QandA.doc

1. We have understood that the minimum number of participants for each class will be 10. What is the anticipated size of each class? What is the maximum size of each class?

A: The delivery is indefinite and the quantity is indefinite. The determination of the maximum size of each class is up to the offeror. The USCG will be sending participants up to the maximum to courses available from the offeror.

2. Do the numbers in parentheses by each CLIN indicate a number of students for price comparison purposes? Or do they mean the number of cohorts a year?

A: Those numbers are the USCG internal course designations.

3. In the scope of work, section 1.2 mentions Graduate School USA. What will the relationship be between the contractor and Graduate School USA?

A: See Amendment 00001.

4. In the scope of work, section 3.0, 4.0, and 5.1 - 5.4 seem to indicate that the contractor supplies the meeting / training rooms at various locations rotated throughout the CONUS. Are these meeting rooms to be in any particular cities? Is there a requirement that the meetings be held close to Coast Guard stations? Is there an opportunity to hold the sessions in a CG facility? Would a hotel conference room be appropriate? (Sorry - I guess that's more than one question on this part! Just trying to get a feel for what I should budget here.)

A: Please see PWS Section 1.7.

5. For the residential programs required by sections 5.1 - 5.4, is the contractor or the CG to pay for the participants' room and board?

A: The USCG Intends to issue travel orders for USCG personnel.

6. Is there an incumbent contractor providing these services under an existing contract?

A: Graduate School USA was the incumbent under HSCG23-13-P-PTW012. There currently is not an incumbent contract for these services. The requirements in prior purchases are different. Please see RFQ HSCG23-13-Q-PTW012 for an example of the previous requirements.

7. Does the USCG already have existing curriculum for these courses or is it anticipated / required that the contractor develop all new curriculum?

A: Please see 52.212-1 Volume 1 Technical Approach. The requirement is for commercial training services, in addition please see PWS section 3.0.

8. Does the USCG anticipate funding travel/lodging for students attending courses and, if so, is it anticipated that the contractor provide a list of local lodging facilities?

A: Please see answer 5.

9. When is the anticipated start of the Base Period of Performance?

A: Award will be made before September 30, 2014.

10. It is noted that there are “residential training sessions” identified in each course description. Is this the only timeframe the USCG anticipates students to be present for instruction at contractor facilities?

A: Please see PWS Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 for stated requirements.

11. The course descriptions for 5.2 New Leader Program and 5.3 Executive Leadership Program are identical. Is that by design?

A: See Amendment 00001.

12. Please provide some further explanation regarding the phrase “The xx-week residential training sessions will rotate its offerings throughout the CONUS.” It is understood that the “primary place of performance will be at contractor facilities” and “contractor travel is not required.”

A: The contractor is not required to have multiple facilities.

13. Does the USCG have a student-to-instructor ratio requirement for this type of instruction?

A: No the USCG does not have a student-to-instructor ratio requirement for this type of instruction.

14. Are there education/experiential requirements for the instructors?

A: See Amendment 00001.

15. Is experience with leadership development in government agencies a must-have? We have tremendous experience training leaders in public, private and not-for-profit agencies but not specifically with the US government. Will this disqualify us?

A: Prior experience with government agencies is not required.

16. Do you have preferred models or assessments that you like to use in leadership development classes/workshops? For example: are there certain models, e.g, Situational Leadership, used in The Coast Guard Leadership Development Program that you would like your vendor-partner to use in order to provide consistency with other leader development efforts?

A: Courses shall be modeled on the DHS Leader Development plan. See Amendment 00001.

17. What training exists for these levels of leaders today? Can you provide a document that overviews existing content?

A: See Amendment 00001.

18. Would you welcome a leader-as-teacher model, using Coast Guard leaders as guest lecturers or SME providers?

A: Government personnel shall not perform work with the contractor for services under this contract. The contractor is free to propose their own method.

19. You mention a developmental assignment as part of the New Leader and Executive Leadership Programs. Would your vendor-partner be involved in this part of the curriculum, or will you handle this internally?

A: Yes the contractor will be involved in this part of the curriculum.

20. In order to create a syllabus for the Executive Potential Program, it would be helpful to see copies of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Coast Guard/DHS leadership competencies. Can you provide these please?

A: See Amendment 00001.

21. We assume that we will be paired with a subject matter expert to help us fully understand the Financial Management and Human Resource Management requirements for the Executive Potential Program. Is this correct?

A: In accordance with PWS Section 3.0 there are no government furnished resources including government personnel.

22. Your RFP indicates that the learning solutions will be delivered/facilitated by Graduate School USA and that this RFP covers only the design/delivery and project management of the programs, including providing course materials and certificates of completion. Is that correct?

A: See Amendment 00001.

23. If so, does this mean that the Project Manager will be contacted each time a program is scheduled so that materials can be produced and shipped to the location designated?

A: Please see PWS Section 5.6.

24. Will you expect that the partner will use government printing services, or are you asking us to source the printing services as well?

A: Per PWS Section 4.0” The Contractor shall furnish all facilities, materials, equipment, and services necessary to fulfill the requirements, except for the Government Furnished Resources specified in PWS 3.0 of this performance work statement.” The government has no input in regards to subcontractors.

25. Does any of the learning identified for the Aspiring Leader program exist electronically (or otherwise) elsewhere in the Coast Guard today? Example: written communication.

A: Please see answer 24.

26. Is it your intent that the project manager also manages the process of developmental assignments (for New Leader, Executive Leader, and Executive Potential) or will that be managed by a program office?”

A: The Contractor will manage the process of the developmental assignments.

27. Under Volume 3: Price – does Max quantity refer to the number of students in the session or the number of sessions.

A: Neither the max is the maximum number of students the USCG could order to attend the Contractor’s courses.

28. You state in the RFP: The offerors shall sequentially number all pages of each volume – Should each volume begin with page number 1?

A: This is at the discretion of the offeror