Performance Work Statement - Digital Recruitment Platform.pdf

Chief Program Office

AmeriCorps NCCC and AmeriCorps VISTA

Digital Recruitment Platform for College-aged Individuals

Performance Work Statement

July 21, 2026

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Digital Recruitment Platform for College-aged Individuals.

PART 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 STATEMENT OF NEED

The purpose of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) is to use a college recruitment platform to improve recruitment of AmeriCorps members in support of the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps).

1.2 BACKGROUND

For nearly three decades, The Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) has tapped the ingenuity and courage of the American people to meet our toughest challenges.

Working with nonprofit and community organizations, state and local agencies, Tribal nations, and other partners, AmeriCorps programs improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, AmeriCorps engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in sustained, results-driven service at thousands of locations across the country, meeting a wide range of community needs in education, health, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, and supporting veterans and military families.

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act, VISTA’s legislating authority, requires that the program establishes and maintains a Volunteer placement office and is responsible for all functions related to the recruitment and placement of Volunteers.

Under the national service program component of the National Civilian Community Corps Program authorized by section 152(a), eligible young people shall work in teams on National Civilian Community Corps projects. The Corporation shall disseminate information regarding available approved national service positions through cooperation with secondary schools, institutions of higher education, etc.

1.3 OBJECTIVES

Use of this tool will allow AmeriCorps to meet its strategic plan objectives of maximizing impact and achieving results for the American people and promoting volunteer service and community participation nationwide.

Since a large amount of AmeriCorps Volunteers across the network are 18-28 years old, reaching a high volume of current and recently graduated college students is critical to this objective. Through the use of this platform, AmeriCorps will be able to seamlessly communicate with college-aged individuals and promote service opportunities and virtual events through individual and automated messaging campaigns.

The objectives of this project are to:

• Build and manage a Volunteer pipeline

• Raise campus awareness of AmeriCorps programs

• Decrease time to connect with college students and graduates

• Expand the number of universities that can be reached

• Increase impact and efficiency

1.4 SCOPE

AmeriCorps requires a college recruitment platform to promote opportunities, engage with events, cultivate partnerships, and track key metrics that can interface with universities that utilize the platform as their software system supporting the Career Services Center. The system must provide AmeriCorps the ability to message students directly about AmeriCorps opportunities through targeted campaigns, post positions, connect with schools, segment schools and students by key characteristics such as geographic location and Veteran status. Additionally, the system must give AmeriCorps the ability to attend and host career events for prospective applicants and connect students with program staff who can provide more detail about their specific programs. The tool must be fully functional in its two-way communication and provide access to a high volume of schools (1,600+) and students (20 million+).

The essential features of the system are as follows:

Talent Engagement Suite – full access to engagement features with five recruiter seats included.

Advocate Seats – up to five lower-level access seats for agency representatives to use on an as-needed basis.

Additional Recruiter Seats – As needed option, full access for relevant agency staff who are directly involved in recruitment of AmeriCorps members and interns.

Insights & Analytics – ability to track events attended, campaigns sent, engagement rates, and demographics of schools and students.

School Explorer – access to directly communicate with colleges and universities to cultivate partnerships.

Event Manager – ability to both attend career events hosted by universities as well as host events at the agency level.

Expert Assist – As needed option, consistent, timely, and technically adept customer support, including consultation utilization strategy.

1.5 TERM/TYPE OF CONTRACT

The Government will award a 60-month, Firm-Fixed-Price contract.

1.6 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this PWS is one 12-month base period and 4 one-year options.

1.7 QUALITY CONTROL

The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure the Contractor performs services in accordance with this PWS. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor’s quality control program is the means by which the Contractor assures that the work complies with the requirement of the contract. After acceptance of the quality control plan, any proposed changes to Contractor Quality Control (QC) system shall require Contracting Officer’s acceptance (Deliverable 7).

1.8 RECOGNIZED HOLIDAYS

The Contractor is not required to perform services during federal holidays. Federal law (5 U.S.C.

6103) establishes public holidays for federal employees. Please note that most federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a non-workday – Saturday or Sunday – the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Direct billing/invoicing shall not be allowed for any Federal Government Holidays. Federal holidays are listed at the Office of Personnel and Management at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays.

1.9 HOURS OF OPERATION

The Contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (Eastern time zone) Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government has closed its facilities due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is operating. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that stability and continuity of the workforce are essential. AmeriCorps observes all Federal Holidays, and the Contractor may not conduct business on such Holidays, unless mutually agreeable at the standard rate.

1.10 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall perform work remotely from any location within the United States of America and its territories. The Government will not provide on-site space to perform the work.

1.11 TRAVEL

Travel is not required to perform the work, so no payment of travel expenses will be paid to the Contractor for routine travel to and from the Agency’s location. If mission needs require travel, travel must be pre-approved by the COR. All travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).

1.12 CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTIATIVE (COR)

The Contracting Officer (CO) will identify the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) by separate designation letter, which states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications; monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the O and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of Government furnished property; and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. The CO has not authorized the COR to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting contract.

1.13 IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. Contractor personnel shall identify themselves and/or obtain and wear badges. The Contractor shall also suitably mark Contractor products, documents or reports as produced by Contractor personnel, or that contractor participation was involved.

1.14 DATA RIGHTS

The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract including but not limited to reports, native files, data, media, photography, and video, etc. For intellectual property developed under contract to AmeriCorps, the Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable license throughout the world, allowing the Government to (a) use, disclose and reproduce the work in any medium of expression now known or subsequently developed, or (b) use the invention for Government purposes. The definition of “unlimited rights” is contained in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 27.401, “Definitions.” FAR clause 52.227-14, “Rights in Data-General” is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this BPA call. The Contractor shall return to the Government at the end of the performance period or when specified in this contract, all documentation and electronic data and information collected by the Contractor and generated in support of this contract.

The Contractor shall guarantee strict confidentiality of the information/data that it is provided by the Government during the performance of the task order. The Government has determined that the information/data that the Contractor shall be provided during the performance of the task order is of a sensitive nature.

The Contractor shall not release any information/data, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the COR. Any request for information relating to the award that is presented to the Contractor shall be submitted to the COR for approval. Personnel working on any of the described tasks may, at the Government’s request, be required to sign formal non-disclosure and/or conflict of interest agreements to guarantee the protection and integrity of Government information and documents.

The Contractor shall not release, publish, or disclose sensitive information to unauthorized personnel, and shall protect such information in accordance with provisions of the following laws and any other pertinent laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of sensitive information: 18 U.S.C. 641 (Criminal Code: Public Money, Property or Records)

1.15 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may affect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

1.16 FEDERAL INFORMATION SECURITY PROTOCOLS

As a federal agency, AmeriCorps is subject to and complies with the security and privacy requirements of the Federal Information Security and Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 and the Privacy Act of 1974. The Contractor must ensure that services and products provided under a contract or task order resulting from this solicitation comply with FISMA, the Privacy Act of 1974, AmeriCorps IT policies, and the Contractor security and privacy requirements. The Contractor must immediately report any condition that may indicate a breach of these policies and procedures to the COR. Failure to adhere to federal and AmeriCorps policies may result in adverse contractual actions.

Contractors are responsible for the security, integrity, and appropriate authorized use of their systems interfacing with the government and/or used for the transaction of any and all government business. The Government, through the Contracting Officer or COR, may require the use or modification of security and/or secure communications technologies related to AmeriCorps systems access and use. AmeriCorps requires that security procedures be monitored, verified, and validated by designated AmeriCorps personnel.

Access must be provided to the extent required to carry out a program of IT inspection, investigation, and audit to safeguard against threats and hazards to the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of customer AmeriCorps data and/or to the function of computer systems operated on behalf of customer agencies, and to preserve evidence of computer crime.

AmeriCorps, at its discretion, may suspend or terminate user’s access and/or use of any AmeriCorps access and systems for conducting business with any/or all contractors when a security or other electronic access, use, or misuse issue gives cause for such action. The suspension or termination may last until a time that AmeriCorps determines that the situation has been corrected or no longer exists.

Information technology resources include, but are not limited to, hardware, application software, system software, and information (data). Information technology services include, but are not limited to, the management, operation (including input, processing, transmission, and output), maintenance, programming, and system administration of computer systems, networks, and telecommunications systems.

The Contractor shall be responsible for implementing sufficient IT security measures, to reasonably prevent the compromise of government IT resources for all interconnected government network or systems.

Services must be in compliance with applicable federal information security protocols, as due to US national security interests and the need to protect personally identifiable information (PII) that may be gathered about US citizens, US based companies, Government partners or others, the Contractor must be able to attest to the design of the electronic security protocols as well as the organizational protocols backing up the offering ensuring that data cannot be stolen, hacked, removed, or released by unauthorized parties. These protocols include:

• NIST 800-37 Rev. 2 Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Life Cycle Approach for Security and Privacy

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 4, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information System and Organizations

• NIST SP 800-171 Rev 1 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations

• FIPS Publication 200, Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems

• FIPS Publication 199, Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems and as specified in Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2014 and others

• Section 508 Compliance - adhere to or in compliance with the Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) protocols.

• Federal Records and Retention Acts and Regulations, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Laws and Regulations.

• FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements.

PART 2: GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

2.1 SERVICES

The Government may provide personnel to assist with computer equipment set-up.

2.2 GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT

The Government will provide Microsoft Windows-based laptops and accessories necessary to perform work. Laptops may use wired or Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n, ac) connections. The Contractor shall provide a reliable wired or wireless Ethernet Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth to perform work (10Mbps minimum recommended). AmeriCorps policy prohibits use of non- AmeriCorps supplied accessories or peripherals. Printing from AmeriCorps headquarters is available through AmeriCorps copiers. The Contractor shall not print from telework locations.

2.3 MATERIALS

The Government will provide Standard Operating Procedures and Policies applicable to the Contractor’s specific role, delineated in the awarded contract.

In addition, the Government will provide reference material and documents relating to the existing contracts and such other information as the Contractor may require to successfully complete the task.

PART 3: CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

3.1 GENERAL

The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities, and materials required to perform work under this contract except for items specified as Government furnished property, systems, and/or materials.

The Contractor shall provide all necessary personnel, administrative, financial, managerial, and non-personal services necessary to meet the service requirements as defined herein, except for items specified as Government furnished property, systems, and/or services.

The Contractor shall use proven methodologies to ensure all activities and deliverables are identified, documented, and tracked so that the Contractor’s performance can be continuously evaluated and monitored for timeliness and quality service.

The Contractor shall safeguard all Government equipment, information and property provided for Contractor use. At the close of each work period, the Contractor shall secure Government facilities, equipment, and materials.

The Contractor may be held liable (financially or otherwise) for lost, damaged or compromised equipment, materials or documentation that has been lost, damaged, or compromised while in the care of the Contractor. Liability will be based on the value of the equipment at the time of loss, impairment, or destruction in accordance with FAR 45.104.

All materials shall be procured in accordance with FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements.

As a general guide, the Contractor shall ensure all support is compliant with applicable Federal regulations and guidelines.

All contract personnel shall possess proficiency in computer usage and expertise in the Microsoft Office Suite of tools. Personnel should possess strong verbal and written communication skills.

Personnel not possessing these minimum requirements are deemed ineligible for nomination on this contract.

3.2 BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

KEEP IF APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE: The AmeriCorps Personnel Security Office will conduct a background investigation on Contractor’s employees, performing work in support of this contract, and the Contractor personnel shall maintain the level of clearance granted for the life of the contract.

PART 4: SPECIFIC TASKS

4.1. GENERAL

4.1.1. The Contractor shall provide general and project management support for the overall execution of all aspects of the contract tasks.

4.1.2. The Contractor shall attend a post award conference, if applicable, convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5.

4.1.3. The Contractor shall conduct a contract Kick-off meeting which covers 100% of anticipated Contractor tasks required to meet contractual requirements within ten (10) business days of contract all award. The Contractor shall take minutes and provide copies to the Government after the meeting takes place (Deliverables 1, 2, 3).

4.1.4. The Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the CO will apprise the Contractor of how the Government views the Contractor's performance and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems being experienced, if any. The Contractor shall take appropriate action resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government.

(Deliverables 1, 2, 3)

4.1.5. The Contractor shall conduct monthly project status meetings to discuss status of the work in progress, noting all significant milestones with projected or actual completion dates. At these meetings the Government will review the Contractor's performance and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems being experienced, if any. The Contractor shall take appropriate action to resolve outstanding issues. The Contractor shall take minutes and provide copies to the Government after the meeting takes place (Deliverables 1, 2, 3).

4.1.6. The Contractor shall provide a Monthly Status Report which covers actions taken, issues encountered and subsequent planned actions. (Deliverable 5).

4.1.7. The Government shall provide an overall/summary project plan that defines the tasks and subtasks, responsibilities, timeline, risks, quality controls, and milestones to complete the BPA Call. The project plan is due following the BPA Call kick-off meeting.

4.1.8. The Contractor shall provide detailed project plans that defines the tasks and subtasks, responsibilities, timeline, risks, quality controls, and milestones for each separate BPA Call project/task. Example project plans include Financial Operations Support, Financial Management Gap Analysis, Process Automation, Internal Controls Design and Implementation Program, etc. The project plan shall include a Microsoft (MS) Project schedule that includes the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in the GANTT Chart view, the initial project starts and finish dates, the predecessors for each task and sub-task and the resources assigned to each task and subtask (Deliverables 4, 6).

PART 5: DELIVERABLES

The Government expects the following deliverables to be provided via email using Microsoft Office Suite applications, .pdf, or other software and/or web-based tools as specified.

Item No.

Deliverable Objective Format Due (in business days)

Recipient

1 Meeting Agenda Overview of topics, the Contractor will include in the meeting.

Microsoft (MS) PowerPoint

Two (2) days prior meeting

CO, COR,

PO

2 Meeting Minutes Electronic record of meetings designated by the COR.

These typically include weekly team meetings and stakeholder meetings. Minutes include key action items, attendees, and detailed narrative (# pages dependent upon meeting content, but typically two to ten pages) Note: a stakeholder engagement registry is retained separate from the minutes.

MS Word, MS Excel, or PDF

Three (3) days after meeting

COR

3 Meeting Materials

Materials, e.g., charts, spreadsheets, project schedules, etc. to be discussed in the meeting

MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Project

One (1) day prior to the meeting

CO, COR,

PO

4 Project Plan Defining the responsibilities, timeline, risks, and milestones

MS Word, MS Excel, or PDF

No later than Ten

(10) days after award

CO, COR,

PO

5 Monthly Progress Reports

Report documenting status of the overall BPA call and each separate project in progress, noting all significant milestones with projected or actual completion dates, and a brief narrative regarding the status of each activity.

Details include:

What was accomplished? What challenges or barriers were identified and are still outstanding?

How will the problem be resolved?

Listing of funds expended (i.e., invoiced), and funds remaining and cost performance (actual versus planned) details, by month, and cumulatively on a per task basis;

Staffing status updates, if changes occur or are anticipated.

MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, or

PDF

No later than the first week of each month

COR

6 MS Project Schedule

Includes the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in the GANTT Chart view, the initial project starts and finish dates, the predecessors for each task and sub-task and the resources assigned to each task and subtask.

MS Project Draft due no later than five (5) days after the kick-off meeting

Final due five (5) days following receipt of COR comments

Updates due during each monthly status meeting

CO, COR,

PO

7 Quality Control Plan

Documents the Contractor’s quality control program to procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor’s quality control program is the means by which the Contractor

PDF Draft due no later than twenty (20) days after contract award

CO, COR,

PO

assures that the work complies with the requirement of the contract.

Final due five (5) days following receipt of COR comments

Updates due as changes occur

8 Training and Technical Support

Vendor must provide a comprehensive training or demonstration to all staff who will be using the system.

Additionally, vendor will provide ongoing technical support, administrative consultation, and troubleshooting to AmeriCorps staff with access.

Microsoft (MS) PowerPoint, PDF, Microsoft (MS) Teams

9 Quarterly Progress Reports

Vendor must provide at minimum, quarterly recruitment report summarizing analytics on student reach, application clicks, campaign results, recruiter reports, brand social feed analytics, and other metrics as applicable.

Microsoft (MS) PowerPoint, PDF, Microsoft (MS) Teams

APPENDIX A

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

This section of the PWS describes the performance standards and systematic methods used to monitor performance and to identify the required documentation and the resources to be employed.

The Contractor is responsible for the quality of all work performed. The Contractor measures that quality through the Contractor’s own quality control (QC) program. QC is work output, not workers, and therefore includes all work performed under this contract regardless of whether the Contractor will perform work with employees or by subcontractors. The Contractor’s QCP will set forth the staffing and procedures for self-inspecting the quality, timeliness, responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and other performance requirements in the PWS. The Contractor will develop and implement a performance management system with processes to assess and report its performance to the designated Government representative.

The Government representative(s) will monitor performance and review performance reports furnished by the Contractor to determine how the Contractor is performing against communicated performance objectives. The Contractor will be responsible for making required changes in processes and practices to ensure they manage performance effectively.

Required Services (Tasks)

Performance Standard PWS Paragraph

Acceptable Quality Level

Methods of Surveillance

Overall Task Performance

Overall task performance of sufficient quality to earn a Satisfactory (or higher) rating in the COR’s annual report on Contractor Performance

Add references here if appropriate.

e.g. 4.2.2.1

All performance elements rated Satisfactory (or higher), Random Monitoring and Partial Inspection as needed by COR, Follow-up to customer complaints

Communication Quality

All communications are accurate, complete, and submitted on schedule to AmeriCorps.

Add references here if appropriate.

e.g. 4.2.2.1

99% of communicatio ns, briefings, or meetings are free of customer complaints

Random Monitoring and Partial Inspection as needed by COR, Follow-up to customer complaint

Task Deliverables

All work products are accurate, complete, in accordance with the deliverables table in section 6, to include consistent headers, footers, fonts, tables, and formatting, are free of errors, and submitted on schedule.

Add references here if appropriate.

e.g. 4.2.2.1

>95% submitted on time.

No more than one resubmittal required to correct rework.

Random Monitoring and Partial Inspection as needed by COR

Add additional Performance Standards as applicable for the specific requirements in Part 4. See the following reference for examples of performance standards.

Jun 21 version of MIL- HDBK-245E – Appendix H.

This section of the PWS describes the performance standards and systematic methods used to monitor performance and to identify the required documentation and the resources to be employed.