SOW_ClimateLiteracyModule_7_13_2023v2.pdf

Statement of Work Climate Literacy Module Center

July 13, 2023

Project

Climate literacy module for USDA and Extension workforce: USDA Caribbean Climate Hub

General Information Scope of Work This contract will support the development of learning modules on climate change, climate indicators, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and USDA programs, to be shared on an educational platform developed by a web design company.

Content will include text, graphs, videos, and exercises for better understanding and learning, available in Spanish and English. In addition, the platform will track the user's progress and generate an automatic certificate after completion.

Reports and analytics tied to the content will allow tracking of the learning process.

Background Working lands in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are experiencing more high-heat days, warmer nighttime temperatures, greater variability in rainfall, and increasing rates of sea level rise and aquifer salinization. Additionally, the islands are subject to frequent drought and hurricanes with compounding effects on agriculture and forestry systems. A key to addressing global climate change is to get more people to make more informed decisions regarding mitigation and adaptation.

The Caribbean Climate Hub team has synthesized relevant information about climate science basics, climate projections for the Caribbean region, local implications of climate change on tropical agriculture and forestry, and train-the-trainer guidance to equip Extension and USDA workforce, agricultural advisors, land managers, and educators with the knowledge to guide stakeholders and the public in towards best practices in responding to climate change.

The focus of the current project is to create an interactive multimedia educational platform on global climate forcing, regional downscaled climate research and projections, and climate adaptation and mitigation science and solutions specific to tropical agriculture and forestry that is specific to the needs of USDA employees and University Extension staff.

While the principal intended audience is USDA and Extension workforce, the online module will be available to use for other audiences interested in learning climate change concepts such as planners, decision-makers, teachers, students, farmers, landowners, and others. The lessons and videos produced in the modules could be transferable to other food systems in tropical islands across the U.S. (i.e., Hawaii, and other territories in the Pacific) and to other Spanish- or English-speaking tropical regions producing and exporting food.

Our project needs a web design company with extensive experience in the development of web pages that are accessible to bilingual audiences and that are which functionalities are focused on the user experience. The company should develop high-quality educational graphics, videos, and components of an educational platform such as progress status, tests, and completion certificates.

Contractor Requirements Technical Requirements / Tasks Knowledge Required by the Position. Professional knowledge of educational online module development, ability to develop online lessons following guidance from the Forest Service on content, ability to create educational videos, and ability to upload and share learning modules on their interactive educational platform.

Description of work Development of the web structure and the graphic design Frontend and backend development Development of course registration and course progress page, and the automatic generation of a course completion certificate Integration of a translation system and replication of the pages in English and Spanish Animation and voiceover of course videos (4 animated videos 5-10 minutes plus voiceover). Two rounds of animation revisions Translation and voiceover in English for the 4 animated videos Integration of an accessibility system to comply with section 508.

Graphic design for the module manual document. Total of 50 pages Two hours of training on how to update web content.

Additional project details.

The deliverables include a bilingual website, with lessons and videos, that complies with Section 508 regulations.

The content designed and developed under this proposal is the property of the US Forest Service. It will be published and dynamized on the Caribbean Climate Hub platform and will be delivered in digital format to the US Forest Service so they can use it as they understand and need it.

The lessons included in this project will have a section with the logo(s) of the agency(s) or organization(s) the US Forest Service indicates to give credit to the source of funds and include any information necessary to comply with federal regulations.

Government Furnished Not applicable.

Deliverables / Schedule The contractor will provide the Contract Official Representative (COR) with deliverables in ten weeks of work:

Tasks % of Project Cost Schedule Wireframe, art direction, graphics, and user experience

8% Weeks 1 and 2

Frontend development

8% Weeks 2 to 8

Backend development (WordPress)

6% Weeks 2 to 8

Learn Dash LMS Online Education System (Learn Dash platform setup, course registration, and course progress page)

6% Weeks 2 to 8

Certificates (Automatic generation of course completion certificate after passing the qualifying questions and meeting the minimum required)

4% Weeks 2 to 8

Translation System Website & Courses (Integrate translation system and replicate the pages in each language: English and Spanish)

14% Weeks 4 to 6

Animation and Voiceover of course videos (Creation of 4 animated videos of between 5 to 10 minutes plus voiceover. Considering 2 rounds of animation revisions.)

15% Weeks 4 to 6

Translation and Voiceover Videos (Translation and voiceover in English for the 4 videos.)

10% Weeks 7 and 8

Accessibility System (Integrating an accessibility system to comply with section 508 where users have a way to edit the page to better navigate it, as well as standard nomenclatures for the blind.)

4% Weeks 7 and 8

Graphic design for the module manual (Work graphic design for the module manual document.

Total of 50 pages)

10% Weeks 9 and 10

Please submit the final invoice for payment after the COR has accepted and approved that the final project has been completed.

15%

Travel There is no authorized travel.

Contractor’s Key Personnel Technical staff.

-Science-oriented content is preferred.

-Bilingual English/Spanish capabilities are required.

-Should demonstrate organizational team/capacities, including graphic design and audio and video capabilities.

-Capacity to deliver content in an online interactive format.

Security Requirements None required.

Data Rights All information produced will be for the exclusive use of the USDA Forest unless and until authorized for other uses.

Publications resulting from this work will recognize the contribution of the Forest Service and appropriate Forest Service personnel will be considered for authorship.

Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards The contractor will be involved in creating 508 compliant web content, PDF and WORD documents, graphics, and videos in Spanish and English.