Sources Sought-ACQ DEMO V2 w Draft PWS.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

Notice Type: Sources Sought/Market Research for Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) Training

This is a Sources Sought/Market Research Notice to request information for Government planning purposes only. Responses will assist the Government in planning its acquisition strategy for a potential future acquisition.

The Government is not committed to issue a solicitation or award a contract as a result of this announcement.

As this is, a sources sought synopsis and not a solicitation for request for proposals or quotations, the Government does not encourage questions concerning this market research.

The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) – Fort Lee is seeking qualified and potential vendors capable of providing qualified personnel to facilitate AcqDemo training materials, supervision, and non-personal services necessary to develop, implement, maintain, support and continuously improve the required AcqDemo program training per the attached Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

The contractor shall provide the following:

• Develop and deliver training on AcqDemo design features, policies and procedures.

• Provide general assistance with the use of CAS2Net software.

• Provide all AcqDemo training materials, lesson plans and guides (i.e., Employee/Supervisor Guides to the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System (CCAS) for the Initial and Refresher courses identified in this draft PWS (Attached).

DCMA is conducting this Sources Sought to identify small business contractors who possess the capabilities to provide services as specified above and to determine their availability, capability and adequacy. If your firm may be interested in this requirement, is a qualified small business for the NAICS code 514612 (SIZE STANDARD $15,000,000 according to https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf), and has performed similar projects, we request the information shown below. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

As permitted by FAR Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes.

Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quotation, to be issued at a later date, and in determining whether any type of small business set-aside is possible for this procurement or whether full and open competitive procedures should be utilized. If full and open competition is ultimately pursued, responses to this synopsis will be used to aid in establishing small business subcontracting goals.

Response is strictly voluntary - it is not mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFP process that may take place in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this notice may significantly influence our acquisition strategy. All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any solicitations posted as a result of this sources sought notice.

Submission Instructions: Responses are due via email no later than12:00PM EST on February 21 2023 to Mr.

Robert Ellis at dcma.lee.hq.mbx.procurement-center@mail.mil and robert.w.ellis.civ@mail.mil and must include the information requested below. Responses greater than 10 double-sided pages (including all attachments) will not be considered. Late responses will not be accepted. This is strictly market research and the Government will not entertain any questions.

Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for responding to the Sources Sought.

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf mailto:dcma.lee.hq.mbx.procurement-center@mail.mil mailto:robert.w.ellis.civ@mail.mil

Qualified firms shall submit a statement of interest on company letterhead demonstrating the firm’s qualifications to perform the defined work. Responses must be complete and sufficiently detailed to address the specific information. The documentation shall address, at a minimum, the following:

A. Company Profile to include:

1. Company name and address;

2. Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners;

3. Year the firm was established and number of employees;

4. Two points of contact (names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses);

5. DUNS number and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov/:

6. Small Business designation/status (must correlate with SAM registration):

_____ Small business _____ HUBZone _____ WOSB

_____ 8(a) _____ VOSB _____ SDVOSB

_____ Small Disadvantaged Business

B. A summary of your company’s expertise in providing the same or similar support;

Statements of your firm’s expertise should include reference to relevant contracts performed (including a description of the scope, quality of the support provided, contract number, and point of contact with phone number). Include a brief statement as to why each project is relevant to this sources sought notice and other relevant information such as any teaming or joint venture partners. In addition, include proof of satisfactory past performance on the referenced projects.

Again, this information is being requested for Government planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. This is not a request for proposals. The Government will not award a contract based upon responses to this announcement. The Government shall not reimburse or pay any costs for preparing or submitting information in response to this notice.

Contracting Office Address:

Defense Contract Management Agency ATTN: Robert Ellis 3901 A Avenue, Building 10500 Fort Lee, VA 23801

Performance Work Statement Defense Contract Management Agency

AcqDemo Training Support

1. General Description

The objective and scope of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) is to provide AcqDemo training for the DCMA AcqDemo workforce. The AcqDemo personnel system was implemented across the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in January 2017. Initial training for the first cycle consisted of program orientation and familiarization for several distinct groups and for differing purposes to include AcqDemo training for employees and supervisors. DCMA is committed to enhancing the AcqDemo contribution-based system for its AcqDemo workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. This effort will involve the contractor providing all personnel, equipment, materials, supervision, and non-personal services necessary to develop, implement, support, and provide virtual training for the DCMA AcqDemo workforce.

2. DCMA Background and Mission

As a DoD Combat Support Agency, DCMA ensures the integrity of the contracting process and provides a broad range of contract management and administrative services to safeguard and ensure valued products and services are being delivered promptly and ready for use by America's Warfighters. A majority of personnel assigned to DCMA are aligned to the acquisition workforce. Over 2,000 acquisition employees participate in AcqDemo.

DCMA is headquartered in Fort Lee, Virginia and employs approximately 10,200 civilian and military professionals with over 800 distinct and supported employee duty stations worldwide. The Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) was authorized and implemented via PL 104- 106 (as amended by PL 105-85), Federal Register Notice (FRN), Vol 82, No. 216 on November 9, 2017, and the DoD AcqDemo Operating Guide as a means to provide a more flexible personnel management system for the Defense Acquisition Workforce. The support listed in this PWS is required to operate, sustain and increase effective program participation.

There are two types of training required in this contract: Initial and Refresher. This training will be required annually for the approximately 2,000 employees and supervisors across DCMA who currently participate in the DoD AcqDemo project.

3. Scope

Based on the Federal Register Notice (FRN) and operating guide changes/updates, the agency requires initial training for new employees/supervisors and updated training for the remainder of the AcqDemo population in order for DCMA’s AcqDemo population to maintain the appropriate proficiency level.

This training requires the incorporation of the changes to this personnel management system from the above FRN, operating guide, business rules and additional requirements identified through agency after action reviews and lessons learned. Specific course requirements are outlined in paragraph 4 below.

The objective of this effort is for the contracted instructors to successfully account for, document, and perform all academic efforts as they pertain to AcqDemo training/re-training.

The contractor shall provide qualified personnel to facilitate AcqDemo training materials, supervision, and non- personal services necessary to develop, implement, maintain, support and continuously improve the required AcqDemo program training. The contractor shall provide the following:

• Develop and deliver training on AcqDemo design features, policies and procedures.

• Provide general assistance with the use of CAS2Net software.

• Provide all AcqDemo training materials, lesson plans and guides (i.e., Employee/Supervisor Guides to the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System (CCAS) for the Initial and Refresher courses identified in this PWS.

The scope of the training includes the categories listed below. The contractor shall provide training for the courses by categories as listed below. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

Training shall be provided virtually via MS Teams or another virtual software/application. In the case where face-to-face training may be required, DCMA will provide training facilities at or near the official locations of DCMA Headquarters, DCMA Carson, DCMA Chicago, DCMA Boston, and

DCMA AIMO.

DCMA Location Address List

DCMA Headquarters DCMA Boston DCMA Chicago 3901 A Avenue Eastern Regional Command Central Regional Command Building 10500 37 Grenier Street, Bldg. 1108 1523 W. Central Road, Bldg. 203 Fort Lee, VA 23801 Hanscom AFB, MA 01371 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 DCMA Carson DCMA AIMO Western Regional Command AIMO Regional Command 18901 Wilmington Ave 5000 US Highway 1 North Carson, CA 90746 St. Augustine, FL 32095

Initial Training: Based on the normal turnover rate of 8% per year, we estimate as many as 200 newly-hired employees have been assigned to DCMA and have not yet received initial AcqDemo training. The requirement for the Initial training type is:

• Initial AcqDemo training for employees (approx. 80 personnel)

• Initial AcqDemo training for supervisors (approx. 100 personnel)

• Advanced Training for AcqDemo Human Resources Support Personnel (approx. 60 personnel)

Refresher Training: DCMA personnel receiving initial AcqDemo Training will have the option to take additional training that covers the changes identified in the above FRN, Operating Guide and Business Rules. The requirement for the refresher training type is:

• AcqDemo Writing AcqDemo Contribution and Appraisal Statements (Approx. 800 personnel)

• Advanced Training for AcqDemo Pay Pool Administrators (approx. 60 personnel)

• Refresher AcqDemo Training for Pay Pool/Sub-Pay Pool Members (approx. 125 personnel)

4. Performance Requirements

4.1 AcqDemo Training:

The contractor shall:

• The Contractor shall include, where appropriate, the use and integration of subject matter experts and other support tools in providing analytical, administrative, testing, sustainment, training, technical, strategic concepts and program management services necessary to develop, implement, maintain, support and continuously improve the required AcqDemo program training.

• The Contractor shall be responsible for managing a sufficient workforce and provide a labor mix with appropriate credentials to accomplish the mission. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the Contracting Officer (KO) of any real or potential pitfalls in the personnel area. This notification does not relieve the Contractor of any performance shortfall.

• Develop and issue evaluation forms at the conclusion of each class instruction using the following criteria at a minimum: adequacy of classroom facilities, professionalism of course instructor, were course objectives met, course instructor skill level and quality of presentation, quality of handouts/lesson plans, overall quality of services received.

• Develop or modify as necessary, and deliver training on AcqDemo design features, policies and procedures to the required standards with training being provided in a virtual environment.

Required courses with specific criteria and measurement of objectives for each course are as follows:

Introduction to AcqDemo for New AcqDemo Employees/Supervisors

• Ensure that training covers all changes/updates from the FRN/AcqDemo Operating Guide/Business Rules on all elements of the CCAS process.

• Ensure that training demonstrates how AcqDemo employees and supervisors should write their assessments in order to maximize recognition of their contributions.

• Ensure that training provides a deep understanding of the AcqDemo pay pool process.

• Highlights the procedures used to ensure fairness and appropriate final individual assessment determination.

• Ensure that training covers all changes/updates from the FRN/AcqDemo Operating

Guide/Business Rules to application of the Supervisor/Team Leader Differential, and Accelerated Compensation for Development Positions (ACDP).

• Ensure that training covers how these factors will be used for employee contributions and performance assessments. Explains expected contribution criteria, broadband level descriptors, discriminators, and point ranges that are aligned to the three career paths and their broadband levels.

• Ensure that training covers what constitute effective contribution statements and how best to structure them in preparation for the pay pool process.

• Ensure that the training clarifies how descriptors are used and assessed within employee’s contribution and performance assessments.

Writing AcqDemo Contribution and Appraisal Statements Training for AcqDemo Employees/Supervisors

• Ensure that training covers all changes/updates from the FRN/AcqDemo Operating Guide/Business Rules on all elements of the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System (CCAS) to include the new requirement for the overall assessment of the quality of performance (Performance Appraisal Quality Level – PAQL).

• Ensure that training covers how these factors will be used for employee contributions and performance assessments. Explains expected contribution criteria, broadband level descriptors, discriminators, and point ranges that are aligned to the three career paths and their broadband levels.

• Ensure that training demonstrates how AcqDemo employees and supervisors should write their assessments in order to maximize recognition of their contributions.

• Ensure that training provides a deep understanding of the AcqDemo pay pool process

• Highlights the procedures used to ensure fairness and appropriate final individual assessment determination.

• Ensure that training covers what constitute effective contribution statements and how best to structure them in preparation for the pay pool process.

• Ensure that the training clarifies how descriptors are used and assessed within employee’s contribution and performance assessments.

Refresher Training for AcqDemo Pay Pool/Sub-Pay Pool Members

• Ensure that training includes the process for conducting mock pay pools

• Ensure that training covers pay pool/sub-pay pool members’ responsibilities

Advanced Training for AcqDemo Pay Pool Administrators

• Ensure that training covers all requirements and responsibilities of pay pool administrators and support personnel to include/data maintainers.

• Ensure that training provides tools and strategies for efficient pay pool administrator operations.

• Ensure that training provides mock/practical exercises for pay pool administrators to apply covered material.

Advanced Training for AcqDemo Human Resources Support Personnel

• Ensure that training provides an overview of classification to include the AcqDemo Position Requirements Documents (PRDs) and understanding broadbanding.

• Ensure the training provides an overview of staffing, recruitment and compensation flexibilities.

• Ensure that training covers Pay Administration to include AcqDemo Pay Setting

• Ensure that training covers the CCAS process.

Deliverables:

• Introduction to AcqDemo for New AcqDemo Employees/Supervisors

• Writing AcqDemo Contribution and Appraisal Statements Training for AcqDemo

Employees/Supervisors

• Refresher Training for AcqDemo Pay Pool/Sub-Pay Pool Members

• Advanced Training for AcqDemo Pay Pool Administrators

• The Contractor shall provide a monthly status report. The report shall include, at a minimum, activities performed (to include number of personnel trained), copies of class sign-in rosters, and course surveys for each class/course completed. The report shall be delivered within three business days after the last day of the month.

• The contractor shall provide a quarterly report to the COR that includes: number of students trained, course critiques, problems encountered, and other items of interest as designated by the government COR

• The contractor shall provide a Personnel Access roster and a current Employee Roster on a monthly basis or whenever a new employee is hired or terminated to the COR/COTR

5. General Requirements

The contractor shall provide project management and technical support for all tasks. Contractor is solely responsible for compliance with all federal, state and local laws, the Occupational, Safety and Health Act (OSHA) (Public Law 91-596) and the resulting standards, OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1910 and 1926, as applicable, and the protection of their employees. Additionally, the Contractor is responsible for the safety and health of any and all subcontractor employees. The Contractor shall ensure assigned personnel are adequately trained and qualified for the task being performed. All Contractor and subcontractor personnel shall be briefed and training on the hazards involved with operations and applicable precautions to be taken. Should unidentified hazards arise, cease operations and immediately contact the COR. The Contractor is fully responsible for performing routine and recurring surveillance of the work site and work being performed to ensure the safety of their employees and the safety of the work environment. In the event that a mishap occurs, the Contractor shall notify the COR within one (1) hour of all mishaps or incidents at or exceeding $500 (material + labor) in damage to DoD property entrusted by this contract. This notification requirement shall also include physiological mishaps and incidents. A written or email copy of the mishap/incident notification must be submitted to the COR within three calendar days of the event.

The Contractor shall provide a monthly status report. The report shall include, at a minimum, activities performed (to include number of personnel trained), copies of class sign-in rosters, and course surveys for each class/course completed. The report shall be delivered within three business days after the last day of the month.

Contract deliverables shall be provided to the Government Technical Lead with a copy to the COR unless otherwise stated. The Government shall have ten business days for acceptance of deliverables unless otherwise agreed to. If the Government determines a deliverable is deficient, the Contractor shall have five business days from written notification to submit a revision.

Deliverables:

• Class sign-in rosters

• Course surveys for each class/course completed

5.1 Location and Hours of Work

5.1.1 Place of Performance

Training shall be provided virtually via MS Teams or other virtual environment application. In the case where face-to-face training may be required, DCMA will provide training facilities at or near the official locations of DCMA Headquarters, DCMA Carson, DCMA Chicago, DCMA Boston, and DCMA AIMO.

5.1.2 Hours of Operation

The Contractor is responsible for providing training support during core business hours of 9:00AM to 4:00PM local time Monday thru Friday, except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. Coverage must be maintained for the full workday. Weekend and non-business hours work is not required. Work will normally not be performed on Federal holidays. The days specified below are legal Federal holidays during which non-essential work shall not be required of the Contractor. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on Friday; if the holiday falls on Sunday, it is observed on Monday.

Holiday Day of Observation New Year’s Day January 1 Martin Luther King Birthday 3rd Monday in January Presidents Day 3rd Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Juneteenth June 19 Independence Day July 4 Labor Day 1st Monday in September Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October Veterans Day November 11 Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25

5.3 Travel / Temporary Duty

Travel will be conducted IAW the Joint Travel Regulation. All travel must be requested in advance and approved in writing by the COR. Travel shall be reimbursable based on the contractor’s headquarter location or from the facilitator/employees home location whichever is closest to the DCMA facility to which they are traveling. The Contractor must receive approval from the COR prior to facilitator travel to conduct training.

5.4 Non-Personal Services

The Government shall neither supervise contractor employees nor control the method by which the contractor performs the required tasks. The contractor is responsible to manage its employees and to guard against any actions that are personal services in nature, or give the perception of personal services.

If the contractor believes that any actions constitute, or are perceived to constitute personal services, it shall be the contractor's responsibility to notify the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) immediately.

6. Government Furnished Equipment

The contractor will be responsible for providing the necessary, projection/audio-visual class delivery equipment, computers, and other items necessary to perform the services of this PWS in a manner that is efficient and cost- effective. DCMA will provide training facilities at or near the official locations of DCMA Headquarters, DCMA Carson, DCMA Chicago, DCMA Boston, and DCMA AIMO.

7. Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings

The Contractor will schedule with the COR a meeting to set up the rollout of the required training to include periodic progress meetings throughout the course of the performance of services prior to the start of each class/course. Discussions will also include the COR apprising the Contractor program manager of how the Government views the Contractor's performance and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced.

8. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) The Government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s). To ensure all requirements of the PWS are being completed, the COR or authorized representative, program manager, and assigned technical monitors may observe training in the work setting.

DCMA reserves the right to inquire about the training services from DCMA employees. This inquiry can either be a face-to-face interview with the COR and/or technical monitors through an evaluation form or memorandum. The contractor will develop and issue evaluation forms at the conclusion of each class instruction using the following criteria at a minimum: professionalism, course objectives were met, course instruction skill level and quality of services received.

If areas of improvement exist, the COR or designee(s) and the contractor shall meet to discuss remedies.

If negative evaluations are received multiple times related to a specific instructor, the instructor may be removed from performing on the contract because he/she is not performing all the requirements of the PWS, unless the situation can be remedied between the designee(s), COR, and the contractor. To ensure all requirements of the PWS are being completed, the COR or authorized representative, program manager, and assigned technical monitors may observe training in the work setting.

9. Security

9.1 Personnel Security

Personnel that require to be onsite to perform service must be US citizens. The contractor shall coordinate with DCMA staff at each location to gain access to the facility. The contractor shall follow the security procedures established by DCMA which includes but is not limited to; being issued escort required visitors badges, wearing badges at all times while in building, returning badges upon departure and being escorted at all times while in the building. Performance of these services will not require all personnel supporting the contract to obtain background investigations and clearances. However, at a minimum, management officials of the service provider supporting the contract shall possess security clearances.