SOW_-_Trainee_Wellness_&_Career_Readiness_Support_Services_.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

FOR

TRAINEE WELLNESS & CAREER READINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

BACKGROUND.

The NIH supports biomedical research, contributes to biomedical knowledge by conducting research in its intramural laboratories, fosters the training of biomedical researchers both in its own laboratories and extramurally, and facilitates the sharing and application of new biomedical information. The Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) at the NIH provides training for biomedical researchers in the Intramural Research Program to enhance their professional and career development.

The OITE seeks a vendor to provide a career development program focused on trainee well-being and career readiness to complement programs already in place in the intramural research program. The OITE expects the vendor will have an understanding of research and healthcare environments and some familiarity with the NIH and NIH training systems.

Consultants may work directly with OITE staff or with OITE trainees - in small group activities and workshop settings. The consultants will strive to integrate their activities and expertise into a wellness framework articulated by the OITE Director.

The OITE seeks expertise in areas related to thriving during transitions and the career exploration/job search process:

small group facilitations and evaluation of wellness initiatives. The evaluation of OITE wellness initiatives is a critical need to ensure that NIH-funded programming is achieving our desired program objectives and improving to meet trainee needs.

SCOPE.

Under this delivery order, consultants will independently provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE), Office of Intramural Research (OIR). The primary objective is to provide services and deliverables by assisting the OITE Director and staff in finding subject matter experts to serve as consultants, evaluators and presenters on topics related to the mission of the OITE.

ORGANIZATION.

Office of the Director Office of Intramural Research

Office of Intramural Training and Education 2 Center Drive, Room 2E24 (MSC 0240) Bethesda, MD 20892

A. Contractor Requirements

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary labor, materials, supplies, equipment, and services to accomplish the work of this contract. All services shall be provided at a NIH facility.

Furthermore, the Contractor shall be responsible for performing the listed services which shall include the salient characteristics, features, and specifications indicated below.

The overall objectives of the Wellness Program include, but are not limited to, the following primary developmental areas:

TASKS/SERVICES. The contractor shall:

• Provide semester-long (two 13-week sessions,~12 hours per month) group facilitations for up to 20-students to address career goals and stress. There would be up to three groups meeting simultaneously around trainee type.

Potential topics can include (but are not limited to):

o Resiliency in work enviornments o Managing Automatic Negative Thoughts o Learned Optimism o Growth Vs. Fixed Mindset o Imposter Fears o Stress-management around research environments, test taking, educational applications, and career decision making o Issue for specific populations including (but not limited to) LGBTQ, persons on the autism spectrum, and disabled trainees o Other topics as necessary to meet career readiness goals

• Provide an expert to work with individual students around wellness goals as necessary; provide additional resources to students

• Develop and execute an evaluation of wellness inititatives to determine impact and promote further program growth. Develop, test, distribute and analyze surveys on wellness programming. This includes pre- and post-surveys of wellness programs (Including workshops and group discussions).

• Coordinate with OITE staff to meet both the administrative and content needs of the program.

Each of these tasks/services is critical to the success of this training program

DELIVERABLES. Upon request, the contractor shall provide documentation evidence of any and/or all work product, including, but not limited to, the following tasks:

• Work products and documents related to providing NIH postbacs, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows a 13-week (semester length) group facilitations. This would be provided every semester.

• Work products and documents related to working with individual students; provide additional resources; coordinate with OITE staff to meet administrative and content needs of program.

• Surveys instruments and questions, survey results, and reports on evaluations and focus groups.

• Work closely with the OITE, and other parties as identified, during program development phase to ensure content meets developmental needs and expectations. This includes emails, phone calls and occasional meetings as required.

• The Contractor shall provide any materials required for participants. All written work will adhere to the plain language guidelines available for review at http://www1.od.nih.gov/execsec/guidelines.htm5.

• During the course of the program the Contractor shall, with technical assistance of OITE, create an electronic library of updated training materials around wellness, stress reduction, resilience and other topics. All training materials will be made available to participants and OITE staff electronically except when proprietary or copyright restrictions make doing so prohibitive. Except when proprietary or copyrighted, all developed materials will be the final property of the NIH.

• Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, all electronic and information technology (EIT) products and services developed, acquired, maintained, and/or used under this contract/order must comply with the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Provisions" set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the "Access Board") in 36 CFR part 1194. Information about Section 508 provisions is available at http://www.section508.gov/ . The complete text of Section 508 Final provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/provisions.htm.

The Section 508 standards applicable to this contract/order are identified in the Statement of Work. The Contractor must provide a written Section 508 conformance certification due at the end of each order/contract exceeding $100,000 when the order/contract duration is one year or less. If it is determined by the Government that EIT products and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility in the http://www1.od.nih.gov/execsec/guidelines.htm5 http://www.section508.gov/ http://www.section508.gov/ http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/provisions.htm http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/provisions.htm

Product Assessment Template, remediation of the products and/or services to the level of conformance specified in the vendor's Product Assessment Template will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

In the event of a modification(s) to the contract/order, which adds new EIT products and services or revised the type of, or specifications for, products and services the Contractor is to provide, including EIT deliverables such as electronic documents and reports, the Contracting Officer may require that the Contractor submit a completed HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template to assist the Government in determining that the EIT products and services support Section 508 accessibility requirements. Instructions for documenting accessibility via the HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template may be found at http://508.hhs.gov .

• The Contractor's staff and all products and activities related to the contract shall clearly identify the OITE as the sponsor of this program. In addition, the text and other materials such as handouts, PowerPoint presentations, slides, overheads and other instructional material shall also be identified by the NIH and OITE logos and program title.

• The Contractor shall arrange for and/or deliver all course materials to the training site(s) and provide copies to the OITE program manager.

• The Contractor shall furnish all materials necessary for the program requirements as outlined in this SOW.

• The Contractor will communicate, via email, with program participants about necessary logistical information as appropriate.

• Two (2) OITE staff shall be permitted to observe all discussions Staff should be provided the same material as participants.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSE, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OR OTHER EXPERTISE REQUIRED.

The contractor must have the Ability to provide an instructor/facilitator that has:

• Master’s degree in counseling or related discipline.

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years related experience.

• Experience with group facilitation, journaling or workshop delivery in the content area with a focus on communicating with the biomedical community

• Experience in evaluation within the biomedical trainee community, including developing and administering questions, analyzing data, and presentation of final reports.

• Experience in focus group administration, including developing and administering questions, analyzing data, and presentation of final reports.

• Experience with a diverse clientele base inclusing LGBTQ, disability, autism spectrum and more.

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Experience developing a syllabus; conducting sessions of workshops/courses; leading all in-class participatory sessions.

The contractor must have expertise in evaluation of wellness programs. This includes an in-depth knowledge of current evalution methods and tools being used within the wellness programs of the Office of Intramural Training & Education.

Program Participation http://508.hhs.gov/

This program will be attended by postbac trainees (trainees with a BS degree at the NIH for 2-3 years), graduate students, postdoctoral fellows (sceintists with a PhD completing an addition 2-5 years of training), and/or clinical fellows (physicians doing specialty training). Small groups will be limited to no more than 20 trainees.

Program Time Periods and Place of Performance

Programs will be scheduled when dates are determined. With respect to the evaluation there is no ramp up time.

Contractor must have team available and in place on day one of the contract.

The Contractor shall be responsible for laying out participant material, and preparing instructional equipment and aids -unless otherwise specified by NIH policies and procedures. An OITE coordinator should be on site or available for each session to ensure seamless coordination of people and activities.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE.

The place of performance is 2 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.

This work may also be performed remotely at the discretion of the IC, OD, OIR.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.

The period of performance consists of a base year plus three one-year long option periods.

OPERATIONAL HOURS.

Work will be performed as stipulated during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

SAFETY ISSUES.

Work is performed in an office setting. There are no known safety issues.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED EQUIPMENT, BADGE, KEYS AND/OR FACILITIES PROVIDED.

Workspace, telephone, computer with Internet access, and other electronic equipment as necessary will be provided while on the NIH campus. Assistance with obtaining NIH ID and office keys will be provided. Consultant is responsible for their own technology if working remotely.

SECURITY CLEARANCE.

Work under this delivery order is

___X _UNCLASSIFIED

______SECRET

______TOP SECRET.

The contractor shall comply with all applicable Homeland Security regulations and procedures during the performance of this delivery order. The contractor shall not disclose and must safeguard procurement sensitive information, computer systems and data, privacy act data, and Government personnel work products that are obtained or generated in the performance of this delivery order. If necessary, the contractor will be required to provide clearances for personnel requiring access to Government computers and workstations.

REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES (TRAVEL, CONFERENCE, TRAINING, EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS, ETC.).

Travel or other reimbursable expenses are

__ _ _ required. __X__ Occupational Health Services ____ X ___not required _____ Non-US citizen/visa processing costs __X Other

The consultant will not be required to travel from the Bethesda area to other campuses of the NIH to complete some of the tasks described in this statement of work. Consultant expense reports shall be prepared and processed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). Materials and subcontracts will be reimbursed at actual cost, including allocable material handling costs, as applicable, in accordance with FAR 52.232-7 - PAYMENTS UNDER TIME-AND-MATERIALS AND

LABOR-HOUR CONTRACTS.

NON-PERSONAL SERVICE STATEMENT.

Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. The consultant’s management shall ensure that employees properly comply with the performance standards outlined in the Performance Evaluation Standard (PES). Consultant employees will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Government will control access to the facility and will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

EVALUATION FACTORS

Corporate Experience Offerors should have an understanding of research and healthcare environments and some familiarity with the NIH. An understanding of the biomedical workforce is encouraged. Offeror should have the ability to find consultants with experitise and knowledge of wellness programing for the biomedical workforce. Offeror should understand current progress and future directions in the evaluation of OITE wellness programming.

Past Performance Offerors should include in their proposals at least 3 references over the last three years for projects they have worked on of similar size and scope. The offeror is permitted to print out an include any online Past Performance information within a Past Performance section of their proposal. In place of online ratings, the offeror can instead distribute the questionnaires attached to this RFP to its references.

Cost/Price It is expected that the contractors will provide a fixed rate for all of the services described in section B. The government will compare pricing among qualified offerors based on the fully burdened ceiling for all of the services over the full span of the period of performance (including any and all option).

Basis for award The government intends to determine best value through tradeoffs. Non-price factors, when combined, are more important than price. The government will award to the offeror that provides the best value to the government.

Payment for Emergency Closure During an emergency closure of the government and/or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) taken for the public good, the NIH will issue either written or oral orders to stop work to the Contractor. Contractor shall provide the NIH

Contracting Officer or COR with verifiable documentation of expenses incurred which will be reviewed for equitable adjustment in the program delivery schedule, contract price, or both.