration of the necessary Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG) for applicable systems and applications, including Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows IIS, Apache, Oracle databases, and Microsoft SQL Server databases. Note: The application to obtain the STIG Viewer is found at https://public.cyber.mil/stigs/srg-stig-tools/, and the STIGs themselves may be downloaded from https://public.cyber.mil/stigs/downloads/.

1.1.4 Ensure its content accessible from the web is compatible with the following browser platforms: Google Chrome, and Edge. Ensure that any applicable STIGs are implemented.

1.1.5 Ensure on-premises software, which is subject to static and dynamic analysis testing, imposes no risk to DoDEA systems, users and/or data. Note: DoDEA assesses software products to ensure compatibility with existing system configurations and software, testing may also include reverse engineering analysis.

1.1.6 Provide a plan of actions and milestones (POA&M) to mitigate any cybersecurity findings resulting from non-compliant and/or vulnerable components in 30 calendar days of written notification from DoDEA.

1.1.7 Be able to meet Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Level 2 standards for all proposed software/digital resources and ensure that any third-party resources that are part of its proposed solution also meet the FedRAMP Level 2 standard. For more information on FedRAMP, see the following URL: www.fedramp.gov. Participate, if required, in interviews and deep system architecture inspections. Note: Per DoD policy for cloud-based services, DoDEA conducts a supplemental series of validations, which closely mirror the FedRAMP Internet Cloud vetting processes. Contractor participation/ cooperation is normally required to complete this process.

1.2 System Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.2.1 Provide, per Section 1.1 (above), any software installed and/or accessed in or by a DoDEA system, network whether stand-alone or web-based, is compatible with the standards cited herein.

1.2.2 Provide minimum desktop/server system technical specifications, reference architectures, networking specifications and diagrams, and applicable systems configuration documentation for the proposed solution.

1.2.3 Provide software that is compatible with the following minimum baseline:

Specifications Minimum Memory 4 GB

Hard Drive 100 GB

Processor Intel® Core™ i5-8365U Processor 8th Generation (up to 4.1GHz, 6MB cache) equivalent or better (Must show benchmark/passmark scores)

Video Graphics Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 (1920x1080) equivalent or better Operating System Windows 11

Browser Environment Chrome, Edge, Edge Chromium

1.2.4 Provide software that is completely functional on a standard DoDEA desktop without the need or requirement for administrative-level user rights and/or permissions or the requirement to use or insert external media to execute the software.

1.2.5 Provide software that does not require modifications to folder permissions while executing.

1.2.6 Provide, if applicable, software packages that support unattended installation methods used by enterprise software packaging and deployment systems. Note: DoDEA currently distributes software packages via Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and Microsoft Intune. Note: All older 16-bit software are automatically denied.

1.3 Data Management Requirements—The Contractor shall:

1.3.1 Provide a mechanism for batch administration and automation of routine data management tasks via flat file import, or representational state transfer (REST) based web service application programming interfaces (APIs). The mechanism shall provision and manage data objects within the Contractor’s system, including but not limited to organizational structures, student accounts, staff accounts, courses, and class rosters.

1.3.2 Provide all necessary documentation and assets to facilitate batch administration and automation of routine data management tasks, including but not limited to roster template files (i.e., comma separated value templates); data element/field definitions documentation; data interchange formats and schemas

(XML/JSON); and/or data dictionaries for the purpose of mapping organizational student information system (SIS) data to the Contractor’s required input formats.

1.3.3 Provide a single point of contact to support DoDEA in performing the required data integration activities within the Contractor’s system.

1.3.4 Configure DoDEA enterprise within its system and/or databases as the appropriate organizational entity (i.e., region, district, school) upon a request in writing from the contracting officer’s representative (COR).

Note: DoDEA’s organization hierarchy consists of the following: one system, three regions, eight districts, 62 communities, and 161 schools, including the K-12 virtual school programs.

1.3.5 Participate in a technical meeting with DoDEA within ten business days after award for the purposes of preparing for onboarding of new services and initial configuration of administrator-level accounts.

1.3.6 Ensure the transfer of any Sensitive, Confidential data including but not limited to PII data be transferred in a secure means meeting any requirements set by DoDEA’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

1.4 DoDEA Software License Keys: The Contractor shall provide (1) license keys and electronic downloads for software required under this Contract to the COR and (2) software directly to DoDEA schools, districts, or regions only if explicitly required to do so in the contract or in writing by the COR.

1.5 Cybersecurity Supporting Elements/Requirements and Scalability—The Contractor shall:

1.5.1 Comply with the same Federal law and DoD policies and guidance to which DoDEA is subject. These requirements include but are not limited to the cybersecurity requirements defined in the following documentation:

DoD Directive (DoDD) 8500.01E, Information Assurance, be found at the following URL:

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/850001_2014.pdf.

DoD Security Technical Implementation Guidance (STIG), which may be found at the following

URL: https://public.cyber.mil/stigs/downloads/.

DoD Risk Management Framework (DODRMF) per DoD Instruction 8510.01, which may be found at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/851001p.pdf?ver=2019-02- 26-101520-3004.5.2.

1.5.2 Provide security patches/upgrades to include third-party applications in response to public-released security vulnerabilities associated with its software solution. Provide a POA&M for any security vulnerabilities within five business days of discovery. Software upgrades/patches shall be included in the licensing cost and be performed at the least disruptive times as determined by DoDEA in writing.

Note: Any exception to this requirement must be approved in advance and in writing by DoDEA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) or designated official.

1.5.3 Protect DoDEA data against all cyberattacks, notifying DoDEA within 72 hours of an identified and confirmed intrusion.

1.5.4 Perform security incident investigations upon identification of an event or at the request of DoDEA.

1.5.5 Address all Information Assurance Vulnerability Messages (IAVM) within the defined timelines. IAVM messages include IA Vulnerability Alerts (IAVA), IA Vulnerability Bulletins (IAVB), and Technical Advisories

(TA).

1.5.6 User passwords must not be readable by anyone having access to the system.

1.5.7 Ensure any portion of its solution that involves Internet access by DoDEA students complies with the relevant requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act, Public Law 106-554, § 1(a)(4) [Div. B, Title XVII, § 1701], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-335. All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoDEA data in any form shall be US citizens. Note: If its solution does not involve Internet access by DoDEA students, please ensure the following are included:

1) Maintaining system security IAW the latest versions of the (1) DoD Cloud Computing Security

Requirements Guide, (2) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and (3) Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

2) Providing a solution robust enough to serve the needs of a large community of learners dispersed across the world using a variety of bandwidths and scalable to meet future growth, both in terms of instruction and the number of users.

3) Ensuring Contractor staff who have access to DoDEA’s student, teacher and/or staff personally identifiable information take the DoD Privacy Act/Personally Identifiable Information (PA and PPI/PII) training before gaining access to the data and yearly thereafter. Provide copies of the certificates to the COR which can be audited at any time by the CISO or his/her designee.

1.6 Program and System Integration—The Contractor’s solution shall:

1.6.1 Provide Single Sign-On (SSO) Capabilities / Platform which (1) integrates with an Industry Standard

SSO login solution. (ClassLink, Google, Azure, etc.); (2) supports Oauth 2.0, Security Assertions Markup Language (SAML) for integration with Azure, or Google; and (3) authenticates using Azure Active Directory (AD) or Google AD. Authenticates using Azure Active Directory (AD) or Google AD.

1.6.2. Support industry-standard data rostering standards via ClassLink and standard data formats such as OneRoster.

1.6.3. Ensure that data storage, handling, and security meet the following minimum standards:

1) DoDEA’s information and data shall be secured in data center located in the United States.

2) The system, including its server(s) and network devices, shall be in an environmentally controlled and secure facility under controlled circumstances (e.g., authorized personnel access lists, ID cards, entry logs).

3) All Contractor personnel that have access or may potentially have access to DoDEA data in any form shall be US citizens, including any third-party penetration (PEN)/security testers.

4) All data transit shall be secured with Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.

5) All data at rest shall be secured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-256 encryption.

1.6.4 Ensure that data integration includes the following:

1) Automated industry standard form of data integration using Representational State Transfer Application

Program Interface (RESTful API), Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) data sets (ClassLink, OneRoster, etc.).

2) Encryption of DoDEA’s data at rest to include unique encryption keys for each customer on systems hosting multiple customers.

3) Notification of DoDEA in writing within 72 hours of any changes made to corporate policies for data protection.

4) Use of only masked student data in a non-production environment.

5) Integration scheduling that meets DoDEA’s required timeframes.

6) Provision of fully automated data uploads per Agency schedule(s) and Agency requirements.

7) Support of SFTP capabilities using a single set of login credentials.

8) Provision of a single data set of DoDEA information. Note: The Contractor’s solution shall support

DoDEA at all levels: school, community, district, region, and HQ.

9) Maintenance of a backup and restore plan for DoDEA data in the event of a disaster.

10) Provision of detailed feedback of what caused errors if an integration transmission results in errors.

1.6.5 System Features—The system shall:

1) Allow user accounts to be created automatically based on a file provided by DoDEA either nightly or on another pre-determined scheduled feed.

2) Allow DoDEA to be able to choose the format of user login identification, e.g., an email address, and be able to create manual accounts, if needed.

3) Require the user—for manually created accounts—to reset the password on the user’s initial login or, upon request, a password reset.