Life Connection Program Facilitator SOW 2023.pdf

LIFE CONNECTION PROGRAM FACILITATOR

STATEMENT OF WORK

A. BACKGROUND:

In September 2000, the Executive Staff of the Federal Bureau of Prisons approved a concept which would initiate a pilot program of multi-faith Residential Faith-based Pre-release Program, the Life Connections Program. This is a voluntary program which will initially be located in five institutions in various regions of the country. The program will be available to male inmates.

The program provides inmates with intensive opportunities for spiritual growth and deepening their religious roots by sharing common space and programs for the purpose of personal transformation and reducing recidivism. Inmates will participate in religion specific and inter-faith program components designed to bring restoration with God, family, community, and self. The program’s design will increase religious tolerance and respect among inmates of various faiths; will connect each inmate with a spiritual mentor; and will link participants with a faith community at their release destination in order to enhance community reintegration. Another component of the program will initiate specific Victim Impact programs to assist inmates in claiming responsibility for their actions and making amends with victims, family, and community.

The program will enlist partnerships with individuals and organizations in its efforts to lower recidivism and facilitate spiritual growth and personal change.

Volunteers, contractors, mentors, sponsoring religious congregations and organizations are all essential partners in the program.

The goal of the Bureau of Prisons Life Connections Program is to provide inmates living in a shared living space with intensive opportunities for holistic life restoration for the purpose of reducing recidivism and enhancing prison management.

B. SUBJECT:

Acquisition of a Life Connections Program Facilitator who will be responsible for the duties prescribed in the description of service to be performed below.

The Government intends to make a single award of a firm-fixed price contract. The proposed contract resulting from this solicitation is for a base year, and includes the possibility of four (4) unilaterally exercised option years, for a possible five (5) year contract. The Government is not obligated to exercise any of the option years. The base year period of performance will be from May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024.

C. SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED:

The contractor will be knowledgeable of program goals, expectations, and schedules.

Consultations will be held with Life Connections Program Chaplain as needed. Regular meetings and trainings with the LCP team will be required. Since this is a multi-faith program, the contractor will be expected to foster relationships with students from a broad variety of religious communities including but not limited to Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, Buddhist, etc.

The Program Facilitator assist the Life Connections Program Chaplain, Administrative Assistant, and Mentor Coordinator with coordinating all program components. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Assessing student program work, behavior and progress,

• Tracking student attendance and behavior, and preparing related reports and notices as necessary,

• Maintaining student paper and electronic records and preparing progress reports,

• Communicating and coordinating with other LCP team members regarding student records and progress, via email, phone, and in-person interactions,

• Publicly addressing the LCP student community,

• Providing guidance to LCP student relating to public speaking—specifically coordinating the Word of the Day portion of the LCP,

• Assisting the Chaplain in developing program components, and,

• Developing and facilitating classes, workshops and seminars related to the Life

Connections Program core curriculum,

• Assist the LCP Chaplain with the implementation and running of pre-course work for students waiting to program and after-care for those completed with the program.

Due to the nature and physical setting of the position, contractor must be able to stand/walk for extended period of time and walk up and down stairs several times each day.

Education and Experience

The individual/organization providing Facilitator Services under contract award should possess, through a combination of education and experience, a general working knowledge of a broad variety of religious traditions, excellent inter-personal communication and leadership skills, and public speaking experience and ability.

The individual/organization providing Facilitator Services under contract award should have considerable experience with computer-based report writing and records keeping, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.

The individual/organization providing Facilitator Services under contract award should have experience and demonstrable success in managing multiple tasks in the coordination of daily activities involving numerous and diverse groups of people. Experience working in corrections is preferred.

The contractor should possess, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in religious studies, religious education, spiritual direction, psychology/counseling, criminology or related course of study from an accredited college or university.

A minimum of three years of documented, continuous full time experience as a minister with their faith community is preferred.

Experience working in a correctional setting is preferred.

Quoters must specifically identify the individual that will be performing these services under any subsequent contract award. The quoter must provide proof that their candidate meets all qualifications. The candidate’s name and qualifications must be submitted at the time the quote is submitted. Contractors must submit with their quote a resume, and photocopies of documents evidencing education and training.

D. PLACEMENT OF PERFORMANCE:

The services to be provided will be accomplished at:

United States Penitentiary 4700 Bureau Road South Terre Haute, Indiana 47802

The Life Connection Program Unit (C-1), ordinarily The USP Chapel, Visiting Room, or other program spaces, occasionally

D. SCHEDULE:

A session is defined as one hour. The contractor will normally provide six sessions per day, up to 30 sessions each week (1,440 sessions each fiscal year). Work hours will normally be Monday-Friday, excluding Federal Holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. The schedule may include evening hours, and include weekends based on program needs. During periods of irregular institutional operations, when the contractor may not enter the institution, the schedule may include up to 12 sessions per week worked outside of the institution, to be determined and adjusted based on program needs. The breakdown of hours will be determined locally based on program needs, and may be adjusted based on program and institution needs. Once the schedule has been agreed upon, any changes to the schedule must be coordinated with the LCP Chaplain.

Due to the nature of the correctional setting, delays in performance of work may be experienced. Such delays may include but are not limited to inclement weather, electrical or mechanical problems, or other security matters. When contract employees report to the institution but are unable to perform services due to such delays, the contractor will be paid for one session. Normally, any remaining sessions for that day will be suspended and the contractor will be free to leave and the contractor will not be paid for the remaining unperformed sessions. However, if the institution requests that the contractor remain at the institution for eventual performance, the contractor shall be paid for such sessions. In the event of any absence, the contractor may make up his/her time so long as it does not exceed 30 hours in any given week. If the contractor fails to provide coverage, the Government may seek contractual remedy.

F. SUPPLIES:

All supplies that the contractor may routinely need will be provided by the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute. These supplies will normally include any materials needed to perform the services covered under this contract.

G. MANAGEMENT:

The contractor will be monitored by the Life Connections Program Chaplain. The contractor shall attend all training required by the Bureau of Prisons for contract workers. The contractor will not be permitted to attend institution meetings, staff recalls, or government training sessions for institution staff on contract time or as a consideration of the contract.

The contractor may attend team meetings, departmental meetings, or other meetings relating to the involvement of the services to be provided by terms of the contract. Some meetings will be required and accomplished on contract time.

The contractor will provide a monthly billing statement to the contract monitor that accurately reflects the days of each visit, the number of hours or sessions of each visit, the general content of the sessions, and the total dollar amount due for that months services.

Attire

The contractor is expected to wear professional clothing while on duty. The attire worn shall also be appropriate for the correctional environment in which the contract employee will be performing.

Non-Personal Services/Common Law Employee Information

The service is a contractual arrangement and not a personnel appointment.

Payment is based on the provision of an end product or the accomplishment of a specific result. The service does not constitute an employer/employee relationship.

The contractor will not be subject to Government supervision, except for security related matters. However, contractor performance shall be monitored.

If the resulting contract is made to an individual(s), the provision of these services has been determined to meet certain criteria for creating common law employee relationship. Therefore, the BOP is responsible for the payment of FICA taxes (7.65%) and the withholding of the individual’s taxes. These responsibilities apply only when award of this solicitation is made to an individual. It does not apply to companies or individuals who are incorporated. For evaluation purposes, an additional 7.65% will be added to the price submitted by individuals who are not incorporated.

H. INSTITUTION SECURITY:

Contractor will adhere to all regulations prescribed by the institution for the safety, conduct and custody of inmates. The contractor shall attend an orientation program prior to assuming their full duties within the institution. The contract employee will be required to sign in and out of the institution for accountability purposes. A badge will be issued and worn at all times for proper identification.

The contractor’s performance will be monitored by the COR.

Inmate Management

Provision of services will require frequent and unsupervised contact with inmates.

The contract employee shall not be responsible for the management of any inmates, other than to ensure inmates involved within the contract’s scope of work abide by all rules to ensure their safety and well-being. The successful contractor shall attend the Institution Familiarization Orientation program prior to assuming institution involvement. Reimbursement to the contractor for the time spent in the institution orientation or other specific security related training will be at the contract rate, prorated hourly. The contractor may, at any time, be removed from the institution at the discretion of the CEO. The contractor is to constantly be aware of security and maintain a professional relationship with inmates at all times. Any violation of the institution rules and regulations are to be brought immediately to the attention of any Government employee employed at the institution. The contractor will be required to provide documentation to the COR, or designee, of any infractions of institutional rules and regulations by inmates for proper action.