FY24 Riparian Zone Contract PWS REV01_7FEB24.docx

Revision 01 dated 7 Feb 2023: Updates Course Manager and clarifies number of students per course session.

All Changes are in bold red font.

1. General Information

The Government provides training courses that are managed through the US Army Corps of Engineers Learning Center (ULC) in Huntsville, Alabama. These courses require technical or specialized information taught by experienced and or certified instructors at Government or Military facilities or educational institutions to help fulfill the mission.

1.1 Riparian Zone Restoration/Ecology/Mgt (281)

1.1.1 Course Background: This course provides education in Riparian ecology and addresses planning and management issues that pertain to riparian ecosystems in a variety of ecological and geographical settings. Emphasis is placed on the ecology, restoration, and stewardship of riparian habitats associated with Civil Works projects and activities. Students will receive instruction on the functions and ecological importance of riparian zones, conservation needs, potential impacts resulting from various land use practices, and restoration and management techniques that can be applied to maintain or improve riparian systems. Through a series of lectures, practical exercises, and field activities, students will be introduced to the following topics:

1.1.1.1 Riparian functions, values, and trends;

1.1.1.2 Riparian ecology (vegetation, fauna; will include sessions on the importance of riparian zones to mammals, reptiles/amphibians, and neotropical migrant birds);

1.1.1.3 Inventory and monitoring techniques;

1.1.1.4 Impacts (hydrologic changes, vegetation modification, non-native invasive species, agricultural practices, bank erosion, non-point source pollution);

1.1.1.5 Restoration methods (including monitoring and adaptive management);

1.1.1.6 Fluvial geomorphology combined with some stream/riparian restoration case studies, and

1.1.1.7 Management strategies (including development of appropriate designs for corridors and buffer strips).

Students will participate in field trip(s) to local rivers with associated riparian floodplains, to examine riparian habitats and demonstrate restoration monitoring and adaptive management techniques. After completing this course, students will be able to characterize riparian habitats, understand the functions and values of these habitats, and make appropriate decisions regarding their restoration, use, conservation, and management from an ecosystem perspective. Students will be able to identify specific techniques and procedures for inventorying, assessing, analyzing, and evaluating the status of riparian resources and associated impacts upon these resources.

1.2 Course Length & Size: The Riparian Zone Ecology/Restoration/Mgt Course shall consist of 36 hours taught by the contractor including classroom instruction, field trips, and other interactive methods to provide maximum exchange of ideas and information. All courses will begin on a Monday and end on Friday. The number of students per course session will be between 30-35 students.

1.3 Instructional Systems Design (ISD): The contractor shall ensure that an acceptable ISD model is followed to develop, update, or revise course instructional materials. Training materials should be developed to meet standards based on ULC Pamphlet 350-70, Training Development Guide, and TRADOC Pamphlet 350-70-14, Training and Educational Development in Support of the Institutional Domain.

1.4 Instructional Requirements: The contractor shall, as a minimum, but not limited to, teach the following topics for Course 281:

1.4.1 Classroom Instruction:

1.4.1.1 Identification of Riparian buffer strips and corridors.

1.4.1.2 Identification of Riparian ecosystem restoration opportunities

1.4.1.3 Recognition of authorities related to ecosystem restoration.

1.4.1.4 Identification of mammal use of riparian areas.

1.4.1.5 Identification of forage resources in riparian areas.

1.4.1.6 Identification of microhabitats available in riparian systems.

1.4.1.7 Application of inventory techniques and methods.

1.4.1.8 Identification of amphibian breeding grounds.

1.4.1.9 Description of differences in utilization of riparian areas.

1.4.1.10 Identification of Riparian areas and birds.

1.4.1.11 Identification of neotropical migrant birds.

1.4.1.12 Identification of riparian habitat characteristics.

1.4.1.13 Determining bird count.

1.4.1.14 Importance of Riparian Forest buffers.

1.4.1.15 Recognition of Forest Stand dynamics

1.4.1.16 Identification of Ecological Forestry.

1.4.1.17 Description of Understory Re-Initiation

1.4.1.18 Definition of restoration and geomorphology

1.4.1.19 Description of ecosystem restoration with the Corps.

1.4.1.20 Identification of Ecosystem relations.

1.4.1.21 Identification of system dynamics.

1.4.1.22 Identification of decline of riparian/wetland areas.

1.4.1.23 Description of benefits of restoration.

1.4.1.24 Identification of Riparian Vegetation considerations.

1.4.1.25 Identification of Riparian management practices.

1.4.1.26 Identification of all available resources.

1.4.1.27 Identification of Ecological processes and Riparian attributes that influence riparian plant community development.

1.4.1.28 Description of Riparian Restoration Plan development.

1.4.1.29 Description of Riparian Restoration Monitoring and Adaptive Management.

1.4.1.30 Description of Riparian Planting techniques and strategies.

1.4.1.31 Identification of Key Riparian attributes.

1.4.1.32 Description of nutrient transport and storage.

1.4.1.33 Identification of Restoration treatments.

1.4.1.34 Description of Stream Function and road crossing interaction.

1.4.1.35 Description of Road Stream Crossings.

1.4.1.36 Description of Bioengineering fundamentals.

1.4.1.37 Identification of Bioengineering approaches and techniques.

1.4.1.38 Identification of Bioengineering advantages/disadvantages.

1.4.2 Field Trip Instruction: Plan and conduct field trip(s) to different Riparian areas to provide hands-on experience with the classroom instruction topics from Para 3.5.1.

2. Period of Performance: This contract will consist of a 1-year base period of performance and four 1-year option periods. The total contract length including all options is 5 years.

3. (See Appendix 1 for course locations and dates)

4. Definitions and Abbreviations

4.1 CLIN – Contract Line Item Number

4.2 COR – Contracting Officer Representative “Contracting officer’s representative (COR)” means an individual, including a contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR), designated and authorized in writing by the contracting officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions.

4.3 Course – A systematic presentation of a group of instructional periods designed to convey one or more related ideas, concepts, or procedures.

4.4 Course Content – Written, graphical, and pictorial information provided to students as additional information or explanation presented during an instructional period.

4.5 Course Manager – CEHR-ULC personnel assigned responsibility to oversee/manage courses in accordance with this regulation.

4.6 Course Proponent – An action officer responsible for the technical content of a PROSPECT course.

4.7 CPARS – Contractor’s Performance Assessment Reporting System.

4.8 Develop – To create new training materials such as learning objectives, test questions, quizzes, etc., where they did not exist before.

4.9 FFP – Firm Fixed Price.

4.10 ILP – Instructor Lesson Plans - ILPs are the instructor’s primary guide for topic sequencing and accomplishments of learning objectives during the conduct of the course.

4.11 Instructional Period – The time allocated in a training course dedicated to meeting a student learning objective(s).

4.12 ISD -- Instructional Systems Design - Instructional design is the process of developing instructional experiences and materials that make teaching efficient, effective, and appealing. The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating some "intervention" to assist in the transition.

4.13 KO – Contracting Officer. “Contracting officer” means a person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the contracting officer.”

4.14 Learning Objective – The stated measurable behavioral change that is expected from the student as a result of an instructional period.

4.15 POP – Period of Performance – period of time of contract performance. Usually established as Basic year with, or without, additional Option Period(s).

4.16 PAR - Post Award Review meeting – held at Government’s discretion via teleconference, videoconference, or in person for the Government and Contractor to discuss the expected services/supplies to be delivered, and the due dates for delivery of the submittals of this contract.

4.17 Post Test – A test, based on learning objectives, given after a lesson or a period of instruction to determine what the students have learned.

4.18 Practical Exercise - The hands-on application of the performance required in learning objectives.

4.19 Pre-Test – A test, based on learning objectives, given before a lesson or a period of instruction to determine the student’s current level of knowledge.

4.20 PROSPECT – Proponent-Sponsored Engineer Corps Training

4.21 Revise - The change of current graphical or written training materials to a different presentation mode.

4.22 Schedule of Instruction - (SOI) – a chronological listing of the major subjects and sub-subjects which is the basis for the development of the other course materials.

4.23 Task – A unit of a job or activity with a defined beginning and ending place.

4.24 Topic - Subject or theme of a discourse or of one of its parts.

4.25 ULC – USACE Learning Center

4.26 Update - The correction of outdated graphical or written materials.

4.27 USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

5. Contractor Requirements and Tasks

5.1 Instruction: The contractor shall teach the topics identified in Section 1.4 above.

5.2 Provide References: The Contractor shall provide the students with the applicable sections of any off-the-shelf books or reference materials and links to the full documents that are necessary to meet the Learning Objectives of the course to include, but not limited to, the following:

5.2.1 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)

5.2.2 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Water Act (CWA)

5.2.3 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

5.2.4 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)

5.2.5 North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)

5.2.6 Compensatory Mitigation Rule

5.2.7 Endangered Special Act (ESA)

5.2.8 Systems Approach to Ecosystem Adaptive Management, A USACE Technical Guide (https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/jspui/handle/11681/34855)

NOTE: Links to above resources is sufficient to meet course requirements

5.3 Development/Updates: The Contractor shall develop/update the topics and supporting course materials as necessary to support the course purpose and description IAW ULC Pamphlet 350-70.

5.4 Instructor Qualifications

5.4.1 The Lead Instructor(s) shall possess an earned Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) from an accredited college or university in the biological or ecological sciences. The instructor’s education should include Riparian ecology and/or Forestry.

5.4.2 The lead instructor(s) shall have over ten years’ experience as an academic instructor in these field. All other instructors must have five years of teaching experience in this field. This teaching experience shall include instruction in biological and ecological science focusing on riparian ecology.

5.4.3 The lead instructor should have extensive experience in developing riparian habitat assessments. All instructors for course 281 should have experience with riparian ecosystem restoration projects.

5.4.4 The instructor shall be able to connect the concepts of stream ecology, river functions, and riparian ecology with topics relevant to Corps regulators, ecologists, and engineers. The instructor shall have a sufficient knowledge of related disciplines to present a systems approach to riparian ecology. The instructor should be knowledgeable with respect to the field sites, as well as the data collected and the research performed in the area.

5.4.5 The Contractor shall assign to this contract instructor personnel designated in their technical proposal and for whom resumes were submitted as part of the proposal.

5.4.6 Proposed instructor personnel shall be assigned and available on this contract starting from the date of contract award.

5.4.7 Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer (KO) as soon as practicable if instructor personnel become unavailable.

5.4.7.1 The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution(s), complete resume(s) for the proposed substitute(s), and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer.

5.4.7.2 The Contractor must demonstrate that the qualifications of prospective personnel are equal to, or better than, the qualifications of the personnel being replaced.

5.4.7.3 The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of all required information of the approval/disapproval decision on substitution(s).

5.4.8 The contractor shall promptly replace, subject to the concurrence of the KO or his/her authorized representative, such personnel with personnel of equal or superior qualifications as determined by personal resume.

5.4.9 The Contractor shall immediately notify the KO of any instructor personnel change. Written notification must be provided to the KO within ten (10) calendar days prior to occurrence.

5.5 Classroom Administrative Functions: The Contractor shall perform the following administrative functions during each course session:

5.5.1 The Contractor will provide the government with required information (full name, email address, and phone number) for each instructor so that Blackboard (Bb) sponsorship actions may be completed to assign a Bb username to each sponsored instructor. Each instructor will receive an email from the government with steps on how to complete sponsorship steps.

5.5.2 The contractor shall ensure all students are accounted for during class hours. If required, contractor shall counsel students regarding tardiness, inattentiveness, and lapses of courtesy during lectures. Repetitive offenders shall be reported to the immediate attention of the course manager or COR.

5.5.3 The Contractor will indicate student course attendance on the ULC’s iRoster reporting tool. Instructions and log-in information will be provided by COR.

5.5.4 The Contractor will provide digital versions of all course materials in the original program format (pptx for PowerPoint Slides, docx for Word documents, etc.). The government will provide a link to DoD Safe where the contractor will upload all course materials.

5.5.5 The Contractor will create tests and quizzes according to paragraph 5.6.2 below using Microsoft Word and will provide these assessments to the government for upload into Bb.

5.5.6 The Contractor shall grade all practical exercises and assessments and provide results to the government.

5.5.7 The Contractor will determine final grade by calculating all graded assessment tools in accordance with weighted criteria established by the Contractor (See para 5.6.2.4) and agreed to by the Government prior to the start of the course.

5.5.8 The Contractor will document the Pre-Test Score and the final grade on the ULC’s iRoster in accordance with instructions to be provided by the COR.

5.5.9 The Contractor will ensure all students complete the End-of-Course Evaluation at the end of the course.

5.5.10 The Contractor will document course completion in the ULC’s iRoster reporting tool. Course completion requires 95% attendance in classroom/field instruction, participation in classroom discussions and field activities, 70% overall grade, completion of the End-of-Course Evaluation, and presence at the end of the course.

5.6 Base Period Requirements for Course 281, Riparian Ecology/Restoration/Mgt:

5.6.1 Training Tasks

5.6.1.1 The Contractor shall review topics in paragraph 1.4 to determine their ability to meet the purpose and goals of this training course.

5.6.1.2 The Contractor shall develop student learning objectives for each identified topic, as required, based on course goals and proposed outcomes of currently identified training needs. Objectives should be formatted as an action, condition, and standard. Contractor shall include learning objectives at the beginning of each learning topic in the training curriculum. Objectives shall also be stated at the end of the lesson. If one Terminal Learning Objective covers the whole lesson, it is not necessary to create multiple objectives.

5.6.1.3 The Contractor shall include direct classroom interactive discussions and provide exercises that sustain a constant student focus on the learning objectives.

5.6.2 Measurement of Student Achievement (of the approved learning objectives)

5.6.2.1 Tests (Assessments)

5.6.2.1.1 The Contractors will create three criterion-referenced tests which shall contain a sufficient number of test items to measure achievement of each approved behavioral-based measurable learning objective in accordance with the Instructor Lesson Plans.

5.6.2.1.1.1 Each test item will be a multiple-choice question with a stem and a correct response and three (3) viable distractors labeled a., b., c., and d.

5.6.2.1.1.2 Responses and distractors such as “none of the above’, “all of the above”, or “both a and b” shall not be used

5.6.2.1.1.3 The stem of a question will not contact a negative (i.e., “which of these is NOT the correct answer”.)

5.6.2.1.1.4 Correct responses shall be balanced between he four possible lettered alternatives.

5.6.2.1.1.5 True and false questions shall not be used.

5.6.2.1.1.6 Each test should have the same number of questions.

5.6.2.1.1.7 No two questions should be the same between the three tests.

5.6.2.1.2 The Contractor will provide one instructor answer key for each test which highlights the correct response and lists the reference and assessed learning objective below the question. If the question is at the Application Level or above in Bloom’s Taxonomy, processes and/or calculations on how to reach the correct answer must be provided.

5.6.2.1.3 All tests will be converted to an online version using the Training Management System employed by the ULC to support classroom courses and will be completed online by the students.

5.6.2.1.4 Students should achieve a 70% on the End-of-Course Assessment. Students who do not achieve a 70% on the End-of-Course Assessment will receive additional training from the instructors and be administered the alternate test. If the student does not achieve a 70% or higher on the re-test, the situation will be evaluated by the Course Manager/COR for determination on how to proceed.

5.6.2.2 Quizzes

5.6.2.2.1 The Contractor shall, as required and at the selected interval of the Contractor’s choosing, incorporate quizzes into the schedule of instruction.

5.6.2.2.2 Quizzes, when used, should evaluate accomplishment of learning objectives periodically throughout the training.

5.6.2.2.3 Quiz questions should not be used on either test.

5.6.2.2.4 Students should achieve a 70% on each quiz administered during the training. If a student does not achieve a 70%, additional instruction should be provided to ensure student is meeting minimum requirements of the course.

5.6.2.2.5 Practical Exercises

5.6.2.2.6 The contractor shall develop practical exercises for field problems to support classroom or field instruction and in preparing of Performance Tests later in the course.

5.6.2.2.7 The contractor shall provide a list of materials needed and expected actions by the student for each practical exercise.

5.6.2.3 Performance Tests

5.6.2.3.1 The Contractor shall develop graded performance tests for field problems, as required, supporting classroom or field instruction.

5.6.2.3.2 The Contractor shall provide written guidance to students on how to complete the performance test.

5.6.2.3.3 The Contractor shall provide answer sheets for all performance tests used during the course and Rubrics on how the tests will be evaluated.

5.6.2.4 Weighted Grading – Each evaluation (Test, Quiz, Performance Evaluation) will be weighted in calculating the overall grade for the course. Assigned weights will be determined by the Contractor but should adequately relate to the purpose and goals of the course.

5.6.3 Instructor Lesson Plans

5.6.3.1 The Contractor shall develop Instructor Lesson Plans, as required, based on the learning objectives to meet the identified training requirements.

5.6.3.2 The Contractor shall ensure that all test and quiz items are covered in the course lectures. Likewise, instruction on how to complete practical exercises and performance test requirements should be covered during instruction.

5.6.4 Visual Aids

5.6.4.1 The Contractor should provide visual aides to support course content.

5.6.4.2 If used, a copy of each visual aid shall be included in the student manual.

5.6.4.3 If PowerPoint is used, slides shall be in the same order as the objectives. Slides shall be in a logical order, and the topic of the slides shall be easily identifiable.

5.6.5 Schedule of Instruction

5.6.5.1 The Contractor shall provide a schedule of instruction (SOI) for all training to be conducted. The SOI shall identify the following:

5.6.5.2 The name of the lesson and instructor teaching that topic

5.6.5.3 The duration of each lesson, exercise, break period and lunch period. It is best to use clock hours for each.

5.6.5.4 The Contractor will include the approved SOI in the Student and Instructor Manuals. The SOI can also be provided to students as a handout.

5.6.5.5 The SOI should reflect the standard academic hour of 50 minutes of training and 10 minutes of break, if possible. Lunch breaks should be one hour in length if possible.

5.6.6 Instructor Manual

5.6.6.1 The Contractor shall provide an Instructor Manual to ULC that incorporates, at a minimum, the following:

5.6.6.1.1 Student learning Objectives

5.6.6.1.2 Tests for Measurement of Student Achievement (tests, quizzes, performance evaluation, etc.).

5.6.6.1.3 Instructor Lesson Plans

5.6.6.1.4 Student Learning Material (Student course manual content)

5.6.6.1.5 Visual aids

5.6.6.1.6 Schedule of Instruction

5.6.6.1.7 Practical Exercises with student instructions and answer keys

5.6.6.1.8 Answer keys for tests, quizzes, and performance tests. This should include the exact reference for each question or task.

5.6.7 Student Manual

5.6.7.1 The Contractor shall provide a Student Manual. The Student Manual shall consist of, at a minimum, the following:

5.6.7.1.1 Schedule of Instruction

5.6.7.1.2 Biographical sketches of the instructional staff

5.6.7.1.3 Learning Objectives

5.6.7.1.4 A Glossary of Terms

5.6.7.1.5 Copies of slides utilized in the course

5.6.7.1.6 Pertinent Technical References or link to the online version

5.6.7.1.7 Student Learning Material (Content)

5.6.7.1.8 Student Handouts

5.6.7.1.9 Visual Aids

5.6.7.1.10 Practical Exercises – As applicable, the Contractor shall develop practical exercises to support the instructional lectures, content, and performance expectation.

5.6.7.2 The student manual shall provide the student with clear, concise study materials required to accomplish the behavioral-based measurable learning objectives contained in the final approved lesson plans. The Student Manual is be used during the course as a study guide and subsequently as a reference tool following the completion of the course.

5.6.7.3 Each section of the Student Manual shall be Titled.

5.6.7.4 The Contractor shall state the applicable learning objectives at the beginning of each section of the manual.

5.6.7.5 The manual shall not contain any copyrighted material.

5.6.7.6 The Contractor shall forward a digital version of the entire Student Manual (editable version) to the Government (See deliverables information below).

5.6.8 Student Handouts

5.6.8.1 The Contractor shall, as needed, develop student handouts that support the learning objectives and instructor lectures.

5.6.8.2 The Contract shall provide all handouts to the government to disseminate electronically to the students during the instructional periods.

5.6.9 Supplemental Course Materials

5.6.9.1 Supplemental course materials shall be agreed upon by the government with the Contractor at time of the Post Award Review (PAR) Meeting.

5.6.9.2 Similar publication(s) may be proposed by the selected Contractor, subject to Government approval, including a web site and/or websites and other references and textbook sources that address the same statutory coverage. Any website used and/or otherwise referenced within the course shall be available for the duration of the contract.

5.7 Option Year Requirements: When necessitated by changes to regulations or common practices in the field, the Contractor will update the following annually before the first session of each course:

5.7.1 Course Materials

5.7.1.1 Student Learning Objectives

5.7.1.2 Tests, quizzes, and performance evaluation to include answer keys and rubrics

5.7.1.3 Instructor Lesson Plans

5.7.1.4 Student Manual

5.7.1.5 Audio-Visual Materials

5.7.1.6 Student Visual Aids

5.7.1.7 Student Practical Exercises to include directions and answer key

5.8 Course Presentation

5.8.1 The Contractor shall instruct scheduled course sessions as indicated in Appendix 1 of this PWS.

5.8.2 Additional course presentations during a period of performance may be required. If required, the Government will add additional course presentations to the contract via a bilateral contract modification.

5.8.3 Sessions begin at 0800 and finish at 1700 on each scheduled day.

5.8.4 If student(s) score less than 70% on the End-of-Course evaluation, the contractor must be prepared to do the following:

5.8.4.1 Complete all administrative actions with the students that scored above 70%.

5.8.4.2 Release all passing students and provide students that failed the End-of-Course Test specialized individual assistance. This consists of covering all areas where failing students are weak without directly giving student the correct answers.

5.8.4.3 Administer the third version of the test to the student. If the student(s) do not score higher than 70% on the alternate test or they do not stay to be retested, they will not receive their certificate or a signed SF-182.

5.8.4.4 The time it takes to retest students with a failing score is in addition to and not part of the 36 hours of classroom instruction.

5.8.5 The Contractor will ensure that the Course Schedule of Instruction is followed. The SOI should allow for administration times, interactive instruction, relevant exercise, tests, and student questions. The SOI should all allow for videos that may be used if the subject pertains to the course and permission has been granted to use the video in the course by the owner.

5.8.5.1 Videos will be approved by ULC prior to use. Videos will be submitted with the course materials using the schedule in Appendix 2.

5.8.5.2 The Contractor is responsible for adhering to copyright laws.

5.8.6 The Contractor shall provide instruction, exercises, and examples that engage the students. The Contractor should be able to adjust his or her instructional style to appeal to the different types of learners in attendance.

5.9 Field sites for Course 281, Riparian Zone Ecology/Restoration/Mgt must include situations that will allow students to get a hands-on experience related to the classroom instruction. Locations should include Riparian areas that have not experienced any restoration as well as Riparian areas that have undergone restoration efforts. These areas should also show the value and role of the riparian system in the context of the river and floodplain dynamics.

6. Contractor Administrative Requirements

6.1 Post Award Meeting

6.1.1 The Contractor shall participate in a post award review (PAR) of the contract requirements with the Government.

6.1.2 The Government will establish a teleconference for the (PAR) meeting.

6.2 Personnel and Materials

6.2.1 The Contractor shall provide all services, personnel, and materials required to conduct the training requirements and not provided by the government.

6.2.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for all contractor personnel travel and lodging arrangements. Travel cost shall be included in the firm fixed price CLIN for each course presentation.

6.2.3 The Contractor shall be responsible for coordinating transportation for all field trips conducted during the course presentation.

6.3 Invoice Procedures

6.3.1 Contractor shall submit an invoice within 10 days after each completed training session.

6.3.1.1 All invoices must have the Company Name as listed in the System for Award Management (SAM).

6.3.1.2 All invoices shall reference the contract number.

6.3.1.3 All invoices must reference the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN).

6.3.1.4 The contractor shall sign each invoice.

6.3.1.5 All invoices shall be submitted through electronic media; i.e., e-mail.

6.3.1.6 Contractor shall submit all signed invoices to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Learning Center ATTN: CEHR-ULC-ISTB (James Bissell) 100 Secured Gateway, Suite 150 Huntsville, Alabama 35808 james.t.bissell@usace.army.mil

6.3.1.7 The contractor shall submit a clearly labeled FINAL INVOICE and a signed Release of Claims after the final training course session. (See appendix 3)

7. Final Course Materials

The contractor shall submit final student and instructor course materials per the delivery schedule in Appendix 2. The government will review and provide final comments, if required, within 5 working days of submittals.

7.1 All course materials shall be delivered by electronic media.

7.2 Text documents shall be editable in Microsoft Word or compatible format.

7.3 Visual aids shall be editable in Microsoft PowerPoint or compatible format.

7.4 The deliverables shall be provided in an electronic format via a large file exchange site link provided by the government.

7.5 All deliverables must be made prior to any invoice being paid.

8. Option Years’ Course Materials

8.1 The Contractor shall updated deliver training tasks.

8.2 The Contractor shall deliver updated student learning objectives.

8.3 The Contractor shall deliver updated Pre and Post Test Tests for Measurement of Student Achievement based upon the student learning objectives.

8.4 The Contractor shall deliver updated instructor lesson plans.

8.5 The Contractor shall deliver updated visual aids.

8.6 The Contractor shall deliver updated practical exercises (if used).

8.7 The Contractor shall deliver updated student course manual (or its equivalent)

8.8 The Contractor shall deliver updated instructor manual.

8.9 The Contractor shall present updated scheduled courses of instruction as indicated in Appendix 1.

9. Delivery Schedule

9.1 Draft Materials

9.1.1 The contractor shall submit draft student and instructor course materials per the delivery schedule in Appendix 2.

9.1.2 The government will review and provide comments, if required, within 5 working days of submittals.

9.2 Final Course Materials

9.2.1 The contractor shall submit final student and instructor course materials per the delivery schedule in Appendix 2.

9.2.2 The government will review and provide final comments, if required, within 5 working days of submittals.

9.3 All course materials shall be delivered by electronic media.

9.3.1 Text documents shall be editable in Microsoft Word or compatible format.

9.3.2 Visual aids shall be editable in Power Point or compatible format.

9.3.3 The deliverables shall be provided in an electronic format via CD-ROM or DoD Safe file exchange site link provided by the government.

10. Government Furnished Materials

10.1 The Government will provide classroom space acceptable to the government and conducive to the instructional delivery needs of the contractor.

10.2 The Government will provide course administration materials and equipment, at the government’s discretion.

10.2.1 Online Student Registration prior to course starting (iRoster)

10.2.2 Online Learning Management System for storage and distribution of course materials, creation and taking of tests/quizzes, and the End-of-Course Evaluation

10.2.3 USACE Certificates of Completion. These will be provided to the students electronically following completion of the course.

10.2.4 Desk Name Tents and markers

11. Special Terms and Conditions

Privacy Act: Work on this project may require that personnel have access to Privacy Information. Personnel shall adhere to the Privacy Act, Title 5 of the US Code, Section 552a and applicable agency rules and regulations.

12. Security: This project is unclassified.

12.1 Pre-screen candidates using E-Verify Program. The Contractor must pre-screen Candidates using the EVERIFY Program (http://www.uscis.gov/e- verify) website to meet the established employment eligibility requirements. The Vendor must ensure that the Candidate has two valid forms of Government issued identification prior to enrollment to ensure the correct information is entered into the E-verify system. An initial list of verified/eligible Candidates must be provided to the COR no later than 3 business days after the initial contract award. *When contracts are with individuals, the individuals will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with the designated Government representative. This Form will be provided to the Contracting Officer and shall become part of the official contract file.

13. Records/Data: All images, databases, spreadsheets, documents, and other files generated in the performance of this task are the property of the U.S. Government.

14. Safety

The Contractor shall ensure adherence to the EM 385-1-1 during execution of this contract. http://www.usace.army.mil/SafetyandOccupationalHealth.aspx

Any site visits associated with the class shall adhere to any and all applicable safety requirements of the EM 385-1-1.

15. Date Changes

15.1 The Government will notify contractor as soon as possible of course session date changes.

15.2 The Contractor and the Government will agree to the proposed date change prior to contract modification.

16. Contractor Performance - The Contractor’s performance will be evaluated by the COR.

17. Surveillance Plan: The COR assigned to this course will monitor the Contractor for contractual compliance and performance during the development and presentation of this course(s). The Course Manager will also coordinate classroom setup time, approximately two hours on Sunday or Monday morning prior to start of training.

18. Appendix

18.1 Appendix 1 – Course Location and Dates

18.2 Appendix 2 – Delivery Schedule

18.3 Appendix 3 – Release of Claims

Appendix 1 Riparian Zone Ecology/Restoration/Mgt Course Locations and Dates

Base Year (FY24) Session 1 Date: 15-19 July 2024 Location: TBD

Session 2 Date: 5-9 August 2024 Location: TBD

Option Year 1 (FY25) Session 1 Date: 23-27 June 2025 Location: TBD

Session 2 Date: 4-8 August 2025 Location: TBD

Option Year 2 (FY26) Session 1 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Session 2 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Option Year 3 (FY27) Session 1 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Session 2 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Option Year 4 (FY28) Session 1 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Session 2 Date: TBD Location: TBD

Appendix 2 Delivery Schedule

Draft and Final

Draft/Final Materials Delivery Days

COR/ULC Course Manager James Bissell USACE Learning Center, ATTN: CEHR-ULC-ISTB

100 Secured Gateway, Suite 150 Huntsville, AL 35807-4301

PH: 256-895-7409

james.t.bissell@usace.army.mil

RIPARIAN ZONE ECOLOGY/RESTORATION/MGT

Performance Work Statement 07 February 2024

Appendix 3

RELEASE OF CLAIMS

CONTRACT NO.________________________TASK ORDER NO._____

Pursuant to the terms of Contract No._________________ Task Order No. ____ and in consideration of the sum of _________________________________($_________________), which has been or is to be paid under the said contract to (CONTRACTOR NAME), located at (CONTRACTOR ADDRESS), (hereinafter called Contractor), or its assignees, if any, the Contractor, upon payment of the said sum by the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (hereinafter called the Government), does remise, release, and discharge the Government, its officers, agents, and employees, of and from all liabilities, obligations, claims, and demands whatsoever under or arising from the said contract., In WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been executed this ____ day of _______________, 201___.

Contractor Name: ___________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________

By: ______________________________________________

Title: _____________________________________________

Witness: __________________________________________

NOTE: In the case of a corporation, a witness is not required, but the certificate below must be completed.

CERTIFICATE

I, ________________________, certify that I am the _______________________ (official title) of the corporation referred to herein as Contractor; that __________________________________, whose signature appears above is duly authorized by said corporation to bind said Contractor by executing this Release of Claims.

Signature and Date