Amendment_01_PLC.pdf

HH601014RCPEH04‐01

Date: March 28, 2014

Amendment 01 to RFQ HH601014RCPEH04 Virtual Professional Learning Community (PLC)

Implementation

The purpose of this amendment is to provide responses to questions from prospective vendors. As a result of this amendment the following questions (Q) and answers (A) are provided below:

Q1) Is this a new requirement or is there an incumbent?

A1) This is a new requirement. There is no incumbent.

Q2) Page 1 ‐ In the "General Information" section, the opportunity is identified as: "NACIS Code/Small Business Size Standard: 611710, Educational Support Services/$14 Million." The "Description" section includes the following statement: "This requirement is being procured using full and open competition."

Is the opportunity open to entities with business volumes greater than $14M or is it limited to small businesses?

A2) This is open to all businesses. The small business size standard is provided as a reference against which a business can identify either identify themselves as a small or large business in regards to this requirement.

Q3) Can you clarify the IT component and online resources requirements to be submitted by April 2? Do you want access to a dedicated cloud‐based deployment for testing or responses to a security questionnaire? Do you want us to provide a tryourproduct.com site for purposes of testing? If by “online resources” do you mean PLC‐oriented content, do you want us to upload it to our tryourproduct.com website so that you can have access? More importantly, do you want us to fill out a form and submit it to you?

A3) In terms of the IT components and online resources due April 2, there is no form or questionnaire to complete. This requirement is for vendors to submit any digital and/or web‐based component of their proposed solution to include access to their proposed virtual meeting and coaching delivery platform/website and any other applicable items. I am unfamiliar with www.tryourproducts.com, but if it is a website that allows DoDEA to access your solution for testing purposes, then it would be an acceptable item to submit for this review.

Q4) Will the kickoff meeting be conducted virtually?

A4) Yes, the kick‐off will be conducted virtually for all of DoDEA.

Q5) Will the selected offeror be given access to historical student data in order to better assess DoDEA's needs?

A5) No, the offeror will not have access to student data.

Q6) For this project, do you require that our system have FedRAMP certification?

A6) Per December 2013 Unclassified/FOUO guidance from the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (CIO) all Internet‐based cloud requirements must be vetted through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) OR the DoD Cloud Broker Office. The vast majority of requirements will have to be vetted through the Cloud Broker processes and this will require significant/comprehensive coordination between the DoDEA Office of the CIO. Requirements will likely have to be vetted pre‐award to ensure authorization of identified solutions.

Q7) Is there a specific outline or format to follow for the preliminary IT review due April 2?

A7) There is no specific format to follow. The only requirement is for vendors to submit any digital and/or web‐based component of their proposed solution to include access to their proposed virtual meeting and coaching delivery platform/website and any other applicable items.

Q8) When will the results of the IT review be communicated?

A8) The results will not be communicated unless the vendor specifically requests the result. The request must come in an email to the Contracting Officer Nina Lin at nina.lin@hq.dodea.edu on the RFQ close date.

Q9) When will the “second prong” RFQ, providing staff development coaches who will provide teachers on‐site and/or virtual support, be posted?

A9) The Staff Development Coach positions were posted as federal job announcements on usajobs.gov and have already closed.

Q10) Does the proposal require an outline of the professional development training program that will be delivered?

A10) An outline is not required with the proposal, but can be submitted so long as it keeps the technical proposal within the 15 page limit. The actual contract deliverables includes draft and final plans.

Q11) In reference to PWS sections 2.1 and 2.2, will the newly contracted PLC replace the existing online communities? If so, will resources be duplicated or moved into the new system? If DoDEA’s new system will replace existing communities, is it possible to gain an understanding of the current uses and configuration of these disparate systems to help with user transition?

A11) DoDEA, as a whole, does not have existing online communities. The professional learning communities that do exist are school‐based, consist of teams of teachers, and vary greatly in terms of practices, effectiveness, etc.

Q12) In reference to PWS section 4.1.3 Principals and professional learning teams, can you define these two groups? If the “teams” are a different group than the members of the learning community in each school can you give an approximate number in each group system‐wide?

A12) The principals are the principals of the DoDEA schools. The professional learning teams/communities are a group of teacher leaders and a Staff Development Coach (one team per school).

Q13) In reference to PWS section 4.2.4 Kickoff meeting, where will the kickoff meeting be held? Who will be attending in person? Is this meeting to be virtual for all community members worldwide?

Should the kickoff events be streamed live as well as recorded?

A13) Because the kickoff meetings are held virtually, they can occur in any location of the vendor’s choice. No one from DoDEA will be attending in person. The Kickoff is virtual for the DoDEA world‐wide educators. Yes, it will be streamed and recorded.

Q14) In reference to PWS section 4.3.2 Small Group Meetings, will these be 100% virtual as well?

A14) Yes.

Q15) In reference to PWS section 4.4 Bi‐Semester Meetings with each School‐Based Professional Learning Community, are these teachers? How many are there (approximately) in total?

A15) The professional learning communities are a group of teacher leaders and one Staff Development Coach (one team per school). The number may vary 5‐9 teacher leaders and one Staff Development Coach.

Q16a) Should we provide access to the online Professional Learning Community throughout the contract period – for purposes of accessing archives of meetings, posted resources and ongoing collaboration?

A16a) Yes, all resources provided within the contract shall be available throughout the life of the contract.

Q16b)If continuous access is desirable, should coaches moderate discussion boards periodically?

A16b) If discussion boards are part of your plan, they should be moderated periodically.

Q17) In reference to PWS sections 5.8.3 and 5‐8‐4, with respect to access to student data – will the contractor’s system be responsible for monitoring and assessment of CCSS standards compliance of the actual DoDEA student population? Will students need to access the system? If so, for courses or for the entire school year?

A17) The answer is no to all the questions in Q17 above.