RCA 13 Evaluation Criteria CWRCP.pdf

Attachment III TBD

Evaluation Criteria National Acquisitions Section

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) will utilize the tradeoff process when evaluating each offer received for the Career Workplace Readiness Contract. The offeror’s quotation will be evaluated in three areas: Technical, Past Performance, and Price. It has been determined all evaluation factors and sub-factors (other than price) when combined, are significantly more important than price itself. Quoters should recognize that Price, although of lesser importance than Technical and Past Performance, might contribute substantially to the contract award decision. As the evaluation of competing quotations in the Technical and Past Performance areas become more equal in rating, the more important price will become in selecting the best value for the Government. Technical and Past Performance areas will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), Evaluation of Quotations or Offers. The BOP desires to make an award to the offeror who can provide the best value, considering the evaluation criteria specified herein.

Definitions: For purposes of better understanding the decisions made based upon evaluation criteria selected for the Career Workplace Readiness Contract for FY2025-2029 the descriptive terms have been defined as follows:

Significant Weakness: A flaw in the proposal that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level

Weakness: A flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

Adequate: An aspect of the proposal that appears to neither increase the likelihood of successful contract performance nor the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

Adequate responses appear to meet the minimum threshold of expectation outlined in the Statement of Work.

Strength: An aspect of the proposal that increases the likelihood of successful contract performance

Significant Strength: An aspect of the proposal that appreciably increases the likelihood of successful contract performance through innovation or out of the box thinking above and beyond the expectation outlined in the Statement of Work.

The quotation must clearly demonstrate, at the time of submission, unless otherwise stated, the capability to meet the Decisional Rule criteria. Quotations will be rated based on the Decisional Rule criteria. Quotations shall clearly demonstrate the capability to meet all the following Decisional Rule criteria:

Factor 1: Technical

• The curriculum shall contain evidence-based instructional modules which develop the cognitive and soft skills required for formative assessments addressing the needs and demands most required by employers:

o Math/Technical Skills o Literacy/Reading o Communication – Verbal and non-Verbal o And other desirable workplace and soft skills

• Instructional modules and materials must be available in both English and Spanish.

• A printed and digital copy of the curriculum shall be provided to each institution.

• The curriculum must have measurable work objectives and goals.

• Pre and Posttests at each level shall be available to measure progress.

• Must contain clear criteria which establishes minimum expectations for completion (as well as minimum expectations/grade level performance for program entry) of formative assessments at various achievement levels, ranging from basic skill levels to highest.

• Student progress and skills analysis reports shall be available for students and instructors indicating skill gaps and remediation needs. All progress and skill analysis reports must allow staff to save and print.

• The product shall take the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to address the various learners in a correctional environment and may need adaptations to address the needs of that population and those with disabilities and/or special learning needs. Section 508 compliant where applicable. The vendor shall ensure a method of providing testing accommodation for students with special learning, physical, and psychological needs/disabilities. As directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), the contractor shall provide special test editions such as large print, Braille, audio, or other reasonable accommodations.

• The program and assessments must be deliverable in both the English and Spanish language. Additional languages would be desirable but not mandatory.

• The vendor must provide each student with a paper and digital copy of a portable credential, recognized by employers, certifying the assessment and correlation to the achieved skill levels.

• Textbooks, workbooks, test materials and assessments, instructional resources, and guides shall be provided for each facility in both paper and digital formats.

• The offeror shall provide a list of correctional agencies utilizing this program and report the number of certificates and level certifications awarded.

• A printed and digital copy of all deliverables shall be provided to the Central Office Education Branch.

A. Management Accessibility

• The offeror shall provide examiner policy and procedure manuals, training materials, and other necessary materials (hard copies and digital) with copyright permission for use at all FBOP institutions and updates as new manuals and materials become available.

• The credential and assessment reports shall be accessible to students after release from FBOP custody for presentation to potential employers and/or other interested parties.

• The vendor shall establish a method of accessing student information in the event of demographic changes within the FBOP and upon the student’s reentry to society.

• The offeror shall provide scoring services for all skill assessments. Scoring must be processed within (7) business days after receipt of answer sheets and related documents.

The vendor shall provide a digital file/copy (via a portal, email, or other similarly accessible electronic delivery method) and mail two paper copies of each student score report, certification credentials for each student (if applicable) and site reports via United States Postal Service (USPS) mail to the FBOP assessment site within (10) days after receipt of the student assessments. There shall also be group reporting available for FBOP administrators in both paper (delivered via USPS) and digital formats (accessible via a portal, email, or other similarly accessible electronic delivery method):

o Students tested by facility with sort capabilities of date assessed, scores, levels, skills assessed, and certificates issued.

o As directed by the COR, the vendor shall provide reports from all FBOP institutions for monthly, quarterly, and FBOP fiscal year reporting as needed.

• Due to the diverse AIC population, many of them will not be released to the same state in which they were incarcerated. Students may also begin the program or take tests at one institution and transfer to another prior to completion. There must be an available standard process to continue the program at a new location and a process for the offeror to track and combine the student scores.

B. Test and Data Integrity

• The scoring and reporting system shall comply with the USDOJ and the FBOP information security requirements.

• The vendor must provide written assurances of administration and testing integrity and security protocols for skills assessments and student data.

• The vendor shall provide assurances of employer recognition and portability of credentials.

C. Support and Training

• The offeror shall provide printed and digital user guides, manuals, and curriculum.

• The Government will evaluate that offeror provided required training options.

• The offeror shall provide institutions with technical and content support via portal, email, chat, and phone support Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm EST.

• The Government will evaluate that offeror provides updates to materials and resources.

D. Receipt of CWRCP Documents

• Offeror shall demonstrate experience with handling large amounts of correctional system data/information.

• Offeror shall demonstrate a data/information system that ensures the privacy/confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of both FBOP employees, and the inmates served.

• Offeror shall demonstrate experience with the requirements of Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) regarding disclosure of records and information furnished or created in a program process and Privacy Act (5 USC 552s) regarding sampling of inmate records or similar experience.

• Offeror shall demonstrate a process for its staff to ensure the secure utilization of confidential information and the secure storage thereof as required by Central Office.

E. Communication

• Offeror shall demonstrate experience in communicating with both institution employees and administrative contracting staff. This demonstration shall indicate communication that is concise, coherent, and timely.

• The Offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of governmental chain of command and the ability/willingness of their support staff to communicate with FBOP Central Office Education Branch staff to avoid any inherent bias present through direct communication with institution staff.

F. Assessment Results and Student Credentials

• Offeror shall demonstrate a plan and corresponding timeline template for BOP staff to send the completed student assessment to the offeror, process, credential, if applicable, and return the students’ results and credentials to the BOP.

• Offeror will describe company policy and viewpoint regarding the CWRCP, as well as the expectations they have for their staff.

• Offeror will provide two (2) examples of preliminary reports, which shall demonstrate corrective action rationale, auditor recommendations, and expectations clearly defined for corrective action periods.

G. Final Report Process

• Offeror will demonstrate adherence to timelines for providing the client the contracted deliverables (a.k.a. assessment results and credentials).

• Offeror will demonstrate an ability to provide deliverables.

• Offeror will provide two (2) examples of a final mass data report for all students.

H. Quality Assurance

• Offeror will demonstrate the process they engage in ensuring a quality work product.

• Offeror will describe in detail the expectations of their staff for producing accurate reports for distribution to the client.

• Offeror will demonstrate ability to work with the client when the client voices issues related to the quality of the deliverable.

Factor 2: Recent/Past Performance

A. Defining Past Performance: Offerors will have their recent and relevant past performance evaluated based upon their rated level of performance under existing and/or prior contracts. Emphasis will be placed on those contracts that most closely resemble the Request for quote (RFQ).

B. Purpose of Past Performance Evaluation: The purpose of evaluating past performance is to allow the government to infer how the Offeror’s recent and historical contract experience translates to their probability of meeting the solicitation requirements for this contract.

C. Content to be Included in Past Performance Evaluations: An Offeror’s past performance information shall include three (3) of the contractor’s most recent contractual relationships similar in nature to the services required in the Statement of Work, occurring within the past five years.

Contracts listed on the Business Management Questionnaire may include other federal government contracts, agencies of state and local government contracts, and/or private/commercial contracts.

Offerors shall address any instances of less than acceptable performance documented in the referenced contracts and explain how these problems were resolved. The Government may consider efforts performed by the Offeror for agencies of the federal, state, or local governments and commercial clients as potentially relevant to the evaluation of past performance.

D. Miscellaneous Guidance Related to the Evaluation of Past Performance: Offeror’s without a record of relevant company past performance or for whom information on Past Performance is not available will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on this factor.

References other than those identified by the Offeror may be contacted.

Information utilized may be obtained from the references listed in the proposal, other customers known to the Government, or of whom it becomes aware, and any reference portals who may have useful and relevant information (i.e. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), System for Award Management (SAM), and the internet).

Factor 3: Price

Note pursuant to FAR 17.203(b), the Government’s evaluation of offers shall be inclusive of options. As such, price quotation in Schedule of Items will be evaluated on the sum of the base period cost and all applicable option periods in totality.

AWARD WITHOUT DISCUSSIONS

Offerors are advised an award may be made without discussions. The Contracting Officer cannot overemphasize the necessity for the initial quote to provide the Government with sufficient information identifying the quoter's best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint.