Revised_RMA-LECOS_Contract_5-4-2026.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church VA 22041-3803

Natural Wildlife Refuge System

Learning Ecosystem Training Development

Statement of Work

Learning Ecosystem Overview In Fiscal Year 2025, the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) introduced the concept of Learning

Ecosystems (LECO) to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to bolster on demand learning tools for learners including online and social learning assets and address the concerns of limited capacity to deliver courses. A

LECO is a collection of people, processes and tools that deliver, integrate and support the as-needed learning and training across an organization. Developing a LECO for FWS courses entails determining the learner needs, learning style, and assessing the various suites of learning assets that are available and/or need to be developed.

In addition to in-person courses, learning assets can include educational videos, online modules, webinars, job aids, SharePoint sites, community of practices, networks, and mentorship programs.

Refuge Academies Background

Each year, approximately 75 National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) employees have the opportunity to participate at the in-person the foundational training classes – Refuge Management Academy and Advanced

Refuge Management Academy (Refuge Academies). With the significant loss of employees over the past year, many positions are now being filled in “acting” roles, and many employees are taking on new and increased responsibilities outside of the job descriptions for which they were originally hired. In August 2025, a group of

National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and NCTC experts convened at NCTC to discuss the development of a Refuge Academies’ LECO. It was agreed that development of LECO around the Refuge

Academies course content is imperative to support Refuge personnel with learning outside of the in-person courses. However, the group also recognized that it will take considerable time and personnel resources that we don’t currently have to organize existing learning assets and develop new ones, as well as continually manage the LECO overall.

Leaders’ Intent for the Refuge Academies

The following are core tenets of the Refuge System Leader’s Intent that should guide development and implementation of the Refuges Academies’ LECO and courses:

• Recognize the vast array of knowledge, skills, and abilities that it takes to manage Refuge System lands and waters and ensure that the knowledge provided through the Refuge Academies and associated online learning tools addresses the comprehensive set of needs.

• Increase knowledge of and accessibility to learning materials before and after in-person course opportunities, including readily accessible, online (short videos, job aids, toolkits, SOPs, Dashboards) and social opportunities (i.e. mentorship, communities of practice).

• Maintain in-person courses for both Refuge Management Academies and evaluate and adjust in person content as new learning assets are available.

• Ensure that the in-person courses focus more on practical application of and social learning around core

Refuge management concepts and focus less on PowerPoint-based lectures (i.e. adaptive leadership concepts and reviewing case studies as a team during Refuge Academies)

DNRCP Curriculum Development LECO Lead This contract will support a project manager for LECO development of Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning (DNRCP) (aka DNRCP LECO lead) related curriculum including, but not limited to, Legal Roots, Refuge System Improvement Act, Conservation Planning, the Compatibility Process, and Foundational Planning (Laws, Acts, and Policies).

Primary duties

• Develop subteams to involve regional and field personnel throughout the LECO development to ensure accuracy of materials, inclusion of differing perspectives, and applicability to course participants.

• Utilize appropriate software and technology to facilitate active participation in meetings and online correspondence. Develop timelines and milestones for deliverables to be completed in a timely manner.

• Specifically, the DNRCP LECO lead will ensure that subteam members will:

➢ Participate in the Learning Cluster Development Process, including but not limited to curating learning assets, developing learning clusters, and completing gap assessments.

➢ Collaborate by sharing insights and feedback to create relevant learning assets (e.g.

development of personas and Job Task Analysis)

➢ Maintain relationships with Refuge System and Office of Employee Development/NCTC professionals to understand employees’ learning needs and apply that understanding to enrich the LECO.

➢ Be an active member in the LECO social network, acting as a SME/resource as appropriate.

➢ Provide feedback on LECO Modules to enhance content quality, usability, and alignment with learning objectives.

Supervision

The DNRCP LECO lead works independently but in concert with the contract manager - the Chief of the

DNRCP in Headquarters who establishes overall goals for the project and resources available to address them. The DNRCP LECO lead is responsible for planning and executing tasks, selecting appropriate techniques and methods, and determining the approach to be taken. Completed work is reviewed for general adequacy in meeting program or project objectives, and expected results. The

DNRCP LECO lead coordinates work with other team members and specialists. Many efforts are conducted in a team atmosphere where the DNRCP LECO lead is expected to exercise judgment and resourcefulness in resolving resource issues within and among team members.

Personal Contacts The DNRCP LECO lead has frequent contact with the Office of Employee Development, National Conservation

Training Center, Refuge System Headquarters leadership and staff, refuge and regional office staff.

Contacts and effective working relationships are established and maintained in order to coordinate data gathering, reports, provide advice and assistance, and resolve specific problems. The DNRCP LECO lead may initiate new contacts to gather data for discussions and making recommendations on issues where there are conflicting interests and opinions. The DNRCP LECO lead may also work with individuals or groups with divergent points of view and must use tact and diplomacy to achieve a common understanding of the issues and attain a satisfactory resolution, through persuasion, compromise, or the development of mutually-agreeable alternatives. Contacts will also provide technical expertise and guidance; incorporate current and future technological information systems; establish and maintain close liaison with key national, regional, and local organizations and individuals; and develop new concepts.

The DNRCP LECO lead is expected to make contacts that motivate employees to engage in the LECO development process and increase awareness of the training tools becoming available to all Refuge System employees.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Legal background that supports knowledge of and work experience in various fish and wildlife conservation laws and service policies and statutory responsibilities. Specific work experience with executing Federal administrative processes, including requirements under the Refuge System

Improvement Act, as amended. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to convey scientific policy and technical information logic in an educational setting. Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision to create and direct teams of relevant subject matter experts. Previous experience in conservation and developing training curriculum, both virtual and in-person.

Place/Delivery and Period of Performance:

The work shall be performed during regular business hours and may be remote. Appropriate equipment, safety, and other training required for conducting these tasks will be provided. Travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (http:// www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21222 ). Period of performance will be twelve (12) months with up to three (3) one-year option periods depending on funding availability.

CONTRACT AWARD IS CONTINGENT ON PASSING REQUIRED SECURITY TRAINING AND BACKGROUND

CHECKS.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21222 http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21222 http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21222 http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21222

Deliverables Deliverables will include, but are not limited to:

➢ LECO strategy document outlining higher level milestones, actions, and associated timeline for each

➢ Interim updates to the DNRCP Division Chief and Deputy at each identified milestone

➢ Products identified in the LECO strategy and agreed upon with DNRCP leadership

➢ In-person participation at Refuge Management Academies, to include at least two RMAs and one ARMA

➢ As necessary, update curriculum for RMA and ARMA modules to align with Administration priorities while the greater LECO is being developed