PWS_NCCA_OY.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

National Commission for Certifying Agencies

(NCCA) Accreditation

National Geospatial-Intelligence College (NGC)

1 April 2025

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

National Accreditation of GEOINT Professional Certifications

1. GENERAL INFORMATION:

General: This is a non-personal services contract to provide national accreditation services to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) who administers the Department of Defense (DoD) GEOINT Professional Certification. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

1.1. Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform national accreditation services as defined in this Performance Work Statement except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2. Background: In accordance with DoD issuances, NGA administers 11 certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCCA standards require demonstration of a valid and reliable process for development, implementation, maintenance, and governance of certification programs. Certification programs that receive NCCA Accreditation demonstrate compliance with the NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, which were the first standards for professional certification programs developed by industry.

1.3. Objectives: Contractor support is required to assist the NGA GEOINT Professional Certification (GPC) Program Management Office (PMO) in the maintenance of nationally accredited DoD GEOINT Professional Certifications.

1.4. Scope: The contractor will provide accreditation consulting and administrative services, which meet the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs as developed by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Included in these services are:

Inclusion of annual dues for NGA membership into the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Consulting on the NCCA Standards and required documentation in order to submit

DoD-sponsored GEOINT Professional Certifications

Explanation as required within each standards Commentary

Guidance on the maintenance of NCCA-accredited certifications

Advice and assistance of fees and notification of changes thereof

Assist government personnel in establishing (ICE) online accounts via the Internet

Advice and guidance as required, such as establishing accounts

The contractor shall submit DoD-sponsored GEOINT Professional Certifications for accreditation to the NCCA board, coordinating on any queries arising from certification submissions, and provide certification accreditation maintenance guidance to include annual report submissions.

1.5. Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be for one 12-month base with four 12-month options.

1.6. Recognized Government Holidays:

New Year’s Day (1 January*)

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (Third Monday In January)

President’s Day (Third Monday in February)

Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)

Juneteenth (Third Monday in June)

Independence Day (4 July*)

Labor Day (First Monday in September)

Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)

Veteran’s Day (November 11*)

Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)

Christmas Day (December 25*)

*The Government holiday is Friday if the date falls on a Saturday, and the Government holiday is Monday if the date falls on a Sunday.

Other designated days: The Government observes the following days as holidays:

Day(s) designated by Federal Statute or by Presidential Executive Order, Presidential Inauguration Day, and any other day so designated by the President’s Proclamation.

Such days are agreed to by the contractor that observance of such days by Government personnel shall not otherwise be a reason for an additional period of performance, or entitlement of compensation except as set forth within the contract. In the event the contractor’s personnel work during the holiday, they may be reimbursed by the contractor; however, no form of holiday or other premium compensation will be reimbursed either as a direct or indirect cost, other than their normal compensation for the time worked.

1.7. Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will primarily be performed at 2001 K St. NW, Ste. 3, Washington, DC 20006.

1.8. Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price contract for the maintenance, renewal and application for accreditation services.

1.9. Security Requirements: None. This is an unclassified contract. Contractors will not require access to NGA information systems or networks.

1.10. Physical Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government information provided for contractor use.

1.11. Special Qualifications: The contractor is responsible for ensuring all employees involved in the review and submission of NGA GPC certifications for accreditation are qualified and recognized by the NCCA and possess and maintain the knowledge, skills and expertise in national certification, licensure, and accreditation recognized by the NCCA throughout the execution of this contract.

1.12. Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The COR will be identified by separate letter of designation issued by the Contracting Officer. A copy of the COR designation letter will be sent to the Contractor, stating the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates, or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

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, and specifications: monitor Contractor’s performance and notify both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government-furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel.

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. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed. When visiting NGA, contractors will be required to obtain and wear visitor badges.

2. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

Materials: The Government will submit NGA GPC certification information into the ICE Online Web Tool, located at: http://www.credentialingexcellence.org, for the review and approval by the NCCA Governance Board. This includes DoD policies, procedures, all supporting documentation, and psychometric certification data in order to respond to the NCCA’s 21 Standards for national accreditation review and conferral.

3. CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

3.1. General: The contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities, and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 2 of this

PWS.

3.2. Materials: The contractor shall provide continued access to the ICE online web tool or other suitable medium for GPC certification application submission and provide alternative arrangements for submission when access to the online website is unavailable.

4. SPECIFIC TASKS – Basic Services:

4.1. The contractor shall provide services for the submission, maintenance, and management of an unlimited number of NGA GEOINT Professional Certifications in a given year, which meet NCCA standards. The contractor will assist in preparing certifications for NCCA Accreditation, which demonstrate compliance with the NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. It will ensure certifications and accompanying documentation meet NCCA standards, which require demonstration of a valid and reliable process for development, implementation, maintenance, and governance of certification programs. The NCCA Standards are comprehensive and cover all aspects of the certification program(s), including administration and assessment development and recertification. NCCA standards are consistent with The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 1999) and are applicable to all professions and industries.

4.2. The following tasks are retrieved from the NCCA Certification Accreditation: Self- Assessment Checklist and outline specific tasks required for the performance of this contract:

4.2.1. Provide advice and guidance on Standard 1-4: Purpose, Governance, and Stakeholders.

4.2.1.1. Assist developing well-defined purpose, population being certified, and justification for appropriateness of activities. (NCCA Standard 1).

4.2.1.2. Provide advice on autonomy in essential certification decisions reflected in governance structure, bylaws, policies (NCCA Standard 2 A and B).

4.2.1.3. Provide advice on development, administration, scoring of assessment(s) promote purpose as defined above (NCCA Standard 2C).

4.2.1.4. Provide advice on distinct firewall between education and certification activities; no conflict of interest (NCCA Standard 2D).

4.2.1.5. Provide advice ensuring accredit of education or training, review, etc. does not lead to certification (NCCA Standard 2D).

4.2.1.6. Advise on proper procedures with regards to Certification governance board that:

is elected fairly, without undue influence is of adequate size has a public member meeting NCCA criteria has appropriate representation/balance of stakeholders and certificants though continuous election or rotation (NCCA Standard 3)

4.2.1.7. Provide advice that Certification program is financially viable (NCCA Standard 4).

4.2.1.8. Provide advice on illustrative sources of supporting evidence: proof of legal status, bylaws, policies and procedures, organizational charts, financial statements.

4.2.2. Provide advice and guidance on NCCA Standard 5-9: Responsibilities to Stakeholders.

4.2.2.1. Provide advice and guidance on sufficient staff resources/expertise and use of consultants to conduct an effective program (NCCA Standard 5).

4.2.2.2. Provide advice and guidance on policies and procedures are established for key certification activities and responsibilities and are published, applied, reviewed, and updated (NCCA Standard 6):

a. Eligibility criteria and application policies

b. Examination processes and procedures

c. Listing/outline of performance domains w/content area weights, tasks, associated knowledge and skills

d. Summary of certification activities/statistics

e. Equitable disciplinary policies to address complaints or ethics issues

f. Discipline (NCCA Standard 6D), non-discrimination and accommodation following applicable laws and regulations

g. Confidentiality/disclosure and conflict of interest of all key personnel involved with the certification program is adequately addressed (NCCA Standard 6B)

h. Appeals policies and procedures to question eligibility, exam results, certification status

4.2.2.3. Provide advice and guidance on published descriptions of exam development and validation, eligibility requirements, administration (NCCA Standard 7).

4.2.2.4. Provide advice and guidance to ensure Certification is awarded after appropriate evaluation of knowledge and skills only, and grandfathering is not permitted once accredited (Standard 8).

4.2.2.5. Provide advice and guidance on rationale for grandfathering of limited, qualified certificants prior to accreditation being provided (NCCA Standard 8 - if applicable).

4.2.2.6. Provide advice and guidance to ensure list of certified individuals is kept and can be verified upon request, without violating confidential information (NCCA Standard 9).

4.2.2.7. Illustrative sources of supporting evidence: Key staff/consultant resumes, organizational charts, policies and procedures manual, candidate handbook.

4.2.3. Provide advice and guidance on NCCA Standards 10-18: Assessment Instruments

4.2.3.1. Provide advice and guidance on the rationale and timeframe for conducting a job analysis, with periodic review and update to verify that it is relevant to current practice (NCCA Standard 10 and commentary).

4.2.3.2. Provide advice and guidance to ensure job analysis conducted is of adequate sample size, given practicing individuals within the profession or industry, with a representative group across practice areas, work settings, geography, work experience, gender, etc. (NCCA Standard 10, commentary A-G).

4.2.3.3. Provide advice and guidance on detailed published reports linking the results of job analysis to specifications for the assessment instruments, with weightings for each domain, the decision rules for any actions that may deviate from the survey data, and the experts involved (NCCA Standard 11).

4.2.3.4. Provide advice and guidance to ensure cut or passing scores have been set using accepted criteria, and a technical report is published, outlining the methods, procedures, subject matter expert and consultant involvement, and results (NCCA Standard 12 A and B).

4.2.3.5. Provide advice and guidance to ensure DSS programs have documented the psychometric procedures used to score, interpret, and report assessment results (NCCA Standard 13 A).

4.2.3.6. Provide advice and guidance on candidates who are given score reports with meaningful information on their performance beyond the pass/fail result (NCCA Standard 13 B).

4.2.3.7. Provide advice and guidance to ensure responses scored by judgment, judge qualifications and selection, standards, and training materials are documented (NCCA Standard 13C and commentary).

4.2.3.8. Provide advice and guidance to ensure aggregate assessment data is available to stakeholders (NCCA Standard 13D).

4.2.3.9. Provide advice and guidance to ensure reported scores and sub-scores are sufficiently reliable for the intended purposes of the assessment instrument(s), including estimates of errors of measurement (NCCA Standard 14 and commentary)

4.2.3.10. Provide advice and guidance to ensure reliability or consistency of pass/fail decisions are reported (NCCA Standard 14 and commentary).

4.2.3.11. Provide advice and guidance to ensure multiple forms used, content and empirical evidence and rationale for how equivalence and fairness is ensured is provided (NCCA Standard 15 and commentary).

4.2.3.12. Provide advice and guidance on assessment instruments which are translated or adapted across cultures, the methodology is described and the evidence shows translation/adaptation practices and empirical comparability in test scores and inferences (NCCA Standard 15 and commentary).

4.2.3.13. Provide advice and guidance on Security Practices to ensure published secure procedures adhered to development and administration of assessment instruments (NCCA Standard 16 and commentary).

4.2.3.14. Provide advice and guidance on illustrative sources of supporting evidence: job analysis report, cut score reports, technical/test analysis reports, aggregate data reporting, policies and procedures, item-writing manuals, security manuals, proctor manuals, candidate score reports. Note: Some of these may be for internal use or confidential, while others are required to be published. Also, some of these documents may come from consultants or test vendors implementing the security measures.

4.2.4. Provide advice and guidance on NCCA Standards 19-20: Recertification

4.2.4.1. Provide advice and guidance to ensure periodic recertification is required, with published rationale for the purpose, requirements and time interval (NCCA Standard 19).

4.2.4.2. Provide advice and guidance on consequences to certificants who do not recertify are published (NCCA Standard 19 commentary).

4.2.4.3. Provide advice and guidance to ensure if recertification is intended to measure competency (re-testing), the assessment instrument used is either the same as for initial certification, or the separate assessment instrument meets the same criteria for validity and reliability (NCCA Standard 20 A).

4.2.4.4. Provide advice and guidance to ensure if recertification is intended to enhance competency (continuing education, practice modules, etc.), there is rationale for the requirement and how it contributes to professional development (NCCA Standard 20B).

4.2.4.5. Provide advice and guidance on illustrative sources of supporting evidence: candidate handbook, website, recertification policy, recertification assessment technical reports.

4.2.5. Provide advice and guidance on Standard 21: Maintaining Accreditation

Provide advice and guidance on annual report submissions which must be submitted by June 1 of each year and indicate substantive changes to any aspects of DSS certification security program(s) as well as aggregate statistical data, reports of appeals, or complaints.

5. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS):

5.1. The Contractor must abide by all applicable regulations, publications, manuals, and policies and procedures. These include but are not limited to:

5.1.1. Chapter 126 of title 42, United States Code (also known as “The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”)

5.1.2. DoD Instruction 3115.11, “DoD Intelligence Human Capital Management Operations”

5.1.3. DoD Manual 3305.10, “DoD Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Accreditation and Certification”

5.1.4. DoD Manual 8910.1-M, “Department of Defense Procedures for Management of Information Requirements”

5.1.5. Institute for Credentialing Excellence, “National Commission for Certifying Agencies:

Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs,” 2004

5.1.6. Institute for Credentialing Excellence, “ICE 1100 – Quality Standard for Assessment- Based Certificate Programs,” 20091

5.1.7. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc., “Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Procedures,” 4th Edition (2003)

5.1.8. American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education, “Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing,” 1992.

ACCREDITATION SCHEDULE

Program Program Name Renewal Filing Date

MA-II Maritime Analysis 8/1/2025

AA-II Aeronautical Analysis 8/1/2025

GPC-F GPC Fundamentals 8/1/2026

IA-II Cartography 8/1/2026

GDM-II Geospatial Data Management 8/1/2026

CA-II Imagery Analysis 4/1/2027

IS-II Geospatial Analysis 4/1/2027

GA-II Imagery Science 4/1/2027

GC-II Human Geography 1/1/2028

HG-II Applied Sciences 1/1/2028

AS-II GEOINT Collection 1/1/2028

The “Renewal Filing Date” is the date that funding should be received by vendor for NGA to submit a reaccreditation application. The reaccreditation application is due at the end of the month (August 2025, August 2026, April 2027, and January 2028, respectively).