SOW - DEI Strategic Planning 2022.docx

National Agricultural Library (NAL) Statement of Work for Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Statement of Work for

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Requesting Agency:

United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library (NAL)

A. Introduction and Background

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is one of five (5) national libraries with a Congressional mandate to serve the citizens of the United States and is designated as a USDA heritage asset, which includes more than 50 million physical items as well as extensive digital information products including databases, digital full-text journals and digital full-text books and maps. NAL acts as the central research library for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The National Agricultural Library’s Information Products Division (IPD) develops web-based resources to provide public access to agricultural research and information. The Information Systems Division (ISD) supports these efforts.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a top priority for USDA, ARS, and NAL. The library’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council (the Council) will contract with a certified diversity and inclusion consultant to implement strategic planning based on the climate assessment and to support additional growth. The mission of the Council is to enhance diversity and inclusion which promotes a knowledge discovery environment of excellence and service in support of the Agricultural Research Service mission. The Council supports the NAL Director and Leadership Team through action and advice on a variety of issues focused on achieving a diverse workforce and treating all employees with fairness and respect. The Council 1) facilitates recruitment, outreach, and communication to promote a diverse job applicant pool; 2) advances cultural transformation initiatives to create a workplace environment which promotes work-life quality and employee satisfaction; and 3) increases employee awareness of diversity, equal employment opportunity, and civil rights

B. SCOPE

NAL requires an experienced and certified diversity and inclusion professional with experience working in libraires and with library staff members. The professionals will guide a strategic planning process though planning, staff-wide workshops and creating a strategic plan by targeting the priorities revealed by the climate assessment. NAL also requires individual and group coaching, listening sessions and training to support this work.

C. SPECIFIC TASKS

C.1 Initiate planning Organize and lead meetings to discuss the climate assessment findings and strategize goals and priorities

· This may include

· Work with staff to develop DEIA strategic planning process; including identification of – and outreach to – key stakeholders

· Create timeline and communications plan that is open and transparent to nurture honesty and trust for strategic planning process

· Consider how to ensure buy-in from stakeholders

C.2 Create and lead a strategic planning workshops on diversity and inclusion strategic planning

· Workshops will be tailored to NAL based on the climate assessment finding and should incorporate multiple presentation methods, like lecture, activites, break out groups or other active teaching methods

· This may include:

· Session to level-set all who engage in DEIA strategic planning work

· Session to begin strategic plan draft with all stakeholders to include insights/feedback

· Capture and summarise content during sessions, mediate discussion and listening meetings

· Provide inclusion coaching to NAL’s director (8 hours)

C.3. Strategic Plan Development

· Create a 3 year strategic plan for NAL and submit for NAL review and comments

· Lead exercises to revisit and clarify NAL’s mission, vision, and values consistent with USDA and Mission Area directions for DEIA, and mission, vision, and values; and to create a shared identity and inclusive culture at the library.The strategic plan should recommend action on the range of diversity and inclusion issues such as:

· Strategies for increasing representation of people holding historically marginalized social identities (e.g., those who identify as Black or African American; BIPOC; LGBTQIA; and persons with disabilities) and Librarians in supervisory and leadership positions.

· Strategies to improve communication and transparency of leadership decision making, especially around the promotion/career development opportunities.

· Recommendations and faciliate or advise on sustained, consistent training DEIA education around DEIA topics such as microaggressions and implicit bias, allyship, interventions, emotional intelligence, navigating difficult conversations, and advancing equity is library print and media collections.

· Framework for educational DEIA trainings for supervisors and leaders with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

C.4. Assist with Implementation of Diversity and Inclusion Recommendations

· Assist Council leadership and members in implementing changes and expansion recommended in the written report and may include:

· Attend periodic check-in meetings to discuss implantation progress

· Address new issues as they arise

· Meet with Branch Chief to provide guidance and answer questions as need

· Providing workshops and trainings

· Meet with and provide guidance to affinity group leaders and liaisons

· Assist with selection of trainers and training topics

· Provide facilitated and small group discussions on a range of DEIA topics

· Meet with the Diversity and Incusion executive director as needed

C.5. Assist with a Print and Digital Library Collection Review with a Diversity and Inclusion Lens

· Assist the council in reviewing library content to ensure collections and programs accurately and authentically reflect the cultural perspectives of diverse communities

· Make recommendations to ensure services address the unique needs of underrepresented communities, such as BIPOC farmers and producers, women, people with disabilities, and veterans

C.6. Reporting and Meeting Requirements

· It is the responsibility of the contracting agency and contractors to report periodically all program and task/project level activities including but not limited to the following activities:

· Attend project start-up meeting to clarify requirements, expectations and deliverables. Meetings are to be held within 14 days of award and within 14 days of the beginning of new option.

· Contracting agency shall provide monthly status report including previous month’s activities and upcoming month’s plans. This report should be delivered to COR by the 15th of the following month.

D. DELIVERABLES

E. SKILLS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

· Performance of the work described in this statement of work (SOW)

· Holds a degree or certificate in a diversity and inclusion or related fields from an accredited academic institution

· Has at least 10 years experience in DEIA work

· Provide a DEIA consultant with library and information science degree (MLS or MLIS) from an accredited institution or has at least 5 years experience working in a research library

· Have conducted strategic planning for a library or library system in the past three years

· Has experience with agriculture, natural resources, and food science

D. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The above dated deliverables are to be performed over twelve-month base period, beginning approximately June 15, 2022. This contract will have an option period of six months.

E. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Virtual

G. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide workspace, tools and supplies needed to do the required work.

· The Government Technical Point of Contact (GTPOC) will monitor, assess, and report on various aspects of the project to the COR and Contracting Officer. The GTPOC will be one of the primary technical contacts for contractor staff and serve as NAL’s technical project manager.

GTPOC/COR Contracting Officer

Kirstin Nelson - Senior Law Librarain and TBD Diversity and Inclusion Council Executive Director National Agricultural Library 10301 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 kirstin.nelson@usda.gov

Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning 7/15/2022