SEED QA.docx

OAA-26-00072 / State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) Q&A

1. Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services?

a. Yes.

2. The NAICS code noted is 92114 - Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined. Is this code a required classification for the offeror? Should the responding organization be considered an executive or legislative office or government establishment?

a. The NAICS code is not a required classification for the offeror.

b. Please see question 6 of the RFI QUESTIONNAIRE. Other organizations can apply.

3. Is the cover letter included in the 20-page limit?

a. See response to question 8 below.

4. Item 3 under “Responses to RFI” refers to a “capabilities package.” Is the capabilities package the full response to the RFI or a distinct component of the response? If it is a distinct component, is it included in the 20- page limit?

a. The capabilities package should be included as part of the 20 – page limit.

5. Does the appendix count towards the 20-page limit? Is there a limit on the number of pages in the appendix?

a. An appendix does count toward the 20-page limit.

6. In regards to Question 1 of the RFI questionnaire, focused on providing relevant services outlined in the scope of work, should the scope of work be considered the bulleted list of qualifications (page 3) or the task list for the performance work statement (page 6)?

a. The scope of work should be considered the task list in the Performance Work Statement.

7. Are the three questions regarding the Draft Performance Work Scope (PWS) Task List for assessing potential costs and potential risk considered part of the RFI questionnaire? Should they be included in the 20-page limit?

a. They should be considered part of the RFI questionnaire and should be included in the 20-page limit.

8. Are the cover letter and cover page counted as part of the 20 pg. maximum length, or can they be counted separate from the 20 page limit?

a. No, but we recommend that cover letters be no longer than two pages and a cover page is generally considered one page.

9. What falls under the scope of "technical assistance"? Are there specific technologies or tools that ODEP would like us to consider? Or does this just refer to specific expertise around policy or other advisory-type activities

a. Providing technical assistance to state policymakers on the development, adoption, and implementation of state policies that help Americans with disabilities secure employment, grow earnings, and build wealth. This may include providing expert policy guidance, resources, in person support, and could include specific technologies or tools as necessary.

10. Will the government please elaborate on how PWS Task 2: Technical Assistance for State Policy Makers, Subtask 2.1 (Provide technical assistance for state legislative and executive branch policy makers on the development, adoption, and implementation of disability employment policies that aim to increase the number of Americans with disabilities in the labor market) would comply with FAR contract cost principles and procedures on lobbying and political activity costs? See for example, FAR 31.205-22.

a. The activities outlined in PWS Task 2 comply with the FAR 31.205-22 given the following:

“The following activities are excepted from the coverage of (a) of this section:

i. (1) Providing a technical and factual presentation of information on a topic directly related to the performance of a contract through hearing testimony, statements or letters to the Congress or a state legislature, or subdivision, member, or cognizant staff member thereof, in response to a documented request (including a Congressional Record notice requesting testimony or statements for the record at a regularly scheduled hearing) made by the recipient member, legislative body or subdivision, or a cognizant staff member thereof; provided such information is readily obtainable and can be readily put in deliverable form; and further provided that costs under this section for transportation, lodging or meals are unallowable unless incurred for the purpose of offering testimony at a regularly scheduled Congressional hearing pursuant to a written request for such presentation made by the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or Subcommittee conducting such hearing.

b. The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. The U.S. Congress established the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor in Fiscal Year 2001, which tasked the agency with “establishing an office of disability employment policy which shall, under the overall direction of the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary provide leadership, develop policy and initiatives and award grants furthering the objective of eliminating barriers to the training and employment of people with disabilities”.

As such, ODEP seeks vendor support in strengthening policy development, adoption, and implementation of state level disability employment policies. Critical aspects of this process include assessing the most efficient ways of reaching state policymakers. ODEP is interested in strengthening its efforts to actively engage national, regional, and state organizations representing state policy makers and help them identify specific disability employment policies that align with their specific interests and geographic needs.

The vendor will also work with state policy makers to provide outreach and technical assistance to agencies identified to implement specific state level policies (e.g., workforce boards, vocational rehabilitation, other), which are typically responsible for facilitating long term career success and economic independence for Americans with disabilities.

The SEED vendor will also work with organizations and their state level constituents to gather their thoughts and ideas related to emergent disability employment policy interests and considerations.

Through both in-person and virtual learning exchanges and convenings, states will have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights on the impact of adopted policies with their peers across the country, fostering collaboration among all relevant stakeholders.

No activities outlined in Task 2.1, or in any task, would constitute attempting to influence Federal, state, or local legislation nor would the Department permit the vendor to engage in any prohibited activity outlined in 31.205-22.

In response to this inquiry, the Department has amended the tasks outlined in the draft task list to provide additional insights about the specific tasks outlined.

Task 2 Education, Outreach, and Technical Assistance for State Policy Makers and Agencies

Subtask 2.1 Provide technical assistance for state legislative and executive branch policy makers on the development, adoption, and implementation of disability employment policies that aim to increase the number of Americans with disabilities in the labor market.

Critical aspects of this process include assessing the most efficient ways of reaching state policymakers. ODEP is interested in strengthening its efforts to actively engage national, regional, and state organizations representing state policy makers and help them identify specific disability employment policies that align with their specific interests and geographic needs.

The vendor will also work with state policy makers to provide technical assistance to agencies identified to implement specific state level policies (e.g., workforce boards, vocational rehabilitation, other), which are typically responsible for facilitating long term career success and economic independence for Americans with disabilities.

Subtask 2.2 Develop high quality, plain language technical assistance resources, policy briefs, and training materials for state-level policy makers on disability employment related issues.

Task 3: Adoption and Impact of Disability Employment Policies

Subtask 3.1. Develop a mechanism to track the adoption and implementation of state-level employment policies.

Subtask 3.2 Track the impact of enacted policies on disability employment, including geographic regions.

Subtask 3.3 Serve as a convening authority that develops, organizes, launches, and conducts learning exchanges for state policy makers interested in improving labor force participation rate for Americans with disabilities. Through both in-person and virtual sessions, state leaders will have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights on the impact of adopted policies with their peers across the country, fostering collaboration among all relevant stakeholders.

Subtask 3.4 Develop and implement a strategic approach for increasing the development, adoption, and implementation of state level evidence-based disability employment policies across the country.

11. How will “impact” be defined, what data sources will be used, and what level of rigor is expected (monitoring vs evaluation)?

a. Impact is defined as better employment outcomes for people with disabilities and whatever evidence is necessary to demonstrate that impact. This project may contain monitoring and evaluation elements, and appropriate data sources would be identified during the contract execution.

12. What are the required deliverable types, volumes, and accessibility standards (Plain Language, Section 508, WCAG version/level), and who provides final compliance sign-off?

a. All deliverables must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) August 7, 1998, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Level AA and the Department of Labor Management Series (DLMS) Section 9, Chapter 600, or as specified in subsequent updates to the preceding criteria. ODEP provides final compliance sign off.

13. What is the expected level of effort and operating cadence for convenings/communities/partnerships, and what support will ODEP provide (e.g., participant recruitment, comms channels, GFE/resources)?

a. Many factors influence the level of effort for these activities. In partnership with ODEP, such factors as number of participants, location of event, number of speakers, lengths of convening, and related considerations will determine level of effort.